More than 300 travelers find themselves stranded in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand as a critical road has been washed away following a devastating landslide.
The affected tourists and locals are reportedly stuck in Dharchula and Gunji, unable to continue their journeys after the Lipulekh-Tawaghat road near Lakhanpur collapsed, eroded by 100 meters due to a massive rockfall.
Local authorities anticipate that it will take approximately two days to restore the road and make it accessible for traffic once again.
In the meantime, rescue operations are underway to ensure the safety and well-being of those stranded.
Weather department has issued a dust storm and thundershower alert for several districts in Uttarakhand, including Almora, Bageshwar, Chamoli, Champawat, Dehradun, Garhwal, Hardwar, Nainital, Pithoragarh, Rudraprayag, Tehri Garhwal, Udham Singh Nagar, and Uttarkashi.
This further adds to the challenges faced by the stranded travelers and necessitates caution and preparedness.
The local police have issued an advisory, urging all pilgrims to find safe accommodations and avoid unnecessary travel.
They emphasize the importance of parking vehicles in secure locations and caution against venturing out unless the weather conditions improve.
The police specifically address devotees planning their journey to Yamunotri and Gangotri Dham Yatra, advising them to carefully consider the weather forecast and come prepared with rain covers, umbrellas, and warm clothing to ensure their comfort and safety during the pilgrimage.
Efforts are underway to alleviate the situation and facilitate the rescue and evacuation of the stranded tourists.
Authorities are working diligently to restore the damaged road and provide necessary support to those affected, prioritizing their safety and well-being in this challenging situation.
A suspected Pakistani intruder was gunned down by troops of the Border Security Force (BSF) along the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba district in the early hours of Thursday, officials said.
The incident took place near the Mangu Chak border outpost (BoP) in the Samba sector around 2:50 am, they said.
“In the early hours today, alert BSF troops noticed suspicious movement of a person, who crossed the IB from Pakistan’s side, in the Samba area,” a Border Security Force spokesperson said.
He was challenged by the troops but the intruder kept advancing towards the border fencing. The troops opened fire, killing him, the spokesperson said.
The BSF has launched a search operation along the IB in Samba sector as the intruder’s body is lying in the forward area.
This is the second such incident along the India-Pakistan border in the Jammu division in two days.
On Wednesday, the Army foiled an infiltration bid with the arrest of three terrorists along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district.
The terrorists, from whom a huge consignment of arms and narcotics was recovered, were arrested after an exchange of fire near the border fence, according to a defence spokesperson.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday claimed that “half of the people” at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s US event “did not even bother to stand up” during National Anthem.
Sharing a video of the event on Twitter, BJP’s Shehzad Poonnawalla tweeted, “Shocking, shameful. Received this video from media person with respect to Rahul Gandhi’s program. During National anthem half of the people Rahul addressed later did not even bother to stand up. Later they paused the national anthem in the middle and said it was just ‘Mic Check’. The onus is on Rahul Gandhi’s organising team to clarify if and why this disrespect was done? Who are the audiences who disrespect the National Anthem! No Indian would.. is Anthem used for Rahul’s mic check? Clarity would be appreciated”
Shocking , shameful
Received this video from media person with respect to Rahul Gandhi's program.
During National anthem half of the people Rahul addressed later did not even bother to stand up.
Later they paused the national anthem in the middle and said it was just 'Mic… pic.twitter.com/EhSTIEgc5T
Earlier, BJP’s Dr Vijay Chauthaiwale took a dig at Rahul Gandhi’s event in the US and shared a video claiming that an “empty hall awaited” for the Congress leader.
“Empty hall awaited for @RahulGandhi in bay area, USA,” he tweeted alongside a video of the event.
Addressed a gathering of the Indian diaspora in San Francisco, Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at the ruling BJP government and said it is “threatening” the people and “misusing” the country’s agencies.
Speaking at an event in Santa Clara, California on Tuesday, Gandhi said the BJP and the RSS are controlling all the instruments of politics in India. He said before starting his ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, he realised that the normal tools that have historically been used in politics were not working anymore. “The BJP is threatening people and misusing government agencies. The Bharat Jodo Yatra started because all the instruments that we needed to connect with the people were controlled by the BJP-RSS,” he said.
“We were also finding that in some way, it had become quite difficult to act politically. And that’s why we decided to walk from the southernmost tip of India to Srinagar,” he said.
Gandhi said the yatra carried the spirit of affection, respect and humility. “If one studies history, it can be seen that all spiritual leaders including Guru Nanak Dev ji, Guru Basavanna ji, Narayana Guru ji united the nation in a similar way,” he said.
Gandhi said India is not what is being shown in the media which likes to promote a political narrative that is far from reality, asserting that there is a “huge distortion”.
“It was very clear to me in the Yatra that it’s in the media’s interest to project these things, it helps the BJP. So, don’t think that everything you see in the media is the truth,” he said.
After ruthlessly stabbing 16-year-old Sakshi to death in the Shahbad Dairy area, Sahil sought refuge in his aunt’s house located in the village of Aterna, under the jurisdiction of the Pahasu police station.
Based on interviews with the aunt and other relatives of Sahil, it was revealed that she was left paralyzed with shock upon learning about her nephew’s heinous act and subsequently fainted.
Shamim, also known as Shammo, reportedly came across the distressing video of her nephew’s monstrous deed and expressed that he should meet the same fate as Sakshi.
According to a report from Jagran media, Shammo stated that she would no longer visit her maternal home and sever all ties with those who engage in such actions. She also vowed not to allow her children.
Shammo further mentioned that if she had been aware that Sahil had arrived at her house after killing someone’s daughter, she would have refused to provide him even a meal in the morning.
Aman, Shammo’s second son, informed local reporters that Sahil arrived at their home around four o’clock on Monday morning. When questioned about his presence, Sahil mentioned that he had traveled to Bulandshahr with friends for a wedding and decided to visit his aunt and Aman before returning home.
However, Sahil unexpectedly insisted on staying and eventually fell asleep in one of the rooms. He woke up around eight o’clock in the morning and contacted his relatives on his mobile phone, informing them that he was at his aunt’s house.
Reportedly, Sahil went back to sleep after having tea and biscuits. He woke up again around 12 o’clock, had a meal, and fell asleep once more. At around 3 o’clock, two policemen entered the house and inquired about Sahil’s presence.
Aman informed the policemen that Sahil was sleeping in one of the rooms. Subsequently, one of the policemen took out a pistol, held it hesitantly, and said to Sahil, “If you are done sleeping, let’s go to Delhi,” as reported by local media.
Later, the police took Sahil to the police station and then transported him to Delhi. In the meantime, there has been a significant outcry among social media users, demanding the death penalty for Sahil.
Rahul Gandhi had another foot in mouth moment during his three-day tour to the US. His visit that began on Tuesday aims at promoting shared values and a vision of “real democracy” with a focus on freedom, inclusion, sustainability, justice, peace and opportunities world over.
However, responding to a question from ‘Bay Area Muslim community’, the Congress leader claimed that “what is happening to Muslims in India today happened to Dalits in 1980s”.
Question posed to Rahul Gandhi
At an event, a person from Muslim community of Bay Area, Mohammad Khan, asked Rahul: “Muslims have the security threat today it was never before… There are so many different laws which are getting implemented that were not there earlier… Muslim children are being put in jail for the crimes which they have not committed. What strategy will you adopt or what hope you are giving to Indian Muslims which is going to change the whole thing to the point where we were and get back to the normal stream to develop India.”
