New Delhi (The Hawk): The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the ‘Peace, Unity and Development Rally’ at Diphu in Karbi Anglong District today. During the programme, he also laid the foundation stone of various projects. The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of Veterinary College (Diphu), Degree College (West Karbi Anglong) and Agricultural College (Kolonga, West Karbi Anglong). These projects, worth more than Rs 500 crore, will bring new opportunities for skilling and employment in the region. The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for more than 2950 Amrit Sarovar projects. The state will develop these Amrit Sarovars at a cumulative cost of around Rs 1150 crore. Governor of Assam, Shri Jagdish Mukhi and Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma were among those present. Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister thanked the people of Karbi Anglong for their warm welcome. He noted the coincidence of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and 400th Anniversary of the great son of Assam Lachit Borphukan falling in the same time period. “Lachit Borphukan’s life is an inspiration of patriotism and Rashtra Shakti. I salute this great hero of the country from Karbi Anglong”, the Prime Minister said.The Prime Minister said that the ‘double engine’ government is working with the spirit of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas. “Today this resolve has been reinforced on this land of Karbi Anglong. The work of carrying out the agreement which was signed for the permanent peace and rapid development of Assam is going on at a brisk pace”, he said. Prime Minister Modi noted that today the work of construction of more than 2600 Sarovars is starting. This project, he emphasized, is completely based on people’s participation. He acknowledged the rich traditions of such sarovars in the tribal communities. He expressed the hope that that these ponds will not only become the water storage for villages but will also become a source of income.The Prime Minister underlined the fact that since 2014, the difficulties in the North East are reducing and development is taken place. “Today, when someone comes to the tribal areas of Assam or goes to other states of the North East, he also appreciates the situation changing”, he said. The Prime Minister recalled last year’s inclusion of many organization from Karbi Anglong in the peace and development process. Bodo Accord in 2020 also opened doors for permanent peace. Similarly, said the Prime Minister, in Tripura too, NIFT have taken step towards peace. Two and half decade old Bru-Reang was also solved, the Prime Minister added. The Prime Minister also said that for a long time, Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) had been imposed on many states of the Northeast. “However, during the last 8 years, we have removed AFSPA from many areas of North East due to the arrival of permanent peace and better law and order conditions”, the Prime Minister said. The Prime Minister said that solution for border problems is being sought in the spirit of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas. “The agreement reached between Assam and Meghalaya will encourage other matters as well. This will give impetus to the development aspirations of the entire region”, the Prime Minister emphasized.Talking about the rich cultural heritage of the tribal communities, the Prime Minister said “The culture of tribal society, its language, food, art, handicrafts, all these are the rich heritage of India. Assam is even more prosperous in this respect. This cultural heritage connects India, strengthens the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.”Prime Minister Modi said that in the Amrit Kaal of Azadi, Karbi Anglong is also moving towards a new future of peace and development. Now from here we don't have to look back. In the coming few years, together we have to make up for the development, which we could not achieve in the earlier decades, he added. The Prime Minister appreciated Assam and other state governments of the region for implementing centre’s schemes with a sense of service and dedication. He thanked the women for coming out in such large numbers and reiterated his continued focus on the upliftment of status, ease of life and dignity of women in all the measures of the government.The Prime Minister concluded by assuring the people of Assam that he will repay their love and affection with interest and rededicated himself for the continued development of the region.Prime Minister’s unwavering commitment towards peace and development of the region was exemplified with the recent signing of Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) by Government of India and Government of Assam with six Karbi militant outfits. The Memorandum of Settlement has ushered in a new era of peace in the region.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the ‘Peace, Unity and Development Rally’ at Diphu in Karbi Anglong District today. During the programme, he also laid the foundation stone of various projects. The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of Veterinary College (Diphu), Degree College (West Karbi Anglong) and Agricultural College (Kolonga, West Karbi Anglong). These projects, worth more than Rs 500 crore, will bring new opportunities for skilling and employment in the region.

PM Addresses ‘Peace, Unity & Dev Rally’ At Diphu, Assam

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the ‘Peace, Unity and Development Rally’ at Diphu in Karbi Anglong District today. During the programme, he also laid the foundation stone of various projects. The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of Veterinary College (Diphu), Degree College (West Karbi Anglong) and Agricultural College (Kolonga, West Karbi Anglong). These projects, worth more than Rs 500 crore, will bring new opportunities for skilling and employment in the region.




Kochi: A week after he was arrested and released on bail for making controversial remarks against the Muslim community, another case was registered against senior politician P C George by the police on Tuesday, on charges of hate speech.Palarivattom police here booked the former MLA over his objectionable remarks during a speech, which he delivered in connection with a temple festival at Vennala here on May 8.The case was registered under IPC 153 (promoting enmity between different groups) and 295 A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), a police officer said."The further proceedings in the case will be finalised after examining the details and bail conditions regarding the earlier case registered at Thiruvananthapuram," he told PTI.Seventy year-old George, who was the chief whip while Congress-led UDF was in power, had sparked off a controversy by asking non-Muslims in Kerala to avoid restaurants run by the community.Addressing a programme organised as part of the Ananthapuri Hindu Maha Sammelan here late last month, the former Kerala Congress leader had alleged that tea laced with "drops causing impotence" were sold in Muslim-run restaurants to turn people "infertile" in a bid to "seize control" of the country.As the remarks triggered a widespread political controversy, a case was registered and he was arrested on May 1.However, within a few hours of his arrest, George secured bail from a Magisterial court. George, who represented the Poonjar constituency in the state Assembly for 33 years, had lost his bastion to the Left Democratic Front candidate in the 2021 Assembly polls in a triangular fight.—PTI

A week after he was arrested and released on bail for making controversial remarks against the Muslim community, another case was registered against senior politician P C George by the police on Tuesday, on charges of hate speech.

