New Delhi (The Hawk): The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) just took Pakistan off of its "grey list." Once more, the possibility of greater cross-border terrorist activity is present.
According to sources from intelligence agencies, there has been a stir in recent days among the terrorist launch pads and training camps that are present in PoK. Major infiltration schemes are being developed in India by terrorists connected to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) organisations.
Sources claim that training facilities for these organisations have doubled over the border. Terrorist activity has also increased, and more than 200 are currently attempting to enter the nation ahead of a major snowstorm.
Terrorist bases and launch pads have reportedly been relocated to a number of locations close to the border, according to the information. Operations are based out of homes on the other side of the border.
In addition to this, terrorists are looking for fresh entrances into Indian territory.
The LeT, JeM, and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM) training camps in PoK's Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Mansehra, Bhimber, etc. have begun operating actively. In PoK, where there has been a significant rise in the number of terrorists, there are more than 20 launch pads. They are receiving assistance from both the Pakistani army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), according to sources, who also stated that ISI is planning to use PoK to smuggle terrorists into India.
More than 100 terrorists have recently crossed the border to the launch pads in the Jammu and Kashmiri areas of Machil, Keran, and Gurez.
Security troops on the International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC) have boosted their vigilance since Pakistan was removed from the list. Security forces have been ordered to patrol the border with utmost attention in anticipation of an upsurge in infiltration attempts under the cover of strong fog and precipitation. According to sources, infiltration routes become impassable after significant snowfall, which is why other routes are being looked for.
Terrorist infiltration into J&amp;K significantly decreased, and their financial support was likewise restricted. However, Pakistan is currently attempting to carry out its terrorist intentions once more.
Security services anticipate that there may be an increase in instances like infiltration, funding for terrorism, and narco-terrorism given the terrorists' increased activity during the previous week.
Amit Shah, the union home minister, recently claimed that after Article 370 was repealed, terrorist attacks have decreased by 34% and security force fatalities have decreased by 54%.
(Inputs from Agencies)

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) just took Pakistan off of its "grey list." Once more, the possibility of greater cross-border terrorist activity is present.

Lashkar, Jaish camps grow in PoK; significant infiltration likely

Paingadh (Chamoli): Like subsidence-hit Joshimath, villagers of Paingadh village in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand have also been forced to leave their houses due to landslides and cracks appearing in their accommodations.
The hapless villagers are taking shelter in relief camps, tin sheds and even schools.
More than 40 families of the village, which is among the oldest settlements on the bank of the Pindar River near Tharali on the Karnaparayag-Almora National Highway, have become homeless and are living like refugees. There are over 90 families in the village living there for generations. The problem of landslides began in the village in 2013 with the Kedarnath disaster, but the matter worsened in October 2021 when cracks began to appear in fields above the village. “The cracks were small initially and in a year’s time, they widened into holes,” Gopal Dutt, a villager, said. On October 21 last year, a landslide occurred at around the same place where cracks had appeared and huge boulders fell on houses, killing four people.
The rubble of this landslide has affected almost half of the village and people who used to live in the zone have had to leave their homes and take shelter elsewhere, he said. Some of the affected families have taken shelter in the houses of relatives, while others have shifted to a school building in the village. . The only government primary school of the village has been turned into a relief camp, forcing authorities to hold the classes in the junior high school building about one kilometer away. Children aged between 5-11 years have to walk to their school and also cross a stream on the way. “There is no proposal yet to resume classes in the primary school building. Something definitive about it can be said only after the district administration makes a rehabilitation policy for the village,” Education Officer of Tharali block, Adarsh Kumar told PTI.
Meanwhile, Chamoli District Disaster Management Officer N K Joshi said a tin shed is being built in a secure location where the affected people of the village will be shifted. However, a villager, Surendra Lal, alleged the shed is being built near a pine forest where there is no water or electricity supply. One cannot go on foot to the place which can also pose a danger to lives during summer when pine leaves easily catch fire, Lal said. Dutt said the government was requested to give readymade or prefabricated houses to the affected, but no progress has been made. The affected families were given Rs 5,000 as disaster relief by the government four months ago. “Geological scientists also conducted a survey of the village after the landslide, but no one knows what came out of it,” Surendra Lal said. Jagmohan Singh Gadiya, who retired from the Army and lives in the landslide-affected zone, said, “I now regret my pledge not to migrate from my village”.
District Disaster Management officer Joshi said owners of the damaged houses have been given compensation as per norms. Relocation will be done in accordance with the rehabilitation policy and safe locations are being identified, he said. —PTI&nbsp;

