June 2023 - Page 30 of 52 - Lokmarg

IS Claims Responsibility of Badakhshan Mosque Bombing

By LokMarg 11th June 2023

The Islamic State group or Daesh has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing on Thursday inside a mosque in the northern Badakhshan province of Afghanistan, Afghanistan-based Khaama Press reported.

At least 13 people were killed and 30 others were injured in the explosion that took place inside Nabawi Mosque in Badakhshan province on Thursday. The explosion occured during a memorial service of Taliban provincial deputy governor Nisar Ahmad Ahmadi.

In a statement, the Islamic State in Khorasan Province said that the attacker had targeted the service near the Nabawi Mosque in Faizabad city of Badakhshan province on Thursday, Khaama Press reported.

Daesh in a statement claimed that at least 20 senior Taliban officials were killed and 50 others were injured. Daesh’s statement has indicated higher casualties than those announced by Taliban authorities.

Taliban’s provincial deputy governor Nisar Ahmad Ahmadi was killed in a car bombing in Faizabad on Tuesday. A memorial service was organized in his honour on Thursday. The Islamic State also claimed responsibility for the incident, which claimed the life of a Taliban official’s driver and injured ten others.

Since the Taliban took control over Afghanistan in August 2021, the Daesh group has increased its attacks on Taliban officials, foreign nationals and ordinary people, Khaama Press reported.

The Islamic State has taken responsibility for several attacks in Afghanistan, particularly on Pakistani missions, Chinese travellers and the Russian embassy in Kabul.

In December last year, the provincial police commander of Badakhshan was killed in a car bombing while he was heading to his work. Daesh has claimed responsibility for the attack, according to an Afghan publication.

In May this year, at least 16 people were injured after a heavy explosion rocked the Baghlan province of Afghanistan, Khaama Press reported.

The explosion, took place in Pole-Khomri city of Baghlan province in northern Afghanistan, according to the report. The injured were sent to a local hospital for treatment.

Taliban officials have not commented on the blast yet, according to the Afghan publication. No individual or group has claimed responsibility. (ANI)

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Cong Demands Central Troops For Fair Panchayat Polls In Bengal

By LokMarg 11th June 2023

Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Sunday wrote a letter to West Bengal Election Commissioner Rajiva Sinha demanding that action should be taken to maintain law and order in Domkal block of Murshidabad.

In his letter, MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that a reign of terror has been created in the area with a view to preventing the candidates from filing their nominations for the upcoming West Bengal Panchayat elections in Domkal Block.

“This is to flag your attention to the unlawful and terrorising situation being created by miscreants owing allegiance to the ruling party in the State in connivance with the local police administration in Domkal, District Murshidabad, which needs to be controlled immediately,” the letter read.

“A reign of terror has been created in the area with a view to preventing the aspirants from filing their nominations for the Panchayat elections in Domkal Block (PS Domkal). The goons owing allegiance to the Ruling Party in the State are carrying dangerous weapons to scare away the aspirants of our Party from the Office of the BDO, Domkal right under the glare of the Police,” it added.

Congress MP further mentioned in his letter that those arrested in the Murshidabad violence case are getting support from the police authorities.

“A cosmetic action has been taken by the Police so far by way of arresting one or two goons affiliated with the ruling party in the State, only to be released later on. What is even more worrying and surprising is the fact that these miscreants are being provided with all kinds of amenities while under detention and have been wielding weapons including pistols,” the letter read.

He further stated police are filing false charges against Congress party workers.

“At the same time, the Police have been resorting to framing false charges for implicating as many as 52 Congress workers, including the candidates for the Panchayat polls by way of resorting to sections including “non-bailable ones with the aim of preventing the aspirants/candidates of our Party from participating in the Panchayat elections,” the letter mentioned.

Congress MP said that the role of police will defeat the purpose of the election adding that forces should be deployed in the region to maintain law and order.

“You will appreciate the fact that this kind of partisan attitude and role of police will defeat the very purpose of the election and thereby undermine the Institution of Panchayats. It is reliably learnt that violence is expected to take place in the same area tomorrow with the intention of scaring away the aspirants from filing their nominations for the Panchayat polls,” the letter read.

