01-12-2020 The Asian Independent

www.theasianindependent.co.uk
NEWS
01-12-2020 to 15-12-2020
5
EU, UK entering 'last week or
so' of substantive negotiations
London : UK Foreign Secretary
Dominic Raab said that Brexit negotations
with the European Union (EU)
were entering "the last week or so" of
"substantive" talks before the transition
period ends on December 31.
Calling on the EU to accept a
"point of principle" on fisheries, one
of the sticking points in the talks,
Raab on Sunday seemed to reject
what is reported to be the bloc's current
offer on fishing -- to return
between 15 to 18 per cent of fish
stocks currently caught by European
fleets in British waters, Xinhua news
agency reported.
On other outstanding issues, Raab
told Sky News that it "feels like
there's progress towards greater
respect" for the UK's position on socalled
"level playing field" commitments
-- a set of post-Brexit common
rules and standards. The UK and the
EU resumed face-to-face post-Brexit
talks in London on November 28 after
an EU negotiator tested positive for
the novel coronavirus earlier this
month.
The negotiations are in a crucial
stage as time is running out for both
sides to secure a deal before the Brexit
transition period expires.
The UK and the EU started their
lengthy and bumpy post-Brexit talks
in March after the country ended its
membership of the bloc on January
31, trying to secure a future trade deal
before the Brexit transition period
expires. Commenting on the coronavirus
pandemic and its accompanying
economic crisis, Raab said both
the UK and the EU "ought to focus all
of our minds on doing everything we
can to give the economy a bit of a
boost". His remarks came as another
15,871 people in the UK have tested
positive for for the virus, bringing the
total number of confirmed cases in the
country to 1,621,305.
The country's death toll has
increased to 58,342.
14 TDP legislators
suspended on first
day of Assembly
Amaravati : Dramatic scenes played out on the first day of
Andhra Pradesh winter Assembly session, leading to the suspension
of 14 Telugu Desam Party (TDP) legislators for a day on
Monday. The suspended TDP MLAs were former chief minister
Nara Chandrababu Naidu, K. Atchannaiudu, Payyavula Keshav,
Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdary, Nimmala Rama Naidu and
Adireddy Bhavani.
Others suspended include Velagapudi Ramakrishna, Dola Bala
Veeranjaneya Swamy, Mantena Rama Raju, Yeluri Sambasiva
Rao, Gadde Rammohan, Jogeswara Rao, Anagani Satya Prasad
and Bendalam Ashok. A war of words ensued between Naidu, his
MLAs and ruling Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party
(YSRCP) legislators. Naidu was seen gesticulating in an infuriated
manner and later proceeded to sit on the floor of the Assembly
in protest. "The suspensions came after the TDP MLAs led by
Naidu staged a sit-in in front of the Speaker's podium in protest
against the highhanded behaviour of the ruling YSRCP government,"
said a TDP statement. Incidentally, TDP legislators were
angry over not being given an opportunity to speak on the contentious
issue of cyclone relief to farmers and affected people.
"The TDP members were also agitated that Chief Minister Y. S.
Jagan Mohan Reddy was making unparliamentary remarks against
the leader of the opposition in the House," alleged the TDP statement.
TDP was demanding the government to pay compensation
to farmers immediately to help them take up the Rabi crops,
including Rs 10,000 cyclone relief assistance to each poor family
who lost livelihood. "The Government should stop betraying the
farmers any further and immediately pay the compensation. The
farmers were not getting the micro irrigation subsidy. Input subsidy
and disaster compensation were not being paid," the statement
alleged. Meanwhile, YSRCP leaders criticized Naidu over
the way he conducted himself in the house, pointing out to his
ferocious gestures. After the first day, leaders from either parties
continued to criticise each other.
Show me 20 people benefiting from
Rs 20 lakh cr package : KTR
Hyderabad : Blaming the Centre's policies
for the country's economy sliding into
recession, Telangana Rashtra Samithi
(TRS) Working President K.T. Rama Rao
challenged it to show 20 people who have
benefited from its Rs 20 lakh crore stimulus
package. "For 15 days I have been
meeting businessmen and others but did
not find a single man who was benefited
from Rs 20 lakh crore package. May be all
20 lakh benefited in Gujarat," Rama Rao
told a select group of journalists on the eve
of elections to Greater Hyderabad
Municipal Corporation (GHMC). The state
Industry and Information Technology
Minister said after eight consecutive quarters
of slowdown, the economy was pushed
into lockdown and now into recession.
"Our GDP growth rate is less than that
of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Who is
responsible for this," he asked. KTR, as the
minister is popularly known, also reminded
the BJP of its promise to create 2 crore jobs
every year. He said this was also a 'jumla'
like Rs 15 lakh in every bank account and
bringing back black money. "Where are 12
crore jobs. Even the existing jobs are being
eliminated not to talk about new jobs," he
said referring to the government's move to
privatise Air India and Life Insurance
Corporation (LIC). "Modi government
launched many schemes like Fit India, Sit
India, Stand India. Now its slogan is
'becho' (Sell) India," he said questioning
the move to privatise profit making public
sector undertakings. "Our slogan is 'socho'
(Think) India," the TRS leader said, urging
people to think about issues like economy
and jobs and not get carried away by the
divisive agenda which the BJP is pushing
in every election.
KTR said that the TRS did not want to
speak on national issues in GHMC elections
but the irresponsible statements of the
BJP leaders have compelled the party to
respond. Asked about the criticism of the
TRS by the BJP for its friendship with
Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), he
pointed out that TRS supported the BJP
government on repeal of Article 370, GST,
demonetszation, election of President and
Vice President. "MIM is also extending
issue based support to us. We did not contest
elections in alliance with them. In fact,
the TRS fought and defeated MIM in five
seats in the last elections.
Where was BJP then? We are fighting
MIM again this time and will win 10
seats," he said. Replying to another query,
he said the TRS was not worried over the
so-called emergence of the BJP following
the latter's win in by-election to Dubbak
Assembly seat and exuded confidence that
the TRS will retain GHMC with an
absolute majority. "There were 10-12 elections
since Telangana formation but we
practically won every election barring
Dubbak. It's not proper to look Dubbak
result under magnifying glass and assume
something more than it. Unfortunately, a
TRS victory is not news but a TRS defeat
is news," he said.
KTR pointed out that the BJP is not
emerging as a new entity. "Back in 1990s
they had won six parliamentary seats in
Andhra Pradesh. What happened subsequently
in 20 plus years. BJP also won
Mahabubnagar bypoll but later on they
were nowhere. They won four Lok Sabha
seats last year but lost the Zilla Parishad
and municipal elections." On the BJP
promising to change name of Hyderabad to
Bhagyanagar, KTR remarked that
Telangana and Hyderabad need "a game
changer, not name changer". "If somebody's
name changed to Amitabh Bacchan,
will he become Amitabh Bacchan. Madras
became Chennai... what happened.
Allahbad became Prayagraj and Faizabad
became Ayodhya. What has changed. What
is the point in changing a name. Will
renaming Hyderabad as Bhagyanagar will
bring Bhagyam (fortune) or bangaram
(gold) in every house," he asked. "Don't
change name, change your deeds and your
behvaiour. Try to do something," he told
the BJP leaders.
Referring to Uttar Pradesh Chief
Minister Yogi Adityanath campaigning in
GHMC elections, he said the TRS government
does not need to learn from Yogi or
others. "The Prime Minister said in Bihar,
'jungle raj ke yuvaraj'. What is you raj. Is
there any other state in the country with
worst law and order situation than Uttar
Pradesh," he asked.
On Yogi and other BJP leaders criticising
the TRS for family rule, KTR challenged
them to show that they are above
this. He pointed out how the families of
BJP leaders like Rajnath Singh, B.S.
Yediyurappa, Vasundhara Raje and
Maneka Gandhi are all into active politics.
"Being son or a daughter of someone in
politics will help only up to entry pass
level. I have been elected four times from
Sircilla constituency and every time with a
higher margin. I am democratically elected.
What is your problem," asked KTR,
who is son of Chief Minister K.
Chandrasekhar Rao.