Half-day holiday in govt offices in capital today

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Thursday declared half-day holiday in all State-run offices, revenue and executive magistrate courts here in view of the possible traffic congestion during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit on June 20. According to a notification issued by the Revenue and Disaster Management department, the Prime Minister will visit the State capital on Friday to attend the first anniversary of the BJP government led by Mohan Charan Majhi.
'The second half of the day on June 20 has been declared a holiday for all government offices and revenue and magisterial courts located under Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation limits,' the notification said. Earlier, the State government on Wednesday declared closure of all government, government-aided and private schools in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack on June 20 in the wake of the Prime Minister's visit.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday visited Janata Maidan, the venue of the State government's first-anniversary celebration to be attended by the Prime Minister. Modi is scheduled to attend the mega event as the chief guest on Friday.
Accompanied by Odisha BJP president Manohan Samal, party's State in-charge Vijay Pal Singh Tomar, party's State co-incharge Lata Usendi, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja and others, Majhi inspected the venue and directed officials to ensure that all arrangements are made flawless, especially those concerning the Prime Minister's visit. He instructed that all necessary work must be completed by Thursday late evening. DGP Y B Khurania and Additional Chief Secretary, Industries department, Hemant Sharma, briefed the Chief Minister about the detailed preparations made for the event. Samal said the Prime Minister will launch development projects worth Rs 19,000 crore during the event. He said around two lakh people may congregate in the city to attend the State government's anniversary function and listen to the Prime Minister.
Police Commissioner S Dev Dutta Singh said police have made elaborate arrangements as large number of people will gather at the meeting venue at Janata Maidan. Official sources said the Prime Minister will arrive in Bhubaneswar at 3.40 pm, hold a roadshow and participate in a 'Tiranga Yatra' on the way to Janata Maidan. He will reach the venue by 4.15 pm to attend the programme, which is expected to continue till 5.30 pm. He will leave the venue at 5.35 pm and reach the airport at 5.45 pm.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

NDTV

31 minutes ago

• NDTV

5,000 Foreign Facebook Accounts Suddenly Active In Assam: Himanta Sarma

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, during a press conference held at Lok Sewa Bhawan in Dispur today, raised concerns about the sudden activation of thousands of suspicious Facebook accounts ahead of the upcoming elections in the state. Speaking to reporters, the Chief Minister stated, "Around 5,000 Facebook accounts have suddenly become active. These accounts are linked to a particular community, but most of them are operated from outside India." He claimed that these profiles predominantly share content related to Assam's elections and promote a particular political party, while refraining from commenting on national political figures like Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Rahul Gandhi. "They only post hardcore Islamic fundamentalist content, often mixing it with political narratives around Assam. When not posting about Assam, they share content related to Iran, Iraq, Palestine, or religious subjects like Umrah," Mr Sarma added. According to the Assam Chief Minister, many of these accounts are newly created and often list their location as IIT Guwahati to gain credibility. "We checked with IIT Guwahati and found no record of such individuals. Two of the exposed accounts were traced back to Bangladesh and Pakistan. It seems they use false identities and addresses to mislead the public," he said. The Chief Minister said his team has flagged these activities and that the individuals behind such accounts are "under the government's radar." He also hinted at a possible local connection in Guwahati, mentioning the GS Road and Kharghuli areas, though details remained unclear. "This has been going on for about a month now. I won't name anyone, but we are closely monitoring the situation. These people are connected through WhatsApp or Telegram groups. They become active especially after any controversial incident," he said.

Hindustan Times

35 minutes ago

• Hindustan Times

BJP, RSS discouraging English learning to deny poor opportunities: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday attacked the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological fount, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), for discouraging the learning of English to deny India's poor the tools to question authority and access opportunity. 'English is not a dam, but a bridge. English is not a shame, but power. English is not a chain, but a tool to break the chains. The BJP and RSS do not want poor kids of India to learn English because they do not want you to ask questions, move ahead and become equal,' Gandhi wrote on X as he posted a video criticising the RSS for opposing the widespread use of English. '[RSS chief] Mohan Bhagwat says every day to not speak in English but in Hindi. But, if you look at the kids of those in the RSS and the BJP, everyone goes to England for studies… What is the thought behind it? Because they do not want you to enter the board rooms, or for you to get high-paying jobs. They want to go to English schools, carry on with their contracts… They want to keep the doors closed for you.' Gandhi underlined the role of English and native languages as a means of empowerment. He argued English plays a crucial role in instilling confidence and enhancing employment prospects, just like one's mother tongue. 'Every language of India has soul, culture, and knowledge. We have to cherish them, and at the same time, teach English to every child. This is the path to an India that competes with the world and gives every child an equal opportunity.'