“In view of the prevailing situation, as brought out above, I would request that immediate action be taken by the Election Authorities for maintaining a peaceful law and order situation in the area and ensuring the process of election to the Panchayats is conducted in a free and fair manner. For this purpose, appropriate steps by way of deployment of Forces, as may be needed are to be taken,” it added.

Earlier two persons were arrested by the police in connection with the murder of a Congress worker in Khargram, Murshidabad, West Bengal on Saturday.

The Congress leader was allegedly murdered at Khargram of Murshidabad on Saturday.

The West Bengal panchayat elections will be held in a single phase on July 8. The counting of votes will be done on July 11. (ANI)

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Yoga Guru Ira Trivedi Ties Knot With Madhu Mantena

By LokMarg 11th June 2023

Producer Madhu Mantena tied the knot with writer and Yoga teacher Ira Trivedi in Mumbai on Sunday.

Taking to Instagram, Ira Trivedi shared a series of beautiful pictures from her special day.

For the ceremony, Madhu opted for an off-white kurta teamed up with a dhoti while Ira looked gorgeous in a pink kanjeevaram saree and accessorized her look with white flowers wrapped around her bun and statement jewellery.

From Madhu kissing her wife’s hand to the couple posing for cameras, pictures scream love.

Sharing the pictures, Ira wrote, “I’M complete now.”

The couple exchanged vows in Mumbai. Hours after becoming husband and wife, Madhu and Ira hosted a wedding reception for their friends and members of the film industry.

Producer Madhu Mantena and Ira Trivedi were seen posing in front of the shutterbugs.

For the ceremony, Mantena wore an all-blue traditional outfit while Ira looked gorgeous in a white-toned sequenced worked lehenga.

She kept her tresses open and wore a green emerald diamond set to complete her look.

Several Bollywood celebs marked their presence after the wedding ceremony.

Actor Aamir Khan was seen striking a pose in front of the paps stationed outside the venue in a white kurta pyjama.

He posed with Madhu who looked handsome in a blue traditional outfit.

Aamir Khan’s son Junaid Khan was all suited for the party.

Hrithik Roshan attended the reception with his lady love Saba Azad. The duo looked cute while they posed for the paps.

Saba opted for a pink salwar kameez suit while Hrithik dressed in a blazer and trousers.

Madhur Bhandarkar with his wife were snapped at Madhu and Ira at the reception.

Three handsome and talented actors are captured in one frame.

Rakesh Roshan was joined by Anupam Kher and Anil Kapoor. And the trio were seen dressed in suit.

Apart from them, film director Nitesh Tiwari along with his wife Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari also arrived at the function in traditional outfits.

Mukesh Bhatt also graced the function with his beautiful wife and son.

The Bhatt family posed for the paparazzi.

Jackie Shroff arrived in a white blazer and bell-bottom pants. And his glasses.

He was also seen carrying saplings as gifts in his hands.

Jackie also got into fun banter with the paps at the venue.

Vivek Oberoi was snapped in his casual outfit.

Hrithik Roshan’s cousin Pashmina Roshan attended the function in a beautiful white lehenga. Also posed for the cameras outside the venue.

Sonakshi Sinha arrived with his rumoured boyfriend Zaheer Iqbal and Huma Qureshi.

On Saturday, the couple kickstarted the wedding rituals with the mehendi ceremony where B-town celebs graced the function.

Actor Hrithik Roshan attended the ceremony in traditional attire. He wore a burgundy Nehru coat over a white kurta pyjama. He was seen posing in front of the paparazzi.

Apart from him, actor RajKummar Rao along with his wife Patralekhaa, producer Nikhil Dwivedi with his wife Gaurie Pandit attended the mehendi ceremony.

Madhu was previously married to fashion designer Masaba. They got married in 2015. However, the duo decided to part ways and got divorced in 2019.

Masaba, on the other hand, tied the knot with actor Satyadeep Misra in January.

Taking to Instagram, Masaba shared a couple of pictures which she captioned, “Married my ocean of calm, this morning. Here’s to many many lifetimes of love, peace, stability & most importantly laughter. And thanks for letting me pick the caption – this is gonna be great!”