Like subsidence-hit Joshimath, villagers of Paingadh village in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand have also been forced to leave their houses due to landslides and cracks appearing in their accommodations.

Paingadh Village Residents Forced To Leave Home, Take Shelter In Relief Camps

New Delhi: After hearing arguments that no untoward incidents have been reported in Manipur for the past two days, the Supreme Court on Monday ordered the Centre and the Manipur government to take the necessary steps to increase security and relief and rehabilitation efforts for those hit by ethnic violence in the north-eastern state.
A bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud called the aftermath of the violence "humanitarian issues" and highlighted the importance of making proper preparations in the relief camps and providing the people who have taken refuge there with necessities like food, rations, and medical services.
During his arguments before the bench, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was representing both the central government and the state government, stated that 52 companies of the central armed police force, as well as Army and Assam Rifles contingents, had been sent to the troubled districts.
He informed the three-justice panel—P S Narasimha, J B Pardiwala—that flag marches and peace gatherings have been organised in trouble spots.
The bench ordered that every possible effort be made to help individuals who had to leave their homes.
The highest court issued an order mandating proper measures be made to safeguard houses of worship.
As a result of the Meitei people's quest for Scheduled Tribe (ST) designation, more than 50 people have been killed in violent battles between the tribals of the Manipur hills and the majority Meitei community of the Imphal Valley.
The military has rescued over 23,000 individuals and taken them to safe havens like camps. The Supreme Court has urged the Centre and the state to provide updated progress reports on the Manipur violence cases by May 17.—Inputs from Agencies

After hearing arguments that no untoward incidents have been reported in Manipur for the past two days, the Supreme Court on Monday ordered the Centre and the Manipur government to take the necessary steps to increase security and relief and rehabilitation efforts for those hit by ethnic violence in the north-eastern state.

SC orders Centre, state to improve security, assistance, and rehabilitation of Manipur violence victims

New Delhi: At least 98 people lost their lives and 310 others were injured in the ethnic violence in Manipur that broke out a month ago, the government said in a statement on Friday.
A total of 37,450 people are in 272 relief camps at present, said the statement, issued by the Chief Minister's Office.
In all, 4,014 cases of arson have been reported since the violence broke out in the state on May 3, it said.
"The number of deaths is 98 and the number of injured reported is 310," it said.
Over the last one month, the state police has registered 3,734 cases and arrested 65 people for their involvement in the violence, the statement said. "Sporadic incidents of firing or torching of houses by miscreants are becoming rare now as coordinated effort is made by different security agencies," it said.
The Army, Assam Rifles, CAPFs and local police have been deployed in vulnerable places, it added. Till now, 84 companies of central armed forces have been deployed, the statement said. "More companies are being deployed. Flag march and area domination exercises are being carried out widely. Search operations will be conducted from today to recover snatched arms and ammunition," it said.
The government appealed to the people to surrender the snatched arms and ammunition.
"Stringent legal action will be taken against any person if caught with snatched arms and ammunition," it said. So far, 144 arms with 11 magazines have been recovered by the security agencies, said the statement. Meetings were being held with village heads and civil society organisations to resolve conflict and bring peace, it said, claiming that the situation is normal in most of the districts. Curfew has been relaxed for 12 hours in Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur and Pherzawl, for 11 hours in Kangpokpi, for 10 hours in Churachandpur and Chandel, for eight hours in Jiribam and Tenugopal, and for seven hours in Thoubal and Kakching districts, it said.
There is no curfew in Tamenglong, Noney, Senapati, Ukhrul and Kamjong, it added.
"Movement of essential items along the NH-37 has been ensured," the statement said, noting that around 450 trucks were on the move with essential items. An uneasy calm prevailed in Manipur a day after Home Minister Amit Shah left the state, concluding his four-day visit and announcing a slew of measures to bring back normalcy.
Clashes broke out on May 3 after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals Nagas and Kukis constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts.—PTI

