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India Gazette
12 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Bihar: PM Modi to flag off Vande Bharat Express from Patliputra to Gorakhpur, unveil Rs 9,300 crore projects
Patna (Bihar) [India], June 20 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to flag off the Vande Bharat Express connecting Patliputra in Bihar to Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh today. The train will run via Muzaffarpur and Bettiah, further enhancing rail connectivity between the two states. The event is being held at Patliputra Junction, where senior BJP leaders and local officials have gathered for the ceremonial flag-off. Speaking to ANI, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad said, 'We are here to flag off the Vande Bharat train. The Prime Minister truly loves Bihar and is always concerned about its development. Every time he visits, projects worth thousands of crores are launched or inaugurated.' In addition to the Vande Bharat Express, the Prime Minister's visit will also include the launch and foundation-laying of several urban and transport development projects in Bihar. Bihar Minister Nitin Nabin told ANI that schemes worth over Rs 6,000 crore are being unveiled today, including the Patna-Gorakhpur Expressway and the inauguration of the state's largest sewage treatment plant under the Namami Gange initiative. Calling these developments a 'major gift' for Bihar, Nabin added, 'These projects will significantly improve connectivity and infrastructure in the region. We are grateful to the Hon'ble Prime Minister.' However, the visit sparked criticism from opposition leaders. Congress MP Pramod Tiwari alleged that such visits were timed for political advantage. 'The PM conducts visits and does inaugurations in a state when elections are approaching. This will continue till November,' he said. Responding to criticism from opposition parties, Ravi Shankar Prasad said, 'They are calling today a 'rain of lies'--but is the Vande Bharat train a lie? Are highways and sewer plants fiction? Development speaks for itself. Those who refuse to see it are the ones losing ground politically.' Executive Director of Information and Publicity (EDIP) at the Railway Board, Dilip Kumar, told ANI, 'Vande Bharat Express, Namo Rapid Rail, and Amrit Bharat Express constitute the trinity of the modern transport system of Indian Railways, and to strengthen this trinity, the new Vande Bharat will start today. This train will be run between Patliputra and Gorakhpur stations and will cover the distance between both stations in 7 hours' 'This train goes on from places where the transportation system of Vande Bharat didn't exist... This makes it the first Vande Bharat in this area, and it is crucial since one section of society has been demanding this for a long time...,' he added. The Prime Minister's visit is being closely watched as it comes months ahead of the crucial Bihar Assembly elections, where infrastructure and connectivity are expected to be key electoral issues. (ANI)
India Gazette
12 hours ago
- Business
- India Gazette
"Development of Bihar is in PM's heart": BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad
Patna (Bihar) [India], June 20 (ANI): BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bihar on Friday, saying that the state's development remained a top priority for the Prime Minister. Speaking to ANI, Ravi Shankar Prasad said, 'The development of Bihar is in the PM's heart. Whenever he comes to Bihar, development projects worth thousands of crores become a reality here,' underlining the central government's commitment to the state's progress. He also reacted to RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav's recent remarks, calling them 'petty' and urging him to focus on constructive activities like yoga. 'I do not want to comment on these petty matters. Let the elections come, we will give a lot of answers... I would request him that tomorrow is Yoga Day, come and do some Yoga, do some Pranayam, you will get a lot of peace,' he added. He also spoke at the train flagging-off ceremony, stating, 'We are here to flag off the Vande Bharat train. The PM really adores the state of Bihar and is concerned about its development.' Meanwhile, the Prime Minister will embark on a two-day visit, beginning with Bihar and Odisha today, followed by Andhra Pradesh on June 21. The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate multiple development projects at Siwan, a major boost to infrastructure and socio-economic development in Bihar today. Boosting railway infrastructure in the region, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the new Vaishali-Deoria railway line project worth over Rs 400 crore and flag off a new train service on this route. Additionally, in a major boost to connectivity in North Bihar, the Prime Minister will also flag off the Vande Bharat Express between Patliputra and Gorakhpur via Muzaffarpur and Bettiah. Furthering the vision of 'Make in India - Make for the World,' the Prime Minister will also flag off a state-of-the-art locomotive built at the Marhowra Plant, for export to the Republic of Guinea. This is the first export locomotive manufactured in this factory. They are equipped with high-horsepower engines, advanced AC propulsion systems, microprocessor-based control systems, ergonomic cab designs and incorporate technologies like regenerative braking. In line with his commitment to conserving and rejuvenating the river Ganga, the Prime Minister will inaugurate six Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) under the Namami Gange project, worth over Rs 1,800 crore, to cater to the needs of people in the region. The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for water supply, sanitation, and STPs worth over Rs 3000 crore in various towns across Bihar, aiming to provide clean and safe drinking water to the citizens of these towns. In a major boost to power infrastructure in the region, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for a 500 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) capacity in Bihar. Standalone BESSs are being installed at 15 grid substations of the state, including Muzaffarpur, Motihari, Bettiah, and Siwan, among others. The capacity of the battery to be installed in each sub-station is between 20 and 80 MWh. It will save the distribution companies from buying electricity at expensive rates by feeding the already stored electricity back to the grid, directly benefiting the consumers. The Prime Minister will also release the first instalment to more than 53,600 beneficiaries of PMAY U in Bihar. He will also hand over keys to a few beneficiaries to mark the Grih Pravesh Ceremony of more than 6,600 completed houses of PMAY U. (ANI)
