Second illegal mephedrone factory busted on Bhopals outskirts in major DRI operation
BHOPAL: Are the outskirts of Madhya Pradesh's capital turning into a fertile ground for the illegal manufacturing of synthetic drugs? A major drug cartel, reportedly operated by an overseas handler with key operatives active across multiple states, has been busted by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) with the arrest of seven individuals from four different states. At the centre of the cartel was an illicit Mephedrone drug manufacturing unit operating from Jagdishpur (Islampur) village, on the outskirts of Bhopal. The factory, which was busted on Saturday, is the second illegal synthetic drug manufacturing unit to be dismantled in the vicinity of the MP capital within ten months. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, the DRI, working in coordination with police forces from multiple states, including Mumbai and Surat, raided the clandestine Mephedrone manufacturing facility as part of a focused and coordinated operation code-named Operation Crystal Break. The operation commenced on Saturday with the search of the illegal factory located in Jagdishpur (Islamnagar) village of Huzur Tehsil in Bhopal district. It led to the seizure of 61.20 kg of liquid Mephedrone, valued at 92 crore in the illicit market. Additionally, 541.53 kg of raw materials were recovered, including Methylene Dichloride, Acetone, Monomethylamine (MMA), Hydrochloric Acid (HCL), and 2-Bromo, along with a full set of drug-processing equipment, according to an official statement from the DRI released on Monday. The secluded factory had been deliberately concealed from all sides to avoid detection. Two individuals, including the chemist responsible for producing the Mephedrone, were arrested on-site while engaged in the illegal manufacturing process. The initial raid was swiftly followed by operations in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, which helped unearth the full extent of the inter-state drug cartel. A key operative was arrested in Basti district, eastern Uttar Pradesh, responsible for overseeing the supply of raw materials from Bhiwandi (Mumbai) to Bhopal. Two suppliers who had illegally provided the chemicals were apprehended in Mumbai, along with a logistics handler responsible for transporting the raw materials to the Bhopal facility. Preliminary investigations revealed that funding for the cartels operations was being routed through hawala channels from Surat and Mumbai to Bhopal. A close associate of the cartel managing the funds transfer was also apprehended in Surat. All seven arrested individuals have confessed to their respective roles in the illicit Mephedrone manufacturing racket, allegedly operating under instructions from an overseas kingpin involved in coordinating the synthetic drug trade across India. Mephedrone, a psychotropic substance listed under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, is considered a serious threat to public health due to its psychoactive properties and effects similar to those of cocaine and amphetamines. This is the sixth clandestine Mephedrone factory dismantled by the DRI in the past year across India and the second such facility uncovered by central agencies in Bhopals outskirts in the last ten months. In October 2024, the largest illegal synthetic drug factory in the country was busted in the Bagroda Industrial Area near Bhopal, during a joint operation by the Gujarat Police Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Delhi. That raid led to the seizure of 907.09 kg of Mephedrone (in both solid and liquid forms), reportedly worth 1,814 crore in the international market. The facility had the capacity to produce 25 kg of Mephedrone daily, with an estimated street value of around 50 crore per day.
Heavy rains praralyse Mumbai: Offices shut, transport disrupted amid IMD red alert
Torrential rainfall lashed Mumbai on Tuesday, bringing the city to a near standstill as low-lying areas were submerged, local train services delayed, and road traffic severely disrupted. In response to the heavy downpour, authorities shut schools, colleges, and government offices, urging citizens to stay indoors. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced the closure of all government and semi-government offices, except essential services, as a precautionary measure following a red alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Private establishments were advised to allow employees to work from home. In the 24 hours ending Tuesday morning, several areas recorded over 200 mm of rainfall, with Vikhroli in the eastern suburbs receiving the highest at 255.5 mm, followed by Byculla (241 mm), Juhu (221.5 mm), and Bandra (211 mm). Mahalaxmi saw the lowest at 72.5 mm. Heavy waterlogging was reported across the city, including in Andheri, Borivali, Chembur, Sion, Dadar, and Matunga, crippling traffic and public transport. Key routes like the Eastern Express Highway, Eastern Freeway, and Mumbai-Gujarat highway witnessed flooding. Bus services of the BEST were rerouted in multiple locations, while suburban train services on both Central and Western Railway lines ran late by up to 10 minutes. A technical snag between Ambivali and Shahad on the Central line added to commuter woes, though railway officials claimed that water levels on the tracks remained below danger levels. The IMD has forecast very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall for Mumbai and surrounding districts through Tuesday, accompanied by gusty winds reaching 4555 kmph. A high tide of 3.75 metres at 9:16 am and another of 3.14 metres at 8:53 pm is expected to worsen the waterlogging. The Directorate of Higher Education also declared a holiday for all senior colleges across Maharashtras Konkan region, including Palghar, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg districts. Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel, warning of potential hazards, especially near the coastline. Step out only if necessary. Were on high alert and ready to assist in any emergency, he posted on X (formerly Twitter). All civic and emergency response agencies remain on high alert as rains continue to batter the city.
Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath has taken a big step in boosting India's renewable energy sector by investing Rs 137.5 crore in Goldi Solar, a solar PV module manufacturing company. The investment will help increase Goldi Solar's production and boost India's energy sector.
Water shortage leads to fight between sarpanchs relatives, panchayat member
Man held for string of burglaries
Vending machine runs out of cloth bags at Khanderao Market
KTR suggests Congress govt. to focus on governance, stop flight of investments
He blames inability of Revanth Reddy Govt. for shifting of Kaynes to Gujarat
DPL 2025: Anuj Rawat Sets Sights On Title Defence And Six-hitting Crown
East Delhi Riders: East Delhi Riders' captain Anuj Rawat is upbeat about adding a second consecutive Delhi Premier League (DPL) title to their kitty while expressing his desire to finish as the highest six-hitter in the tournament. Anuj is leading the most sixes chart with 17 maximums to his name in six innings. He is also the second-highest run-getter for the side with 232 runs at an average of 46.40 and a stupendous strike rate of 184.13. In pursuit of their title defence, the East Delhi Riders are placed second in the table, only behind Central Delhi Kings. However, both of them have 11 points each, but the latter has a better net run rate. We had a great preparation before the tournament, and the results support that. It is also helping us very much in the tournament, Anuj told IANS on his preparation for the DPL 2025. The 25-year-old exuded confidence in his players to finish the league stage at the top of the standings. Definitely, yes, because the way we've been playing cricket is exactly how I wanted it to be. Players have backed me, and the team environment is also very light. We're confident that we'll finish at the top, Anuj said. In DPL, I want to be the most six-hitter, and definitely we want to defend the championship. I think we will do that if we stick to the basics. After that, we have the domestic season, and I want to see myself at the next level, the wicketkeeper-batter added. Anuj, who represented Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) from 2022 to 2024, didn't get a single chance to play in the IPL 2025 season despite being picked by the Gujarat Titans for Rs 30 lakh in the auction. However, he was unfazed about it and reflected on the learnings that he gained from it. As a player, you always want to play, but I was happy about one thing: I improved a lot there. You can't be happier if you can reflect on things in batting that you practised during the IPL. It is very important to improve as a player, no matter at which level you play, he said. When asked about Shubman Gills leadership qualities as the Gujarat Titans captain, Anuj admitted that he listens to his players and shares a strong bond with them. He is a very good leader. As a leader, it is very important to be friendly and share a bond with the players. I think he has done well. As you can see in the England series as well, the way he has been playing individually as a batter, he is very good. When asked about Shubman Gills leadership qualities as the Gujarat Titans captain, Anuj admitted that he listens to his players and shares a strong bond with them. Also Read: LIVE Cricket Score I was very happy to be honest. I've been part of that franchise, and I was very happy for the RCB and especially Virat bhaiya. I did congratulate him, he said. Last season, there were players who were picked from DPL and played IPL. I'm very confident that this year, there will also be an addition to the number of players that will be picked in the IPL, Anuj added on DPL's role in giving a platform to talents in the national capital. Article Source: IANS
KTR rings alarms as Telangana loses Rs 2,800 Cr Kaynes Tech project to Gujarat
Hyderabad: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) blamed the Telangana government on Sunday, August 17, for failing to maintain ties and hold on to major industrial investments over lack of administrative competence and corrupt governance. KTR expressed distress in a strongly worded statement over the shifting of Rs 2,800 crore-worth Kaynes 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 .
