Why Railways Won't Make Public Its Report On Odisha Train Accident

The Railways will not make public the CRS probe report on the Balasore triple train accident to ensure that there is no "influence or interference" on the CBI's ongoing investigation in the case, senior officials told PTI on Friday.

While there has been no official confirmation, some sources told PTI the Commission of Railway Safety (CRS) informed in its report that the accident occurred due to human error on the part of on-duty officials in the Signalling and Telecom Department as well as the Traffic Department.

The officials failed to follow the standard operating procedure in place for train operations, according to the sources.

"We will not be disclosing anything on the CRS report as another independent CBI inquiry is underway. This is to ensure that this report does not in any way influence or interfere with the other report. We will take cognisance of both the reports and make an overall evaluation of the incident and then take whatever steps necessary," a senior official told PTI.

South Eastern Circle CRS AM Chowdhary, who was investigating the accident, submitted his report to the Railway Board on Thursday.

On Friday, top board officials refused to comment on the report with many claiming that they have not even read the document.

Usually such reports are accessible to top officials, mainly to follow through on course corrections recommended by the CRS.

Officials recalled that while the CRS usually files an interim report before the final one within a week of any accident, this time it has submitted one report.

The sources said officials have been directed to plug any leaks on the report.

The Railways has already transferred out five top officials of the South Eastern Railway under whose jurisdiction the accident occurred.

Three trains collided in Odisha's Balasore district on June 2, claiming 293 lives and injuring over 1,000 people. The Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express entered the passing loop instead of the main line near the Bahanaga Bazar station at full speed and collided with a stationary goods train.

On the adjoining line, the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express collided with the derailed coaches of the Coromandel Express, leading to some of its bogies jumping tracks.

Apart from a CRS probe, the CBI is also investigating the accident.

An initial probe had suggested signalling interference, either by negligence or intent, as the probable cause of the accident.

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2 Dead 5 Injured After Explosion In Andhra Pradesh Pharma Company

Two persons died and five others suffered burn injuries, with two of them sustaining severe injuries, following an explosion on Friday at Sahiti Pharma company, located in Atchutapuram of Anakapalli district, police said.

Two persons who had sustained 90 per cent chemical burns in the blast succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment at KGH Hospital in Visakhapatnam. Four others are also being treated there, including two for severe burns, police said.

One other person is admitted in Star Zen Hospital in Atchutapuram itself.

There were 35 people in the plant when the explosion occurred and most of them escaped unhurt, a statement from the state government said.

According to the preliminary report, the blast took place while loading solvents into the solvent recovery plant of the pharma company in the Atchutapuram special economic zone (SEZ) around 11.45 AM, police said.

Anakapalli District Superintendent of Police KV Murali Krishna told PTI on Friday said the injured suffered chemical burns, adding that chemical burns are dangerous and that the best treatment is being given to the victims.

"Probably some reaction led to the blast and the fire has spread. It is a solvent recovery plant. While loading the solvents, some reactions may have happened. This is the preliminary report," said Krishna.

Meanwhile, the inspector of factories is preparing a report on how the accident occurred, said Krishna.

Following the accident, police rushed to the spot to douse the flames and control the crowds gathered there so that they do not approach the accident site.

As many as 10 fire tenders were rushed to the accident site to put out the fire, which is now believed to be under control, the government statement added.

The inspector of factories has ruled out any possible leak of toxic gases.

Immediately after the incident, police arranged for ambulances to shift the injured and made arrangements at NTR Government Hospital in Anakapalli town to treat them, police said.

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Nagpur's Itwari Railway Station To Be Renamed After Subhash Chandra Bose

The Maharashtra government has decided to change the name of Itwari station in Nagpur district to 'Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Itwari ' station, a Bharatiya Janata Party MLA said on Thursday.

In a press release, Nagpur East MLA Krishna Khopde said a notification was issued by the state's Home department on June 16, which also informed that a no-objection certificate to the name change had been received from the Ministry of Home Affairs on May 23.

He said Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and Union minister Nitin Gadkari had played an important role in ensuring such a tribute could be paid to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.

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Savarkar To Be Part Of Madhya Pradesh School Syllabus: Shivraj Chouhan

Lessons on Hindutva ideologue late VD Savarkar will be taught in Madhya Pradesh schools, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Thursday.

Chief Minister Chouhan said Savarkar served double life sentences in the infamous Cellular Jail in the Andamans and such were the rigours that he came to know about the incarceration of his brother (Ganesh Savarkar) "years later".

"Even today if you go to Cellular Jail, you will know how he lived there. Lessons on someone who dedicated his entire life to the nation will be taught in schools," he told reporters in Morena.

Earlier in the day, MP school education minister Inder Singh Parmar said lessons on Savarkar will be included in the school syllabus as part of the National Education Policy (NEP).

Mr Parmar also alleged that the Congress, which ruled the country for a major part after Independence, ignored many revolutionaries while concentrating on glorifying just one family.

"As part of the NEP, the life of Bhagwan Parshuram, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Subhash Chandra Bose and Veer Savarkar and (teachings of) Gita will be included (in the syllabus) as part of India's knowledge tradition so that people get to know about their contribution," Mr Parmar told PTI.

Criticising the move, Madhya Pradesh Congress media cell chairperson KK Mishra termed it as a political one ahead of year-end Assembly polls.

He said the Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state was seeking to divert the attention of people from core problems like inflation and unemployment.

KK Mishra also said a lesson from 'Savarkar Samagra', in which the Hindutva ideologue advocated cow rearing and not cow worship, must also be included.

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Shree Cement Denies Reports Of Large-Scale Tax Evasion

Leading cement manufacturer Shree Cement, being surveyed by income tax authorities, has dismissed allegations that the company has been found to have carried out large-scale tax evasion.

The company has issued a statement saying it has collaborated with and provided all support to tax authorities.

It also dismissed media reports about the quantum of tax evasion allegedly found by the income tax department after going through their records.

The company has been facing searches at its factories in Beawar, Raas and Jaipur.

"We also would like to reiterate our strong record on corporate governance and playing our role as a responsible corporate citizen. The allegations made by the media are speculative and we would refrain from making any comments," it said.

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Amit Shah To Address Rally In Bihar Tomorrow

Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah will be arriving in the politically crucial state of Bihar and addressing a mega-rally at Lakhisarai in Munger Lok Sabha constituency, party officials said.

Amit Shah, who last visited the state nearly three months ago, will be visiting Bihar for the first time since the meeting of opposition leaders in Patna, hosted by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar last week.

"The honourable Home Minister will reach Patna tomorrow afternoon and take a helicopter for Lakhisarai. He will offer prayers at Ashok Dham, a famous shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati, before addressing a public meeting," state BJP president Samrat Choudhary told PTI.

"All people of the state, in particular Munger Lok Sabha constituency under which Lakhisarai falls, are welcome to attend Shah's public meeting where he is likely to expound on the progress made by the country under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership," added the state BJP chief.

However, the ruling Mahagathbandhan in Bihar, comprising JD(U), RJD, Congress and the Left, who have been riding high on the success of the opposition meet, launched a counter-offensive.

JD(U) national general secretary and spokesman Rajib Ranjan came out with a list of "12 questions" which, he hoped, Amit Shah would answer in his speech on Thursday.

The questions related to past electoral promises of BJP like two crore jobs every year and doubling of farmers' income, besides complaints about the Centre's refusal to accept the state government's demands like "one nation, one tariff" in the power sector and central status to Patna University.

RJD spokesman Mrityunjay Tiwari said "ever since Bihar was having the so-called double engine government, Shah never bothered about the state. But he seems to have grown obsessed with Bihar ever since the BJP was thrown out".

Theb BJP party's leader in the state legislature, Vijay Kumar Sinha, who is also the MLA from Lakhisarai, explained to journalists in his constituency the political significance of the venue for the rally.

"Munger Lok Sabha segment has always been remembered for its association with Bihar's first Chief Minister Shri Krishna Singh. Today, the local MP is sitting in the lap of the RJD," alleged Sinha. The Lok Sabha seat is currently held by Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lalan', the national president of Nitish Kumar's JD(U).

Lalan belongs to the 'Bhumihar' caste, which has been traditionally averse to RJD and its founder Lalu Prasad and always hero-worshipped 'Shri babu', as the first Bihar Chief Minister  is commonly known, as a hero of the clan.

Notably, Munger is also a Lok Sabha seat which has been won by the BJP-led NDA many times but where the saffron party is yet to field its own candidate.

Lalan has won the seat twice, with the BJP as his party's ally on both occasions.

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Odisha Ex-MLA Gets Life Sentence For Killing Wife

The special court of Additional District Judge (ADJ-III), Bhubaneswar, on Tuesday sentenced former Odisha MLA Ramamurthy Gomanga to life imprisonment for murdering his wife Sashirekha in 1995.

Ramamurthy Gomango was convicted on June 24 under Section 302 (murder) and 201 (destroying evidence) of IPC.

Apart from life imprisonment, special court judge Sashmita Padhi also slapped the former MLA from Gunupur with Rs 60,000 fine under various sections, said government pleader Rashmi Ranjan Brahma.

