India News
As Congress struggles with Gujarat poll prep, Rahul Gandhi to fly to US, learn AI
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Congress vice president, who is known to head abroad each time the party is in a crisis, had earlier flown off to Norway days before RJD’s rally against the BJP
A day after he visited Gujarat to sound his party’s poll bugle for the forthcoming Gujarat assembly polls, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is all set to fly off to America’s Silicon Valley later this week in a bid to “learn more about Artificial Intelligence”.
The 47-year-old ‘youth’ leader, whose propensity for embarrassing gaffes in politics triggers jibes and criticism alike from his political opponents as well as his party colleagues, is also known for going off on frequent foreign sojourns, especially when his party faces crucial electoral challenges – or what his own aide and senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh recently termed and “existential crisis”.
It may be recalled that Rahul had gone off to Norway, ditching key Congress ally and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, who had organised a massive rally in Patna on August 27 to showcase Opposition unity against the BJP. Although Lalu’s ‘BJP Bhagao, Desh Bachao’ rally was a major success, Rahul’s absence along with that of his mother and party president Sonia Gandhi had given the BJP and its allies to punch holes in Lalu’s claims of a ‘show of strength’ by the Opposition.
However, Rahul doesn’t seem affected by these recurring taunts about being an ‘absentee’ Congress VP or a ‘reluctant politician’. Instead, he seems to be adamant on strengthening the notion.
On Monday, the Congress vice president was on a day-long visit to Ahmedabad in Gujarat to kick start his party’s preparations for the Assembly polls due in the state later this year. Rahul had in fact announced at an interaction with party workers in Ahmedabad that his visit was the official launch of the party’s poll campaign in a state where the Congress has been out of power for over two decades and was recently faced by a slew of defections and desertions by MLAs who jumped ship to join the BJP.
Gujarat isn’t the only immediate challenge for the Congress. The party is also facing a major factional feud in Himachal Pradesh – one of the few states where the Congress is still in power – and also Bihar where the fall of the Mahagathbandhan government has made the party’s 19 legislators vulnerable to poaching by former ally Nitish Kumar’s JD (U) and the BJP.
In Rahul’s absence, Congress president Sonia Gandhi had to recently step in to hold discussions with the party’s MLAs in Bihar and Himachal Pradesh chief minister Veer Bhadra Singh to prevent dissentions.
But Rahul doesn’t seem too concerned about the immediate challenges at hand and is, instead occupied by his vision for the future. Party sources said Gandhi wants India to be a global leader in the field of technology and his visit to America’s Silicon Valley later this week is with an aim to “expand his thoughts about artificial intelligence”.
“Rahulji wants to make India really a true world power. Artificial Intelligence (AI), Nano Technology and Biotechnology are the future and the current government has failed to deliver on these issues. His aim and vision is to make India not just a software giant but a giant in the areas of artificial intelligence, nano technology and biotechnology,” India Today quoted a senior Congress leader as saying.
It is learnt that Rahul’s US visit is being organised by Sam Pitroda, chairman of the Overseas Congress – a technology innovator who was roped in by Rahul’s father and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in the mid-1980s to usher in India’s telecom revolution and set up the Centre for Development of Telematics in New Delhi.
Rahul is also set to give a lecture on ‘India At 70: Reflections On The Path Forward’, an event sponsored by the Institute of International Studies Berkeley Research on Contemporary India Program and the Institute for South Asia Studies at the University of California (UC) on September 11.
“Rahul Gandhi has led the reorganisation of India’s Congress Party since becoming the vice president of the party in 2013. At UC Berkeley, he will offer his reflections on contemporary India and the path forward for the world’s largest democracy. He follows in the footsteps of his great grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister, who delivered a historic speech at Berkeley in 1949,” an announcement on the university’s website said.
The Congress leaders back home would perhaps be wondering if Rahul had any reflections to share on the path forward for India’s oldest political party too.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
India News
Udaipur-Jaipur Vande Bharat operators prevents major accident, notices stones, rods on tracks, hit emergency brakes
Giving the details about the train and the incident, the CRPO said, KM 158/18, 158/19 on the Gangarar-Soniyana section were the stopping points for Train No. 20979 Vande Bharat Udaipur-Jaipur.
On Monday at Rajasthan’s Bhilwara, train operators of the Udaipur-Jaipur Vande Bharat Express noticed stones and iron rods on the railroad track and quickly stopped the train using emergency brakes.
The Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of North Western Railway confirmed the incident and said that the RPF has opened a complaint under the Railways Act after personnel inspected the scene in the Gangarar-Soniyana section.
