Month: January 2025

Actress Bhagyashree arrived in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, to attend the Maha Kumbh Mela. She expressed her excitement and praised the government for its arrangements, noting that the event is “attracting a lot of people from across the globe.”

In a conversation with ANI, she expressed her happiness about visiting Prayagraj with the family, saying, “We are very excited, have come with the whole family. We would like to see what preparations have been made in Maha Kumbh…”

Praising the government for the arrangements, she added, “The administration has made so many facilities. We will see that and take a holy bath in the River Ganga… The Maha Kumbh has been our tradition for a long time. The government has done good work, and that is attracting a lot of people from across the globe…”

Meanwhile, despite cold conditions, a large congregation of devotees gathered at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj on Wednesday to take a dip in the ongoing Mahakumbh.

As of today, close to 8.81 crore people have already taken a dip in the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mystical Saraswati.

On Wednesday morning, morning Aarti was also performed at Ghats.

Apart from that, the state’s first double-decker bus restaurant, ‘Pumpkin’ was also inaugurated in Maha Kumbh city on Monday.

The eatery features a kitchen on the ground floor and a dining area on the first floor, accommodating 25 people to enjoy pure vegetarian cuisine.

Today, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took the holy dip in Triveni Sangam during the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj.

Deputy CMs Keshav Prasad Maurya, Brajesh Pathak and other cabinet ministers were with the CM. The UP CM was seen offering thanks to God as he and his ministers took part in this spiritual moment. (ANI)

The Janata Dal (United) JD(U)), a member of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), officially withdrew its support to the BJP-led government in Manipur on Wednesday.

In the statement from JD(U)’s Manipur Chief, Ksh. Biren Singh, the party said, “In the election to the State Assembly of Manipur held in February/March 2022, six candidates set up by Janata Dal(United) were returned. After a few months, five MLAs of Janata Dal United) defected to BJP. Trial under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India of the five MLAs is pending before the Speaker’s Tribunal. After Janata Dal(United) became a part of the INDIA bloc, support to the BJP-led government was withdrawn by Janata Dal(United) by informing the office of the Governor, Leader of the House (Chief Minister) and Speaker.”

“As such, the seating arrangement of the lone MLA of Janata Dal (United) in Manipur, Md Abdul Nasir is made in the Opposition Bench in the last session of the Assembly by the Speaker. It is, hereby, further reiterated that Janata Dal(United), Manipur Unit does not support the BJP-led state government in Manipur, and our lone MLA, Md. Abdul Nasir shall be treated as an opposition MLA in the House,” the party said.

This follows the withdrawal of support by the Conrad Sangma-led National People’s Party (NPP) in November 2024, which had pulled out of the N Biren Singh-led BJP government in Manipur amid ongoing tensions in the state.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Sangma wrote a letter to BJP National President JP Nadda, stating that the Manipur government under Biren Singh’s leadership had “completely failed to resolve the crisis and restore normalcy.”

In the 2022 Manipur Assembly elections, the JD(U) won six seats. However, five of its MLAs later switched to the BJP.

Despite the withdrawal, the BJP-led government in Manipur is unlikely to face any challenge to its stability as the party holds 37 seats in the 60-member assembly and has the support of five MLAs of the Naga People’s Front and three independents. (ANI)

Addressing BJP booth-level workers during the ‘Mera Booth Sabse Majboot’ program, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assigned them with a task to expose AAP by taking pictures of broken drains, garbage heaps and lacking basic amenities and to share them with location.

“The BJP booth worker has a big responsibility to expose them (AAP people). You should take pictures of every street of your booth, make videos where dirty water is flowing, drains are broken, there are heaps of garbage and share those pictures with people along with the location,” said the PM.

“We have to remember that the biggest goal is to form a BJP government. We have to free Delhi from the troubles and problems that AAP-Da has put it in. Only when this happens, the resolution to make Delhi the developed capital of developed India will be fulfilled, “PM added while addressing the workers.

