L.K. Advani’s son Jayant Advani recalls BJP’s rise after Ram Janmabhoomi movement, prays for his good health

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

New Delhi, Nov 8 (IANS) Jayant Advani, son of BJP stalwart and former Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani, on Sunday expressed gratitude to senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and party workers for coming together to pray for his father’s good health as he entered his 100th year.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Nitin Nabin, along with several other senior party leaders, on Sunday performed a special ‘puja’ and ‘havan’ to mark the 100th birthday celebrations of Advani.

The special religious ceremony was organised at the BJP Central Office, where party leaders offered prayers for Advani’s good health, longevity and well-being as he entered his 100th year.

The veteran leader’s children, Pratibha Advani and Jayant Advani, also attended the event.

Speaking to IANS, Jayant Advani thanked the party leadership and workers for organising prayers on the occasion and said that his only wish was for his father to remain healthy and continue to receive God’s blessings for the rest of his life.

“I would first like to thank the senior leaders of the party and all the party workers. We have all gathered here today to pray for Advani’s good health. May God keep him healthy and bless him with good health for the rest of his life, however long it may be. This is my only prayer to God,” he told IANS.

Recalling the significance of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, Jayant Advani said that the period remained an unforgettable chapter in the country’s political history and played a crucial role in strengthening the BJP’s presence across India.

“That period is always remembered, and it is a time we can never forget. The Ram Janmabhoomi movement, which began in 1990, provided a surge of strength to the party; the wave of support for the BJP that swept across the country emerged precisely following this Ram Mandir movement. Since 1990, we have witnessed the BJP’s consistent improvement in performance,” he said.

He further highlighted the BJP’s growth over the years, pointing out that the party had evolved into the country’s largest political organisation, with crores of members, a government at the Centre and in several states.

“I believe that it is thanks to the contributions made by our veteran leaders that we are able to witness the present day — the day we see now,” he added.

The occasion was marked by tributes to the veteran leader’s long political career and his significant contribution to the growth and development of the BJP.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also penned a detailed article on the occasion, reflecting on Advani’s life, political journey and lasting contribution to the country as the senior BJP leader entered his 100th year on November 8.

In his article, the Prime Minister highlighted several defining moments of Advani’s life and political career, describing his journey as closely connected with some of the most significant chapters in modern India’s history.

–IANS

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NGT bars sports activities at three cricket stadiums over environmental non-compliance

Jaipur, July 10 (IANS) The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed an interim ban on sports activities at three major cricket stadiums across the country, including Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium, for failing to comply with environmental directions related to groundwater use and water conservation.

The interim order was passed by the Principal Bench of the NGT, comprising Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Chairperson, and Expert Member Dr Afroz Ahmad, while hearing an execution application in O.A. No. 94/2021 and the connected O.A. No. 348/2024.

The Tribunal observed that despite repeated notices issued by both the NGT and the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), the three stadiums failed to furnish the required information regarding groundwater extraction and compliance with environmental norms.

The stadiums are Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur; Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur; and Dr D. Y. Patil Stadium, Mumbai. As an interim measure, the NGT has restrained these stadiums from conducting any sports activities without obtaining prior permission from the Tribunal until the next hearing.

The case concerns the implementation of environmental safeguards, including the use of treated sewage treatment plant (STP) water instead of groundwater for maintaining cricket grounds, installation of rainwater harvesting systems, and adherence to groundwater conservation norms.

The Tribunal noted that, given the increasing water scarcity in several parts of the country, all stadiums were expected to comply with environmental regulations.

However, the three stadiums failed to respond despite multiple notices from both the NGT and the CGWA.

The NGT has also directed the Central Ground Water Authority to prepare a fresh tabulated compliance report based on the responses received from the concerned stadiums. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on August 17, 2026.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT), set up under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, is a specialised judicial body that hears cases relating to environmental protection, forest conservation, pollution and natural resources, with the mandate to ensure the effective and expeditious disposal of environmental disputes.