Dalit youth brutally assaulted in Gujarat's Junagadh, third such case in 21 days
AHMEDABAD: A Dalit youth was brutally thrashed, robbed, and threatened with death in Gujarats Junagadh marking the third caste atrocity in just 21 days. The chilling attack, captured in a viral video, has once again exposed how caste violence remains deeply entrenched in society despite decades of independence. Even after 78 years of independence, caste violence refuses to die down. The incident unfolded on the afternoon of August 16, when the victim had gone to meet a friend. A boy ran up to him, pleading for help as his brother was being taken away. The Dalit youth and his friend followed him to the Swami Vivekanand School ground, only to find out that he had walked into a trap. There, three Upper Caste youths confronted him, asking about his background. When he replied that he was from Kadiawad, the attackers led by one Hitesh and two unidentified accomplices began to abuse him with casteist slurs, and thrashed him with belts and sticks until injury marks covered his body. The assailants then snatched the victims mobile phone and threatened to kill him if he dared complain to the police. They beat me up with a belt and a stick, robbed my phone, and threatened my life. Today its me, tomorrow it could be someone else. I only demand justice, the victim said from Junagadh Civil Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment. Police have since registered a case under multiple sections of the IPC at Junagadh A Division Police Station. Separate teams have been formed to nab the accused. DySP Hitesh Dhandhaliya assured that strict legal action will be taken at the earliest. The Junagadh assault is not an isolated act of cruelty. It is the third atrocity against Dalits in Gujarat within the last 21 days, a chilling reminder that caste prejudice continues to fuel violence even today. Each incident is another crack in the promise of equality, and another urgent call for justice. Dalit youth, father-in-law brutally beaten in Gujarat for upper-caste moustache; 5 accused on the run
'Vote Chori': Telangana CM slams ECI over affidavit demand from Rahul Gandhi
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy criticized the Election Commission for demanding an affidavit from Rahul Gandhi regarding alleged voter list discrepancies in Bihar, instead of addressing the concerns raised. Reddy highlighted alleged irregularities in voter additions in Maharashtra and Karnataka, accusing the BJP of manipulating voter lists. He also challenged the BJP to eliminate Muslim reservations in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.
Smugglers break into Surat factory, flee with diamonds worth Rs 25 crore
AHMEDABAD: Gujarat's Surat, also known as the diamond hub of India, witnessed one of the biggest heists in recent years as smugglers broke into Diamond Company in Kapodra during the festive holidays and stole diamonds worth over Rs 25 crore, cash, and CCTV-DVRs. Taking advantage of a three-day holiday shutdown, the gang struck the factory located on the fourth floor of a building in Kapoorwadi. Before forcing their way in, they had disabled the fire alarm outside the factory so that no siren would ring while they used their gas cutter. With only one entry point available, they smashed the wooden door and slipped inside. What ensured the heist's success was the absence of CCTV cameras on that floor. Once inside, the gang showed no hesitation. They removed the office glass panel to reach the main chamber and cut open a three-layered safe, leaving behind a 12x10 inch hole as proof of their precision. The burglars also dismantled one outside camera and two inside cameras, ensuring no trace of their movement remained. By carrying away the DVRs, they eliminated digital evidence also. The alarm bells rang only when the owner returned after the holidays. Police rushed in with teams from the DCP, ACP, city crime branch, and forensic experts. Investigators collected traces, including a lighter, while probing the scene. Early estimates suggest it took the thieves nearly two hours to slice through the fortified locker, indicating they were not amateurs but a gang armed with modern tools. DCP Alok Kumar confirmed that the factory had been shut since the 15th, with no guard present. The accused broke CCTV cameras, took away the DVR, and used a gas cutter. This is not ordinary theft but a conspiracy executed with expertise, he said. The possibility of an international diamond smuggling gang being involved is not being ruled out. Police teams have already fanned out across cities, while local CCTV footage is under scrutiny. The theft has triggered unease in Surats diamond belt. With 50 shops and several cutting units on the road leading to the factory, police suspect the burglars had inside knowledge of its location and security gaps. Factory owner Devendra Chaudhary revealed the stolen consignment had arrived just a week earlier. The company had goods worth Rs 25-30 crore. It was a holiday, and today morning I was alerted by the floor tenant. When I came, the safe had been cut and everything was gone, he said. Investigators believe at least two to three men executed the burglary. Police are now checking call data records, examining road footage, and questioning possible suspects. Forensic samples and broken tiles from the scene suggest a getaway vehicle was used. As the probe deepens, the heist has cast a long shadow over the security of Surats diamond industry, already vulnerable due to poor surveillance in several units.
SAEL Industries signs PPAs for 880 MW solar projects in Punjab, Gujarat
NEW DELHI, Aug 18:SAEL Industries has signed two power purchase agreements for a combined solar power capacity of 880 megawatt in Punjab and Gujarat. Of the total, 400 megawatt (MW) will be set up in Punjab and 480 MW in Gujarat, the company said in a statement. In Gujarat, SAEL, through its subsidiaries SAEL Solar P Sixteen Private Ltd and SAEL Solar P Seventeen Private Ltd, has signed a PPA with Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd (GUVNL) for a [] The post SAEL Industries signs PPAs for 880 MW solar projects in Punjab, Gujarat appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Heavy rains in Mumbai; flight ops hit, schools & colleges shut as IMD issues red alert
MUMBAI, Aug 18: The IMD issued a red alert, predicting extremely heavy rains at isolated places in Mumbai and neighbouring areas on Monday, prompting the city civic body to declare a holiday for all schools and colleges, officials said. A Mumbai airport spokesperson said nine flights conducted go arounds before finally landing, while one flight was diverted to Surat (in Gujarat) till 12 noon due to the heavy rains. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) appealed to residents to step out [] The post Heavy rains in Mumbai; flight ops hit, schools & colleges shut as IMD issues red alert appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Coimbatore Pump Industry: Gujarat Rivals Threaten Motor Makers Market - Deccan Herald
Coimbatore Pump Industry: Gujarat Rivals Threaten Motor Makers Market Deccan Herald
Jobs of 1.73 lakh workers in gems and jewellery trade hang in balance
The new 25-50% tariffs on Indian diamond and studded jewellery imports are expected to severely impact labour-intensive manufacturing hubs in Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.
Family alleges negligence after minors death at SSG Hospital
Vadodara takes green step with cloth bag vending machines
5 Women, 2 Children Charred To Death In Car-SUV Accident In Gujarat
Eight persons, including five women and two children, were charred to death after the car carrying them collided with an SUV, landed in a roadside ditch, and burst into flames in Gujarat's Surendranagar district on Sunday, police said.