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
8yo girl on vacation raped, murdered in Firozabad; teen neighbour, family held
Agra: A summer vacation turned tragic for an 8-year-old Hathras girl, who was allegedly raped and murdered by her 19-year-old neighbour, while visiting her maternal grandmother in a village in Firozabad district of UP, police said on Thursday. The accused, along with his parents and brother, has been arrested. Police added the body of the Class 4 student was recovered from a sack hidden under a pile of bricks inside his house on Wednesday evening. The crime took place on Tuesday when the girl went missing while playing outside her grandmother's house. After several hours of searching, her family filed a missing person's complaint in Firozabad. During the investigation, a local told police that the accused had sent the girl to a nearby shop to buy food earlier that day. He was initially detained, and during interrogation, he confessed to sexually assaulting and then strangling the child to death. SP City (Firozabad) Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "The accused told us that after brutally murdering her, he also tried to hide the evidence, which included a gold chain. Then he was taken to the crime scene, where we also found a country-made pistol..." According to police, while recovering the items, the accused "opened fire on the cops with the illegal firearm". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo In self-defence, police retaliated, injuring him in the leg. He was taken to a trauma centre for medical attention. From the spot, police recovered the girl's gold chain, the illegal firearm, and some cartridges. The accused's parents, both in their late 40s, and his 20-year-old brother were also arrested for allegedly helping him conceal the crime. "They were aware of the incident and supported him. All four have been sent to jail and the child's body was sent for postmortem," said the station house officer. According to police, the families were neighbours, and the girl was familiar with the accused. A case was registered under BNS sections 137-2 (kidnapping), 65-2 (rape of woman under 16 years of age), 66 (causing death or resulting in persistent vegetative state of victim), 103 (murder), 238 (disappearance of evidence or giving false information to screen an offender) and the Pocso Act.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
In battle of the delegations, real story lies in what went unsaid
In the aftermath of their recent military clash, rival delegations from Delhi and Islamabad converged on various global capitals, each aiming to shape elite opinion, win sympathy, and control the post-crisis narrative. Having witnessed some of the exchanges in London firsthand, the diplomatic duel across briefing rooms, think tanks, and diaspora events was as revealing for what was unsaid as for what was spoken. Messaging starts with messengers The difference in delegation profiles was notable. India's all-party parliamentary mission carried symbolic weight and cross-party legitimacy, including senior figures like Ravi Shankar Prasad and Pankaj Saran. Pakistan's team leaned more on technocrats and veteran advocates of global engagement, such as Sherry Rehman and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. India's group projected cohesion and resolve; Pakistan's aimed to influence narratives and broaden appeal. India's cautious case India's delegation framed Operation Sindoor as part of a broader shift: limited cross-border retaliation to terrorist acts as policy, not aberration. They emphasized terrorism as a global threat whose response merits international understanding—not moral equivalence. The delegation linked India's counterterrorism struggle to challenges faced by Western democracies, with Pakistan as a common denominator. In my observation, Indian representatives appeared quietly frustrated that while many countries expressed sympathy after Pahalgam and tacitly accepted India's right to act, few explicitly condemned Pakistan. Though confident in their message, their delivery often felt restrained. In think tanks, the tone was formal, even stiff; diaspora engagements were reportedly more fiery. Though most accepted the delegation's basic premise, some observers noted the irony in Delhi resisting calls to frame Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a shared threat but now seeking solidarity on Pakistani-based terrorism. Crucially, the delegation faltered when pressed on domestic radicalization. Two of the Pahalgam suspects were reportedly Indian nationals. Asked how New Delhi planned to prevent disillusionment turning to violence, the only response was that 'things today are better than in the 1990s.' This was a missed chance to demonstrate nuanced understanding of the challenge. Other inconsistencies emerged. India's representatives rejected 're-hyphenation' with Pakistan, yet much of their messaging focused on Islamabad. While stressing the quarrel was with Pakistan's military, not its people, questions about suspending the Indus Waters Treaty complicated that briefings took place inside the High Commission, with diaspora members complaining to me that they thought too much political outreach was aimed at UK politicians of Indian heritage. Playing it safe has a certain logic, but may have limited engagement with new or skeptical audiences. Pak's polished—but problematic—pitch