P C George booked again for hate speech

New Delhi: India on Sunday called upon Pakistan to take strict action against those responsible for the brutal killing of Sikh traders in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Two Sikh shopkeepers were gunned down by unidentified assailants in the Bata Tal bazaar in Peshawar. Media reports said the assailants escaped after the target killing. "We have seen the reports on the brutal killing of two Sikh traders by unidentified armed men in Peshawar. Sadly, this is not the first such case or a rare occurrence," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in response to a media query.According to MEA, grave concerns have been expressed by various quarters of the Indian civil society and the Sikh community at this shocking and deplorable incident. "We have registered our strong protest with the Government of Pakistan on the continued targeting of members of the minority community in Pakistan. We call upon the authorities concerned to sincerely investigate the matter and take strict action against those responsible for this deplorable incident," the statement added. The MEA said that India expects the Pakistan government to look after the safety, security and well-being of its minority communities. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif "condemned" the killing of two Sikh shopkeepers in Peshawar and ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident.Condemning the murder of Sikh men, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) demanded that the police should identify and arrest the perpetrators promptly. "The government must make it clear that violence against religious minorities will not be tolerated," the HRCP added. Hundreds of people die in target killings, military operations and various other incidents of high-degree violence. Those killed include women and members of religious minorities, politicians, security personnel and militants. Intolerance towards minorities by the state and society has been called a cause of concern by the HRCP.—ANI

India on Sunday called upon Pakistan to take strict action against those responsible for the brutal killing of Sikh traders in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

India registers protest over 'brutal killing' of Sikh traders in Pakistan

New Delhi (The Hawk): Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal today asked Indian industry to procure locally wherever there is an opportunity so that domestic supply chains are fortified and become more resilient and the tendency to place excessive dependence on international supply chains is curbed.&nbsp;He was addressing the&nbsp;“Breakfast session Discussion on Trade 4.0” in Davos, Switzerland today.Observing that the India story had been receiving a lot of enthusiasm across the world, the Minister said that in spite of constraints like Covid 19, chip shortages, conflict, rising commodity prices, container&nbsp;shortages and significant shipping and logistics issues that it has been facing in the last two years, which caused massive&nbsp;supply chain&nbsp;disruptions&nbsp;that threw the global economy off balance, Indian businesses had displayed great resilience, overshooting export targets and achieving USD 421.8 billion worth of exports.Quoting the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, Shri Goyal said that India amongst all these problems is an oasis which reflects transparency, offers trust and timeliness and added that the nation had responded to every crisis in a timely manner. This responsiveness, he said, is a manifestation of the resilience that Indian businesses have to offer and the resilience and confidence of political leadership. Speaking of the need for working together towards a shared vision, Shri Goyal expressed confidence that India could achieve a target of USD 1 Trillion worth of merchandise and services export each by 2030 if we worked as a team.Noting that in the last 8 years, the government had focussed extensively on structural reforms the Minister said that each one of those movements has been holding India in good stead during times of crisis. The Minister said that Digital India had helped India work during pandemic-induced lockdowns. He added that Missions such as Swacch Bharat, Jan Dhan-Adhaar-Mobile trinity, financial inclusion, Ayushman Bharat, vaccination programs etc. had helped prepare India for the next level of growth and engagement with the world. He underscored that the world could look at India as a reliable alternative to the status quo and invited manufacturing, investment and technology to come to IndiaHe stressed that India had taken a series of strict measures to tame inflation, keep interest rates in check and rein-in rupee depreciation so that growth and prosperity are not affected. He urged Indian industry to look at boosting value added exports and ensure that new jobs came into India instead of raw materials going out of India. Highlighting the serious efforts being made in that direction, the Minister said that the government was striving to ensure orderly behaviour of prices and ensure that businesses add value and jobs.Stressing upon government’s bid to bring down logistics cost through measures such as PM GatiShakti, the Minister said that the National Master Plan would help improve infrastructure planning and ensure implementation of projects within time and budget.Assuring that the government would wholeheartedly support businesses, the Minister urged industry to bring scale into all economic activities. Expressing concern over the excessive dependence on international supply chains, Shri Goyal urged businesses to procure locally wherever there is an opportunity. He asked businesses to support each other and help fortify domestic supply chains.Referring to Trade Agreements recently inked with UAE and Australia, the Minister said that these agreements were opening new frontiers in international trade. He added that agreements with Canada, EU, UK, Israel and GCC were in the pipeline. The Minister said that the world had great confidence in India and wanted to engage with it enthusiastically.Touching upon the immense potential that the tourism sector held, the Minister asked for more players to come into the tourism sector. He added that trade, tourism and technology, the three headline items that all Indian Missions across the world have been asked to promote, had to take off so that India is recognized as a quality supplier of goods and services.He also assured that every Indian mission had been tasked with supporting Indian industry and pitching for our businesses. Every Mission, every office, every official is now ready to stand for Indian businesses and that is what will spearhead trade 4.0, he added. The Minister remarked that the&nbsp;government was on a&nbsp;mission to rewrite&nbsp;the script of a New India that is ready to play the leading role in global trade and asked investors to come&nbsp;invest in India, in its ideas,&nbsp;talent and limitless potential.&nbsp;India is the future, the Minister said.

Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal today asked Indian industry to procure locally wherever there is an opportunity so that domestic supply chains are fortified and become more resilient and the tendency to place excessive dependence on international supply chains is curbed. He was addressing the “Breakfast session Discussion on Trade 4.0” in Davos, Switzerland today.