Prior to Masaba, he was in a relationship with actor Nandana Sen.

Madhu has produced films like ‘Ghajini’, ‘Ugly’ and ‘Queen’ among others.

If the reports are to be believed he is currently working on a film based on the epic Ramayan which will be helmed by the ‘Dangal’ director Nitesh Tiwari. An official announcement about the film is still awaited.

On the other hand, Ira is a yoga expert apart from being a writer. Her Instagram is flooded with posts on fitness. (ANI)

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Modi Will Return To Power in 2024 With Bigger Mandate: Annamalai

By LokMarg 11th June 2023

Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai on Sunday exuded confidence on his party’s prospects in next year’s Lok Sabha elections, saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will form a government with a bigger mandate in 2024.

Speaking to ANI, he said Union Home Minister Amit Shah had a fruitful visit to Tamil Nadu, as he took a lot of time out of his busy schedule to boost the party’s organisations in the state and addressed a public meeting in Vellore to encourage the cadre.
“…for 2024, we are very clear that PM Modi is going to come to power for a third time with a bigger mandate…We are very clear that Tamil Nadu will contribute in a big way to our victory as the state has reaped the benefits of development in the last 9 years under PM Modi and no other leader has truly represented our culture like he has. I keep saying that PM Modi is a Tamilian…nobody has taken an interest in the Tamil language and culture like he has He has revived the beauty of Tamil culture…,” said Annamalai.

Earlier, on Sunday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Tamil Nadu on a two-visit to four states and also addressed a public rally in Vellore.

Reacting to reports of Amit Shah “pitching for a Tamil PM in future”, he said, “…That was purely addressed to the workers of our party. The HM was very clear, he traced his own journey from 1982 as a booth president to our national president to a Home Minister now. He also traced the life of our PM…He said, from booth president to Prime Minister, all of you will keep climbing up the ranks. That is the beauty of this party.”

Hitting out at the previous Congress-led UPA regime at Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh later on Sunday, Union Home Minister said the “Manmohan government” did not have the courage to address the country’s internal security concerns, adding that the present dispensation, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has worked to make the country more secure.

Addressing a public meeting in Vishakhapatnam, organised to mark the completion of 9 years of the BJP-led central government under PM Modi, the Union Home Minister said, “During the UPA government, ‘Alia, Malia, Jamalia’ (any Tom, Dick and Harry) would cross over into India and unleash terror on our people. The Manmohan government did not have the courage to do anything against them. In its 9 years in power, the government under the leadership of PM Modi worked to ensure the internal security of the country.”

He said that within ten days of the Uri and Pulwama terror attacks, India, under the leadership of PM Modi, conducted a surgical strike and a precision air strike to give a befitting reply to the attackers across the border.

Shah was on a two-day visit to Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh that started on Saturday.

Shah’s event is part of the party’s month-long campaign covering all Lok Sabha constituencies to mark the completion of nine years of the central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (ANI)

Love Believes In No Barriers: Pankaja Munde On ‘Love Jihad’

By LokMarg 11th June 2023

Responding to a media query on ‘love jihad’, BJP leader Pankaja Munde said on Sunday it wasn’t on the agenda of the central government.

Addressing a press conference in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, Munde said, “…I believe love is love. Love believes in no barrier. If two people have come together purely out of love, it should be respected. However, if a woman is tricked into an interfaith marriage, it should be seen differently.”

To a specific question on ‘love jihad’ during the press conference, the senior BJP leader said it has never been an agenda for the central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“No such subject as ‘love jihad’ has even been on the agenda of the Modi government. The discussions are always centred on development and redevelopment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s focus is to put the country on the road to development and progress in the next 25 years,” said Munde.

However, on May 16, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said his government took a serious view of ‘love jihad’, ‘religious conversion’ and promotion of ‘terrorist activities’ and won’t allow such practices in the state.

CM Chouhan made the remark while speaking to reporters on the recent action taken by the Madhya Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) against members associated with the radical Islamic organisation, Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT), in the state capital Bhopal.