Hans India

41 minutes ago

• Hans India

Prime Minister Modi Targets Opposition Dynasty Politics During Major Bihar Rally

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the RJD-Congress alliance during a major political rally in Bihar's Siwan district, accusing the opposition parties of prioritizing family advancement over public welfare. Speaking to a large gathering during his fifth visit to the state in just five months, Modi drew sharp contrasts between his government's inclusive development approach and what he characterized as the opposition's dynastic political culture. The Prime Minister used the occasion to dedicate development projects worth Rs 10,000 crore to the people of Bihar while simultaneously launching a pointed critique of his political opponents. Modi's choice of Siwan as the venue was strategically significant, given that this district and surrounding areas like Gopalganj and Chapra represent traditional strongholds of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, making it crucial battleground territory for the upcoming electoral contest. Modi's central message revolved around contrasting political philosophies, emphasizing his government's commitment to "Sabka saath, sabka vikas" (together with all, development for all) against what he termed the opposition's focus on "parivaar ka saath, parivaar ka vikas" (family support, family development). This wordplay effectively highlighted his accusation that RJD and Congress leaders have consistently placed their family interests above broader public welfare concerns. The Prime Minister specifically targeted the historical impact of Congress policies on India's economic development, claiming that the party's "licence raj" system was fundamentally responsible for perpetuating poverty across the nation. He argued that while ordinary citizens remained trapped in economic hardship, the families of Congress leaders accumulated substantial wealth and political influence through these restrictive economic policies. Modi's critique extended to the social justice implications of dynasty politics, asserting that Dalit and backward communities have suffered the most under systems that prioritize family connections over merit and genuine representation. This argument was clearly designed to appeal to Bihar's significant Dalit population, which comprises nearly 20 percent of the state's voters and represents a crucial electoral demographic. The rally also served as a platform for Modi to address recent controversies surrounding the RJD's alleged treatment of constitutional symbols. He specifically referenced claims that RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav had shown disrespect toward a portrait of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the chief architect of India's Constitution. Modi declared that the people of Bihar would never forgive such insults to Ambedkar's legacy, attempting to position his party as the true defender of constitutional values and Dalit dignity. These remarks appeared calculated to counter ongoing criticism from RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who has repeatedly highlighted instances of alleged nepotism within the ruling BJP-JD(U) alliance. Tejashwi has focused attention on appointments of relatives of various NDA leaders to important state commissions and positions, creating a potential vulnerability that Modi sought to neutralize through his offensive against opposition dynasty politics. The Prime Minister's appeal to voters included direct references to Bihar's turbulent political history, specifically invoking memories of the "jungle raj" period associated with previous RJD governments. He characterized this era as one of lawlessness and systematic looting of state resources, urging voters to reject political forces that he claimed had brought chaos and corruption to Bihar's governance. Modi's frequent visits to Bihar reflect the high stakes involved in the state's political future for both the ruling alliance and the opposition coalition. The BJP-JD(U) combine faces a direct challenge from the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance), making every public appearance and development announcement politically significant in the lead-up to elections. The development projects announced during the rally represent a substantial investment in Bihar's infrastructure and economic growth, potentially serving dual purposes as both genuine development initiatives and campaign tools designed to demonstrate the ruling alliance's commitment to the state's progress. These announcements allow Modi to present concrete achievements while simultaneously criticizing opposition parties for their alleged failures during previous tenures. The timing and location of Modi's rally underscore the intensifying political competition in Bihar, where control of state government carries implications for national politics given Bihar's significant representation in Parliament. The state's complex social demographics, including substantial populations of various caste groups, require careful political messaging that balances development promises with appeals to identity-based loyalties. Modi's strategy of combining development announcements with sharp political attacks reflects a broader approach of positioning his party as both a deliverer of progress and a defender against political dynasties that allegedly exploit public resources for private gain. This dual messaging aims to consolidate support among voters who prioritize both economic development and political accountability in their electoral choices.