Rahul Gandhi’s response
Rahul responded to the question with a line that he has used on several occasions. He said, “The best way for me to explain that is the line ‘nafrat ke bazaar mein mohabbat ki dukaan'(a shop of love in the market of hate). It is felt most strongly by the Muslim community because it is done most directly to them. But, infact, it is done to all minorities. I can guarantee you Sikhs, Christians, Dalits, tribal are feeling the same thing.”
“Infact, anybody who is poor in India today, when he looks at the extreme wealth that the limited number of people have, in some way he feels the same thing that you feel, that what is going on? How is it that these five people have lakhs of crores and I have nothing to eat,” the Congress leader said.
“You (Muslims) feel at most because it is directed at you most aggressively, but there is a phenomenon that is taking place against everybody in India. You cannot cut hatred with hatred,” the Congress leader said
“I was surprised at how easy it was to erase hatred in India,” he added.
#WATCH| Congress’ Rahul Gandhi in response to a question from ‘Bay Area Muslim community’ says,” The way you (Muslims) are feeling attacked,I can guarantee Sikhs,Christians,Dalits,Tribals are feeling the same. What is happening to Muslims in India today happened to Dalits in… pic.twitter.com/sukYLT9Ctp
"Indians don't believe in hating and killing each other. There is a small group of people who have got control of the system and media and are fully supported by big money," claimed Rahul.
Indian Muslims in same situation as Dalits in 1980s
"What is happening to the Muslim community in India today, happened to the Dalit community in 1980s. If you went to Uttar Pradesh during 80s, what is happening with Muslims now was happening with the Dalits. So periodically these type of stuff happens and we have to challenge and fight it and fight it with affection not hatred," he said.
But a gentle reminder for Rahul who in a way stole the show in the US but made a major faux pas.
Rahul's grandmother Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister of India followed by his father Rajiv Gandhi from 1980 to 1989, the period which he spoke about in his speech in the US on Wednesday.
It was Congress party, which was at the Centre when according to Rahul "Dalits witnessed the same situation as India Muslims are facing currently."
'Rahul Gandhi insults India during foreign visits'
The BJP reacted strongly against Rahul's statement in the US. Union Minister Anurag Thakur said, "During his foreign visits, Rahul Gandhi insults India."
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi Modi met almost 24 PMs and Presidents of the world and held over 50 meetings during his foreign visit recently and when the Australian PM said that 'PM Modi is the Boss', Rahul Gandhi could not digest this," Thakur said.
The BJP leader slammed Rahul for his statement in the US and said, "The period referred to by Rahul in his speech where he said Dalits were tortured, it was Congress's government at the Centre as well as Uttar Pradesh. It appears that Rahul wanted to go abroad and tell them Dalits and minorities were tortured."
#WATCH | During his foreign visits, Rahul Gandhi insults India. PM Modi met almost 24 PMs and Presidents of the world & held over 50 meetings during his foreign visit recently and when the Australian PM said that 'PM Modi is the Boss', Rahul Gandhi could not digest this: Union… pic.twitter.com/8A1jm4DiAd
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today will launch Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) month-long pan-India campaign, ‘Maha Jansampark’, in poll-bound Rajasthan’s Ajmer covering all 543 Lok Sabha constituencies.
PM Modi will also offer prayers at the famous Brahma temple in the holy town of Pushkar, nearly 15 km from Ajmer city, before addressing the public rally. He is scheduled to reach Kishangarh airport at 3 pm.
Rajasthan, where the ruling Congress is caught in a leadership tussle between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot, goes to the polls this year-end.
Modi will travel by helicopter from Kishangarh airport to Pushkar, where he will offer prayers at the Brahma temple from 3.40 pm to 4 pm.
He will then travel by helicopter to a helipad near the rally venue – Kayad Vishram Sthali – on Jaipur road at 4.45 pm, police sources said.
Union ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal and Kailash Chaudhary, and other BJP leaders from Rajasthan will attend the meeting.
Ajmer North MLA Vasudev Devnani said BJP workers from 45 assembly and eight Lok Sabha constituencies are being mobilised for the rally.
The constituencies fall in the districts of Ajmer, Nagaur, Tonk, Bhilwara, Rajsamand, Jaipur and Pali. Over the past few weeks, Modi had also visited Rajsamand and Sirohi. BJP leaders have already held press conferences in several states to mark Modi’s nine years as prime minister.
The PM’s rally will flag the beginning of a series of party meetings as part of a major outreach campaign.
Maha Jansampark, a month-long campaign, during which it will reach out to 1,000 eminent persons from every Lok Sabha constituency
According to a senior party leader, over 51 huge rallies, public meetings at more than 500 places, and over 600 press conferences in over 500 Lok Sabha and 4000 Vidhan Sabha constituencies will be conducted along with over 5 lakh distinguished families will be contacted.
Party national general secretary Tarun Chugh, a coordinator for the programme, said, “A total of 288 top BJP leaders and 16 lakh party workers will interact with voters at ten lakh booths and 144 clusters covering all Lok Sabha seats to deliver the message of achievements in nine years of the party’s rule at the Centre.”
“As part of the campaign, party leaders will meet 1,000 eminent families per Lok Sabha segment, and conduct 51 mega rallies across India, along with seminars with teachers, social media influencers and other distinguished citizens,” Tarun Chugh said while addressing a press briefing.
Enlightened Conference will be organized in all Lok Sabha with intellectuals. This program will also be organized on June 25, the anniversary of Emergency Day, in which a documentary will be shown on how Congress destroyed democracy.
Social Media Influencer meet will be organized with the major influencers of social media. A business conference will be organized and Vikas Teerth, the site of major development works done by the central government will be visited.
Door-to-door public meetings will be undertaken from June 20 to June 30, in which all the leaders, office bearers and workers including Union ministers and national office bearers will participate.
Yuva Morcha members will meet the beneficiaries of Mudra Loan Yojana Startup India etc. at the booths in Beneficiary Sampark, they will discuss with them the development work done during 9 years by the BJP government at the Centre.
A new voter conference in which conference with voters of the age group of 18 to 25 years on 15,931 mandals will be organized. An online quiz at the national level Family meeting will be organized by inviting all the families covered under Anganwadi centres across the country. Beneficiaries of the nutrition campaign will be specially invited.
As part of the campaign, a two-wheeler tour, spanning eight days, in the assemblies across the country will also be conducted.
During the 8-day district-level two-wheeler Yuva Yatra in more than 4,000 Vidhan Sabhas, programs like Nukkad Sabhas, sports competitions, and felicitation of young achievers will be organized at the main places of the city, villages and mohallas.
PM Kisan Nidhi Beneficiaries will be contacted and meetings will be held with the presidents of various farmer producer organizations. Village Chaupal will be organized at mandis with SPO village head sarpanch under Gram Chaupal Gram Sabha will be organized with unorganized labourers.
A Tribal Gaurav Yatra Morcha is also on the cards, which will contact the beneficiaries of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes across the country. Tribal Gaurav Yatra will be taken out at the district level, and programs will be organized under the program of the day including Lord Birsa Munda, which will be organized with the representatives of Scheduled Tribes.