Last month, when Pakistani nationals in Gujarat got Indian citizenship under the CAA, they rejoiced. Escaping alleged persecution and insecurity, many have waited for over a decade for this having come over the border on tourist visas. Abhinay Deshpande reports on their relief, the struggle behind the paperwork and their childrens prospects
Seven charred to death in car-SUV collision in Gujarat - Deccan Herald
Seven charred to death in car-SUV collision in Gujarat Deccan Herald
Gujarat: Seven charred to death in car-SUV collision
A tragic collision in Gujarat's Surendranagar district claimed the lives of seven individuals on Sunday. The incident occurred near Dedadara village around 3:30 PM when a car collided with an SUV, resulting in a devastating fire. All seven occupants of the car were burnt alive, while the three individuals in the SUV sustained minor injuries.
Mandaviya Gives A Clarion Call To Citizens To Contribute Towards A Fitter India
Namo Fit India Clubs: Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Mansukh Mandaviya gave a clarion call to all citizens to adopt an active lifestyle by participating in the FIT India Sundays on Cycle initiative from his home village Hanol in Palitana, Gujarat. Started by the Sports Minister in December 2024, the cycling initiative has been organised across more than 46,000 locations till now with an overall participation of 8 lakh-plus individuals. Continuing its mission to build a healthier, pollution-free India, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, organised a special edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle today in partnership with the National Cadet Corps across 5000 locations nationwide. Around 3000 Namo Fit India Clubs also participated in the event. Dr Mandaviya urged fellow villagers, men and women, to download the FIT India mobile app and utilise the carbon credit feature. I would urge everyone to download the FIT India mobile app and check how much carbon is being saved by cycling to work or going around the village. The app has been developed as such that it gives you all information about your health from the distance and time taken to the heart rate etc., beneficial to monitor ones health. Cycling is a great tool for fighting obesity and a solution to pollution. I would ask everyone to become part of our Fit India Sundays on Cycle movement, Dr Mandaviya said in Hanol. In Delhi, the 1200-plus enthusiastic cyclists rode around the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and enjoyed participating in Zumba, meditation and yoga sessions besides rope skipping activity organised by Dr Shikha Gupta. Further, fencers Naziya Shaik and Beni Quebha pledged their support for the cycling movement saying that it is spreading much-needed awareness in Tier 1 and Tier 2/3 cities about the bad effects of obesity and air pollution. This is my first experience of cycling with such a huge crowd. I am very happy to be part of it. Fit India Sundays on Cycle is a great initiative to make people aware about lifestyle diseases like obesity, and sir pollution. It was so nice to see people enjoying different physical activities from Zumba, yoga, rope skipping to badminton, net cricket etc at one place. The morning began with high energy and the message was clear to everyone that we have to adopt an active lifestyle to remain fit and healthy, said Beni Quebha, a National Games medallist in fencing. In Delhi, the 1200-plus enthusiastic cyclists rode around the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and enjoyed participating in Zumba, meditation and yoga sessions besides rope skipping activity organised by Dr Shikha Gupta. Further, fencers Naziya Shaik and Beni Quebha pledged their support for the cycling movement saying that it is spreading much-needed awareness in Tier 1 and Tier 2/3 cities about the bad effects of obesity and air pollution. Also Read: LIVE Cricket Score The Fit India Sundays on Cycle is organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), in collaboration with the Cycling Federation of India (CFI), Raahgiri Foundation, My Bikes and MY Bharat. The cycling drive is organised simultaneously in capitals of all States and Union Territories besides SAI Regional Centres, National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs), SAI Training Centres (STCs), Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCEs) and Khelo India centres (KICs) across various age groups. Article Source: IANS
Brazilian Woman Married To Indian Man Shares Her Love Story: 'When You Know'
Brazilian woman Taina Shah shared her multicultural love story with her Gujarati husband on Instagram.
Gujarats Kandla port to set up anti-drone surveillance, neutralisation system to heighten security
Four anti-drone surveillanceand neutralisationsystems to be installed in an area covering 200 acres of the Kandla port and its tank farms in 58 crore project
Marwari Go Back campaign gains momentum in Telangana, traders call for bandh
Hyderabad: The Marwari Go Back campaign is gaining momentum in Telangana State, with traders announcing a bandh in Amangal mandal on Monday. Traders have alleged that Rajasthanis and Gujaratis have come to Amangal and set up businesses, resulting in losses for local businessmen. Marwaris are selling 50 per cent duplicate products in their shops. It 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 .
IMD issues flash floods alert in Mumbai, Goa, Konkan due to heavy rains for next 24 hours. In its latest report, IMD also issues warning for heavy rainfall in Goa, Gujarat and Maharashtra until...
A Tanker Rammed Into Parked Vehicles In Gujarat On Aug 15. No casualties | News18 Breaking
| A tanker rammed into parked vehicles in Gujarat on Aug 15. No casualties reported. Watch! n18oc_indiaNews18 Mobile App - https://onelink.to/desc-youtube
Special NCERT module on Partition gets Congress goat
NEW DELHI : A political row broke out on Saturday over a new special module by the National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT), which holds the Congress leadership, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and Viceroy Lord Mountbatten responsible for Partition of India. The module, released by NCERT to mark Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, drew the ire of the Congress, which demanded that the module be set on fire as it presents a distorted history. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Congress leader Pawan Khera said, Is 1938 mentioned or not in the NCERT module? In 1938, the Hindu Mahasabhas national conference in Gujarat announced that Hindus and Muslims could not live in one country. Is 1940 mentioned in the module? he asked. In 1940, Jinnah adopted the Hindu Mahasabhas idea at the Muslim Leagues Lahore session. It was mooted in 1938 by the Hindu Mahasabha, and Jinnah repeated it in 1940, he said. Burn the document if all this is not mentioned in it. Partition happened due to the nexus between Hindu Mahasabha and Muslim League. Generations will not forgive them, he said, adding that Mahasabha-Muslim League coalition governments in Bengal, Sindh and North West Frontier Province (NWFP) after 1942, led to Partition. Responding to the Congress allegations, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said Rahul Gandhis appeasement politics mirrors Jinnahs divisive ideology. NCERT has brought the truth of Partition to textbooks. The Rahul-Jinnah party is rattled because their role is exposed, Bhatia said. NCERT published two separate modules one for Classes 6 to 8 and another for Classes 9 to 12. These are supplementary resources in English and Hindi, not part of regular textbooks, and are meant to be used through projects, posters, discussions and debates. The module quotes Jinnah as saying he never thought Partition would happen. Later, even Jinnah admitted that he had not expected Partition to happen. He told his aide, I never thought it would happen. I never expected to see Pakistan in my lifetime, it said. Stale, troubling: Congress slams PMs I-Day speech
Chandigarh to be developed on lines of Gujarats GIFT city: Kataria - Hindustan Times
Chandigarh to be developed on lines of Gujarats GIFT city: Kataria Hindustan Times
4 Members of Gujarat Music Band Killed In Bus-Truck Collision In Madhya Pradesh: Cops
Four members of a Gujarat-based music band were killed and 11 other persons were injured on Saturday in a collision between a mini bus and a small truck in Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh, police said.
Documentary filmmaker Rakesh Sharma chosen for 17th IDSFFK Lifetime Achievement award
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Noted documentary filmmaker Rakesh Sharma has been chosen for the Lifetime Achievement award in connection with the 17th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK), to be held from August 22 to 27 in the state capital. The award carries a purse of Rs 2 lakh, a citation and a statuette. He has been chosen for the honour, considering his immense contributions in transforming the documentary filmmaking sector in India, dedication to social justice and for his fearless film-related activities. Rakesh Sharma, known for his 2004 documentary 'Final Solution' which sheds light on the 2002 Gujarat riots and traces the origin of Hindutva politics, is the recipient of numerous national and international honours. His films have been screened at more than 120 international festivals. He has focused on documentaries, centred around themes exposing the politics of hate, for the last two decades. Sharma, who has taken a break from films due to health issues, is planning a comeback, with a slew of new works, including 'Final Solution Revisited,' planned as a sequel to his earlier work. Previous recipients of the IDSSFFK lifetime achievement awards include Anand Patwardhan, Madhusree Dutta, Ranjan Palit, Reena Mohan, Deepa Dhanraj, Naresh Bedi and Rajesh Bedi.
