Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday urged people to bid for the mementoes he has received and which are now being auctioned, noting that their proceeds will be used for the ‘Namami Gange’ initiative.

In a post on X, he said: “Every year, I auction the various mementoes I receive during the public programmes. The proceeds of the auction go to the Namami Gange initiative. I’m delighted to share that this year’s auction has opened. Do bid for the mementoes you find interesting!”

Namami Gange is a government’s initiative for conservation and rejuvenation of the Ganga river. 

The auction features an impressive collection, including exquisite sculptures, traditional art, regional artefacts, indigenous crafts and sports memorabilia from the 2024 Paralympic Games, which were presented to PM Modi.

Interested individuals can register and participate via the official website, PM Mementos: https://pmmementos.gov.in/.

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that the e-auction allows individuals to preserve history and contribute to the greater good.

“It is well known that the Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicates even the souvenirs he receives for public welfare. For this purpose, the auction has started from 17th September and will continue till 2nd October. You can not only preserve history but also get the sacred satisfaction of contributing to public interest,” Shekhawat said in a post on X.

PM Mementos is an open auction portal of the Government of India that enables buyers to participate in the online auction after registration.

To view the mementoes, people can visit the National Gallery of Modern Art, Jaipur House, New Delhi, from 11 AM to 6 PM.

The proceeds from the auction will contribute to the Namami Gange Project. Notably, the Central Government launched this integrated Ganga conservation mission to address the pollution of the Ganga River and revive the river.

Here are some notable items up for auction includes, “Encased Sports Shoes: Worn by Paralympic bronze medalists Ajeet Singh and Simran Sharma, and silver medalist Nishad Kumar, each priced around ₹2.86 lakh.” Other items like, Signed Cap: From silver medalist Sharad Kumar, also priced around ₹2.86 lakh.

Badminton Racket: Used by Paralympic bronze medalist Nithya Sre Sivan and shuttler Sukant Kadam, priced at Rs 5.50 lakh; Discus: Used by silver medalist Yogesh Khatuniya, priced at Rs 5.50 lakh; Model of Ram Temple: Valued at Rs 5.50 lakh; Peacock Statue: Priced at Rs 3.30 lakh; Statue of Ram Darbar: Valued at Rs 2.76 lakh; Silver Veena: Priced at Rs 1.65 lakh.

Much ridiculed for his decision to resign from the post of Delhi Chief Minister, AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal passed on the baton to minister Atishi on Tuesday to serve as chief minister for the rest of the term AAP is in power.

Atishi’s name was proposed by Kejriwal at a party MLAs meeting and was unanimously accepted by all MLAs. She will take over after Kejriwal resigns after meeting Delhi LG VK Saxena.

The Kalkaji MLA asumed ministerial duties after the arrest of former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and took over the PWD and Education ministries. She was also the leader who put forward AAP views after the arrest of Sisodia and Kejriwal.

Upon getting bail in the liquor policy case, Kejriwal, who had spent some six months in prison, said on Sunday while he got justice from the courts, he would occupy the CM’s chair only after getting justice the people’s court (elections). He said he will quit in two days.

The list of potential successors had been short with Atishi headlining it. After she was announced as Kejriwal’s successor, Atishi thanked him for trusting her and endowing her with the responsibility. She called upon the voters of Delhi to cast their ballot in favour of “your son, your brother” Kejriwal because he is honest.

Elections to the Delhi Legislative Assembly are due in February 2025 but the AAP convener has been pushing for it to be held along with elections in other states, Maharashtra to be specific, in November.

Atishi has been the stand-in for AAP and would also be the stand-in CM. The history of stand-in chief ministers has not been entirely uneventful in India. The recent case being that of Champai Soren in Jharkhand and the other being Jitanram Manjhi in Bihar. While Manjhi launched his own party after having to demit office, Champai Soren switched over to the BJP.

Given Atishi’s academic and family pedigree, AAP would be hoping she won’t turn out to be a power addict.

Sanjay Gaikwad, an MLA of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, sparked a row on Monday after he announced a reward of Rs 11 lakh to anyone who will “chops off the tongue” of Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his statement on reservation in the US.

Gaikwad’s statement comes days after the Rae Bareli MP, in the United States, said that the Congress party would think of scrapping reservations.

Speaking to reporters, the Shinde Sena MLA said, “Rahul Gandhi made a statement regarding giving an end to reservation in the country at a time when the demands for reservation are rising.”

“Rahul Gandhi wants to end reservation for backward tribals and others and hence he is using the language of ending it,” Gaikwad said.

“In the recent Lok Sabha elections, Gandhi spread a false narrative to get votes. Today he is speaking the language of ending reservation from the country and has shown the real face of the Congress. This is my challenge whoever chops off Rahul Gandhi’s tongue will be given a reward of Rs 11 lakh on my behalf,” he added.

The Shiv Sena MLA called Gandhi’s remarks the biggest treachery of the people and said communities like Marathas, Dhangars and OBCs are fighting for reservation but before that, Gandhi is talking about ending its benefits.

He continued saying that Congress leader Gandhi used to show the Constitution book and spread a fake narrative that the BJP would change it.

“But it is the Congress that plans to take the country back by 400 years. On one hand, demands of reservation are rising in Maharashtra, and there Rahul Gandhi made a statement to end reservation in the country,” Gaikwad added.

Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate slammed Shiv Sena and its ally in Maharashtra, BJP, after Gaikwad’s disgusting remarks against Gandhi.

Addressing a press conference, Shrinate asked who is behind such violent statements that BJP leaders and their allies are using against the Opposition leader. “Whose protection do they enjoy?” Shrinate said.

Such violent statements against the Leader of the Opposition will not be tolerated at all in a democracy, she said.

“If Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah do not take action against these people then it is clear that this is being done at their behest,” the Congress spokesperson said.

The BJP, however, has distanced itself from Gaikwad’s remarks. Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekar Bawankule said he does not support or endorse the Shiv Sena MLA’s statements.