SC verdict on EVM a vindication of our faith in institutions: PM Modi in Bihar rallies

SC verdict on EVM a vindication of our faith in institutions: PM Modi in Bihar rallies Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asserted that the Supreme Court judgment on Electronic Voting Machines was a ''tight slap'' to the Congress-led opposition which must ''apologise'' for committing the ''sin'' of creating distrust against EVMs. The prime minister, who addressed back-to-back election rallies at Araria and Munger Lok Sabha constituencies in Bihar, also charged the opposition with trying to ''steal'' reservations meant for OBCs, SCs and STs ''for the sake of their favourite vote bank of Muslims''. ''When the Congress, the RJD and other INDI alliance parties were in power, the poor, backwards and Dalits used to be deprived of their votes through booth capture. With the introduction of Electronic Voting Machines, they are no longer able to play their old game. Hence, they committed the sin of creating distrust against EVMs,'' alleged the Prime Minister in Araria. ''But today, the highest court of the land has delivered a verdict a few hours earlier which comes as a tight slap to these parties'', said Modi, referring to the judgment by which pleas seeking cross-verification of votes cast through EVMs with VVPAT have been rejected. The prime minister also accused the Congress of having ''stolen'' reservations meant for the OBCs and transferring the benefits to Muslims in Karnataka, where the party is in power and wanted to replicate the ''conspiracy'' in the rest of the country, including in Bihar where its ally RJD has ''not spoken a word against'' the move in the southern state. ''Being an OBC myself, I know the hardships faced by the backward classes'', said Modi, adding ''In future, they may loot reservations for SCs and STs as well''. Claiming that the previous government headed by Manmohan Singh had given its ''assent'' for reservations to Muslims, the prime minister slammed the Congress and its ''ecosystem'' for ''trying to browbeat me, without success''. ''I will not allow reservations meant for SCs, STs and OBCs to be diverted for vote bank politics. This is Modi's guarantee'', he said. Reiterating that the Congress manifesto bore ''the imprint of Muslim League'', Modi said the party's ''injustice towards Hindus stands exposed''. ''I say the poor have the first claim on the country's resources. Congress, RJD and their allies say the first claim is of their vote bank. They want to steal your belongings, even mangalsutras of women'', he alleged. Modi also tore into Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and technocrat Sam Pitroda, without mentioning either of them by name, alleging ''the Shehzada (crown prince) of the Congress and his Guru do not want you to bequeath your property to your children. They have come up with the dreadful idea of imposing inheritance tax''. He also coined a slogan ''Congress ki loot, zindagi ke saath bhi zindagi ke baad bhi'', to allege that the opposition party wanted to rob people of their belongings during their lifetime and after their death, deprive their offspring of the same. ''The RJD is quiet on the Congress' plans to track every citizen's wealth and snatch away 50 per cent of it if the INDI alliance came to power. Both allies want to enjoy the loot'', charged the PM. In Munger, the prime minister also referred to the world-renowned Bihar School of Yoga and lashed out at ''those with a slave mentality'' for ''handing over to the foreigners what was an ancient discipline with origins in our land''. He also said, ''These opposition parties also display their slave mentality when they ridicule me for calling India the mother of democracy''. The Prime Minister also referred to Iqbal Ansari, the Muslim litigant in the Ayodhya title suit and his ''proud presence at the consecration of Ram temple,'' adding ''The Congress and INDI alliance refused the invite. It is time to teach a lesson to this arrogant lot''. Modi also underscored the need for a healthy voter turnout, in the backdrop of the same having been lower than usual in the first phase, saying ''On the polling day, the atmosphere should be festive, leaving behind the acrimony during campaign''. ''The current elections are crucial for the country's future with regard to its economic and defence capabilities. I urge the people, especially the youth, to come out and vote in large numbers,'' said Modi.

Shah: UCC Implementation in MP Fulfills BJP Pledge, Modi's Commitment

Shah: UCC Implementation in MP Fulfills BJP Pledge, Modi's Commitment Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that while the Congress party's poll manifesto promises to retain religious personal law, it is the BJP's promise and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's guarantee to implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the country. For the Congress, Muslims have the first right over the country's resources, but for the BJP, the poor, Dalits, Other Backward Classes and tribals have the first right, he said while addressing an election rally in support of Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who is BJP's candidate from the Guna Lok Sabha seat in Madhya Pradesh. ''Read the Congress manifesto carefully. They have said that they will reintroduce personal law...They want to bring Muslim personal law. They want to bring back triple talaq...Can this country be run by Sharia (Islamic law)?'' Shah asked. Attacking Rahul Gandhi, he said, ''Rahul baba do whatever you feel like doing for appeasement. As long as BJP is there, no personal law will be introduced. This country will be run by UCC and the Constitution. This is our Constitution's spirit. We have implemented UCC in Uttarakhand.'' ''It is our promise and Modiji's guarantee that UCC will be enforced in the entire country,'' he added. PM Modi scrapped Article 370 on August 5, 2019 at once, Shah said. ''Rahul baba used to scare me saying rivers of blood will flow through Kashmir if Article 370 is abrogated. Rahul baba, this is not a Congress government, this is Narendra Modi's government. Leave aside blood, even a pebble could not be thrown there in the last five years,'' he said. PM Modi eradicated terrorism and Naxalism in the country, he said, adding that the Naxal menace in Madhya Pradesh was also eliminated by the government. ''For Congress, Muslims have the first right over the country's resources. But for BJP, the poor, Dalits, Other Backward Classes and tribals have the first right over them,'' he added. The Congress governments in the past kept sitting on the Mandal Commission's report that recommended reservation, Shah alleged. He also accused the grand old party of creating hurdles on the Ram temple issue for 70 years. ''But within five years, the Modi government laid the foundation of the temple and also held the consecration ceremony. Congress former presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were invited for the event, but they did not have a time to attend it,'' Shah said. On the other hand, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav took his cabinet colleagues along to Ayodhya to take darshan of Ram Lalla, he added. In Guna Lok Sabha constituency, the Congress has pitted Yadvendra Singh Yadav against BJP candidate and Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. In the 2019 elections, Scindia lost the election as a Congress candidate to BJP nominee K P Yadav by a margin of over 1.21 lakh votes. Before losing the election from Guna last time, Scindia had won the seat four times since 2002. His father Madhavrao and his grandmother Vijayaraje had also represented the seat. When he was in the Congress, Scindia was considered close to Rahul Gandhi. But in 2020, he rebelled against the party and joined the BJP, resulting in the collapse of the Kamal Nath-led government in Madhya Pradesh.

Karnataka witnesses 38.23% voter turnout in 14 LS segments in the first half

Cricketing legend Anil Kumble, Ayodhya Ram Mandir`s Ram lalla sculptor Arun Yogiraj and former Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde were among prominent persons who cast their votes during the day

Religious Tourism spots like Varanasi and Ayodhya may soon outshine Goa and Agra

Religious Tourism spots like Varanasi and Ayodhya may soon outshine Goa and Agra By Nikhil Dedha Recent data shows that post COVID religious inclinations of Indians have become stronger resulting in an accelerated momentum towards religious tourism. According to the Ministry of Tourism data, last year 8.5 crores of tourists visited Varanasi(Kashi), around 4.5 crore people visited Prayagraj and more than 1.5 crores of people have visited Ayodhya Ram temple since the consecration ceremony. Many experts feel Varanasi will outdo Goa, Agra, and Shimla. During the COVID period when the temples were closed down, our Prime Minister thought let's make the temples a place where everybody would like to visit. So we came up with the idea of having the Kashi Vishwanath corridor. It has changed the entire tourism scenario of the state and in year 2023 we had more than 10 crore tourists said Preeti Srivastava, Deputy Director, Department of Tourism, Government of Uttar Pradesh to ANI. Government of Uttar Pradesh is promoting the new golden triangle of Prayagraj, Kashi and Ayodhaya as a golden triangle of religious tourism. Now everybody is benefiting. Even the small washerman, he's also getting business because he's washing the linen of the hotels. The vegetable seller, everybody is benefiting. The rickshaw pullers, the flower sellers and local Prasad shops. Now the new golden triangle is coming up that is Ayodhya, Prayagraj and Varanasi said Preeti. The transformative impact of projects like the Kashi Vishwanath corridor, has revitalized Varanasi's tourism sector, leading to a substantial increase in tourist footfall and allied economic activities. The surge in tourism has not only boosted local businesses but also generated substantial revenue for the state. As per the data by the Ministry of Tourism 1,439 million people participated in religious tourism in India during 2022, it is more than double from 677 million in 2021. In 2022, religious tourism destinations earned Rs1.34 lakh crore in revenue, up from Rs65,070 crore in 2021. In 2022, Varanasi had 82 million visitors, which is almost four times the number of visitors in 2019. This number accounted for almost 26% of all arrivals in 2022, compared to less than 4 per cent in 2019. Varanasi's tourist footfall has surpassed Agra, which is home to the Taj Mahal, and has made it the most visited city in Uttar Pradesh. PM Narendra Modi also mentioned in his address on the 103rd episode of radio program 'Mann Ki Baat' that Now more than 10 crore tourists are reaching Kashi every year. The number of devotees visiting pilgrimages like Ayodhya, Mathura, Ujjain is also increasing rapidly. Due to this lakhs of poor are getting employment. According to the industry experts the religious tourism sector is expected to generate a revenue of Rs 59 billion by 2028 and create 140 million temporary and permanent jobs by 2030. Under central government's Swadesh Darshan Scheme, an outlay of Rs 5294 crore has been allocated for the development of theme-based tourist circuits. A total of 76 projects have been sanctioned under the project which covers popular religious destinations across different states of India. These includes Buddhist circuit, Ramayana circuit and Krishna circuit. The Ministry of tourism has also started the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) scheme to improve the religious tourism experience by identifying and developing pilgrimage sites across India.(ANI)

Odisha lost 25 yrs under Naveen Patnaik government: Amit Shah

BHUBANESWAR: Setting the tone for the BJPs election campaign pitch, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday tore into the BJD government for keeping Odisha underdeveloped when several backward states have made rapid progress with accelerated growth of four to five times. Addressing an impressive Vijay Sankalp Samabesh at Sonepur, the first election rally by any of the top guns of the BJP, Shah launched a scathing attack on the Naveen Patnaik government accusing it of failing to resolve basic problems of the people in 25 years while Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed many critical issues of the country like Article 370, Triple Talaq and Ram Mandir in the last 10 years. It was lost years for Odisha under Naveen Patnaik government. Time has come for the people to uproot the inefficient and corrupt BJD government and install a double-engine government to take the state into the pinnacle of progress, Shah thundered. Invoking Lord Jagannath and revered deities of western Odisha, Shah said it is a matter of shame that people from the state are still migrating to places like Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Surat and even Punjab despite abundant natural resources in Odisha. Dubbing the BJD government as nikamma (useless), the BJP stalwart said massive corruption is its hallmark and the public suffering has compounded as the government is run by a few bureaucrats. Without mentioning the proposed Choudwar textile park, Shah targeted the misplaced priority of state government as it has no plan for revival of the closed textile industries in the western region including the one at Sonepur. Instead of setting up textile industries where cotton cultivation is taken up in a massive way, the state government is planning it elsewhere. There is no logic as western Odisha disticts are major producers of cotton, Shah said adding, his party will set up a textile industry, a fisheries college, agro industry and an ayurvedic medicinal plant in the region. You gave 25 years to BJD. Give five years to BJP and see how a double-engine government solves all problems, he exhorted the people of the state. Recounting the liberal financial assistance given to the state government in the last 10 years, Shah said the Centre released more than Rs 10,000 crore under Jal Jeevan Mission for supply of tap water to all the households. The state has not been able to utilise even Rs 5,000 crore and a large number of households are going without tap water. Clearing the doubt among party workers that he may go soft on BJD after the failed talk of alliance, Shah called the Chief Minister as a liar for claiming credit for the free rice given to families covered under National Food Security Act and houses under PMAY. Scared of Modi popularity, the Naveen Patnaik government is not implementing Ayushman Bharat scheme depriving the poor people from availing free health services, he said. While assailing the regional party for ruining the Sri Jagannath Temple heritage, Shah said the inauguration of the temple corridor project at Puri was deliberately done during the Ram Mandir consecration at Ayodhya to divert the attention of the people of Odisha. Let the BJP come to power in the state, we will improve the temple town like Kashi Viswanath in Varanasi, he said. The meeting was attended by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Balangir MP Sangeeta Kumari Singhdeo, state BJP president Manmohan Samal and senior leader KV Singhdeo.

Akshaya Tritiya 2024: Date, Yogas And Auspicious Timings

Astrologer Pandit Kalki Ram from Ayodhya said that Akshaya Tritiya is annually observed on the Tritiya Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the month of Vaishakh.

Meerut: Battle of perception with Ram chant in land of revolution

LUCKNOW: Yeh Arun Govil ji ka election hee nahin raha. Yeh Ram ki pratishtha ka election hai (This isnt an election for Arun Govil but for the prestige of Lord Ram). We will do everything to get a high voting percentage, is the common refrain among the BJP cadre in Meerut, the land of revolution, which is poised for a battle of perceptions in the Lok Sabha elections. Remember, the first war of Independence in 1857 began in Meerut. The constituency goes to polls on Friday. While the BJP is riding on the perception of Lord Ram to see Arun Govil, the silver screen Ram of 1987 TV serial, sail through, the Opposition INDIA bloc is confident that Samajwadi Party candidate Sunita Verma will pose a strong challenge because of her popularity among the Dalits and Muslims and her perception of being a good former Mayor. Muslims and Dalits constitute over 50% of electorate in Meerut, making it a formidable combination. The BSP, too, is a claimant of the same combo, with Mayawati giving the ticket to Devvrat Tyagi. Since all the three main candidates belonging to the majority community, the division of Hindu votes is inevitable. It is expected to put the BJP at a disadvantage. BJPs experienced MP Rajendra Agarwal had to make way for Govil. In 2019, Agarwal defeated BSPs Haji Mohammad Yaqoob with a thin margin of little over 4,700 votes. Govil, though tagged as an outsider by his rivals, is commanding attention and respect from the generation of viewers of the 80s, and also the section that got introduced to him via the telecast of Ramayan during the Covid period. Leading the campaign in a simple kurta-pyjama, he is striving to shed his outsider tag through his promise of making Meerut, which is his janmabhoomi (birth place), his karmabhoomi (workplace) and permanent abode. But SPs Sunita, who belongs to the Dalit community, dismisses Govil as a false Ram, claiming elections cant be fought on a past imagery. BJP has committed a mistake by fielding Arun Govil, who does not belong to Meerut. Lord Ram is in Ayodhya, not on roads seeking votes. There could have been some fight if the ruling party candidate hailed from the constituency. I see no challenge, says Sunita, the former BSP mayor of Meerut who switched over to the SP. It was after much flip-flop that Sunita got the ticket. Initially, Bhanu Pratap Singh was the nominee. He was replaced by sitting SP MLA from Sardhana Atul Pradhan who, was seeking the ticket for his wife. Pradhan was finally axed and Sunita chosen instead. However, BJP workers are confident of Govils win, hoping the Dalit-Muslim votes would be divided between the SP-Congress and the BSP. It is also depending on the Jat support from the RLD.

Polling Begins for Bypolls in Three Lok Sabha Seats of Chhattisgarh

Polling Begins for Bypolls in Three Lok Sabha Seats of Chhattisgarh Polling began Friday morning in Naxal-affected Kanker, Rajnandgaon and Mahasamund Lok Sabha constituencies in Chhattisgarh in the second phase of general elections.The polling comes days after 29 Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security personnel in Kanker district on April 16. Altogether 41 candidates, including former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and former state home minister Tamradhwaj Sahu, are in the fray in a direct fight between the ruling BJP and opposition Congress. Of the eight assembly segments in Kanker Lok Sabha constituency, polling began in Antagarh, Bhanupratappur, Keshkal and Kanker assembly segments at 7 am and will end at 3 pm, an election official said. In four other assembly segments, Sihawa, Sanjari-Balod, Daundilohara and Gunderdehi, the polling began at 7 am and will conclude at 6 pm. In Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha constituency, except Manpur-Mohla assembly segment where polling is being held from 7 am to 3 pm, polling in all other seven assembly segments began at 7 am and will end at 6 pm. The polling time in the Mahasamund constituency is 7 am to 6 pm, except in nine sensitive polling booths under Bindranawagarh assembly segment, where it is being held from 7 am to 3 pm. In Kanker Lok Sabha constituency, extra vigil is being maintained by security forces in view of the Naxal threat, the official said. Of the 41 candidates, 15 are in Rajnandgaon, 17 in Mahasamund and 9 in Kanker Lok Sabha seat. There are 52,84,938 eligible voters, including 26,05,350 men, 26,79,528 women and 60 members of the third gender in the three seats. There are 7,363 service voters, 51,306 'divyang' (differently-abled) voters, 1,62,624 voters in the age group of 18 to 19 years, 16,643 in the age group of above 85 years of age and 498 voters above 100 years of age. Altogether 6,567 polling booths have been set up in the constituencies and of them, 330 will be 'Sangwari' (managed by women personnel) booths, 120 'adarsh' polling booths while 28 booths will be managed by 'diyangjan' and 117 by youth. While 23 polling booths have been categorised as vulnerable, 458 have been marked as critical, the official said. A total of 32,907 polling personnel have been deployed for the second phase. Helicopters were used to ferry 72 polling personnel for 9 polling booths of remote and sensitive areas of Kanker seat and 15 polling personnel in two polling booths of Mahasamund seat on Wednesday. The 6,556 polling teams were dispatched to their destinations through buses on Thursday, the official said. Voting for all the 11 Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh is being held in three phases. Naxalite-hit Bastar (ST) constituency witnessed polling in the first phase on April 19. Seven seats will go to polls during the last phase in Chhattisgarh on May 7. The high-profile Rajnandgaon seat is seeing a contest between BJP MP Santosh Pandey and Congress' Bhupesh Baghel, former chief minister and incumbent MLA. The ruling BJP has dropped its sitting MPs in Mahasamund and Kanker seats and fielded former MLAs Rupkumari Chaudhary and Bhojraj Nag there respectively. Opposition Congress has fielded former state home minister Tamradhwaj Sahu in Mahasamund and senior leader Biresh Thakur in Kanker seat. Thakur lost the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Kanker. In 2019 Lok Sabha polls, BJP won 9 seats while Congress bagged two seats in Chhattisgarh. The high-octane campaign for the second phase of polls in Chhattisgarh saw acrimonious exchanges between the main rivals BJP and Congress over issues like corruption, Constitution and poll promises of the two parties. The saffron party's electioneering for the second phase saw rallies by prominent leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while for the Congress, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra led the campaigning. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge did not make an appearance in the campaign for the second phase of general elections in the state. Modi and Shah targeted Congress over its leaders remarks on the Constitution and on that partys leaders skipping the Ayodhya Ram temple consecration ceremony. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who addressed two rallies, mounted a counter offensive claiming her party was endeavouring to protect the interest of the poor while the BJP-led Central Government wanted to change the Constitution and curtail people's rights.

