PM Modi receives warm welcome at ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sabha’; Nabin hails his resolve to serve people

New Delhi, Jan 17 (IANS) Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) woke up to another harsh winter morning on Saturday, with icy temperatures, dense fog and hazardous air quality combining to intensify discomfort across North India.

The cold wave continued unabated for the sixth consecutive day, while pollution levels breached the “severe” category, prompting authorities to reimpose stringent restrictions under Stage-III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

Minimum temperatures across the national Capital dipped well below seasonal norms, deepening the chill. Delhi recorded a low of 4.3 degrees Celsius, while Safdarjung and Ayanagar weather stations reported 4.7 degrees Celsius a day earlier.

The weather conditions were further compounded by dense fog, which significantly reduced visibility during the early morning hours.

At Indira Gandhi International Airport, visibility dropped to around 350 metres at approximately 6:30 am, leading to operational challenges and flight delays. Airport authorities had issued a travel advisory earlier in the morning, confirming that low-visibility procedures were in place for both arrivals and departures.

In a post on social media platform X, Delhi Airport said, “Low Visibility Procedures are in progress at Delhi Airport. All flight operations are presently normal. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information.”

Meanwhile, air quality deteriorated sharply, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) crossing the 350 mark in several areas. In response, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) enforced Stage-III GRAP measures to curb further environmental and health damage.

Under these restrictions, non-essential construction and demolition activities have been halted, including welding, plastering, painting, piling, trenching and flooring work.

Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed that AQI levels at ITO touched 402, firmly placing it in the “severe” category. According to CPCB standards, AQI readings above 401 indicate severe pollution, posing serious health risks, particularly to children, the elderly and those with respiratory ailments.

Several neighbourhoods reported even higher pollution levels. Anand Vihar emerged as the most polluted area with an AQI of 437, followed by Patparganj at 429, Chandni Chowk at 426, Nehru Nagar at 421 and Vivek Vihar at 418.

Thick smog was visible along major traffic corridors, reducing visibility and worsening commuting conditions.

Authorities have urged residents to limit outdoor activities, especially during early morning and late evening hours, as the twin impact of extreme cold and toxic air continues to grip the region.

–IANS

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Mumbai, Aug 5 (IANS) The Shiv Sena(UBT) has launched a sharp political commentary targeting the Centre, alleging that recent developments and youth-led protests signify growing public discontent.

An editorial in the party’s mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ on Wednesday asserted that electoral outcomes across various regional contests, especially in Bankipur and Datia, reflect shifting voter sentiments regarding governance and socio-economic issues.

The editorial critiqued the ruling party’s legislative approach and claimed that public dissatisfaction is mounting across both national and state levels.

Analysing recent Assembly and regional contests, the editorial highlighted gains by alternative political forces and argued that traditional vote banks are being re-evaluated based on local priorities, employment, and regional development.

According to the editorial, youth have already mounted a challenge against the BJP-led government’s dictatorial functioning. The Assembly by-election results in Bankipur and Datia represent a clear mandate against their corrupt government. The public has taken revenge for the ‘pellet guns’ through these by-election defeats. The beginning of the end of BJP’s politics under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi and HM Amit Shah has commenced.

The editorial said that the ‘Jantar Mantar’ agitation has rattled the Modi government and the results of the by-elections have struck a blow to the BJP’s high-handedness. While the arrogance of the BJP leadership was defeated in the Bihar and Madhya Pradesh by-elections, the BJP managed to retain the Manjalpur Assembly seat in Gujarat. These results mirror the growing restlessness in the Indian public.

“Calling these by-elections ‘mini general elections’ or a ‘mirror of the public mood’ might be an exaggeration. Nonetheless, the results clearly illustrate the current trajectory of political developments,” remarked the editorial.

The editorial further stated that the Bankipur seat was vacated by BJP National President Nitin Nabin and it had been a traditional BJP stronghold since 1995. Prashant Kishor breached this impenetrable fortress of the BJP, while the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) candidate was pushed to third place. Notably, the BJP’s National President failed to retain his own home turf, which must be viewed as a defeat for the entire BJP.

“BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad had brazenly boasted that even if the BJP fielded a dog or a cat in Bankipur, the people would vote for them. They took the voters for granted and tried to fool them, but it backfired. This victory earned Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraag Party a presence in the Assembly. The public rejected Tejashwi Yadav due to his lack of consistency and because the people of Bihar have grown tired of caste politics, prioritising education and employment instead. In the Bankipur constituency, where Muslims and Yadavas form a majority, voters chose to back Prashant Kishor over the Rashtriya Janata Dal. This transformation in Bihar’s politics sets a new direction,” observed the Thackeray camp.

