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Business Standard
12 minutes ago
- Business
- Business Standard
PM Modi lays foundation stones for projects worth over ₹5,900 cr in Bihar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched 28 development projects worth more than ₹5,900 crore in Bihar's Siwan district. Modi inaugurated the new VaishaliDeoria railway line project, built at a cost of over ₹400 crore, and flagged off a new train service on this route. Additionally, in a major boost to connectivity in north Bihar, Modi also flagged off the Vande Bharat Express between Patliputra (Patna) and Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh) via Muzaffarpur and Bettiah. Further promoting the Make in India Make for the World' initiative, Modi flagged off a state-of-the-art locomotive built at Marhowra plant for export to the Republic of Guinea. The locomotive is equipped with high-horsepower engines, advanced AC propulsion systems, microprocessor-based controls, ergonomic cab designs, and regenerative braking. In line with his commitment to conservation and rejuvenation of the Ganga, the PM inaugurated six Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) under the Namami Gange project, worth over ₹1,800 crore. He also laid the foundation stone for additional water supply, sanitation and STP projects across Bihar, totaling Rs 3,000 crore. In a major thrust to the energy sector, the PM laid the foundation stone for a 500 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) across 15 grid substations in the state, including those in Muzaffarpur, Motihari, Bettiah, and Siwan. With each substation to house 2080 MWh capacity batteries, the system is expected to help discoms reduce peak-hour electricity costs and enhance supply reliability. These units will save the distribution companies from buying electricity at expensive rates by feeding the already-stored electricity back to the grid, benefiting the consumers, an official said. Modi also handed over the first instalment to more than 53,600 beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas YojanaUrban (PMAY-U) and marked the Grih Pravesh ceremony for over 6,600 completed houses by handing over keys to select beneficiaries. Earlier in the day, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister, Samrat Choudhary, in a post on X wrote, Today the people of Bihar are eagerly waiting for Modi ji, from energy to railways, from housing to (the PM) is bringing many gifts for the people of the state during his 51st visit to Bihar today. Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy CMs Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, Union ministers and several officials were present on the occasion.
Mint
an hour ago
- Politics
- Mint
PM Modi holds massive roadshow in Bihar's Siwan; Nitish Kumar says ‘Have you ever seen such a big crowd?'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held a roadshow and greeted people at a public meeting in Bihar's Siwan, where he laid the foundation stone and inaugurated multiple development projects, including in the water, rail, and power sectors. Narendra Modi was accompanied by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a key ally, along with Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha—both senior BJP leaders—in a clear display of unity within the NDA. The alliance is gearing up for the critical assembly elections set to take place in the coming months. PM Modi greeted Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as he took the stage at a public meeting in Siwan. CM Nitish Kumar said, 'You must recall what was the situation prior to the NDA government in the state. The opposition is spreading canards. They must be asked what the situation was before our government was formed. People could go out of their houses... the situation was so bad. You all have gathered in such huge numbers to listen to PM Modi. I congratulate you all.' Modi also handed over the first instalment to more than 53,600 beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Urban (PMAY-U) and marked the Grih Pravesh ceremony for over 6,600 completed houses by handing over keys to select beneficiaries. Prime Minister Modi launched 28 development projects worth more than ₹ 5,900 crore in Bihar's Siwan district. Modi inaugurated the new Vaishali–Deoria railway line project, built at a cost of over ₹ 400 crore, and flagged off a new train service on this route. Earlier in the day, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister, Samrat Choudhary, in a post on X wrote, 'Today the people of Bihar are eagerly waiting for Modi ji, from energy to railways, from housing to export…..he (the PM) is bringing many gifts for the people of the state during his 51st visit to Bihar today'. Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy CMs Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, Union ministers and several officials were present on the occasion. (With inputs from agencies)
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Left govt in Kerala slams Amit Shah's ‘feel ashamed to speak English' remark, defends linguistic diversity
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CPM-led LDF government in Kerala has reacted sharply to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement that soon a time would come when those speaking English in the country would 'feel ashamed'. Higher Education Minister R Bindu said Shah's statement reflected the "narrow-minded politics" that he represents and that it would only serve to curtail students' knowledge and global outlook. "Amit Shah's statement should also be seen in the context of attempts to impose Hindi across the country. This is a major transgression on India's linguistic diversity," she told reporters. General Education Minister V Sivankutty said no language is inferior or superior to another and asserted that, as an international language, English is an important medium for communication and exchange of knowledge. "The government of Kerala is committed to encouraging learning of all languages and protecting the right of students to select the language of their choice," Sivankutty said. He added that linguistic diversity was the strength of the nation and should be protected. Speaking at a book release function in Delhi on Thursday, Shah said, "In this country, those who speak English will soon feel ashamed, the creation of such a society is not far away." Shah also said that the time has come to reclaim India's linguistic heritage and lead the world with pride in native tongues.
