Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday urged the government to provide all the possible assistance to people affected due to floods in Gujarat.

Expressing his concern over flood situation in Gujarat, Kharge said the flood situation in the state is extremely worrying as several people have lost their lives and are missing.

The Congress chief extended his condolences to the families of those who have lost their loved ones. “Our thoughts are with the affected people, who are in need of urgent food and medical assistance”, he said.

Kharge requested the Central government to ensure more NDRF & SDRF teams. He said, “We are proud of our Armed Forces and Coast Guard, who are undertaking rescue efforts”. Congress leaders and workers must coordinate all possible relief efforts, in this hour of tragedy, he said in a post on X.

Rain-related incidents claimed nine more lives in Gujarat, taking the death toll to 16 in two days, while another 8,500 people were relocated and rescued from flood-affected areas with rains continuing to lash some parts of the state for the fourth consecutive day on Wednesday, officials said.

Lok Sabha LoP Gandhi said that the flood situation in Gujarat is getting more severe day by day. He also expressed his condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones and whose property has been damaged in this disaster.

He wished for the speedy recovery of those who were injured due to natural calamity. An appeal is made to all Congress workers to provide all possible help to the affected people and the administration in relief and rescue work, he said in a post on X.

The government is expected to take all necessary steps to reduce the impact of this disaster so that the affected people can move towards reconstruction and rehabilitation as soon as possible, the Raebareli MP added.

Authorities are carrying out relief and rescue operations involving the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), its state counterpart SDRF, the Army, the Indian Air Force and the Indian Coast Guard, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi called up Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to take stock of the situation and to ensure Centre’s support in the crisis.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asserted on Wednesday that her government has zero tolerance for incidents of rape, adding her government will introduce a Bill in the state Assembly next week to amend the existing laws to ensure capital punishment to convicted rapists.

Speaking at the foundation day of party’s student wing, Banerjee warned the state governor of the protest outside the Raj Bhavan here if the governor delays in giving assent to the amended bill or forwards it to the President for ratification.

The Trinamool Congress supremo also said that her party will launch a movement from Saturday at the state’s grassroots to create pressure on the Centre to pass legislation for capital punishment.

The Chief Minister also urged the agitating junior doctors of West Bengal, who have struck work for 20 days now to urgently consider returning to duty.

In her appeal, she said: “I have remained sympathetic towards the cause of the doctors from the very beginning since they were seeking justice for their colleague. We did not take any action against them although so many days have passed since the incident. We understand your pain. But please come back to work now since patients are suffering.”

“Sixteen days have passed since the Central Bureau of Investigation took over the doctor’s rape-murder probe from the Kolkata Police. Where is the justice?” Banerjee asked.

Coming down heavily on the BJP for calling a 12-hour bandh, Banerjee said, “They called the bandh since they wanted political dividends over a dead body. The BJP is trying to exploit the emotions of ordinary people in the wake of the death of the young woman. They want to malign Bengal and plotted a conspiracy to derail the probe into her death so that the victim and her family do not get justice.”

She also alleged that the BJP was “indulging in large-scale cyber crimes using AI, causing social unrest”.

Lauding police personnel for countering the ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ violence on Tuesday, the chief minister said, “Police acted in restraint despite provocations of BJP-backed outfits who wanted to kill. Despite suffering physical injuries and having their blood spilt from the attacks on them, the police did not fall prey to provocations.”

At the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, a postgraduate trainee woman doctor was allegedly raped and murdered on August 9. Following a massive protest over the agony and lack of trust in the state police, the case was transferred to CBI by the High Cout. The investigation is still on in the case.

The junior doctors of state-run hospitals have been continuing ceasework since the August 9 evening, protesting against the alleged rape and murder of the woman medic and demanding justice for her.

In a significant boost to manufacturing, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the development of 12 new industrial smart cities under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP) with an estimated investment of Rs. 28,602 crore.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday announced that the projects, worth ₹28,602 crore, aim to transform India’s industrial landscape.

This move is set to transform the industrial landscape of the country creating a robust network of industrial nodes and cities that will significantly boost economic growth and global competitiveness.

Spanning across 10 states and strategically planned along 6 major corridors, these projects represent a significant leap forward in India’s quest to enhance its manufacturing capabilities and economic growth.

These industrial areas will be located in Khurpia in Uttrakhand; Rajpura-Patiala in Punjab; Dighi Port in Maharashtra; Palakkad in Kerela; Agra and Prayagraj in UP; Gaya in Bihar; Zaheerabad in Telangana; Orvakal and Kopparthy in AP and Jodhpur-Pali in Rajasthan.

Vaishnaw disclosed only 11 of the 12 city names, citing the model code of conduct due to upcoming Assembly elections in Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir as the reason for withholding the final name.

The NICDP is designed to foster a vibrant industrial ecosystem by facilitating investments from both large anchor industries and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

These industrial nodes will act as catalysts for achieving $2 trillion in exports by 2030, reflecting the government’s vision of a self-reliant and globally competitive India.

According to government data, the new industrial cities will be developed as greenfield smart cities of global standards, built “ahead of demand” on the ‘plug-n-play’ and ‘walk-to-work’ concepts. This approach ensures that the cities are equipped with advanced infrastructure that supports sustainable and efficient industrial operations.

Aligned with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, the projects will feature multi-modal connectivity infrastructure, ensuring seamless movement of people, goods, and services. The industrial cities are envisioned to be growth centers for transformation of whole region, as per the information.

The NICDP is expected to generate significant employment opportunities, with an estimated 1 million direct jobs and up to 3 million indirect jobs being created through planned industrialisation. This will provide livelihood opportunities and contribute to the socio-economic upliftment of the regions where these projects are being implemented.

The projects under the NICDP are designed with a focus on sustainability, incorporating ICT-enabled utilities and green technologies to minimize environmental impact. By providing quality, reliable, and sustainable infrastructure, the government aims to create industrial cities that are not just hubs of economic activity but also models of environmental stewardship.