India News

Mulayam echoes Modi on Akhilesh: ‘Jo baap ka nahi, woh kisi ka nahi’

Published

8 years ago

September 25, 2017

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]SP patriarch stopped shy of announcing new party but reiterated that he doesn’t endorse decisions taken by his son

A formal split within the Samajwadi Party (SP) looks imminent. Although contrary to expectations, the party’s patriarch – Mulayam Singh Yadav – did not announce a new political outfit while interacting with the media in Lucknow, on Monday, he gave ample indications that walking out of the party he founded was now a matter of “when” and not “if”.

Echoing sentiments of Prime Minister Narendra Modi about SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, Mulayam said: “the man who occupies the highest political office of the country had said in Kannauj – jo baap ka nahi, woh kisi ka nahi (one who isn’t loyal to his father, can’t be loyal to anyone else) – need I say anything else now”.

Mulayam – the SP founder – was replying to a volley of questions on whether there was any possibility of a rapprochement between him and his son Akhilesh.

Though in the run up to his interaction with the media on Monday it was largely speculated that Netaji (as Mulayam is usually referred to) would formally announce a split in his party and possibly take over the Lok Dal as its national president – a rumour that was only strengthened further by Lok Dal chief Sunil Singh’s assertion to this effect – the political warhorse refrained from doing so.

“I am not forming a new party as of now”, Mulayam told reporters who pointedly asked him if he was finally moving away from the SP due to continuing differences with his son. Journalists even asked the SP founder why he was staying put in the party when he clearly didn’t approve of Akhilesh’s leadership and had been “betrayed” by his son who had earlier this year claimed that Mulayam would take over the party as its president after the UP assembly elections.

“I have been betrayed and everyone knows that,” Mulayam said. Asserting that as Akhilesh’s father, he will always “wish him well”, Mulayam said, “I don’t endorse the decisions being taken by him (as SP chief). The former three-term UP chief minister also said that he will “soon come before you all (the media) and give details” of the decision taken by Akhilesh that he doesn’t support.

Interestingly, Mulayam younger brother, Shivpal Yadav – the man because of whom differences between the father and son are said to have reached a point of no return – was conspicuous by his absence from Monday’s interaction. Mulayam said that Shivpal was “away on some important work in Etawah and Mainpuri (the political bastion of the SP clan)”.

Differences between Mulayam and Akhilesh came out in the open in the run up to the UP Assembly elections that were held earlier. Sources in the party had claimed then that while Akhilesh wanted the party to shed its image of an outfit that functioned purely as a family enterprise and particularly hoped to check Shivpal’s growing influence and alleged bullying tactics, Mulayam was favourably inclined towards Shivpal, the man who holds significant clout over the party’s grassroots cadre.

The differences between the father-son duo have split the party down the middle – though formalization of this split has been deferred for reasons best known to the Yadav clan. While a large chunk of the party’s old guard and a significant cadre base remains loyal to Mulayam and Shivpal, the more aspirational new guard along with some veterans like Mulayam’s cousin Ramgopal Yadav and former minister Azam Khan have stuck with Akhilesh Yadav.

Sources said that while Mulayam is set to launch his breakaway faction – though on Monday he continued to insist that Akhilesh was out of the Samajwadi Party as “his decisions don’t adhere to the party’s wishes” – he wants to first comprehensively gauge the political repercussions of such a move. There is already a buzz that Shivpal is in talks with the BJP for an alliance between Mulayam’s faction and the ruling party.

However, sources close to Akhilesh claim that the SP chief is himself contemplating ways to pip his father in this race and could announce his own outfit – a remodelled version of the current party – in the next few weeks.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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India News

GRAP stage-III measures enforced across Delhi as air quality worsens

Delhi’s air quality has deteriorated further, prompting authorities to enforce GRAP stage-III measures across the NCR amid rising AQI levels.

Published

8 hours ago

January 16, 2026

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Delhi’s air quality has continued to deteriorate, prompting authorities to enforce Stage-III measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the National Capital Region with immediate effect.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said the Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital showed a worsening trend over the past 24 hours. The AQI stood at 343 on January 15 at 4 pm and rose further to 354 by 4 pm on Thursday, raising concerns that pollution levels could soon enter the ‘Severe’ category.

Weather agencies have forecast unfavourable atmospheric conditions in the coming days, including low wind speeds, a stable atmosphere and poor dispersion of pollutants. Officials said these conditions could push Delhi’s average AQI beyond 400, which falls under the ‘Severe’ air quality bracket.

Stage-III restrictions come into force across NCR

In view of the rising pollution levels and the forecast of further deterioration, the CAQM sub-committee on GRAP decided to invoke all measures under Stage-III. These measures correspond to ‘Severe’ air quality levels and have been implemented as a precautionary step to prevent further decline.

The Stage-III actions will be enforced in addition to the restrictions already in place under Stages I and II of GRAP, which remain operational across the NCR. Officials said the combined measures aim to tighten controls on pollution sources, enhance monitoring and ensure stricter enforcement to curb emissions.

CAQM has directed pollution control boards and concerned agencies in the NCR to intensify preventive and regulatory steps. Authorities have been asked to ensure strict compliance with GRAP norms and take prompt action against violations.

Officials said air quality levels will be closely monitored, and further decisions will be taken based on real-time data and evolving weather conditions. Citizens have been urged to cooperate with advisories and follow measures aimed at reducing pollution levels.

India News

PM Modi to visit Bengal and Assam, launch Vande Bharat sleeper train and key projects

PM Modi will visit West Bengal and Assam on January 17 and 18 to launch India’s first Vande Bharat sleeper train and inaugurate major infrastructure projects.

