Assam CM takes swipe at Congress during Panchayat poll campaign

Kolkata, Jan 16 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday was conducting raid and search operations at two locations in and around Kolkata in connection with bank loan forgery cases worth around Rs 6,000 crore.

Sources aware of the development said that the two places where the ED officials have been conducting marathon raids and search operations since morning are two residences — the first being at Behala in the southern outskirts of Kolkata and the second being at Shibpur in Kolkata-adjacent Howrah district.

One of the two houses where raid and search operations were taking place belongs to a local businessman, Deepak Jain.

Each team of ED officials is being escorted by Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel.

Sources said that the raids were taking place in continuation of similar raids at the residence of a Kolkata-based businessman at Ballygunge in South Kolkata in December 2024, in relation to a bank loan forgery amounting to Rs 6,000 crore.

Cash worth Rs 2 crore, jewellery worth Rs 4.5 crore and two luxurious vehicles were seized by the ED officials then from his residence.

Sanjay Surekha, the owner of Comcast Steel and Power Limited, was also arrested by the ED sleuths then.

The main charge against Surekha was that after claiming loans worth Rs 6,000 crore from a consortium of commercial banks through multiple accounts, he defaulted when the time for repayment came.

Sources said that currently, the Central agency officials are in the process of tracking the money trail to have a clear idea of how the bank loan taken by the Surekha was misused.

Charges are there that bank accounts registered in the names of the employees and business associates of the said corporate entity were also utilized in securing the loans. In addition, Surekha was also unable to furnish the details of the cash recovered from his residence as well as the sources of funds for purchasing the costly jewellery and the foreign-made luxury cars.

–IANS

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Surat, March 2 (IANS) Surat commuters in Gujarat have received an infrastructural boost with the inauguration of a Rs 54-crore, 502-metre-long railway underpass bridge connecting Limbayat and Dindoli.

The longest railway underpass in the state, built jointly by the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) and the Gujarat government’s Urban Development Department, was officially opened to the public by the BJP State President and Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil on Sunday.

The state-of-the-art underpass aims to eliminate frequent traffic jams and accidents at the railway crossing, providing faster and safer connectivity for thousands of daily commuters.

Equipped with a Rs 1.5 crore HVAC system, it ensures clean air circulation by removing vehicle emissions. The project also includes fire safety measures, further enhancing security for motorists.

Previously, commuters had to take a 2-3 km detour to avoid the railway crossing. With seven railway lines passing through the area, this underpass significantly reduces congestion and enhances road safety.

Speaking at the inauguration, Minister C.R. Patil described the project as a game-changer for Surat’s transport network, thanking local authorities for their efforts. “This bridge is a much-needed solution, saving time and ensuring a hassle-free commute for the people of Surat,” he said.

In a post on his X handle, Minister Patil wrote in Gujarati (loosely translated as), “Today, I felt a great sense of joy while paving the underpass connecting Limbayat and Dindoli in the Limbayat Assembly. This underpass is the first underpass in the state, which is equipped with a complete weatherproof system. When this underpass is opened, approximately 60,000 motorists will get relief from traffic every day…”

The state has an extensive road network of over 1.68 lakh kilometers, including 49 national highways spanning 6,572 km and well-maintained state highways that ensure seamless connectivity. It also has a robust railway network of around 5,300 km, facilitating the movement of goods and passengers.

Gujarat is home to 49 ports, including major ones like Kandla, Mundra, and Pipavav, which handle a significant share of India’s maritime trade. Mundra Port, in particular, is the largest commercial port in India.

Its industrial infrastructure is robust, with Special Economic Zones (SEZs), industrial clusters, and dedicated investment regions like the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) and the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC).

–IANS

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Guwahati, April 18 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday hailed the inclusion of Shrimad Bhagavad Gita in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register.

Taking to X, CM Sarma wrote, “Bharat’s civilisational essence gets global recognition. In a proud moment for all, The Gita and Natyashastra, repositories of our timeless wisdom, have been included in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register.”

“This is a befitting recognition for the ancient knowledge of Bharat,” he added.

Notably, the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, a noted Hindu scripture and the Natyashastra, an Indian treatise on performing arts, have been included in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the development as a proud moment for every Indian. The news was shared by Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

The Union Minister took to X and informed, “The Shrimad Bhagavad Gita and Bharat Muni’s Natyashastra are now inscribed in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register.”

He also described it as a historic moment for Bharat’s civilisational heritage and added, “This global honour celebrates India’s eternal wisdom & artistic genius.”

He emphasised that these works are more than literary masterpieces – they are philosophical and aesthetic foundations that have profoundly influenced India’s worldview and modes of thought, emotion, expression, and living.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the development as a “proud moment for every Indian across the world”.

“The inclusion of the Gita and Natyashastra in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register is a global recognition of our timeless wisdom and rich culture. The Gita and Natyashastra have nurtured civilisation and consciousness for centuries. Their insights continue to inspire the world,” PM Modi wrote in a post on X.

The UNESCO Memory of the World Register honours documentary heritage which is deemed to hold exceptional universal value. It includes texts, manuscripts, and documents that have significantly shaped human history and continue to influence generations.

With this addition, India has 14 entries in the prestigious Memory of the World Register. The Bhagavad Gita, a sacred dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, forms a part of the Mahabharata.

Comprising 700 verses across 18 chapters, the text addresses profound philosophical questions, encouraging action, selflessness, and devotion.

It synthesises key elements from Vedic, Buddhist, Jain, and Carvaka traditions, making it a cornerstone of India’s intellectual and spiritual heritage. The Gita has been studied and translated across the globe for centuries.

The Natyashastra, attributed to the sage Bharat Muni, is the foundational treatise on Indian performing arts, encompassing theatre, dance, and music. It has shaped classical art traditions across centuries and remains a guiding text for artists and scholars alike.

–IANS

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