At least 98 people lost their lives and 310 others were injured in the ethnic violence in Manipur that broke out a month ago

Manipur Violence: 98 Killed; 37,450 People In 272 Relief Camps

New Delhi (The Hawk): Smt. Droupadi Murmu, Hon'ble President virtually launched the visionary 'Ayushman Bhav' campaign as well as the Ayushman Bhava Portal, from Raj Bhawan Gandhinagar Gujarat, today. The President was joined by Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat, Governors of States, Union Ministers, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar, and Prof. SP Singh Baghel, Union Ministers of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Kanubhai Mohanlal Desai, Finance Minister, Gujarat, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, Dr. V K Paul, and state Health Ministers.  Addressing the nation, the Hon'ble President praised the multi-ministerial approach adopted by the Ayushman Bhav campaign to achieve the ambitious goal of delivering healthcare services to the last mile of India, citing that this will play a critical role in successful accomplishment of this endeavour. She further emphasized "This historic launch of the campaign and the portal marked a significant leap towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and ensuring healthcare for all as it strives to further consolidate the accessibility and affordability of healthcare services particularly for the underserved."  Underscoring the philosophy of "antyodaya" which means 'Good health for all and leave no one behind', Smt. Droupadi Murmu praised the involvement and support of local governance in this endeavor and stated that Gram Panchayats who successfully achieve their goals will be declared as Ayushman Gram Panchayats. Highlighting the role of Government and its commitment for achieving the set sustainable development goals in due time, she commended the initiative of Seva Pakwada (commencing from September 17th to October 2nd, 2023) which strives to ensure that every individual receives essential health services.  Hon'ble President applauded the goals of Ayushman Bhav to further facilitate access of Ayushman cards, generate ABHA IDs, and raise awareness about vital health schemes and disease conditions, such as non-communicable diseases, tuberculosis, and sickle cell disease. Adding further, she said the health services through the three components of Ayushman Bhav- Ayushman - Apke Dwar 3.0, Ayushman Melas at Health and Wellness Centres (HWC) and Community Health Clinics (CHC) and Ayushman Sabhas in every village and panchayat will substantially expedite the access of healthcare services at grassroot levels thereby ensuring building of a healthy nation. She also highlighted the praise that India has garnered in its digital inclusion of every village and district which significantly aid the reach of healthcare facilities. Speaking at the occasion, Dr. Mandaviya lauded the support of Hon. President in healthcare endeavors. Underlining the commitment of the government towards healthcare, he stated "With "Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas", Ayushman Bhav will emerge as a big initiative in the field of healthcare. This initiative is being implemented in line with the motto of "taking everyone together and leaving no one behind". He further added "With the Ayushman Bhav initiative, India is going to write a new chapter in making healthcare affordable and accessible. Under Ayushman Bhav, Health Melas and Medical Camps are an important component which will be set up once a week at all HWCs and CHCs." He further added "Besides the launch of Ayushman Bhav initiative, organ donation and blood donation pledge campaigns will also be organized which are noble initiatives that should be taken up by every individual." Recalling and reiterating the Prime Minister's vision of a healthy Bharat and a healthy world Dr Mandaviya stated "The Prime Minister has given the utmost importance to the service of humanity and nothing can be a better demonstration of this than his commitment to improving the healthcare services in the country. Earlier people had to travel long distances to avail super-specialty services. Under the Prime Minister's leadership, these super-specialty services now will be offered at the CHC level itself in which the public will be benefited by screening for non-communicable diseases, tele-consultation, free medicines and diagnostics etc." The Union Minister stated "Today, around 1 lakh Ni-kshay mitras are taking care of the 10 lakh TB patients who had given their consent for this initiative. This has taken us closer to the Hon'ble Prime Minister's goal of ending TB by 2025." He praised the significant impact of healthcare services stating "In the last 9 years, there has been a significant transformation in the healthcare landscape of the country which was also appreciated by the visiting dignitaries at the G20 summit. Today, there are over 1.6 lakh functional AB-HWCs in the country where people are availing free primary care facilities, diagnostics and medicines. Till now, we have achieved a footfall of over 195 crore in the AB-HWCs." Members of Parliament, Members of Legislative Assembly, senior officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare also attended the meeting. Over 50 lakh people were connected and viewed the launch event online.

