Cabinet okays interest subsidy on farmers’ loans for 2025-26

Isagarh (Madhya Pradesh), April 11 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday, underscored the “principle of service” as a foundation of Advaita’s teachings and highlighted how this philosophy has been seamlessly integrated into several transformative welfare initiatives of his government.

He was addressing a gathering of devotees at the Anandpur Dham in Isagarh town of Madhya Pradesh’s Ashoknagar district.

Citing examples, PM Modi mentioned the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, which ensures that no poor individual goes hungry, and the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Yojana, which has alleviated the burden of medical expenses for underprivileged communities.

He further elaborated on the PM Awas Yojana, which guarantees secure and permanent housing for many poor people, and the Jal Jeevan Mission Yojana, which has brought clean water solutions to villages across the country.

The Union government, the Prime Minister noted, has also made significant strides in expanding educational and healthcare infrastructure, with a record number of new AIIMS, IITs, and IIMs being established, enabling even the most disadvantaged children to fulfill their dreams.

The Prime Minister commended the Anandpur Trust for its exemplary charitable contributions, noting that this spirit of service aligns seamlessly with the ethos of government programmes.

Reflecting on his recent discussion with Sixth Padshahi Vicharpurna Anandji Maharaj of the Advaita sect at the Anandpur Dham, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the Union government’s unwavering dedication to inclusive development, describing it as a testament to the nation’s collective “spirit of service”.

In addition to addressing social and educational needs, PM Modi highlighted the Union government’s commitment to environmental conservation.

He praised the “Mother Tree” campaign, under which millions of trees have been planted across the country, reflecting a profound dedication to protecting and nurturing nature for future generations.

At the heart of this mission, the Prime Minister said lies the principle of ensuring progress for all sections of society.

This philosophy fosters resilience and unity among citizens through “acts of service,” a value deeply rooted in the teachings of Advaita.

Such acts, he remarked, enrich not only society but also individual character.

PM Modi observed that devotees and others at Anandpur Dham were rendering selfless service through initiatives such as free medical camps, modern cowsheds, and schools.

These efforts, he noted, not only uplift humanity but also champion environmental conservation.

Rooted in the ethos of service, these initiatives drive national development while strengthening individual capacity to overcome challenges, the Prime Minister said.

The Union government’s resolve, he affirmed, reflects its unwavering commitment to uplifting communities and safeguarding the environment, ensuring a harmonious and inclusive journey of progress.

Reiterating the significance of Advaita’s philosophy, which advocates unity and harmony by recognising the divine essence in all beings, the Prime Minister emphasised how this perspective dissolves barriers between individuals, fostering a collective spirit of service and inclusivity.

He also drew attention to cultural preservation efforts, including granting the GI tag to Chanderi Sarees (at nearby town), establishing a handloom tourism village in Pranpur (a nearby village), and marathon preparing for the forthcoming Ujjain Simhastha.

He said the Union government is also developing Ram Van Gaman Path, which would add another ‘Unique’ identity to Madhya Pradesh as a large stretch of the ‘Path’ will pass through the state.

These initiatives, he remarked, exemplify the balance between heritage conservation and progress and a gesture from the government to return something to society.

Concluding his address, PM Modi affirmed the importance of safeguarding India’s cultural and spiritual identity amid its developmental journey.

He expressed confidence that Anandpur Sahib Dham would continue to play a pivotal role in advancing the vision of a developed and inclusive India.

Earlier, PM Modi offered his reverences to the Guruji Adwait Anand Parmanand Dayalji Maharaj (first Padshahi) and all six Gurus.

He also offered flowers to the Anandpur Sarovar.

The Anandpur Trust was established on April 22, 1954.

–IANS

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Chennai, Feb 5 (IANS) Tamil Nadu BJP spokesperson A.N.S. Prasad has accused the ruling DMK of abandoning Tamil god Lord Murugan in an attempt to appease minority vote banks. His remarks came in response to the recent protests at the Thirupparankundram hill shrine in Madurai district.

The controversy erupted after some Muslim organisations reportedly demanded the renaming of the hillock – home to both the Lord Murugan temple and a dargah – as Sikkandar Malai. This triggered protests from right-wing outfit Hindu Munnani, which argued that the hill is sacred to Lord Murugan and should not be renamed.