Beneficiaries of the backward class will be contacted at the booth level. In this program, direct contact will be made on all the 10 lakh booths of the country, and 10 crore people of India will be connected with this program.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today will launch Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) month-long pan-India campaign, ‘Maha Jansampark’, in poll-bound Rajasthan’s Ajmer covering all 543 Lok Sabha constituencies.
Maha Jansampark, a month-long campaign, during which it will reach out to 1,000 eminent persons from every Lok Sabha constituency
According to a senior party leader, over 51 huge rallies, public meetings at more than 500 places, and over 600 press conferences in over 500 Lok Sabha and 4000 Vidhan Sabha constituencies will be conducted along with over 5 lakh distinguished families will be contacted.
Party national general secretary Tarun Chugh, coordinator for the programme, said, “A total of 288 top BJP leaders and 16 lakh party workers will interact with voters at ten lakh booths and 144 clusters covering all Lok Sabha seats to deliver the message of achievements in nine years of the party’s rule at the Centre.”
“As part of the campaign, party leaders will meet 1,000 eminent families per Lok Sabha segment, and conduct 51 mega rallies across India, along with seminars with teachers, social media influencers and other distinguished citizens,” Tarun Chugh said while addressing a press briefing.
Enlightened Conference will be organized in all Lok Sabha with intellectuals. This program will also be organized on June 25, the anniversary of Emergency Day, in which a documentary will be shown on how Congress destroyed democracy.
Social Media Influencer meet will be organized with the major influencers of social media. A business conference will be organized and Vikas Teerth, the site of major development works done by the central government will be visited.
Door-to-door public meetings will be undertaken from June 20 to June 30, in which all the leaders, office bearers and workers including Union ministers and national office bearers will participate.
Yuva Morcha members will meet the beneficiaries of Mudra Loan Yojana Startup India etc. at the booths in Beneficiary Sampark, they will discuss with them the development work done during 9 years by the BJP government at the Centre.
A new voter conference in which conference with voters of the age group of 18 to 25 years on 15,931 mandals will be organized. An online quiz at the national level Family meeting will be organized by inviting all the families covered under Anganwadi centres across the country. Beneficiaries of the nutrition campaign will be specially invited.
As part of the campaign, a two-wheeler tour, spanning eight days, in the assemblies across the country will also be conducted.
During the 8-day district-level two-wheeler Yuva Yatra in more than 4,000 Vidhan Sabhas, programs like Nukkad Sabhas, sports competitions, and felicitation of young achievers will be organized at the main places of the city, villages and mohallas.
PM Kisan Nidhi Beneficiaries will be contacted and meetings will be held with the presidents of various farmer producer organizations. Village Chaupal will be organized at mandis with SPO village head sarpanch under Gram Chaupal Gram Sabha will be organized with unorganized labourers.
A Tribal Gaurav Yatra Morcha is also on the cards, which will contact the beneficiaries of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes across the country. Tribal Gaurav Yatra will be taken out at the district level, and programs will be organized under the program of the day including Lord Birsa Munda, which will be organized with the representatives of Scheduled Tribes.
Beneficiaries of the backward class will be contacted at the booth level. In this program, direct contact will be made on all the 10 lakh booths of the country, and 10 crore people of India will be connected with this program.
Extensive raids were carried out at about 25 locations in Karnataka, Kerala and Bihar on Wednesday morning in connection with the Popular Front of India (PFI) Phulwarisharif case.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) raids were conducted at the premises of suspects linked to the conspiracy which pertains to involvement of PFI and its leaders as well as cadres in violent and unlawful activities, who had congregated for that purpose in Phulwarisharif area of Patna, Bihar.
In the last one year, NIA has carried out multiple searches in Karnataka, Kerala and Bihar.
#WATCH | NIA is conducting raids at about 25 locations in Karnataka, Kerala and Bihar in connection with the Popular Front of India Phulwarisharif case
Earlier, six people were arrested and several incriminating articles as well as documents related to PFI were seized in the case which was initially registered on July 12 last year at Phulwarisharif police station in Bihar’s Patna district. The case was re-registered by the agency on July 22 last year.
As per reports, these people had gathered in the area for their terror training and carrying out acts of violence.
On February 4-5, the NIA searched eight more locations in Bihar’s Motihari and arrested two people who had arranged weapons and ammunition to carry out the violence. Those arrested were identified as Tanveer Raza alias Barkati and Md Abid alias Aryan.
The NIA said the PFI cadres in Phulwarisharif and Motihari had vowed to continue activities in a clandestine manner in Bihar. They were also allegedly planning to perform a targetted killing and had gathered weapons to execute a youth of a particular community in Bihar's East Champaran district in March this year.
#WATCH | Visuals from Bihar's Katihar as NIA raids are underway at about 25 locations in Karnataka, Kerala and Bihar in connection with the Popular Front of India Phulwarisharif case pic.twitter.com/2y6XfO0ZlZ
The weapons were handed over to a PFI's Yakub Khan, aka Usman aka Sultan, who had been conducting training sessions for the cadres.
Recently, Yakub, had posted a derogatory and inflammatory video post on Facebook, which was aimed at disturbing peace and communal harmony, NIA said.
“Other users of Facebook had commented and trolled this post abusively. The absconding accused Yakub and two arrested accused had identified some of them and had conspired to execute the killing of the targeted person,” the NIA had said.
The NIA said it found has found that despite the ban imposed on the PFI on September last year, the leaders and cadres of the outfit continue to operate.
The agency also claimed that the more people are being included by PFI into their cadre by propagating their ideology of violent extremism.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released its annual report on Tuesday, saying that India’s growth momentum is likely to be sustained in 2023-24 in an atmosphere of easing inflationary pressures.
The central bank, however, added that slowing global growth, protracted geopolitical tensions and a possible upsurge in financial market volatility following new stress events in the global financial system could pose downside risks to growth
The RBI’s Annual Report for 2022-23, a statutory report of its Central Board of Directors, said: “On the back of sound macroeconomic policies, softer commodity prices, a robust financial sector, a healthy corporate sector, continued fiscal policy thrust on quality of government expenditure, and new growth opportunities stemming from global realignment of supply chains, India’s growth momentum is likely to be sustained in 2023-24 in an atmosphere of easing inflationary pressures,”.
The monetary policy remains focused on the withdrawal of accommodation to ensure that inflation progressively aligns with the target while supporting growth, it added.
“With a stable exchange rate and a normal monsoon — unless an El Nino event strikes — the inflation trajectory is expected to move down over 2023-24, with headline inflation edging down to 5.2 per cent from the average level of 6.7 per cent recorded last year,” the report said.
In the external sector, it said the current account deficit (CAD) is expected to remain moderate, drawing strength from robust services exports and the salubrious impact of moderation in commodity prices of imports.
“With global uncertainties persisting, foreign portfolio investment (FPI) flows may remain volatile,” the RBI said.
During the current fiscal, the RBI said it aims at expanding the ongoing pilots in the CBDC (central bank digital currency) -Retail and CBDC-Wholesale by incorporating various use cases and features.
The pilot in CBDC-Retail is proposed to be expanded to more locations and to include more participating banks, it added.