Ramamurthy Gomango was convicted based on the statements of 11 witnesses and 15 documents pertaining to the case.

According to the prosecution, Sashirekha's half-burnt body was recovered from the bathroom of Gomanga's official quarters here on August 29, 1995.

Though initially an unnatural death case was registered at Kharavel Nagar Police Station in Bhubaneswar, later a murder case was lodged as the probe indicated towards her killing.

Ramamurthy Gomango was elected to the Assembly from Gunupur constituency on a Janata Dal ticket in 1995. He joined the BJP in 2000. He was re-elected from the seat on a BJP ticket in 2000, but lost to his Congress rival Hema Gomango in the 2004 elections.

Later, he quit the BJP after the BJD snapped ties with the saffron party in 2009. He joined the BJD, but quit the regional party as he was denied a ticket in 2014. 

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BJP Slams Opposition For Critcising PM Modi's Stand On Uniform Civil Code

The BJP on Tuesday hit out at the Congress and other Opposition parties for criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's stand on the UCC, saying it is there in the Constitution as a directive principle of state policy and there is a Supreme Court "decision" also in this regard.

The Congress attacked Prime Minister Modi after he made a strong pitch for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) at an event in Bhopal on Tuesday and said he should first talk about poverty, price rise and unemployment in the country. The RJD said the prime minister should not make such issues an instrument of "dog-whistle politics".

Slamming the Opposition parties, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav said, "This (UCC) is written in our Constitution. In Article 44 of the Constitution, it has been mentioned as the directive principle of state policy. There is a Supreme Court decision also in this regard." 

"There should not be any discrimination. There should not be any discrepancy, Right to Justice should be ensured to everybody, including those who are exploited, deprived and oppressed in society. There should be equality in society," he told a press conference here.

On Opposition parties accusing the BJP of trying to create a division among Muslims by wooing the Pasmanda Muslim community, Mr Yadav said they should be "ashamed" of not doing anything for those belonging to the "exploited, deprived and oppressed" sections of society.

There are extremely backward sections among the backward classes, the BJP leader noted and attacking the Opposition parties, said those pursuing vote bank politics in their name, have "never" paid attention to them.

"Why does it trouble the Opposition when the BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi has been making efforts to change the lives of those exploited, deprived and oppressed?" he asked.

"They (Opposition parties) should rather be ashamed as they never did anything for the OBC (Other Backward Classes). The Pasmanda community also comes under OBC. For a long time, the Pasmanda community has been ignored," Yadav said.

During the Bhopal event, Prime Minister Modi, while making a strong pitch for the UCC, said the Constitution also mentions of having equal rights for all citizens.

Prime Minister Modi also said the BJP has decided it would not adopt the path of appeasement and vote bank politics and alleged that the Opposition is using the issue of UCC to mislead and provoke the Muslim community.

Pasmanda Muslims, who are backward, are not even treated as equal because of the vote bank politics, the prime minister said.

'Pasmanda', a term for backward classes among Muslims, often finds a mention in Prime Minister Modi's speeches, at party forum as well as government events, and how the government has worked for the deprived without any discrimination.

Reacting to Prime Minister Modi's remark on the UCC, Congress general secretary, organisation, K C Venugopal said the prime minister can say anything, but "he has to answer the real questions of this country - unemployment, price rise and Manipur issue".

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha, "We are seeing that work is being done to instigate such people in the name of Uniform Civil Code. If there is one law for one member in a house and another for the other, will the house be able to run? So how will the country be able to run with such a dual system?" Hearing the prime minister makes one feel that he is looking for occasions to make "dog whistles", he said.

In a tweet, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi said, "Will the PM end 'Hindu Undivided Family'? Because of HUF, the country is losing Rs 3,064 crores every year." On one hand, the prime minister is shedding crocodile tears for Pasmanda Muslims, and on the other, his "pawns" are attacking their mosques, taking away their livelihoods, bulldozing their homes and lynching them, Mr Owaisi alleged.

Opposing reservations for backward Muslims, the NDA government has stopped scholarships for poor Muslims, he alleged.

"If Pasmanda Muslims are being exploited, what is Modi doing about it? Before seeking votes from Pasmanda Muslims, BJP workers should go door-to-door and apologise that their spokespersons and MLAs tried to insult our Dear Prophet," Mr Owaisi tweeted.

During the press conference, Mr Yadav highlighted the achievements of the Ministry of Labour and Employment as well as the Ministry of Environment and Forest, the two portfolios he holds.

"If we look at wildlife conservation over the nine years, there has been a 42 per cent increase in the number of tigers...Besides, there is an increase in the number of leopards and rhinos also," he said.

The Ministry of Environment and Forest has completed work pertaining to restoration of 19 million hectare of degraded land out of the target of 26 million hectare of degraded land, Yadav added.

Highlighting the reform measures taken by the ministry, he said, "We know how forest clearances were given during the Congress rule, how some illegal tax used to be imposed then." 

"The Parivesh portal was launched to provide single-window system for giving clearance. Now, forest clearance is given in 75 days while it used to take 600 days in 2014 (before the BJP came to power at the Centre)," he added.

Mr Yadav also highlighted measures taken to check air pollution, saying his ministry has done "very good work" to improve the air quality "to a great extent" in Delhi and the National Capital Region.

He said the labour and employment ministry has brought several policy reforms and schemes over the last nine years for the welfare of workers in the organised and unorganised sectors as well as facilitated ease of doing business in the country.

"In 2015, we launched the NCS (National Career Service) portal for employment in which about 3.16 crore registrations have happened since 2015. There are 11.15 lakh active employers and the number of active vacancies is 3.5 lakh to 5 lakh," he said Terming the e-Shram portal, launched in 2021, as one of the "major" initiatives of the labour ministry, Mr Yadav said about 29 crore workers from the unorganised sector are registered in the portal in over more than 400 occupations.

"For the first time, the government has created such a huge database and deliberations are on for integration of our portals to take the government's welfare programmes to them," he added.

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Rs 60000 Crore Needed For 5 Poll Guarantees: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said a total of Rs 59,000 crore to Rs 60,000 crore is required annually, for the implementation of Congress' five poll 'guarantees'.

He said, the fresh budget of the new Congress government, which he will be presenting on July 7, is likely to be of the size Rs 3,35,000 crore.

The Chief Minister, who also holds the finance portfolio, was speaking after inaugurating the training camp organised for the newly elected MLAs of the 16th Legislative Assembly.

"The first budget after independence was twenty one crore three lakh rupees, today it is about three lakh nine thousand crore rupees. I will be presenting a new budget on July 7 it may be (of the size) three lakh thirty to thirty five thousand crore rupees," Mr Siddaramaiah said.

Addressing the newly elected legislators, he said, "the present budget is around three lakh nine thousand eight hundred and ninety six crore rupees, as I'm implementing five guarantees, I will have to provide rupees forty thousand crore for it, for the remaining period. A total of fifty nine thousand to sixty thousand crore rupees is required for five guarantees." Noting that the previous BJP government had presented a budget in February by taking a vote on account for four months, the Chief Minister said, the budget he will be presenting on July 7 will come into force from August 1.

Urging the legislators to try to learn and understand budgets, he also asked them to learn about taxation, stating the rich should be taxed, not the poor.

The five guarantees are: up to 200 units of free power to all households (Gruha Jyoti), Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head of every family (Gruha Lakshmi), 10 kg of free rice to every member of a BPL household (Anna Bhagya), Rs 3,000 every month for unemployed graduates and Rs 1,500 for unemployed diploma holders, both in the age group of 18-25 (YuvaNidhi), and free travel for women in public transport buses (Shakti).

While the government has already launched the scheme which will provide free travel for women in public transport buses, the other four schemes are in various stages of implementation, and the timeline has already been fixed for their rollout.

Speaker of the Assembly U T Khader, Chairman of Legislative Council Basavaraja Horatti, Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan, Assembly Secretary M K Vishalakshi were present at the inaugural of the training.

The Legislature Session is scheduled from July 3 to 14.

Suggesting that MLAs and MPs should understand the "meaning" of budget, the Chief Minister said, "in the 12th century, 'Kayakayogi' Basavanna spoke about budget. 'Kayaka' and 'Dasoha' are the key factors of the budget. Kayaka means production, Dasoha means sharing." He explained that the value of the budget is just understanding where the production is and to whom we distribute it in the society.

The Assembly is the temple of democracy, Mr Siddaramaiah said, as he called upon legislators to raise people's problems effectively in the Lower House and develop a mindset to seek solutions.

Those who do not read and understand the Constitution cannot become good legislators and parliamentarians, he said, "So read the Constitution and understand its basic principles and objectives." "We made the rules of the House ourselves. He said that if you read and understand it properly, people's problems can be brought before the house in a proper manner....We cannot make laws contrary to the Constitution. Therefore, reading the constitution is essential," he said.

Out of 224 MLAs, 70 have entered the Legislative Assembly for the first time. Former MP and former Union Minister KH Muniyappa (now minister in state government), former Minister and mining baron G Janardhana Reddy are among them.

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Gauhati High Court Stays Wrestling Federation Elections Again

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections, delayed several times, were stalled yet again with the Gauhati High Court on Sunday staying the July 11 polls on a petition filed by the Assam Wrestling Association.