Piyush asks Indian Industry to procure Locally wherever there is an Opportunity

Kabul: &nbsp;A blast tore through a mosque in Afghanistan's capital on Wednesday evening, killing at least five people, authorities and hospitals said, the same day deadly explosions hit passenger vehicles in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif.A spokesman for the capital's commander said at least two people were injured in the blast on a mosque in Kabul. Emergency Hospital said in a tweet that it had received five bodies from the blast and more than a dozen wounded patients. A Taliban official who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak with media said explosives had been placed inside the mosque's pulpit and at least 11 people were dead.Three blasts in northern Balkh province killed at least nine and injured 15, Mohammad Asif Wazeri, a spokesman for Balkh province's commander told Reuters, adding the attacks targeted members of Shi'ia community, who are a religious minority in Afghanistan. It was not immediately clear who was behind the attacks.Growing violence in recent months has caused security challenges for the Taliban who took over the country in August as foreign forces withdrew. The Islamic State has claimed several attacks, often targeting the Shi'ia minority.—REUTERS

A blast tore through a mosque in Afghanistan's capital on Wednesday evening, killing at least five people, authorities and hospitals said, the same day deadly explosions hit passenger vehicles in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif.

Blast tears through Kabul mosque, killing at least 5

Srinagar: A group of Kashmiri Pandits staged a demonstration in Jammu on Wednesday in support of the demand for the relocation of the community members employed in Kashmir under the prime minister's package, who are on protest following the killing of their colleague, Rahul Bhat, by terrorists earlier this month. The protesters assembled under the banner of the newly-formed Kashmiri Pandits United Front in front of the statue of Maharaja Hari Singh, near the Tawi bridge in the heart of Jammu, raising slogans against the Jammu and Kashmir administration and demanding security to the community members serving in the valley under the prime minister's package. "We have come here (Jammu) to support the protesting prime minister's package employees who are demanding their relocation till the situation improves in the valley," KPUF convenor Satish Kissu, a retired government officer, said.He said the demand of the Pandit employees is genuine, keeping in mind the killing of Bhat, who was shot dead inside his office in broad daylight in the Chadoora area of central Kashmir's Budgam district on May 12.Condemning targeted killings by terrorists, Kissu said the security situation in the valley is not conducive, as is evident from the latest killing of a policeman and injuries to his minor daughter outside their house in Srinagar on Tuesday.Amid anti-Pakistan and pro-India sloganeering, the protesters accused the government of holding the prime minister's package employees hostage in the valley."Bhat's killing was the result of the administration's failure. He was killed because of a security lapse as his killers walked into his office and fled the scene without facing any resistance after killing him. The incident has sparked panic among the community," KPUF spokesperson Kuldeep Pandita said.He alleged that successive governments used the Kashmiri Pandits as "scapegoats" and said, "We are not ready to tolerate atrocities against our community anymore and will continue our protest to ensure the relocation of the prime minister's package employees."—PTI

A group of Kashmiri Pandits staged a demonstration in Jammu on Wednesday in support of the demand for the relocation of the community members employed in Kashmir under the prime minister's package, who are on protest following the killing of their colleague, Rahul Bhat, by terrorists earlier this month.

Kashmiri Pandits protest in Jammu, step up 'shift out of Kashmir' demand

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday laid the foundation stone for the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram temple, which he called India's victory against invaders and a symbol of the country's unity.The construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August 2020, after a landmark verdict by the Supreme Court that settled the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute.Wednesday's "shila pujan" marked the beginning of the next phase of construction -- that of the main temple -- now that a base for it has already been built. This part of the temple is expected to be built and open to people a few months ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election.Adityanath laid the stone amid the chanting of mantras in the presence of Ram temple trust officials and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya."This is India's victory against the invaders," he said at the event, calling it a great moment of pride for every Indian.The Babri mosque was demolished in 1992 by right-wing kar sevaks, claiming that a temple marking Lord Ram's birthplace once stood there but was razed on the orders of Babar who founded the Mughal empire in India."This temple will be a symbol of people's belief. It will be a temple of the nation (rashtriya mandir),” Adityanath said."The 500-year old suffering (tadpan) suffered by the devotees is going to end,” he said, calling it a ”very special day” in the construction of the Ram temple.The chief minister said India's faith was attacked by invaders. ”Now, in the end, India has won." "Once again the slogan of Satyameva Jayate (truth alone triumphs) has proved its significance," he said. The "victory" has been achieved through the path of "Dharma, Truth and Justice", he added.”The struggle of seers and leaders like (Vishva Hindu Parishad's) Ashok Singhal and the efforts of lakhs of workers associated with the Rashtriya Swayamseak Sangh seem to have taken shape today. The day gives new inspiration that if we always move on the path of righteousness, truth and justice, nobody can stop us from winning."Yogi said the construction will now proceed at a fast pace.”The day is not far when the temple of Maryada Purushottam Lord Ram will be built in Ayodhya and will become a symbol of faith of all Sanatan devotees in the country and the world. The Ram Janambhoomi temple will be the symbol of India's unity," the CM said.Earlier, Deputy CM Maurya said the first phase of the Ram temple construction is complete and the second phase begins now. He called it a day of great happiness for Ram devotees.Temples and 'maths' in the holy town were decorated with flowers and lights to mark the day.Acharya Satyendra Das, the temple's chief priest, said there was enthusiasm all over the country over this moment."Since the construction work of the temple started, it has been the hope of the devotees to be able to see the grand temple. Now, they can see the grand construction of the temple in a few days,” he said. —PTI

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday laid the foundation stone for the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram temple, which he called India's victory against invaders and a symbol of the country's unity.