BJP Stands for British Janata Party, Says Revanth

Hyderabad: Dubbing BJP as the British Janata Party, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Thursday alleged that BJP was adopting the policy of 'divide and rule' and dividing people in the name of religion to win elections. He cautioned voters that if the BJP comes to power again, it will change the Constitution and abolish reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs. He was speaking at a roadshow in Rajendranagar in support of the partys Chevella Lok Sabha candidate Gaddam Ranjith Reddy and Secunderabad Cantonment in support of Malkajgiri candidate Patnam Sunitha Mahender Reddy and Secunderabad Cantonment Assembly by-election candidate Narayanan Sri Ganesh. Addressing the gatherings, Reddy said that he BJP agenda is the same as that of the British. They wish to change the Constitution and abolish reservations. But Congress' agenda is to safeguard the Constitution and protect reservations. If you want social justice and reservations, ensure the Congress victory. Appealing to voters to elect Ranjith Reddy as Chevella MP with a big majority, he said, Ranjith Reddy is a good leader who works for the welfare and development of all sections. I need an MP like him for the speedy development of the constituency. Our Congress government will be in power in the state for the next 10 years. If Ranjith Reddy is elected as MP, we both will work in coordination and ensure speedy implementation of development works such as an extension of MMTS to Chevella and Vikarabad and Musi riverfront development to reduce pollution. Revanth Reddy said that if people elect an MP from opposition parties, they will only create hurdles for the Congress government in the state. He lashed out at BJP leaders for seeking votes in the name of Lord Ram, Lord Hanuman, and Ayodhya temple. We are also devotees of all gods. Gods should be in temples and bhakti (devotion) should be in our hearts. But BJP leaders are bringing gods onto the streets and begging for votes, Revanth said.

Etala questions motive behind Congress chargesheet against BJP

Finance minister Etala RajenderFinance minister Etala Rajender on Tuesday said that unemployment was a problem being faced by all governments today and not all problems should be looked at from a political angle. Finance minister Etala RajenderFinance minister Etala Rajender on Tuesday said that unemployment was a problem being faced by all governments today and not all problems should be looked at from a political angle. Hyderabad: BJP candidate from Malkajgiri Lok Sabha constituency Etala Rajender on Thursday said that the Telangana voters will file a chargesheet against the Congress on May 13, the polling day for 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana. Reacting to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy releasing a chargesheet against the BJP, Rajender asked Revanth Reddy to speak out whether the chargesheet against Prime Minister Narendra Modi is because he fully integrated Jammu and Kashmir with India and brought back peace in the valley by abrogating Article 370. Is it because Modi constructed a grand temple in Ayodhya as per the wishes of Indians? Was the chargesheet prepared since Modi constructed four crore houses for the poor? He asked Revanth Reddy whether the chargesheet is released against BJP for not indulging in Bofors Scam, Coal Scam and 2G Scam. He listed out several works carried out by the Modi government and asked the TPCC leader to file a chargesheet for excellent work carried out in the last 10 years.

Yogi Adityanath rakes up Ayodhya firing to attack Dimple Yadav amid mangalsutra row

Yogi Adityanath rakes up Ayodhya firing to attack Dimple Yadav amid mangalsutra row

People Eager for Modis Return, Reject Corrupt Era: Sangita Reddy

Hyderabad: Sangita Reddy, the wife of BJP Chevella candidate Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, said it was imperative for the voters to choose wisely as the outcome of the Lok Sabha elections would determine the fate of the nation and the prospects of the children. Speaking at Maheshwaram, Sangita Reddy said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was widely recognised as a global leader and would make the country a Vishwaguru. His tenure had seen a remarkable transformation across various sectors, spanning economic development, defence, manufacturing, and diplomacy. Modi's leadership during the Covid pandemic had garnered praise worldwide, she said. The construction of the Lord Rama temple at Ayodhya after a span of 500 years was a testament to his commitment to cultural and religious heritage. His efforts had lifted 400 million people out of poverty, she said. We are highly optimistic of Konda Vishweshwar Reddy securing a resounding victory with a substantial majority. This confidence stems from the remarkable support we are witnessing in favour of the BJP, she said.

Amit Shah launches high-decibel poll campaign in Odisha, exhorts party workers to 'overthrow' Naveen Patnaik govt

Sonepur: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Union home minister Amit Shah on Thursday gave a call to the party leaders and workers in Odisha to oust the Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government in the state for achieving faster prosperity and addressing some critical challenges like poverty, economic empowerment of farmers and weaker sections of the society. Addressing a massive public rally here at Sonepur in Western Odisha, Shah said Odisha is now being ruled by a group of corrupt officers who have launched a reign of terror in the state. Odisha is now being ruled by a person who does have regard for the language of the land, its culture and rich history. The state is now being ruled by a bunch of Bhayankar Bhrastachari (highly corrupt) bureaucrats, Shah said. His observation was seen as a clear criticism of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaiks inability to speak Odia and his over-reliance on a group of top officials who are allegedly managing BJDs party affairs, violating code of conduct for civil servants. He called upon voters to elect more than 20 Lok Sabha members from the state and give an absolute majority to the BJP in the 147-member Odisha Legislative Assembly. In 2019, the BJP had won 8 of the 21 Lok Sabha seats. The home ministers broadsides against the Odisha CM and the BJD were seen as clear departures from the BJPs cool approach towards the BJD. Though the BJD is the principal political opponent of the BJP, the latter had bought peace with the regional party, ostensibly to get its support for crucial passing bills in Rajya Sabha. Shah blamed Odishas lack of prosperity to the inefficiency of the 24 years of Naveen Patnaik government. Odisha is rich in mineral resources. It also has a huge water resource. However, the state continues to languish in abject poverty and lakhs of people are migrating to Gujarat, Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad in search of job. Farmers are also not getting due remuneration for their crops, he said. The BJP leader observed that the 24 years of the BJD rule in Odisha were just lost years. When I started reviewing the progress of various states under the Narendra Modi government, I found provinces having BJP governments have made significant strides in development. However, I found Odisha stands at the same place when Naveen Babu started his reign here, he said. He criticized the rebranding of the rice given under the public distribution system (PDS) and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana by the Naveen Patnaik government. He also censured the BJD government for non-implementation of the Centres Ayushman Bharat Yojana. Odisha government fears that once the Ayushman Bharat Yojana is implemented here, the Modi governments popularity in the state will rise further, he said. The home minister criticised the Congress and its president Mallikarjuna Kharge for their critical comments on abrogation of Article 370 and Ram Temple issue. Claiming that construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya and lifting 80 crore people from poverty line reflected the BJPs resolve to walk its talk. After the public rally, Shah huddled up with the party's senior leaders in Bhubaneswar in the evening where he discussed the partys strategies for the forthcoming Lok Sabha and assembly polls. Photograph:Union home minister Amit Shah addressing a party meeting at Odisha's Sonepur on Thursday afternoon

Lok Sabha Election: Ayodhya ?

Lok Sabha Election: (Ayodhya City) (Ayodhya Lok Sabha Seat) (Ram Temple) ?

Spiritual Tourism: An Emerging Catalyst Transforming Real Estate Growth in India

Ayodhya, Varanasi, Vrindavan, Haridwar, and Tirupati stand out and witnessing unprecedented growth in sipritual tourism

Headline - Amit Shah Accuses Congress of Exploiting Telangana for Delhi's Financial Needs

Headline - Amit Shah Accuses Congress of Exploiting Telangana for Delhi's Financial Needs Senior BJP leader Amit Shah on Thursday alleged that the ruling Congress in Telangana has made the state 'Delhi's ATM', within a short span of coming to power. The union home minister was addressing an election rally at Siddipet in the state in support of BJP candidate from Medak Lok Sabha constituency M Raghunandan Rao. ''In such a short time, Congress party has made Telangana 'Delhi's ATM'. Congress party is not investigating the corruption of TRS (BRS), whether it is Kaleshwaram (project) or land scam. TRS and Congress party, both are in cahoots. You make Modi ji PM for third term, Narendra Modi ji will liberate Telangana from this corruption,'' he said. Congress assumed power in Telangana in December last year after its victory in the Legislative Assembly elections. Claiming that the Telangana people are with Modi this time, he said the people of the state have decided to make BJP victorious in every seat. Telangana's comprehensive development can happen only if a BJP government is formed at the Centre, he said. Alleging that the Congress and the BRS were not at all in favour of building the Ram temple in Ayodhya, he said Modi, in five years, won the court case in the matter and performed 'bhumi puja' for the temple construction and also its consecration. Shah claimed that the BJP-led government at the Centre, in 10 years, has addressed problems that plagued the country for a long time. By abolishing Article 370, Modi has integrated Kashmir with the country forever, he said. He claimed that the BJP has decided to end the ''Muslim reservation'' facilitated in Telangana by Congress and BRS and make it SC, ST, OBC quota. He also alleged that Congress and BRS did not celebrate ''Telangana Liberation Day'' (September 17, 1948 when the erstwhile princely state of Hyderabad under Nizam rule merged with the Indian Union) due to ''fear of Majlis (AIMIM)''. BJP celebrates September 17 and it is not afraid of AIMIM, he said. Shah urged the gathering to ensure the BJP is victorious in 12 seats (of total 17) in Telangana. Every vote given to Raghunandan Rao would help in making Modi PM again, he said.

Lake County Hindu Mandir celebrates Ram Navmi

Geetha Patil CHICAGO: The Hindu Mandir of Lake County, Grayslake, a Chicago suburb, celebrated the first Chaitra Navaratri Devi Pujan, Kanya Pujan, and Ram Navami after the Pran Pratishta of Lord Ram Lalla at Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomiwith immense zeal and devotion on Apr 16 and 17, 2024. Hundreds of devotees from Greater Chicago area attended []

Vote for BJP is a vote in favour of patriots, says Amit Shah

The Union Home Minister targeted Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar and Rahul Gandhi for insulting Lord Rama by skipping the Ayodhya Ram temple consecration

INDIA Bloc Considering 'One Year, One PM Formula', Says Modi

Asking people to vote for the BJP, Modi said their one vote has ensured that Indian economy jumped from the 11th spot to the 5th place in ten years and a grand Ram temple was built in Ayodhya after a wait of 500 years

I'm not interested in caste but in justice...: Rahul Gandhi

I'm not interested in caste but in justice...: Rahul Gandhi Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Wednesday that he was not interested in caste but in justice, adding that it's his life's mission and not a political issue. The Congress MP was speaking at 'Samajik Nyay Sammelan' organized here in Delhi. I am not interested in caste. I am interested in justice. It is not a political issue for me, it is my life's mission. While there can sometimes be a compromise on politics, there can never be any compromise on life mission, Rahul Gandhi said. He further said that Congress has always done revolutionary things like fighting for the country's freedom, bringing constitution and democracy, the Green Revolution, the White Revolution, bank nationalisation or abolishing the Privy Purses. Similarly, the caste census will be another revolutionary measure, he said. The Congress leader further said that after seventy years of independence, it was very important to assess where the country stands and what direction it should take from here. Gandhi said that the backwards, the Dalits, the Adivasis and the minorities together constitute about '90 per cent' of the country's population, and yet their representation in different sectors and institutions was nil or at best negligible. Take any institution, be it the media or the corporate houses, private hospitals, universities or even the judiciary, the representation from the 90 per cent population was either nil or quite negligible, he said. Referring to the Prime Minister's criticism, Gandhi pointed out that he had not yet suggested any solution but the only way to identify the problem like an X-ray and still the national media and Prime Minister Modi had started accusing him of dividing the people and the country. I don't think anybody should have any objection to an X-ray, he observed. He said, if you want to become a superpower and if you want to compete with countries like China, you can't do it without engaging the '90 per cent' population of the country which is still marginalised. Pointing out how marginalised this section of the population was, which includes the Adivasis, he referred to the inauguration of the new parliament building. He said, ideally the president, who is the head of the state should have been inaugurating it, but she was not let to do that as she was an Adivasi. Similarly, he added, no Dalits, backwards or Adivasis could be seen at the inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Gandhi said that including the caste census in the party's manifesto was the first step towards that direction. Note it down, no power can stop caste census from taking place, he said, asserting, It is not a political issue for me, but my life's mission. (ANI)

'Sonia Gandhi's Fear': Amit Shah Slams Uddhav Thackeray Over Turning Down Ayodhya Inauguration Event

Addressing a Lok Sabha poll rally in Amravati, Shah also accused Thackeray of leaving every principle of Bal Thackeray, the Shiv Sena's patriarch

Gandhi siblings Ayodhya stop likely before Amethi, Raebareli visits: Sources

Gandhi siblings Ayodhya stop likely before Amethi Raebareli visits Sources

Revanth speaking out of fear of defeat: D.K. Aruna

Hyderabad : BJP national vice president D.K. Aruna flayed Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and said instead of delivering on his promises he was visiting the district to criticise her and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Chief Minister, she opined, had come six times to the district indicating that he fears Congress defeat in Mahbubnagar. Addressing the media, she said, Apart from abusing me the CM has entrusted the task to his acolytes also. The CM is on a temple spree and is making promises in the name of gods in view of the elections. They are trying to cheat the people. The CM has failed to keep his promise of farm loan waiver by December 9. The pledged `4,000 pension, allowance for women, unemployment dole for youth, `500 bonus for paddy have not been given and Congress has no right to seek votes. In contrast, Aruna opined the BJP was seeking votes on the basis of funds allocated by the Centre to Telangana for developing railway lines and national highways. We brought CAA, constructed a temple in Ayodhya, abolished Article 370, banned Triple Talaq and introduced 33 per cent reservation for women in legislative bodies. The Centre is giving mudra loans, free ration to the poor and is providing input subsidies to farmers. What is the state government doing? she asked. Reeling out pending payments to the state government employees, the Mahbubnagar candidate informed that the state has failed to give a matching grant of 40 per cent to the KGBV employees, four DAs are pending for constables and employees and the Chief Minister has not held any review at his level on the problems of employees. If I win, I can secure much-needed funds for the completion of railway works, construction of AIIMS and bringing a sainik school to the district. There is no way Congress is going to win 14 MP seats in the state. Revanth has taken a cue from KCR and is following his footsteps, she said.

Poll hustle bustle missing in Jammu as LS poll campaigning for 2nd phase nears end

SRI NAGAR: The poll-related hustle and bustle is missing in Jammu, where the election campaigning for second phase of polling for Jammu Lok Sabha seat is nearing to an end and contesting candidates are switching to door to door campaigning. The Jammu LS seat in J&K spread over four districts Jammu, Samba, Reasi and a lone Assembly constituency from Rajouri will go to polls in the second phase of polling on April 26. There has been low-key profile campaigning by the candidates of BJP, Congress and independents. About 22 candidates including BJPs two-time sitting MP Jugal Kishore and J&K Congress Working president Raman Bhalla are in the fray. Home Minister Amit Shah and Anurag Thakur have campaigned for BJP candidate while senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot and Raj Babbar campaigned for Bhalla. Barring the campaigning by two leaders for each candidate, both the BJP and Congress candidates have been left to fend off for themselves as the star campaigners stayed away from poll campaigning in Jammu. Ayodhya is not a poll factor in Jammu, the city of temples The contestants instead of holding bigger election rallies are focusing on small corner meetings and door-to-door campaigns to garner support. In the absence of big election rallies, big hoardings and posters of contesting candidates and parties are missing in Jammu. There is no poll-related hustle and bustle and major poll activity in the city. Only the occasional vehicles fitted with small public address systems pass by to announce the poll agenda of the candidate. On the final day of campaigning today, the BJP and Congress candidates will be holding roadshows to garner public support. There is near total silence. There is very little poll-related noise this time. It seems as if polls are not taking place. In the past there always used to be poll hustle and bustle many days before the polls. But this time around there is a lackluster poll campaign, said a Jammu resident, Chaman Lal, a driver by profession. A shopkeeper Jai Prakash agrees with Lal saying this is the first time in past few decades that Jammu is not witnessing usual poll-related hustle and bustle of the Lok Sabha polls this time. He said this is also because people are not showing much interest in the polls because of their economic activities. The business is down and people are more concerned about their livelihood rather than attending the poll events of the contesting candidates, said Prakash. With the poll campaign nearing its end, the contestants are now focusing on social media and door-to-door campaigns to put forth their point of view to gain voters' confidence ahead of polls. BJP candidate Jugal Kishore said the poll campaign this year has been lackluster because of measures taken by the Election Commission. The contesting candidates are not being allowed to move in huge convoys as they will have to face the wrath of the Election Commission. Besides, the polls and banners being erected by the parties are being removed by the EC officials, said a political leader. He said this has forced parties and contestants to go for low-key poll campaigning A total of 17,80,738 voters including 9,21,053 male voters and 8,59,657 female voters are eligible to vote. About 2,416 polling stations have been set up across the LS constituency.