The Assam Wrestling Association, in its petition filed against the WFI, IOA ad-hoc panel and the Sports Ministry, said though it was entitled to be an affiliated member of the WFI, it was not granted recognition.

The state unit claimed that the then WFI Executive Committee had made recommendation for its affiliation at the Federations' General Council in Gonda, on November 15, 2014 but it was denied recognition.

The IOA ad-hoc panel had fixed June 25 as the last date for receiving the names for the electoral college while the elections were fixed for July 11.

The petitioner contended that unless their body is affiliated to the WFI, and they can nominate their representative to the electoral college, the election process should be stalled.

The court directed the respondents -- WFI ad-hoc body and the Sports Ministry -- that till the next date is fixed for hearing they should not proceed with the elections of the Executive Committee of the WFI.

The court has fixed July 17 as the next date for hearing.

"Really? So were they sleeping when WFI held elections in 2015 and 2019. Why have they approached the Court now. Can't you guys smell that something is fishy here. Someone is trying to influence the WFI elections. It's clear," said an official from the previous WFI set-up.

"Actually, Assam was only an associate member without voting rights. If it had a problem with that, why they did not make an effort to reach out to the court in 2015 itself," the official added.

Assam Wrestling Association (AWA) said in its petition that they were "actively involved" in promoting wrestling in the state and had organised various national and state-level tournaments at the "behest" of the WFI.

The state association said in its plea that despite "several efforts" it did not get recognition.

AWA said that unless they don't get affiliation from the parent body, they would not be able to nominate their representative to the electoral college for the upcoming elections.

The state of Assam will be deprived of its representative to take part in the election of the executive committee of the WFI and its wrestlers will be deprived of participation in national tournaments, the petition said.

The WFI, before being suspended by the Sports Ministry, had set May 7 as the election date. Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, after his meeting with protesting wrestlers, had said that WFI elections will be held by June 30.

The IOA then announced that elections will be held on July 4 but the Returning Officer set July 6 as the new date.

However, after five disaffiliated state bodies staked claim to be eligible for voting, the Returning Officer yet again delayed the elections by five days, setting July 11 as the poll date.

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"My Visit Will Add Renewed Vigour To India-Egypt Relations": PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called his two-day State visit to Egypt a "historic one", stating that it will add renewed vigour to the relations between India and Egypt and will benefit the people of the two nations.

Concluding his first State visit to the US and Egypt, PM Modi emplaned for India on Sunday.

PM Modi took to his Twitter handle to share glimpses of his first visit to Egypt. The video shows his arrival to the African country, meeting his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and interacting with members of the Indian diaspora.

Sharing the video on Twitter, PM Modi tagged the clip with a message stating, "My visit to Egypt was a historic one. It will add renewed vigour to India-Egypt relations and will benefit the people of our nations. I thank President @AlsisiOfficial, the Government and the people of Egypt for their affection."

My visit to Egypt was a historic one. It will add renewed vigour to India-Egypt relations and will benefit the people of our nations. I thank President @AlsisiOfficial, the Government and the people of Egypt for their affection. pic.twitter.com/tpoTK3inxH

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2023

PM Modi also thanked his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly for accompanying him to the Pyramids in Egypt. He tweeted, "I thank PM Mostafa Madbouly for accompanying me to the Pyramids. We had a rich discussion on the cultural histories of our nations and how to deepen these linkages in the times to come."

He also thanked the Egyptian government and people for conferring him with the 'Order of the Nile', the country's highest state honour. He stated that the honour bestowed upon him indicates the "warmth and affection" that Egypt has towards India and the people of the country.

Earlier in the day, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi conferred PM Modi with the country's highest state honour. It was the 13th state honour of its kind to have been conferred on him.

In the past nine years, PM Modi has received many international awards including Companion of the Order of Logohu, Companion of the Order of Fiji and Ebakl Award by the Republic of Palau, among others.

On Sunday, PM Modi held a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi during which they signed an agreement to elevate the bilateral relationship to a "Strategic Partnership". The two leaders discussed ways to further deepen the partnership between the two nations, including trade, investment, defence, security, renewable energy, cultural and people-to-people ties.

Sharing details regarding the meeting, Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Twitter stated, "PM @narendramodiheld a productive meeting with President @AlsisiOfficial in Cairo on 25 June 2023 The leaders discussed ways to further deepen the partnership between the two countries, including in trade & investment, defence & security, renewable energy, cultural and people to people ties. An agreement to elevate the bilateral relationship to a "Strategic Partnership" was signed by the leaders. Three MoUs in the fields of Agriculture, Archaeology & Antiquities and Competition Law were also signed."

Earlier in the day, PM Modi visited the Al-Hakim Mosque in Cairo. After visiting the Al-Hakim Mosque, PM Modi went to Heliopolis War Cemetery and paid tribute to the Indian soldiers who made supreme sacrifices during the First World War.

On Saturday, PM Modi held a roundtable meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly in Cairo. He also met thought leaders in Egypt as a part of his two-day visit to the Arab nation. PM Modi on Saturday arrived in Cairo for a two-day State visit to Egypt.

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Patna-Ranchi Vande Bharat Express Successfully Completes Third Trial Run

The Patna-Ranchi Vande Bharat Express on Sunday successfully completed the third trial run, an official said. The commercial operation of the semi-high-speed train will start on June 28, the official said.

Birendra Kumar, Chief Public Relation Officer (CPRO) of East Central Railway (ECR), Hajipur zone, said that the final and third trial run of the Express with eight coaches was done successfully from Patna to Ranchi.

"It is now fit for inauguration on June 27 and commercial operation from June 28," Kumar said.

The train, which started from Patna junction around 7 am, reached Ranchi around 12.50 pm. It left for the Bihar capital in the afternoon.

The first successful trial run was conducted from Patna to Ranchi and back on June 12, while the second trial run was held on June 18.

The 27-km stretch between Sidhwar (Ramgarh) and Sanki (Ranchi) has four tunnels, the longest being 1.7-km-long, while three others are around 600 metres each.

The commissioner of railway safety (CRS) in Kolkata had conducted a safety inspection and speed trial on the 27-km stretch between Sidhwar and Sanki and had given its nod to operationalise the new route between Koderma and Ranchi via Barkakana in December last.

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"Need To Forget Differences" Arvind Kejriwal Told Rahul Gandhi: Sources

Amid confusion over the Congress' stance on the Centre's Delhi ordinance, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal told Rahul Gandhi to forget the differences and move forward together at the opposition meeting in Patna, AAP sources said on Saturday.

"Arvind Kejriwal spoke directly to Rahul Gandhi (on the ordinance matter) and said if there is any issue, they can resolve it over tea. In the opposition meeting on Friday, Kejriwal said there is a need to forget the differences and move forward together," a party source said.

Given the situation, he said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is yet to decide if it will attend the opposition parties' next meeting scheduled in Shimla. 

The plan of action is expected to be formulated at another meeting to be chaired by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, tentatively on July 10 or 12, in Shimla. Drawing the battle lines, opposition parties had on Friday resolved to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unitedly in 2024 Lok Sabha elections at the crucial meeting in Patna.

In a statement on Friday, the AAP had said that any alliance with the Congress would be very difficult after its war of words with the grand old party over the contentious Delhi ordinance issue.

At the opposition meet in Patna, many parties urged the Congress to publicly denounce the "black ordinance", but the grand old party refused to do so which raises suspicions about its real intentions, the AAP had said in the statement soon after the meeting. 

AAP sources claimed that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee at the meeting intervened and said Mr Gandhi and Mr Kejriwal should sit together for lunch so that all the issues get addressed.

Sources in the AAP also claimed that at the end of the meeting, Mr Kharge alleged that a spokesperson of AAP was making 'wrong' statements about the Congress. 

"In response, our national convener Arvind Kejriwal clearly stated that Congress spokespersons had also made misleading statements against AAP. Having said that, there is a need to forget the differences and come together," the source added.

The source said Rahul Gandhi stressed that there was a process to discuss about the contentious Delhi ordinance.

"Kejriwal asked the Congress to specify the time for the next meeting, but the Congress leaders were non-responsive. All the top opposition leaders present during the meeting had urged the Congress to clarify its stand on the ordinance and fix a meeting to discuss the same," the source said.

The AAP source also said that party chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal specified that his party had always stood by the Congress in the right matters.

"Even when Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha membership was cancelled, Kejriwal had opposed it. If Gandhi and the Congress are afraid to meet AAP leaders, forging of opposition unity is doubtful. We have been constantly asking for an appointment with the leadership, but the Congress has refused to budge," he said.

The AAP source also said that although the Kharge-led party has maintained that it has always raised its voice against any draconian law, but it has largely remained mum on the Delhi ordinance issue.

Although Mr Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP's Rajya Sabha MPs Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha attended the opposition meeting, they remained conspicuous by their absence at the joint press conference held by the opposition parties later.

The BJP took a potshot at the absence of Mr Kejriwal at the opposition parties' joint press conference in Patna and said the AAP's "blackmailing" at the beginning of the meeting itself showed the future of the "unholy alliance".