The police are calling it a “crime of passion”. In yet another horrific murder, a 16-year-old girl was stabbed more than 20 times and bludgeoned with a cemented slab allegedly by her boyfriend in Outer Delhi’s Shahbad Dairy area, as people passed by without being bothered. The Delhi Police have arrested a 20-year-old, identified as Sahil, from Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahar in connection with the crime.
The murder on a street
According to the police, the girl was passing by the street on Sunday (28 May) when Sahil intercepted her and stabbed her with a knife repeatedly and then hit her on the head with a stone at least five times in full public view. Police received information that a body was lying on the street in the Shahbad Dairy area.
The deceased teen and Sahil were reportedly in a relationship but quarrelled on Sunday. The girl was to attend a birthday celebration of her friend Neetu’s daughter when the accused attacked her. The assault left her with a ruptured skull, according to the preliminary findings of the post-mortem report.
Neetu told Times Now, “It was my daughter’s birthday and she (the victim) had gone shopping. She bought clothes and said she was going to meet another friend but never came back.”
Sahil switched off his mobile phone seconds after the alleged murder and fled the scene. He then took a bus to Bulandshahr.
The victim had known Sahil was three to four years. The two had prolonged arguments and were reportedly not talking to each other.
The accused
The accused is an AC repair mechanic and has an Instagram account under the name of Sahil Khan. The social media account reveals that he liked all things dark and enjoyed alcohol. The description on his profile reads, “love you dark life… daru lover… Yaaron ki yari… sab per Bhari… 5 July… Love you mom”, according to a report by India Today.
The account, which is public, shows the accused smoking hookah, having meals and hanging out with friends. One of the posts on Sahil’s Instagram page shows a group of young men with hookah listening to slain Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala’s hit “Selfmade”.
Sahil and his friends are fans of Punjabi music as is evident from his socials. In several videos, he can be seen singing and grooving. In a story highlight from last year, the 20-year-old is seen paying tribute to the singer – RIP Paaji, he wrote. Another reel posted by Sahil shows him lauding a friend who seems to have been arrested.
The accused has been booked under charges of murder by the Delhi Police and has been sent to two-day custody.
The chase
Sahil was hiding in Bulandshahar after the murder. The police said that his phone was switched off but then the accused made a call to his father, which gave away his location. He was then put under technical surveillance.
He fled after the murder and was staying with a relative. He called his father after reaching there, following which the police tracked him down.
“After the incident, the accused Sahil switched off his mobile phone and fled to his aunt’s house in Bulandshahr by bus. However, after reaching there, he called his father and after that, the police arrested him through technical surveillance,” a police officer investigating the case was quoted as saying by the new agency ANI.
The confession
During an interrogation with the police, Sahil reportedly said that the girl wanted to break up with him, which left him enraged. She had threatened to go to the police if he did not keep his distance.
Sahil told the police that he suspected she was getting close to a former boyfriend. Police sources told NDTV that he was angry that the girl was ignoring him and that he had no regrets.
He reportedly had planned the murder and had purchased the knife to kill the girl 20 days ago from Haridwar in Uttarakhand.
The victim’s family wants justice
Meanwhile, the murdered teen’s family has demanded the harshest punishment for the accused. They have said that the girl had nothing to do with Sahil.
The mother demanded that he should be hanged. The father also had similar views. “My daughter was stabbed many times, her head was also bludgeoned into pieces. We demand stringent punishment for the accused,” he said.
The gruesome murder of a minor Hindu girl by her alleged boyfriend on a bustling street in northwest Delhi’s Shahbad Dairy area continue to shock people.
The 16-year-old was brutally stabbed 20 times and bludgeoned with stone to death by the accused, 20-year-old Sahil Sarfaraz, who worked as an AC and refrigerators technician.
Sahil was arrested from Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh hours after the brutal Delhi murder.
As police dive deep in the Delhi murder case, more and more revelations are coming to fore that would leave people shocked about the motive of Sahil behind killing the minor girl.
Delhi murder: Top 10 updates
1- After murdering the girl, Sahil went to Rithala and dumped the weapon before taking a bus to Bulandshahr
2- Delhi Police sources told ANI that Sahil’s phone was switched off since the murder and it has been recovered by the cops
3- Sahil changed two buses to reach Bulandshahr. He evaded a few questions by the Police and has been doing so to perhaps mislead the cops investigating the case
4- Police said that technical surveillance was put on Sahil after he had called his father
5- According to the police, the accused was in a relationship with the victim. The duo had a quarrel the previous evening
6- Recently, the verbal spat between Sahil and the minor victim had increased after the girl wanted to end their three-year-long relationship. She even threatened to go to police
7- A report by NDTV quoted sources saying that the minor girl had pointed a toy pistol at the man a few days ago to scare him away
8- The girl had a tattoo of another man’s name – Praveen – on her hand which had angered Sahil, a NDTV report mentioned sources as saying
9- On Sunday night, Sahil had got into a fight with the girl after she had planned to attend a friend’s son’s birthday party. He then intercepted and stabbed her multiple times in a horrific attack
10- The preliminary post-mortem report of the minor girl revealed that her skull was crushed with a stone slab after being stabbed by the accused Sahil
Meanwhile, locals where the incident took place confessed why they did not turn up to stop Sahil from committing the heinous crime. “Shahbad Dairy’s goons are notorious across the city and we do not dare to encounter them,” a local told Hindustan Times. Residents said they were wary of falling into troubles as “these drug abusers carry blades at times.”
It’s been nine years of Narendra Modi. After first being sworn in as prime minister of India on 26 May 2014 and then storming back to power in 30 May 2019, it’s been nine unforgettable years of the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) regime. In these years, there have been many highs and a few lows.
But one of the most significant highs in the Modi era has been how the prime minister has helped the nation slowly but surely shed its colonial baggage. Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on India’s 76th Independence Day in 2022, he had said, “In no part of our existence, not even in the deepest corners of our mind or habits should there be any ounce of slavery. It should be nipped there itself. We have to liberate ourselves from the slavery mind set which is visible in innumerable things within and around us.”
And Modi has been untiring in his efforts to ensure India “give up the colonial-era mentality” and move towards an ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.
Two days before his nine-year anniversary, on 29 May, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a grand event inaugurated the new Parliament building, which also saw the installation of the historic ‘sengol’ in the Lok Sabha chamber.
Before the grand inauguration, Modi had tweeted, “May this iconic building be a cradle of empowerment, igniting dreams and nurturing them into reality. May it propel our great nation to new heights of progress.”
Speaking from the new triangular, four-storey high structure, Modi had said that the country had left behind its colonial past, referring to the old Parliament building that was built by the British when they ruled India. “India is the mother of democracy,” Modi said, as lawmakers thumped their desks. “Several years of foreign rule stole our pride from us. Today, India has left behind that colonial mindset.”
The new building, designed by Ahmedabad-based Bimal Patel at an estimated cost of Rs 970 crore, is a true representation of India with material used for the new building being sourced from across the country. For instance, the teakwood used in the building is sourced from Nagpur in Maharashtra, whereas the red and white sandstone comes from Sarmathura in Rajasthan. The Kesharia green stone has been procured from Udaipur, the red granite from Lakha near Ajmer and the white marble has been sourced from Ambaji in Rajasthan.
Also, the Lok Sabha chamber has a peacock theme, representative of our national bird whereas the new Rajya Sabha hall is built on the lotus theme – India’s national flower.