Those who opposed Ram Mandir are now calling themselves devotees: BJP

NEW DELHI: The BJPs seven candidates for the Lok Sabha elections on Tuesday reached at different temples in their respective constituencies to offer prayers on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti. Collectively, the party leaders recited Hanuman Chalisa across 9,745 locations in the national capital amidst an attendance of lakhs of devotees and party supporters. Today, inspired by the devotion of Hanuman Ji, workers have reached every voter with the message of Modi Jis guarantee, a senior party leader said. Delhi BJPs Lok Sabha election in-charge Om Prakash Dhankhar participated in the recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa with workers at Hanuman Temple, Rajnagar, Dwarka, and state president Virendra Sachdeva at the Hanuman Temple, Connaught Place. Sachdeva said that Delhi has suffered from corruption for a few years, and development has reached a standstill. Todays collective recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa has been organised with the hope for the development and prosperity of Delhi, he stated. We have prayed for the good health of citizens. We have also prayed that Delhi gets rid of corruption and gets a leader who is a devotee of Lord Ram, Sachdeva said. He said that Delhiites and the people of the country have seen those faces who opposed the Ram Temple until 2022 and now call themselves Ram devotees. Notably, on April 21, the Delhi BJP, giving a saffron touch to its poll campaign, hosted a mega conclave of Hindu priests, saints and seers in the national capital and celebrated the Hindu New Year along with the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The BJP has replaced its all candidates except Manoj Tiwari from the North East seat. They opposed Ram Mandir The Delhi BJP president said Delhiites and the people of the country have seen those faces who opposed the Ram Temple until 2022 and now call themselves devotees of Lord Ram.

Pak acknowledges Indias targeted elimination of terrorists: Yogi

LUCKNOW: Critical of the Congress and Samajwadi Party (SP) on handling terror incidents, UP CM Yogi Adityanath said that while Congress government conveniently looked the other way when ever a terrorist incident occurred, the Samajwadi Party, on the other, crossed all limits by having the audacity to withdraw cases against terrorists who attacked Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya and Sankat Mochan Temple in Kashi. However, the judiciary thwarted SPs intentions, he added while addressing public rallies in Amroha and Baghpat on Tuesday. The CM sought votes for BJP candidate Kanwar Singh Tanwar and RLDs Dr Rajkumar Sangwan respectively. The CM warned against the consequences of entrusting power in wrong hands, which, he claimed, could potentially fuel terrorism whereas endorsing the BJP would ensure a staunch approach to quelling terrorism emanating from across the border. Today, Pakistan acknowledges Indias targeted elimination of terrorists. While launching an attack on Congress candidate Danish Ali, a BSP turn coat, in Amroha, Yogi said that he was the one who had problem in chanting Bharat Mata ki Jai. Meanwhile, in Baghpat, Yogi claimed that Congress had promised personal law for a specific community thereby enforcing Shariat in the country. This indicates that Congress and INDI Alliance are a threat to the Constitution of India, he alleged adding all the INDI Alliance partners had come with their fake manifestos. They claim that they will remove poverty at once. When they are removed from power, they are reminded of removing the poverty. Both Congress and SP have had the history of grabbing properties, said the CM.

HC Tells Police To Consider Adding IPC Section Against BJP MLAs for Hate Speeches

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Police on Tuesday informed the Bombay High Court that criminal cases have been registered against BJP leaders Nilesh Rane and Geeta Jain for their alleged offensive speeches during the Mira Road violence in January 2024. While four FIRs have been registered against Rane, a separate FIR has been registered against Jain. The court asked the state government to consider if section 295A (acts to outrage religious feelings) of IPC should be added in the FIRs. The FIRs have been registered under sections 153A (promoting enmity between groups on ground of religion etc.), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke) and 506 (criminal intimidation) and other relevant provisions of the IPC. The police also told the court that 13 cases have been registered regarding the violence that erupted in Mira Road between January 22 and January 26. A division bench of Justice Revati Mohite-Dere and Justice Manjusha Deshpande was hearing a writ petition seeking action against MLAs Nitesh Rane, Geeta Jain, and T. Raja for allegedly delivering hate speeches and inciting violence. The court has directed the state to file an affidavit by June 12, and kept the case for further hearing on June 19. The affidavit must also state whether section 295A of IPC will be invoked against the accused. The bench was informed that four FIRs have been registered against Rane in Mira-Bhayander, Gowandi, Malvani and Ghatkopar police stations of Maharashtra. One FIR has been registered against Jain in Ghatkopar police station. The petitions had been filed against hate speeches and the violence that took place earlier this year in the Mira Road and Malwani areas, few days before the consecration of the Ram idol in Ayodhya.

EC Examines Congress Complaint Against PM Modi's Speech

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India on Tuesday said the poll body was examining the complaint filed by the Congress against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A complaint regarding the Prime Minister's speech has been received and is under consideration of the Commission, sources said. The opposition leaders, however, alleged that the ECI is dragging its feet as no action was taken on its previous complaints. The Congress in its complaint to ECI on Monday mentioned several circulars issued to the party, with regard to utterances during campaigns by the leaders and candidates, asking them to maintain decorum and not to use religion in campaigns. This is a very serious and uncalled for invasion and we hope and trust that the Election Commission, as it is on trial, irrespective of the status of the person will take appropriate action, said Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who was part of the Congress delegation that went to ECI. The CPMs Brinda Karat raised questions about the credibility of the ECI while terming Prime Ministers speech as a shocking statement. According to Karat, the Prime Ministers words violated Indian laws against inciting communal enmity and hate speech, yet the ECI has failed to take appropriate action. It is an absolutely shocking statement coming from the Prime Minister. It is almost unbelievable that the Prime Minister of a secular country like India should speak in those words quite frankly, he speaks as though a communal bigot speech. It is not befitting the Prime Minister of India. In the elections, to use such language is hate speech, extreme hate speech, Karat said. Former Maharashtra chief minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has questioned the impartiality of the ECI and accused it of different rules for different people. During the election campaign in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana, Modi said Bajrang Bali ki jay and Union home minister Amit Shah had said if they are elected everyone will be taken for darshan of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya...yet we receive a letter from the election commission. Our party symbol is now Mashaal, we launched the Mashaal song for upcoming elections. When it was submitted to ECI, it asked us to remove two words Hindu ha tujha dharma and Jay Bhavani Jay Shivaji. ..I want to tell ECI, I will not remove it... Thackeray said on Sunday.

Modi govt used parliamentary majority for landmark steps, will never change Constitution: Amit Shah

Addressing an election rally in Akola in eastern Maharashtra in support of BJP candidate Anup Dhotre, Shah accused the Congress of putting hurdles in the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The senior BJP leader noted it was Modi who ensured that a grand and magnificent temple dedicated to Lord Ram was built in Ayodhya.

Why Raveri voters are pushing for a grand Sita temple

In Yavatmal-Washim, a unique election narrative unfolds around honoring Sita, advocating for a monumental temple akin to Ayodhya.

Ola touches new milestone in Ayodhya, becomes first company to...

Ola founder Bhavish Aggarwal on LinkedIn shared the development, saying the company has installed a dedicated pickup zone.

Ola Mobility Launches Taxi Services At Ayodhya Airport

Ola Mobility has deployed a specialized team of executives available 24x7 to manage operations at the Ayodhya airport effectively.

Devotees throng Hanuman Garhi temple in Ayodhya on Hanuman Jayanti

Devotees throng Hanuman Garhi temple in Ayodhya on Hanuman Jayanti Thousands of devotees thronged Ayodhya's Hanuman Garhi Temple to offer prayers on the auspicious occasion of Hanuman Jayanti on Tuesday. In the visuals, devotees were seen standing in the queue, waiting for their chance to offer prayers. Several devotees also gathered at Hanuman Temple in Delhi's Connaught Place on the occasion to offer their prayers and seek the blessings of Lord Hanuman, known for his unwavering devotion, courage and strength. Hanuman Jayanti or Hanuman Janmotsav celebrates the birth of Lord Hanuman, an ardent follower of Lord Ram. This day falls on the full moon day (Purnima) of the Hindu lunar month of Chaitra, which typically occurs in March or April. The festivities are marked by colourful processions, cultural performances and the sharing of prasad. Meanwhile, the Delhi traffic police issued a traffic advisory in view of Hanuman Jayanti, guiding commuters to ensure a hassle-free journey. In a post on X, Delhi traffic police said, In view of Sunderkand Paath on the occasion of Hanuman Janmotsav by Marghat Wale Baba Hanuman Mandir Samiti on 23.04.2024, traffic restrictions and diversions will be effective. For commuters going towards Chatta Rail, Old Railway station, the Delhi police advised them to use Hanuman Setu Flyover to Kela Ghat to Chatta Rail to Old Delhi Railway Station route. For those coming from ISBT Kashmere Gate and going towards Old Delhi Railway Station, the police advised them to take a right turn from Salimgarh Fort to Y-Point to Hanuman Setu flyover to Kela Ghat to Chatta Ghat to Old Delhi Railway Station. Commuters coming from NS Marg/Old Delhi Railway station/GPO were advised to use Lothian Road to GPO to Kela Ghat to Ring Road to ISBT to Monastery to Nigam Bodh Ghat to opposite Hanuman Mandir to Outer Ring Road. As per the advisory, the police also issued some general instructions, advising people to avail public transport to help in decongestion of road, parking vehicles only at designated parking lots, and avoiding roadside parking. (ANI)

Bachchan spends Rs 10 Crore on land deal

Bollywood Megastar Amitabh Bachchan makes significant property investments in Alibaug, Maharashtra and Ayodhya, joining a 20-acre project. Other celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan, Suhana Khan, and Deepika Padukone also invest in properties in Alibaug.

No one from Gandhi family visited Ayodhya: CM

Bhopal : Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav today attacked the Congress and said no one from Gandhi family visited Ayodhya for a darshan of Ramlala. CM Dr. Yadav was addressing the election rally after being present at the nomination of BJP candidate Mahendra Singh Solanki of Dewas-Shajapur Lok Sabha constituency. He said that Congress should... The post No one from Gandhi family visited Ayodhya: CM first appeared on Central India's Premier English Daily .

90 NRIs from 30 nations seek Ram's blessings in Ayodhya

Ayodhya prepares for the Chaurasi kosi yatra. 90 NRIs visit Ram temple, collect water from 156 countries for jalabhishek. BJP's Vijay Jolly leads. RSS's Ram Lal, VHP's Dinesh Chandra, temple trust's Champat Rai welcome the group.

Amitabh Bachchan Buys Land in Alibaug For Rs 10 Cr Months After Ayodhya Land Purchase: Report

Amitabh Bachchan has bought a new property in Alibaug, as per latest reports. The actor hasn't reacted to the news.

Ayodhya, Kashi target done, its Braj turn now, says Yogi

Oppn Conspire to Topple Cong. Govt, Says Revanth

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Monday alleged that Opposition parties had hatched a conspiracy to topple the Congress government as they are unable to bear the successful implementation of five out of Six Guarantees within 100 days of coming to power. Revanth Reddy appealed to voters at election rallies in Adilabad, Nizamabad, and Malkajgiri Lok Sabha constituencies to thwart the conspiracies of the Opposition parties stating that if the Congress was defeated in the Lok Sabha polls or removed from power, it would be the people who will lose the benefits of Six Guarantees and welfare schemes of the Congress government. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comments on Muslims, Revanth Reddy alleged that BJP leaders were trying to divert the attention of people from real issues concerning them such as unemployment, inflation among others by raising 'communal issues' to provoke one religion against the other. He said that even the family's property will be divided among the children following the due procedure and said statements made by Modi would not bring respect to a person of his stature who worked as Prime Minister and Chief Minister. He said that Modis comments were intended to divide the people on communal lines and said the legislation and the Constitution would not allow anybody to give one communitys assets or wealth to another community. He said such statements made by a person at the top would affect the secular fabric. He said the BJP was doing politics in the name of Lord Rama and the Ayodhya temple. He made it clear that he was proud of being a Hindu and he worshipped all Hindu Gods and Goddesses and village deities. Revanth Reddy said Hindus and Muslims support each other during their festivals. Hindus observe Peerilu in villages, while Muslims extend support to Hindus during Vinayaka Chavithi in Hyderabad. Some are using Gods for elections and political mileage. God should be in the temple. Bhakti should be in the heart and not in polling booths. This thought process is not good for our country, Revanth Reddy said. He said the Congress government would give irrigation water to the erstwhile Adilabad district by constructing the Pranahita Chevella project at Thummidihatti. He appealed to the people to vote for Congress candidates for the development of their respective districts. He said the Congress government will implement a crop loan waiver of up to Rs 2 lahks before August 15 and freshly took the oath on Goddess Basar Saraswati. He also promised to reopen the Adilabad unit of the Cement Corporation of India (CCI) under private management and to set up a university in the Adilabad district. The Kupti project will be constructed on the Kadam river to give water to the irrigation in Boath Assembly Constituency, said Revanth Reddy who criticised the BRS government for neglecting the construction of the project in ten years of its rule. He said the Kadam project was damaged due to the negligence of the previous government. He observed that former chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao was not interested in naming the Pranahita-Chevella Project after Dr B.R. Ambedkar or acknowledging the services of Vivek Venkatswamy. Revanth Reddy said Nizamabad candidate Jeevan Reddy would become Union agriculture minister in the I.N.D.I.A. government and would reopen the Nizam Sugar Factory before September 17 and set up a turmeric board if elected. Nizamabad farmers stand for self-respect, he said and equated them with Haryana and Punjab farmers who fought against the anti-farmer legislation. He pointed out that the Nizamabad farmers had taught a lesson to BRS MLC K. Kavitha who cheated them with false promises. Revanth Reddy said the order issued by the Centre had not said that a Turmeric Board would be opened in Nizamabad, and BJP MP Dharmapuri Arvind was cheating them with false claims.

Cgarh: Congress anti-Ram, anti-Sanatan: Nadda

Raipur: BJP national president J P Nadda on Monday termed Congress as anti-Ram and anti-Sanatan.Mr Nadda recalled that the UPA government-led by Dr Manmohan Singh had filed an affidavit in the court calling Lord Ram as a fiction and also questioned the silence of Congress over Tamil Nadu minister Udaynidhi Stalins offensive remarks against Sanatan religion comparing it with dreaded diseases such as Dengue and AIDS. Addressing three election meetings in Chhattisgarh, Mr Nadda said that Congress had spurned the invitation for the consecration ceremony of Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22 because of the partys concern for its vote bank.Congress has always been anti-Ram and anti-Sanatan, he said. He also accused Congress of patronising anti-national forces.Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi had cried when terrorists were killed in the Batla house encounter, Mr Nadda said.The BJP leader also launched a scathing attack on the INDIA bloc, calling it a group of political dynasties who are out to promote and protect their family members.When Prime Minister Narendra Modi calls for rooting out corruption, INDIA bloc leaders say save the corrupt, he said. He underlined various welfare measures undertaken by Mr Modi to uplift the weaker sections of the society such as women, farmers, dalits and tribals and said that the PM planned to create three crore Lakhpati didis (sisters) in the country. Mr Nadda said that the PM has changed the definition and style of politics in the country.Earlier, politics was done on the basis of religion and caste, he said and added that Mr Modi has destroyed it and introduced politics of development in the country. Mr Nadda addressed three rallies at Lormi in Mungeli district, Bhilai in Durg district and Chandkhuri in Raipur district in Chhattisgarh.Chhattisgarh is going to the Lok Sabha polls in three phases. While the first phase of elections was held on April 19, the next two phases are scheduled to be held on April 26 and May three.In the first phase, polls were held for Bastar (ST) Lok Sabha elections in the state .BJP had won nine out of 11 LS seats in the 2019 polls, leaving the Congress to bag the remaining two seats.

Ola Mobility starts operations at Ayodhya airport

The company has also deployed a dedicated team of representatives who would be available 24x7 to manage its operations at the airport and address customer queries in real-time.

