Upholding democratic values best tribute to Ambedkar: CM Chandrababu Naidu

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Amaravati, April 14 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said on Tuesday that the greatest tribute that can be offered to Dr B.R. Ambedkar is to uphold democratic values.

The Chief Minister, through a social media post, offered tributes to the architect of the Indian Constitution, social reformer, and Bharat Ratna, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, on the occasion of his 135th birth anniversary

“Dr. Ambedkar stands as an exemplary figure; despite enduring caste discrimination and the scourge of untouchability, he pursued higher education and rose to a stature of such eminence that the entire nation takes pride in him. If our country stands today as one of the world’s strongest democracies, it is solely due to the Constitution he bestowed upon us,” said the Chief Minister.

“By ensuring equal opportunities and rights, he provided constitutional protection to every single citizen. Our collective goal must be the realization of Dr. Ambedkar’s ideals. The greatest tribute we can offer to this visionary leader is to uphold democratic values and conduct ourselves as responsible citizens,” he added.

Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan also paid tributes to Ambedkar. “Remembering the visionary leader, scholar, and Bharat Ratna Baba Saheb Ambedkar, the chief architect and Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution, the first Law Minister of independent India, on his birth anniversary. His relentless fight for social justice, equality, and empowerment continues to guide us,” posted Pawan Kalyan.

Meanwhile, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) President K.T. Rama Rao also paid tributes to Ambedkar.

The former minister said that Ambedkar was a noble soul who toiled day and night for the upliftment of the marginalised sections of society.

“Ambedkar was a universal humanist who fought on behalf of the oppressed people. He was a visionary of an egalitarian society who secured rights for people from all walks of life. Ambedkar was the towering intellect who designed the Constitution of India,” KTR said in a post on ‘X’.

He stated that Ambedkar was the visionary who ensured the fulfilment of the Telangana people’s aspiration for a separate state through Article 3.

KTR claimed that the nine-and-a-half-year tenure of the BRS government has been guided by the inspiration of Babasaheb Ambedkar.

“To ensure that Ambedkar’s teachings, ideals, and values are passed on to future generations, the KCR government has erected a 125-ft statue of Ambedkar in the very heart of Hyderabad. The government bestowed the highest honor upon him by naming the Telangana State Secretariat after Ambedkar. On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, we pay our humble and profound tributes to this towering figure,” KTR added.

–IANS

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Congress is the only ray of hope for country: Party leaders ahead of CWC meet

New Delhi, April 8 (IANS) Ahead of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Gujarat on Tuesday, an array of Congress leaders spoke about the role and significance of the grand old party in shaping the country’s future. They spoke highly about party’s ideals and conviction and stated that people of the country are pinning their hopes on it for their future.

The CWC meet is set to take place at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Memorial and will focus on national issues, strengthening of the organisation and preparing a roadmap for upcoming elections.

Congress leader Pawan Khera called the meeting “historic” and emphasised the party’s role as the nation’s beacon of hope.

“This is a very important and historic meeting…I believe that the only ray of hope left for the country is the Congress party. The entire nation is now looking towards Congress,” Khera said, underscoring the responsibility the party bears in guiding the nation forward.

Former Union Minister Salman Khurshid also expressed confidence in the party’s role in shaping India’s future.

He said, “Gujarat has always given strength to this nation. From the freedom struggle till today, Congress has reached important milestones through its principles, and we will draw new strength from here again. I believe, and the Congress Party believes, that what this country truly deserves, what is the rightful due of this nation, Modi government is nowhere close to being able to deliver.”

Sushil Kumar Shinde, former Home Minister, reiterated Congress’ commitment to secularism, saying, “Our governance is not based on caste or religion, we uphold the principles of secularism. This is the land of Mahatma Gandhi, who taught us unity through ‘Ishwar Allah Tero Naam’, and we continue to move forward guided by those values.”

Adding to this, Meira Kumar, former Lok Sabha Speaker acknowledged the importance of Gujarat in the Congress’ history.

“The Congress convention is about to take place here, and Gujarat has always strengthened the Congress. Once again, the people of Gujarat will give strength to the Congress.”

Congress MP Abhishek Singhvi highlighted the rejuvenation of the party’s energy and focus, stating, “With new energy, new momentum, and a new direction for the elevation of the CWC and AICC, we are fully committed to the ‘Punarnirman’ of Congress party in Gujarat.”

Mumtaz Patel further emphasised the symbolic importance of the CWC meeting, asserting, “This meeting is not just symbolic, it sends a message. This is the land of Sardar Patel and Mahatma Gandhi, the soil where the foundation of the freedom struggle was laid. And from here, Congress is planning its revival again. Because if we have to win in the country, we must first win in Gujarat.”

The meeting will be attended by around 170 members including MPs, and former CMs, laying the groundwork for the Congress party’s strategy moving forward, with a focus on revitalising its presence in Gujarat ahead of the next elections.

–IANS

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BJP driven by ideology, not power; Nation First is its core principle: Arunachal CM

Itanagar, Jan 28 (IANS) Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Wednesday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party is a “party with a difference” that functions on the principle of “Nation First” and is guided by ideology rather than the pursuit of power.

While addressing the state-level orientation programme of newly elected Zilla Parishad Chairpersons (ZPCs), Zilla Parishad Members (ZPMs) and Gram Panchayat Chairpersons (GPCs), the Chief Minister contrasted this with other political parties, stating that the BJP prioritises service to the nation and society above individual or party interests.