NDTV
an hour ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Trump Is Silent About Juneteenth On A Day He Previously Honoured As President
Washington: President Donald Trump honored Juneteenth in each of his first four years as president, even before it became a federal holiday. He even claimed once to have made it "very famous." But on this year's Juneteenth holiday on Thursday, the usually talkative president kept silent about a day important to Black Americans for marking the end of slavery in the country he leads again. No words about it from his lips, on paper or through his social media site. Asked whether Trump would commemorate Juneteenth in any way, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters: "I'm not tracking his signature on a proclamation today. I know this is a federal holiday. I want to thank all of you for showing up to work. We are certainly here. We're working 24/7 right now." Asked in a follow-up question whether Trump might recognize the occasion another way or on another day, Leavitt said, "I just answered that question for you." On Wednesday, Black community leaders from across the country, senior Trump administration officials and other individuals met at the White House to discuss improving coordination between the leaders and federal, state and local partners, according to a senior White House official. Housing Secretary Scott Turner and Lynne Patton, director of minority outreach, were among those who attended, said the official, who insisted on anonymity to discuss a private gathering. The Republican president's silence was a sharp contrast from his prior acknowledgement of the holiday. Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in the United States by commemorating June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers brought the news of freedom to enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas. Their freedom came more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln liberated slaves in the Confederacy by signing the Emancipation Proclamation during the Civil War. Trump's quiet on the issue also deviated from White House guidance that Trump planned to sign a Juneteenth proclamation. Leavitt didn't explain the change. Trump held no public events Thursday, but he shared statements about Iran, the TikTok app and Fed chairman Jerome Powell on his social media site. In the evening, Trump complained on the site about "too many non-working holidays" and said it is "costing our Country $BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to keep all of these businesses closed." But most retailers are open on Juneteenth while most federal workers get a day off because the government is closed. He had more to say about Juneteenth in yearly statements in his first term. In 2017, Trump invoked the "soulful festivities and emotional rejoicing" that swept through the Galveston crowd when a major general delivered the news that all enslaved people were free. He told the Galveston story in each of the next three years. "Together, we honor the unbreakable spirit and countless contributions of generations of African Americans to the story of American greatness," he added in his 2018 statement. In 2019: "Across our country, the contributions of African Americans continue to enrich every facet of American life." In 2020: "June reminds us of both the unimaginable injustice of slavery and the incomparable joy that must have attended emancipation. It is both a remembrance of a blight on our history and a celebration of our Nation's unsurpassed ability to triumph over darkness." In 2020, after suspending his campaign rallies because of the coronavirus pandemic, Trump chose Tulsa, Oklahoma, as the place to resume his public gatherings and scheduled a rally for June 19. But the decision met with such fierce criticism that Trump postponed the event by a day. Black leaders had said it was offensive for Trump to choose June 19 and Tulsa for a campaign event, given the significance of Juneteenth and Tulsa being the place where, in 1921, a white mob looted and burned that city's Greenwood district, an economically thriving area referred to as Black Wall Street. As many as 300 Black Tulsans were killed, and thousands were temporarily held in internment camps overseen by the National Guard. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal days before the rally, Trump tried to put a positive spin on the situation by claiming that he had made Juneteenth "famous." He said he changed the rally date out of respect for two African American friends and supporters. "I did something good. I made it famous. I made Juneteenth very famous," Trump said. "It's actually an important event, it's an important time. But nobody had heard of it. Very few people have heard of it." Generations of Black Americans celebrated Juneteenth long before it became a federal holiday in 2021 with the stroke of President Joe Biden's pen. Later in 2020, Trump sought to woo Black voters with a series of campaign promises, including establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday. He lost the election, and that made it possible for Biden, a Democrat, to sign the legislation establishing Juneteenth as the newest federal holiday. Shortly after being sworn in for his second term in January, Trump signed an executive order ending diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across the federal government, calling them "illegal and immoral discrimination programs." Biden issued annual Juneteenth proclamations during his four years in office, and observed some of the holidays with large concerts on the South Lawn. Biden's final observance in 2024 featured performances by Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle. Vice President Kamala Harris danced onstage with gospel singer Kirk Franklin. Biden was spending this year's holiday in Galveston, Texas, where he was set to speak at a historic African Methodist Episcopal church.
NDTV
an hour ago
- Business
- NDTV
"Human Mind Will Always Be Superior To Any Kind Of AI": Piyush Goyal
London: Union Minister Piyush Goyal said that most Indians are convinced that the human mind will always be supreme and superior to any kind of artificial intelligence (AI) and assuaged concerns of job losses due to the emerging technology. He made these remarks during his interaction at the 'Future Frontier Forum' held in London on Thursday. "Artificial intelligence is an area that India is absolutely going to adopt. It's going to bring it to our working. We do not see this as an area of concern that will lead to job losses," the minister said at the event. He added, "Given our talent in the country, I think we should open up many, many more avenues to help the world in terms of data, in terms of decoding new possibilities with AI. So we are only looking at it as a need to retrain our people, to re-skill our talent, but adopt it." "So at the end of the day, most Indians are convinced the human mind will always be supreme. To get the best of AI, the human mind has created it and will be able to tame it and ultimately will be superior to any kind of AI. That I am absolutely sure," he said. Piyush Goyal is on a two-day official visit to the United Kingdom from Wednesday. The visit is aimed at holding key meetings related to the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA). This high-level visit highlights India's growing efforts to strengthen its trade and investment partnership with the UK. It comes shortly after the India-UK FTA was announced by the Prime Ministers of both countries last month. On Thursday, the minister also held a productive meeting with Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer, UK. In a social media post, the minister said, "Discussed avenues for collaboration in financial frameworks, sustainable finance, and unlocking new trade opportunities to further strengthen the India-UK economic partnership." He also had an engaging discussion with Oliver Prill, CEO of Tide, a business financial platform based in the UK. "With India's massive strides in the digital world, we discussed the fintech ecosystem, digital empowerment, and fostering SME-led growth across both economies," Mr Goyal shared.
