Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Sunday that his monthly radio broadcast ‘Mann Ki Baat’ has shown that people like positive developments and inspiring and encouraging stories.

Speaking in the latest radio program episode where he touches social issues and highlights people’s efforts for a cause in different parts of the country, he noted that the broadcast is completing 10 years.

Describing it as an “emotional” episode, he said the programme has become a unique platform that celebrates India’s spirit and showcases the nation’s collective strength.

He also thanked the media for taking its message to people. Modi said there is generally a perception that people don’t pay attention if the content is not spicy or negative.

However, ‘Mann Ki Baat’ has shown that they are eager for positive information. People like positive things, inspiring examples and encouraging stories, he noted.

Modi said the ‘Make in India’ programme is completing its 10 years, asserting that export is rising in every sector and the rise in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is a testimony to its success. It has helped local manufacturers a lot, he added. He urged people to buy ‘Made in India’ products in the coming festival season.

Referring to his recent visit to the US, Modi said the return of nearly 300 antiquities to India is being widely talked about. When people start taking pride in their heritage, the world also respects their sentiments, he said, asserting that a large number of ancient artefacts have been returned to India by different countries in the last 10 years of his government.

In the programme, he highlighted the success of the ‘Swachh Bharat’ mission, lauding it as a great tribute to Mahatma Gandhi who put special emphasis on cleanliness all his life.

“On the 2nd of October, the Swachh Bharat Mission is completing 10 years. This is an occasion to commend those who turned it into a mass movement. It is also a befitting tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, who dedicated his entire life to this cause,” he said.

Gandhi’s birth anniversary falls on October 2. “Reduce, reuse and recycle” is being now talked about, he said.

With India witnessing copious rains in the monsoon season, Modi made a mention of efforts being made in different parts of the country to conserve water and lauded the exercise.

An FIR (First Information Report) has been registered against the Union Minister and BJP president JP Nadda and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman among others following the order of a Bengaluru court for allegedly committing irregularities and misusing electoral bond scheme for extortion of money from various companies.    

According to reports, the case was filed by Adarsh Iyer of the Janaadhikara Sangharsha Sanghatane (JSP), accusing Union Ministers Sitharaman, Nadda and others of extorting money by using central agencies under the guise of now-scrapped electoral bond, which benefited to the tune of around Rs 8000 crore.

The court on Friday sent a complaint linked with the electoral bond scheme against Sitharaman, BJP chief and others to the city police. The electoral bonds scheme was struck down by the Supreme Court in February this year as it was unconstitutional.

Besides Union Ministers Nadda and Sitharaman, FIR named the Enforcement Directorate (ED), BJP Karnataka president B Y Vijayendra and senior leader Naleen Kumar Kateel.

The FIR, which was filed based on the court directions, charged the accused under sections 384 (punishment for extortion) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) read with 34 (acts done with common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Based on the complaint, it is alleged that Sitharaman and officials from the Enforcement Directorate engaged in extortion under the guise of electoral bonds, resulting in a benefit of over Rs 8,000 crore.

The complainant, Iyer, asserted that this extortion was carried out in collusion with Nadda, Kateel, Vijayendra, and other party office bearers at both state and national levels.

Additionally, it is claimed that Sitharaman utilised the Enforcement Directorate to conduct raids, seizures, and arrests of various corporates, their CEOs, MDs, and other top executives to compel them to pay.

The complainant alleged that many corporates fearing actions, were coerced into purchasing electoral bonds worth several crores, which were subsequently encashed by Nadda, Kateel, Vijayendra, and others. Iyer also alleged that the entire extortion racket under the guise of electoral bonds has been orchestrated hand in glove with officials of BJP at various levels.

Initially, the complainant approached the Tilaknagar Police Station with a complaint on March 30 of this year, and subsequently sought assistance from the DCP Bengaluru South East in April 2024. In the absence of any action, the matter was brought before the court, and a private complaint was filed, seeking necessary directions from a Special Court exclusively designated to handle criminal cases pertaining to elected MPs/MLAs in the state of Karnataka.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday promised twelve guarantees ahead of the Haryana Assembly election and said that the Congress will end the “decade of pain” if voted to power in the state.

“It is our resolve to fulfil the hopes, aspirations and dreams of every Haryana resident,” Gandhi said in a social media post on X.

Gandhi listed 12 guarantees including two lakh permanent jobs; drug-free Haryana; free treatment up to Rs 25 lakh; women Rs 2,000/month; gas cylinder for Rs 500; 100-yard plot to the poor; two-room house at a cost of Rs 3.5 lakh; old age, widow and disabled pension of Rs 6,000;  Old Pension Scheme will be restored; 300 units of free electricity; MSP guaranteed to farmers, immediate crop compensation and caste census, creamy layer limit Rs 10 lakh.  

“In a decade, the BJP snatched away Haryana’s prosperity, dreams and power,” the Congress leader said.

Haryana Congress rolled out its detailed poll manifesto for the October 5 single-phase Assembly elections in the presence of state Congress chief Udai Bhan, Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot among other leaders present on the occasion of the manifesto launch.

Slamming the BJP over several issues, Gandhi said that Agniveer snatched away the aspirations of patriotic youth, unemployment snatched away the happiness of families and inflation snatched away the self-reliance of women.

He pointed out that BJP tried to snatch the rights of farmers by bringing black laws, and through demonetisation and wrong GST, they snatched away the profits of lakhs of small traders.

“To benefit his chosen ‘friends’ he even snatched away the self-respect of Haryana,” he said.

“From savings to health, from protection of rights to social security, employment opportunities abound, every family is happy and cheerful – this is Congress’ guarantee,” the former Congress chief said.