Rajpath renamed Kartavya Path
In line with his resolve for New India in Amrit Kaal to ‘remove any trace of colonial mindset’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the ‘Kartavya Path’ in New Delhi on 8 September 2022. The Narendra Modi government renamed the iconic stretch from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate in Delhi as a way to shed the colonial baggage.
Rajpath — the ceremonial boulevard that runs from Rashtrapati Bhawan all the way down to Vijay Chowk and India Gate, and ends at the 16th century fort, Purana Qila — was named by the British as ‘Kingsway’ in honour of King George V who visited this new city during the Delhi Durbar of 1911 and proclaimed the shift of the capital from Calcutta to the erstwhile centre of Mughal power.
Delhiites throng Kartavya Path as it opens to public. The iconic stretch, earlier called Rajpath, was renamed as a way to shed the colonial baggage. File image/PTI
Like much of central Delhi, Rajpath was designed by British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. It was set up to offer an uninterrupted view of the new city from the Rashtrapati Bhavan, which was the Viceroy’s palace at the time and today serves as the official residence of the President of India.
Following the independence of India, the road was given its Hindi name, ‘Rajpath’, in place of its English designation. This represents a mere translation more than a substantial renaming, since ‘Rajpath’ in Hindi is broadly analogous in meaning to ‘King’s way’.
On the day of the inauguration, Modi had said: “Today, we are filling the picture of tomorrow with new colours, leaving behind the past. Today, this new aura is visible everywhere, it is the aura of confidence of new India. Kingsway, that is, Rajpath, the symbol of slavery, has become a matter of history from today and has been erased forever. Today, a new history has been created in the form of ‘Kartavya Path’. I congratulate all the countrymen for their freedom from yet another identity of slavery, in this Amrit Kaal of Independence.”
King George V replaced by Netaji
In January 2022, on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Prime Minister Modi unveiled a hologram statue of the freedom fighter at India Gate.
The 28-foot-long hologram statue was installed under a canopy, which was empty since 1968 when the statue of King George V was removed. This hologram statue is a placeholder for a 25-foot-long statue of Netaji made of granite.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates 28-feet statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. File image/PTI
While unveiling the hologram statue, PM Modi had said the country is correcting “mistakes” made after independence when, according to him, efforts were made to erase the contribution of “several great personalities” along with the nation’s heritage and culture.
Later, on 8 September last year, the prime minister unveiled the statue of Netaji at India Gate. While dedicating the black granite statue to the country, Modi said: “If after independence India had followed the path of Subhas Babu, what heights would the country be at today! But unfortunately, this great hero of ours was forgotten after independence. His ideas, even the symbols associated with them, were ignored.”
“It is our effort that Netaji’s energy should guide the country today. Netaji’s statue on the ‘Kartavya Path’ will become a medium for that,” he had added.
A new naval ensign
In his pursuit to move past colonial vestiges, Prime Minister Modi also felt that it was necessary to have a new naval ensign, which would be a representation of India. Hence, on 2 September while commissioning India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, he also unveiled the new Indian Navy ensign, inspired from the seal of the great Indian emperor, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
The new ensign sees the Tricolour placed on the upper canton (top left) of the flag, and on the right a blue octagonal shape that encompasses the national emblem sits atop an anchor, which depicts steadfastness, the Navy said. The octagonal shape was designed to represent eight directions, symbolising the multi-directional reach and multi-dimensional operational capability of the Indian Navy, while the twin golden borders surrounding it are said to draw inspiration from Chhatrapati Shivaji.
The new Indian Navy ensign unveiled by PM Modi. Image Courtesy: Indian Navy/Twitter
Below the shield, within the octagon, is inscribed the motto of the Indian Navy “Sam No Varunah” (a prayer to the God of the sea, Varuna).
The new naval ensign, which the PM unveiled in Kochi replaces the present ensign that carries the Saint George’s Cross with the Tricolour in the canton (top left corner of flag).
Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Modi had said, “Till now the identity of slavery remained on the flag of Indian Navy. But from today onwards, inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji, the new navy flag will fly in the sea and in the sky.”
No more Abide With Me hymn
Another example of India moving away from India’s colonial past was the decision to replace the Christian hymn Abide with me at the Beating Retreat Ceremony during the Republic Day celebrations in 2022 with Kavi Pradeep’s Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon.
The Beating Retreat ceremony had earlier also seen the introduction of classical instruments such as sitar, santoor, and the tabla.
Tri-services bands perform during the Beating Retreat ceremony at Vijay Chowk in New Delhi. File image/PTI
Merging Amar Jawan Jyoti with National War Memorial
Amar Jawan Jyoti, the ‘eternal flame’, was merged with the flame of the National War Memorial (NWM) in 2019.
The NWM houses the names of all Indian martyrs from all the wars, including 1971 and wars before and after it. The NWM is thus a memorial for all soldiers who have either laid down their lives or will do so in the future in the service of independent India.
Renaming Andaman and Nicobar islands
Taking a page out of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s book, PM Modi in December 2018 renamed three islands of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago. Back in 1943, Bose had suggested that Andaman and Nicobar Islands be renamed as Shahid and Swaraj Dweep respectively.
In a tribute to the freedom fighter, Ross Island was renamed as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep, the Neil Island as Shaheed Dweep and the Havelock Island as Swaraj Dweep.
Shedding other colonial baggage
Modi in his nine years of power has undertaken many other steps to ensure that India moves away from its colonial past. In 2017, then Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presented the Budget on 1 February — in a break from the past where the Budget was announced on the last day of February. The Rail Budget was also merged with the Union Budget after it had been presented separately for 92 years, in yet another departure from British-era practices.
Moreover, the Race Course Road in Lutyen’s Delhi was renamed to Lok Kalyan Marg in 2016. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s famous residential address 7, Race Course Road thus became 7, Lok Kalyan Marg.
And since 2014, Modi government has repealed more than 1500 old and obsolete laws. Most of these laws were remnants of the British era.
At least Eight people were killed and 20 injured after a bus carrying pilgrims to the Vaishno Devi shrine skidded off a bridge and fell into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Tuesday.
The bus, which was on its way to Katra – the base camp for the pilgrims visiting the famous shrine atop Trikuta hills, met with the accident in Jajjar Kotli area, they said.
“Eight people have died and 20 others are injured. Rescue operation is on,” said Jammu Senior Superintendent of Police Chandan Kohli.
Local residents and police rushed to the spot and launched the rescue operation.
The injured were taken to the Government Medical College Hospital in Jammu.
“CRPF, Police and other teams are also here. Ambulances were called and the injured were immediately rushed to the hospital. Bodies have also been taken to the hospital. A crane is being brought here to see if someone is trapped under the bus,” said Ashok Choudhary, Assistant Commandant CRPF.
Choudhary said the rescue operation is underway.
“We are being told that the bus was coming from Amritsar and that people from Bihar were onboard. They perhaps lost their way to Katra and reached here,” he added.
CRPF, Police and other teams are also here. Ambulances were called & the injured were immediately rushed to hospital. Bodies have also been taken to the hospital. A crane is being brought here to see if someone is trapped under the bus. A rescue operation is underway. We are… pic.twitter.com/0H5FiJ2eQe
On 21 May, a 27-year-old woman was killed and 24 people were injured when a Rajasthan-bound bus carrying Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims overturned in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district.