'Victory Over Invaders': Yogi At Ram Temple Sanctum

New Delhi (The Hawk): On occasion of the 8th International Day of Yoga (IDY), Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will lead the Yoga Day observation from Mysuru Palace, Mysuru, Karnataka. Hon. PM’s address will be live streamed on DD National and other DD Channels from 6:40 am to 7:00 am. A Digital Yoga Exhibition at Mysuru will be organised to showcase highlights and achievements of all previous editions of International Day of Yoga. The exhibition will also include strength of Yoga, best practice, research highlights, Common Yoga Protocol etc.&nbsp;In the spirit of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav as the country celebrates 75th year of independence, 75 iconic sites have been selected for observation of 8th edition of IDY. Statue of Unity at Kevadia, Gujarat is one of them. Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Health Minister will lead the yoga celebrations from the Statue of Unity, Kevadia, Gujarat on 21st June 2022. The International Day of Yoga (IDY) is celebrated on 21st June every year worldwide. This year, the 8th edition of IDY will be organised in India and across the globe on the theme of ‘Yoga for Humanity’ which was announced by Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi in his Mann Ki Baat address and will focus on ‘Brand India at Global Stage’ while showcasing its iconic places. The IDY observation is based on a harmonious mass yoga demonstration of a custom made 45-minute protocol namely, Common Yoga Protocol (CYP).This year, the major attraction of the IDY observation will be the ‘Guardian Ring’, whereby the yoga celebrations happening across the world will be relayed throughout the Yoga Day. “The Guardian Ring” underlines “One Sun, One earth” concept and showcases the unifying power of Yoga. The activity will string together the feed from different Missions abroad which will be live telecast on DD India.Urging all to join in and reap the benefits of Yoga, Prime Minister has shared a series of tweets. In one of his tweets, he said that, in the past few years,Yoga has become quite popular globally. People from all walks of life and professions have incorporated it into their daily routine as Yoga has helped them develop a healthy lifestyle, he noted.Promoting the healthy habit of practicing Yoga regularly, the Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, in a tweet, stated that in order to avoid illness and receive happiness, it is very important to focus on wellness for which everyone should make yoga a part of their lives.The first International Day of Yoga was celebrated on 21st June 2015. The key purpose behind the United Nations recognising the 21st of June as the IDY was to underline the potential of Yoga in public health globally. The IDY resolution of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in December 2014 came at the initiative of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and was passed by unanimous consent. Since 2015, the IDY has evolved into a mass movement for health, around the world.

On occasion of the 8th International Day of Yoga (IDY), Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will lead the Yoga Day observation from Mysuru Palace, Mysuru, Karnataka. Hon. PM’s address will be live streamed on DD National and other DD Channels from 6:40 am to 7:00 am. A Digital Yoga Exhibition at Mysuru will be organised to showcase highlights and achievements of all previous editions of International Day of Yoga. 

Dr Mandaviya To Lead IDY Celebrations On June 21 From The Statue Of Unity  

Gandhinagar: Congress leaders in Gujarat on Wednesday urged the members of the Muslim community to support the party in the upcoming state polls in order to defeat the "devious" agenda of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.&nbsp;They also urged the minority community not to get carried away by the propaganda of the new entrants in the fray -- All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen and the Aam Aadmi Party, which they termed as the BJP's "B and C teams", saying that doing so would divide its votes and ultimately help the ruling party.They were speaking at a function to felicitate Kadir Pirzada, the newly-appointed working president of the party's Gujarat unit, and other leaders.Assembly elections in the BJP-ruled Gujarat are due by the end of this year.Speaking on the occasion, state Congress president Jagdish Thakor urged Muslim leaders, including Pirzada, to frame a time-bound programme targeting 60 assembly seats with sizable Muslim population.He also called for an election manifesto for the minority communities."All of us know who are behind the communal riots happening in the country, and how they benefit from it. We know and still fall prey to it. We should stay cautious about not falling into the trap," he said.Thakor said the Congress has always stayed with the minorities and never changed its ideology, irrespective of whether it occupies power or not."A Congress prime minister used to say with confidence that minorities have the first right on the country's treasury. Congress knows how much saying so has hurt the party, but it will still not compromise on its ideology," Thakor said, addressing the function organised by the party's state minority department.Remembering late Congress leader Ahmed Patel on the occasion, party veteran Arjun Modhwadia said that as the head of the family, Patel kept the party leaders united."But when he is not with us, it is our responsibility to remain united," he said.He also cautioned the Muslim voters to stay united and not to get swayed by the two parties that have entered the fray "to divide votes"."The two parties have come once again, and we are all concerned. It is because we are ourselves not confident of our unity. But we should defeat these A and B teams," he said."We have to ensure that our complaints with each other are resolved and in 2022 (election), the A team does not return to power with the help of B and C teams," he said.Jignesh Mevani, who has also been appointed as a working president of Gujarat Congress, remembered arrested social activist Teesta Setalvad and her struggle "for justice to the Muslims of Gujarat."He said he always stood with the minorities and struggled for them. Mevani said the 2002 Assembly election is crucial for the future of the country, and will have implications on the country's Constitution.During his address, Pirzada demanded representation for the community, and claimed that the Congress formed the government with the help of the Muslim votes."If a community with 3-4 per cent population demands its representation, then why should we, being 1 crore in the population of 6.5 crore, not demand our representation?" he asked."The community is at times at a loss as to who it should talk to. On the one hand, we have no government, while on the other there is no representation. You ran after Hardik (Patel, the former Congress leader who joined BJP), and forgot that these (Muslims) are the people who formed the Congress government," he said.The party leaders urged the Muslim community to step out in large number to cast their votes during the assembly polls.—PTI

Congress leaders in Gujarat on Wednesday urged the members of the Muslim community to support the party in the upcoming state polls in order to defeat the "devious" agenda of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. 