Mr Kharge, however, said a decision on whether to oppose the Centre's ordinance on the control of administrative services in Delhi would be taken before the Parliament session and wondered why it was being talked about elsewhere when the matter pertained to Parliament.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Promising Brilliant": PM Modi Effusive About Tech Collaboration With US

The India-US relation will thrive with the growing technical collaboration, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden agreed at the end of another round of discussions with industry leaders today. The "Hi-Tech handshake" was a mega event where captains of industry from various fields, including semi-conductors,  manufacturing , space and start-ups had participated.

PM Narendra Modi said the coming together of talent and technology will pave the way for a new future. "This morning (meeting) is only among a few friends but has brought with it the guarantee of a bright future," he said.

"Technical cooperation will be a big part of defining our partnership. We need you to expand our technology to new fields including bio-technology and quantum and innovation," said President Biden.
 
"Our partnership is more than about new breakthrough and next deal. It is about taking climate change, tackling the universe, it is about lifting people out of poverty, curing cancer and other serious disease, preventing pandemic... creating a free, secure, prosperous future for our children," he added. "Our partnership between India and United States will go a long way to define what the 21st Century looks like," he added.

Calling the meet a great opportunity to take along "President Biden's vision and capabilities and India's aspirations and possibilities," PM Modi said it was "honhaar, shandaar, dhardaar" (promising, brilliant, sharp).

Among those present were Apple's Tim Cook, Revathi Advaithi, CEO, Flex, Sam Altman, CEO, OpenAI, Mark Douglas, President and CEO, FMC Corporation, Microsoft chief Satya Nadella and Google's Sundar Pichai.

The space sector -- a new area of collaboration apart from semi-conductor supply chains -- was represented by Bill Nelson, Administrator, NASA, Astronaut Sunita Williams,  Will Marshall, the chief of Planet Labs and Reliance Industries chief Mukesh Ambani.

Micron Technology, along with India Semiconductor Mission, will build a semiconductor assembly and test facility in Gujarat  at a cost of $2.75 billion.

In space sector, India has signed the Artemis Accords for space exploration. By the end of this year, NASA and ISRO are developing a strategic framework for human spaceflight cooperation.

India and US have also formed mechanisms for joint research on quantum, Artificial Intelligence, and advanced wireless technologies.
A Minerals Security Partnership has also been forged to speed up the development of critical energy minerals supply chains globally.

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Amit Shah Meets Survivors Of Rajouri Terror Attack In Jammu and Kashmir

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday met the survivors of a terrorist attack on a village in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir in January this year and assured them of government support, officials said.

Seven persons were killed and 14 injured when terrorists struck Dhangri village in Rajouri on January 1. While five persons, including two brothers, were killed in firing by terrorists, two children lost their lives when an improvised explosive device (IED) which was left behind by the fleeing terrorists exploded the next morning.

In a tweet, Mr Shah said, "Met Smt. Suraj Sharma and her family, who are the survivors of the Rajouri terror attacks. Their courage and bravery are India's pillars of strength in ending the menace of terrorism. I extended my deepest condolences and assured them of government support." He also shared three photographs of the meeting, which took place at the Raj Bhawan here.

Met Smt. Suraj Sharma and her family, who are the survivors of the Rajouri terror attacks. Their courage and bravery are India's pillars of strength in ending the menace of terrorism. I extended my deepest condolences and assured them of government support. pic.twitter.com/j6ocVvuV6P

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) June 23, 2023

Suraj Sharma, a widow, lost her two sons - Deepak and Prince - in the attack. She is the lone survivor of the family.

She was accompanied by Sushil and his wife who lost their child, and Pawan Sharma who was injured in the attack, which also claimed the life of his brother.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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At State Lunch For PM Modi Antony Blinken Mentions Diljit Mindy Kaling

US State Department with Vice President Kamala Harris hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a luncheon, where US Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted how India is part of their daily lives.

"Here in the US, India is part of our daily lives. We enjoy our Jhumpa Lahiri novels over samosas. We laugh at the comedies of Mindy Kaling. We dance to the beats of Diljit at Coachella. We keep ourselves more or less fit and healthy doing Yoga," said Mr Blinken.

Indian Americans are the second-largest immigrant group in the United States, with their population estimated to be around four million.

US Congressman Rich McCormick had earlier praised the Indian-American community, which forms just about one per cent of the country's population, for paying six per cent of its taxes.

"Although they make up about one per cent of American society, they pay about six per cent of the taxes. They're amongst the top producers, and they do not cause problems. They follow the laws," the lawmaker from Georgia said.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised a toast to the India-US relations at the State Luncheon attended by PM Modi.

"Whether we call it the American dream or Indian dream...our people believe profoundly in opportunity. No matter who we are or where we come from, we can make something more of ourselves," said Mr Blinken as he raised a toast "to the shared hopes of the US and India."

PM Narendra Modi and US Vice President Kamala Harris joined him at the luncheon hosted by the US State Department in Washington, DC.

Meanwhile, the US authorities have unveiled plans to introduce 'in-country' renewable H-1B visas, aiming to simplify the H-1B visa renewal process for many Indian individuals employed in the US on such visas.

This development is expected to streamline, and facilitate the visa renewal process for Indian professionals working in the US on H-1B visas, and is one of the major takeaways from PM Modi's visit to the US.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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India US Working With Renewed Trust In New Emerging Technologies: PM Modi

India and the US are working with renewed trust in areas of new and emerging technologies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday as he thanked the American leadership for giving him a grand welcome.

Speaking at a luncheon hosted in his honour by US Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House, PM Modi said the two countries have added and expanded the scope of the cooperation in the defence and strategic areas.

"We are working with renewed trust in areas of new and emerging technologies. We are resolving long pending and difficult issues in training," he said.

He lauded Indian-origin Vice President Harris and her parents, saying "Your contribution to strengthening our strategic partnership has been incredible." 

"Thank you so much for this grand welcome. The sweet melody of the India-US relationship is composed of our people-to-people relations," PM Modi said at the event also co-hosted by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Litti Chokha Malda Mangoes" Served At Big Opposition Meet In Patna

Opposition leaders gathered in Patna on Friday for serious discussions about unitedly taking on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, but also devoured Bihar's famous litti chokha and "Malda mangoes" to sweeten ties.

The opposition meeting went on for a good four hours, including lunch, which the leaders enjoyed together.

At a post-meeting press conference, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, "Nitish (Kumar) ji has treated us to all the dishes of Bihar at lunch, from litti chokha to special gulab jamuns."

Another opposition leader said, "It was a wonderful spread of Bihar's cuisine with litti chokha being everyone's favourite. There were also special gulab jamuns and Malda mangoes, popular in this part of the country, that we relished."

The meeting was hosted by Kumar at his 1, Aney Marg residence.

The opposition parties resolved to take on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. At a joint press conference, the leaders of the parties said they would fight the election on a common agenda and with state-wise strategies, setting aside their differences with a flexible approach.

The plan of action is expected to be formulated at another meeting to be chaired by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, tentatively on July 10 or 12, in Shimla.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Kamala Harris Antony Blinken Host State Lunch For PM Modi

US Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday hosted a luncheon for Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the State Department.

Prime Minister Modi is currently in Washington on a state visit at the invitation of President Joe Biden. The two leaders held a historic summit on Thursday. Biden also held a state dinner for the Indian leader on Thursday.

PM Modi also became the first Indian leader to address the joint session of the US Congress twice on Thursday. He first addressed a joint meeting of the US Congress in 2016.

"The US-India partnership is stronger than ever. Together, our nations will shape the future as we work to create a more prosperous, secure, and healthy world," Kamala Harris' office tweeted on Thursday.

The U.S.-India partnership is stronger than ever.

Together, our nations will shape the future as we work to create a more prosperous, secure, and healthy world. pic.twitter.com/TYYqU5yFAJ

— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) June 23, 2023

"The partnership between the United States and India is one of the most important of the 21st century, and this visit will take our partnership to the next level - from space to defence, to emerging technology and supply chains," it said.

Welcome, @narendramodi.

The partnership between the United States and India is one of the most important of the 21st century, and this visit will take our partnership to the next level — from space, to defense, to emerging technology and supply chains. pic.twitter.com/B55N16jRt7

— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) June 22, 2023

Prime Minister Modi, in his response, thanked Vice President Harris for her remarks.

"Our partnership indeed holds immense potential for this century. I am equally enthusiastic about elevating our cooperation in futuristic sectors," he tweeted.

Thank you, @VP @KamalaHarris. Our partnership indeed holds immense potential for this century. I am equally enthusiastic about elevating our cooperation in futuristic sectors. https://t.co/BLcYI0Zh1c

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 23, 2023

She was among prominent personalities, including billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani and tech honchos like Google CEO Sunder Pichai and Apple CEO Tim Cook, who attended the state dinner hosted in honour of Prime Minister Modi at the White House on Thursday.

During his address to the US Congress, PM Modi said, "There are millions here who have roots in India. Some of them sit proudly in this chamber. There is one behind me, who has made history." 