“We are getting into the depth of the facts that have come to the fore in connection with the HuT members. What is clear is that we have taken the issue of love jihad, religious conversion and promotion of terrorist activities very seriously. I want to make it clear that neither love jihad nor the vicious cycle of religious conversion would be tolerated in the state,” CM Chouhan said earlier.

He added, “Earlier, too, we had destroyed SIMI’s (Students’ Islamic Movement of India) network in the state and will not tolerate such activities at any cost. The investigation into the arrest of HuT members is underway. Madhya Pradesh ATS is working along with the central agencies in this regard.”

Ahead of the Gujarat Assembly elections last year, the BJP had promised to bring a law against ‘love jihad’.

Meanwhile, underlining the key takeaways in 9 years of the central government under the leadership of PM Modi, Munde said on Sunday these years have been marked by all-round development and welfare policies. (ANI)

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Gujarat Braces Itself For Cyclone Biparjoy Landfall

By LokMarg 11th June 2023

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Sunday paid a visit to the State Emergency Operation Center to review the preparedness of coastal districts of the state against possible cyclones.

This was in view of the ongoing ‘extremely severe’ cyclonic storm, Biparjoy which is about to make landfall at the Kutchh and Saurashtra coast in Gujarat as well as in Pakistan on Thursday.

The Gujarat Chief Minister also held a video conference with all the officials of the potentially affected area.

Chief Secretary Rajkumar, DGP Vikas Sahay, Relief Commissioner Alok Pandey, and heads of the Revenue Department, Energy Department and Road Building Department joined the meeting.

After a preliminary discussion with all heads of department, the Collectors and concerned officials of the potentially affected districts also joined through video conference.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department issued a Yellow alert for Cyclone Alert for Saurashtra and the Kutch coast in Gujarat.

“Cyclone Alert for Saurashtra and Kutch Coast: Yellow Message. ESCS BIPARJOY lay over the east-central Arabian Sea at 0830 IST today,460 km SSW of Porbandar,510 km SSW of Dwarka, 600 km SSW of Naliya. To cross Saurashtra and Kutch and adj Pakistan coasts around noon of 15 June as VSCS,” the met department tweeted.

The IMD had earlier issued an alert in Thane, Mumbai, and Palghar. It also asked fishermen in the coastal areas to be on alert from June 11 to June 14.

Meanwhile, high waves were observed at Tithal Beach in Gujarat’s Valsad, a coastal city on the Arabian Sea on Saturday. Tithal Beach has been closed to tourists until June 14 as a precautionary measure. (ANI)

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New Jersey Restaurant Launches ‘Modi Thali’ Ahead Of PM’s US Visit

By LokMarg 11th June 2023

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ensuing state visit to the United States, a New Jersey-based restaurant has readied a special ‘Modi Ji Thali’ as the PM Modi will be arriving in the US.

Prime Minister Modi will embark on his first state visit to the US at the invitation of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden in June. The US president and the First Lady will also host Modi at a state dinner on June 22.

PM Narendra Modi will become the first Indian PM to address the Joint Meeting of the US Congress for the second time.

PM Modi has a huge fanbase not only in India but overseas and there is an outpouring of love and adulation from the Indian diaspora wherever he goes.

The ‘Modi Ji Thali’, curated by chef Shripad Kulkarni, comprises dishes as diverse as the Indian landscape. The dishes in the Thali range from Khichdi, Rasgulla, Sarso Da Saag, and Dum Aloo to Kashmiri, Idli, Dhokla, Chaach, and Papad.

Recently, the United Nations declared 2023 as the “International Year of Millets” after a recommendation from the Indian Government in the year 2019. To celebrate this achievement and promote awareness of millets, the restaurant has consciously indulged in a lavish feast prepared using millets.

The restaurant owner also plans to launch another Thali dedicated to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar soon.

“We plan to launch this thali soon. I’m very positive that it’s going to gain popularity. Once this does well I also plan to launch a Dr Jaishankar Thali, because he too has that rockstar appeal amongst the Indian American community,” Malhotra said.

Indian Americans are planning to welcome him with an ‘India Unity Day’ march in 20 major cities across America on June 18, organisers have announced.

While a group of Indian Americans are planning to go to Andrews Air Force Base when the Prime Ministers Air India One lands on June 21 afternoon from New York, more than 600 community members are planning to gather at Freedom Plaza in front of the Willard Intercontinental in Washington located near the White House where the PM will be staying. At freedom plaza, the community will showcase the cultural fabric of India through cultural events representing India spanning from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, and West to East.

On June 22, more than seven thousand of Indian Americans are planning to be on the South Lawns of the White House when President Biden and the First Lady would welcome the Prime Minister amidst a 21-gun salute. The White House will be closing the registration shortly for those attending the welcome ceremony.

In the US, PM Modi will also address the chairman and CEOs of top US companies at John F Kennedy Centre in Washington. Followed by an address to the Indian diaspora at Ronald Reagan Center in DC in the evening.

On June 21, several top Indian-Americans are also excited to join Prime Minister Modi on the north lawns of the UN complex in New York, where he will lead the International Yoga Day event, soon after arriving in the country, thousands of Indian Americans are set to stand in support outside the UN.

This is not the first time a restaurant has dedicated a Thali to PM Modi.

Last year, ahead of PM Modi’s birthday on September 17, a Delhi-based restaurant launched a Thali named 56inch Narendra Modi Thali.

ARDOR 2.1, a restaurant located in Connaught Place, Delhi, presented the big-sized thali having 56 items, with the customer having the choice of opting for vegetarian and non-vegetarian food.

The owner of ARDOR 2.1 restaurant, Sumit Kalara, told ANI earlier, “I respect PM Modi-ji so much. He is the pride of our nation and we wanted to gift something unique on his birthday. So, we decided to launch this grand thali named ’56inch Modi Ji’ Thali. We want to gift him this thali and want him to come here and eat. But, due to security reasons, we can’t do that, so this is for all of his fans who love him a lot. Please come and enjoy this thali.” (ANI)

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Army Jawan’s Wife Alleges Molestation By 40 Men in Vellore, 2 Arrested

By LokMarg 11th June 2023

An Army jawan’s wife on Sunday alleged that she was attacked and molested by more than forty people and also verbally abused.

“More than 40 people attacked me. They verbally abused me using obscene language. They also touched me inappropriately. They are not letting our family live in peace. They are threatening me,” the wife of the jawan said in Vellore on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, the jawan had alleged that she stripped half-naked and beaten very badly.

The Superintendent of Police, Thiruvannamalai, Karthikeyan, said an FIR was registered under relevant sections on a complaint lodged by the jawan.

“Based on a complaint by the jawan, an FIR was filed under relevant sections. Two of the accused — Ramu and Hariprasad — have already been arrested,” the SP said.

He said preliminary investigation suggests that the incident was the fallout of a “civil dispute”.

“It appears to be the fallout of a civil dispute. Yes, some things happened. However, what we are saying as of now is only on the basis of the preliminary investigation. A thorough probe in the next couple of days will give us a better sense of what might have happened,” said Karthikeyan.

Further details are awaited. (ANI)

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Kejriwal Holds Maha Rally, Attacks Centre On Ordinance Row

By LokMarg 11th June 2023

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday claimed that the Ordinance that was brought by the central government in Delhi is going to be brought in other states as well.

Addressing the AAP mega rally against the Centre’s Ordinance at Ramlila Maidan, Kejriwal said, “We have come to know that this is Modi ji’s first attack. Through the ordinance, today dictatorship is being implemented in Delhi. Tomorrow this will be brought everywhere, Punjab, MP, Rajasthan…”

He further said that his party’s movement against corruption was successful similarly the movement to save Constitution will also be successful.

“12 years ago, we had gathered in the same Ramlila Maidan today to fight against corruption, I bow down to this platform, it is a holy platform. Today, from this platform, we have gathered to remove an arrogant dictator from the country. As the movement against corruption was successful, similarly this movement to save the Constitution will be successful,” he said.

The Delhi Chief Minister thanked Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi for ‘fighting the battle of Delhiites’ in the Supreme Court.

“The Supreme Court gave a decision in favor of the people of Delhi. I thank Abhishek Manu Singhvi from this platform for fighting the battle of Delhiites. Within a week of the Supreme Court order, the Prime Minister overturned it. For the first time in 75 years, such a Prime Minister has come,” added Kejriwal.

He further said, “Today democracy is ending in the country, this is called dictatorship. The Supreme Court said in its decision that India is a democracy, the people choose a government, and the government has the right to work. But Modi ji says he does not accept the order of the Supreme Court and he has changed that decision through an ordinance. Modi ji’s ordinance says that now there will be no democracy in Delhi, dictatorship will continue, Prime Minister says that he will run the government through LG.”

CM Kejriwal alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders kept abusing him every day but he has been busy with his work and will keep rejecting the ordinance.

“While implementing the constitution on January 26, 1950, Baba Saheb had said that the public would be supreme, but Modi ji has blown away the constitution. BJP leaders abuse me every day but it doesn’t matter to me, I am busy with my work. But Modi ji has slapped the people of Delhi with the ordinance. I will keep rejecting this ordinance,” the AAP convenor said.

AAP organised a mega rally at Delhi’s Ramlila ground on Sunday against the Centre’s Ordinance on control over administrative services in the national capital.

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal, his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann, Delhi Minister Gopal Rai and party MP Sanjay Singh addressed the rally.

Notably, eminent lawyer and former Union Minister Kapil Sibal also addressed the rally and spoke about the legal and constitutional aspects of the ordinance. Sibal attended the rally at the invitation of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Delhi Police has made a heavy security deployment around the Ramlila Maidan in view of the rally.

From May 23, Kejriwal embarked on a nationwide tour to seek support from the Opposition parties against the Ordinance.

The AAP national convenor has so far met with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav.

On Wednesday, Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal said that if non-BJP parties come together, then the Centre’s ordinance can be defeated in Rajya Sabha. He said this would send a strong message that the Modi government will not come to power in 2024.

The Union government on May 19 brought an ordinance to notify rules for the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) regarding the ‘transfer posting, vigilance and other incidental matters’.

The ordinance was brought to amend the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 and it circumvents the Supreme Court judgement in the Centre vs Delhi case. (ANI)

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Karnataka Launches Free Bus Travel Scheme For Women

By LokMarg 11th June 2023

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday launched free travel scheme for women in Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) under ‘Shakti Yojana’.

The free travel for women in KSRTC and BMTC buses was part of the Congress manifesto for the Karnataka Assembly elections.

Karnataka Transport Minister, Ramalinga Reddy briefed people about the Shakti Yojana Scheme.

The Minister said that the smart cards for free bus travel would be granted after three months.

“Three months will be there to apply for the smart passes. Smart passes will not breach any privacy. People in rural areas can reach out to help centres for those who dont have access to online mediums. The government is launching the Shakthi scheme today,” he said.

Reddy also added that the aim of the Shakthi scheme was to prioritise the easy and safe travel of women commuters.

“The ease of travel for women is the priority,” the Minister said

On the occasion of the launch of the free bus service, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala took to Twitter and asserted that Congress fulfilled its commitment to offer free bus travel.

“Shakti’ – the Congress Guarantee rolls in Karnataka today – Guaranteeing free travel in buses to Women across the State. Congress is truth! Congress is commitment! Congress stands with people,” tweeted Surjewala.

Karnataka Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa expressed his happiness on the launch of the Shakti Scheme and said that all the schemes promised by Congress in the state would have been implemented by August 15.

“We are very happy we are launching Shakti for all women of all ages. We have already started executing one by one. By August 15, all schemes will be implemented. We will start delivering as we promised,” he said.

The Minister also stated that the Congress manifesto promised the provision of buses for the state’s children and that more buses will be introduced.

“I have got 1.20 crore children upto 12th standard. I want them to avail of this service. In our manifesto, we had promised this. We will be adding more buses. Our target is 15,000 buses. We want them to avail all facilities,” said the Education Minister.

Amid the launch of the Shakti Yojana Scheme, a mixed reaction has come to the fore from the people of Bengaluru.

The majority of the women expressed their delight and said that providing free bus transportation to women will benefit everyone.

However, others said that offering free bus travel would make people lazy.

“I do not need a free ride on a government bus. Now they have put some other conditions for it. I am against it,” said a woman commuter. (ANI)

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