Cong urges Muslim community to back it in Guj polls

New Delhi: Nitish could emerge as the pointsman in the opposition unity if a non-Gandhi is propped up for a joint opposition. The Bihar coup is directly linked with Nitish Kumar’s smartly crafted national ambition without mentioning it from his side, but letting speculation around.&nbsp;
Bihar has 40 Lok Sabha MPs and the joint opposition could get a majority of seats which may also impact the Uttar Pradesh politics. Nitish is a prominent OBC Kurmi, and the community can impact the BJP prospects as they have been key to BJP’s success in Uttar Pradesh. If a Kurmi OBC is propped up then with Yadavas a joint force could be formed to take on the BJP with the help of minorities.&nbsp;
Though the NDA won majorly from Bihar during the Lok Sabha polls in Bihar in 2019, Nitish Kumar’s withering away from the BJP could impact the new political formation.
While Kumar may be silently working for a bigger leap to the Centre, there are others also in the race. Sharad Pawar is one among them. However, the happenings in Maharashtra where his idea of MVA fell out of power, has affected his political pace.
The Congress leaders do not want to comment on the 2024 situation. But they insist that any formulation will be led by the Congress, which is the biggest block in terms of numbers in the Lower House, and the Congress will lead any coalition that will be like the UPA.
Mamata Banerjee too is a contender for the space, but the BJP is trying hard to limit her to West Bengal only, which could hamper her game. She does not have a mass appeal in the Hindi heartland and does not belong to OBC either.
Any division in OBC only can stop BJP in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which has a combined strength of 120 MPs, and the BJP is quite strong in the region.
Political analysts say that arithmetically it may seem to be good, but the ‘Hindu’ politics is tilted towards the BJP.
The BJP, despite stiff opposition, got a sizeable number of OBC votes and saying that the OBC will shift towards the opposition is very early to predict, say analysts.
Though BJP has rejected this contention, Sushil Modi claimed that Nitish Kumar is aiming to become the Prime Ministerial candidate for the opposition in the 2024 Lok Sabha election and challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Bihar leader said, “he can’t challenge Narendra Modi. He does not have the capacity to challenge him.”
“For Nitish Kumar, becoming a Prime Minister is a distant dream. BJP will come with a thumping majority in the 2024 Lok Sabha election and Narendra Modi will become the Prime Minister for the third time,” Sushil Modi said.
BJP Rajya Sabha member and his former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi termed his allegations against the BJP as “lies”.
“Nitish Kumar levelled serious allegations on BJP that the latter was involved in breaking his party. This is an absolute lie which Nitish Kumar and his party’s national President Lalan Singh are claiming. BJP was not involved in breaking the JD(U),” Modi said in his tweet.
He also denied Nitish Kumar’s allegation that the BJP made then JD(U) leader R.C.P. Singh Union Minister without his approval.
“This is also a lie. It was Nitish Kumar who gave the approval to R.C.P. Singh to become a minister in the Narendra Modi government,” Sushil Modi said, alleging that Nitish Kumar was searching for excuses to exit the NDA, and hence, “he took the help of lies and levelled false allegations against the BJP”.
—IANS

Nitish could emerge as the pointsman in the opposition unity if a non-Gandhi is propped up for a joint opposition. The Bihar coup is directly linked with Nitish Kumar’s smartly crafted national ambition without mentioning it from his side, but letting speculation around. 

 Can Nitish be pivot of Oppn unity in 2024?

Washington: Researchers in the US have developed an easy-to-use test that can predict the degree of immune protection people have against COVID-19, either from vaccination, infection, or a combination of the two. Easy access to this kind of test could help people determine what kind of precautions they should take against COVID-19 infection, such as getting an additional booster shot, the researchers said.
Described in the journal Cell Reports Methods, the test measures the level of neutralising antibodies -- responsible for defending cells from the virus -- that target SARS-CoV-2 in a blood sample.
"Among the general population, many people probably want to know how well protected they are," said Hojun Li from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)'s Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, US.
"But I think where this test might make the biggest difference is for anybody who is receiving chemotherapy, anybody who's on immunosuppressive drugs for rheumatologic disorders or autoimmune diseases, and for anybody who's elderly or doesn't mount good immune responses in general," Li said.
Such people might need to be boosted sooner or receive more doses to achieve adequate protection, the researchers said.
The test is designed so that different viral spike proteins -- that help the virus to enter and infect the cells -- can be swapped in.
Doing so allows to detect immunity against any existing or future variant of SARS-CoV-2, the researchers said.
The researchers have filed for a patent on the technology and are now hoping to partner with a diagnostic company that could manufacture the devices and seek approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Currently, the gold standard approach to measuring immunity involves mixing a blood sample with live virus and measuring how many cells in the sample are killed by the virus.
That procedure is too hazardous to perform in most labs, so the more commonly used approaches involve noninfectious modified "pseudoviral" particles.
However, these approaches still require trained personnel working in a lab with specialised equipment, so they are not practical for getting immediate results. Li drew inspiration from at-home pregnancy tests, which are based on a type of test called a lateral flow assay.
Lateral flow assays generally consist of paper strips embedded with test lines that bind to a particular target molecule if it is present in a sample.
This technology is also the basis of most at-home rapid tests for COVID-19.
Li and his collaborates developed a device that can detect the presence of antibodies that block the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) from binding to ACE2, the human receptor that the virus uses to infect cells.
The first step in the test is to mix human blood samples with viral RBD protein that has been labelled with tiny gold particles which can be visualised when bound to a paper strip.
After allowing time for antibodies in the sample to interact with the viral protein, a few drops of the sample are placed on a test strip embedded with two test lines.
One of these lines attracts free viral RBD proteins, while the other attracts any RBD that has been captured by neutralising antibodies, the researchers said. A strong signal from the second line indicates a high level of neutralising antibodies in the sample, they said. —PTI

Researchers in the US have developed an easy-to-use test that can predict the degree of immune protection people have against COVID-19, either from vaccination, infection, or a combination of the two.