IDSFFK to honour documentary filmmaker Rakesh Sharma with Lifetime Achievement Award
He is best known for his ground-breaking 2004 documentary Final Solution on the 2002 Gujarat pogrom
JAIPUR: Mishaps in Rajasthans government schools simply refuse to stop. After last months tragedies in Jhalawar and Jaisalmer, which claimed the lives of eight students, a girl died after the balcony of an under-construction government school collapsed on her in Udaipur's Kotda. Taking swift action, the government has held local officials guilty of negligence. The accident took place on Independence Day at PM Shri Government Higher Primary School in Patharpadi village under Kotda police station. Strict measures have rapidly been initiated. Acting Assistant Engineer (AEN) Hem Singh has been suspended and the services of the contractual civil consultant have been terminated. In addition, instructions have been issued to register an FIR against the contractor firm, M/s Divyanshi Enterprises. Hem Singh, originally appointed as a Grade III teacher, had been working as an AEN for the past 11 years. JEN Anil Kashyap, who was drawing a salary of Rs 15,000, had been handling the technical monitoring of school buildings for nearly 22 years. Villagers allege that substandard materials were being used in the construction of the school. Following the incident, all construction work has been halted. Education Minister Madan Dilawar said the department acted immediately after taking cognisance of the matter and that a high-level probe is now underway. Questions have also been raised about the appointment of a teacher and a contractual worker instead of qualified engineers to monitor the work for the schools construction. Udaipur ADPC Nanihal Singh defended the decision, saying both officials held engineering diplomas and were deputed by higher authorities from Jaipur. He admitted, however, that while the AEN and JEN were directly responsible for site monitoring, he too shared accountability. The negligence lies with the contractor, which is why a case has been registered against him, Singh said. The accident occurred on Friday when the balcony of the under-construction building suddenly collapsed. One girl died on the spot, while another sustained serious injuries and was later shifted to Gujarat for treatment. Both girls were not students of the school. The deceased had come to her grandmothers house and, on Friday morning, was on her way to the toilet with a friend when the balcony collapsed, burying her under the debris. Eyewitnesses say the accident was caused by improper filling of the lintel and rather premature removal of shuttering. According to information, the Central Government had sanctioned Rs 75 lakh for the construction of the school building, which was to include seven rooms and other facilities. Work began in February and was scheduled to be completed by August 5, but remained unfinished. The contractor had already sought a two-month extension. Angry villagers blamed the tragedy on poor-quality construction material and said that if the school had been operational, the consequences could have been far worse. Police and administrative officials are stationed at the site, attempting to pacify the grieving family and agitated locals. This is not the first such incident in Rajasthan. Last month, seven children were killed when the roof of a government school collapsed in Jhalawar, sparking widespread criticism of the Education Department and the state government. Education Minister Madan Dilawar had accepted responsibility but deferred any further decision to Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma. Days later, another mishap occurred in Jaisalmer, where the gate of a government school collapsed, killing one child and injuring two others, including a teacher. On Independence Day, besides the Udaipur tragedy, a private school in Bundi also saw a major scare when its false ceiling collapsed, leaving five people injured. In light of these repeated incidents, the Congress has stepped up its attack on the state government. Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully said these accidents expose the governments negligence and the dilapidated condition of school infrastructure. Calling it shameful that such a sensitive issue as the safety of children is being ignored, he demanded accountability over the incidents in Udaipur and Bundi. State Congress President and former Education Minister Govind Singh Dotasra was even more scathing, accusing the BJP government of being a killer of children. He said the tragedies in Jhalawar, Jaisalmer, and now Udaipur were the result of gross negligence by the Education Department and administration. Dotasra claimed this was the third major school-related accident in a single month in which innocent children lost their lives due to negligence by government authorities.
Digital Gujarat? 467 panchayats of Gujarat still without computers, 111 offline
AHMEDABAD: Amid tall claims of digital rural development, Gujarats ground reality tells another story. Fresh central data reveals that 467 gram panchayats in the state still lack a single computer. Adding to the irony, 111 panchayat offices dont even have broadband access. Out of the 14,648 gram panchayat buildings across Gujarat, these glaring gaps raise questions on the state's much-touted Digital India push. The digital divide in India's grassroots democracy came under sharp focus in the Lok Sabha when Samajwadi Party MP Devesh Shakya questioned the government on the lack of basic facilities like computers and internet in Gram Panchayats across states. Responding to the query, the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj laid bare stark numbers on digital readiness. In Gujarat, out of 14,648 Gram Panchayat Bhavans, 14,181 are equipped with computers but 467 still function without a single computer. Zooming out to the national level, the scale of deficiency looks even starker. Across India, as many as 56,387 Gram Panchayat Bhavans are operating without their own computers, undercutting the governments push for e-governance in rural India. The Ministry pointed to corrective steps, but the response looks tokenistic. Under the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA), only 43 Gram Panchayat Bhavans of Gujarat have been approved for computers, a drop in the ocean compared to the staggering shortfall. But computers aren't the only concern; connectivity is another. Of Gujarats 14,674 Gram Panchayats, 14,563 enjoy broadband links, while 111 remain cut off from high-speed internet. This absence of connectivity, experts warn, directly impacts digital governance, online service delivery and even rural election processes. The timing of the disclosure is significant. On June 22, the Gujarat State Election Commission held polls for 8,326 Gram Panchayats. While Panchayat elections are officially non-partisan, the ruling BJP claimed that a majority of BJP-backed Sarpanches emerged victorious, a reminder of how vital these digitally lagging institutions are in shaping grassroots politics. The government also clarified the federal framework of responsibility. Panchayats, being local governments, fall under the State List of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. This makes it primarily the responsibility of states and Union Territories to equip them with computers and internet. Yet, the Centre supplements these efforts under RGSA, albeit in a limited way, with a sharper focus on the under-served North Eastern states.
Fugitive Aman Pandey, who escaped from Deoria jail in 2022, nabbed in Surat: Uttar Pradesh STF tracks him down; used false identity to evade arrest MSN
MP: Four of Gujarat musical troupe killed, 11 injured in Shivpuri road accident Punjab News Express
Heavy rains lash Ahmedabad and parts of Gujarat, IMD issues orange alert - GujaratSamachar English
Heavy rains lash Ahmedabad and parts of Gujarat, IMD issues orange alert GujaratSamachar English
Four killed, 11 injured as mini bus collides with small truck in MP's Shivpuri
SHIVPURI: Four persons were killed and 11 others injured after the mini bus they were travelling in collided with a small truck on a highway in Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri district on Saturday, police said. The accident occurred around 5 am on National Highway 46, around 30 km from the district headquarters, when the mini bus carrying a Gujarat-based music troupe was returning from a programme at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, Survaya police station house officer (SHO) Arvind Chari told PTI . He said the bus driver lost control of the wheel, entered the wrong lane and collided with a small truck. The deceased included Hardik Dave (37), a singer in the music troupe, Raja Thakur (28), Ankit Thakur (17) and Rajendra Solanki (47), all members of the band, the SHO said. He said the injured persons have been admitted to hospitals. A preliminary probe suggests that the driver of the mini bus with 17 people onboard might have dozed off at the wheel, Chari said, adding that further investigation is underway.