“I am sure that the strength of this organization in Delhi, with three to four generations of workers at every booth, will give BJP a massive victory in the assembly elections this time too. I am sure that due to the hard work you are doing at your booths, you are going to achieve a huge victory,” said PM.

Further hitting out at AAP and Congress, the PM said that both the parties had betrayed the people of Delhi during their respective tenures.

“The people of Delhi are now fed up with AAP’s AAP and their lies and deceit. First, the Congress and then AAP’s AAP have betrayed the people of Delhi a lot, said the PM.

Mentioning the aspiration of the middle class the PM said, “the BJP has considered the middle class as the backbone of the country’s economy. Understanding the aspirations of the middle class, we are creating every modern facility from education to health. But the disaster of these AAP people has given only troubles and problems to the middle class in Delhi.”

“The Government of India today spends a lot of budget for the ease of living and ease of travel of the middle class of Delhi. We have addressed the aspirations of the middle class of Delhi. Today, metro has reached every nook and corner of Delhi, there is a network of national highways and expressways. All this is being done by the Government of India,” said the PM during direct dialogue with the workers.

Taking a jibe at APP, the PM said, “These AAP-Da people are two steps ahead of Congress. It took seven decades for destruction and evil to come into Congress. But AAP took just seven months to inherit all the evils and now in last nine years, they have doubled those evils.”

Notably, thousands of BJP workers across 256 mandals, 70 assembly constituencies, and 13,000 booths listened to PM Modi.

The national capital will go to the polls on February 5 and the counting of votes will take place on February 8. A three-way contest is on the cards in Delhi between the ruling AAP, BJP, and Congress.

Congress, which was in power for 15 consecutive years in Delhi, has suffered setbacks in the last two assembly elections and has failed to win any seat. AAP dominated the 2020 assembly elections by winning 62 out of 70 seats while the BJP got eight seats. (ANI)

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minster Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday held a cabinet meeting at Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj and approved significant proposals and schemes for the state.

After the meeting, CM Yogi announced that three medical colleges would be established in Hathras, Kasganj and Baghpat. He further added that 62 Industrial Training Institute and 5 centres of Innovation, invention and training will be established across the state.

The decision to renew Uttar Pradesh Aerospace and Defence and employment policy was taken at the meeting. Additionally, to bolster investment in the state, the UP government will announce new incentives.

“Uttar Pradesh Aerospace and Defence and employment policy has completed 5 years. It will be renewed. New incentives have been announced to attract more investment,” Yogi said.

CM Yogi announced the issuing of Municipal corporation bonds for Prayagraj Varanasi and Agra

“And bonds will be issued in these three important municipal corporations of Prayagraj, Varanasi and Agra. Till now we have issued bonds of Lucknow and Ghaziabad. Very good results have come out of this. This is an important medium for branding the municipal corporation and for its development and a new vision,” CM Yogi said.

CM Yogi announced establishing the Prayagraj-Chitrakoot development region on the lines of Lucknow.

“Keeping today’s Maha Kumbh in mind, and taking action to link Prayagraj as well as this entire region with a sustainable development program, with the inspiration of Honorable Prime Minister, the government has decided to take it forward that as per the vision of Honorable Prime Minister, like in Lucknow, we have made a development plan by combining State Capital Region Lucknow and the districts around it, similarly we will develop a development region here by combining Prayagraj and Chitrakoot,” CM Yogi said.

“Along with the Prayagraj-Chitrakoot development region, in Varanasi too, a development region would be developed in association with the Niti Aayog,” Yogi added.

CM Yogi Adityanath also emphasized that Ganga Expressway will go from Prayagraj to Mirzapur to Bhadohi to Kashi, Chandauli and connect to the Purvanchal Expressway in Ghazipur.

“This (Ganga) Expressway will connect Sonbhadra to the National Highway,” Yogi added.

Earlier in the day, Akhilesh Yadav slammed the Yogi government for holding a cabinet meeting at Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj and said, “Kumbh or Prayagraj is not the place where politics or political decisions should be taken.”

