Politics

Congress CMs consult Manmohan Singh over issues to be raised at Niti Aayog meet

Manmohan Singh

New Delhi | Four Congress chief ministers and Karnataka’s H D Kumaraswamy met former prime minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday to discuss issues of their respective states, especially those related to farmers and tribals, to be taken up at the Niti Aayog meeting.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and Puducherry’ V Narayansamy held a meeting with Singh at the Congress headquarters here. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel also joined the meeting later.

Kumaraswamy of the JD(S) is heading a coalition government with the Congress in Karnataka.

They discussed the proposed agenda and issues of their respective states to be taken up with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Niti Ayog meeting, sources said.

Among the issues discussed were injecting life back in water bodies, fresh efforts needed from the Centre in the agricultural sector and amendment in the Forest Act to bring about change and prosperity in the lives of the tribals.

Baghel, Kumaraswamy and Narayansamy also separately called on the prime minister on Saturday.

On Friday, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Nath had hosted a dinner at his residence where Gehlot, Baghel and Narayansamy were present. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh could not make it for the dinner and is likely to skip the Niti Aayog meeting.

The chief ministers of the Congress-ruled states are expected to raise key farmers issues and also share the benefits of the loan waiver scheme implemented by them at the Niti Aayog meeting, sources said.

The fifth meeting of the Niti Aayog’s Governing Council will focus on issues like the drought situation, farm distress, rain water harvesting and preparedness for kharif crops.

The five-point agenda for the meeting also includes aspirational districts programme, transforming agriculture and security related issues with special focus on left wing extremism (LWE) districts, an official statement said.

This is the first governing council meeting under the new Modi government, which is being attended by chief ministers, lieutenant governors of Union Territories, Union ministers and senior government officials.

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‘Metro Man’ Shreedharan calls free metro rides for women ‘bad idea’

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“The argument of Delhi government that the revenue losses in Delhi Metro would be reimbursed to DMRC is a poor solace. The amount involved in about 1,000 crores per annum today”

 

New Delhi | In the wake of AAP-led Delhi government announcing free rides for women commuters in the Delhi Metro, reactions have been pouring in ever since.

Former Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) chief E Sreedharan wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ‘disagreeing’ with the government’s decision.

He wrote that even though he had determined himself that he will not intervene in the Metro’s decision after his resigning, the recent move has forced him to do so.

“Sir, when the first section of the Delhi Metro was to be opened, I had taken a firm and conscious decision that no one would be given any travel concession on Delhi Metro. This stand was taken to maximize revenues so that Metro fares could be kept low so as to be affordable to ordinary citizens and at the same time Metro would make sufficient operational surpluses to pay back the loans taken from JAICA,” the letter read.

He wrote that it was decided no concession will be given to any portion of the society until all of the loans are repaid.

Now, if ladies are to be given free travel concession in Delhi Metro, it would set an alarming precendence to all other Metros in the country. The argument of Delhi government that the revenue losses would be reimbursed to DMRC is a poor solace. The amount involved in about 1,000 crores per annum today. This will go on increasing as the Metro network expands and with further fare hikes on the Metro, the letter added.

“Immediate demands will arise from more deserving sections such are Students, Handicapped, Senior Citizen, etc.”, it read.

It further said that this will spread all across the country, making all the metros dependent on state governments for subsidies.

The letters ends with him requesting the Prime Minister to not agree with Delhi government’s proposal.

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