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Modi inaugurates slew of Kedarnath redevelopment works, attacks Cong

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9 years ago

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Modi in Kedarnath

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Prime Minister claimed that the UPA government in 2013 had rejected his offer to help with the re-construction of the flood-ravaged Kedarnath shrine

Visiting the Kedarnath shrine for the second time this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation for five projects worth Rs 150 crores and announced a slew of redevelopment works for the Hindu pilgrimage site, on Friday.

The Prime Minister also launched a fresh attack at the Congress party, claiming that the UPA government had rejected his offer (when he was Gujarat chief minister) to help with re-construction of the sacred temple and its surroundings in the aftermath of the catastrophic 2013 floods that ravaged the region.

Modi had, during the 2013 floods, personally flown in to Kedarnath to ‘lead’ rescue and relief operations that were specifically aimed at ferrying Gujratis stranded in the region back to their home state. While Modi, who was then the Gujarat chief minister, and the BJP had then lauded the rescue operations and criticised the Congress – which ruled Uttarakand and at the Centre then – for its poor rescue operations, the political rival had hit back claiming that Modi’s claims were exaggerated. Unofficial but wildly trending claims on social media platforms and even on television news channels had, during the June 2013 Uttarakhand floods, sought to spread the notion that the Modi-led Gujarat government had pressed “4 Boeing jets, 25 buses, and 80 Toyota Innovas to save 15000 Gujarati pilgrims” within a matter of 24 hours. While these exaggerated claims had promptly been punctured by the Army that was carrying out most of the relief work and also the Congress, they had led to Modi being mocked by Opposition parties as a ‘Rambo’ for allowing such rumours to persist.

On Friday, while Modi steered clear of reviving those tall and unbelievable claims, he did not miss the opportunity of chastising the Congress party.

The Prime Minister claimed: “The floods of 2013 had made all of us extremely sad. That time I was not the Prime Minister, I was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. I came here to do all that I could for the victims. I had met the then Chief Minister (Vijay Bahuguna – who quit the Congress to join the BJP in May 2016) and the state government officials and offered that Gujarat would redevelop Kedarnath. During the meeting they agreed. And I announced it outside in the media. But when the news was flashed on television, and it reached Delhi, the people there (UPA government) panicked and within hours the state government was pressurised to announce that it will redevelop Kedarnath itself.”

With his party now firmly in power both at the Centre and in Uttarakhand, Modi claimed that he knew that the redevelopment of the Kedarnath shrine and its surrounding areas will be done only by the BJP.

The Prime Minister said that his party’s government in New Delhi and in the State want to promote Kedarnath as “an ideal Tirth Kshetra (pilgrim centre)” and that “We are building quality infrastructure in Kedarnath. It will be modern but the traditional ethos will be preserved. We will ensure the environment is not damaged.”

Modi laid the foundation stone for several reconstruction projects in Kedarpuri, including renovation of the Adi Shankaracharya’s tomb which was devastated in the 2013 flash floods. The Prime Minister also promised three-storey houses to the priests who live around the Kedarnath shrine, saying that in these houses one floor will be for devotees, one for the priest themselves, and one for their guests. He also assured that the width of the narrow road that leads to the shrine will be increased and all modern facilities will be provided to the residents of the region as well as to the tourists.

“I am happy that some 4.5 lakh pilgrims reached Kedarnath in the season and this number will certainly cross by 10 lakh in the next year”, the Prime Minister said, asserting that “I intended to serve baba (Kedarnath) but he perhaps had different plan for me… He possibly wanted me to serve 125 billion babas.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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INDIA Bloc protest intensifies, Opposition MPs plan Rajghat march

The INDIA bloc has planned another round of protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with Opposition MPs expected to march to Rajghat on Thursday.

Published

19 hours ago

on

October 8, 2026

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The INDIA bloc is set to intensify its protest in Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with Opposition MPs expected to march to Rajghat on Thursday.

The fresh mobilisation comes a day after several Opposition leaders, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, were detained during protests against the Election Commission. The leaders were later released.

The Opposition has been demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over allegations linked to electoral rolls and what it has described as “vote chori”.

Opposition leaders discuss next course of action

INDIA bloc MPs met at a cafe in Delhi on Thursday to discuss the next steps in their protest. Following the meeting, the leaders were expected to proceed towards Rajghat.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge hosted an INDIA bloc luncheon meeting on Wednesday, after which buses were arranged to transport MPs. Several Opposition leaders later staged a sit-in and raised slogans demanding the resignation of the poll body chief.

