The West Bengal Congress has invited Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee to its July 21 programme in Kolkata, saying she should publicly acknowledge that quitting the Congress nearly three decades ago was a political mistake.

The invitation came from West Bengal Congress president Subhankar Sarkar, who addressed reporters after reviewing preparations for the party’s ‘Martyrs’ Day’ programme at Shahid Minar.

Congress asks Mamata to acknowledge 1993 movement

Sarkar said Banerjee should recognise the historical importance of the July 21, 1993 movement instead of trying to alter its legacy.

According to him, the movement was organised under the banner of the Youth Congress, making it an integral part of the Congress’ political history.

He said political leaders who respect their own political journey earn greater public respect and urged Banerjee to pay tribute to the martyrs at the Congress programme.

‘Leaving Congress was a mistake’

Sarkar said Banerjee’s participation in the event would carry greater significance if she publicly admitted that leaving the Congress was the wrong political decision.

He described such a move as an act of political atonement and said the Congress stage remains open for anyone wishing to pay homage to those who died during the July 21, 1993 movement.

July 21 remains politically significant in West Bengal

The July 21, 1993 protest, led by Mamata Banerjee during her time in the Youth Congress, ended in police firing in which 13 people allegedly lost their lives.

After leaving the Congress in December 1997 to form the Trinamool Congress, Banerjee continued observing July 21 every year through large public rallies that gradually became a major display of the party’s organisational strength. The Congress, meanwhile, continued marking the day with comparatively smaller programmes.

Multiple events planned this year

The political landscape has changed following the TMC’s loss of power in the West Bengal Assembly elections, with the party also facing internal rebellion.

A rebel TMC faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee has announced a separate observance near the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Esplanade. Meanwhile, police have denied permission to another group loyal to the former chief minister to hold its programme at its traditional venue in front of Victoria House. The matter is currently pending before the court.

The proposed expansion of the Namo Bharat rapid rail network is set to strengthen connectivity between Delhi-NCR and Uttarakhand, with plans to extend the Delhi-Meerut corridor to Haridwar and Rishikesh.

The upcoming Meerut-Haridwar-Rishikesh Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor has received in-principle approval, and work on the Detailed Project Report (DPR) survey is currently underway.

The proposal was approved during a meeting attended by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), along with the governments of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, will jointly work on extending the existing Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor.

Proposed route to cover around 150 km

The proposed rapid rail extension will be around 150 kilometres long and will begin from Modipuram, the last station of the Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor.

Of the total distance, approximately 72 kilometres will be in Uttar Pradesh, passing through Meerut and Muzaffarnagar, while the remaining 78 kilometres in Uttarakhand will cover Roorkee, Haridwar and Rishikesh.

According to the proposed alignment, the train will run through Modipuram, Daurala, Khaatauli, Muzaffarnagar, Purkazi and Roorkee before reaching Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar and terminating near Lakshman Jhula in Rishikesh.

To facilitate project implementation, the Uttarakhand government has appointed Additional Secretary Reena Joshi as the nodal officer. NCRTC and the Uttar Pradesh government have also designated coordination officers to expedite land acquisition and route survey work.

Direct link with Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor

The proposed corridor will connect with the existing 82.15-km Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor through Modipuram station.

Once operational, commuters will get direct connectivity to stations including Sahibabad, Duhai, Guldhar, Anand Vihar and Sarai Kale Khan via the existing rapid rail network. The project is also expected to improve access for passengers travelling from Noida and Ghaziabad to Rishikesh.

Better interchange with upcoming rapid rail corridors

The expansion will also integrate with other planned Namo Bharat corridors across the National Capital Region.

Sarai Kale Khan will serve as the principal interchange hub for the proposed Delhi-Gurugram-Shahjahanpur-Neemrana-Alwar corridor, allowing passengers travelling from Haridwar and Rishikesh to reach destinations such as Gurugram, Neemrana and Alwar through the rapid rail network.

Passengers travelling towards Haryana will also benefit from interchanges with the proposed Delhi-Sonipat-Panipat corridor at Sarai Kale Khan or Hazrat Nizamuddin.

In addition, the planned Ghaziabad-Noida International Airport corridor will enable travellers from Haridwar, Rishikesh and Muzaffarnagar to access Noida International Airport in Jewar through the Ghaziabad interchange.

Metro and rail connectivity to improve

Passengers using the Namo Bharat service will continue to have access to the Delhi Metro’s Blue and Pink Lines from Anand Vihar, along with connectivity to Anand Vihar Railway Terminal and the Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT).

The Pink Line also provides direct access to Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station and the ISBT.

With the proposed expansion, the Namo Bharat network is expected to enhance regional connectivity by linking religious destinations such as Haridwar and Rishikesh with Delhi, the National Capital Region and the upcoming Noida International Airport.

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has invited applications for the post of its first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to strengthen the administration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

The Trust has set a July 18, 4 pm deadline for applications. This is the first time the Trust is appointing a CEO to oversee the temple’s day-to-day functioning.

The decision was taken under the leadership of Trust Chairman Mahant Nritya Gopal Das. The selected CEO will work under Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and will be responsible for managing the temple’s daily operations, supervising administrative departments, coordinating with officials, ensuring smooth arrangements for devotees, and maintaining transparency in the temple’s functioning.

The Trust notification said candidates applying for the post should be between 50 and 70 years of age and must have at least three years of experience in a senior administrative or leadership position. Applicants should also be practising Hindus and devotees of Lord Ram. To ensure a fair selection process, the Trust has formed a three-member committee to examine applications and recommend suitable candidates for the final appointment.

The move comes after the Trust decided to further strengthen its administrative system as the number of visitors to the Ram Temple continues to increase. In recent months, the temple administration has also focused on improving financial monitoring and overall management, making the appointment of a professional CEO an important step.

The Ram Temple in Ayodhya has emerged as one of India’s most prominent pilgrimage destinations since its inauguration. Every day, thousands of devotees visit the temple, creating the need for a dedicated executive to manage operations efficiently and ensure better services for pilgrims.

The Trust believes that appointing its first CEO will improve coordination, accountability, and administrative efficiency while supporting the temple’s future expansion plans. After the application deadline on July 18, the selection committee will review all applications before making its recommendation. The final appointment will be made by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, marking a significant milestone in the professional management of the Ram Temple.

The Trust has been at the receiving end of the public backlash following the theft of money and articles donated to the temple. Investigations are underway to find the real culprits.