In the battle between the contending visions of Indian nationalism, and the consequent articulation of what constitutes India, the new Parliament building symbolises the end of the Nehruvian era. With it curtains have also come down on the jaundiced vision of India as a nation imagined against its very DNA, counterpoised against its fundamental nature as a civilizational country.
While the Left-Congress historians and sociologists kept calling India a ‘nation in the making’, they did not reveal to the multitude of India that it could not become a nation precisely owing to this way of their articulation of India.
Now, with the new Parliament building made of and by all parts and regions, peoples and cultures of India, the nation has actually come to be imagined as a whole, rather than a congeries of different states.
All of India came together in the form of the new Parliament building. It symbolises India’s collective spirit and embodies the true essence of PM Modi’s oft-repeated ever-followed principle of janbhagidari, which is, obviously, at odds with the Nehruvian sense of a copyright over a higher intellect ostensibly not possesses by the people, who are kids to be tutored and guided at every crossroad of the national life.
In lieu of the above, it must be considered closely that the new Parliament complex was inaugurated on May 28, the day Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was born, and just a day after Jawaharlal Nehru died.
In the symbol of Savarkar, PM Modi has forever altered the way India will hereon be imagined and perceived. One can understand the frustration of Congress that had become accustomed to every nook and corner of the country named after members of the Nehru-Gandhi family. And, names go a long way in changing the consciousness of people. Yet, it can be safely assumed that this new Parliament building is not an attempt to reclaim the history and restore India to its real glory, rather a culmination of that process.
The Opposition understands that the day and its significance has turned the tables on its decades of effort to subvert the fundamental nature of India under ideological compulsions to tailor India a certain Western way, rather than accept and take forward our own nature as a civilizational people.
Conversely, since it was Nehru’s death anniversary on May 27, the significance of the symbolism of the inauguration a day after cannot be lost on anyone. PM Modi said during his inaugural speech that new laurels can be founded on new systems. It is this ‘newness’ of the Parliament building that is pinching the Opposition. This ‘newness’ of the Parliament building that is based on the ‘old’ India is what utterly baffling for the Opposition.
The Congress and the opportunistic parties that it claims to lead against saffronisation of the nation have failed to articulate properly their opposition to this newness based on the old India. So deep runs their internal dilemma that first they targeted PM Modi, and then ended up defiling the sacred Sangol, the symbol of ancient Indian power and glory.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday flagged off the inaugural run of Northeast’s first Vande Bharat Express in Assam. The train will run between Guwahati in Assam and New Jalpaiguri Station in West Bengal and is said to boost tourism in the region.
PM Modi said the Guwahati-New Jalpaiguri (NJP) Vande Bharat Express will enhance connectivity in the region.
Northeast gets its first Vande Bharat Express today. It will boost tourism, enhance connectivity. https://t.co/6DpRIeQUjg
Four times growth in Railways budget for Northeast
In his address at the flagging off event of Vande Bharat Express, PM Modi said: "Before 2014, Railway’s budget for North East was Rs 2,500 Crore. Now it is more Rs 10,000 crore, which is four times growth. All parts of the Northeast will soon be connected via the broad-gauge network. Rs 1 lakh crore is being spent on the same."
The PM further said that the Vande Bharat Express will boost business and tourism by connecting key destinations such as Kamakhya Temple, Kaziranga Sanctuary, Manas Tiger Reserve in Assam, Shillong and Cherrapunji in Meghalaya, and Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.
From Look East to Act East
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the flagging off of northeast’s first Vande Bharat Express was a matter of happiness. "Earlier it was 'Look East' but now it is 'Act East'," he added.
#WATCH | Guwahati: It is a matter of happiness that PM Modi will flag off the Northeast's first Vande Bharat Express today. Earlier it was 'Look East' but now its 'Act East': Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw pic.twitter.com/MFXMRiG8iy
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma called it a proud moment for the state and thanked PM Modi and Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for the Vande Bharat Express train which will connect Assam and West Bengal.
#WATCH | Guwahati: It's a proud moment for us that PM Modi will flag off the Vande Bharat Express today. It will connect Assam and West Bengal. I thank PM Modi and Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma pic.twitter.com/nri5OufZrV
Northeast’s first Vande Bharat Express will connect Guwahati with New Jalpaiguri and help save about an hour of journey time, compared with the current fastest train connecting the two places.
Vande Bharat will cover the journey in 5 hours and 30 minutes, while the current fastest train takes 6 hours and 30 minutes to cover the same journey.
प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi ने आज नॉर्थ ईस्ट को अपनी पहली मेड इन इंडिया 'वंदे भारत एक्सप्रेस' की सुनहरी सौगात दी।
इससे लोगों का सफर आसान होगा, पर्यटन को बढ़ावा मिलेगा और लोगों को रोजगार मिलेगा। pic.twitter.com/8dKLKQNkm2
However, for West Bengal, this is the third Vande Bharat after the Howrah-NJP Vande Bharat Express and the Howrah-Puri Vande Bharat Express.
Timings of Guwahati-NJP Vande Bharat Express
The Guwahati-NJP Vande Bharat Express (Train No-22228) will depart from from Guwahati at 16:30 (4:30 pm) and will arrive in NJP at 22:00 (10:00 pm) after covering a distance of 409 kilometres.
Halts/stoppages of Guwahati-NJP Vande Bharat Express
The train will stop at Kamakhya (16:40-16:42), New Bongaigaon (18:35-18:36), Kokrajhar (18:56-18:57), New Alipurduar (19:48-19:49), New Coochbehar (20:02-20:03), before culmiating at NJP.
Timings of NJP-Guwahati Vande Bharat Express
The NJP-Guwahati Vande Bharat Express (Train No-22227) will start from NJP at 6:10 am and will reach Guwahati at 11.40 am.
Halts/stoppages of NJP-Guwahati Vande Bharat Express
The train will stop in New Coochbehar (07:35-07:36), New Alipurduar (07:50-07:51), Kokrajhar (08:40-08:41), New Bongaigaon (09:13-09.14), Kamakhya (11:18-11:20), before arriving in Guwahati.
The train will operate on all days of the week except on Tuesday.
An Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Apache attack helicopter made a precautionary landing in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhind district on Monday. Air Force officials said that the pilot reportedly noticed a technical fault which led him to land the chopper in a precautionary manoeuvre.
“Due to the presence of mind of the pilot, a major accident was averted,” an IAF official said.
There was no casualty. All crew and aircraft are safe, IAF said in a tweet, adding that the rectification party reached the site.
The AH-64 Apache are considered to be the world's most advanced multi-role combat helicopter.
The IAF has a fleet of 22 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. In 2020, an agreement was signed with Boeing to add six more Apache helicopters into the existing fleet of the Indian Army.
In the latest development, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully carried out its fifth launch of 2023. The launch involved placing a 2232-kilogram satellite, known as NVS-1, into space as part of the NavIC series. The GSLV F12 rocket was used for this mission, which took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
The NVS-1 satellite is a significant milestone in the advancement of the next-generation NavIC satellite system. Its primary purpose is to enhance India’s navigational capabilities. The development of this system was driven by the increasing requirements of the Civil Aviation sector in the country, specifically for improved positioning, navigation, and timing services.
Why is NavIV important for India to become self-reliant?
The Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) is a regional satellite navigation system developed by ISRO. It consists of seven satellites in orbit, working in conjunction with ground stations. The network offers navigational services to both general users and strategic users, including the armed forces.
The development of the NavIC system was driven by the increasing requirements of the Civil Aviation sector in India, aiming to enhance positioning, navigation, and timing capabilities. The coverage area extends beyond India, encompassing a region up to 1500 km beyond its borders.
The NavIC satellites play a vital role in various applications across terrestrial, aerial, and marine transportation, location-based services, personal mobility, resource monitoring, surveying and geodesy, scientific research, time dissemination and synchronization, as well as safety-of-life alert dissemination.
The NavIC network provides coverage over a vast area, encompassing India and extending up to 1500 km beyond the Indian boundary. This extensive coverage enables the system to support a wide range of applications and facilitate accurate positioning, navigation, and timing services in the designated regions.
What makes NVS-1 special?
The recently launched NVS-1 satellite is part of the second-generation NavIC satellite series. It ensures the continuity of legacy NavIC services while also introducing new services in the Li band. The spacecraft is built using the standard 1-2K Bus and is compatible with the launch requirements of the GSLV rocket.
NVS-1 is equipped with two solar arrays capable of generating up to 2.4 kW of power, along with a Lithium-ion battery to support the payload and bus load during eclipses. The satellite incorporates passive and active thermal management systems, a unified bi-propellant propulsion system, and a three-axis body stabilized zero momentum system with reaction wheels.
One noteworthy component of the payload is an indigenously developed Rubidium atomic clock, created by the Space Applications Centre in Ahmedabad. The inclusion of this clock is significant, as it is a sophisticated technology possessed by only a select few countries, highlighting India’s technical capabilities in this field.
India’s launch capabilities also get highlighted again
The recent launch by the Indian space agency marks the second successful mission within a month and the fifth launch of the year. Prior to this, in April, the agency conducted the PSLV-C55 mission, which involved the deployment of two satellites. Among them, the primary satellite was TeLEOS-2, equipped with a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload.
The PSLV-C55 mission carried significance as it facilitated the launch of two Singaporean satellites and seven Indian experiments. This mission showcased the collaborative efforts between India and Singapore in the field of space exploration and technology. The primary focus of the mission was to deploy the TeLEOS-2 satellite, which is equipped with SAR technology, allowing for advanced remote sensing capabilities.
This mission marks the ninth flight of the GSLV with the indigenous cryogenic stage. The GSLV, with a height of 51.7 meters and a lift-off mass of 420 tonnes, is a heavyweight rocket. It is expected to reach an apogee (highest point) of 36,568 kilometers, and the payload is set to separate after approximately 18 minutes of flight.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off Assam’s first state-of-the-art Vande Bharat Express on Monday through video conferencing, a government official said on Sunday.
PM Modi will also dedicate New Bongaigaon-Dudhnoi-Mendipather and Guwahati-Chaparmukh newly electrified sections to the nation. He will further inaugurate the new DEMU/MEMU (workshop for trains) shed at Lumding here.
It is the first-of-its-kind premium semi-high speed aesthetically designed, well-equipped fully Air Conditioner service between Guwahati in Assam and New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal.
“The frequency of the train will be six days a week. There will be no service of this train on Tuesday,” the official said.
This new service will cover the distance of 411 km between Guwahati and New Jalpaiguri in 5 hours 30 minutes reducing the present shortest journey time by the speediest train significantly.
The Vande Bharat Express train service will operate six days a week discovering the new age rail travel with airlines like travel feelings for people of the northeast who will able to feel the comfort and speed during the journey.
This will be the fastest train in this sector and will benefit IT professionals, businessmen, students and tourists.
Vande Bharat Express is the fulfilment of an ambitious plan laid by Indian Railways to pitchfork the standards and speed of rail travel in the country.
The ‘Make In India’ call of Prime Minister Modi has driven this initiative with the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) coming up with this modern Semi-High Speed fully indigenous train showcasing superior aerodynamic design, highest operational speed, most aesthetic interiors, state-of-the-art safety features imbibing the latest rail technology. The approximate cost of each train set is around Rs 110 crore.
Vande Bharat Express runs as a self-propelled Semi-High Speed train set. The train set holds an aerodynamic design on both ends, which significantly reduces air drag and gives the train a futuristic look.
The train set is equipped with the Centralized Coach Monitoring and Control System. It has eight coach Chair Car configurations, stainless steel car body with a seating capacity of 530 passengers with maximum utilization of onboard space.
The Executive chair cars of Vande Bharat Express have a seating capacity of 52 each, normal Chair cars have a seating capacity of 78 each and the driving trailer coaches have a seating capacity of 44 each.
Equipped with driver-guard communication with a voice recording facility, the bogies of Vande Bharat Express are equipped with fully suspended traction motors for 160 kmph operational speed.
The train is equipped with ‘KAVACH, the indigenously developed Train Collision Avoidance System with optimum reliability. Advanced state-of-the-art suspension system ensures smoothness on move in the train.
Green footprint plans have been prioritised by dispensing with power cars and saving about 30 per cent of electricity with an advanced regenerative braking system.
The braking system is electro-pneumatic with disc brakes mounted directly on wheel disks, significantly reducing braking distance. Signal exchange lights on the coaches enable the hassle-free exchange of signals with wayside stations when the train is on the move.
Superior floodproofing for under-slung electrical equipment is done to enable withstand floods up to a height of 650 mm.
This energy-efficient train has a faster turnaround time in comparison to others.
On Monday, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch NVS-1, the next-generation satellite in their Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) series. This spacecraft is designed to improve monitoring and navigation capabilities.
NVS-1 is the inaugural satellite of the second-generation satellites planned for the NavIC series, intended to enhance the services and introduce new features to the system.
According to a statement released by Isro, the NavIC series includes L1 band signals to expand its range of services. Additionally, for the first time, NVS-1 will carry an indigenous atomic clock.
What is NavIC?
NavIC, developed by Isro, is a regional navigation satellite system consisting of seven satellites in orbit, working in conjunction with ground stations. It offers navigational services for both general and strategic users, including the armed forces.
The system was developed to meet the growing needs of the Civil Aviation sector in India, specifically for improved positioning, navigation, and timing. The coverage area extends beyond India’s borders, reaching up to 1500 km.
NavIC is utilised in various domains such as terrestrial, aerial, and marine transportation, location-based services, personal mobility, resource monitoring, surveying and geodesy, scientific research, time dissemination and synchronization, as well as safety-of-life alert distribution.
When will the NVS-1 satellite be launched?
Weighing 2,232 kilograms, NVS-1 will be launched aboard the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The scheduled liftoff time for NVS-1 is 10:42 AM today.
Once deployed in the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit, the spacecraft will undergo several orbit-raising manoeuvres to position itself in the desired orbit around the Earth.
This launch marks the ninth mission for GSLV with the indigenous cryogenic stage. The rocket stands 51.7 meters tall and has a lift-off mass of 420 tonnes. It is expected to reach an apogee of 36,568 kilometres, with the payload separating approximately 18 minutes after liftoff.
Where to watch the launch of the NVS-1 and the NavIC satellite?
Those interested in watching the launch of the GSLV rocket that will be carrying the NavIC satellite can watch the livestream on ISRO’s official Twitter and YouTube Handles.