Mamata Banerjee among leaders expected to join

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee is likely to be part of the Opposition’s 10-member delegation that will meet President Droupadi Murmu on Friday.

The INDIA bloc has also sought an appointment with the President. Ten Opposition leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, have been given an appointment to meet the President on Friday.

The INDIA bloc had sought a meeting with a 15-member delegation, but Rashtrapati Bhavan agreed to a 10-member delegation.

Case against Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi

The Delhi Police has registered a case against Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several other leaders and workers over alleged misconduct during the protests.

Police sources said the FIR alleges assaulting police personnel and obstructing government work during Wednesday’s protest.

The INDIA bloc’s agitation follows an earlier march towards the Election Commission headquarters, during which Opposition MPs demanded action over their concerns regarding electoral rolls and alleged irregularities.

Election Commission protest continues

The Opposition has announced further protests as it seeks to keep the issue in focus.

Congress has described October 8 as a “Black Day” nationwide, while Opposition MPs are continuing their campaign against the Election Commission.

The latest protest comes amid heightened security at CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s Delhi residence and around the Election Commission headquarters.

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Delhi Building Collapse: Many trapped as 5-storey structure comes down

A building collapsed in Delhi’s Seemapuri area on Wednesday, with several people feared trapped under the debris. Rescue teams have reached the spot.

Published

2 days ago

on

October 7, 2026

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A building collapsed in Delhi’s Seemapuri area on Wednesday, with several people feared to be trapped under the debris.

The incident took place in northeast Delhi, where emergency teams were rushed to the site after the collapse was reported.

Rescue operation underway

A search and rescue operation has been launched at the site as authorities work to determine whether people are trapped beneath the debris.

The Delhi Fire Service received information about the collapse at around 3:30 pm and sent fire tenders to the location. An official said some people might be trapped in the debris.

The incident has prompted an emergency response in the area, with rescue personnel working to locate anyone who may be trapped.

Collapse comes a month after Satya Niketan tragedy

The Seemapuri incident comes about a month after a building collapse in Delhi’s Satya Niketan area, where people were trapped after a multi-storey structure came down.

Further details about the Seemapuri collapse, including the number of people trapped and any casualties, are awaited as the rescue operation continues.

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Bhagwant Mann hits back at BJP over CBI search in Sangrur

Bhagwant Mann hit out at the BJP over a CBI search in Sangrur, alleging political targeting and claiming the agency returned empty-handed after a nearly six-hour search.

Published

2 days ago

on

October 7, 2026

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Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has criticised the BJP over a CBI search at the residence of his officer on special duty (OSD) Rajbir Singh Ghuman in Sangrur, alleging that central agencies are being used against political opponents ahead of elections.

Mann said the CBI action was an indication that elections were approaching and accused the BJP of using agencies such as the CBI and Enforcement Directorate against Opposition leaders or their associates.

“The CBI raid shows that elections have arrived,” Mann said.

The Punjab Chief Minister cited cases involving Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and leaders close to former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee while alleging that central agencies have been used ahead of elections. He also said Aam Aadmi Party leaders faced similar action before the Delhi Assembly elections.

Mann says CBI returned empty-handed

According to Mann, the CBI search at Gharachon village in Sangrur lasted nearly six hours.

The Chief Minister claimed that the agency “did not find anything” during the search and returned empty-handed. He alleged that the action was part of a BJP conspiracy to defame him and his government.

Mann also linked the CBI action to the BJP’s anti-drug campaign in Punjab and questioned the political impact of the campaign.

He alleged that the CBI action was politically motivated and intended to create a narrative against the AAP government ahead of upcoming elections.

CBI search at Mann aide’s house

Earlier, a CBI team searched the house of Mann’s OSD Rajbir Singh Ghuman in Gharachon village in Sangrur.

The search triggered a political confrontation involving the ruling AAP and Opposition parties. Representatives of Waris Punjab De and Akali Dal Punar Surjeet gathered in the village and welcomed the CBI team.

After the CBI vehicles left the area, people were seen beating dhols, performing bhangra and showering flower petals on the vehicles carrying the agency officials.

Sources cited in the report said the CBI was investigating allegations involving people accused of causing significant losses to Punjab and looting public money.

BJP hits back at Bhagwant Mann

BJP leader Tarun Chugh criticised the response to the CBI search, calling it an “extraordinary display of shamelessness”.

Taking a swipe at AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, Chugh said the time for political drama was over and that those responsible would have to answer for money allegedly stolen from the people of Punjab.

“Stop the drama. Let the investigation proceed and let the facts speak,” he said.

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