He was referring to Harris, the first woman vice president and the highest-ranking female official in US history, as well as the first African-American and first Asian-American vice president. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Previous Government Suffered From Policy Paralysis Says Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Thursday the erstwhile Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government suffered from "policy paralysis" when it ruled the state for 31 months.

Addressing a public rally in Satara district's Maan tehsil, he said an "inactive government" assumed office in November 2019 and it was not concerned about problems being faced by people of drought-prone areas.

Mr Fadnavis assured local BJP MLA Jaykumar Gore that till the time their fight against drought in the region was not over, he would stand by people in their struggle.

"Today, the ground-breaking of a lift irrigation scheme at Jihe-Katapur was performed. A total of 15,000 hectares of land will be irrigated under the scheme. This land would have come under irrigation by now as we had completed all formalities but we went out of power (in 2019).

"After that, an inactive government assumed office, which had nothing to do with the Maan region, had nothing to do with the drought-like situation prevailing here, and had nothing to do with people suffering from drought. For them, people are just a vote-bank," said the BJP leader who served as CM from 2014 to 2019.

He accused the MVA government of trying to stall the irrigation scheme, which had already been cleared by the previous administration, during their term in office.

Mr Fadnavis said with people's blessing, their government (Shiv Sena-BJP) came back to power and work on the scheme picked up pace and assured that by December 2024, the region in western Maharashtra will get adequate irrigation water.

"I am giving you my word. The work (on the scheme) will be completed (on time). Today, the work has started, and by December 2024, irrigation facility will be provided in an area of 15,000 hectares. Funds will not be a constraint as I hold the keys of the vaults," said the deputy CM, who also handles the finance portfolio.

Mr Fadnavis said had the BJP government returned to office in 2019, administrative nod for the Tembhu lift irrigation scheme in Satara district, would have come by the end of that year.

The irrigation project, for which Rs 4,089 crore was allotted in 2018, will benefit the perennially drought-prone areas of three districts. The scheme is about constructing barrages on the river Krishna near Tembhu village and lifting 22 billion cubic feet water to irrigate 80,000 hectare areas in seven talukas spread across Satara, Sangli and Solapur districts.

"But unfortunately, the previous government suffered from policy paralysis. Their pen was not working, rather, they did not have a pen to their pockets, and that is why administrative nod was not given to the project," he said.

The MVA government, led by chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, was in office from November 2019 to June 2022.

Mr Fadnavis claimed in the last 6 months of the Shiv Sena-BJP rule, the government has given administrative nods to 29 schemes.

He assured that in the next one month, the state government will provide Rs 2,000 crore for the Tembhu scheme.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Nitish Kumar Calls On Arvind Kejriwal In Patna Ahead Of Big Opposition Meet

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday called on his Delhi and Punjab counterparts, Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann respectively, who are here to attend a crucial opposition meeting.

Nitish Kumar, the JD(U) supreme leader, drove to the city hotel where Arvind Kejriwal, the Aam Aadmi Party founder, is putting up with other AAP colleagues.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chaddha shared pictures, on Twitter, of the meeting that took place shortly after the visitors returned from Takht Harmandir Patna Sahib, a Sikh shrine built at the site where Guru Gobind Singh was born.

It is always a pleasure to meet with @NitishKumar ji.

He called on @ArvindKejriwal ji in Patna, ahead of the meeting of like-minded parties tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/g5qCb7XCQg

— Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) June 22, 2023

Meanwhile, Mr Kumar, who is in his 70s, seemed busy playing the perfect host as he travelled around the city meeting visitors like West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, CPI general secretary D Raja and CPI(ML) Liberation's Dipankar.

Other attendees like Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Sharad Pawar, Akhilesh Yadav, Hemant Soren and Farooq Abdullah are expected to arrive Friday morning for the meeting to be held at Kumar's residence around noon.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"No Plans To Shift Cheetahs Outside Kuno National Park": Union Minister

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Thursday said the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh has enough prey base for the cheetahs living there and there is no plan as of now to shift the cats anywhere else.

He, however, said the Gandhi Sagar wildlife sanctuary in northwestern Madhya Pradesh has been identified as an "alternative site" in case any problem emerges at Kuno in the future.

"But there is no plan to shift the cheetahs anywhere else for now," Bhupender Yadav told a press conference where he listed the achievements of his ministry in the nine years of the government.

He said the cheetahs are adapting to the weather and the habitat and establishing their territories and "we should give them time to do that".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the first batch of eight spotted felines from Namibia into a quarantine enclosure at Kuno on September 17 last year.

In a second such translocation, 12 cheetahs were flown in from South Africa and released into Kuno on February 18.

Three adult cheetahs and three cubs died in the last three months, prompting questions from several experts on the suitability of the habitat, prey base and wildlife management at Kuno.  Some even claimed that Kuno "lacked space and logistical support" and suggested shifting cheetahs to other sanctuaries.

In the wake of cheetah cub deaths, the Centre last month set up an 11-member high-level steering committee to review and monitor the progress of the Cheetah reintroduction programme.

The government and experts involved in the project have maintained that the mortalities are within the normal range.

The action plan for cheetah reintroduction anticipated up to 50 percent mortality in the first year of relocation.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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PM Modi Lands In Washington Will Hold Bilateral Talks With Biden

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Washington on Wednesday on the second leg of his maiden state visit to the US during which he will hold bilateral talks with President Joe Biden and address a joint session of the US Congress.

PM Modi arrived here from New York where he led a historic event at the UN Headquarters earlier in the day to commemorate the 9th International Day of Yoga, attended by UN officials, diplomats and prominent personalities.

The prime minister, who is visiting the US at the invitation of President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, will join them for the state banquet along with a number of dignitaries on Thursday.

PM Modi arrived at the Joint Base Andrews in Washington, DC where he was given a guard of honour amid incessant rains. The Prime Minister, who was wearing a raincoat, stood for the national anthem of the two countries.

Indian diaspora members braved rain to welcome PM Modi at Freedom Plaza in Washington. Some of the community members staged cultural programmes including 'Garba' and other folk dances outside the hotel in Washington DC where PM Modi will stay.

"We are very happy, this is a memorable event. We are very excited and looking forward," said Kavita, a Kuchipudi dancer representing Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

In his departure statement, PM Modi had said this "special invitation" from President Biden and the First Lady for a state visit is a reflection of the vigour and vitality of the partnership between the democracies.

PM Modi and Biden have had the opportunity to meet several times since his last official visit to the US in September 2021. "This visit will be an opportunity to enrich the depth and diversity of our partnership," PM Modi said.

PM Modi said his discussions with President Biden and other senior US leaders will provide an opportunity to consolidate bilateral cooperation as well as in plurilateral forums such as G20, Quad and IPEF (Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity).

Noting that the US Congress has always provided strong bi-partisan support to India-US ties, PM Modi said that during his visit, he will address a joint session of the US Congress at the invitation of the Congressional leadership.

"Strong people-to-people linkages have been instrumental in developing the trust between our countries. I look forward to meeting the vibrant Indian-American community that represents the best of our societies," he said.

In Washington, Modi will also meet business leaders and interact with the Indian community.

"We seek to deepen India-USA ties in key sectors like trade, commerce, innovation, technology and other such areas," he said.

The US is India's largest trade partner in goods and services, and the two countries collaborate closely in the fields of science and technology, education, health, defence and security, the prime minister said.

The initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies has added new dimensions and widened collaboration in defence industrial cooperation, space, telecom, quantum, artificial intelligence and biotech sectors, he added.

"Our two countries are also collaborating to further our shared vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific," he said.

PM Modi expressed confidence that his visit to the US will reinforce ties between the two countries based on shared values of democracy, diversity and freedom.

"Together we stand stronger in meeting the shared global challenges," PM Modi said in his statement.

From the US, PM Modi will travel to Egypt at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Border Police Officer's Son Shoots Dead Constable At Delhi Camp

A 36-year-old constable posted at the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) camp in south-west Delhi's Chhawla area was killed on Wednesday allegedly after being shot by the son of an officer residing on the same campus of the border guarding force, official sources said.

The incident was reported from the family quarters of the camp around 1 pm.

It was found that the constable, Bhoop Singh Meena, was shot dead in the house of an ITBP officer of 2IC rank by the son of the officer, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) M Harsha Vardhan said.

A case under section 302 (murder) of the IPC and Arms Act has been registered at Chhawla police station. Forensic teams have collected pieces of evidence from the site, the DCP said.

The accused -- identified as Digvijay, 32, -- has been arrested, he said.

The DCP said the private licensed weapon is in the name of the officer and the accused is unemployed.

"We suspect five rounds were fired. The motive is under investigation," the DCP said.

ITBP officials said the constable Meena worked as a cook and was posted on the Chhawla campus.

He is survived by his wife and two young children, they said.

The officials of the border force said the exact reason that led to the firing was not known immediately even as a court of inquiry (CoI) has been ordered by the central force.

They said the private weapon used by the accused was in the name of his father, ITBP second-in-command rank officer Lok Pal Singh.

The ITBP, an about 90,000 personnel strong force, is primarily deployed to guard the 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China apart from rendering a variety of duties in the internal security domain of the country.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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2 Coaches Of Express Train Derail In Bengal's North Dinajpur District

Two bogies of an express train got decoupled in West Bengal's North Dinajpur district on Tuesday evening, railway officials said.