–IANS

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Kerala: High-level probe into Kollam flyover collapse begins today

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 7 (IANS) A high-level probe into the collapse of a portion of the under-construction flyover on NH 66 at Mylakkadu near Kottiyam in Kerala’s Kollam district will begin on Sunday, even as it has emerged that a crucial technical warning, issued four months ago, was allegedly ignored.

The warning had come from a four-member expert committee appointed by the NHAI following a similar collapse at Kooriyad in Malappuram earlier this year.

After inspecting the Kollam Bypass–Kadambattukonam stretch of NH 66, the committee had flagged severe lapses in construction and critically weak soil conditions at multiple locations.

In its report, the committee stated: “Similar concerns exist along the under-construction protection wall in the Kollam Bypass–Kadambattukonam reach as well. The soil is weak in several stretches, with Standard Penetration Test (SPT) results at some locations as low as 0 or 1. This is extremely critical. Unless the soil is strengthened, the wall under construction is at risk of caving in.”

The panel had also prescribed corrective measures, including soil strengthening and structural reinforcement.

However, the “failure” to implement these recommendations is now being seen as a key factor behind the collapse, the panel said.

The flyover’s sidewall gave way on the evening of December 5, creating large craters on the adjoining service road and leaving a few vehicles trapped. Though no casualties were reported, the incident caused panic among residents and led to the closure of the affected stretch, disrupting traffic movement along the busy corridor.

As part of the probe, a team of NHAI technical experts from Delhi will inspect the site today. This will be followed by a visit from NHAI Chairman Santosh Yadav on Monday to assess the damage and review the progress of restoration works.

Officials said temporary restoration of traffic along the damaged service road is expected by Monday, subject to safety clearance.

Meanwhile, punitive action has been initiated against the agencies involved.

The Delhi-based contractor Shivalaya Construction Ltd, along with consultancy firms Feedback Infra and Sathra Services, has been barred from participating in NHAI tender processes for a month.

–IANS

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BJD and Congress MLAs slam Governor’s address, walk out of Odisha Assembly

Bhubaneswar, Feb 17 (IANS) The Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Indian National Congress (INC) slammed the address delivered in the Odisha Assembly by Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati on the first day of the Budget Session on Tuesday.

Members of both the Congress and the BJD also staged a walkout from the House in protest against the Governor’s address.

Speaking to media persons, Leader of Opposition and BJD president Naveen Patnaik criticised the Governor’s address in the Assembly, stating that it was “strong in words but weak in action,” and failed to reflect the ground realities of governance.

The veteran leader also expressed serious concerns over the rising incidents of mob lynching in Odisha, as well as across India, alleging deterioration in the law-and-order situation.

He said that the law-and-order situation in Odisha under the current BJP-led government is in a dreadful state. Patnaik further added that nowhere else in the country can one find such reports of violence and deterioration in law and order as in Odisha.

Meanwhile, Congress Legislature Party leader Rama Chandra Kadam alleged that there is no similarity between the statements of the government and the Governor’s speech delivered in the State Assembly on Tuesday.

The senior Congress leader also alleged that the state government is not committed to the development of Odisha and to safeguarding its interests.

The ruling BJP, on the other hand, targeted the opposition parties, saying that they are confused and cannot tolerate the rapid development of the state under the current government.

Notably, the Budget Session of the Odisha Assembly commenced on Tuesday with the Governor delivering his address. He called upon the members to discharge their solemn responsibilities with dedication and work in unison to ensure inclusive growth.

He said that the state government aspires to create a Viksit Odisha by 2036, the centenary of the state’s formation.

Governor Kambhampati also highlighted several welfare and developmental initiatives undertaken by the state government to achieve its goals in agriculture, industry, education, infrastructure, tourism, healthcare, and the IT and ITES sectors.

The Governor’s address will be followed by a two-day discussion on his address. The State Budget will be presented on February 20 by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who also holds the Finance portfolio.

According to official sources, the sixth session of the 17th Odisha Assembly is scheduled to conclude on April 8. The session will be held in two phases and will comprise 28 working days.

–IANS

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