New Test Can Predict Your Level Of Covid Immunity

Srinagar: Cautioning the administration over “fiddling with the sentiments of the people of Kashmir and properties of the Muslim community”, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti on Friday repeated her call for the government to revisit its policies.
Referring to the latest statements from the government and some Waqf authorities on converting the Eidgah for different kinds of facilities, she stressed the specific use for which land had been donated by Mir Syed Ali Hamdani to Muslims of Kashmir some 600 years back.
“The statements issued about Eidgah have hurt the sentiments of local Muslim populace and they are watching the situation with lots of apprehensions and anything done against the wishes of the people and denying the space to the locals for prayers and for whatever use they have traditionally been putting it to will be fraught with dangers,” she said.
—IANS

Cautioning the administration over “fiddling with the sentiments of the people of Kashmir and properties of the Muslim community”, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti on Friday repeated her call for the government to revisit its policies.

Fiddling With Waqf Properties Fraught With Dangerous Consequences: Mehbooba

Jammu: Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to address a historic public rally in J&amp;K's Rajouri town on Tuesday where he is expected to announce ST reservation for the Pahari community. Over enthusiastic members of the Pahari community from different parts of Rajouri and the neighbouring Poonch district have started reaching Rajouri town where high security is being maintained in and around the venue at the town's bus stand. In the evening on Monday, Shah met delegations of Paharis, Gujjars/Bakarwals, Dogras and Sikhs at the Raj Bhavan where he spent the night. He reached Jammu around 8 pm Monday. On reaching Jammu, Shah tweeted, "Reached Jammu and Kashmir on a three-day tour. Through the medium of different programmes, I'm eager to have dialogue with the people of J&amp;K".
In another comment he said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared Government holiday on the birthday of Maharaja Hari Singh keeping in view his role in making Jammu and Kashmir an integral part of the country". Before flying to Rajouri, the Union home minister will pay obeisance at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district. He is scheduled to inaugurate 14 Urban Development Projects, 48 roads totaling 269.41 kilometres, eight bridges and 10 power distribution/transmission projects in J&amp;K. He will also lay the foundation stone of 41 Water Supply Schemes under Jal Jeevan Mission. He will generate distribution of Land Pass Books and launch 225 Citizens Centric Online Services, 1000 Cooperatives and second edition of District Good Governance Index Financial Year 2021-22. Shah will have a meeting with the senior BJP leaders at 3.30 pm today at Jammu Convention Centre. At the same venue, he will launch developmental projects at 4.30 pm. The BJP leaders are expected to brief Shah about the likely impact the grant of ST status to Paharis will have on the electoral prospects of the party. It is believed that the grant of ST status to Paharis can affect the electoral results in around a dozen Assembly constituencies, including Poonch, Mendhar, Surankote, Kalakote, Nowshera, Rajouri, Thanna Mandi, Budhal and Sunderbani in Jammu division and Uri, Karnah, Gurez and Trehgam in Kashmir division. Besides, the Paharis have sizeable population in Pahalgam, Shopian, Kupwara, Lolab and Baramulla Assembly constituencies of Kashmir division. He will leave for Srinagar around 6 pm today where he has an equally busy schedule.
—IANS

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to address a historic public rally in J&K's Rajouri town on Tuesday where he is expected to announce ST reservation for the Pahari community.

 Amit Shah to address historic public rally in Rajouri today

Srinagar: The announcement made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his recent J&amp;K visit assuring ST status to the Pahari community has ruffled many a feather among the Gujjar/Bakarwal community of the union territory.
The delimitation commission in its final report had recommended ST status for the Gujjar/Bakarwal community of the UT.
The delimitation commission recommended reserving nine of the 90 Assembly seats in J&amp;K for the Gujjar/Bakarwal community where only a candidate from this community can stand for the elections.
After Amit Shah announced that the Pahari community will also get the ST status, apprehensions naturally arose among the Gujjar/Bakarwal community that the Paharis could chip into their share of the reserved status in J&amp;K.
Amit Shah tried to allay the apprehensions by assuring Gujjars and Bakarwals that Paharis would not encroach on their quota of already announced reservations.
A major problem in segregating the ST reservations between the two communities is that while Gujjars/Bakarwals form a sizeable number of population in the Assembly constituencies reserved for them by the delimitation commission, Paharis, on the other hand, exist in the Assembly constituencies of Rajouri, Poonch, Kupwara and Baramulla district with 'diffuse' numbers.
For example, the percentage of Gujjar voters in the Kangan constituency of Kashmir division is 39 per cent as compared to the Kashmiri Muslim voters. Kangan is one of the nine Assembly constituencies recommended by the delimitation commission to be reserved for the Gujjar/Bakarwal community.
In comparison to this, the Pahari voter percentage in the Uri constituency of Baramulla district is not more than 25 per cent.
How can constituencies be reserved for Paharis based on their diffused population in J&amp;K and also how can those already recommended to be reserved for the Gujjar/Bakarwal community be kept intact while granting the same ST reservation for the Paharis?
Amit Shah's genuine concern to support the Pahari community that has for long been demanding reservation along with Gujjars and Bakarwals notwithstanding, the fine tuning and balancing the split of share in STs of the two communities would be walking the tightrope for New Delhi.
—IANS

The announcement made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his recent J&K visit assuring ST status to the Pahari community has ruffled many a feather among the Gujjar/Bakarwal community of the union territory.