Smt. Droupadi Murmu, Hon'ble President virtually launched the visionary 'Ayushman Bhav' campaign as well as the Ayushman Bhava Portal

Honourable President Of India, Droupadi Murmu Virtually Launches Ayushman Bhava Campaign 

Kolkata: Around nine lakh students, who are aspirants for secondary and higher secondary examination, do not have their Aadhaar cards, revealed a survey conducted by the state school education department.
The state government has admitted that due to the absence of Aadhaar cards such students are often denied the benefits of different welfare schemes of the state government.
However, the state government has decided to overcome this problem by setting up 275 temporary cap offices throughout the state for Aadhaar card enrollment.&nbsp;&nbsp;
“Attempts are on to set up one such registration camp in each block. The students will be able to get their names enrolled there without any kind of fees. Students at all levels starting from primary, upper primary, secondary and higher secondary levels will be able to get their names enrolled there. The process has started from Wednesday,” said an official of the state education department.
The facilities will be extended to students coming from both state- run and private schools.
State education department sources that there had been a lapse on part of the government in conducting necessary awareness campaign drives to make the students and their guardians aware of the necessity of having Aadhaar cards.
“There are several development schemes of the state government exclusively for the student community. For enrolment under such schemes Aadhaar is necessary. But anyway, better late than never. We hope that our initiative for Aadhaar enrollment through these block-level temporary registration camps will be a major success,” a state education department official said.
—IANS

Around nine lakh students, who are aspirants for secondary and higher secondary examination, do not have their Aadhaar cards

Nine lakh students in Bengal without Aadhaar cards

New Delhi [India]: Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with beneficiaries of Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra on Thursday. The Prime Minister enquired about their experiences, and how they benefited from various central government schemes.
PM Modi launched a program to increase the number of Jan Aushadi Kendras from 10,000 to 25,000 in the country. He directed the volunteers running Jan Aushadi kendras in villages to ensure that people receive the full benefits of the schemes. Making healthcare affordable and easily accessible has been the cornerstone of the Prime Minister's vision for a healthy India. The establishment of Jan Aushadhi Kendra to make medicines available at affordable prices is among the major initiatives in this direction. He also launched Pradhan Mantri Mahila Kisan Drone Kendra during the event. Speaking about the same to a beneficiary, the Prime Minister said that though many were sceptical about the Drone scheme, it proved to be empowering to women like many other women-oriented welfare programmes.  Under this programme, drones will be provided to women Self Help Groups (SHGs) so that this technology can be used by them for livelihood assistance. Women will also be provided the necessary training to fly and use drones. The initiative will encourage the use of technology in agriculture. The Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra was launched by the Prime Minister on November 15 from Khunti, Jharkhand. As a part of On-Spot services under the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, Health Camps are being organized at the places of halt of the IEC Van in the Gram Panchayats. As of 26 November 2023, 5,470 Health camps have been conducted in 995 Gram Panchayats reporting a total footfall of more than 7,82,000 people, according to a government release. Screening of patients for TB is being carried out for symptoms, sputum testing, and by using NAAT machines wherever available. Under Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (PMTBMA), consent is being taken for patients suffering from TB to receive assistance from Nikshay Mitras.  Both these initiatives of providing drones to women SHGs and increasing the number of Jan Aushadhi Kendras from 10,000 to 25,000 were announced by the Prime Minister during his Independence Day speech this year.
—ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with beneficiaries of Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra on Thursday.