Giving the details about the train and the incident, the CRPO said, KM 158/18, 158/19 on the Gangarar-Soniyana section were the stopping points for Train No. 20979 Vande Bharat Udaipur-Jaipur. Two rods, each measuring one foot, were inserted into the joggle plate on the previously mentioned km, together with some ballast, which caused the standstill, he added.
The incident took place under the control of RPF/post/Bhilwara at about 09:55. The area is governed by SHO/Gangarar in the Chittaurgarh district, according to the CPRO.
DSC/Ajmer, IPF/Bhilwara, PWI/Gangarar, local Police, and GRP authorities all paid the location a visit. SP/Chittaurgarh has been informed by DSC/Ajmer. RPF has filed a lawsuit in accordance with the Railways Act. The PWI/Gangarar is also providing SHO/Gangarar with a FIR, the official continued.
Meanwhile, stones, rail fasteners and iron rods are seen being laid on the railway tracks in a video that is going popular on X, formerly Twitter.
Fortunately, the alert loco pilots on duty quickly identified the impediment and took prompt action by deploying emergency brakes, averting any potential disaster. Their quick action likely saved lives and made sure that everyone on board was safe.
The District Police and the Railway Protection Force are both aggressively looking into this worrying situation. Their efforts are concentrated on finding individuals accountable for putting lives at danger and interfering with railway operations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Udaipur-Jaipur Vande Bharat Express last month, which runs six days a week, except Tuesday. It departs from Udaipur city at 7:50 in the morning and gets to Jaipur at 14:05.
India News
Karnataka Eid clash: 43 persons arrested in Karnataka’s Shivamogga district
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the government is not going to tolerate people throwing stones on religious processions of other religions.
Tension gripped Karnataka’s Shivamogga district as two groups clashed during Eid e Milad un Nabi processions near Ragigudda. 43 persons have been arrested in the clashes on Monday. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the government is not going to tolerate people throwing stones on religious processions of other religions.
Section 144 has been imposed Ragigudda by the Shivmogga district administration. CM Siddaramaiah said the situation is currently under control. The police has arrested 43 persons. He added it is wrong to pelt stones to disturb the religious procession of others. He said the government is not going to tolerate such actions.
Milad un Nabi processions is usually marked by large gathering and celebrations. The procession was halted due to the chaos. The police said the protestors tried to breach the barricades set by the security forces. The police forces had to resort to a lathi charge in order to disperse the crowd. About five people were injured during the clashes.
Senior police officials said the situation was under control and the issue had been resolved. They appealed to the people to maintain peace and not spread rumours. Siddaramaiah said cases were being booked against those found guilty as pelting stones at another religious procession is against the law.
Siddaramaiah added Shivamogga city has been brought to normalcy again. All possible actions are being taken by the police force. The situation continues to be tense all over the city of shivamogga. The security arrangements have been tightened. The shops and the market has been asked to close down.
2500 policemen, two platoons of Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP), two platoons of rapid action force and 12 platoons of District Armed Reserve have been stationed across the city to thwart any untoward incident. The murder of Harsha, the Bajrang Dal activist which made national news had taken place in shivamogga city in February 2022.
India News
Lal Bahadur Shastri Jayanti 2023: History, Date and Significance
Shastri was a freedom fighter and a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. He played an important role in India’s independence movement.
On 2nd October 2023, India also celebrates the birth anniversary of another great leader, Lal Bahadur Shastri. The day holds special significance as India remembers the legacy and life of the man who served as India’s second Prime Minister. Lal bahadur Shastri was born on October 2, 1904 in Mughalsarai, Uttar Pradesh. He is a symbol of dedication and selfless service to the nation.
Shastri was a freedom fighter and a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. He played an important role in India’s independence movement. He was sent to the prison several times by the British government. After India got its independence in the year 1947 he served in many important ministerial positions in the government of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
Lal Bahadur Shastri was born into a lower middle class family. His father’s name was Sharda Prasad Srivastava who was also a teacher. Ram Dulari Devi was a house wife. He was born with the name Lal Bahadur Srivastava. He earned the title Shastri due to his academic excellence. He was commited to education during his entire life. He went on to become not only a leader but also an academic and an activist.
Lal Bahadur Shastri showed unwavering dedication to the Indian National Congress political party. He served as the second Prime Minister of India from 1964 until his death in 1966. His tenure as Prime Minister marked a significant progress and change in India.
He held many important positions which included Minister of External Affairs and Railways. His tenure had many notable achievements which included signing of the Tashkent Agreement. The Tashkent aimed to ease tensions between India and Pakistan.
This diplomatic respect earned him respect on the global arena. Lal Bahadur Shastri gave the slogan Jai Jawan Jai Kisan which means hail the soldier and hail the Farmer. The slogan means emphasizes on the vital contributions of farmers and soldiers to the country’s prosperity.