However, there were no reports of any injury, officials said.

The incident took place around 4:30 pm when two coaches of the Jammu-bound Lohit Express got decoupled near Dalkhola, around 450 km from state capital Kolkata.

"The detachment between coach B1 (10th from the engine) and B2 (11th from the engine) happened at 4.30pm near Dalkhola. The coaches were reattached and services resumed at 4.55pm. There are no reports of any injury," a railway official said.

The official said the down Lohit Express was on its way to Jammu Tawai from Guwahati.

Nearly 300 people were killed and more than 1,200 injured in a train accident at Bahanaga Bazar in Odisha's Balasore district earlier this month.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Newborn Rescued Hours After Being Kidnapped From Maharashtra Hospital

The police on Tuesday rescued a four-day-old baby just hours after she was kidnapped from the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Maharashtra's Chandrapur city, an official said.

The infant was rescued and the accused woman was arrested from Hinganghat in neighbouring Wardha district, he said.

The accused got admitted to the maternity ward of the hospital on June 17 and got acquainted with a woman who had given birth to a girl and helped her, inspector SR Rajput of city police station said.

The mothers were recuperating in ward no 15, while the babies were kept in the adjacent ward no 14. Around 6 am, the accused took the baby from the ward claiming that she was taking her to the mother for feeding, he said.

The infant was soon reported missing from the ward and the police were informed, he said.

Senior policemen swung into action and roped in the cyber cell, local crime branch, personnel from Bhadravati, Warora, Hinganghat, Jam and other police stations, the official said.

"We examined the CCTV footage and launched a search for the woman. The accused was traced with the help of MSRTC officials and Wardha police," he said.

The accused was apprehended from Hinganghat around 11 am and the baby was handed over to her parents, the official said.

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Kerala Man Sentenced To 135 Years In Jail For Raping Minor Cousin

A Kerala court on Monday sentenced a man to a cumulative of 135 years imprisonment for repeatedly raping and impregnating his minor cousin two years ago.

Haripad Fast Track Special Court (FTSC) Judge Saji Kumar sentenced the 24-year-old man to various sentences, under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act, IPC, Information Technology Act, and Juvenile Justice Act, for a total of 135 years, public prosecutor Raghu K said.

However, as the sentences have to be served concurrently and the highest of them was 20 years, the convict will be serving 20 years in prison, the prosecutor said.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 5.1 lakh on the convict and directed the District Legal Services Authority to provide a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the survivor who was 15 years old at the time of the incident, the prosecutor said.

According to the prosecution, the convict was the victim's father's elder brother's son and used to take her to her school and bring her back home to her maternal grandmother.

Making use of this proximity and also by recording a video of the victim while she was bathing, he established intimate relations with her and got her pregnant, the prosecutor said.

The victim gave birth to a child who is in the care of the Child Welfare Committee, the lawyer said. 

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Man 43 Arrested Over Hoax Bomb Call At Hyderabad's Income Tax Offices

A 43-year-old man who allegedly made a phone call last week claiming that bombs were planted in three Income Tax (I-T) offices in the city and demanded Rs 1 crore to not detonate the purported explosives has been arrested, police said on Monday.

Police conducted searches at the I-T offices on June 12 and concluded it to be a hoax call.

The accused, Jaini Radhakrishna, who made the bomb threat, was apprehended at Hayathnagar here on Sunday, a release from Hyderabad Police said.

During the inquiry, the accused revealed that he had planned to create panic among the Income Tax Department authorities and demand money from them (through this act) so that he could clear his financial debts and also lead a lavish life, it said.

As per his plan, the accused dialled '100' informing the police control room that he had planted bombs in three secret places in the Income Tax offices and demanded Rs 1 crore to not set them off, the release said.

Cases were registered in three police stations and during the course of the investigation, the police nabbed the accused on June 18, police added. 

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Thai Man Vistara Staffer Arrested With 1.12 Kg Gold At Delhi Airport

Two men, a Thai national and a staffer of Vistara airlines, have been arrested for allegedly smuggling gold into India valuing about Rs 58 lakh at the international airport here, a customs official said on Monday.

A case was booked in this regard on June 12 against the Thailand national, who had arrived here from Dubai, he said.

The accused passenger planned to go back to Bangkok (Thailand) on the same day, the officer said.

During investigation, it emerged that he admittedly smuggled the gold in paste form by handing over it to an airline staff, who further acted clandestinely to take it outside the airport without declaring it to the customs and with intention to evading payment of customs duty, according to a statement issued on Monday by the customs department.

Total 1.12 kg of gold, valued at Rs 57.65 lakh, has been obtained from the gold paste, it said.

The gold was seized and both the accused were arrested, the statement said.

A senior customs officer said the accused worker is employed with Vistara as its customer service junior assistant.

Vistara is a joint venture of Tata Sons Private Limited and Singapore Airlines Limited (SIA), wherein Tata Sons holds 51 per cent stake in partnership and Singapore Airlines owns 49 per cent stake. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Will It Adversely Impact Hindus?" Uddhav Thackeray On Uniform Civil Code

Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said the Uniform Civil Code for all citizens is welcome but wondered if its implementation would affect Hindus adversely.

Mr Thackeray also took potshots at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the state-level plenary of Shiv Sena (UBT) office-bearers held here, the first since the split in Shiv Sena last year.

"We welcome the Uniform Civil Code for all but would it adversely affect Hindus? If they (BJP) could not implement the ban on cow slaughter in the entire country, how can the UCC be implemented?" he asked.

The Law Commission recently said it has decided to look at the need for a UCC afresh and seek the views of stakeholders, which include the members of the public and religious organisations.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Maharashtra Man 20 Beaten Over Relationship With Girl Dies In Hospital

A 25-year-old man died in Latur in Maharashtra after being beaten up a fortnight ago over a love affair, a police official said on Sunday.

Baliram Magar of Ausa tehsil was called by a resident of his Bhada village for a chat on June 3 and was then beaten up by the latter and his family, the official said.

"He died on Saturday night. After a video of the assault went viral on June 9, a probe began following registration of an attempt to murder case on June 10," he said.

"Magar was beaten up over his relationship with a girl from the village. We have arrested five of the seven accused. They will be now be charged with murder," Assistant Inspector Appasaheb Dongare said.

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Man Claims He Got No Aid After Home Acquired For Coal Mine Dies By Suicide

A man allegedly died by suicide in Chhattisgarh's Korba district after claiming in a video that his property had been acquired for a coal mine but he had neither got money or a job as compensation, a police official said on Saturday.

The land on which his house was built was acquired by the South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) and all efforts in the past six months to get compensation or a job were in vain, Dilharan Patel said in the video some time before ending his life.

Patel, a resident of Chandra Nagar Jatraj village, was hospitalised on June 13 after he consumed poison and he died on Saturday morning, Kusmunda police station in charge Krishna Kumar Verma said.

"A preliminary probe has revealed that SECL had given his son a job in a private firm. Further investigations as to why he took this extreme step is underway. For now, an accidental death report has been registered," Verma added.

SECL public relations officer Sanish Chandra said Patel was occupying government land and therefore, as per the rules laid down by the Union government and Coal India Limited's Resettlement and Rehabilitation Policy, he was not eligible for a job in the state-run entity.

"However, the victim's son Mukesh Patel was provided a job in a surface miner company working for SECL. Patel's house was surveyed and compensation of Rs 2.50 lakh was decided. The process had been completed and very soon he would have got the money," Chandra said.

SECL is a subsidiary of CIL and operates 41 mines in Chhattisgarh and 26 in Madhya Pradesh.

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1st batch of Jammu And Kashmir Light Infantry Agniveers attested

The first batch of Agniveers of the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAKLI) were attested in a befitting ceremony in Srinagar on Saturday, a defence spokesperson said.

The ceremony held at the JAKLI Regimental Centre commenced with a salute to the national flag, followed by oath taking, parade review by the Commandant and piping of the Agniveers, the spokesperson said.

"The young boys have been transformed into confident, capable, smart, and proud soldiers and citizens," he said.

It concluded with the Regimental song and the national anthem with the Agniveers dedicating themselves with resolve to serve the nation.

"The Agniveers commenced their rigorous training on January 01, 2023. Their training of 24 weeks has enhanced their physical fitness and endurance, sharpened their senses, made them mentally robust and taught them the skills of a soldier necessary to achieve victory in battle," he said.

"The training also focused on building their character, imbibing regimental traditions, military history and ethos, camaraderie and above all an unrelenting spirit," the spokesperson said.

The Agniveers will undergo another seven weeks of intense training before they join their units located across the country, he said.

In addition to military training, the Agniveers received instructions on varied subjects, which empower them to be responsible and contributing citizens of the nation, the spokesperson said.

"They embody teamwork, leadership, and dynamism. Their discipline, vibrance, dedication and determination to persevere against all odds is the spirit of a confident generation which will carry the nation in the 21st century," he said.

"The Agniveers have chosen a path, a way of life which is demanding, yet extraordinary and glorious and today they realised their dreams against all odds thus, setting an example for the youth of our nation in general and Kashmir in particular and will save as role models for the future Agniveers," the spokesperson said.