PM Modi virtually interacts with beneficiaries of Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra

Chennai: A dozen people lost their lives in various rain-related incidents in and around the city while personnel on fishing boats and farm tractors were engaged in rescuing stranded people on Tuesday. The city and adjoining districts faced relentless rains on Monday as the severe cyclonic storm Michaung loomed over the north coastal areas of Tamil Nadu.
Eleven others, who sustained injuries in rain-related incidents, were receiving treatment in various hospitals, officials said.
Several District Disaster Response Teams (DDRT) were formed to carry out relief work in all rain-affected areas across the city.  In Muthialpet locality in the city’s outskirts, 54 families were rescued, and a woman who had just given birth was relocated to a safer place from Saligramam in the city.
More than 250 people from low-lying areas found refuge at a school camp in Kotturpuram. Additionally, 22 passengers stranded after their local bus got stuck in rainwater, were transferred to a relief camp set up at the Middle School in Pallavaram.  Since Tuesday morning, most parts of Chennai experienced a respite from rains, allowing officials to focus on rescue and relief operations in affected areas.  During a press conference at the Chennai Corporation headquarters on Tuesday morning, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin stated that relief measures were being undertaken on a war footing.  Stalin mentioned that across the nine affected districts, including Chennai, a total of 61,666 relief camps were established. Approximately 11 lakh food packets and one lakh milk packets have been distributed so far, he said.
The Chennai Corporation has brought in 5000 workers from other districts for flood mitigation works in the city. These workers utilised farm tractors and fishing boats in flooded areas such as Periamet and other parts of north Chennai for rescue operations and distributing relief materials.  Residents in areas like suburban Tambaram, Ashok Nagar, Kattupakkam, and Perungudi complained about the lack of power restoration despite the rain ceasing for several hours.  Mukesh Chordia, a resident of Ashok Nagar, mentioned that although water had receded from the main roads in the area, power supply had not been restored.  Press Trust of India (PTI) Chennai’s Deputy News Editor Annie Thomas residing in Koymabedu near the city’s main outstation bus terminus said, “Last time (2015), after three days of being stuck due to waterlogging, we waded out in thigh-level water and stayed in serviced apartment for a day, then at a friend’s place for two days.” Thomas added, “This time our apartment complex is once again surrounded by water. We are on the second floor. There is no power supply and I am conserving the charge on my phone as much as possible. I don’t know how long tap water supply will last.” Chief Minister M K Stalin informed reporters that the power situation was being restored in phases. He noted that the handling of the situation was far better compared to the 2015 floods when the AIADMK was in power.  Stalin pointed out that the 2015 floods were caused by an unplanned release of one lakh cusecs from the Chembarambakkam reservoir in the city’s outskirts into the Adyar river, leading to man-made floods. He said that the current situation, natural floods caused by torrential rains, was efficiently managed by the state.  He explained that during the current spell of rains, only a maximum of 8,000 cusecs of water was released into the Adyar and Cooum rivers from the Chembarambakkam reservoir in a planned manner.  Among the 12 people who lost their lives in rain-related incidents were a 60-year-old woman in Foreshore Estate and a 48-year-old man who worked as a head constable at the Integral Coach Factory police station, according to an official release.  Further detailing the DDRT’s measures, the official release mentioned the rescue of three individuals trapped when a makeshift generator room collapsed due to heavy rains. Additionally, three members of a family were safely evacuated after their house was submerged in water in Adyar.  The release also noted the closure of nearly 16 subways due to inundation and the removal of fallen trees at 60 locations. Meanwhile, Minister for Milk and Dairy Development T Mano Thangaraj stated that the production of five lakh milk units at the Ambattur dairy of Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation Ltd, popularly known as ‘AAVIN,’ was affected as the factory was completely submerged due to rainfall. Thangaraj added that the AAVIN diaries in Sholinganallur and Madhavaram were operating at full capacity, supplying milk to Chennai from factories located in other districts. He assured, “A sufficient amount of milk and milk products are available,” while urging retail outlets to cooperate in distributing milk to consumers.
—PTI