Special arrangements in Gujarat`s Dwarka for Janmashtami
Dwarka SDM Lt Col (Retd) Amol Awate said on Friday that special provisions have been made for senior citizens and differently abled people
Indias smallest sanctuary hides one of the worlds rarest bird can you guess its name?
The Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary, Gujarat's smallest wildlife haven, spans just 2 square kilometers, dedicated to conserving the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard. This sanctuary provides a crucial habitat for these magnificent birds, along with diverse flora and fauna. Conservation efforts are underway, including land expansion and strict regulations, to protect this vulnerable species and its breeding grounds.
Cyber criminals target Gujarat temple devotees - The New Indian Express
Cyber criminals target Gujarat temple devotees The New Indian Express
Cyber criminals target Gujarat temple devotees
AHMEDABAD: On the eve of Janmashtami, a Rs 201 Makhan mishri offering scheme in the name of Gujarats famed Dwarkadhish temple has been exposed as cyber fraud. The fake offer, floated by an outfit called Ghar Mandir, was dismissed by the temple administration, which clarified that official prasad is available only in person or via its authorised website. The con, unmasked just a day before the festivities, revolves around a website called Ghar Mandir. Posing as a divine service, it offers to deliver temple prasad and garlands to devotees doorsteps for a fixed online fee claiming to mark the appearance day of Lord Dwarkadhish. Behind the pious pitch, however, lurks a calculated ploy to siphon money. The Dwarkadhish Devasthan Management Committee, temple administrator Himanshu Chauhan, and priest representatives have slammed the claims as completely misleading. They emphasised that every offering in the temple is prepared exclusively under priestly supervision in the Bhog Bhandar, first presented to the deity, and then distributed only within the temple premises.
Gujarat FDCA-ONDCP discuss illegal production and export of narcotic & habit-forming drugs Pharmabiz.com
Gujarat labour leaders seek transparent use of 6,856 cr welfare fund for construction workers Counterview
Check BlueStone Jewellery IPO Allotment Status Online - IPO Watch
Check BlueStone Jewellery IPO Allotment Status Online IPO Watch
AHMEDABAD: A shocking case of caste-based violence has emerged from Gujarats Junagadh district, where a Dalit youth and his father-in-law were brutally assaulted for keeping a beard and moustache that their attackers claimed were reserved for upper castes. The incident, which occurred on August 11 in Khambhaliya (Ozat) village, has sparked outrage, with police registering a case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The victims, identified as Sagar Makwana, a labourer from Mangnath Pipli village, and his father-in-law Jivanbhai Wala, were allegedly attacked by a group of men who hurled casteist slurs and mocked Sagars appearance. According to the complaint, Sagar had gone to Khambhaliya to get his bike repaired but found the garage closed. As he was returning home, he was stopped near a railway bridge by Shailesh Jebaliya from Navi Chavand village, who allegedly knocked him off his bike and began abusing him for his beard and moustache. Fearing further assault, Sagar called his father-in-law for help. However, when Jivanbhai arrived, a silver car without a number plate pulled up, carrying Lalo Bhupat and three unidentified men. The group allegedly intensified the casteist abuse before launching a violent attackbeating Sagar with a car wheel while punching and slapping Jivanbhai. The assailants fled only after villagers began gathering, but not before issuing threats. Jivanbhai Wala and Sagar Makwana are currently undergoing treatment. Both victims were rushed to Junagadh Civil Hospital, where they are currently undergoing treatment. Police have filed an FIR against Shailesh Jebaliya, Lalo Kathi Darbar, and three unidentified accomplices under relevant sections of the SC/ST Act. ASP Rohit Kumar Dagar confirmed to The New Indian Express that the accused are absconding and efforts are underway to arrest them. The incident has reignited concerns over deep-seated caste discrimination in rural Gujarat, with activists demanding swift justice for the victims.
Indias 79th Independence Day: Gujarats Modhera Powers the Naya Bharat Vision as First 24/7 Solar-Powered Village The Logical Indian
On Independent Day, A Message Of Unity In Srinagar From Rajasthan, Gujarat
In a display of patriotism and a message of national integration, two men--one from Rajasthan and the other from Gujarat--hoisted the national flag at the historic Ghanta Ghar in Srinagar's Lal Chowk on Friday.
Goldi Solar: Solarizes Gujarat Village - Rediff
Goldi Solar: Solarizes Gujarat Village Rediff
Projects meant for Telangana moved to Gujarat, AP: Congress slams centre
Senior Congress leader and AICC General Secretary Jairam Ramesh on Thursday, August 14, accused the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Centre of discriminating against opposition-ruled states in the allocation of semiconductor manufacturing projects. Ramesh claimed that the Centre had recently approved four such projects, but imposed conditions that effectively shifted them from opposition-ruled states to BJP-ruled 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 .
Gujarat Confidential: No Shoes Please - The Indian Express
Gujarat Confidential: No Shoes Please The Indian Express
Dahyabhai Purohit, who defied the British to protect Maharaja Sayajirao
Staff absence disrupts cremations at Khaswadi
Six Chui gang members moved to separate jails
Dahod LCB seizes 1.26cr liquor in tanker at Gujarat-MP border
Vadodara SOG nabs drug peddler using drone surveillance
Loop Industries (NASDAQ: LOOP) Secures Strategic Gujarat, India Site, Igniting Infinite Loop Global Growth More Stocks Inside | FinancialContent FinancialContent
L&T, ITOCHU to develop green ammonia project in Gujarat - Renewables Now
L&T, ITOCHU to develop green ammonia project in Gujarat Renewables Now
The Gujarat Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) has requested an extension to the income tax return (ITR) filing deadline, citing delays in the release of ITR utilities and persistent technical issues on the Income Tax portal. GCCI also highlights discrepancies in financial statements and seeks an extension for the income tax audit deadline, currently set for September 30, 2025.
Watch: Meet the Pakistani nationals granted Indian citizenship
That wait for Indian citizenship ended for 181 Pakistani nationals in Gujarat this July when they received it under the Citizenship Amendment Act, or CAA. Four others were granted it through the discretionary powers of local authorities. What was the experience like?
Gujarat teen who scored 478 in NEET allegedly strangled by family over boyfriend and independence
Chandrika Chaudhary, an 18-year-old NEET qualifier from Gujarat, was allegedly murdered by her father and uncle. The reason was her relationship with her boyfriend. The family disapproved of her wish to study and live independently. They allegedly gave her sedative-laced milk and strangled her. The body was cremated without a postmortem.
Gujarat to add Bhagavad Gita verses in classes 9-12 from 2025-26, draws flak
With the state education departments approval in place, new textbook content under the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) will be introduced for the academic session 2025-2026. Classes 9 to 12 will now learn specific verses from the Bhagavad Gita and recite them. Gita teachings that have appeared in chapters will now be 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 .