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Abhishek Banerjee's Yatra Ends In Kakdwip After Traversing 4500 Km

Trinamool Congress leader and the party's National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee's outreach campaign ended today at Kakdwip in South 24 Parganas district. The 60-day yatra from the north to the south of the state covered 4,500 km with over 135 events, 125 road shows and 33 district meetings in an effort to select the right panchayat poll candidates. The campaign had to be suspended for a day when the CBI summoned the 35-year-old leader for questioning.

"These past 60 days have been a revelation for me personally. I have stayed with people throughout. When I began this campaign, my critics in the opposition had said I won't be able to be on the road for six days, let alone 60. But I have proved them wrong, not even for a day have I gone back to Kolkata except for when CBI summoned me. Our opposition doesn't realise, the more you hit an iron, it becomes stronger," Mr Banerjee told party supporters at the culmination event in Kakdwip, where his aunt and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also addressed the gathering.

"These 60 days, I have donated blood, even met Bohiragotos. It has shown the people what a strong resolve can achieve. All those people who say Bangla doesn't have democracy, they have been proven wrong. We are not practicing violence in panchayat elections. There is 100 per cent nomination in zilla parishad elections. That is a record in itself. BJP, CPI(M) and Congress claim that they haven't been able to file nominations. See the numbers for yourself, you will see who is where," Abhishek Banerjee said.

"In the coming days, let us vote for Trinamool's candidate, the Ma Mati Manush candidate, make them win. And we will bring a revolution in Bengal. The centre's deprivation of funds will be answered by the people through votes. We will after the votes go to Delhi and snatch our rightful dues from the centre," he said, hinting at a protest over the Union government withholding dues to Bengal over corruption allegations.

Supporting Abhishek Banerjee, Mamata Banerjee alleged what she described as "verbal terrorism," while referring to the opposition attacks on her and her nephew. "They can abuse me as long as they want, but don't abuse Bengal. It is my request," she said.

Amidst allegation of violence, the BJP moved the Calcutta High Court and got an order that directed the State Election Commission to deploy central paramilitary forces for the panchayat polls. "Why aren't you using central forces in Manipur, where so many people have died? The same central forces were used in 2013 panchayat elections, yet over 49 people died," she said.

"In Cooch Behar, BSF, a central force directly under Home Minister Amit Shah, shot an unarmed youth Prem Kumar Barman. These BSF jawans had during the 2021 Bengal elections shot four innocent people in Sitalkuchi. Yet you are busy sending central forces in Bengal for any random event, how many central forces have been sent to other states?" the Chief Minister added.

"And only in two booths there was incidents. For that they said, come everyone with your entire swords and shields. They can do nothing to us with swords and shields. Parliament elections are held with central forces. Stater elections are also held. They go to districts and torture people," she said, adding the state plans to challenge the high court's order.

Bengal's Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari hit out at the Trinamool, saying democracy died a thousand deaths yesterday in West Bengal.

"Yesterday opposition candidates and party workers across party lines were shot at and beaten mercilessly across the state. Yet they marched on towards the BDO offices (nomination centres), fully aware of the risks. They knew what might be in store, but their resolve to dethrone the corrupt and cruel Trinamool at the panchayat level was stronger than any fear," Mr Adhikari said.

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Parents Protest Playing Of Azaan At Mumbai School; Teacher Suspended

Parents and political activists staged a protest on Friday at a private school in suburban Kandivali after 'azaan' or the Islamic call to prayer was allegedly played during the morning assembly.

While the school principal said that the teacher responsible for playing azaan has been suspended, police said they were conducting an inquiry though no case has been registered yet.

Azaan was played on the loudspeaker during the assembly session of the school around 7 am, some parents said.

Local BJP MLA Yogesh Sagar, who joined in the protest, claimed that it was done intentionally and not by mistake, and the school was trying to shield the teacher who was responsible.

The school principal told mediapersons that the teacher was suspended.

"We promise that this won't happen henceforth," the principal said, adding that Saraswati pooja, Ganapati pooja and Navratri pooja are also conducted at the school.

"A complaint was received in Kandivali today that azaan was played during morning prayers at a school. An enquiry is being conducted," said deputy commissioner of police Ajay Kumar Bansal.

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"Coming Together Of Opposition All Over India Will...": MK Stalin Warns BJP

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday alleged the BJP was not fighting its opponents electorally and insisted that the coming together of opposition all over the country will be the final nail in its coffin.

Thanking the members of the ruling DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance which held a protest meeting against the "Union BJP Government's blatant misuse of investigating agencies for political ends," in Coimbatore, he said the unity and solidarity shown there will spread everywhere.

That will shake the foundation of "BJP's invincible image constructed by false narratives," he said in a tweet.

"BJP has realised that an impending defeat stares them in the face. To hide the failures of BJP, it is resorting to acts of cowardice and arrogance, instead of fighting the opponents politically. The coming together of opposition all over India will be the final nail in the coffin of 'autocratic' BJP," he added.

SPA constituents had held the protest meeting in Coimbatore on Friday against the Enforcement Directorate arrest of TN minister V Senthil Balaji in a money laundering case. PTI SA SA SS

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Mumbai Cops Want To Carry Out Psychiatric Test Of Mumbai Murder Accused

A court in Maharashtra's Thane district on Friday extended till June 22 the police custody of Manoj Sane, who is accused of killing his live-in partner and dismembering her body to destroy evidence.

Sane (56) allegedly killed his 32-year-old live-in partner Saraswati Vaidya and chopped, pressure-cooked and roasted her body parts in their 7th floor rented apartment in Mira Road area of the district earlier this month.

Sane, whose first remand ended on June 16, was produced in the court of first class judicial magistrate MD Nanavare.

The motive behind the murder is not yet known and the police want to carry out a psychiatric test on the accused, the investigating officer told the court.

The accused had searched the internet to find out ways to murder and dispose of the body, some of which he followed while allegedly committing the crime, he said.

Information about the accused dating other women has come forward and his mobile phone has been seized for analysis as part of the probe, the IO told court.

A piece of paper containing names of online porn sites has also been found, the court was told.

The court then extended the police custody of the alleged accused till June 22.

The Mira-Bhayandar Vasai-Virar (MBVV) police had earlier said they have recorded the statements of more than 20 persons in connection with the crime.

It is suspected that the murder took place on June 4, though it came to light on June 7 when the police broke open the door of the couple's flat at Akashdeep building in Mira Road (East) after neighbours complained of a foul smell emanating from there.

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5 Jaish Terrorists Linked To Circus Worker's Killing Arrested In J&K

Five Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists were arrested from Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir in connection with the killing of a circus worker last month, police said on Friday.

Deepak Kumar, 27, a resident of Udhampur district, was shot dead by two motorcycle-borne militants from a close range when he had gone to the market to buy milk on the night of May 29. He worked at a circus in the Janglat Mandi area in the south Kashmir district.

The prime accused in the case received weapon training through WhatsApp video calls from his handler, police said.

Addressing a press conference in Anantnag, Deputy Inspector General (DIG), South Kashmir Range, Rayees Mohammad Bhat said the terrorists belong to Kashmir Freedom Fighters (KFF) -- an offshoot of proscribed terror outfit JeM.

"Investigations and searches were launched after the incident. During the investigations, we got some technical leads and some clues. In the meantime, we zeroed in on some suspects and they were interrogated," Mr Bhat said.

He said the investigations pointed at two people, Sehran Bashir Nadaf and Ubaid Nazir Laigroo, both residents of Anantnag town who had gone missing.

"We launched a massive search operation to nab them. Based on technical and human intelligence, we were ultimately able to arrest these two accused after which the whole conspiracy was revealed," he said.

Apart from Nadaf and Laigroo, three others -- Umer Amin Thoker, Huzaif Shabir Bhat and Nasir Farooq Shah -- have been arrested, the DIG said.

So far, one AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 magazine, 40 AK-47 rounds, two pistols, two pistol magazines, seven pistol rounds and empty cartridges each, three hand grenades, seven mobile phones and a scooter have been seized. Further leads are being followed, he said.

Mr Bhat said this group of terrorists had been working in south Kashmir for some time.

"We expect more arrests and further revelations. This a classic example of a hybrid terrorist module," he said.

Meanwhile, in a statement, police said prime accused Nadaf had been trained by a terrorist handler identified with the alias Khalid Kamran, via WhatsApp video calls regarding the usage of weaponry.

They had been instructed to find and attack minority community soft targets and instructed about the mode of recce and other details, police said.

The entire conspiracy of how weapons were sourced, passed on and routed to the actual trigger puller and how to maintain communication discipline as well as how to cover tracks and hide evidence has been uncovered, it said.

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"Rahul Gandhi Atishi's Remarks Not To Be Taken Seriously": Union Minister

Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri took a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks made in the US, saying his comments need not be taken seriously.

He also claimed that there is a difference between what the Congress says and does. He also took a swipe at Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Delhi minister Atishi.

On Mr Gandhi's remarks on the condition of minorities in India, Mr Puri reminded him of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and the Neelie massacre in Assam which claimed the lives of 2,000 people.