Cgarh: Congress eyes revenues of mutts, temples: Amit Shah

Raipur: Union home minister Amit Shah on Monday expressed concern over the purported pledge made by Congress in its poll manifesto to make a survey of all properties in the country if voted to power in the ongoing general elections. Addressing an election rally in Kanker in Chhattisgarh, Mr Shah sought a clarification from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as to why his party wanted to make a survey of all properties in the country. Mr Gandhi must explain why Congress wants to make a survey of all properties in the country? he said.His concern over the issue came in the backdrop of a statement made by Dr Manmohan Singh, when he was Prime Minister, that minorities have the first right over the resources of the country. Congress got upset when Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) raised the issue, Mr Shah said.BJP always maintained that dalits, poor and tribals have the first right over resources of the country, he said. The Union minister said that Congress eyed revenues of mutts and temples in the country.Where will this money go? Remember Dr Manmohan Singhs words (on rights of minorities over resources of the country), he told the gathering. He said that Congress was always concerned about its vote bank and thats why the party pursued the appeasement policy.Congress leaders did not attend the consecration ceremony of Ram temple at Ayodhya because of the partys concern for its minority vote bank, Mr Shah said. He said that Mr Modi has ensured that the birthday of Ramlala, who had remained in a tent for the last 500 years, is celebrated in the temple in Ayodhya this time. For decades, Congress used to put all roadblocks in the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, he said.Mr Shah said that Mr Modi has done in ten years what Congress could not do in the last 70 years. Mr Modi has transformed India during his ten-year-rule at the Centre, he added.While terrorism is eliminated in the country, Naxalism is going to be rooted out in the coming two to three years, he said. Mr Modi is such a leader who has a good track record of ten years and an agenda for the next 25 years for the country, Mr Shah said.Mr Shah also took a swipe at the warring workers of Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) of Lalu Prasad Yadav at the recent rally of INDIA bloc at Ranchi, saying that If the INDIA bloc partners can openly indulge in bickering, how do you expect them to unite the country?

Ola Cabs Launches Operations At Ayodhya Airport

Ola expands its operations to Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, catering to the increasing number of tourists visiting the holy city.

Modi Rekindles 'Wealth Redistribution' Allegations Against Congress

Modi Rekindles 'Wealth Redistribution' Allegations Against Congress Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday accused the Congress again of planning to redistribute peoples property if it is voted to power, but stopped short of saying that the wealth would go to Muslims. Addressing an election rally in western Uttar Pradeshs Aligarh, a constituency with a sizeable Muslim population, Modi accused the opposition Congress and the Samajwadi Party of following a policy of appeasement and yet doing nothing to uplift the socio-economic condition of the community. In contrast, he cited the enactment of a law against instant triple talaq and an increase in the Haj quota as moves during the BJP governments term to help the community. On Sunday, the prime minister had triggered a political row by claiming that the Congress manifesto promised redistribution of wealth after conducting a survey. Citing former prime minister Manmohan Singhs 2006 remark on Muslims having the first claim on the countrys resources, Modi said in Rajasthans Banswara that the Congress was set to hand over the wealth of others to infiltrators and those who have more children''. In Aligarh Monday, Modi repeated the point about redistribution of wealth, saying he wanted to alert people about the intentions of the Congress and the opposition INDIA bloc. ''The Congress shahzade (prince) says if his government comes, they will investigate who earns how much and how much property they have. Not only this, he further says the government will take over the property and redistribute it. This is what their election manifesto is saying,'' he claimed, referring to Rahul Gandhi. ''Just think, our mothers and daughters have gold. This is stridhan (womens property). It is considered sacred, even the law protects it. But now they are eyeing a change in law and snatching the property of our mothers and sisters, he said. These people have their eyes on their manglasutras, Modi added, accusing the opposition of trying to steal the gold women possessed. He claimed that the opposition planned to conduct a survey of the property owned by salaried people. If you own two homes, it will snatch one the Congress will go that far, he said. ''This is Maoist thinking... this is communist thinking. By doing this they have ruined so many countries. Now the Congress and the INDI Alliance want to implement the same policy in India, the prime minister said. But, unlike in the Rajasthan speech that triggered the opposition charge of hate speech, Modi stopped short of saying that the wealth will be distributed among Muslims. He also did not refer to Manmohan Singhs statement made nearly two decade back. He said the Congress and the SP followed a policy of appeasement without doing anything for the social and economic progress of Muslims, and also referred to the Pasmanda Muslims the backward sections among the community. The lives of a number of daughters were ruined due to triple talaq. We made a law against it and made the future of the daughters secure,'' he said. Attacking the opposition, he said the 'parivarwadi' people have created empires by looting people and not giving anything to the poor from their immense wealth. Now their eyes have fallen on the property of people of the country. The Congress considers it as their birthright to loot people's wealth,'' he charged. The PM said the people of Aligarh had put a lock on dynastic politics, corruption and the appeasement practised by the two shahzade. The reference was to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, who are fighting the Lok Sabha elections as allies. He referred to law and order in Uttar Pradesh and the security situation on the country's borders earlier when our brave sons were martyred every day. Today all this has stopped. Earlier, terrorists used to explode bombs, serial blasts took place. Even Ayodhya and Kashi were not spared. Bomb blasts used to happen every day in big cities, now there has been a full stop on serial bomb attacks,'' he said. ''What we did in 10 years is just a trailer, we have to do a lot of work, he said. The prime minister said he will work constantly for the country. Modi is born for 'mehnat' (hard work), not 'mauj' (enjoyment). Aligarh will vote on April 26 in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections. UP has 80 parliamentary constituencies, the highest number among all states.

Travel searches for Ayodhya grew by 585 pc, Ujjain by 359 pc: Report

New Delhi, April 22 (IANS) Travel searches for Ayodhya increased by 585 per cent, Ujjain by 359 per cent, and Badrinath by 343 per cent in [] The post Travel searches for Ayodhya grew by 585 pc, Ujjain by 359 pc: Report appeared first on Sarkaritel.com .

Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Welcomes Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust Delegation

Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Welcomes Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust Delegation India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha hosted top officials of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and discussed ways in which India can support the development of the Ramayana Trail in the island nation. Jha met Swami Govind Dev Giri Maharaj, the treasurer of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and his team at the India House here on Sunday. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is the body responsible for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya ''High Commissioner @santjha hosted Swami Govind Dev Giri Maharaj, Treasurer of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust & his accompanying team at India House,'' the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka said in a post on X. ''Discussed ways in which India can support (the) development of #RamayanaTrail in Sri Lanka, promoting P2P (people-to-people) connect and economic growth,'' it said. Jha also joined the inauguration event of the RamayanaTrail Project in Sri Lanka, endorsed by Swami Govind Dev Giri Maharaj. ''May the #RamayanaTrail flourish as India-Sri Lanka friendship flourishes today! High Commissioner @santjha joined the inauguration event of #RamayanaTrail Project in Sri Lanka, endorsed by Swami Govind Dev Giri Maharaj, along with NSA @SagalaRatnayaka, cricket icon @Sanath07 & other dignitaries,'' the High Commission said in a separate post. The Ramayana is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and an important text of Hinduism. There are 52 sites on the Ramayana Trail in Sri Lanka.

Entertainment: Amitabh Bachchan Buys Land!

Amitabh Bachchan Buys Land: If reports are to be believed, Bollywood's Shahenshah Amitabh Bachchan has bought 10 thousand square feet of land in Alibaug, near Mumbai. Whose price is said to be Rs 10 crore. If media reports are to be believed, the actor has purchased this land under 'The House and Abhinandan Lodha'. However, no statement has come either from Big B or from 'The House of Abhinandan Lodha' regarding purchasing the land. According to the report published in Hindustan Times, Big B has purchased this land under the 'A Alibaug' project. This project started in April last year. Earlier, the builder of the land in Ayodhya that Big B had purchased and this project is the same. If reports are to be believed, the 10 thousand square feet of land that Big B had bought in Ayodhya is worth around Rs 14.5 crore. In recent times, Alibaug adjacent to Mumbai is become the first choice for real estate for people. Due to its location and proximity to Mumbai, the land rates here are also increasing with the passing years. Besides, people are also preferring to buy land here. Pratiksha was gifted to Shweta. The special thing is that Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan have gifted their 'Pratiksha' bungalow in Juhu to their daughter Shweta Bachchan. Pratiksha was the first bungalow bought by Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan in Juhu after the success of the film 'Sholay'. Talking about the work front, Big B's look from the film Kalki 2898 AD has been revealed. In this poster, Big B's sharp eyes are seen and his entire mouth is covered with a cloth.

Development, heritage are PM Modi's focus areas: CM Yogi

Development, heritage are PM Modi's focus areas: CM Yogi Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Monday that development and heritage are two of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's focus areas, saying that during the tenure of the Bharatiya Janata Party government at the Centre, the country has witnessed for the first time that development works are inseparably aligned with the aspirations of people. Addressing the media, the Chief Minister said, Unprecedented work has been done both in terms of development and heritage under PM Modi's leadership. Infrastructure is one area that gets maximum support from people, and the government's achievements are significant in this regard. The number of highways has doubled. Similarly, since 2014, the number of airports has increased from 74 to more than 150. During the Congress regime, there was only one AIIMS, which increased to six under Atal Bihari Vajpayee's prime ministership, and further expanded to 22 during PM Modi's tenure, he added. Notably, the proliferation of IITs, IIMs, and IIITs and the implementation of the One District, One Medical College initiative are emblematic of the new narrative of development, he elaborated. CM Yogi stated that for the first time in the country, respect for heritage has also been observed, citing the restoration of the Vishwanath Dham in Kashi, the grandeur of Mahakaal, Kedarnath, Badrinath, and Somnath temples, and the consecration ceremony of Lord Ram Lalla in Ayodhya after a gap of five centuries as glaring examples of this. Previously, accommodating 50 people simultaneously at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple was challenging. Now, even if 50,000 visitors arrive, there are no issues. Similarly, hosting 500 individuals in Ayodhya posed difficulties in the past, but today, even accommodating 5 lakh people presents no trouble, he said. CM Yogi stated that the harmony between 'Vikas' (development) and 'Virasat' (heritage) witnessed in the country today is attributable to the vision and determination of PM Modi's leadership. He expressed confidence that this support will turn into blessings, allowing the NDA to form a majority government once again under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (ANI)

Travel tips: This temple of Hanuman ji is very special, one has to cross 76 stairs to have darshan here.

There are religious places in almost every state of India. Every religious place has its own distinct history and beliefs. There are many temples where people come from far and wide to have darshan of God. Now when Hanuman ji's birth anniversary is being celebrated on 23rd April, you too can go to see Hanuman ji on this special day. Every year Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated on the full moon day of Shukla Paksha during Chaitra month. It is said that whoever worships Lord Hanuman on this day gets the desired boon. In such a situation, if you want to visit Hanumanji's temple, then there is a special temple in Ayodhya, where the belief is quite different. We are talking about Hanumangarhi located in Ayodhya, where Lord Ram had ordered his beloved devotee Hanuman ji to stay after returning from Lanka. A special idol of Hanuman ji is installed here. Everyone knows about Shri Ram Janmabhoomi located in Ayodhya, but many people do not know the history of Hanumangarhi. Actually, this is the same place where Lord Ram had ordered Hanuman ji to stay after returning from Lanka. It is counted among the special temples of Hanuman ji. The idol of Hanuman ji that rests in this temple is also very special. Here Hanuman ji is seated in red colour. There is also a special 'Hanuman Nishan' in Hanumangarhi temple. It is necessary to visit here before going to birthplace It is believed that when Lord Shri Ram gave this place to Hanuman to live, he had also given a promise that whoever comes to Ayodhya, he will first come and visit Hanumangarhi. From then till today everyone definitely visits Hanumangarhi before going to the birthplace. 76 stairs have to be climbed Talking about the layout of the temple here, you will have to climb 76 stairs to have the darshan of Hanuman ji. You will experience peace by going here. The image of Ram Rajya is visible in temples As soon as you go to this temple, you get to see the image of Ramrajya. The statue of Hanuman ji located here is always decorated with flowers and garlands. Along with this, the walls of Hanumangarhi temple are decorated with verses from Hanuman Chalisa. Even today, many people sit in the temple premises and recite Ram's name and Sundar Kand. (PC: ISTOCK)

Indians travelling more frequently, surge in searches for spiritual destinations: Report

NEW DELHI, Apr 22: Indians are travelling more frequently, with searches for spiritual destinations like Ayodhya, Ujjain and Badrinath soaring, according to a report unveiled on Monday. The MakeMyTrip India Travel Trends Report, which dives into travel behaviours based on insights from its base of over 100 million active annual users, reveals that since 2019, there has been a 25 per cent increase in the number of people taking more than three trips a year. This surge in travel [] The post Indians travelling more frequently, surge in searches for spiritual destinations: Report appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Surge In Indians Travelling, Spiritual Trips In Demand: MakeMyTrip Report On Travel Trends

Searches for Ayodhya grew by 585%, Ujjain by 359% and Badrinath by 343% in 2023 as compared to 2022, the report said.

Indian Travelers Embrace Spirituality, Driving Surge in Spiritual Destination Searches

Indian Travelers Embrace Spirituality, Driving Surge in Spiritual Destination Searches Indians are travelling more frequently, with searches for spiritual destinations like Ayodhya, Ujjain and Badrinath soaring, according to a report unveiled on Monday. The MakeMyTrip India Travel Trends Report, which dives into travel behaviours based on insights from its base of over 100 million active annual users, reveals that since 2019, there has been a 25 per cent increase in the number of people taking more than three trips a year. This surge in travel is fuelled by a growing interest in spiritual journeys. Searches for spiritual tourism witnessed a 97 per cent increase in 2023 compared to 2021, according to the report. Tier-2 and tier-3 cities, in particular, are witnessing a surge in searches for destinations with religious significance. Searches for Ayodhya soared by a whopping 585 per cent in 2023 compared to 2022, as per the report. Similarly, Ujjain and Badrinath, saw search increases of 359 per cent and 343 per cent, respectively. The report also finds that weekend getaways continue to be a favourite, with Jim Corbett National Park witnessing a 131 per cent rise in searches in 2023 as compared to 2022. Hill stations like Ooty and Munnar are also popular choices, especially for those from the southern part of the country. The report also sheds light on international travel preferences, as Dubai, Bangkok, and Singapore remain the top three most searched destinations, while London, Toronto, and New York hold the fort for long-haul travel. According to the report, there is a growing interest in off-the-beaten-path locations, as searches for destinations like Hong Kong, Almaty (Kazakhstan), Paro (Bhutan), Baku (Azerbaijan), Da Nang (Vietnam), and Tbilisi (Georgia) have all seen significant growth in 2023. Moreover, family travel bookings are booming, with the report highlighting a 64 per cent surge in 2023 compared to 2022. Solo travel recorded a 23 per cent growth in bookings during the same period.

Record Number of Devotees Visit Ram Janmabhoomi Temple

Approximately 15 million people have paid their respects to Ram Lalla at Ayodhya's newly constructed Ram Janmabhoomi temple since the pran pratishtha (consecration ceremony) of the idol on January 22, according to Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai. Around 100,000 people visit the temple town daily to offer their prayers to Lord Ram Lalla. The pran pratishtha ceremony of the 51-inch-tall idol of Lord Ram Lalla, crafted by renowned sculptor Arun Yogiraj, took place on January 22 and was presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the presence of around 8,000 VIPs. Regarding the temple's future plans, Champat Rai announced the construction of a 14-foot-wide security wall around the Janmabhoomi temple, known as the 'Parkota. ' The ground floor of the temple, where the 'Pran Pratistha' of Ram Lalla took place, is complete, and work on the first floor is underway. A 14-foot-wide security wall called 'Parkota' will be constructed around the temple, Rai explained. The temple grounds will include several small temples dedicated to deities such as Lord Shiva, Lord Hanuman, Maharishi Valmiki, and Maharishi Vashishtha. Once the project is completed, the Ram temple will be able to accommodate 25,000 pilgrims at a time. Rai also noted that 600 plants in the temple's premises have been protected, and the temple is equipped with water and sewer treatment facilities, ensuring it is self-sufficient and minimizing the impact on Ayodhya residents. US National Security Advisor Postpones India Visit Amid Middle East Tensions Israel Weighs Response to Iran's Attack Amid Global Calls for Restraint UAE Crown Prince Orders Work-From-Home Amid Weather Concerns: Here's What You Need to Know

Irani advises Amethi residents to beware of Rahul Gandhi's divisive tactics

Irani advises Amethi residents to beware of Rahul Gandhi's divisive tactics Union minister and local MP Smriti Irani on Monday alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will come to Amethi after April 26 and divide the people in the name of casteism and visit one temple after the other. Addressing roadside meetings during her election campaign in Bhetua and Bhadar areas here, Irani said, ''After the voting in Wayanad on April 26, Rahul Gandhi will come here to tell everyone that Amethi is his family and stoke the fire of casteism in the society here.'' She added, ''Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party rejected the invitation for the consecration ceremony of Lord Shri Ram in Ayodhya but he will be seen roaming around the temples in Amethi. So there is a need to be careful and alert.'' In a major upset for the Congress in 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Irani wrested Amethi from Rahul Gandhi, who had held the constituency for 15 years. The Congress has not yet declared its candidate from the seat but local party workers are rooting for Rahul Gandhi to contest again. The Union minister also alleged that Rahul Gandhi never raised issues of Amethi in the Parliament and was often missing from the House. She alleged that despite Rahul Gandhi being an MP for 15 years, 10 of them while there was UPA at the helm at Centre and UP under his ally (SP), still people in Amethi could not even get drinking water. People in Amethi could get drinking water supplied to their house only after Narendra Modi came to power, she claimed. It is the fifth day in Amethi of Irani, who is seeking a second term from the constituency on a BJP ticket.