India cancels two offshore wind tenders off Gujarat and Tamil Nadu coasts - Windtech International
India cancels two offshore wind tenders off Gujarat and Tamil Nadu coasts Windtech International
Nothing Before Coffee opens 100th outlet in Gujarat, India - Yahoo Finance
Nothing Before Coffee opens 100th outlet in Gujarat, India Yahoo Finance
Tribal uprising erupts in Gujarat as controversial Par-Tapi-Narmada River Link Project resurfaces
AHMEDABAD: Three years after the Gujarat government declared the Par-Tapi-Narmada River Link Project cancelled, the controversial initiative has stormed back into headlines, triggering fierce protests in the states tribal belt. A recent mention of its Detailed Project Report (DPR) in the Lok Sabha has reignited tensions, leading to a massive rally in Dharampur, Valsad, where thousands of tribal villagers, backed by Congress leaders, vowed to resist the project with a clear message: No dam, no displacement. The project, which threatens to submerge 118 villages and displace nearly five lakh peoplemostly tribalshas long been a flashpoint between development promises and tribal rights. Despite Chief Minister Bhupendra Patels 2022 announcement cancelling the initiative, fresh revelations about the DPR being presented in Parliament have shattered the fragile calm, sparking outrage across South Gujarat. On August 14, thousands gathered in Dharampur under the banner of the Dam Removal Committee, with Congress leaders Amit Chavda and Vansda MLA Anant Patel marching alongside villagers. Anant Patel accused the BJP of double-speak, citing parliamentary replies that confirmed the DPRs existence despite state claims of cancellation. Rajya Sabha replies confirm the DPR for the Par-Tapi-Narmada project is readythats why we submitted an application today through the Par-Tapi Sangharsh Samiti, said Patel. Our demand is simple: scrap this project and present a white paper. BJP MP Dhaval Patel should read the facts before fooling tribals. Next, well take this fight to Dang. Gujarat Congress President Amit Chavda went further, alleging a deliberate attempt to seize tribal land while misleading the community with contradictory statements. Efforts are underway to snatch the forest land of Gujarats tribal community, while ministers peddle lies to mislead them, Chavda said. On one hand, the government denies any DPR exists; on the other, Parliament is told its prepared. They claim the project is cancelled, yet official replies say its only off the priority listnot scrapped. The proposed project involves nine dams across the Par, Tapi, and Narmada rivers, with the stated aim of supplying water to Mumbai, Saurashtra, and Kutch. However, tribal leaders argue that this development comes at the cost of erasing entire communities. The Zari Dam on the Maharashtra-Gujarat border and the Kelvan Dam in Tapi district alone would displace thousands, submerging ancestral lands and forests. In response, Gujarat Health Minister and government spokesperson Hrishikesh Patel reiterated the states stance: Since 2022, the Gujarat government has made it clear the Par-Tapi-Narmada Link project stands cancelled and will not happen in Gujarat. The state suspended the project that year, and neither the Centre nor the state has taken any decision on it since. But for the tribal communities of South Gujarat, the rally was a warningtheir fight will not end until the project is formally and permanently scrapped. With emotions running high and police deployed in anticipation of unrest, the battle over land, water, and survival shows no signs of fading.
Nothing Before Coffee opens 100th outlet in Gujarat, India - Verdict Food Service
Nothing Before Coffee opens 100th outlet in Gujarat, India Verdict Food Service
Islamic marriages can be dissolved through verbal mutual consent, rules Gujarat HC - Siasat.com
Islamic marriages can be dissolved through verbal mutual consent, rules Gujarat HC Siasat.com
Marriages can be dissolved through mubaraat, rules Gujarat HC
Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court has ruled that a Muslim marriage can be dissolved through Mubaraat, a form of divorce wherein couples can end their marriage through verbal mutual consent without a written agreement in place. A bench of Justices AY Kogje and NS Sanjay Gowda made the observation while recently setting aside a Rajkot 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 .
'Completely vague': SC on plea to return captive elephants kept in Vantara
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday termed as completely vague a plea seeking to constitute a monitoring committee to return the captive elephants in Vantara, a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre for wild animals. A bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and P B Varale told advocate C R Jaya Sukin, petitioner in person, that he was making allegations against Vantara without even adding them as party. The top court asked the petitioner to implead Vantara in the petition. You are making allegations against parties which are not represented here. You have not made them respondents. You implead them and then come back to us we will see, the bench said and posted the matter for August 25. The apex court also tagged a similar petition with Sukin's plea. The petition was earlier mentioned before CJI BR Gavai for urgent listing. The plea has sought constitution of a monitoring committee to ensure the return of the captive elephants to its owners and to escue all wild animals, birds from Vantara and free them into the wild. The law and rules have been violated. States' administration failed, some officers were compromised and others were threatened. Captive elephants were forcibly taken from temples and their owners, the petition stated. Not only national level but also international level animals and birds, some of them endangered species, were smuggled into Vantara in the name of a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility in Gujarat, it added. Maharashtra CM Fadnavis holds meeting with Vantara zoo to bring back elephant Madhuri in Kolhapur
All Time Plastics shares jump over 14% in market debut trade
The company plans to utilise funds raised from fresh issuance for acquiring machinery for its Manekpur plant in Gujarat, payment of debt, general corporate purposes and other expansion efforts
Congress accuses Modi govt of 'bias' against Opposition states in allocating semi-conductor projects
NEW DELHI: The Congress on Thursday accused the Modi government of being iased against opposition-ruled states in allocating semiconductor manufacturing projects. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh pointed out that the Modi government has green signalled four semi-conductor manufacturing projects in the country. After doing detailed home work, a leading private company had submitted its application for a project in Telangana. This was approved on the condition that it relocates to Andhra Pradesh, he said on X. Much earlier similar transfer of locations were forced through. Two semiconductor manufacturing projects were compelled to shift their proposed location from Telangana to Gujarat. Similarly, another factory planned for Tamil Nadu got approval on the condition that it shifts to Gujarat, Ramesh claimed. Need anything more be said? The PM speaks of competition among states that will make India strong. But if the umpire is so blatantly biased, the competition becomes a farce, the Congress leader said. His remarks come days after the Union Cabinet approved four semiconductor plants, including a unit backed by US technology major Intel and Lockheed Martin, entailing a total investment of Rs 4,594 crore in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab. Speaking about the new semiconductor projects approved by the Cabinet, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had said two major projects will be set up in Odisha and one each in Punjab and Andhra Pradesh. Cabinet has approved four semiconductor plants that will be set up in Odisha, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh, Vaishnaw said. The minister said chief ministers of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh spoke to him after cabinet nod for the project and shared that the construction of plants will be started at the earliest. All these plants will be operational in 2-3 years, Vaishnaw had said.
They Will Kill Me: Woman Texted Her Boyfriend Before Getting Killed For Honour In Gujarat
An 18-year-old NEET qualifier was killed by her father and two uncles to save the family's 'honor'. She had moved to Palanpur and entered a live-in relationship.
Woman's Chilling Text To Boyfriend, Then Murder: Dishonour Killing In Gujarat
A Gujarat man received a chilling text on Instagram late at night. Save me, read the text from his girlfriend. Hours later, her body was found at home. A suspicious turn of events led to an investigation, unearthing a brazen dishonour killing.
Aman Pandey, who escaped from Deoria district jail in December 2022 while facing rape and kidnapping charges, was apprehended in Surat, Gujarat, by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force. Pandey exploited a visitor mix-up to walk out of the jail unnoticed. He had been evading authorities, moving between multiple cities before settling in Surat under a false identity.