The editorial argued that the young voters in Bankipur dismantled the BJP’s prospects following the ‘Gen Z’ movement at Jantar Mantar. This serves as a stern lesson for the party. Some analysts might suggest that the BJP itself enabled Prashant Kishor’s victory to douse the burning issues surrounding ‘Jantar Mantar’ and the Ram Temple loot, but such claims lack substance.

“What transpired in Bankipur was mirrored in Datia constituency, where Congress’ Ghanshyam Singh defeated the BJP candidate. This seat had fallen vacant following the disqualification of a Congress MLA. Despite the BJP deploying every trick in the book — by hook or by crook — the public rejected them. While it comes as no surprise that the BJP retained Gujarat’s Manjalpur seat, its reputation suffered irreparable damage in Bankipur and Datia,” claimed the editorial.

“The BJP suffered these defeats despite being in power in both Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. While by-election victories cannot be deemed an absolute national mandate, history shows that several by-elections in Indian politics have brought about a complete change of wind,” said the editorial.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena said that the current defeats in Bankipur and Datia have shown that the BJP’s confidence appears shaken over issues like the attacks on Jantar Mantar protesters and temple financial improprieties. “PM Modi and Home Minister Shah have virtually retreated from parliamentary debate. While the BJP has engineered splits in opposition parties and built a majority by poaching regional MPs, the opposition continues to stand firm,” it noted.

The editorial concluded that with young voters taking to the streets against authoritarianism, the purchased majority holds little weight in Parliament or among the public. “These by-election results are a clear verdict against a corrupt administration. If the opposition sets aside its internal ego, the downfall of this authoritarian power is inevitable,” it said.

–IANS

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Srinagar, Sep 15 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday flagged off the first dedicated parcel train from Budgam railway station to Adarsh Nagar in Delhi to address the transportation problems of fruit growers.

“Flagged off the first dedicated Parcel Train from Budgam to Adarsh Nagar Delhi. This new freight train service is a big step for the apple growers of the Union Territory to transport their produce to different parts of the country,” L-G Manoj Sinha said on X.

Due to the continuing off-and-on closure of the Srinagar-Jammu highway, scores of trucks carrying fruit to markets outside the Valley remained stranded between Srinagar and Jammu.

Apple fruit in these stranded trucks has rotted at dozens of places, forcing the carriers to unload the rotten fruit, thereby resulting in huge losses to the apple growers.

In related development, markets in Delhi also reported a sudden receipt of apple consignments all at once when the highway was partially restored, thereby resulting in a fall in prices due to ‘glut’.

J&K Horticulture Minister Javed Ahmad Dar on Monday rushed to Ramban to personally supervise the complete restoration of the highway.

The minister also said that he has spoken to the Lieutenant Governor, requesting him to ensure unhindered movement of fruit trucks on the highest priority for two days every week to address the issue.

Talking to reporters, the minister said, “I will today hold a meeting with officials in Ramban to discuss the issue and will also travel to Udhampur to evaluate the bottlenecks that have left hundreds of trucks stranded and identify remedies.

“I spoke to the Lt Governor about the issue during the function held in Srinagar to inaugurate the parcel train service for ferrying apples from Kashmir to various markets across the country,” he said.

Meanwhile, fruit Mandis across Kashmir observed a complete shutdown on Monday in protest against the government’s failure to ensure the smooth movement of fruit-laden trucks.

Fruit growers and traders have warned of a valleywide strike if the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway is not fully restored within two days.

Many fruit growers broke down while speaking of the losses they have suffered due to the closure of the highway.

The growers rued that their year’s hard work was rotting in stranded trucks.

Fruit Mandis in Sopore, Handwara, Shopian, Kulgam, Anantnag, and other places remained shut.

Contrary to common belief, it is the horticulture industry that is the largest industry in Kashmir and not the tourism industry, which comes second after horticulture in terms of contribution to the gross state domestic product (GSDP).

Horticulture significantly contributes to Kashmir’s GSDP and employment through the cultivation of temperate fruits like apples, walnuts, cherries, almonds and pears, alongside other crops such as saffron and medicinal plants.

The government supports the sector through various developmental initiatives, including promoting high-yield varieties, improving post-harvest management, expanding storage capacity, and integrating farmers with digital platforms.

–IANS

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