People will surely vote for Modi & BJP in LS polls: Union Minister Kishan Reddy

Telangana BJP president and Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy asserted that his party will cross double digits in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in the state. Speaking to a TNIE team as part of Hyderabad Dialogues, Kishan Reddy rubbished the Congress and BRS allegations that the BJP, which won four seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, did not do anything for the state. National highways, free rice distribution, ESI hospitals, development of railway infrastructure and revival of the fertiliser factory are they not projects taken up by the Centre? We are establishing a railway wagon manufacturing factory at Kazipet that will provide employment to around 3,000 people. We sanctioned a textile park for the state. Farmers here are benefiting from fertiliser subsidy, he pointed out. Kishan, the sitting MP from Secunderabad who has been fielded by the party from the segment again, laughed off the Congress claim that the BRS has fielded weak candidates in five LS seats to facilitate the victory of the BJP. Summing up the character of A Revanth Reddy and his predecessor K Chandrasekhar Rao, Kishan said that Revanth appears to have learnt a lesson from KCRs follies and developed cordial ties with the Centre. During BRS rule, I wrote more than 50 letters to him seeking allocation of land for projects that the Centre was ready to construct. But he did not respond to any of them. Telangana people threw him out of power and confined him to his farmhouse, he said. You just filed your nomination papers today. How is your campaigning going on in Secunderabad and other places in the state? After filing the nomination, I directly came to your (The New Indian Express) office. I started campaigning in my constituency much before the candidates of other parties. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has so far addressed public meetings in Sangareddy, Nagarkurnool, Jagtial, Malkajgiri and Adilabad. While the BJP is ahead in campaigning in Telangana, the Congress has not even announced its full list of candidates. The people of the country want Narendra Modi to become prime minister once again. In the recent Assembly elections, many may not have voted for the BJP, but they will definitely vote for Modi and our party in the Lok Sabha polls. The youth, cutting across party affiliation in rural areas, are in favour of Narendra Modi. We are concentrating on door-to-door campaigns as we believe that there would be no use holding massive public meetings to reach out to voters. Who is your main rival in Secunderabad? Only if they start campaigning can we say something. Moreover, both candidates belong to the BRS. While Padma Rao Goud is the BRS candidate, Congress candidate Danam Nagender is a BRS MLA. Only after they start campaigning will we get some clarity on many issues like whether they will contest or withdraw or whether new candidates will come in their place. No matter who my rival is, I will give it my all and treat even independent candidates as strong opponents. How many seats are you expecting to win in Telangana? We are hopeful of winning seats in double digits. It could be anywhere between 10 and 17. The Congress and BRS are alleging that the Modi government did nothing for Telangana in the last 10 years. The Modi government has done a lot for Telangana. Its difficult to convince those making politically motivated allegations. The Centre has spent approximately Rs 10 lakh crore in Telangana. Recently, I gave a detailed power-point presentation in front of journalists, professors, intellectuals and other prominent persons, regarding the contribution of the Union government for the development of Telangana. When the BRS and Congress are spreading lies, I need not respond to them. If they can come to an open debate, I am ready to explain what the Centre did for Telangana. Is Telangana not part of this country? Why will we not extend assistance to Telangana? National highways, free rice distribution, ESI hospitals, development of railway infrastructure and revival of the fertiliser factory are they not projects taken up by the Centre? We are establishing a railway wagon manufacturing factory at Kazipet which will provide employment to around 3,000 people. We sanctioned a textile park for the state. Farmers of the state are benefiting from fertiliser subsidy. Though the Centre is funding programmes such as Basti Dawakhanas and distribution of free rice for the poor, the Modi government is not getting credit. CM Revanth Reddy is alleging that the BRS and BJP are colluding to topple the Congress government. I want to clarify officially that we do not want the Congress government to fall and we are not trying to do any such thing. We have only eight MLAs. If the government falls on its own, we cannot help it. We will wait for four-and-a-half years more and will try to form a government in a democratic way. It took 10 years for the BRS to fall and it will take five years for the Congress government to collapse. After that, the Congress will disappear and we will win in the elections. We will play the role of opposition effectively and we will fight for the implementation of the promises the Congress gave ahead of the Assembly elections. BRS working president KT Rama Rao says the CM will join the BJP. Former CM K Chandrasekhar Rao says the BJP is running the Congress government. What can I say to such baseless allegations? The Telangana government is providing financial resources to the Congress to fight Lok Sabha elections by collecting Rahul Gandhi tax from businessmen, builders and companies. Revanth is sending the money thus collected to Delhi and that is the reason why the Congress high command is giving him too much importance. He went to Andhra Pradesh and Kerala for campaigning. Revanth is close to the Congress high command because he is the one who makes the highest money contribution to the party. In this scenario, BRS leaders speaking of Revanth joining the BJP or the BJP running the Congress government is baseless. In politics we can say anything, but we need evidence to substantiate our claim. When the BRS was in power, a majority of Central schemes were not implemented in Telangana. After the Congress came to power, things have changed and relations between the state and the Centre are positive. KCR behaved in an arrogant manner towards the Centre when he was in power. He even went to the extent of saying that he would throw Modi out of the country. Telangana people threw him out of power and confined him to his farmhouse. Because of his arrogance, both KCR and Telangana suffered a lot. Revanth seems to have learnt a lesson from KCRs follies and he is maintaining good relations with the Centre. The financial situation of the state is very bad and Revanth wants the financial assistance that comes from the Centre as his government is not in a position to implement the promises it made to the people. Keeping these things in view, Revanth is implementing schemes such as PM Fasal Bima Yojana and Ayushman Bharat. During BRS rule, I wrote more than 50 letters to KCR seeking allocation of land for a few projects which the Centre was ready to construct. But he did not respond. The BRS and Congress allege that the BJP is fielding leaders who defected from the pink party because it lacks strong candidates. Congress leaders have no right to talk about this issue. Even after the BRS announced Kadiyam Kavya as its candidate for Warangal, the Congress admitted her and her father and MLA Kadiyam Srihari into the party. It even named Kavya as its candidate for Warangal. After doing this, does the Congress have any moral right to question us? Many leaders from various parties are joining the BJP, recognising that the country needs the leadership of Modi. The CM alleges that the BRS is fielding weak candidates in five seats to ensure victory of the BJP. What do you have to say about it? The CM also alleges that the BRS has an agreement with the BJP to secure the release of K Kavitha from jail. What can I say to it? Your party leaders say that the BJP lost in Assembly elections because of the failure of ED and CBI to arrest Kavitha. Will BJP benefit politically now that she has been arrested? Why would the BJP arrest Kavitha? That is wrong. The liquor scam case is related to Delhi, not Kavitha. The bureaucrats who were afraid of facing serious consequences gave full information on the liquor scam committed by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to the Centre and CBI. During the CBI investigation, Kavithas role in the scam came to light. Who asked her to do beer and brandy business in Delhi? She played a key role in the scam and that is why probe agencies arrested her. She destroyed several mobile phones and threatened people. The BJP has nothing to do with her arrest. You demanded a high-level inquiry into the phone-tapping case. But you did not specify the agency which should probe it. The phone-tapping case had its roots in the Intelligence headquarters. If police investigate their own men, we cannot expect justice. That is the reason I asked for a probe either by central agencies or an inquiry under the supervision of a high court judge. Though the BJP alleged corruption in the construction of Kaleshwaram project, why did the Union government not order a CBI probe? There is no provision for the Centre to conduct investigation into allegations of corruption in state projects unless the state government concerned seeks it. Kaleshwaram is a state project and without the state governments consent, the CBI cant investigate it. Before coming to power, the Congress had written a letter to me seeking a CBI probe. Now, after coming to power, the Congress is not talking about it. I will ensure that the Centre orders a CBI probe within 24 hours if the state chief secretary writes a letter. What is your agenda in Lok Sabha polls in Telangana? Is it Hindutva agenda or development agenda? If you keenly follow our speeches, you will get to know that ours is a development agenda. When you are confident of the BJP winning about 400 Lok Sabha seats, why has your party entered into alliance with the regional parties in various states? We said that the NDA will cross 400 and the BJP will win 370 seats on its own. What is wrong if we have an alliance with other parties? Ours is a national party. We work for the country. The nations development is not possible only with the BJP. There is a need to unite 140 crore people of the country. If the country has to develop, everyone should come forward irrespective of their party affiliation. We are working towards Viksit Bharat by 2047. You and several other leaders are aspiring for a Cabinet berth in the Union government. I am not in the race. As Central minister, I have done a lot in the last five years. I have got good opportunities. During my term as MoS to Home Affairs, Article 370 was repealed. I also worked as in-charge of a control room during the Covid time. During my tenure as Minister of Culture, Ram Mandir construction at Ayodhya happened. In five years I did work equal to 50 years. If any leader from Telangana gets a berth in the Union Cabinet, I would be happy. Revanth Reddy and you were close friends once. Is the friendship still continuing? Party and friendship are separate. We dont talk to each other everyday. Our political differences do come in the way of our friendship. However, we greet each other if we meet at marriages or other functions. Our differences are to do with ideological issues. There is talk that if the BJP comes to power for a third time, Hyderabad will be made the second capital of India. Is there any truth in it? It is not on our agenda. Hyderabad BJP candidate K Madhavi Latha is alleged to have made a gesture towards a masjid. Why do you think that she placed the [imaginary] bow towards a masjid? In the Old City, there are a lot of masjids. If you rotate the camera, a masjid will come into the frame. She did not have a BJP membership before being given a ticket. A few of your party leaders are also upset with this decision. These are all small issues. She has been working with us for many years. Though she was not our party member, she worked in our frontal organisations. TNIE team: Prasanna RS, VV Balakrishna, Ireddy Srinivas Reddy, S Bachan Jeet Singh, B Kartheek, Manda Ravinder Reddy and Navya Parvathy

Coordination between development and heritage is the identity of PM Modi: Uttar Pradesh CM Adityanath

Coordination between development and heritage is the identity of PM Modi: Uttar Pradesh CM Adityanath Amid the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the continuous development of infrastructure, saying that the number of Highways and airports doubled in India after 2014. Speaking to ANI, Yogi Adityanath said, India is the world's biggest democracy. For the first time in the country, it is being seen that we live with democratic values for the service of the public, and development work is done. The wonderful coordination between development and heritage is the identity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The work done towards this is wonderful. Elaborating on the work done by PM Modi in the past years, the Uttar Pradesh CM said, The issue on which we get good support from the public is infrastructure - the number of highways has almost doubled...Till 2014, there were only 74 airports but now, the country has more than 150 airports...Today there are 22 AIIMS in the country...Ending a 500-year-old wait, Ram Lalla is now placed at Ram Temple in Ayodhya...Today, 5 lakh people devotees are coming here at once but there are no problems...The public supports these issues. During the Congress rule, there was only one AIIMS while Atal Bihari Vajpayee has laid the foundation stone of 6 AIIMS. Now, the number of AIIMS has increased from 7 to 22 under the PM-led NDA government. Likewise, IIT, IIM, Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIIT), One District, One Medical College, and tap water to every household has become a foundation stone for developed India, he further said. The CM said, Earlier, not even 50 people were able to worship in Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi but now 50,000 people can worship in the temple. Similarly, 5 lakh devotees can offer prayers at Ram Temple in Ayodhya without any problem. Expressing confidence in winning by majority in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, Aditynath said, I believe that this support will transform into blessings to form the government under the leadership of PM Modi with an absolute majority. Uttar Pradesh, which sends the maximum number of MPs, 80, to Parliament, will vote in all seven phases. Voting for phase 1 was held on April 19 on eight seats. The counting of votes will be held on June 4. (ANI)

Andhra CM Jagan to file nomination on April 25, release manifesto in another two days

VIJAYAWADA: YSRC supremo and Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy will file his nomination papers for Pulivendula Assembly segment on April 25, and release the party manifesto in another two days, said YSRC general secretary Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy. Speaking to mediapersons at Penamaluru on Sunday during his electioneering, he said, The ruling party candidates have started filing their nominations for the Lok Sabha and Assembly seats, and there have been no issues so far. Responding to former Union minister and Megastar Chiranjeevi endorsing the NDA candidates, Sajjala said, There is no surprise in Chiranjeevi extending his support to the alliance candidates, but it will not change the election outcome, which is the defeat of the TDP and its allies. It is not just Chiranjeevi, even if anyone supports the tripartite alliance, the outcome will not change. A clarity has emerged on the Andhra Pradesh political scenario, which is that there only exists one leader -- YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, and all others are a group of wolves, foxes and porcupines, he asserted. The YSRC leader said, The time has come for the people of AP to choose what they want. Do they want, who strives for the betterment of every section of the society and every walk of life or do they want Chandrababu Naidu and his allies steeped in deceit, backstabbing and anarchy? They need to take a right decision. Sajjala said more than 80% of the people of the State have benefited from the plethora of welfare schemes introduced and implemented by the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government for the past five years. Unable to face Jagan, Naidu has formed an alliance with others. Unfortunately, the alliance has no agenda, and they have allied only to get power, he observed. On Pawan Kalyan, the YSRC leader said, The JSP chief is an immature politician, and he does not understand why he floated the political outfit. As a leader, he lacks clarity and perhaps, he floated the party for the sake of Naidu. After the 2024 elections, there will be no Naidu or his TDP in the political scape. Pawan Kalyan and his party too will meet the same fate. There is no need to speak more about such an immature person, he added. The YSRC general secretary held a brief review meeting with Housing Minister Jogi Ramesh, who is contesting from Penamaluru, and party regional coordinator Alla Ayodhya Rami Reddy. He exuded confidence of winning Penamaluru Assembly and Machilipatnam Lok Sabha seats.

Over 1.5 crore people visited Ayodhya Temple since 'Pran Pratishtha': Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra official

Champat Rai mentioned 1.5 crore people visited Ram Lalla post 'Pran Pratishtha'. Over 1 lakh daily visitors seek blessings. 14-foot 'Parkota' security wall announced. 'Parkota' to have 6 temples including Agastya, Nishad Raj, Shabri.

Ayodhya Ram Mandir to have six more temples. Here are the details

Ayodhya Ram temple expanding with six more temples inside 'Parkota' wall. New temples include Maharishi Agastya, Nishad Raj, Ma Shabri. Additional structures to enhance the spiritual experience for visitors.

YSRC better placed in Bapatla Assembly seat

GUNTUR: Bapatla is set to witness a keen tussle as the YSRC is eyeing to win hat-trick, while the TDP is striving to make its mark. While YSRC has fielded sitting MLA Kona Raghupathi, TDP gave ticket to industrialist and philanthropist Vegesana Narendra Varma. Bapatla Assembly constituency comprises three mandals: Bapatla, Pittalavanipalem and Karlavaripalem. The segment was a bastion of the Congress. Majority voters in the segment belong to the Reddy community. However, YSRC succeeded in wresting the seat from the grand old party. Sitting MLA and former deputy speaker Kona Raghupathi has won two the segment consecutively in 2014 and 2019. The Kona family has a stronghold in the area with Raghupatis father Kona Prabhakar Rao was elected as MLA from the constituency three times in 1967, 1972, and 1978. Ex-minister and YSRC senior leader Gade Venkatreddy had tried hard to make his heir Madhusudhan Reddy as MLA, counting on the support from Reddy voters, who are high in number in the region. But the high command selected Kona for the third consecutive time to gain the support of Brahmin voters. The TDP suffered a setback when former TDP MLC Annam Satish Prabhakar, a strong leader in the region, after losing Assembly elections in 2014 and 2019, resigned from the TDP and joined BJP. However, later the party appointed Vegesana as constituency in-charge who has taken up various public outreach programmes to strengthen the party cadre at the grassroots level and build himself as a strong leader. With the BJP banking on the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya for securing votes, it will be interesting to witness whether Brahmin voters will go with Kona once again or choose the NDA. However, it looks like the YSRC is at an advantage in the segment as it fulfilled the long-pending demand of people with the formation of Bapatla district and established Bapatla town as the district headquarters. Additionally, the construction of a bypass road, medical college, and a 500-bed government hospital, infrastructure development, and welfare schemes are likely to play a significant part in the poll outcome. K Dinanath, a retired government officer and resident of Bapatla town, opined that the town has witnessed a lot of development over the last few years. The set up of government hospitals will help the rural people not to rush to Bapatla town for treatment and the construction of the bypass road will ease traffic woes in the town, he added. Lakshmi Priya, another resident, said that her family has benefited from schemes implemented by the YSRC government. Especially, my children are getting quality education in government school. However, with increasing population due to urbanisation of the town, sufficient water supply has become a major issue. Leaders should highlight this, she added.Sharing his perspective, A Ramanath, said TDPs Super 6 are much better than the welfare schemes being implemented by the YSRC government. Ive complete faith that Chandrababu Naidu will fulfil his promises and develop capital, if TDP comes to power in the upcoming elections, he added.