US-based NGO improves access for para-athletes - Ahmedabad Mirror
US-based NGO improves access for para-athletes Ahmedabad Mirror
The Gandhi Collector Who Admires Bose
In a quiet corner of Bengaluru lives a man of paradoxes and passion. Jayaprakash Sarda, 51, is perhaps Indias most unusual Gandhi collector, for he is also an ardent admirer of Subhash Chandra Bose. For over four decades, Jayaprakash has painstakingly amassed one of the most comprehensive private collections of Mahatma Gandhi memorabilia: handwritten letters, rare newspapers, original photographs, stamps, coins, spinning wheels, fantasy notes, and even cutlery all sourced through traders, personal networks, and chance discoveries, especially from Gujarat. But what makes Jayaprakash remarkable is not just the breadth of his collection, but the depth of his perspective. He does not place Gandhi on a pedestal. Im aware of his flaws, he says matter-of-factly. He is critical of Gandhis ambiguous relationships with women like Sushila Nayyar and Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, and is disappointed that Sardar Patel who received 13 out of 15 votes for Congress Presidency in 1946 was asked to step aside so Nehru could become Indias first Prime Minister. Jayaprakash also rues Gandhis failure to defend Bhagat Singh and Chandrashekhar Azad, though he acknowledges that Gandhi did write letters attempting to intervene. His collection includes some of these rare, unpublished letters that reveal a side of Gandhi not always found in history books letters that show the man as well as the Mahatma. Gandhis sharp wit comes alive in some of these correspondences. In one letter to Rajkumari Amrit Kaur of the House of Kapurtala, Gandhi cheekily addressed her as My dear idiot. She responded in kind, with equal affection, My dear Mickey. Jayaprakashs favourites among his books are the eight-volume biography Mahatma by DG Tendulkar and The Man Who Killed Gandhi by Manohar Malgaonkar. Even more fascinating is his collection of mundane objects matchboxes, notebooks, utensils that bear the slogan Jai Hind, Vande Mataram or images of the charkha. His collectors eye once spotted cutlery from the 1938 Haripura Session of the Indian National Congress, every piece stamped with the national flag and charkha. This set, given only to VIP attendees, may be the only extant one. Jayaprakashs journey has not been a solitary one. His wife Anuradha, he admits with a laugh, knows she is my second love. His brother, ever supportive, has helped finance this lifelong obsession. But as he grows older, the pressures of family have started to weigh heavy. He has begun to part with some of the 60 original Gandhi letters he once vowed never to sell. And yet, the collector in him endures. When a friend, Brigadier Vikas Chaudhary, asked for a letter in which Gandhi urged Tagore to rein in his friend Bose, Jayaprakash simply handed it over. No negotiation. No price. That selfless gesture has earned him an unexpected perk a yearly invitation to the Brigadiers cantonment in Jodhpur. When I suggested he catalogue his top 100 Gandhi Memorabilia, he laughed: Im too lazy. He has no plans to build a museum either too expensive. While his collection has been exhibited over a hundred times, he remains deeply protective of it. Taking them out of the house worries me. What if they get damaged? he wonders aloud. Still, he remains open to selling the entire collection to someone who promises to preserve it as one unified body. The cost? he says with a grin. Priceless. The real collectors, he tells me, are not in it for the money. Most people today collect Gandhi because Gandhi is money, and money is Gandhi, he says, his voice tinged with irony and sadness. Jayaprakash embodies the contradictions that defined Gandhis own life deep conviction, critical thought, and above all, a commitment to truth, even when it is uncomfortable. In a world obsessed with valuation, here is a man who reminds us of values.
Gujarat to get new veterinary college; admissions to start next month
Kamdhenu Veterinary College at Himatnagar will offer 80 seats in the Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry programmes, with admissions set to begin next month through NEET scores
Four removed from VMC cattle teams after bribery video surfaces
Liquor worth 71L seized in Panchmahal raid
Duo cons woman of gold earrings posing as bank officials
Ratlam jeweller held in 54 theft and robbery cases across two states
Neighbours attack three of family for feeding stray dog
BJP defends Gujarat netas voter registration in Patna
There is a gloom over Balaramapuram looms nowadays
The bustling locality of Balaramapuram holds a lot of emotions. Of being a historic place where trade joined hands with art, where communities merged to form civilisation, where handwoven creativity became costume that marked a culture. It was hence called the heaven of handloom, set up around 200 years ago by the Travancore king Avittam Thirunal Bala Rama Varma. He had brought in five communities from Tamil Nadu to Travancore. One of them was the Shaliyas, who were tasked with weaving the traditional attire for temple-related purposes as well as for the royal family. They took root here, in villages around the present-day Balaramapuram. And with them, the art of weaving flourished here. The heritage Shaliya Gramam of the weavers at Balaramapuram. Remnants of this culture can still be found around Shaliya Street, where the temples bear marks of a prompt Tamil lineage. Each house had a marked weaving history, and in fact, the houses too are structured to represent one fabric, woven together at the seams. Tamil, with a marked Malayali slang, could be heard inside the houses, from where waft the sound of handloom raw materials being made. The difference, however, is the enormity of the sound. Until some decades ago, the sound was a soothing hum, now it is the bold clatter of the electric motor that runs the system which spins the yarn. I get `150 per day for work from 7am to 3pm, says Arumugam, 69, who learnt spinning from the time she got married into a household of handloom artisans. The work is part of the stage that runs up to the final weaving, the preparatory being procurement of cotton and silk thread from Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, and then making yarn out of it which will then be woven together as the white fabric laced with the customary gold border. All the houses on the Shaliya gramam used to do this. Now, there are hardly any. The youngsters dont see it worthwhile. My children too are in other professions. Even my husband is now running a lottery agency in Mavelikkara, she says. Arumugam at work in her house. In another building, Mohanan N, who has been weaving since he was 14, joins in to narrate the sorry state of affairs. I am not from the community, yet learnt this over 50 years ago because then, it was a vibrant and promising scene here, he says. It did help me to take care of my family, and my children are well-settled. I do this to keep myself engaged in old age. But there is no youngster who wants to take this up. Who would want to earn just `300 a day for weaving a saree that will be sold for `4,000 or `5,000? His contention is echoed by Kashi, a Plus-Two student, whose family home still has a display of handwoven kasavu sarees and mundu at its front yard. I want to learn history. But handloom doesnt seem attractive for the life I seek, he says. Weavers working hard in a dingy space to meet the demands of the Onam season. In yet another weavers space, a cluttered, dingy, and clumsy room adjoining an old showroom of a family of handloom merchants, a group of women are themselves perched in the kuzhithari, powering a weaving unit with a pedalling movement of their legs. Surprisingly, none here appears excited about the Onam sales boom, which one expects during this season. There is a suffocating silence in the room, broken only by the periodic beats of the weaving unit. The women also appear choked for words, irritated rather, at having to speak about their ordeal. What for? There are many who come to take videos and photos. Nothing comes of it. There is none to speak for us. The societies have almost withered away and unions are probably just namesake, says Rajeela, representing the weavers. What we still get after decades of weaving is just `250 per mundu. And if we take a break, other than for our lunch, we wont be able to finish and will lose money. The low wages is an offshoot of several factors, products of time and the mindset of people, according to Ali Sheikh Mansoor, vice-chairman of the Balaramapuram panchayat development committee. Value addition is the key: The Ayurvastra products. Powerloom is a culprit, which can bulk produce. It enters the market from Tamil Nadu, and is available cheap. This affects the weavers here, he points out. For instance, making a handloom sari involves many processes, and for each of these, wages have to be paid. And yet, you can only charge `4,000 or `5,000 for a sari. The powerloom versions sell for `700 to `1,500 a piece. And nowadays, there are fraudsters too, who market powerloom-made stuff as original handloom and charge exorbitantly. There are still households in areas around Balaramapuram such as Aithiyoor, Thumbottukonam, Manjavilakam, Kunjaykkadu and Vandannoor, where some houses still have weaving units. But the numbers are dwindling. Governmental schemes like the yarn bank and the now-stalled Kaithari Park project could have reinvigorated the age-old craft, but with cooperative societies too coming down, things are around here, Ali notes. There, however, are some flickers of hope. Sujeev S S, who runs Kailari Exports that ships the handloom material, says the popularity of the Ayurvastra concept abroad helped him stay afloat. The concept was tried and tested by researchers and academicians. It is about using natural dyes procured from herbs that are used on fabric instead of the chemical ones, he explains. We do this now on several fabrics, like cotton or silk, or even hemp. We even make yoga mats and bedspreads. Such value-additions can help boost the industry. Ali, meanwhile, believes the prospects that Vizhinjam port could change the fortunes of the ailing handloom industry. There should be a visionary approach. People across the world are grooving towards natural products. We should capitalise on this trend, he says. A hi-tech facility is being planned for the area, where there will be spaces for exhibiting handloom produce. We also have plans to encourage kaithari tourism. Most of the weavers, however, seem oblivious to the world outside, where there is a growing market for traditional and homegrown products. They still weave, because it is the only vocation they have been taught in the backyards of Balaramapuram, where history still yawns, reminding us of a tradition that is too precious to be lost to posterity.
