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Rahul Gandhi slams Centre for not paying compensation to Covid-hit families

At the peak of the Covid second wave, the entire health system had been crushed as hospitals had run out of oxygen supplies amid overwhelming demand and rising caseload.

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Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday hit out at the Narendra Modi-led BJP government for not paying Rs 4 lakh compensation to the families of Covid victims. Hitting out at the Centre’s promise of providing Rs 4 lakh compensation to the Covid-hit families, he said it is impossible to valuate life, government’s compensation is only a small help but the Modi government is not ready to even do that.

Slamming at the Centre, Gandhi tweeted, first the lack of treatment during the Covid pandemic and then the false figures and on top of that the government’s cruelty.

The centre has told the Supreme Court that if they pay compensation for Covid, then denying it for other diseases would be unfair. 

Arguing that the Disaster Management Law states that compensation applies only to natural disasters like earthquake or floods, the government said that due to the pandemic’s massive scale it would not be appropriate to apply it to Covid.

In its defence, the Centre also said due to increased health expenses and low tax revenue, states cannot afford to pay compensation for lakhs of Covid victims.

In its affidavit, the Centre said the utilisation of scarce resources for giving compensation, may have unfortunate consequences of affecting the pandemic response and health expenditure in other aspects and hence cause more damage than good.

The Congress MP from Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi also alleged that the government has been incompetent in providing treatment during the pandemic, fudging Covid death numbers and of being insensitive. 

At the peak of the Covid second wave, the entire health system had been crushed as hospitals had run out of oxygen supplies amid overwhelming demand and rising caseload.

The visuals emerged showing people line up outside hospitals to get oxygen and other Covid treatment drugs. Amid this, bodies of Covid patients were also found floating in the river Ganga, raising suspicions of considerable under-reporting of deaths.

Last week, the Patna High Court pulled up the Bihar government – ruled by the BJP and ally Nitish Kumar – and said for whatever reason, the state’s reluctance to publish the actual number of fatalities during the Covid pandemic is uncalled for and not protected by law.

Read Also: India slams Tokyo Olympic rules for Covid-hit nations, says athlete will lose crucial days

The Centre has told the Supreme Court that the compensation of Rs 4 lakh cannot be paid to the families of those who have died due to Covid as it is beyond fiscal affordability and the finances of central and state governments are under severe strain.   

India News

Blasts outside defence establishments in Punjab within 2 hours trigger security alarm

Two explosions near defence-linked locations in Punjab within two hours have triggered alarm and heightened security across the state.

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Two explosion incidents reported within a span of around two hours near key defence-linked locations in Punjab have raised serious security concerns and triggered political reactions.

The first incident took place near the Border Security Force (BSF) headquarters in Jalandhar, where a blast involving a delivery scooter was reported in a populated area. The proximity of the explosion to a sensitive security installation immediately drew the attention of authorities.

Shortly after, another blast was reported near a military-linked area in Amritsar, further heightening concerns over security preparedness in the border state. Police and security agencies responded swiftly, deploying bomb disposal squads and forensic teams at both locations.

Officials confirmed that no casualties were reported in either incident. However, the back-to-back nature of the explosions caused panic in nearby areas and prompted authorities to place the state on high alert.

Political leaders reacted strongly, questioning the handling of security and pointing to possible lapses. They urged authorities to take preventive steps to avoid such incidents in the future.

Punjab, being a strategically important border state, remains sensitive to such developments. Investigations are currently underway to determine the cause of the explosions and whether there are any links between the two incidents.

Security has been tightened around key installations, with agencies assessing whether the blasts were isolated events or part of a broader threat.

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Retired bureaucrats appointed by Mamata Banerjee barred from Bengal offices ahead of BJP government formation

Retired bureaucrats appointed under Mamata Banerjee have been barred from government offices as West Bengal prepares for a BJP-led administration.

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In a significant administrative development following the West Bengal Assembly election results, several retired bureaucrats appointed during the tenure of Mamata Banerjee have reportedly been barred from entering state government offices.

The decision comes at a time when the Bharatiya Janata Party is preparing to form its first government in the state after securing a decisive mandate. The move is seen as part of the transition process as the outgoing administration makes way for the incoming regime.

Officials indicated that the restrictions apply specifically to retired personnel who had been given contractual or advisory roles under the previous government. These individuals have now been asked not to access offices or handle official work.

The development follows a broader directive issued by the state administration to ensure that no official documents or records are removed, damaged, or tampered with during the transition period. Authorities have emphasised strict accountability, placing responsibility on departmental heads to safeguard files and maintain proper records.

The political backdrop to this move is the sweeping victory of the BJP in the 2026 West Bengal elections, marking a major shift in the state’s political landscape after years of Trinamool Congress rule.

With the new government expected to take charge soon, administrative reshuffling and tightening of access to government infrastructure are being viewed as measures to ensure a smooth and transparent handover of power.

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Vijay expresses gratitude to Modi, Rahul Gandhi for congratulatory messages after poll victory

Vijay thanked PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi after his party’s strong Tamil Nadu poll performance, promising governance focused on public welfare.

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Actor vijay

Actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for congratulating him on his party’s strong performance in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections 2026.

Vijay, who leads the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), acknowledged the wishes shared by both leaders following the party’s impressive electoral debut, which has significantly altered the political landscape of Tamil Nadu.

Responding to the Prime Minister on social media platform X, Vijay said that his party’s focus would remain on public welfare and development. He emphasised that governance should rise above political differences and aim at improving the lives of the people.

“The well-being of our people remains our only goal… we shall focus on the state’s progress and welfare,” he said, while also expressing hope for support from the Union government in achieving these objectives.

The TVK has emerged as a major political force in the state, breaking the long-standing dominance of traditional parties and marking a major shift in Tamil Nadu’s political dynamics.

According to early developments, the party has staked claim to form the government and may seek additional support if required to prove its majority in the assembly.

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