Delhi: Mega BJP show for saffron push

NEW DELHI: While AAP leaders, including Sanjay Singh and Chief Minister Arvind Kerjiwals wife Sunita Kejriwal were campaigning for the INDIA bloc in Jharkhand, the Delhi BJP, giving a saffron touch to its electioneering, hosted a mega conclave of Hindu priests, saints and seers on Sunday in the capital and celebrated the Hindu new year along with construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The religious-cum-political event, just a month ahead of the polling day in Delhi, was hosted at the IGI stadium through the Mandir Prakoshth (BJPs temple cell). Senior BJP leaders, including Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami, Delhi Lok Sabha Election In-charge Om Prakash Dhankar and Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva were among the top attendees along with all seven parliamentary candidates of the party. Hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Goyal said that he has worked to enhance Indias culture, faith, and heritage along with the countrys development. It is a matter of pride that India has entered an era, which is making it prosperous and developed, the Union Minister said. Notably, the entire venue, even the chairs, wore the saffron look as the organisers had placed thousands of saffron flags along with the seats and the name of Lord Ram reverberated through the speakers during the entire duration of the event. A big TV screen displaying Hum Hai Sanatani became the centre point of selfies and the speakers of the event encouraged the public to click their photos and upload it on social media so that everyone knows about the Hindu new year. The Uttarakhand CM, in his address, described all the saints and sages present as the guardians of Sanatan culture. Earlier, there used to be indifference regarding the celebration of Hindu New Year, which was mainly due to the government before 2014, which had no special inclination towards any Hindu festival, but now the promotion of Sanatan culture is happening. Lord Shri Ram has reached his grand abode from the tent, and we all have been fortunate to have his darshan, Dhami said. The Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said in the last 10 years, the country has seen that our culture, our traditions, which were under attack, have been protected by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The election of 2024 will decide the future of India, and along with that, we all will keep the foundation of a developed India of 2047, and with this resolution, we will leave from here today, Sachdeva said. In an apparent reference to the ongoing polls, Sachdeva, without naming his political rivals, said just like the Centre, Delhi should also have Ram devotees rule. The national capital will go to polls on May 25 in the sixth phase of Lok Sabha election with results on June 4.

'Opposition trying to save dynasties, BJP fulfils its promises': Nadda

MUMBAI: BJP president Jagat Prakash Nadda on Sunday launched an attack on the opposition parties, saying they were trying hard to save their dynastic politics. Be it the Sharad Pawar-led NCP(SP) or Uddhav Thackerays Shiv Sena (UBT), the opposition parties are now trying hard to save their dynastic politics, Nadda said, addressing a rally in Maharashtras Buldhana district. Nadda claimed the BJP provided a stable government in the last 10 years and crucial issues like the practice of instant triple talaq and the Ram temple construction in Ayodhya were resolved under Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership. We also provided hundreds of thousands of homes to the homeless people and increased the reach of various government schemes, offering a comfortable life to the rural people, he said. The BJP-led government also came up with the Citizenship (Amendment) Act that now offers Indian citizenship to persecuted Hindus, Parsis and Christians (from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who have come to India), Nadda said. After Modi came to power, politics of the country changed and became more accountable to the people. In a way, it has become more responsible, the BJP chief said. Polling in the Buldhana and seven other Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra will be held on April 26. Meanwhile, addressing a rally in Malda, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that no one can stop implementation of the CAA in West Bengal. Mamata didi says she will not allow CAA in her state. Why is she trying to hoodwink the people of West Bengal? Singh asked. He said the CAA is not meant to take away anyones citizenship, but is a law for granting Indian citizenship to people displaced from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan on religious grounds. The defence minister said that India is treated with respect under the Narendra Modi-led government, unlike under previous dispensations. When we say something in an international forum, it is being listened to with respect, Singh said, adding that Modis pledge is to turn India into a developed country by 2047.

Opposition parties trying hard to save their dynasties: Nadda

MUMBAI, Apr 21: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president J P Nadda on Sunday criticised the opposition parties, claiming they were trying hard to save their dynastic politics. Addressing a rally in Maharashtras Buldhana district, Nadda said the BJP provided a stable Government in the last 10 years and crucial issues like the practice of instant triple talaq and the Ram temple construction in Ayodhya were resolved under Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership. Targeting the opposition, he said political parties earlier [] The post Opposition parties trying hard to save their dynasties: Nadda appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Indian Envoy In Sri Lanka Hosts Ayodhya Ram Temple Trust Officials, Discusses Ramayana Trail

India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha on Sunday hosted top officials of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and discussed ways in which India can support the development of the Ramayana Trail in the island nation.

INDIA Bloc Leaders Only Interested in Saving Their Dynasties: Nadda

Mumbai: BJP National President J.P. Nadda slammed the opposition INDIA bloc saying it protects arrogant and corrupt leaders and have come together only to save dynastic politics. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made political parties accountable to the people through his work in the last 10 years, he said. Addressing an election rally at Buldhana in Maharashtra, Nadda said that after Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power, the politics of the country became more accountable to the people. Modi has not only developed the country, but he has changed the definition and direction of the countrys politics, he said. Earlier political parties made tall claims in their election manifesto and forgot them after the election. What happened during the UPA government? They did corruption, promoted nepotism, enjoyed the cream and forgot the public. But the BJP government has delivered its promises, Mr. Nadda added. The BJP president further claimed that his party provided a stable government in the last 10 years and crucial issues like the practice of instant triple talaq and the Ram temple construction in Ayodhya were resolved under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. We also provided hundreds of thousands of homes to the homeless people and increased the reach of various government schemes, offering a comfortable life to the rural people, he said. The opposition parties in the country are now trying hard to save their dynastic politics, be it the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) or Uddhav Thackerays Shiv Sena (UBT), Mr. Nadda said. Crediting the BJP-led government for the Citizenship (Amendment) Act that now offers Indian citizenship to persecuted Hindus, Parsis and Christians (from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who have come to India), Mr Nadda said, The Modi government is determined to make India the 3rd largest economy in another three years. The Modi government has planned many schemes to make the dream of a self-reliant India a reality.

BJP sure of winning all seven LS seats in Delhi: Piyush Goyal

BJP sure of winning all seven LS seats in Delhi: Piyush Goyal Prime Minister Narendra Modi has worked for the resurgence of India's culture and faith while making the nation prosperous, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said on Sunday and exuded confidence that the BJP would win all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi. Addressing a gathering at the IGI stadium on the occasion of the 'Hindu Nav Varsh Function', he said it is a matter of pride that India has entered an era when work is being done to make the country prosperous and developed. ''The BJP is very sure that it will win all the seven Lok Sabha seats of Delhi,'' Goyal said. PM Modi has worked for the resurgence of India's culture, faith, and heritage. It is a matter of pride that the country has entered an era when the focus is on making it a prosperous and developed nation, the Union minister said. At the event, Uttrakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami alleged that the previous government at the Centre did nothing for the development of the country. It is Prime Minister Modi who implemented several schemes for the welfare of all communities, he said. ''Before 2014, no government did anything for Lord Ram. It is the BJP government which brought Lord Ram back to his palatial house in Ayodhya,'' Dhami said. ''Recent elections in Uttarakhand were peaceful and I am sure that the BJP will all five seats in the state by huge margins,'' he said. Polling in all five parliamentary constituencies in Uttarakhand was held in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections on April 19. Highlighting the development works in Uttarakhand, Dhami said, ''Work on ropeways in Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib is almost complete while an elevated road from Delhi to Dehradun is being built. Once completed, it will take only two and a half hours to reach Dehradun.'' Besides Goyal and Dhami, senior BJP leaders, including Om Prakash Dhankhar, Virendra Sachdeva and Karnail Singh, also addressed the gathering. The party's candidates for all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi were also present at the event. Voting in Delhi will be held in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha polls on May 25.

Congress a synonym for scams, terrorism and Naxalism; gave pistols to youths: Yogi Adityanath

Yogi Adityanath criticizes Congress as synonymous with scams, terrorism, and Naxalism. He credits PM Modi for ending Ayodhya's 500-year wait for Ram Lalla's idol installation, highlighting BJP's focus on security and development.

Congress a synonym for scams, terrorism and Naxalism; gave pistols to youths: Adityanath

Congress a synonym for scams, terrorism and Naxalism; gave pistols to youths: Adityanath Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Congress, saying it is synonymous with scams, terrorism and Naxalism, and accused the party of instigating youth to fight against the country by handing them pistols. Addressing campaign rallies in Chhattisgarh, Adityanath alleged the Congress has an ''internal understanding'' with Naxalism as part of an ''evil attempt'' to divert youth from the mainstream of society. The wait of 500 years for Ram Lalla (installation of the idol) in Ayodhya ended because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Adityanath said while addressing a rally in Kabirdham district, which comes under the Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha constituency. The BJP has fielded Santosh Pandey from Rajnandgaon seat against Congress stalwart and former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel. ''Congress is a synonym for scams, terrorism and Naxalism. At the age when a tablet and a good book should be in the hands of youth and they should have the spirit to take the world forward, the Congress gave pistols in their hands. The Congress instigated them to fight against the country in the name of Naxalism and terrorism,'' Adityanath claimed. He said the people witnessed a change in the country over a decade under PM Modi's leadership. ''Modi ji says this country needs to be transformed into a big power in the world. A developed India has to be made...to create a self-reliant India, where every citizen feels safe. Be it a daughter or a businessman, only the BJP can provide a guarantee of security to everybody. Only BJP can respect your faith,'' he said. Adityanath asked the gathering whether the Congress could have given free ration, built the Ram temple, reduced the Naxal menace and provided security to daughters and businessmen. ''Congress is the synonym for problems, it gives problems whereas the BJP is the name of solution,'' he added. He said Bhupesh Baghel was allegedly involved in multiple scams during the previous government in the state. Love jihad was given an exemption in Chhattisgarh under the erstwhile Congress rule, Adityanath added. ''No one has forgotten what happened with Bhuneshwar Sahu. I congratulate the people of Chhattisgarh for keeping Bhuneshwar's memories alive by electing his father Ishwar Sahu as an MLA. He had sacrificed his life protesting against love jihad and the appeasement policy of Congress'', he said. Sahu (22) was killed last April in violence in Bemetara district after an altercation between school children belonging to two communities. Addressing another rally in Korba Lok Sabha seat, the UP chief minister alleged the Congress has an ''internal understanding'' with Naxalism as part of an ''evil attempt'' to divert youth from the mainstream of society. Adityanath said while India was giving free ration to 80 crore citizens under PM Modi's leadership, 23 crore people are fighting hunger in Pakistan. India's prestige and standing in the world have risen due to the leadership of Modi, its borders are safe and the nation is capable of giving a befitting reply to terrorism and Naxalism, he added. ''The Congress has an internal understanding with Naxalism. It is not hidden from anyone. Youth should have had tabs in their hands but Congress governments handed them pistols. They (Congress governments) made an evil attempt to divert youth from the mainstream of society,'' Adityanath alleged. He accused the Congress of playing with the future of youth and working to divide society. ''When they can't do anything, then they start abusing PM Modi. But the entire country is one family for Modiji. He works to serve 140 crore Indians,'' the UP CM said. Under the Congress rule, people died of hunger, farmers committed suicide, women and businesspersons were unsafe and terrorists struck routinely after entering the country, he claimed. ''But, this situation changed after 2014 and now even if a firecracker goes off (in India), Pakistan quickly clarifies that it has nothing to do with the incident. Because, Pakistan knows this is new India and if any link is found of the neighbouring nation, then the Indian Army will enter there and strike,'' Adityanath said. The BJP has fielded Saroj Pandey from the Korba Lok Sabha constituency against Congress' Jyotsna Mahant. Addressing a third rally in Bilaspur city under Bilaspur LS constituency, Adityanath stepped up his attack on Congress. ''When Congress came to power after Independence, instead of taking the country towards prosperity, the Grand Old Party pushed it towards terrorism, Naxalism, regionalism, casteism, anarchy, and corruption. They deliberately made some provisions in the Constitution,'' he said. Adityanath also accused Congress of insulting B R Ambedkar. ''In 1952, the Constitution was amended and a special provision of Article 370 was included for Kashmir. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee sacrificed his life to make Kashmir a part of India,'' he said. Accusing Congress of doing nothing for 65 years, Adityanath said Article 370 was abrogated after Modi took charge as PM and Amit Shah as Home Minister, and J&K was linked to the mainstream of democracy with 'Ek Bharat-Shrestha Bharat'. He said people are enthusiastic about the consecration of Lord Ramlalla's idol in the Ayodhya temple. ''After a wait of 500 years, Shri Ram Lalla has been installed again in Ayodhya. There was more enthusiasm in Chhattisgarh than in Uttar Pradesh and the countrymen,'' he said. Adityanath further said Chhattisgarh is ''nanihal'' (birthplace of Lord Ram's maternal grandparents) of Lord Ram. He accused Congress of rejecting the existence of Lord Ram and Lord Krishna, insulting the ''eternal faith'' of India, and adopting ''double standards'' after the construction of the Ayodhya temple. ''Now when the temple is built in Ayodhya, Congressmen say that Ram belongs to everyone. People must understand the double standards of Congress,'' the Uttar Pradesh CM said. Adityanath said UP has become free of riots and curfews after 2017 when BJP came to power. Rajnandgaon will vote on April 26, and Korba and Bilaspur on May 7.

BJP sure of winning all seven LS seats in Delhi: Piyush Goel

BJP sure of winning all seven LS seats in Delhi: Piyush Goel The BJP will win all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Piyush Goel said at an event here on Sunday. Uttrakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami who also attended the ''Hindu Nav Varsh Function'' at the IGI stadium here, said that before 2014 no government did anything for Lord Ram. ''It is the BJP government that brought back Lord Rama to his palatial house in Ayodhya.'' ''Recent elections in Uttarakhand were peaceful and I am sure that the BJP will all five seats in the state by huge margins,'' he said. About the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi, Goel said, ''The party is very sure that all the seven Lok Sabha seats of Delhi will be won by the BJP only.'' In his address at the event, the Uttrakhand chief minister said Kedarnath had witnessed a massive tragedy, but it was PM Narendra Modi who personally monitored the situation and now Kedarnath is again welcoming devotees. ''Work on ropeways in Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib is almost complete while an elevated road from Delhi to Dehradun is being built. Once completed, it will take only two and a half hours to reach Dehradun,'' Dhami said.

No one can stop implementation of CAA in West Bengal: Rajnath

No one can stop implementation of CAA in West Bengal: Rajnath Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday asserted that the BJP delivers on its promises, and maintained that no one can stop implementation of the CAA in West Bengal. He said the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 is not meant to take away anyone's citizenship, but is a law for granting Indian citizenship to people displaced from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan on religious grounds. ''The Congress, Trinamool Congress or the Left parties make promises during elections that are not fulfilled, but the BJP delivers on its promises,'' he said, addressing a rally here in support of BJP candidate from Malda Uttar constituency, Khagen Murmu. He asserted that no one can stop the implementation of CAA in West Bengal, along with the rest of India. ''Mamata didi says she will not allow CAA in her state. Why is she trying to hoodwink the people of West Bengal,'' Singh said. The Centre had in March implemented the CAA, notifying the rules four years after the law was passed by Parliament to fast-track citizenship for undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who came to India before December 31, 2014. Singh said that India is treated with respect under the Narendra Modi-led government, unlike under previous dispensations. ''When we say something in an international forum, it is listened to with respect,'' he said, adding that Modis pledge is to turn India into a developed country by 2047. Singh said promises like abolishing Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and constructing the Ram Temple in Ayodhya have been fulfilled, and that there are indications of the coming into being of a Ram Rajya. The defence minister said the BJP government at the Centre has also delivered on its promise of abolishing triple talaq. ''We can not only bring to book terrorists inside our territory, but if anyone tries to attack our unity and pride from outside, we can dare to go beyond our borders to teach them a lesson; this is our strength,'' Singh said. Slamming the TMC, he alleged that only extortionists, criminals and the corrupt have flourished in Bengal after the party came to power. The senior BJP leader also accused the state government of denying people benefits of central welfare projects.

CAA will be repealed when INDIA Bloc comes to power, says Congress leader P Chidambaram

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday said the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will be repealed in the first session of Parliament after the INDIA Bloc forms the government at the Centre. Chidambaram said the intention of the Congress party is to repeal the CAA even though it is not mentioned in its manifesto. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the CPI(M) has been constantly lashing out at the Congress saying its manifesto fails to mention the CAA. Talking to the media here, Chidambaram claimed it was not mentioned in the manifesto ecause it became too long. The former union minister said the 10-year-rule of the BJP has caused tremendous damage to the country as it misused the rute majority in Parliament. There is a long list of laws among which five laws will be absolutely repealed. Take it from me, I am the chairman of the manifesto committee. I wrote every word of it, I know what the intention was. The CAA will be repealed, not amended. We have made it clear, Chidambaram said. The CAA will be repealed in the first session of Parliament in which the INDIA Bloc forms the government, he added. Dismissing the claims of Vijayan that the Congress has not opposed the Law, Chidambaram said Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor has spoken against the CAA in Parliament. When asked whether the Ayodhya Ram temple inauguration will have any impact on the elections, Chidambaram said he hopes not. Ayodhya now has a temple. We are happy. People wanted the temple and a temple has come up. That should be the end of the story. Why should a temple in Ayodhya play a role in politics or in elections and on who should rule the country. It should have no role at all, Chidambaram said. TMC manifesto promises guaranteed jobs, free LPG cylinders, CAA repeal On the issue of national border security, the senior Congress leader alleged that the BJP government was hiding the truth from the people of the country that housands of square kilometres of Indian land was occupied by Chinese troops. That's a fact testified by the MP from Ladakh. The fact testified by the Arunachal Pradesh citizens. Therefore, to say that they have secured our borders is a complete lie, Chidambaram said. He also lashed out at the BJP-led NDA government and said the saffron party is no longer a political party but has become a cult that worships Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Targeting the Modi government, Chidambaram said there is a grave erosion of freedom of speech and expression that happened in the 10 years of Modi rule, and urged the people to estore democracy. The BJP constituted the manifesto in 14 days which is not titled manifesto. They called it Modi's guarantee. The BJP is no longer a political party. It has become a cult and the cult worships Narendra Modi, Chidambaram said. He claimed that Modi ki guarantee reminds everyone of the countries where there is cult worship. That cult worship in India has started gaining strength and will lead to dictatorship, he said. He alleged that there has been gross censorship of the freedom of expression under the 10-year Modi rule. If Modi is voted back to power for a third time, he may amend the constitution. We have to restore democracy, Chidambaram said. The Congress leader also criticised Vijayan, who has been vocal these days against the Congress and Rahul Gandhi, and asked the Left leader to look at this election as a national election, which it is. He alleged that its ally in the INDIA Bloc, the CPI(M) was fighting this election in Kerala as if it is a state election. And from a national point of view, who is better placed to fight the BJP and form a government in Delhi. Who is better placed to fight the BJP across India? It is obviously the Congress and not the CPI(M). CPI(M) is literally a single state party now, Chidambaram said. He appealed to the people to vote the INDIA bloc to power in Delhi. I am not sure if I can hold a press conference like this if Mr Modi is elected for a third time. I am not sure whether you will be free to ask any questions to BJP leaders then, he added. Polling will be held on April 26 in Kerala for the Lok Sabha election, and the nationwide results will be declared on June 4.