Yash Sonis Mithada Maheman set for world digital premiere on ShemarooMe - MediaNews4U
Yash Sonis Mithada Maheman set for world digital premiere on ShemarooMe MediaNews4U
Two-year reprieve for Gujarat cooperative bank directors sparks political row
AHMEDABAD: A key amendment to Section 10A(2a)(i) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, has extended the maximum continuous tenure of directors in cooperative banks, excluding chairpersons and whole-time directors, from eight to ten years, effective 1 August 2025. Rajya Sabha data reveals that, in Gujarat alone, 169 directors of District Central and State Cooperative Banks have already crossed the eight-year mark, along with 876 directors in Urban Cooperative Banks. The change effectively gives these long-serving board members a two-year extension to retain their seats. Rajya Sabha MP Shakti Sinh Gohil opened the attack by invoking the Banking Regulation Acts earlier provision that barred directors from serving more than eight consecutive years. He pressed the government for specifics, how many cooperative banks in Gujarat were allegedly flouting this limit, how many directors were involved, and where they were posted. The Finance Ministrys reply revealed a legislative twist that instantly altered the debate. It confirmed that Section 10A(2a)(i) of the Act has recently been amended to extend the maximum continuous tenure for cooperative bank directors, excluding chairpersons and whole-time directors, from eight to ten years. The amendment will take effect on 1 August 2025, effectively giving overstay directors a two-year reprieve. The ministry also laid bare the scale of the issue in Gujarat: 169 directors in 16 District Central and State Cooperative Banks, and 876 directors in 145 Urban Cooperative Banks, have already crossed the earlier eight-year threshold. It stressed that the Reserve Bank of India now has enhanced authority to disqualify chairpersons, order board reconstitution, and even supersede boards of all cooperative banks, though, for state-registered banks, such action must be taken in consultation with state governments. Unmoved by the governments explanation, Gohil accused it of double standards. He alleged that BJP-linked directors are being allowed to retain their posts despite breaching the previous cap, while Congress-affiliated members are swiftly removed in similar situations. In his view, the tenure extension is less a reform than a political shield, one that keeps allies entrenched and converts a technical governance matter into a fresh flashpoint in Gujarats politically charged cooperative banking sector.
After finding CBI, ED ineffective against opponents, BJP now using EC to fix Bihar polls: Tejashwi
PATNA: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday charged the Election Commission with trying to fix upcoming Bihar assembly polls in favour of the ruling BJP at the Centre which, he claimed, found the CBI, ED and Income Tax department ineffective against the saffron party's political opponents. Yadav went hammer and tongs at the EC at a press conference here, alleging that the poll panel is providing more than one voter ID card to many BJP voters. The leader of the opposition said the option of boycotting the assembly elections, due later this year, is open in view of the poll panel being allegedly hell bent upon treachery. The EC is unabashedly trying to fix the assembly polls in favour of the BJP. The constitutional body seems to have replaced agencies like CBI, ED and Income Tax department, which have proven to be ineffective in the game of cornering those opposed to the party that rules the Centre, Yadav alleged. INDIA bloc leaders have been alleging that the BJP-led central government uses agencies such as CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) to intimidate opposition functionaries. He claimed that as part of the game, the EC is providing more than one voter ID card to many BJP voters. Last year, I had exposed the case of Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha. Today, I wish to bring to light the instance of Muzaffarpur Mayor Nirmala Devi, who may well be the BJP candidate in the upcoming polls. Both she and her husbands younger brother, in addition to another relative, have two voter ID cards each, Yadav said. They must have also filled up as many enumeration forms, and officials involved in the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls chose to look the other way, he alleged. Shortly afterwards, the district administration of Muzaffarpur served a notice to Nirmala Devi and her two relatives for allegedly possessing two voter ID cards, and asked them to reply to it by August 16. Sinha, who claims to have applied last year to delete his name from the voters list in one of the two places, had been served with a notice last week. Tejashwi Yadav should first come clean on the two EPIC cards that he possesses. He is levelling baseless charges against me. I am mooting legal action, the BJP leader said. At the press conference, Yadav expressed bewilderment over the EC never talking to the press despite so much controversy. Democracy seems to be seriously imperilled in this country. The Prime Minister never talks to the press, nor does the chief minister of Bihar. Now, the Election Commission seems to be following their example, he said. The EC only comes up with inane press statements and falsely claims that no political party has filed any objection, even though the RJD's booth-level agents have been doing so in every assembly segment, Yadav asserted. Yesterday, the ECs counsel was screaming before the Supreme Court - you should cooperate with us! You should cooperate with us! This begs the question, are you even talking to us? said the RJD leader, whose party colleague Manoj Kumar Jha happens to be one of the petitioners who have challenged the SIR in the state. The former Deputy CM said, The Election Commission stands exposed before the top court where several persons turned up, after having been declared as dead in the SIR, leading to deletion of their names in the draft electoral rolls. The RJD leader, who is the INDIA blocs de facto chief ministerial candidate, alleged that this is not the first time that votes were stolen by the EC. The game was played in the 2020 assembly polls as well. Our vote tally for all 243 assembly segments was just about 12,000 less than that of the NDA, and this left us short of a majority by a dozen seats, he said. Replying to a query, the RJD leader said he would be joining Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for the 'Matdata Adhikar (voters right) yatra' beginning in Rohtas district on August 17. As stated earlier, we shall also be keeping the option open to boycott the polls if the EC remains hell-bent upon treachery, Yadav said. Yadav also took exception to Bhikhubhai Dalsania, the BJPs state general secretary (organisation), getting registered as a voter in Bihar despite hailing from Gujarat. The RJD leader was lambasted by Nityanand Rai, a former state BJP president who is now the Union Minister of State for Home. The stupidity of Tejashwi Yadav makes me laugh. He seems to be rattled by the fact that the Supreme Court has upheld the validity of SIR, throwing his objections out of the window, Rai said. As far as Bhikhubhai Dalsania is concerned, he is an RSS pracharak who has devoted his life to serving the nation, he said. A dynast like Tejashwi Yadav can never appreciate the likes of Bhikhubhai, who did not care to set up their own family. The RJD and its allies are worried that fake electors, who were patronised by them as part of vote bank politics, are all set for ouster, claimed Rai.
Gujarat honour killing victim cracks NEET with high marks
An 18-year-old girl from Gujarat, a victim of suspected honor killing, has cracked the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). She was allegedly killed by her father and uncles for being in a live-in relationship.
Easy Boba Unleashes Freedom Sip Sale Rs.99 Drinks Across Mumbai & Gujarat - Ahmedabad Mirror
Easy Boba Unleashes Freedom Sip Sale Rs.99 Drinks Across Mumbai & Gujarat Ahmedabad Mirror