If India played it safe, Pakistan opted for smooth. Their delegation turned up at major think tanks eager to engage and keen to appear misunderstood. With assistance from lobbying professionals, their narrative was tightly crafted for European audiences: Pakistan sought peace through dialogue, emphasising Kashmir as the 'unfinished legacy of Partition,' terrorism, and water. Pakistan said it wanted talks, a neutral investigation into Pahalgam, and accused India of refusing cooperation or prove culpability. This narrative of peace sat uneasily beside claims of military success and personal attacks on Indian leaders. Critique of Indian media spin might have bolstered believability had it not been accompanied by other factual distortions: legal sleight-of-hand over Kashmir, misreadings of UN resolutions, and claims that India admitted culpability for terrorism in most convincing moment came on the Indus Waters Treaty, where the stark picture painted of the consequences struck a chord, even if significant action has yet to follow. A key question remains: what was the objective? If persuasion abroad was the objective, the reliance on longstanding misrepresentations made it a difficult sell to informed audiences. If the goal was domestic signaling, that focus likely came at the expense of deeper foreign engagement. Simpler sell, harder ask Ultimately, the Indian delegation framed all terrorism as emanating from Pakistan; Pakistan framed it as emerging from Kashmir. The narratives didn't just clash—they barely shared the same terms of reference. As performative exercises providing content for domestic media, both probably succeeded on their own terms. In the battle to move international opinion, outcomes were uneven. India may have achieved more, but it also had the easier task — framing terrorism as a universal threat aligns with European security narratives. Pakistan, by contrast, asked outside actors to invest political capital in corralling New Delhi back to the negotiating table — a much harder sell. Yet neither side escaped contradiction. India's claim to strategic clarity was weakened by deflection on domestic aspects of terrorism in Kashmir. Pakistan's message of peace was blunted by triumphalism and tired tropes. In diplomacy, silence often speaks louder than words. In London last week, the most telling signals were what each side omitted, ignored, or performed for the audience they believed mattered most. Ladwig III is a senior lecturer at the department of War Studies, King's College London
India Gazette
6 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"All nations condemned act of terrorism in Pahalgam": BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad
Patna (Bihar) [India], June 14 (ANI): BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, who recently led an all-party delegation on a multi-national tour as part of India's big diplomatic outreach, said on Saturday that the international community has supported India's global outreach on Operation Sindoor, with all nations condemning terrorism in one voice. Addressing a press conference in Patna, the BJP MP stated that terrorism is like cancer, which is affecting the whole world. Prasad said, 'All nations spoke in one voice and condemned the act of terrorism in Pahalgam. When we met them (representatives of different countries), they said that 'no form of terrorism is acceptable'. We are not against the citizens of Pakistan -- our problem is that the generals of Pakistan run the nation, and to fulfil their own agenda, they misuse these terrorists. Terrorism is like a cancer that is affecting the entire world.' Prasad further said that India is marching ahead through democracy and the world is recognising and respecting the country's growing economic strength. He said, 'Pakistan and India were born on the same date in 1947... Today, India is the fourth largest economy in the world, whereas Pakistan is going around begging with a bowl in its hand. India is developing through democracy. The world is impressed by India's economic development. Wherever we went, they requested us to build economic ties with India. The world is respecting India's economic power. That is why they are also listening our stance.' Highlighting details about the recent all-party delegation visit, the BJP MP said, 'We were asked (during all-party delegation visit) why the operation was named 'Operation Sindoor'? We said the 'sindoor' of our daughters and sisters was wiped off, so we named it 'Operation Sindoor' to destroy those terrorists... People appreciated this...' Earlier on June 10, BJP MP Prasad said that the delegation had conveyed to global leaders India's firm policy of zero tolerance against cross-border terrorism. 'Pakistan is not only a state in denial, but the military-terrorist nexus has become a deadly combination,' the BJP MP told reporters. 'When we talked about history, we talked about how Pakistan is in the hands of Generals... The world needs to understand that Pakistan is in the grip of a military-general nexus whose dirty job is done by the terrorists and terrorist camps. In Pakistan's new setup, the Generals use terrorism as a proxy to keep themselves relevant,' he stated. The delegation, led by BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad, also included BJP MPs Daggubati Purandeswari, MJ Akbar, Gulam Ali Khatana, and Samik Bhattacharya; Congress MP Amar Singh, Priyanka Chaturvedi from Shiv Sena (UBT,) AIADMK MP M Thambidurai and former diplomat Pankaj Saran. The group visited the UK, France, Germany, Brussels (Belgium), Italy and Denmark to explain India's position against terror and brief countries about Operation Sindoor. The operation was launched on May 7 in response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam by Pakistan-sponsored militants that claimed 26 lives and injured several others. Following retaliation from Pakistan, the Indian Armed Forces carried out targeted strikes against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of over 100 terrorists linked to groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. (ANI)