Won't abide by ECI notice to remove Hindu, Jai Bhavani from party anthem: Uddhav

Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray. (PTI) Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray. (PTI) Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said he has received a notice from the Election Commission of India (ECI) to remove the words Jai Bhavani and Hindu from his party's new anthem, but he won't abide by it. Addressing a press conference here, Thackeray said asking for the removal of Jai Bhavani from the anthem was an insult to Maharashtra. Thackeray said his party has come up with an anthem to popularise its new poll symbol, mashal (flaming torch), and the ECI has asked for the removal of the words Hindu and Jai Bhavani from it. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj founded Hindavi Swaraj with the blessings of goddess Tulja Bhavani. We are not asking for votes in the name of the goddess or Hindu religion. This is an insult and will not be tolerated, Thackeray said. The Sena UBT chief said he will continue the practice of saying Jai Bhavani and Jai Shivaji in his public meetings. If the poll body takes action against us, they will have to tell us what they did when Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who while campaigning for the Karnataka assembly elections, had asked people to say Jai Bajrang Bali and press the button on EVMs. Amit Shah had told people to vote for the BJP to get Ram Lalla darshan for free in Ayodhya, he said. The Shiv Sena (UBT) has asked the ECI whether the laws had been changed and if it was okay now to ask for votes in the name of religion, he said. The poll body has not responded to our letter and the reminder we sent. In the reminder, we had said if the laws have been changed, we will also say 'Har Har Mahadev' in our election rallies. The former chief minister said his father, Balasaheb Thackeray, was barred from voting and contesting elections for six years because he campaigned for Hindutva when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the prime minister. The party had also asked the ECI to clarify whether speeches made by PM Modi and Amit Shah during the recent assembly elections invoking religion were corrupt practice (under the Representation of People Act), he claimed.

Congress a synonym for scams, terrorism and Naxalism: UP CM Adityanath

Raipur: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday hit out at the Congress, claiming the grand old party is a synonym for scams, terrorism and Naxalism. Addressing an election rally in Chhhattisgarhs Kabirdham district, he said the wait of 500 years for Ram Lalla (installation of his idol) in Ayodhya ended because of Prime Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Large Indian real estate developers continue to snap up land: Anarock

Large Indian real estate developers continue to snap up land: Anarock The residential segment continues to drive the Indian real estate market, which also reflects in the land deals it is generating. Amid all-time high residential demand, several large and listed developers and other entities continued to snap up land. Other than residential, commercial, retail, industrial, logistics and warehousing are also driving prime land deals in key locations across India, according to real estate consultant Anarock. Anarock data indicated that various developers and entities sealed approximately 101 separate land deals in fiscal year 2023-24, cumulatively accounting for nearly 2,989 acres across the country. In contrast, the financial year 2022-23 saw 88 land deals for approximately 1,886 acres closed across various cities. Interestingly, out of the total land deals in FY-24, over 83 deals for about 1,135 acres were closed in the top 7 cities alone, says Anuj Puri, Chairman - ANAROCK Group. The remaining 18 deals, accounting for over 1,853 acres, were sealed in various tier 2 and 3 cities like Ahmedabad, Ayodhya, Jaipur, Nagpur, Mysuru, Ludhiana, and Surat. Tier 2 and 3 cities have once again emerged as redoubtable growth engines, thanks to their rapidly improving infrastructure and growth opportunities. Among land deals in the top 7 cities, NCR topped out with 29 deals for 313+ acres, followed by greater Mumbai region with 19 deals for approximately 157+ acres. Notably, in terms of total land area, Bengaluru saw 14 deals for 490+ acres transacted - the highest among all top 7 cities. The number of deals in 2023-24 has risen significantly - from 88 deals for 1,886+ acres in 2022-23 to approx 101 deals for 2,989+ acres in the current financial year. In terms of total area, around 58 per cent more land has been purchased in the 2023-24 as compared to 2022-23. At 4.93 lakh units, residential sales across the top 7 cities have created a new peak in 2023-24. In particular, large and listed developers have seen very high sales, and it makes sense for them to buy land across prominent urban micro-markets. Resultantly, the previous financial year saw some very prominent land deals taking place, Puri added. The top developers who bought land parcels for various developments in 2023-24 include Godrej Properties, Eldeco Group, Adani Realty, Signature Global, Oberoi Realty, DLF India, Prestige Group, K Raheja Corp, and Brigade Group, among others, as per Anarock. (ANI)

Opposition Leaders Converge in Ranchi for 'Ulgulan Nyay' Rally, Focusing on Kejriwal and Hemant Soren Arrests

Ranchi: At least 14 leaders of the Opposition INDIA bloc, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, are expected to attend the 'Ulgulan (uprising) Nyay' rally in Ranchi on Sunday. The main focus of the mega event will be on the arrests of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren by the Enforcement Directorate. Around 5 lakh people are likely to attend the rally at Ranchis Prabhat Tara ground, which is scheduled to commence at around 3 pm. The event has been organized by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) as a joint show of strength amid the Lok Sabha polls. Sunita Kejriwal and Kalpana Soren, the wives of Arvind Kejriwal and Hemant Soren, are also expected to address the event, along with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, and National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah. Posters of INDIA bloc leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, Hemant Soren and his wife Kalpana Soren, have already been put up at the rally venue. A day before the rally, Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren said, We need to stop the dictatorship and save our democracy and the constitution. Everyone knows what happened in Jharkhand and Delhi. We will expose the dictatorial approach of the Centre at the mega rally. The Chief Minister also said that they got the people's mandate in the name of Hemant Soren, but attempts were made to destabilize his government from the beginning, and finally, he was sent to jail, as reported. Delhi's people also experienced a similar situation. From the dais of Ulgulan rally, we will tell the people of the country about the dictatorship of the Centre, he added. Speaking to the media, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi said, We are together in this fight against BJP's growing autocracy. They are not allowing the opposition to function properly; what they are trying to do is to silence the opposition. We are seeing a high rate of inflation, joblessness and women not getting a safe environment. In the first phase of the election, not many people, but those who have come out to vote have come out to change these people (BJP), who have been showing this dictatorial tendency, she added. Meanwhile, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury wrote to Kalpana Soren, saying that he would be unable to attend today's rally due to election-related commitments. Firstly, Yechury thanked Kalpana Soren for extending the invitation and said, Unfortunately, I am in the midst of the election campaign in Kerala, where voting is scheduled for April 26. You are surely aware of the importance of Kerala for the CPI(M)... Therefore, I will not be able to attend... In his letter, the CPI(M) General Secretary reiterated that he continued to denounce the detention of Hemant Soren. The CPI(M) will resolutely work for the defeat of the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections in cooperation with all the secular democratic parties of the INDIA bloc. However, Jharkhand BJP president Babulal Marandi criticized the Ranchi rally, saying all those who were against development and Sanatan Dharma are gathering here. Jharkhand would not have been created if there was no BJP government at the Centre. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee created the state on November 15, 2000, after the formation of the BJP-led NDA government in 1999. Only BJP and NDA understood the feelings and sentiments of the tribals and Jharkhand, he said. He alleged that the JMM-led coalition government indulged in corruption for the past four years and looted the state's resources. The 'Ulgulan (uprising) Nyay' rally in Ranchi comes weeks after the March 31 'Loktantra Bachao' rally in Delhi, which was called by top leaders of the Opposition INDIA bloc against the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal. The Delhi rally was attended by PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti; former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray; Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi; Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav; Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut; NCP (SCP) chief Sharad Pawar; and Kalpana Soren, among others. While addressing the rally, Kalpana Soren slammed the BJP and alleged that there were attempts to end democracy by dictatorship forces. She said hate was being spread throughout the country and called on the people to vote for the INDIA bloc to save democracy and your rights. Voters are the most powerful. Two months back, Hemant Soren was arrested. Arvind Kejriwal is in jail for 10 days. Strengthen our alliance by giving us votes. Throw out these dictatorship forces, she added. The Lok Sabha elections in Jharkhand are set to take place in four phases on May 13, 20, 25, and June 1. The state has 28 of the 81 Assembly seats and five of the 14 Lok Sabha constituencies reserved for Scheduled Tribes (STs). The JMM will contest the upcoming polls in alliance with Congress and other parties. As per the seat-sharing agreement, the JMM will contest five seats while the Congress will field its candidates on seven seats out of the total 14 in Jharkhand. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP clinched 11 of the 14 Lok Sabha seats, while the All Jharkhand Students Union party, Congress, and JMM secured one seat each. Earlier this month, the JMM named two of its candidates for the upcoming polls, bringing an end to speculations that Hemant Soren was being fielded against his sister-in-law and BJP candidate Sita Soren from the Dumka seat. The party has instead fielded Nalin Soren from Dumka, while Mathura Mahto will contest from Giridih. Sita Soren, wife of late JMM leader Durga Soren, joined the BJP on March 19. She was given a ticket to contest from Dumka by the party. Film 'Laal Ayodhya' directed by Dushyant Pratap Singh unveiled, Emotionally deep and Unique concept Congress to Announce Candidates for Haryana Lok Sabha Elections; Deepender Hooda Likely from Rohtak The Rollout of School Quality Assurance and Assessment (SQAA)

Fatal Collision Claims Nine Lives in Rajasthan's Jhalawar District

Jaipur: I n a tragic incident late Saturday night, a collision between a car and a speeding truck in Rajasthan's Jhalawar district resulted in the loss of at least nine lives, while another individual sustained severe injuries. The victims, all occupants of a Maruti Van, were returning from a wedding in Madhya Pradesh when the accident occurred near Aklera on NH 52. According to Jhalawar Superintendent of Police, Richa Tomar, the driver of the truck has been arrested in connection with the accident. The bodies of the deceased have been sent for post-mortem examination to ascertain the exact cause of death, while the injured person is receiving medical treatment. This tragic incident has left the local community in shock and mourning. Opposition Leaders Converge in Ranchi for 'Ulgulan Nyay' Rally, Focusing on Kejriwal and Hemant Soren Arrests Film 'Laal Ayodhya' directed by Dushyant Pratap Singh unveiled, Emotionally deep and Unique concept Congress to Announce Candidates for Haryana Lok Sabha Elections; Deepender Hooda Likely from Rohtak

Land deals on upswing; 721 acres closed in Jan-Mar, nearly 3,000 acres in FY24: Anarock

Land deals on upswing; 721 acres closed in Jan-Mar, nearly 3,000 acres in FY24: Anarock Builders and other entities have closed at least 29 land deals involving 721 acres during January-March this year to expand their businesses amid surge in demand especially for housing, according to Anarock. During the entire 2023-24 fiscal, property consultant Anarock said that real estate developers and other entities have closed 101 land deals, cumulatively accounting for 2,989 acres. Land deals in terms of acres have increased 61 per cent annually in January-March 2024 and 58 per cent annually in 2023-24. At least 26 land deals for around 449 acres were closed during January-March 2023, while 88 land deals for 1,886 acres were struck during the full 2022-23 fiscal. These land deals, which were struck across major tier I, tier II and tier III cities, include outright purchase-sale transactions and also partnerships with landlords called Joint Development Agreements (JDAs). Anarock Chairman Anuj Puri said, ''Out of the total land deals in 2023-24, over 83 deals for about 1,135 acres were closed in the top 7 cities alone. ''The remaining 18 deals, accounting for over 1,853 acres, were sealed in various tier 2 and 3 cities like Ahmedabad, Ayodhya, Jaipur, Nagpur, Mysuru, Ludhiana, and Surat. ''Tier 2 & 3 cities have once again emerged as growth engines, thanks to their rapidly improving infrastructure and growth opportunities,'' Puri said. Among cities, Anarock highlighted that Delhi-NCR clocked maximum 12 land deals for 160 acres during January-March 2024 and 29 land deals for 313 acres in the entire 2023-24 fiscal. Commenting on the findings, Aakash Ohri, Joint Managing Director of DLF Home Developers Ltd, said, ''Land deals in the NCR have peaked due to urbanization, infrastructure development, and investment opportunities. Future developments and potential returns on investment are high contributors to the rise in land transactions.'' The surge in land deals underscores the buoyancy of the housing market, Ohri noted. Signature Global Chairman Pradeep Aggarwal said, ''The demand is robust for all kinds of properties from mid-segment to luxury and this is resulting in a significant number of land deals across the country including Delhi-NCR.'' ''This is expected to pave the way for a robust pipeline of new projects in the coming months, which in turn is likely to provide homebuyers a wider range of options to choose from,'' Aggarwal added. Mohit Malhotra, Founder & CEO of realty firm NeoLiv, said the surge in land deals reflects the enduring demand for housing that has sustained since 2023. ''The mid-housing segment is experiencing a significant uptick, mirroring the evolving preferences of homebuyers,'' Malhotra observed. As per the Anarock data, out of the total land deals in the 2023-24 fiscal, around 80 land deals for 2,252 acres are for proposed residential, plotted development & township projects. Commercial and retail real estate projects together saw 4 separate deals for over 42 acres closed. At least 79 acres in 4 separate deals have been earmarked for mixed-use developments. Around 164 acres in 5 separate deals were closed for industrial, IT park, and logistics park. Three land deals, involving 411.75 acres, were for setting up of manufacturing facilities. Among real estate developers, DLF, Godrej Properties, Macrotech Developers, Prestige Group, Brigade Group, Signature Global, Birla Estates, Eldeco and Mahindra Lifespace, among others, were engaged in land acquisitions during the last fiscal.

TISS suspends PhD student for 'activities not in interest of nation'

In a notice sent to Mr. Prinisivanandan dated March 7, TISS referred to his role in screening the documentary Ram Ke Naam as a mark of dishonour and protest against the Ram Mandir idol consecration in Ayodhya

TDP resorted to violence: YSRC general secretary Sajjala

VIJAYAWADA: YSRC general secretary Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy on Saturday accused the TDP of resorting to violence and murder politics, fearing imminent defeat in the elections. Along with YSRC leaders Alla Ayodhya Rami Reddy, Lella Appi Reddy, M Hanumantha Rao, Rahulla, Malladi Vishnu, Ravela Kishore Babu and Ganji Chiranjeevi, Sajjala visited the house of YSRC leader Meka Venkata Reddy in Tadepalli, and paid last respects to the departed soul. They consoled the bereaved family members. YSRC leader Venkata Reddy was injured in the attack by unidentified miscreants, which the YSRC alleged were TDP members. On Friday, he was declared brain dead. Condemning the vicious attack that led to the death of Venkata Reddy, the YSRC leaders assured all support to the bereaved family. Speaking to mediapersons on the occasion, Sajjala said, The TDP is resorting to violence for political gain and acting insane. They are looking to terrorise people in the run-up to elections. Realising that TDP candidate for Mangalagiri Nara Lokesh is going to be defeated, the yellow party is intimidating voters, YSRC leaders, and sympathisers. Even as the people have not forgotten the attack on Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy the other day in Vijayawada, Venkata Reddy, who took part in the party campaign, was attacked with bikes. This has not happened accidentally, but was done in a premeditated manner, he asserted. Sajjala said though they are the ruling party and powerful in their own right, they have been maintaining restraint. If the YSRC is irked and wants revenge, no TDP leader or activist can come onto the roads. However, we are maintaining restraint and we understand that the TDP is resorting to such actions out of fear of defeat, he said, and urged the police to register a case of murder (Section 302 of IPC) and bring the culprits to book. He said the party has lost a good leader and is unable to bring back the dead, but will stand by Venkata Reddys family and take care of the future of his children. The YSRC leader ridiculed TDP leaders for claiming to be the victims of violence when their party men are resorting to violence. He ridiculed the TDP leaders for claiming to be the victims of violence when their party men are resorting to violence. They are shamelessly saying that the CM has hit himself, and claims to be attacked by others. How low they can stoop to is evident from such complaints to the Election Commission, he observed.