“Kumbh or Prayagraj is not the place where politics or political decisions should be taken. To organise cabinet meeting at Kumbh is political. Many of us (Samajwadi party people) must have gone to take a holy dip but didn’t post a picture or told you (media),” Yadav said (ANI)

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will seek the death penalty for Sanjay Roy, the convict in the RG Kar rape and murder case. According to sources, the application may be filed in the Calcutta High Court within the next two days.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for January 27.

Earlier today, the West Bengal government appealed to the High Court division bench against the trial court’s life imprisonment verdict convicting Sanjay Roy.

Advocate General Kishore Dutta approached the division bench of Justice Debangshu Basak, seeking the death penalty. The matter has been allowed to be filed.

The Sealdah Civil and Criminal Court announced life imprisonment for the accused Sanjay Roy in the RG Kar rape and murder case. Along with this, the court has also fined Rs 50,000 to the accused.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has publicly opposed the life sentence given to Roy, and said that if the Kolkata police had investigated the case then they would have ensured a death penalty.

“I learned about the sentencing from the media. We have always demanded capital punishment and we continue to stand by it. However, this is the court’s decision and I can’t say much about this. For three other cases, Kolkata police ensured capital punishment through thorough investigations concluded within 54-60 days. This was a serious case. Had it been under our purview, we would have ensured the death penalty long back,” CM Mamata said while addressing the media at Malda.

On Monday, RG Kar’s rape and murder case victim’s father rejected the Rs 17 lakh compensation and said that he will move to a higher court seeking the death penalty for the accused.

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari extended support to the parents of the trainee doctor and also supported their decision to challenge the life sentence of main culprit.

Speaking to ANI, after meeting with the family of RG Kar rape and murder case victim Adhikari said, “I am standing with the family since the first day. I have talked to the parents. We support the family’s decision to reject the compensation and move to the higher courts for the further fight.” (ANI)

Congress leader Ajay Maken on Wednesday accused Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal of committing a health-related scam worth Rs 382 crore. Of the 14 Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports, one report suggests a scam carried out by Kejriwal, which is related to health, he added.

“The Delhi CM made his party on the basis that he will fight corruption… At that time, he made corruption allegations against Congress based on CAG reports. Today, there are 14 CAG reports that make serious corruption allegations against Arvind Kejriwal. One such CAG report suggests a scam by Arvind Kejriwal related to health which is worth Rs 382 crore,” Maken said in a press conference.

Maken made serious allegations against Kejriwal, claiming that the additional expenditure on three hospitals, which has been revealed in the CAG reports, was the reason they were stopped from being tabled.

“The CAG reports suggest that a sum of Rs 382.52 crore more than the tender was spent on three hospitals. This is the reason that Arvind Kejriwal did not let the CAG report be presented in the Vidhan Sabha. I am making a direct allegation that this is the reason that the CAG report was stopped,” Maken alleged.

He highlighted the delays in the hospital construction by the AAP government in Delhi, saying that only three hospitals have been erected in a decade, which started during Congress’ tenure.

“The CAG report says that three hospitals have been prepared in the last 10 years. All three of them were started in Congress time. The delay in Indira Gandhi Hospital was five years, Burari Hospital was delayed by six years and Maulana Azad Dental Hospital was delayed by three years,” Maken said, adding that an additional Rs 314 crore was spent for the Indira Gandhi Hospital in Delhi followed by additional Rs 41 crore spent on Burari Hospital and additional (than the tender) Rs 26 crore on Maulana Azad Dental Hospital.

The Congress leader further revealed that Rs 2,623 crore sanctioned for the infrastructure budget lapsed, from 2016-17 to 2021-22, since the money was not spent. Of the Rs 653 crore grant provided by the centre during the COVID-19 crisis, Rs 360 crore was not spent, Maken said, adding that the AAP government merely installed 1,235 medical beds instead of the announced 32,000 beds.