Congratulating the BJP organisation for its performance in the recent Panchayat elections, the Chief Minister described the results as historic, stating that the party secured an overwhelming presence across the state. He extended his congratulations to party workers and newly elected representatives, noting that a large number of first-time representatives, including graduates and postgraduates, had entered the Panchayati Raj system.

Underscoring the importance of discipline, ideological clarity and grassroots empowerment, Khandu said the orientation programme was aimed at equipping newly elected representatives with clarity on party ideology, responsibilities, conduct and coordination with government systems.

He informed that separate training programmes for Panchayati Raj representatives would also be conducted by the Panchayati Raj Department over the coming days. Tracing Arunachal Pradesh’s democratic journey, he said the state is relatively young in the democratic process, having been formally named and brought under a structured democratic framework only after 1972.

He said that despite historical neglect after Independence, the state has witnessed significant transformation over the last decade, particularly after the BJP formed the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Khandu stressed that development is a continuous process, but said the pace and efficiency of development depend on governance quality.

He asserted that the difference in governance over the last 10 years was clearly visible and urged Panchayat representatives to strengthen democratic institutions at the grassroots. Emphasising the role of Panchayati Raj Institutions in achieving the vision of a “Viksit Bharat”, the Chief Minister said true development cannot be limited to metropolitan cities and must begin from villages and Panchayats.

He said empowered Gram Panchayats would lead to stronger constituencies, districts, states and ultimately a developed nation.

The Chief Minister reminded newly elected representatives that they are now public figures and their conduct reflects not only on themselves but also on the party. He cautioned that the BJP has a strong monitoring and reporting system at the grassroots level and stressed the need for discipline, integrity and accountability.

Khandu assured Panchayat representatives that the government respects the autonomy of Panchayati Raj Institutions and stated that there would be no interference from MLAs in Panchayat functions. He added that the state government would further strengthen Panchayati Raj Institutions by enhancing support systems and decentralising power.

Urging better coordination between party organisation and governance, the Chief Minister suggested integrating elected Panchayat members into booth-level party committees to ensure effective implementation of government schemes and stronger organisational cohesion.

Khandu called upon Panchayat representatives to familiarise themselves with central and state government schemes, including flagship programmes, and act as facilitators for the last-mile delivery of benefits to the poorest sections of society.

He stressed that public service requires knowledge, continuous learning and proactive engagement with officials and institutions. The Chief Minister also highlighted the importance of training, leadership development and ideological grounding, stating that the BJP is not merely a political party but a disciplined, service-oriented movement guided by the principle of “SabkaSaath, Sabka Vikas”.

Khandu also warned that the party would not hesitate to take action against representatives who fail to uphold discipline and performance standards. He urged all elected Panchayat representatives to work as a team, remain active and committed, and contribute meaningfully towards the goal of a developed Arunachal Pradesh.

State BJP President Kaling Moyong, Vice President cum Convenor Chow ZingnuNamchoom, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, cabinet ministers, MLAs, party office-bearers and senior BJP leader Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Public Policy Research Centre Director Dr Sumeet Bhasin, Nitin Vilas Mahadik and Nido Sakter attended the orientation programme.

–IANS

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IIT Delhi leads as seven Indian universities figure in QS Asia top 100 for 2026

New Delhi, Nov 4 (IANS) India marked a milestone in Asian higher education on Tuesday as the QS World University Rankings: Asia 2026 placed seven of its institutions among the continent’s top 100, the same number as last year, yet a testament to resilience amid fiercer regional competition.

The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi retained its crown as the country’s finest, climbing to 59th place with a score of 78.6, buoyed by soaring employer reputation and a surge in high-impact research citations. Close behind, the Indian Institute of Science Bangalore held 64th (76.5), followed by IIT Madras at 70th (75.1), IIT Bombay at 71st (75.0), and IIT Kanpur and IIT Kharagpur sharing 77th (both 73.4).

The University of Delhi rounded out the septet at 95th with 68.5, signalling that India’s academic prestige now extends beyond the storied IIT network into the realm of comprehensive public universities.

Across Asia, the University of Hong Kong seized pole position, nudging Peking University into second. Singapore’s National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University shared third, while Fudan University, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and City University of Hong Kong filled the next rungs, underscoring the stranglehold of Hong Kong, mainland China, and Singapore on elite status.

India’s broader footprint grew impressively: 137 new entrants brought the national total to 294 ranked universities, second only to China’s 395. Five Indian seats occupy Asia’s top 10 for research productivity, and 28 sit in the top 50 — more than double China’s tally — highlighting a nation that publishes prolifically and staffs laboratories with PhD holders.

Yet the scorecard carries cautions. Most flagship IITs slipped in absolute position, with IIT Bombay tumbling 23 places, a slide QS attributes to rivals’ lightning progress in international faculty recruitment, inbound student diversity, and faculty-student ratios.

Foreign academics and overseas undergraduates remain scarce on Indian campuses; infrastructure investment and talent-retention policies lag behind Singapore’s NUS, Beijing’s Tsinghua, or Seoul’s KAIST.

Jessica Turner, QS chief executive, hailed the National Education Policy’s five-year legacy for building “system-level capacity that is globally relevant and locally empowering,” yet warned that the next decade will demand deeper global partnerships and digital-age curricula if India is to challenge the podium.

As vice-chancellors pore over the data in New Delhi and Bengaluru, one truth crystallises: India’s universities are no longer merely catching up — they are sprinting, but the finish line keeps moving eastward.

–IANS

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