GSLV-F12/NVS-01 Mission:
The countdown leading to the launch has commenced.
Tune in for live-streaming of the
🚀 Launch of GSLV-F12/NVS-01
📆 May 29, 2023
🕝 10:15 am local time
The national anthem will be sung in the Lok Sabha chamber in front of all the dignitaries, including Prime Minister Modi, to kick off the ceremony's second part.
08:27 (IST)
New Parliament Building Inauguration LIVE
PM Modi unveils plaque to mark the inauguration of new Parliament building
The plaque commemorating the opening of the new Parliament building is unveiled by PM Modi.
PM Narendra Modi expressed his gratitude to the employees who contributed to the creation and construction of the new Parliament House. Additionally, he unveiled the plaque commemorating the opening of the new Parliament building.
#WATCH | PM Narendra Modi felicitates the workers who helped in the building and development of the new Parliament House. pic.twitter.com/r6TkOQp4PX
PM Modi attends a 'Sarv-dharma' prayer ritual at the new Parliament building with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Cabinet members.
Delhi | PM Modi along with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Cabinet ministers attends a 'Sarv-dharma' prayer ceremony being held at the new Parliament building pic.twitter.com/lfZZpTDMHx
PM Modi is blessed by seers from several Adheenams
After the installation of the 'Sengol' in the new Parliament building in Delhi, PM Modi received blessings from seers of various Adheenams from Tamil Nadu. Adheenams are Saivite mathematics from ancient times. There were initially 19 of them scattered over Tamil Nadu. They are completely devoted to Lord Shiva.
#WATCH | PM Modi receives blessings of seers of different Adheenams from Tamil Nadu after the installation of the 'Sengol' in the new Parliament building in Delhi pic.twitter.com/Hex1LaWA8X
PM Modi bows as a symbol of reverence before the 'Sengol' during the event marking the start of the new Parliament building's inauguration.
#WATCH | PM Modi bows as a mark of respect before the 'Sengol' during the ceremony to mark the beginning of the inauguration of the new Parliament building pic.twitter.com/7DDCvx22Km
Puja commences for new Parliament building's opening
PM Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla commence puja for the new Parliament building's opening.
The puja ritual will last roughly an hour. Following the puja, the Prime Minister will receive the 'Sengol' and install it in the new Parliament.
#WATCH PM Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla begin pooja for the inauguration of the new Parliament building
The puja ceremony will continue for about an hour. After the puja, the PM will receive the 'Sengol' and install it in the new Parliament. pic.twitter.com/S13eVwZZD3
PM Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla pay floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Parliament House ahead of the new building's inauguration.
#WATCH | PM Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla pay floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at the Parliament House, ahead of the inauguration of the new building pic.twitter.com/NCt7kf5xQj
Security beefed up in and around complex, wrestlers to continue protest
With the grand inauguration of the new Parliament building today, thousands of police personnel have been deployed in Lutyens’ Delhi in and around the new Parliament building complex.
Meanwhile, wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar, barely two kilometres away, have decided to carry on with their “Mahapanchayat” no matter what.
The police, on the other hand, are on high alert to ensure that no protestor moves toward the new Parliament complex as permission has not been granted to hold the “Mahila Mahapanchayat”.
PM Modi is anticipated to arrive soon, and the ritual will begin with a puja that will last around one hour.
#WATCH | PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate the new Parliament building today
The PM is expected to arrive here shortly, and the ceremony will begin with a puja which will continue for about an hour. After the puja, the PM will receive the 'Sengol' and install it in the new… pic.twitter.com/AUQvHjChJn
According to ANI sources, several Vedic rites would be done before the opening of the new Parliament building.
Around 12 pm, the inauguration ceremony will begin.
According to the sources, an elaborate ceremony will start at 7:30 am, which will involve pujas done in a Vedic ceremonial manner. These pujas will continue till 9 am.
07:15 (IST)
New Parliament Building Inauguration LIVE
Adheenams to be present for the ceremony
Adheenams from various Tamil Nadu mutts leave towards the new Parliament building to attend the inaugural event.
Earlier, on the eve of the new Parliament building's opening, the Adheenams (priests) handed over the sacred sceptre, 'Sengol,' to PM Modi.
Delhi | Adheenams from different mutts across Tamil Nadu leave for the new Parliament building to attend the inauguration ceremony pic.twitter.com/PnUv8wd8Ou
Sengol was disrespected, says PM ahead of new Parliament inauguration
“It would have been good if the holy Sengol would have been given due respect and an honourable position after independence,” PM Narendra Modi said on Saturday after receiving the sacred sceptre from Adheenams (priests) handed over the sacred sceptre to him, on the eve of the inauguration of the new Parliament building.
“But this Sengol was kept on display as a walking stick in Anand Bhavan, Prayagraj. Your ‘sevak’ and our Govt have brought the Sengol out of Anand Bhavan,” he added.
Akshar Kumar, a Bollywood actor, tweeted his congratulations to PM Modi and stated that he was "proud to see this glorious new building of the Parliament."
The 18th pontiff of Tamil Nadu's Vellakuruchi Adheenam said that India will inaugurate its new Parliament building today, making it an important day for the country.
The 'Sengol' will be placed next to the Speaker's seat.
Today is a very important day for India as the new Parliament building will be inaugurated today. The 'Sengol' will be installed near the Speaker's chair. The PM honoured all the Adheenams yesterday: 18th pontiff of Vellakuruchi Adheenam from Tamil Nadu, in Delhi pic.twitter.com/fI8UmpW1s8
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will open the new, technologically advanced Parliament building, today.
Before PM Modi inaugurates the new Parliament building, several Vedic rites will be carried out, according to sources.
On Sunday, the new Parliament building will be officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi and Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Om Birla.
Even though the precise information about the inauguration has not been made public, ANI has learned from trustworthy sources that it will happen in two stages.
Numerous events, including puja, will take place throughout the inauguration beginning on Sunday morning. PM Modi will then receive the Sengol and install it following a ceremony. The plaque will then be unveiled when the diya has been lit.
Additionally, there will be a Sarv Dharma Sabha and PM Modi will speak with Shramjeevis.
PM Modi will honour the construction worker for their contribution to the Parliament.
The inauguration ceremony will begin at 7:30 a.m. with a Vedic ceremonial puja. These pujas will continue till nine in the morning.
According to the sources, the rituals ahead of the inaugural ceremony will begin in the morning and is likely to be held in a pandal (canopy) near the Gandhi statue in Parliament. PM Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Hariwansh and some senior ministers in the government are likely to be part of the ceremony.
A prayer ceremony will also be organised on the premises of the parliament-building”>new parliament building, say the sources.
The morning phase will end at close to 9:30 am after which the second leg of the ceremony is expected to begin at noon with the singing of the national anthem in the Lok Sabha chamber in the presence of all the dignitaries including PM Modi.
At 11:30 am, all the invitees including members of Parliament, Lok Sabha Speaker and Rajya Sabha, chairman and other distinguished guests are expected to be seated in the Lok Sabha chamber in the new building.
During this phase, a speech will be delivered by the Deputy Rajya Sabha Chairman, Hariwansh, who will further read a written congratulatory message on behalf of Rajya Sabha, Chairman, Jagdeep Dhankar. A written message by President Droupadi Murmu will also be read out on the occasion.