A dozen people lost their lives in various rain-related incidents in and around the city while personnel on fishing boats and farm tractors were engaged

Death toll rises to 12; Boats and tractors used in rescue efforts in rain-hit Chennai

New Delhi (The Hawk): The Vikasit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 15 from Khunti, Jharkhand, has emerged as a transformative expedition fostering connections with citizens nationwide. As of December 7, 2023, the Yatra has reached over 36,000 Gram Panchayats and witnessed participation of over 1 crore citizens, as per the data captured on the customized portal developed by MEITY. India’s most populous state Uttar Pradesh leads with over 37 lakh people participating, followed by Maharashtra 12.07 lakhs and Gujarat 11.58 lakhs. The Yatra has received encouraging reception in Jammu &amp; Kashmir as well, with over 9 lakh people participating till date. The people’s participation has gathered further momentum with each passing day. While the first week of the Sankalp Yatra saw participation of 500,000 citizens, over 77 lakh people across the country, participated in the Yatra during the last 10 days. Within a short span, the urban segment of the Yatra has reached over 700 locations and total of 79 lakh individuals have taken the Pledge to strive to make India a developed nation by 2047. In an unprecedented outreach effort, the Yatra strives to cover over 2.60 Gram Panchayats and 3600+ urban local bodies using Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) vans that call upon people to utilise government schemes for their benefit. A focal point of the Yatra has been raising awareness about women-centric schemes, leading to over 46,000 beneficiaries enrolling for the PM Ujjwala scheme. Health Camps have also proved to be a big draw and till date 22 lakh individuals have been screened. Drone demonstration for farmers showcased as part of the Vikasit Bharat Sankalp Yatra hasattracted great curiosity. With the launch of ‘Drone Didi Scheme’ under which 15,000 Women’s Self Help Groups will be provided with Drones, along with necessary training for two members of the women, a large number of women are also coming forward to witness the drone flights. The SHGs shall rent out the drone services for a fee, which will serve as another stream of revenue for the Self Help Group members.

The Vikasit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 15 from Khunti, Jharkhand

Vikasit Bharat Sankalp Yatra Surpasses 1 Crore Participants

New Delhi [India]: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flagged off the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram, the five states where assembly elections were held recently. The yatra started in other states earlier, and its launch in the five states were delayed due to the model code of conduct in place due to the elections.
After flagging off the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra in the 5 states, PM Modi said, "For the resolution of developed India, our cities have a huge role. For a long time after independence, development was limited to a few big cities. But today, we are focusing on the development of Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities." "Under the Amirt Mission or SMART City Mission, basic facilities are being improved in the small cities. We are trying to ensure that facilities like water supply, drainage, sewage systems, traffic systems, CCTV networks, etc. are upgraded constantly," he said. "Cleanliness, public toilets, and LED street lights are also being worked upon for the first time on this level. This has a direct impact on ease of living and ease of doing business," added the PM.

<div style="text-align:left;"><img src="https://thehawk.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/pm1.webp" alt="Prime Minister Narendra Modi flags off Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra in 5 states" style="height: auto;width: auto"/></div>