Published

8 hours ago

January 16, 2026

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit West Bengal and Assam on January 17 and 18, where he will flag off India’s first Vande Bharat sleeper train and inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone for a series of infrastructure and development projects across the two poll-bound states.

Vande Bharat sleeper train to be flagged off from Malda

On Saturday, the prime minister will visit Malda in West Bengal around 12.45 pm and flag off the country’s first Vande Bharat sleeper train connecting Howrah with Guwahati (Kamakhya) from the Malda town railway station.

Later in the day, around 1.45 pm, he will address a public programme in Malda where he will dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone of multiple rail and road projects worth more than Rs 3,250 crore.

Development projects in Hooghly district

On January 18, around 3 pm, the prime minister will visit Singur in Hooghly district, where he will inaugurate, lay the foundation stone and flag off various development projects worth around Rs 830 crore.

During the visit, Modi will also virtually flag off four new Amrit Bharat Express trains connecting New Jalpaiguri with Nagercoil and Tiruchirappalli, and Alipurduar with Bengaluru and Mumbai (Panvel). These services are aimed at improving affordable long-distance rail connectivity and strengthening inter-state economic and social linkages.

New train services and highway projects in north Bengal

The prime minister will flag off two new train services with LHB coaches — Radhikapur–SMVT Bengaluru Express and Balurghat–SMVT Bengaluru Express — providing direct connectivity from north Bengal to major IT and employment hubs.

He will also lay the foundation stone for the rehabilitation and four-laning of the Dhupguri–Falakata section of National Highway-31D, a project expected to significantly improve road connectivity and the movement of goods and passengers in the region.

Additionally, Modi will lay the foundation stone of four major railway projects in West Bengal, including a new rail line between Balurghat and Hili, next-generation freight maintenance facilities at New Jalpaiguri, upgradation of the Siliguri loco shed and modernisation of Vande Bharat train maintenance facilities in Jalpaiguri district.

He will also dedicate the electrification of the New Coochbehar–Bamanhat and New Coochbehar–Boxirhat rail sections, enabling cleaner and more energy-efficient train operations.

Cultural programme and Kaziranga corridor in Assam

On January 17, around 6 pm, the prime minister will attend the Bodo cultural programme “Bagurumba Dwhou 2026” at Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati. More than 10,000 artists from across Assam are expected to perform the traditional Bagurumba dance in a single synchronised presentation.

On January 18, around 11 am, Modi will perform the bhoomi pujan for the Kaziranga elevated corridor project, valued at over Rs 6,950 crore, at Kaliabor in Nagaon district. The 86-km project includes a 35-km elevated wildlife corridor passing through Kaziranga National Park, along with bypasses and highway widening works aimed at improving connectivity while protecting biodiversity.

During the Assam programme, the prime minister will also flag off two new Amrit Bharat Express trains — Guwahati (Kamakhya)–Rohtak and Dibrugarh–Lucknow (Gomti Nagar) — strengthening rail connectivity between the northeast and northern India.

India News

NDA’s track record strikes chord as PM Modi hails Maharashtra civic polls win

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Maharashtra voters after the BJP-led NDA registered a historic victory in the BMC elections, ending decades of Shiv Sena dominance.

Published

9 hours ago

January 16, 2026

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday thanked the people of Maharashtra after the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance registered a landmark victory in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections, marking the first time the party has emerged on top in the country’s richest civic body.

In a post on X, the prime minister said the people of the state had endorsed the NDA’s agenda of governance and development. He said the results of municipal corporation elections across Maharashtra showed that the alliance’s bond with voters had further strengthened.

According to PM Modi, the NDA’s track record and vision for development had “struck a chord” with the electorate. He described the verdict as a mandate to accelerate progress while celebrating Maharashtra’s cultural legacy.

BJP-Shiv Sena alliance dominates BMC

As counting continued, trends showed the BJP leading in 90 of the 227 wards in Mumbai, while the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena was ahead in 28 wards. The Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction, which contested separately, was leading in only three wards.

On the opposition side, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena were ahead in 57 and nine wards respectively. The Congress, which contested in alliance with the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, was leading in 15 wards, while others were ahead in eight.

The outcome effectively ends the Shiv Sena (UBT)’s decades-long control over the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, which had been the party’s main power centre since its formation.

In the seat distribution, the BJP contested 137 wards and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena 90. The Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP fielded candidates in 94 wards. On the opposition side, Shiv Sena (UBT) contested 163 seats, the MNS 52, the Congress 143, and the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi 46.

Urban verdict weakens Pawar influence

The results in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad also sent a strong political message, indicating that the Pawar brand no longer guarantees success in key urban centres. Despite tactical coordination between the two NCP factions led by Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar, voters did not consolidate behind them.

In the Pune Municipal Corporation, the BJP emerged with a clear upper hand, either winning or leading in a significant number of wards. The NCP factions failed to convert their traditional influence into broader citywide support.

Thackeray retains Marathi Manoos connect but loses power base

Uddhav Thackeray appears to have retained a section of the Marathi Manoos vote in Mumbai, even as the Shinde-led Shiv Sena made inroads. While the Shiv Sena (UBT) managed a respectable showing in its traditional strongholds, the loss of control over the BMC is seen as a major setback.

Control of the civic body had long been central to the party’s political identity and a key factor in its alliances.

Devendra Fadnavis emerges as key strategist

Much of the credit for the BJP’s sweeping civic success is being attributed to Devendra Fadnavis. Under his leadership, the Mahayuti alliance has carried forward its assembly election momentum into municipal politics.

The results are being seen as reinforcing Fadnavis’s political standing, demonstrating that even combined opposition forces could not halt the BJP’s rise. The verdict has also challenged the long-held claim of the Thackeray family over Marathi votes in Mumbai.