Evolve strategy to solve fishermen issue: PMK
Chennai: NDA ally, PMK on Thursday asked the Centre to evolve a practical strategy to solve the contentious fishermen issue involving India and Sri Lanka and stressed that the row could be resolved only through dialogue. “The Central government should investigate the actual issues involved and evolve a practical strategy to solve this contentious issue,” PMK chief Ramadoss said here today. Stating that the vexed issue could be settled only through dialogue, he said it was the responsibility of the Centre to facilitate consultations between the fishermen of two countries and help them comply with agreements arrived in such talks. He took exception to the Coast Guard’s recent affidavit in the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court that Indian fishing boats reportedly crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line in the Palk Bay and engaged in poaching. Ramadoss said this was an “insult” to the Tamil Nadu fishermen and “highly condemnable.” “The government should stop blaming the Tamil Nadu fishermen,” he said and urged it to probe the actual issues and intricacies involved so as to help solve the problem. “The area of sea between the two nations is very narrow. The International border comes within 12 nautical miles from Rameswaram,” he said. Admitting that Indian fishermen enter Lankan waters, he, however, said it was very rare but unavoidable.He also pointed out that Lankan fishermen also enter Indian waters. (PTI)
Transport strike cripples services in Gujarat
Ahmedabad: Public transport services were hit in different parts of the state as three unions of Gujarat State Road Transport Service (GSRTC) went on a day-long nationwide strike called by the transport sector workers against the Centre’s new Road Safety and Transport Bill. According to officials, around 40,000 employees of GSRTC, including drivers, conductors and other administrative staff have gone on a mass casual leave. The 24-hour strike, which began from midnight on Thursday, has been called in support of the nationwide call for strike by various transport unions. Nearly 8,000 buses operated by GSRTC remained off the roads affecting more than 20 lakh daily commuters across the state. Though the state administration tried hard to convince the unions to call off their strike, employees maintained their stand to join the nationwide protest. “There are no issues at the state level for which they (employees) have to take a harsh step like this. We have been in talks with union leaders but they have decided to go ahead with the strike,” Secretary, GSRTC K D Desai said. “The Road Transport and Safety Bill proposes harsh penalty for drivers. Moreover, the new bill will ultimately benefit private bus operators and weaken powers of state transport. Thus, three of our unions have joined the strike,” President, GSRTC Mazdoor Union, Kirit Shah said. (PTI)
Mamata declares Nadia first ODF district in India
Krishnanagar (WB): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday declared Nadia as the first Open Defecation Free (ODF) district in the country. “I feel proud to declare Nadia to be the first ODF district in the country. I congratulate Nadia district for achieving this feat and convey my thanks to World Bank and the UNICEF,” Banerjee said while speaking at the programme here. “We had started this on November 19, 2013 and within two years… yes we can… we have reached our goal. We are totally successful,” she said. “I feel proud that the first three districts to be ODF are from West Bengal. We have Nadia, Hooghly and Burdwan and the fourth one is Rajasthan’s Bikaner. So it’s 3:1 ratio… We have bowled out everybody,” the Chief Minister said. Thanking UNICEF and the World Bank for helping the district achieve this feat, Banerjee declared April 30 as the “Nirmal Bangla Diwas” to be observed in the years to come. “Today we take the oath to keep West Bengal clean and build a Nirmal Bangla. I ask everybody to take responsibility for that,” she said. The Chief Minister presented the Nadia district administration, a memento and a painting prepared by her, which was received by the DM. UNICEF India representative David Mcloughlin congratulated the people of the district for achieving the goal and said “It’s a commendable job done by you people. It shows that ODF is absolutely achievable. Your achievement will inspire others to make their places ODF.” (PTI)