Talking about the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra further, the Prime Minister said, "With the vision of a developed India, Modi's guaranteed vehicle is reaching every corner of the country. It's been a month since we started this journey. In just one month, this journey has reached thousands of villages as well as 1,500 cities." The yatra has been flagged off in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram, also beginning today. The launch of VBSY got delayed due to the model code of conduct in place due to the elections. "I request every state government to expand the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra rapidly in their respective states. Even though Modi has flagged off the yatra, the truth is that the countrymen have taken command of that journey all by themselves," said the PM. Earlier, during the virtual interaction with the beneficiaries of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said, "It was PM Modi's concern that no one should be left behind. Many people do 'yatra'. Some for physical benefits and some for personal gains, but this 'yatra' is such that it is for the benefit of the 140 crore people of the country." Interacting with the beneficiaries of the 'Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra', PM Modi inquired about their experiences, discussed what schemes benefitted them and also asked if they faced any hurdles while receiving the benefits of the central government's schemes. The Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra was launched by the Prime Minister on November 15 in Khunti, Jharkhand. As a part of on-the-spot services under the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, health camps are being organised at the places of the halt of the IEC Van in the Gram Panchayats. The Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra is a nationwide initiative to inform and empower citizens about government schemes. It is being undertaken across the country to attain the saturation of flagship schemes of the government by ensuring that the benefits of these schemes reach all targeted beneficiaries in a time-bound manner. As of November 26, 5,470 Health camps have been conducted in 995 Gram Panchayats, reporting a total footfall of more than 7,82,000 people, according to a government release.
—ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flagged off the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana

PM Modi flags off Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra in 5 states

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday paid tributes to the 40 CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) personnel who lost their lives in the Pulwama terror attack in 2019. "Humble tributes to the bravehearts of the Pulwama terrorist attack. The country will always be indebted to them for their supreme sacrifice dedicated to the defence of India," Rahul Gandhi posted on X.&nbsp;
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also took to his social media handle and posted on X, "We pay our sincere tributes and salutations to the indomitable courage and valour of the Pulwama bravehearts. The nation shall forever be indebted to their supreme sacrifice. Lest We Forget." Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid homage to the CRPF personnel who lost their lives in the 2019 Pulwama terror attack.
The Prime Minister posted on X, "I pay homage to the brave heroes who were martyred in Pulwama. Their service and sacrifice for our nation will always be remembered. February 14, 2019 marks five years since the Pulwama terror attack, when 40 valiant Indian soldiers were killed after a suicide bomber rammed an IED-laden vehicle into the security convoy carrying them. Days after the attack, the Indian Air Force carried out multiple aerial strikes on February 26, 2019, at JeM terror camps in Pakistan's Balakot, killing a "large number" of terrorists and destroying their infrastructure. The air strike was launched in the early hours of February 26 and Pakistan's efforts to launch an offensive the next day to target Indian military installations in Jammu and Kashmir were thwarted by an alert IAF. In the dogfight, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, flying a MiG-21 Bison fighter plane and chasing Pakistani jets, crossed over to PoK, where his aircraft was shot down. He was taken into custody by Pakistan. India also shot down a Pakistani fighter jet.
—ANI

Rahul Gandhi and PM Modi pay homage to Pulwama martyrs. Five years since the attack, India remembers the sacrifice.