"There are two youth leaders. One goes to America...there is another youth leader...She goes to England and says that there are 35 crore people hungry in India. The Prime Minister is giving 80 crore people free ration, where these 35 crore came from," Mr Puri told reporters after the conclusion of a function of the Jammu Municipal Corporation here.

These comments made by these leaders need not be taken seriously, the Union minister said.

The Union minister, along with Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, launched a bio-plastic carry bag developed by the DRDO under the polythene-free Jammu initiative.

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Roads of Ayodhya will resemble Delhi's iconic Rajpath in coming months: UP CM Yogi

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday presented ambitious development plans for Ayodhya with ongoing projects worth a staggering Rs 32 thousand crores and said no other city in the country could match the scale of the development initiatives undertaken in Ayodhya.

Chief Minister Yogi further stated that "Ayodhya holds a special place in the hearts of millions of people, and even those who were not fortunate enough to be born here desire the opportunity. The people have a strong sense of Lord Ram's presence in their lives, and the construction of the temple will be a manifestation of their devotion and belief."

Mr Adityanath said that initially there would be difficulties during the development work, but to achieve the big goal, one has to face obstacles.

Chief Minister Yogi expressed his vision for the roads of Ayodhya, stating that within the next four to six months, they will resemble the iconic Rajpath in Delhi. The road going from behind Hanuman Garhi near Sugriva Fort to Shri Ram Janmabhoomi is going to be a glorious path in the form of the Bhakti Path. Previously, there were no such wide roads, but now there are ongoing projects to construct Panchkosi, 14 Kosi, Chaurasikosi, new bypass, ring roads, and flyovers. The development programs of hospitals, and education centers are being expanded.

He also added that the aim is to transform Ayodhya into one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

"Under PM Modi's leadership, Ayodhya, Mathura-Vrindavan, Prayagraj, Shravasti, Naimish Tirtha, Kashi, and Kushinagar are being developed. There is no dearth of money for development. For us, Janata Janardan and the state are families. We have stopped looting public money and sign that money is investing that money in development," Yogi Adityanath said.

One of the key milestones is the installation of Ramlala, the idol of Lord Ram, in his own temple after a wait of 500 years. This historic event is scheduled for January and will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, enhancing Yogi Ayodhya's significance on a global scale.

In addition, the government has also announced plans to develop Ayodhya as a major tourist destination, with the construction of a grand Ram Temple and other infrastructural developments. The main railway station is undergoing extensive development, while railway projects in Surya Kund and Bharatkund are set to commence soon. Ayodhya is also planned to get its very own international airport, expected to be completed within this year. This is expected to boost the local economy and create employment opportunities for the people of Ayodhya.

Chief Minister Yogi addressed a public meeting organized at Yogiraj Bharat ji's Taposthali Nandigram, Bharatkund on Thursday on the occasion of the completion of nine years of the Modi government. He also extended his wishes for the continued success of PM Modi's tenure, hoping that India would continue to benefit from his guidance and leadership.

Mr Adityanath expressed that Ayodhya has become a city that every major city aspires to connect with. Ayodhya has transformed into the new Ayodhya. Chief Minister Yogi set a target of lighting 21 lakh lamps during the upcoming Deepotsav. He called for the lighting of lamps in every household of Ayodhya, in addition to the Ghats, Math-Temples, Suryakund, and Bharat Kund. The preparations for this should commence from now itself, as it sets the stage for the arrival of Lord Ram in his home next year.

Further, the Mr Adityanath highlighted the growing reputation of India on the global stage and the improved security situation under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. He urged the people to participate in the upcoming Yoga Mahotsav, which is scheduled for June 21.

Mr Adityanath Yogi stated that "Under the leadership of PM Modi, New India has gained global recognition and respect. The successful leadership of PM Modi will continue to receive the blessings of the people, leading India to become the world's third-largest economy. This will raise the per capita income and enhance overall connectivity across the nation."

He further emphasized the transformation of improved infrastructure in Ayodhya, made possible by the government's efforts. In the past, the city road and rail networks were poor. However, due to recent development, the journey from Gorakhpur and Lucknow to Ayodhya, which previously took five to six hours, can now be completed in just one hour.

Looking ahead, the construction of the airport in Ayodhya will further enhance connectivity.

After the airport is built, there will be an opportunity to refresh the memory of Tretayug. When Lord Shri Ram would have come to Ayodhya by Pushpak Viman after the victory of Lanka. Today, every resident of Ayodhya will get an opportunity to fly in the country and the world through air travel.

Mr Yogi Adityanath recognised the need of working together with the mayor of Ayodhya. He highlighted the effectiveness of a "double engine" government, wherein the BJP government works together to ensure comprehensive development and public welfare in municipal bodies. This strategy aims to eliminate discrimination and provide basic amenities and development plans to all, from villages to cities.

The Chief Minister said that Ayodhya is becoming the most prosperous city and district. He compared it to the ancient 'Tretayug' period, when Ramrajya, an ideal form of government, was accomplished. Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, Ayodhya today not only embodies the spirit of Ramrajya but also inspires the entire nation.

He highlighted that just six years ago, there was hesitation in uttering the name of Ayodhya. However, under his government's steadfast commitment to the city's development, Ayodhya has witnessed remarkable progress and a renewed sense of pride.

He mentioned his recent visit to Surya Kund. He recalled that when he visited there 3-4 years back, it was in a dilapidated condition. But now, it has been transformed, which now serves as a testament to the vision of Ayodhya's development.

He also inquired about the current condition of Surya Kund from the people. He urged the public representatives to organize light and sound shows at 8 pm, allowing the residents to experience the mesmerizing beauty of the area. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of showcasing other sites associated with Lord Ram, such as Guptarghat, to the local community, especially women.

The Chief Minister emphasized that the once-deserted areas associated with Lord Ram's legacy are now shining brightly, symbolizing the transformation of Ayodhya.

He expressed his commitment to making Ayodhya the most beautiful city in the world and developing Bharatkund, similar to the success of Suryakund. The meditation place of Mahatma Bharat will be brought to life with mesmerizing light and sound displays. The pond will be beautified, and efforts will be made to rehabilitate the people residing in the vicinity.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to work during a period marked by the successful leadership of PM Modi.

He emphasized the need for a development-oriented government that is committed to public welfare and preserves India's rich heritage.

Yogi Aditynath conveyed his pride in witnessing the realization of dreams under PM Modi's leadership. The construction of the grand temple of Ramlala in Ayodhya, the beautification projects in Mathura-Vrindavan, and the upcoming divine Kumbh in Prayagraj are all testaments to the progress being made.

He urged everyone to cooperate in order to advance India's growth.

He further said that "We all will work together on this. For a successful tenure of 9 years, every worker should go door-to-door to create light and once again in 2024, the BJP government will be formed at the centre under the leadership of PM Modi."

Minister-in-charge of Ayodhya Surya Pratap Shahi, Minister of State Satish Chandra Sharma, MP Lallu Singh, Mayor Girish Pati Tripathi, District Panchayat President Roli Singh, MLAs Vedprakash Gupta, Ramchandra Yadav, Dr Amit Singh Chauhan, State President of BJYM and MLC Pranshu in the public meeting Dutt Dwivedi, MLC Hariom Pandey, Padmasen Chowdhary, former MLA Gorakhnath Baba, BJP District President Sanjeev Singh, Metropolitan President Abhishek Mishra and others were present.

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Congress To Introduce New Bill On Agricultural Markets In Karnataka

The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday gave its approval to a new bill on agricultural markets (APMC), replacing the one enacted by the previous BJP government in the state.

The new bill will come up in the budget session starting July 3.

"We had said that we will change the APMC Act, the Cabinet has approved the new bill."

"It will be introduced in the upcoming Assembly session," Agricultural Marketing Minister Shivanand Patil told reporters here after the cabinet meeting.

He said, "The intention with which the BJP government brought the law was not successful; for example their intention was to get good prices for farmers, but it has not been successful. Also more than one lakh families that were dependent like Hamals, traders, farmers have faced distress and bitter experience after this law came into effect, also trading at the market has come down significantly compared to 2019-20." "Cumulatively, the APMC markets used to earn a revenue of around Rs 620 crore in 2019-20, which has nosedived after BJP govt brought the law to around Rs 300 crore in 2021, Rs 200 crore in 2022, and Rs 194 crore in 2022-23. We need to arrest this fall and need to increase revenue of the markets, so bringing in new law is necessary," he added.

The APMC law that was brought in by the previous BJP government had removed restrictions on the sale of agricultural produce, thereby allowing private individuals to set up trade markets where farmers can sell.

It also curtailed the powers of local Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees (APMC) and allowed private individuals to start agricultural trading - buying and selling - if they hold a permanent account number (PAN). Before that, farmers had to sell only in notified markets or mandis.

Several farmer organisations and the Congress then in opposition had staged protests against the APMC law enacted by the BJP government.

Speaking about the changes that will be brought in, Mr Patil said, "we are saying that wherever they trade -- whether inside or outside the market -- the laws that are applicable in the market will be applicable outside too. Also, it will be the same with respect to fees and penalty." 

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