 Balancing ST reservations in J&K: Tightrope walk for Centre

New Delhi / Haridwar (The Hawk): The Union Minister for Heavy Industries, Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey led the celebrations for Rashtriya Ekta Diwas 2022 at BHEL stadium at Haridwar today. The Union Minister participated in the ‘Unity Run’ and administered the Rashtriya Ekta Pledge to the audience.
The Union Minister said that today entire nation is celebrating the contributions of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel in forging unity in our country. He said that the tributes to him are symbols of our belief in the integrity of our nation. The Union Minister said that the indomitable spirit and political astuteness of Sardar Patel engendered a united India bound geographically, culturally and civilisationally.
He added that Sardar Patel’s vision was to make a strong, inclusive, and developed India. For him, national interests were always supreme. The Union Minister said that the Union Government is making all efforts to further the vision of our founding fathers. Modern infrastructure is erasing our geographical and cultural distances. It has progressively become easy to reach every nook and corner of the country.
He added that we should keep in mind that lack of unity gives rise to new national crises and our collective effort can take the country to new heights. He said that the Amrit Kaal is the period of construction of a new India, an India of Sardar Patel’s dreams. The Minister said that the unified response of our country resulted in an unprecedented 200 crore doses of COVID vaccine being administered and large-scale production of ventilators and other lifesaving devices in the country. He said that the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat is possible to be realised only through a united India.
After addressing the gathering the Union Minister interacted with the media and said that his meeting with the BHEL officials is to review the progress of various projects and to remove the roadblocks if any. The Union Minister categorically refuted the rumours that the government intends to privatise BHEL, he added that the future of BHEL is brighter than ever. The Member of Parliament from Haridwar, Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ was also present during the celebrations.

The Union Minister for Heavy Industries, Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey led the celebrations for Rashtriya Ekta Diwas 2022 at BHEL stadium at Haridwar today. The Union Minister participated in the ‘Unity Run’ and administered the Rashtriya Ekta Pledge to the audience.

Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey Participates In The ‘Run For Unity’ At Haridwar

Jaipur (The Hawk): According to a government announcement on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has designated Mangarh Dham in the Banswara region of Rajasthan as a National Monument. The Prime Minister visited Mangarh Dham, also known as the site of roughly 1,500 tribal members' martyrdom, and he lavishly honoured the memorial. In 1913, the British Army massacred the indigenous people. Modi shared the dais at the ceremony alongside the chief ministers of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
According to Modi, the tribal society had blown the bugle for Independence before the 1857 liberation war. "Tribal society has made contributions for which we are grateful. The tribal society is what preserves India's identity. Everyone wants to see Mangarh Dham become a grand structure, the prime minister claimed. The states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra should consult one another and devise a thorough plan and timetable for the development of Mangarh Dham. He asserted that the four states and the Indian government working together would raise it to new heights.
He praised the participation of Ashok Gehlot, the chief minister of Rajasthan, saying, "As CM, we worked together. In our tribe, Ashok Gehlot was the oldest member. Among those still seated on stage, Ashok Gehlot is the most senior CM. The history of Mangarh Dham, according to Rajasthan's chief minister Ashok Gehlot, has been recorded in gold. "We've urged the PM to designate it as a national monument. When it came to fighting in the American Revolution, tribal society was unmatched.
Gehlot claimed that Mahatma Gandhi is the reason why Prime Minister Narendra Modi is respected throughout the world. "We request that Mangarh be designated as a national monument." According to CM Gehlot, the Chiranjeevi Yojana of Rajasthan can be applied nationwide if it is reviewed. Gehlot pushed for a rail connection to Banswara. He continued, "It will be nice if we link Banswara with the rail project."
Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the chief minister of the MP, addressed the crowd and stated that although the sacrifices made by the tribal people were forgotten, the Modi administration has started a campaign to honour them. No one will ever forget the terrible day of November 17, 1913, according to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. Attempts are being made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to integrate tribal people into the development process. "This initiative will be limited to 99 Assembly seats (tribal majority) of these three states," officials declared. The borders of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan converge in Mangarh. Here, the tribal people of these states are highly revered.
(Inputs from Agencies)

According to a government announcement on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has designated Mangarh Dham in the Banswara region of Rajasthan as a National Monument. The Prime Minister visited Mangarh Dham, also known as the site of roughly 1,500 tribal members' martyrdom, and he lavishly honoured the memorial.

'We owe tribal community our gratitude,' PM proclaims Mangarh Dham a national monument

Gurugram (The Hawk): An Ahir community demonstration calling for the establishment of a "Ahir Regiment" in the Indian Army on Friday near the Kherki Daula toll plaza on the Delhi-Jaipur Expressway descended into violence when some protesters attempted to block the highway.
After the protesters threw stones at the workers, the police who were on the scene detained a number of them.
The protesters allegedly tried to forcefully block the national highway without getting permission, and the police had to use light force to scatter them.
The Gurugram Police diverted the Expressway due to the altercation, which caused traffic jams for commuters.
To check for suspicious vehicles, the Gurugram Police had barricades erected at a number of highway entry points, including Rajiv Chowk, Sohna Road, and Hero Honda Chowk.
According to traffic officials, the protest caused the Expressway's traffic to move slowly, and they have since implemented several measures to prevent congestion.
According to Subhash Boken, a spokesman for the Gurugram police, the police were keeping the public informed about the traffic conditions in that city via their official social media accounts.
In addition to this, a sizable crowd of protesters was gathered near the Kherki Daula toll plaza.
The Gurugram traffic police had also given commuters a warning about the congestion in the meantime.
(Inputs from Agencies)

An Ahir community demonstration calling for the establishment of a "Ahir Regiment" in the Indian Army on Friday near the Kherki Daula toll plaza on the Delhi-Jaipur Expressway descended into violence when some protesters attempted to block the highway.