Rahul Gandhi pays homage to CRPF bravehearts on Pulwama attack anniversary

Moscow: The hundreds of flowers and candles laid in Moscow on Friday to honour the memory of Alexei Navalny, Russia's most prominent opposition leader, were mostly taken away overnight in black bags.
Russia's prison service said that Navalny, 47, fell unconscious and died on Friday after a walk at the "Polar Wolf" Arctic penal colony.  Several dozen roses and carnations remained in the softening snow on Saturday at the monument to the victims of Soviet repression, which sits in the shadow of the former KGB headquarters on Lubyanka Square in central Moscow.  Vladimir Nikitin, 36, was alone laying a carnation at the Solovetsky Stone, which hails from the islands with the same name in the White Sea where one of the first "Gulag" forced labour camps was founded in 1923 by the Bolsheviks.  Policemen looked on.
When asked for an interview by Reuters, Nikitin asked to speak in the underpass which threads beneath Lubyanka Square, citing the fear of detention.  "Navalny's death is terrible: hopes have been smashed," Nikitin said.  "Navalny was a very serious man, a brave man and now he is no longer with us. He spoke the truth - and that was very dangerous because some people didn't like the truth."  The West, including US President Joe Biden, blamed President Vladimir Putin for the death.  Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the reaction of Western leaders to the death was unacceptable and "absolutely rabid".
 Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/joe-biden-says-'putin-and-his-thugs'-caused-navalny's-death" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/joe-biden-says-'putin-and-his-thugs'-caused-navalny's-death</a>&nbsp;
 Russian authorities viewed Navalny and his supporters as extremists with links to the CIA intelligence agency who are seeking to destabilise Russia. They have outlawed his movement, forcing many of his followers to flee abroad.  The death of Navalny, a former lawyer, robs the disparate Russian opposition of its most charismatic and courageous leader as Putin prepares for an election that will keep the former KGB spy in power until at least 2030.  DEATH IN PRISON  The OVD-Info protest-monitoring group said more than 110 people had been arrested across Russia at meetings and memorials to Navalny, including 64 in Russia's former imperial capital, St Petersburg.
Navalny rose to prominence more than a decade ago by documenting and poking fun at about what he said was the vast corruption and opulence of the "crooks and thieves" running Putin's Russia.  At the time of his death he was serving prison sentences totalling more than 30 years on a host of charges of extremism and fraud, which he denied and said were politically motivated.  Navalny's supporters - including in the West - cast him as a Russian version of South Africa's Nelson Mandela, who would one day walk free to lead the country. His spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, said there was "almost no hope" that he was alive.  His wife, Yulia, told the Munich Security Conference that Putin bore responsibility for her husband's death and that the world should come together to defeat the "horrific regime" in Moscow and reclaim Russia.  Some Russians, though, dismissed such a view as a classic case of wishful thinking, and pointed to an opinion poll showing that most Russians disapproved of him and that Putin was vastly more popular.  "Navalny's death is very beneficial to Putin's opponents," said Sergei Markov, a former Kremlin adviser.  "They will use it to undermine the legitimacy of the presidential election in Russia, use it to not recognise Putin as the legitimate president. They are trying to present Putin not as the president of a hostile country, but as a criminal with whom no one should have to deal."
News of Navalny's death came just hours before Ukraine withdrew from the south of the city of Avdiivka, paving the way for Russia's biggest advance in the country since May 2023.  WEST 'NOT OUR FRIEND'  At "Patriki", or Patriarch's Ponds, the centre of Moscow nightlife, many young Russians revelled away Friday night just hours after news of Navalny's death. There was no sign of sadness.  "It is sad of course when anybody dies," Olga Kazakova, a Russian, told Reuters in central Moscow on Saturday.  "But you in the West paint him as someone he was not. The West is not our friend - you are fighting against us in Ukraine."  On the bridge beside the Kremlin where opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was shot dead on February 27, 2015, flowers were also removed overnight. A makeshift vase of white and red carnations remained with a small printed piece of paper.  "Boris Nemtsov was shot in the back and murdered here," the note said.  Policemen looked on as children made their way through the snow piled up in the shadow of Saint Basil's Cathedral.
—Reuters

Moscow mourns Navalny's death as West blames Putin. Protests erupt, arrests reported. Navalny's wife holds Putin responsible amid skepticism.

Navalny's death leaves despair and apathy in Moscow

Jalpaiguri (West Bengal): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday asserted that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is linked with the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and that is the reason why she is opposing the new legislation.
The TMC supremo said she doesn't want detention camps in West Bengal, like those in Assam.  "CAA is related to NRC, that is why we are opposing it. We don't want detention camps like those in Assam," she said.  Banerjee also claimed that the CAA is a 'political gimmick' ahead of Lok Sabha polls.  With the CAA rules being issued, the central government will now start granting Indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslim migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, who came to India till December 31, 2014. These include Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians.
Hitting out at her brother Babun Banerjee for speaking out against the TMC's selection of candidates, Banerjee said she has decided to renounce all relationships with him.  "My family and I renounce all relationships with him. I don't like greedy people. I have heard what he has said. He is in touch with the BJP and can do whatever he wants to. Please don't relate me with him," Banerjee added.
—PTI

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee opposes CAA-NRC, citing no to detention camps like Assam and calls it a political gimmick before Lok Sabha polls.

The Hawk

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