On February 4, the situation turned tense as Tamil Nadu Police arrested Hindu Munnani activists protesting at the site.

Criticising the crackdown, Prasad questioned whether supporting Tamil god Murugan now meant facing “emergency-like suppression and house arrest.”

Prasad further accused the DMK of being anti-Hindu and attempting to suppress the movement to protect Lord Murugan’s sacred site. He asserted that the growing Hindu resurgence in Tamil Nadu would ultimately overthrow the DMK government.

“Among Lord Murugan’s six sacred abodes, Thirupparankundram is the first. The peaceful protest by Hindu organisations was meant to protect it, but the DMK government chose to suppress and crush this movement,” he said.

The BJP leader also questioned the existence of the Sikandar Dargah on Murugan’s sacred hill. Calling it a “historical blunder,” he alleged that the dargah was a result of an attempt to seize Murugan’s land. He linked the site to Malik Kafur’s invasions and claimed that Sikandar, a tyrant, was defeated during the Vijayanagara Empire’s rule.

According to Prasad, the British colonial regime fueled Hindu-Muslim divisions by converting Sikandar’s burial site into a dargah. He accused the DMK government of hiding this historical truth and using the presence of the dargah to impose restrictions on Hindu devotees at Thirupparankundram Hill.

The BJP leader also criticised the Tamil Nadu government for allegedly denying permission to light the ceremonial Karthigai Deepam lamp at the hill temple, calling it an act of disrespect towards Tamil Hindu traditions.

Prasad accused the DMK of prioritising minority vote banks over Tamil culture and Hindu beliefs. He claimed that while the government allowed practices such as animal sacrifices – allegedly not part of Islamic traditions – it actively suppressed Hindu protests aimed at protecting Murugan’s sacred land.

“DMK assumes Hindus are weak and can be deceived by Aryan-Dravidian and North-South propaganda. Since minorities vote for DMK en masse, the party always favours them over Hindus,” he alleged.

However, he asserted that Tamil Hindus have now awakened to what he described as DMK’s anti-Hindu stance. He pointed to the large gathering in Madurai’s Palanganatham as proof of this growing discontent.

A.N.S. Prasad also criticised the Tamil Nadu government’s response to the protests, citing the imposition of Section 144 in the Madurai district and the arrest of Hindu activists and BJP leaders across Tamil Nadu. He also alleged that many were placed under house arrest.

“Even during the Emergency, such levels of repression were not seen,” he said, adding that despite the crackdown, Murugan devotees remained resolute.

–IANS

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Morena, Jan 21 (IANS) Farmers in Madhya Pradesh’s Morena district on Tuesday carried out a tractor-march to protest against the auction of a portion of land earlier given on lease to a sugar mill, which had been lying defunct since 2011.

Hundreds of farmers drove tractors towards the sugar mill in Morena to oppose the auction process at the mill premises.

The protest named ‘Jail Bharo Aandolan’ was supported by Congress as tractors rolled on Morena’s road bearing the party’s flag.

To ensure law and order in the city, Morena District Police has put up barricades to stop protesters from entering the mill’s area, during which, heated arguments were exchanged between protesters and police personnel, according to the report.

Congress MLA from Joura Assembly seat in Morena, Pankaj Upadhyay told media persons that the auction process was put on hold following the protest.

“Morena district administration has assured that the sugar mill will be revived and made functional again. The administration will carry out the auction process later,” he added.

The Morena sugar factory, also known as the Kailaras sugar mill, was established in 1973 but closed in 2010-2011 due to relentless revenue loss.

It is said that the factory was closed due to a shortage of sugarcane and working capital. Notably, the state government has planned to revive the Kailaras Sugar Mill, and for this purpose, a revival plan was made, which includes the sale of around 27 hectares of land to clear the debt owed to farmers and workers.

The task of initiating bids and selling the land has been assigned to the Department of Industry.

Interestingly, the increasing use of ethanol as an alternative to petroleum products has brought new hope to the sugar industry.

Many sugar mills in states like Uttar Pradesh and across the country, which had been shut down for years, are now being reopened, with the rising demand for ethanol playing a key role in their resurgence.

–IANS

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