“From 2016-17 to 2021-22, Rs 2,623 crore sanctioned for infrastructure budget lapsed because the money was not spent. This was also the Covid period. This is criminal negligence that Rs 2623 crore lapsed. This is the reason why the CAG report was not presented. During Covid, they got a Rs 635 crore grant from the centre. Out of which, Rs 360 crore were not spent at all… People were dying due to lack of medical facilities and 56 per cent of the grant given by the centre remained unused… From 2016-17 to 2021-22, in four different budgets, they announced that they will install 32,000 medical beds… But only 1,235 beds were installed. Only 3.8 per cent achievement… This is also in the CAG report on which they (AAP) are sitting,” Maken said.

Maken pointed out that shortages of doctors were 50 to 74 per cent while the nursing staff was short by 73 to 96 per cent in Rajiv Gandhi and Janakpuri Super Speciality hospitals.

“In Rajiv Gandhi and Janakpuri Super Speciality hospitals, doctor shortage is 50-74 per cent… The nursing staff is short by 73-96 per cent. Paramedic staff is short by 17-62 per cent… This is what the CAG report says… In the Janakpuri Super Speciality Hospital, the bed occupancy rate is 20-40% because of a shortage of staff,” the Congress leader added. (ANI)

Devotees throng the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Temple in Ayodhya as the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of Ram Lalla’s ‘Pran Pratishtha’ completes 1 year on January 22 as per the Gregorian calendar.

However, the first anniversary was celebrated on January 11, 2025, following the alignment of the Hindu calendar.

Last year, this sacred event was celebrated on Kurma Dwadashi during the Shukla Paksha of the Hindu calendar’s Paush month. Therefore, this year, the Shukla Paksha falls on January 11.

The historic ceremony took place on January 22, 2024, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi performing the main rituals.

The idol of ‘Ram Lalla’ was carved by Arun Yogiraj – a famed sculptor from Karnataka. The idol is 51 inches tall and weighs 1.5 tonnes. The idol portrays Lord Ram as a five-year-old child standing on a lotus also crafted from the same stone.

Chief Priest of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, Acharya Satyendra Das also explained the logic behind January 22 also being marked as the anniversary of Pran Pratishtha.

“… According to the Hindu calendar, it (Pran Pratishtha) happened on Dwadashi, so the anniversary was celebrated on the 11th… But the Pran Pratishtha of the Lord happened on 22nd January, so many people are coming today for darshan… Those who understand according to English date are coming today… Today people are having darshan very well… Some have returned from Prayag, so there is a huge crowd…,” said Acharya Satyendra Das.

“This year it (Pran Pratishtha) was celebrated according to the Dwadashi date, so the next (year) will also be celebrated in the same way, according to Dwadashi. One year ago it was unique in itself, it was the second, it was amazing and that is why there was a huge crowd there… It was how Prayagraj is feeling today…,” he elaborated further.

Visuals from this morning saw huge crowds heading to the temple premises raising chants of Jai Shri Ram, while security has been deployed to manage the rush.

One of the devotees Ravi from Hyderabad said, “We had been planning for three months for this date… Three days before we went to Prayagraj and took a dip (at Maha Kumbh)… It took 500 years of struggle for this moment… Preparations have been made well, whether it be the queue system, security system, or comfortability inside the temple…”

Another devotee Vijaylakshmi from Rajasthan said, “We are here to celebrate his (Ram Lalla) birthday. We are very excited… It’s his blessings because of which we are here today… Many people worked hard to establish Ram Lalla in Ayodhya…”

Uttar Pradesh Minister Jaiveer Singh called the day historic and said After 500 years of struggle and sacrifices Ram temple was constructed in Ayodhya. Singh also mentioned the Uttar Pradesh government holding a special cabinet meeting at Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj today.

“It is a historic day. After 500 years of struggle and sacrifices, on this day last year, ‘Ram Lalla’ became ‘virajman’ in Ayodhya. Today, we have the opportunity to attend the world’s largest spiritual gathering of Mahakumbh. It is due to the blessings of God that we have got this opportunity today,” said Jaiveer Singh.