For Rajeev Chandrasekhar, politics of performance matters most

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Rajeev Chandrasekhar hardly smiles. The BJPs candidate for the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat is looking for a Kerala cannonball run as he winds his way through Thiruvananthapurams pastoral expanses and sandy seaside. Yes, Ive been told that before, he says laconically. And Chandrasekhar is trying, as if his posters sporting a wide smile speak the real truth. The Thiruvananthapuram war is not just between ideologies but a clash of personalities. The affability of Shashi Tharoor and the somewhat wooden Chandrasekhars passionless voice are a notable contrast. When Chandrasekhar mumbles to constituents, Please vote for me, make me win. Together lets bring prosperity to Thiruvananthapuram, it is as if his heart isnt in it. But their rivalry is vicious. If Tenzing Norgay claims to have climbed Mount Everest, people will believe him, unlike some random Congress politician saying so, he sneers. The billionaire elaborates that he brings the politics of performance to the table. When I say things, Ill get it done. He echoes his slogan, Now itll get done. Chandrasekhar says he had achieved so much in his life, to be compared with someone who has done so little. Unverified charges against rival Rajeev Chandrasekhar: EC warns Tharoor Throwing such shade at Tharoor could backfire: Tharoor is the only Malayali celebrity who almost became the UN chief, authored bestsellers, and is a three-time MP from Thiruvananthapuram. Chandrasekhar is particularly bitter about the Congress drumming up his I-T returns controversy. The habitually skeptic Malayali doubts that such a wealthy businessman earns less than a taxi driver, according to Santosh, an auto-rickshaw driver, who scoffs at the BJP leaders affidavit claiming he earned only `680. Nevertheless, he plumps for BJP. My vote is for Modi, I dont care about the candidate. Reminiscent of the 2009 Kejriwal wave in Delhi, Santosh says that auto drivers back the BJP. Though there are days to go before we know if a rickshaw revolution is underway, the BJP poll machine is ebullient. Chandrasekhars campaign vehicles advertise collages of him and Modi. Vehicle-born loudspeakers blare operatic exhortations that will make a Mollywood music director envious: Here he comes, our darling Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the charioteer of development, bless him, anoint him! For the blessing and anointment, Chandrasekhar is betting on his reputation of 18 years of flawless, blemishless public life and of course my entrepreneurial record. Any campaign experience? Though its the first Lok Sabha polls that Im fighting for myself, Ive helped many friends in the late 90s from behind the scenes. Thiruvananthapuram is not his first rodeo. The party is concentrating purely on development; Chandrasekhar promises, My mission is to ensure the states capital dont decline further and achieve full potential. What works for him? Chandrasekhar answers that he is part of the politics of performance and the change in Indias capabilities Modi has brought. What works against him is shadowy; the Kerala idyll hiding deep faultlines of caste, religion, class and ideological conficts. There is scarcely a ripple on the silver mirror of the Vellayani backwaters, but old hatreds lie submerged. The CPI is out in force, supporting its octogenarian contender Pannyan Raveendran, whose campaign vehicle is an open Willys Jeep bedecked with red balloons and red flags. Raveendran dismisses the BJP as an irrelevant intruder. Communism is an ideology that has failed across the world, how can it survive in India? Chandrasekhar scoffs. The BJP is trying to create a Hindu atmosphere in Kerala, different from the patriarchal North India. Hindutva activist Lakshmi Kumari writes in Sita Must Live, If Hindu Dharma is to regain its glory and make its impact on the present-day world civilisation, Sita, the spiritual power and essence in Ramas life, must also be given her place by his side. The restoration and revitalisation of Hindu dharma lie in the hands of the present-day daughters of Sita, the women of India. This is perhaps why Ayodhya hasnt had the impact the BJP expected in Kerala. A man clad in saffron shirt shouts, Bharat Mata ki... Neither Chandrasekhar nor the crowd responds with Jais. Battle of legal notices plays out in Thiruvananthapuram constituency Most people assembled at the campaign stops are Sangh members. A man holds up his young son towards Chandrasekhar, who pats him on the head and gives a rare smile and jokes to the boy to vote for him. Like in the Congress, there is discontent in the state Parivar not between factions, but against an outsider to Thiruvananthapuram. Chandrasekhar protests, When the normal person is struggling to improve his familys lot, how does it matter if two candidates are slugging it out? He insists the voter must examine the performance of his sitting MP and his challengers potential . Peoples suffering cannot be addressed with letters. To every question I raise, Shashi replies he has written three letters. But I dont rest till the problem is solved. Chandrasekhar certainly isnt resting. He has miles to go before he leaps, and Thiruvananthapuram to take the leap of faith with him.

Insights on Hyderabad's Wanderlust and India's Travel Landscape

Delving into the heartbeat of Hyderabad's travel scene and India's burgeoning wanderlust, Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head of Holidays, MICE, Visa at Thomas Cook (India) Limited, shares exclusive insights with Deccan Chronicle. From the surge in domestic and international travel preferences to the rise of 'Pilgrimage Plus' experiences, Kale unveils the dynamic shifts and emerging trends shaping the travel industry. He also gives a list of most instagrammable tourist spots in the world. How is Hyderabad as a market for travel? Could you give us some statistics on the travel scene in Telangana, especially Hyderabad? Hyderabad is a key source market for us and our data reflects uptick of 29% YoY from Telangana and Hyderabad. This increased demand is emerging from customers across segments of families, couples, Young Indias millennials and Gen Z. While Hyderabad is a key market, Warangal, Karimnagar and Khammam are emerging strongly. What do Hyderabadis prefer domestic or international travel? Could you tell us about the most popular tourist hotspots they visit? Name the top most travelled destinations within India Customers from Hyderabad and Telengana are travelling like never before and demand for both domestic and international destinations are equally high. Domestic and short-haul destinations are preferred for weekends, mini-cations; Long Haul destinations are opted for summer vacations, festive season like Dusshera, Diwali and year-end. Our customers are displaying strong appetite for Europes Switzerland, France, Hungary, Spain; also Finland and the Scandics; Australia-New Zealand, and USA despite visa challenges. Short haul destinations witnessing high interest include Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia; Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan. What is noteworthy, is that we have relaunched our flagship European Extravaganza holidays that offers our customers with a range of exclusive experiences that are share-worthy on social media. To address this demand, we have introduced Telugu and south special departures from Hyderabad to cater to the growing demand. On the domestic front, in addition to the cooler climes of Kashmir, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Ladakh, North East, we have observed a demand for beach destinations including Kerala and Goa. Spiritual tourism has gained momentum in the recent past. What are the top pilgrim towns? We are witnessing increased preference for spiritual tours to Char Dham, Ayodhya-Prayagraj-Varanasi, Tamil Nadu, etc. from not only from Telenganas senior segment but also families, couples and millennials. What is noteworthy, is the trend of Pilgrimage Plus where customers are combining darshans while exploring the surrounding destination. What about instagrammable locations? Could you give us 5 most travelled spots? From Scandic countries like Finland with Iceland and inclusions of husky-safaris, stays in glass igloo/bubbles or traditional log cabins with spectacular views of the Northern Lights, to panoramic views of Tegallalang rice terraces in Bali, Japans Cherry Blossom/Sakura season, are some examples. What are the unexplored places in India that have the potential to become tourist hot spots Hyderabadis are displaying increased interest in offbeat destinations with high preference for hidden gems including hot sulphur springs of Panamik in Nubra valley Ladakh; Yusmarg and Doodhpathri in Kashmir - exquisite hill stations in Kashmir with a lush green landscape and snow-capped mountain ranges, Damro - longest enchanted hanging bridge in Arunachal Pradesh, and Vantawng falls - the highest and most spectacular waterfalls in Mizoram. Beach destinations like North Kerala's Kappad Beach, Andhra's Rushikonda Beach and Andaman's Radhanagar Beach on Havelock Island have emerged as top beach favorite choices. What about Lakshadweep? Have the booking surged post PM's tweet? The Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent visit to Lakshadweep and encouragement to Indians to explore the islands within the country, we have witnessed an uptick in our searches for both domestic islands and beach destinations. Our search data for Lakshadweep indicates a significant jump of over 950% compared to December, followed by destinations like, Goa - a clear catalyst for Domestic Tourism. What trends have you noticed in the travel industry during long weekends and seasonal holidays like Navratri or Summer? Our consumer trends indicate that customers from Telangana state are utilizing their extended weekends and public holidays, taking multiple holidays in a year especially to no-visa and easy visa destinations; also drive-cations. The announcements of visa-free entry has been a game-changer for destinations like Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Thailand, resulting in a significant uplift of approx. 35%. What is interesting, is that Indian consumers have shifted from being a Saver to a Spender, and this changed mindset has had a cascading impact on holidays; customers are willing to increase spends on their holidays by 20-30% compared to pre-pandemic levels and stay in premium properties while travelling for a longer duration from 7-10 days to over 15 days.

Telugu Desam Terrorising Voters, Charge YSRC Leaders

Vijayawada : YSRC state general secretary Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy, Rajya Sabha member Alla Ayodhya Rami Reddy, MLCs Lella Appi Reddy, Murugudu Hanumantha Rao and Md. Ruhulla, MLA Malladi Vishnu, former minister Ravela Kishore Babu, and APCO chairman Ganji Chiranjeevi paid tributes to Venkata Reddy, who died in an attack by Telugu Desam workers. Ramakrishna Reddy said TD is resorting to dirty politics by trying to terrorise voters in the elections. He said even before one forgot the assassination attempt on Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy in Vijayawada, Venkata Reddy, who had been campaigning for the YSRC party had been brutally killed by TD goons. The YSRC leader said that everyone should understand that even though YSRC is a strong party, it has remained calm. He warned opposition leaders that remaining calm does not mean incompetence. He explained that the party will stand by the children of Venkata Reddy.

Konda Vishweshwar Reddy's Praja Ashirwad Yatra Draws Wide Support Across Chevella

Hyderabad: Chevella BJP candidate Konda Vishweshwar Reddy said that he had got good response from the people for his recent Praja Ashirwad Yatra from all sections of society. The response was well beyond expectations. The rousing reception at every village was very heartening. The most reassuring aspect was the overwhelming support for the BJP in places where the partys vote share was low in the recent Assembly Elections, Vishweshwar Reddy said. BRS and Congress workers came on their own to extend whole-hearted support, he said. He claimed that his rival parties were riven with internal dissent and revolt by party workers. He claimed that the Congress cadre in Basheerabad mandal had openly opposed the visit of party candidate G. Ranjith Reddy. Vishweshwar Reddy has campaigned on the plank of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's development work, his building the Ayodhya Lord Rama temple and raising the prestige of the country across the globe. The BJP candidate said that his yatra had attracted a large women audience.

Uttar Pradesh: Several bogies of a goods train derailed near Ayodhya railway station

Several bogies of goods train derails in Ayodhya, no casualties reported

Several bogies of goods train derails in Ayodhya, no casualties reported Several bogies of a goods train derailed near the Ayodhya Junction on Saturday evening, officials said, adding that no injuries were reported in the incident. After receiving word of the derailment, officials reached the spot and launched a rescue operation. The rescue operation was still underway at the time of filing this report. This is a developing story, and further updates are awaited. In a similar incident earlier, on March 18, four coaches of the Sabarmati-Agra superfast train derailed near the Ajmer station. The passenger trail derailed near Home Signal at Madar village near Ajmer. However, no loss of life was reported in the derailment. (ANI)

Several Bogies Of Goods Train Derail Near Ayodhya, No Deaths Reported

Several bogies of a goods train derailed near the Ayodhya Junction on Saturday evening, officials said, adding that no injuries were reported in the incident.

Film 'Laal Ayodhya' directed by Dushyant Pratap Singh unveiled, Emotionally deep and Unique concept

In a recent event, the title of the new Bollywood film Laal Ayodhya was officially unveiled, with notable figures from the film industry gracing the occasion, including former chairman of the Film Certification Board, Pahlaj Nihalani, and director Dushyant Pratap Singh along with writer and producer Amarjeet Mishra.Directed by Dushyant Pratap Singh, Laal Ayodhya aims to explore the intricate layers of the Ayodhya subject, promising to evoke profound emotions among audiences. Pahlaj Nihalani, visibly moved by the storyline, praised the director's vision and unveiled the film's poster alongside producer Amarjeet Mishra. Producer and writer Amarjeet Mishra revealed that they have been meticulously crafting this project for nearly five years, conducting exhaustive research encompassing not only books and news articles but also personal interactions with individuals intimately connected to the events. Mishra emphasized his personal stake in the story, underscoring his responsibility to authentically portray it. Director Dushyant Pratap Singh expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to helm such a significant narrative, assuring audiences that justice will be served to the story. With a string of successful films and web series to his credit, Singh believes Laal Ayodhya will mark the zenith of his career, boasting a storyline brimming with mystery and intrigue. Spanning across Lucknow, Ayodhya, and various cities in Uttar Pradesh, the film's shooting locations promise a visually captivating experience for viewers. Its strongest asset lies in its screenplay, poised to unravel the enigmatic details surrounding the Ayodhya dispute. Adding to its allure, Bollywood music composer Anand Sharma is set to mesmerize audiences with his musical compositions, enhancing the cinematic journey. Pahlaj Nihalani acknowledged the existence of previous films addressing the Ayodhya subject but expressed confidence in the distinct approach adopted by the producers and director of Laal Ayodhya. While some may perceive films of this nature as propaganda, director Dushyant Pratap Singh assures that Laal Ayodhya will stand out, captivating audiences with its innovative narrative. As the cinematic landscape continues to evolve, the question looms whether Laal Ayodhya will carve its niche in the hearts of viewers, transcending the larger-than-life portrayals of deities and historical figures. Only time will reveal whether the creative brilliance of these filmmakers resonates with audiences or not. Ford Territory is a premium 5-seater SUV, can be launched in the Indian market with the new Endeavor Which color car is most liked? Mahindra Thar 5-door can come in at least three variants, confirmed by spy pictures

4 bogies of goods train derailed at Ayodhya Dham Junction railway station

BJP stands firm on reservation, will support OBCs: Amit Shah

BJP stands firm on reservation, will support OBCs: Amit Shah Accusing the Congress of being against the Other Backward Classes, Union Home Minister Amit Shah Saturday said even if the opposition party wants to do away with the reservation given to SC, ST and OBCs, the BJP will not allow that to happen. Prime Minister Narendra Modi belongs to the OBC community, he said, adding that it was Modi who implemented schemes for people of small backward classes. Shah was addressing an election rally in support of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, the BJP's candidate and sitting MP from the Kota Lok Sabha seat. ''Even if the Congress party wants to remove SC, ST and OBC reservation... we will not allow it. This is Modi's guarantee,'' he asserted. The Congress is a party which opposes Other Backward Classes (OBC), Shah alleged. ''The Congress government did not implement the Mandal Commission report. During a discussion in Parliament on reservation, Rahul baba's father Rajiv Gandhi spoke against it for two-and-a-half hours,'' he claimed. Shah said Modi worked to give constitutional recognition to the backward commission. ''We worked to give 27 per cent reservation to OBCs in all central institutions in the country. Modi, under whom respect for the country increased all over the world, also comes from the OBC community,'' he said. He said that before the Modi government, there was no scheme in the country for communities such as those of blacksmiths, tailors, carpenters and boat-makers but Modi spent Rs 13,000 crores and connected them with skill development and self-employment schemes. Urging people to vote for the BJP candidate, Shah said, ''Press the button of the lotus symbol on the EVM so hard so that electric shocks are felt in Italy.'' Earlier, in an election rally in Bhilwara, Shah said that Rajasthan was going to give all 25 Lok Sabha seats to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a third time. He also targeted former chief minister Ashok Gehlot, saying that he was ''stuck'' in the election campaign of his son Vaibhav Gehlot, the Congress candidate from the Jalore parliamentary constituency. ''The son is going to lose the election by a huge margin,'' the Union minister claimed, referring to Vaibhav Gehlot. ''The first phase of elections was held yesterday (Friday). All 12 seats of Rajasthan that voted in the first phase will go to Narendra Modi. Rajasthan is going to make a hat-trick of giving all 25 seats to Narendra Modi for a third time,'' he said. Shah also hit out at Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, claiming that they go on vacations abroad every three months. ''Priyanka Gandhiji returned from Thailand after a vacation in the middle of the elections,'' he added. Shah said voting for Modi meant voting for the creation of ''Mahan Bharat''. ''Modi fulfilled all promises he made in the last 10 years,'' he added. The Union home minister targeted Congress leaders for not attending the consecration ceremony at the Ayodhya Ram temple, alleging that they were afraid of losing their vote bank. ''The public will never forgive those who did not visit Ram Lalla out of greed for vote bank,'' he said. Shah said that during the former UPA government's rule, terrorists used to infiltrate and carry out attacks. ''When the Modi government was formed, terrorists attacked again in Pulwama. They forgot it was not a Congress government anymore but a BJP government and that Narendra Modi is the prime minister. In just 10 days, Modi eliminated terrorists by conducting surgical and air strikes in Pakistan,'' he added. ''There is peace in Kashmir and the northeast. Naxalism is on the verge of ending. Modi has worked to secure the country and make it prosperous. In 10 years, Modi worked to bring the economy from number 11 to five. Make Modi the prime minister for the third time and India will become the third-largest economy,'' Shah said. The Union minister also highlighted the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission as an achievement of the Modi government.

Kerala: Police excesses mar Thrissur Pooram festivities, devotees manhandled and movements restricted, temples forced to cancel rituals

Several videos of the Thrissur Pooram (festival) are doing rounds on the internet with netizens highlighting the presentation in honour of Shri Ram (Ram Lalla at Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh).