This Is My First Chance To Cast Vote

‘This Is My First Chance To Cast Vote, And I Feel Proud About It’

Akhshay Kumar Singh, 21, an undergraduate student in Lucknow, says being part of the government formation in an electoral democracy is a great feeling. His Views:

Till now, I was merely a spectator in the electoral exercise whenever elections fever hit the country. With my freshly minted Election Card in pocket, I feel a sense of pride that this year I will be an active participant in the festival of democracy this year when the nations goes to choose members of the 18th Lok Sabha.

I have avid interest in current affairs, and therefore I have been observing things around me for the past several years. I see there is a visible change in everything that governs us of late – be it infrastructure, education, health and overall, the stature of India in the world. Though I am young enough to make a physical comparison of what India was about 10 to 15 years ago, being an extensive internet buff, I have been extensively comparing the present situation of India (in every aspect) with the past and feel pride at the changes being brought about.

I must admit that I did not witness any previous governments other than the current regime but seeing the working and commitment of this government, I feel this is what how the state leadership of any country should be like – inclusive and dedicated for the cause of its people and its polity.

However, sometimes I also feel pity for some politicians and political parties giving absurd logics and making baseless allegations of some issues pertaining to the development or the society of the country. Take for example the Ram Temple – some are fiercely labeling it as a religious (Hindu) ploy of the present government to please a particular section of the voters and going to even senseless allegations saying that it was a program of the BJP and the RSS. The matter is as simple as that – Once a temple existed, it was brought down and a Masjid was built and again a Temple was built after the court’s order. Why such hues and cries in a country where Sanatan is deep rooted and was the original art of living when we came to existence?

ALSO READ: ‘I’m a First-Time Voter, But Have No Faith In Electoral Politics’

Being one of the first and the youngest voters of my democracy, I am very much excited and have also literally started a campaign, along with some of my friends, to spread awareness. Identify and educate new voters about the process of being enrolled in the electoral list and getting a voter ID made without hassle.

I also feel pity when I see the percentage of voter turnout in the subsequent elections that take part in our country like festivals. Be it any part of the country, it always remains between 40 to 60 percent making a mockery of the immense pains taken by the authorities and the amount of resources (including money) involved in conducting the elections.

More surprising is the difference in the pattern between the urban and rural voters where the latter wins (in terms of turnout) with big margins. If we (urban voters) claim to be more educated and more socially responsible, where does our commitment go at the time of voting? What I suggest is that there should be a system like some western and developed countries where you need to give a concrete reason in writing for not coming out to vote and face a punishment for making a false alibi.

As told to Rajat Rai

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Scams & Spectacles – Chronology Samajhiye

Scams & Spectacles – Aap Chronology Samajhiye!

Things are really not working as per the pre-determined script the two-man leadership of the BJP had master-minded, along with the RSS, on how to ride the jolly good ride once again to absolute victory in the coming 2024 Lok Sabha polls. From ‘Modi hai to mumkin hain’, the slogan in 2019, to ‘Abki baar, 400 paar’, seems to have got stuck in a filthy quagmire – and they can’t even blame the opposition for it. Indeed, it only reminds a shocked nation, especially seasoned journalists who understand the ‘system’, that, even then, an absolute majority seemed ‘namumkin’ for Modi – that is, until Pulwama happened!

The tragic, sudden and shocking death of 40 CRPF soldiers travelling in a convoy on February 14, 2019, on the Srinagar-Jammu highway, in a village near Pulwama, is still simmering deep inside the conscience and consciousness of India. The tears in the eyes of the family members have still not dried.

The attack happened moments after 3 pm in the afternoon. Anyway, there are too many uncanny and unresolved questions about the attack and how such a huge quantity of explosives was being carried in a vehicle by a lone man in an extremely high security and volatile area, and that too in what is perceived to be a ‘conflict zone’. Those questions can only be resolved after a ‘fair and free’ enquiry, which is simply inconceivable in the current circumstances.

The revelations by former Kashmir governor, Satyapal Malik, however, has been terribly disturbing, and his version has been quoted widely in the media. In all probability, his version might be correct, though a proper enquiry alone can only substantiate the final sequence of events, and the instructions allegedly given to him by the PM himself after hearing the news.

Well, during the attack, or before it, the PM was in yet another ‘PR mode’, shooting for an adventure series called ‘Man vs Wild’, dressed in safari jungle jacket, at the Jim Corbett National Park.

Since then, much turbulent waters have flowed down the bridge. Come to think of it, the BJP, riding high on its well-oiled, cash-rich electoral machine, backed by an organized RSS cadre with deep pockets, and, largely, a stooge media, is in a worse situation now then what it was in — before the Pulwama tragedy. The Ram Mandir ‘Pran Pratishtha’ hyperbole, as a deliberate Hindutva card, with blanket media coverage day in, day out, seems to have vanished into the blue, and even the saffron flags atop homes and vehicles have all but disappeared. The brazen push to make the secular Indian State turn into a quasi-Hindutva apparatus, with the PM leading the rituals in Ayodhya, apart from temple-hopping across the country, seems to have found a sudden road-block.

Indeed, he was last seen in the sea-waters somewhere on the coast of Gujarat, scuba-diving perhaps, praying to the mythical watery city of Krishna, wearing, as trolls claimed, a space-helmet – “so that his face is visible, while praying, underwater”. That is, yet another glorious adventure-spectacle, mixed with a heavy dose of religion, plus, a spectacular photo shoot.

The only other leader known to do such grand, narcissistic ‘spectacles’, often oozing with bare-bodied machismo, is Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, perhaps on steroids; he has predictably won a landslide for the umpteenth time recently, with no opposition party pitched against him in a one-man show, while his most formidable opponent and famous dissenter, Alexei Navalny, just about 47, seems to have been murdered in cold-blood, in a cold prison, somewhere in the icy wilderness far away from Moscow.

Thankfully, India still seems to be a quasi-democracy, with a firm belief in the secular Constitution drafted by Dr BR Ambedkar, culturally pluralist in its deepest essence, still clutching onto the sacred doctrines of freedom and equality in its heart and soul. The second Bharat Jodo Yatra by Rahul Gandhi has been a stupendous success, the India bloc has stitched-up a strategic alliance, the South, Bengal and Punjab are refusing to accept the BJP or Hindutva, and the Supreme Court has finally delivered a great, historic order of justice in an overwhelming atmosphere where injustice seems to be the order of the day. Inevitably, this paradigm shift has plunged the fake messiah and his fanatic followers into a quagmire of doom and despair.

The electoral bonds scam has exposed an organized, unimaginably gigantic, shadowy and sinister operation, putting the most efficient and ruthless mafiosi into shame, in what appears to be a multi-million, multi-mega scam, unprecedented in the history of any living democracy in the world. ED raids are thereby directly linked to patronage to sleazy enterprises, lucrative deals and huge donations to the BJP, whereby, sometimes, companies with a pitiable financial corpus are seen to be donating massive sums running into many crores to the party, using these bonds. This has created the speculation that some of them might be camouflaged as ‘proxies’ for big industrialists; or, some big business empires might simply be wanting a quid-pro-quo in terms of yet another multi-million cash-cow project, including, perhaps, stakes in a public sector company, like airports, mining and ports.

Hence, now, the slogan, ‘Na khaunga, na khane doonga’, seems as hollow, and bereft of ethical values, as most slogans coined by the PM.

ALSO READ: The Tunnel To Himalayan Disaster

Remember a man named Wakeel Hasan. He is one of the rat-miners who staked their lives and squeezed inside the rat-hole, the death-trap of the Silkyara tunnel, in November last year and saved the lives of the 41 trapped workers inside for 16 days. This, after the best of national and foreign technology interventions and disaster management applications failed to succeed. It became 24×7 prime-time news.

After the rescue operations, the PM had a ‘live’ chat show with the rat-miners. Later, reportedly, they were not even given alternative jobs or a financial package as reward – and thereby were left to their fate to rot as rat-miners for the rest of the lives. To add salt to their simmering wounds, Wakeel Hasan’s humble home was demolished by the DDA recently in Delhi. Surely, the meaning of gratitude is different for different people!

Besides, in a dark irony, Navayuga Engineering Company Private Limited — the company that built the Silkyara Tunnel in Uttarkashi which collapsed on 12 November, 2023 — had reportedly bought bonds worth Rs 55 crore. Reports claim that they had bought 30 bonds worth Rs 1 crore each on April 18, 2019, shortly before the Lok Sabha Elections in 2019. In mid-2020, the Andhra-based firm was granted the controversial Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail link project, apart from other projects.

Controversial, because, like the ‘Char Dham’ project of the PM, which has led to massive cutting down of trees, huge soil erosion and the fear of multiple-landslides in the fragile Himalayan ecology of Uttarakhand, the rail-link project was opposed by environmentalists as another recipe for an impending ecological disaster, after the watery sinking of Joshimath. Besides, reportedly, on October 26, 2018, income tax officials had swooped down on its offices, accusing it of violating income tax rules and laundering money.

As the joke goes on and on in social media: ‘Aap chronology samjhiye – please’! Surely, as another cliché does the rounds: ‘Modiji hain, to sab mumkin hain’!

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Ajmer-Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat Express

Modi Flags Off Delhi-Jaipur-Ajmer Vande Bharat Express

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday flagged off Ajmer-Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat Express, the world’s first semi-high-speed passenger train on high-rise overhead electric (OHE) territory via video conferencing on Wednesday.

The inaugural train will run between Jaipur and Delhi Cantt railway stations.
The regular service of this Vande Bharat Express will start from Thursday, April 13 and will operate between Ajmer and Delhi Cantt., with stops at Jaipur, Alwar and Gurgaon.

Notably, Ajmer-Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat Express is Rajasthan’s first Vande Bharat Express train.

While flagging off the train, PM Modi said, “Vande Bharat Express enriches the spirit of ‘India First, Always First’. I am happy that Vande Bharat train has today become synonymous with development, modernity, self-reliance and stability. Today’s journey of Vande Bharat will lead us to the journey of developed India tomorrow.”

PM Modi said ever since Vande Bharat started, about 60 lakh people have travelled in these trains. The biggest feature of high-speed Vande Bharat is that it is saving time of the people. From fast speed to beautiful design, Vande Bharat train is endowed with many features, he said.

“Vande Bharat Express will immensely benefit the tourism industry of Rajasthan. I am fortunate to have flagged off the sixth Vande Bharat Express in the last two months.”

According to the schedule drawn up for the newest Vande Bharat Express, it will cover the distance between Delhi Cantt. and Ajmer in 5 hours and 15 minutes.

The present fastest train on the same route, Shatabdi Express, takes 6 hours 15 minutes. The new Vande Bharat Express will be faster by 60 minutes than the present fastest train on the same route.

The train will improve the connectivity to major tourist destinations in Rajasthan, including Pushkar and the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, among other places that draw visitors in bulk around the year. Enhanced connectivity will also provide a boost to socio-economic development in the region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 8 flagged off the Chennai-Coimbatore Vande Bharat Express in Chennai. It was the second train in the semi-high-speed class to be flagged off on the same day after the Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat Express, which rolled out of the Secunderabad Railway Station in Telangana.

Earlier, in January, PM Modi had flagged off India’s eighth Vande Bharat Express between Secunderabad and Visakhapatnam.

The launch came a week after Prime Minister Modi flagged off a Vande Bharat Express on the Bhopal-New Delhi route.

The Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat Express has stops at Nalgonda, Guntur, Ongole, and Nellore stations while it covers its 660 km journey between the cities.

Vande Bharat Express is an indigenously manufactured, semi-high speed and self-propelled train set. The train is equipped with state-of-the-art passenger amenities, providing passengers with a faster, more comfortable and more convenient travel experience. (ANI)

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BJP's 44th Foundation Day

Nadda Hoists Party Flag At HQ On BJP’s 44th Foundation Day

Bharatiya Janata Party national president JP Nadda on Thursday hoisted the party flag at the party’s headquarters on the 44th Foundation Day of BJP in the national capital.

“BJP is a political party but it is working for the welfare of the whole nation today. Under PM Modi’s leadership, the party has made groundbreaking achievements. We got the inspiration from Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat under PM Modi’s leadership,” Nadda said.
According to sources, the party has planned a week-long social harmony campaign from April 6 till the birth anniversary of Baba Saheb Ambedkar on April 14.

Nadda has also written a letter to all state presidents and party leaders to participate actively in social harmony week. Apart from issuing the letter, Nadda has also discussed the outline of the programs that will be run during this period by video conferencing with all the state presidents.

Sources have told ANI that for the address of PM Modi on April 6, BJP has asked party workers through a letter that it should be ensured that Prime Minister’s message will be heard by gathering in the state, district, divisional, booth level offices.

The party has told the state units that booth committees and Panna Pramukhs at every booth should listen to the PM’s speech and all booth presidents should put up BJP flags at their respective homes.

Party has instructed that the BJP workers should organise seminars and discussions on the history of the party and the achievements of the central government after the PM’s speech till April 14. Apart from this, party workers have also been asked to invite intellectuals of the society on the occasion of party foundation day and to decorate the party offices with lighting and distribute prasad.

It has been made mandatory for the office bearers of the party and all the MPs and MLAs to participate in the Foundation Day programmes, organise at least three programs in one assembly constituency, and share the photographs on social media. Along with that instructions have been given to celebrate Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar’s birthday on April 14 by putting up his picture at booth-level programs.

BJP has also asked the workers that intellectuals and social workers of the Dalit community should be given detailed information about the programs being run by the central government for them. In this regard, garlanding of Babasaheb’s pictures and programs for cleaning slums will also take place.

On the birth anniversary of Dalit reformer and social thinker Jyotiba Phule on April 11, instructions have been given by the OBC Morcha at the party’s mandal level to organise health check-up camps and honour senior citizens and reward meritorious students and also to honour the senior BJP workers.

Also on the party foundation day instructions have been given to invite and felicitate the workers working since Jana Sangh days. During social harmony week, all the fronts of the BJP will run different campaigns. (ANI)

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Kiren Rijiju

Rahul Inviting Foreign Interference Into India’s Internal Matters Is Intolerable: Rijiju

Union Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday criticized Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi for inviting foreign powers to interfere in India’s internal matters and said “remember, Indian Judiciary can’t be influenced by foreign interference. India won’t tolerate ‘foreign influence’ anymore because our Prime Minister is Narendra Modi.”

“Thank you Rahul Gandhi for inviting foreign powers for interference into India’s internal matters. Remember, Indian Judiciary can’t be influenced by foreign interference. India won’t tolerate ‘foreign influence’ anymore because our Prime Minister is:- Shri @narendramodi
Ji,” tweeted the Minister.

Rijiju reacted to Congress leader Digvijay Singh’s tweet which thanked the German Foreign Affairs Ministry and Richard Walker for taking note of how Democracy is being compromised in India through the persecution of Rahul Gandhi who was recently disqualified as a member of the Lok Sabha.

German Foreign Ministry spokesperson recently made comments on Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification episode and stated that “It is taking note of verdict, suspension from parliament appeal will show whether verdict stands & suspension has basis and expects standards of judicial independence & democratic principles to apply”.

Recently, the All India Bar Association (AIBA) has said that the Lok Sabha Secretariat has committed an error in disqualifying Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from membership of the Lok Sabha without referring the matter to the President of India under Article 103 of the Constitution of India and the opportunity of being heard was not provided to Rahul Gandhi.

The AIBA welcomes the Surat Chief Judicial Magistrate Court verdict in the case as it underlines the constitutional right concerning the right to speech. The order against Rahul Gandhi merely underscores the importance of liberty to speak, but with responsibility.

In a statement, Adish C Aggarwala, senior advocate and Chairman of AIBA said the fundamental right to speech is not unfettered and the right has been tempered by restrictions. Every common man in general, political parties and public figures like Rahul Gandhi in particular, should be aware of that. If speeches are made with restrictions and responsibilities in mind, it will save a lot of national resources.

AIBA, therefore, on this occasion, urges all political leaders and public figures to deliver speeches with a sense of responsibility without offending the cherished feelings of anyone, said Aggarwala, who is former Vice Chairman of the Bar Council of India and Supreme Court Bar Association.

However, while the court has done its duty by following the Constitution and legal precedents, the Lok Sabha Secretariat should have followed the procedure specified under Article 103 of the Constitution instead of summarily issuing a disqualification notification within a day of the judgment, said the AIBA statement. (ANI)

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Foes In Kerala But Friends Here: Modi’s Dig At Left-Cong Alliance In Tripura

Govt Blocks YouTube Vids, Tweets Sharing BBC Film On Modi

Multiple YouTube videos sharing the first episode of the BBC documentary “India: The Modi Question” has been blocked as per the directions issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, sources said on Saturday.

Along with YouTube videos, the Centre has also directed Twitter to block over 50 tweets containing links to the concerned YouTube videos.

YouTube and Twitter complied with the government after directions were reportedly issued by Secretary, of Information, and Broadcasting on Friday using the emergency powers under the IT Rules, 2021.

UK’s National broadcaster British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) aired a two-part series attacking PM Modi’s tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister during the Gujarat riots of 2002. The documentary sparked outrage and was removed from select platforms.

On Thursday, India denounced the controversial BBC documentary series on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and described it as a “propaganda piece” that is designed to push a discredited narrative.

“We think this is a propaganda piece designed to push a particular discredited narrative. The bias and the lack of objectivity and frankly continuing colonial mindset are blatantly visible,” said External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi during a weekly media briefing.

Even though the documentary was not made available in India by BBC in India, some YouTube channels appear to have uploaded it to promote an anti-India agenda.

Sources said that YouTube has also been instructed to block the video if it is again uploaded on its platform. They added Twitter has also been directed to identify and block the tweets containing the link to the video on other platforms.

This decision was made after top government officials from across several ministries examined the documentary and found it to be an attempt to cast aspersions on the authority and credibility of the Supreme Court of India and sow divisions among various Indian communities.

The sources added that the documentary was accordingly found to be undermining the sovereignty and integrity of India, and having the potential to adversely impact India’s friendly relations with foreign States. (ANI)

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Elections In J-K

Elections To Be Held In J-K After Voters’ List Compilation: Shah

In a major announcement, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that the elections will be held in Jammu and Kashmir will “full transparency” as soon as the work of compiling the voters’ list is completed.

Shah said that manner in which delimitation has been done in the region, representatives of the people’s choice will be elected.
“As soon as the work of compiling the voters’ list is completed, elections will be held in J&K with full transparency. Earlier the delimitation was done in such a way that only the representatives from the three families would be elected, no matter what you do. The delimitation that Election Commission has done, your own representatives will win the elections and rule,” Shah said while addressing a rally in Baramulla on the last day of his three-day visit to J-K.

Assembly polls to elect the government in the Union Territory are due since the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A on August 5, 2019. The Centre while abrogating the special status of the region, had said that the status of state will be given to Jammu and Kashmir at the appropriate time and the elections will be held after delimitation.

The orders of the Delimitation Commission were effective from May 20 with the Centre choosing the day for the move using powers of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.

As per the final Delimitation Order, out of the 90 Assembly Constituencies (ACs) in Jammu and Kashmir, 43 will be part of the Jammu region and 47 for the Kashmir region keeping in view the provisions of Section 9(1)(a) of the Delimitation Act, 2002 and Section 60(2)(b) of Jammu & Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019.

The Delimitation Commission was entrusted with the work of delimiting the Assembly and Parliamentary Constituencies in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir on the basis of the 2011 Census and in accordance with the provisions of Part-V of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 (34 of 2019) and the provisions of Delimitation Act, 2002(33 of 2002).

Earlier today, Shah chaired a security review meeting with senior officials in Srinagar.

J-K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and other senior officials were present at the meeting including J-K Director General of Police Dilbag Singh, top officials of the Army, paramilitary forces, state police and civil administration.

Before concluding his visit to the Union Territory, Shah will also launch and lay foundation stones for various development projects in Srinagar around 3.30 pm.

Earlier on Tuesday, the home minister visited the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra where he offered prayers. Notably, this was Shah’s first visit to the holy shrine after being appointed the Home Minister of the Modi government 2.0. His visit, during which he was accompanied by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Union Minister Jitendra Singh, coincided with the ninth day of the ongoing Navratri festival. (ANI)

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Mehbooba Alleges House Arrest, Police Says She Is Free To Travel

Amid Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir, former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday claimed that she was under house arrest and was prevented from attending a wedding in Pattan town in the Baramulla district. Srinagar Police, however, refuted the allegation.

“While HM is going around Kashmir beating drums of normalcy, I am under house arrest for simply wanting to visit Pattan for a worker’s wedding. If an ex-CM’s fundamental rights can be suspended so easily, one can’t even imagine the plight of a commoner,” Mufti wrote on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/MehboobaMufti/status/1577511109632094215

Responding to Mehbooba Mufti’s tweet, Srinagar Police posted on its Twitter handle: “It is clarified that no restriction of any kind travel to Pattan, travel to Pattan was at 1 pm as intimated to us. The picture tweeted by her is of the inside of the gate with its own lock of residents who stay in the bungalow. There is no lock or any restrictions. She is free to travel.”

Mehbooba Mufti then responded with the tweet, “I was informed last night by SP Baramulla Rayees Mohammad Bhat that I wouldn’t be allowed to travel to Pattan. Today Jammu and Kashmir police have themselves locked my gates from inside & are now lying through their teeth. Sad that law enforcement agencies are brazenly trying to cover up their tracks.”

Amit Shah arrived in Jammu on Tuesday and offered prayers at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra.

This is the second visit by Amit Shah to Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 by the Modi government in August 2019.

Meanwhile, Shah met people from different communities including Gujjar-Bakarwal, Rajput, Pahari, and Jammu Sikh Community on Tuesday.

On the second day of his visit today (October 5) Shah held a meeting with senior officials to review the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir. (ANI)

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Modi Replaced Stones With Computers, Jobs: Shah In J-K

Highlighting the Modi government’s development push in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday that the Centre had given computers and employment to youth who earlier held stones in their hands.

The Union home minister, who launched development projects of around Rs 1,960 crore in Jammu, was referring to past incidents of stone-pelting which would be frequently reported from the valley.
“After the abrogation of Article 370, people in J-K got benefits from various government schemes. Democracy is strengthened when people welcome the change. It is important to identify the three families of J-K which nurtured separatism instead of development,” Shah said.

He said the central government gave computers and employment to the youth who earlier held stones in their hands.

“Earlier there were stone-pelting incidents. But, no such incidents are there now. We have to understand the change that has come now. We identified those in the administration who were supporting terrorism and rooted them out. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken out ‘Jamhooriyat’ (democracy) from three families in Jammu and Kashmir and has taken it to the people through 30,000 Panchayati raj members,” said Shah.

In the 70 years since independence, the Home Minister said only Rs 15,000 crore were invested in Jammu and Kashmir, but since 2019, an investment of about Rs 56,000 crore has been brought in the erstwhile state.

Shah further said that the youth of J-K will benefit greatly from tourism. He said 50 lakh tourists have visited Jammu and 22 lakh tourists have visited Kashmir in recent months.

“Earlier the delimitation was done only for the benefit of three families. For the first time post Independence, there has been a real delimitation in Jammu and Kashmir now, due to which the people of the hilly region have got their rights,” Shah added.

Shah, who is on a 3-day visit to J-K, reached Jammu Monday evening after which he met people from various communities including Gujjar-Bakarwal, Rajput, Pahari, and Sikhs.

He began his day on Tuesday with a visit to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra where he offered prayers. Notably, this was Shah’s first visit to the holy shrine after being appointed the Home Minister of the Modi government 2.0.

His visit, during which he was accompanied by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Union Minister Jitendra Singh, coincided with the ninth day of the ongoing Navratri festival.

Shah is slated to hold a number of crucial meetings including the ones regarding the security situation in the region on Wednesday. He will review the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir at a meeting that is slated to be held at Raj Bhavan in Srinagar.

LG Manoj Sinha, top officials of the Army, paramilitary forces, state police, and civil administration will take part in this high-level meeting expected to begin at 10 am tomorrow.

Before concluding his visit to the Union Territory, Shah will also launch and lay foundation stones for various development projects in Srinagar tomorrow afternoon. (ANI)

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Akhilesh Politicising Kanpur Acccident

Akhilesh Is Politicising Kanpur Accident: BJP MP

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Rajya Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh Ashok Bajpai on Monday slammed SP chief Akhilesh Yadav for saying that the Kanpur accident was due to bad roads and added that instead of expressing grief, he was politicizing the incident.

Speaking to ANI, Ashok Bajpai said, “Instead of expressing grief over the Kanpur accident, Akhilesh Yadav is playing politics on it and I think it does not suit him.” The accident was unfortunate.”
Bajpai further slammed Akhilesh Yadav and said that during Yadav’s government, the entire road had potholes.

“During Akhilesh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh there were no potholes in the road, the entire road was covered with potholes. It is now that the conditions of roads have improved and are one of the best in the state,” the BJP MP told ANI.

BJP Upper House MP from Uttar Pradesh further told ANI, “I feel pity for Akhilesh Yadav because most roads have been constructed under the Bharatiya Janata Party government, whether it is the government of Uttar Pradesh or the central government. Be it the construction of national highways or expressways or local roads, such large-scale roads were never built after independence”.

“I would like to inform Akhilesh Yadav that special attention has been paid to the quality of the construction of the road during BJP rule,” he added

Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday attacked the ruling BJP over road accidents in Uttar Pradesh, alleging that the Kanpur tragedy was a result of the poor condition of roads in the state.

In a statement issued from the SP headquarters on Sunday, Akhilesh alleged that the road accident victims are not even getting ambulances under the BJP government. He also alleged that the injured in the Kanpur incident, in which 26 people lost their lives, were taken to hospital on motorcycles.

Akhilesh said that roads across UP are in shambles and are marred with potholes. (ANI)

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