“What is more fortunate is that the UP is headed by a ‘sant’ and a Cabinet meeting will be held here, in which many decisions for the welfare of the people will be taken…All members of the Cabinet will take a holy dip in Triveni Sangam today.” (ANI)

The West Bengal government has appealed to the Calcutta High Court’s Division Bench against the trial court’s life imprisonment verdict convicting Sanjay Roy in the RG Kar case. The next hearing in the case will be held on 27th January.

Advocate General Kishore Dutta has approached the division bench of Justice Debangshu Basak, seeking the death penalty for Sanjay Roy. The matter has been allowed to be filed.

The Sealdah Civil and Criminal Court announced life imprisonment for the accused Sanjay Roy in the RG Kar rape and murder case. Along with this, the court has also fined Rs 50,000 to the accused.

Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday expressed dissatisfaction over the court giving life imprisonment to the convict in the RG Kar hospital rape-murder case and said if the case had been with Kolkata Police, they would have ensured a death penalty.

“I learned about the sentencing from the media. We have always demanded capital punishment and we continue to stand by it. However, this is the court’s decision and I can’t say much about this. For three other cases, Kolkata police ensured capital punishment through thorough investigations concluded within 54-60 days. This was a serious case. Had it been under our purview, we would have ensured the death penalty long back,” CM Mamata said while addressing the media at Malda.

On Monday, RG Kar’s rape and murder case victim’s father rejected the Rs 17 lakh compensation and said that he will move to a higher court seeking the death penalty for the accused.

Speaking to ANI, the victim’s father said “What the Court thinks as a good judgement based on the evidence produced by the CBI, the Court has given that verdict. We have a lot of questions on the investigation done by CBI. We did not go to the court for compensation. We want justice, not compensation. Kolkata police did wrong and the CBI will have to do something. The Kolkata police have given us more pain than the passing away of my daughter.” (ANI)

A mysterious illness has struck the Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in 17 deaths. Medical authorities have rushed to the area to investigate the cause of the illness.

According to Dr Amarjeet Singh Bhatia, Principal of Government Medical College Rajouri, a common factor among the deaths is the involvement of the brain and damage to the nervous system.

“Forensic departments from Chandigarh and Lucknow, and teams from MHA are present here. A common factor in all the deaths is the involvement of the brain and damage to the nervous system,” Dr Bhatia said.

He also emphasised the recovery rate of the people affected by this ‘unidentified disease.’ “Out of 9 patients that were admitted to GMC Rajouri, 5 recovered. We have conducted preventive CT scans also, but recovery becomes tough once the brain gets involved,” Bhatia said.

“We are hoping to find the cause (behind the illness) soon. We will educate the people and raise awareness among them like not to exchange foods,” he added.

While the exact cause of the illness remains unknown, authorities have ruled out bacterial or viral infections. The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, has assured citizens that the health department, along with other departments, is working to understand the causes behind the incidents.

On Tuesday, JK Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited Rajouri’s Badhal and assured citizens affected by the disease.

CM Abdullah told reporters, “The day when we got the information, the health department along with other departments have been working to understand the causes behind such incidents… Tests were done, and we reached the conclusion that there were no bacteria or viruses – that caused those deaths.”

“Later, we found that all those deaths happened in three families,” he added. He said that the authorities are yet to ascertain the cause behind these deaths.

“But, we are yet to find the reason behind 17 deaths… Since it’s not a disease, police are also involved in it and they have formed a team to investigate the matter. Central govt team is also there – and we together will look into the incidents to find the reason behind all these deaths…,” CM Omar Abdullah added.

An inter-ministerial team led by the Ministry of Home Affairs has been constituted to investigate the causes of the unexplained deaths. The team includes experts from forensic departments in Chandigarh and Lucknow.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday ordered the constitution of an inter-ministerial team led by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to investigate the causes of unexplained deaths in three incidents reported over the past six weeks. (ANI)