violent protest in the Ahir community; several people are detained

Jaipur: Days after trading barbs, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot along with former deputy chief minister and his junior party colleague Sachin Pilot attended a meeting here that was convened to discuss preparations for the Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra that is expected to enter Rajasthan in the first week of December.
Both Gehlot and Pilot greeted each other in the meeting. Later, Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee chief Govind Singh Dotasra shared photographs on Twitter with a caption 'The United Colours of Rajasthan'.
Those seen in the photographs are Dotasra, along with Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal, Pilot and Gehlot. Recently, differences between the Gehlot and Pilot turned worse after the veteran Congress leader called his former deputy a traitor during an interview with a media outlet.
According to sources, Venugopal made the two leaders meet each other in a closed room, and then made both Gehlot and Pilot raise hands in front of the media, and say: "This is Rajasthan Congress. We are completely united".
After the meeting, both interacted with the media together. While Gehlot said "everyone is united in Rajasthan", Pilot said "we will strengthen the party together. No one can provoke us".
Meanwhile, Venugopal said that Pilot and Gehlot submitted that "we will work unitedly not only till the Bharat Jodo Yatra but elections".
"Our leader Rahul Gandhi has made it clear that both Gehlot and Pilot are assets for the party," he said.
Earlier, when CM Gehlot arrived for the meeting, Pilot greeted him with folded hands, following which Gehlot also greeted him with his hands folded.&nbsp;
—IANS

Days after trading barbs, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot along with former deputy chief minister and his junior party colleague Sachin Pilot attended a meeting here that was convened to discuss preparations for the Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra that is expected to enter Rajasthan in the first week of December.

 Gehlot, Pilot show unity; state Cong chief calls it 'united colours of Rajasthan'

Ranchi (The Hawk): Nationwide protests against the government's decision to designate Parasnath Hill in the Jharkhand district of Giridih as a tourist destination are being held by members of the Jain community.
Several Jain monks have called on the government to reverse its decision, and protests have been held in a dozen cities over the course of the past week.
Sammed Shikhar, also known as Parasnath Hill, is the most important Jains' pilgrimage site worldwide. It is cherished by Jain because it is the "Nirvana" (salvation) land of 20 of the 24 Tirthankaras.
The Jain organisation claims that if it is designated as a tourist site, the sanctity of this place of prayer will be disturbed. There will be a rise in unethical behaviours such as meat intake and alcohol use, which will upset the feelings of the "non-violent" Jain society.
The highest hill in Jharkhand is called Parasnath, and it is encircled by a forest. At the base of the hill, there are a large number of Jain temples. On August 2, 2019, the Union Forest Ministry recognised a portion of Parasnath as a wildlife sanctuary and eco-sensitive zone following a recommendation by the Jharkhand government.
According to the Jain society, it is "totally inappropriate" to permit ecotourism and other nonreligious activity in the region.
Rallies by members of the Jain community have been held across the nation in protest of the government's notification designating Sammed Shikhar as a tourist destination.
On the request of the Vishwa Jain Sangathan, a silent march was conducted on Tuesday in the city of Dhar in Madhya Pradesh.
On Sunday, a sizable gathering of members of the Digambar and Shwetambar Jain communities took place in Indore. Similar protests also occurred in Dungarpur, Katni, Khandwa, Banswara, Dhar, and Ajmer.
Speaking to the media in Delhi, Mahayogi Shraman Shri 108 Viharsh Sagar Ji Gurudev said, "Shri Sammed Shikharji is the eternal sacred place of Jains, and today the entire society is united for its protection and security."
(Inputs from Agencies)

Nationwide protests against the government's decision to designate Parasnath Hill in the Jharkhand district of Giridih as a tourist destination are being held by members of the Jain community.

Jain community opposes labelling Parasnath Hill a "tourism destination."

Silchar (The Hawk): According to Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Education Dr. R K Ranjan, India can significantly contribute to the global effort to combat climate change.On Sunday, he added, on the eve of a programme at Assam University in Silchar, "India has the opportunity to take the lead in containing climate change at a time when the globe is struggling from a food and energy crisis in the post-Covid situation."Ranjan remarked, "India has a fantastic opportunity to showcase its vibrant culture to the rest of the world under the incisive leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Additionally, our prospects for commerce and national security are favourable at the moment."Additionally, he asserted that India is now participating more actively in both the SCO and the G-20."Around 200 G20 activities will take place across the nation, and it is now our chance to promote our work and culture. The Prime Minister has urged citizens to take part in moving India ahead "Added he.The Union minister referred to India as the "mother of democracy," "In our nation, democracy has existed for a very long time. The kings and rulers relied on the advice of the wise men and village elders when making decisions. We must present the world with India's vibrant democracy."He listed a number of indigenous goods from the Northeast in the context of this region. He stated, "In the similar way, every single region of the northeast may come out with their own products," using the examples of tea in Assam and polo in Manipur.Dr. R.K. Ranjan said the Act East Policy was, "It is a development strategy for the communication and infrastructure sectors. This is an opportunity that the northeastern states must seize. The northeast used to be referred to as an enclosed land. However, the entire northeast has transformed into a place of connectedness as a result of the Prime Minister's true commitment to the region and his vision. States ought to profit from the fact that businesspeople and investors are now prepared to make investments here."(Inputs from Agencies)

According to Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Education Dr. R K Ranjan, India can significantly contribute to the global effort to combat climate change. On Sunday, he added, on the eve of a programme at Assam University in Silchar, "India has the opportunity to take the lead in containing climate change at a time when the globe is struggling from a food and energy crisis in the post-Covid situation."

The Hawk

Tag : unity

PM Addresses ‘Peace, Unity & Dev Rally’ At Diphu, Assam

Sunil Aswal

Tag : unity

PM Addresses ‘Peace, Unity & Dev Rally’ At Diphu, Assam

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