Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid floral tributes to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the ‘Sadaiv Atal’ memorial in New Delhi on the occasion of his 101st birth anniversary. Remembering Vajpayee’s legacy, the Prime Minister said that true leadership is not established by position, but by conduct.

Several dignitaries were present at the memorial to pay homage to the former Prime Minister, who remains one of the most respected figures in Indian politics.

PM Modi remembers Vajpayee’s conduct and values

In a message shared on social media platform X, Prime Minister Modi described Atal Bihari Vajpayee as a statesman whose behaviour, dignity and unwavering commitment to national interest set a benchmark for Indian politics. He said Vajpayee’s life continues to inspire the nation and highlights that leadership is determined by character rather than authority.

The Prime Minister also shared a Sanskrit verse, noting that the actions of great leaders guide society, and said this principle was clearly reflected throughout Vajpayee’s public life.

‘Nation always came first for Atal ji’

Prime Minister Modi further said that Vajpayee’s birth anniversary is an opportunity for everyone to draw inspiration from his life. He highlighted Vajpayee’s conduct, grace, ideological firmness and resolve to place the nation’s interest above all else as an ideal standard for public life.

Through his life and work, Vajpayee demonstrated that excellence and greatness are shaped by values and conduct, not merely by holding office, the Prime Minister said. The remarks were shared with inputs from media.

At least 10 people lost their lives after a private sleeper bus caught fire following a collision with a truck on National Highway-48 in Karnataka’s Chitradurga district. The accident took place in the early hours of Thursday when the bus was travelling from Bengaluru to Shivamogga.

According to police, the incident occurred around 2:30 am when a truck coming from the opposite direction reportedly jumped the divider and rammed into the bus. The impact triggered a massive fire, leaving several passengers trapped inside the vehicle.

A senior police officer said preliminary findings suggest the truck may have struck the fuel tank of the bus, causing diesel to gush out and ignite. While a few passengers managed to escape, eight bus passengers and the truck driver were confirmed dead.

Bus carrying 32 people gutted in blaze

The sleeper bus, operated by a private travel company, had 32 people on board, including the driver and conductor. Eyewitnesses said the flames spread rapidly, giving passengers little time to react.

A commuter who was travelling on the same stretch of road said the bus had overtaken his vehicle moments before the crash. He added that the truck crossed the divider and hit the bus near the diesel tank area, leading to the fire.

One of the surviving passengers recalled scenes of panic inside the bus. He said people were screaming as the fire broke out, the doors could not be opened, and some passengers broke the window glass to escape. Despite efforts to rescue others, the spreading flames made it extremely difficult.

Traffic disruption and reactions from leaders

The accident caused heavy traffic congestion on the highway, with commuters stranded for several hours as emergency services worked to clear the site.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the families of those who died and announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivkumar also expressed grief over the tragedy and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. The state BJP president shared similar sentiments, offering condolences to the bereaved families.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident.

The Unnao rape case survivor and her mother met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday evening as they continue their protest against the Delhi High Court’s recent relief to former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, who has been convicted in the case. The meeting took place at the 10 Janpath residence of Sonia Gandhi, where she was also present.

The survivor and her mother have been demonstrating in Delhi after the court granted interim relief to Sengar, allowing him to remain out of jail while his appeal against conviction and sentence is pending. The development has triggered strong political reactions, with opposition parties questioning the message it sends to survivors of sexual violence.

Allegations of mistreatment during protest

Earlier in the day, the survivor’s mother was allegedly manhandled by Central paramilitary personnel during the protest. According to the account shared by the family, security personnel stopped the mother and daughter from speaking to the media and forced the elderly woman to jump off a moving bus.

The duo had been protesting at India Gate along with their lawyer-activist Yogita Bhayana following the court order. They were later detained. On Tuesday morning, they planned to address the media at Mandi House, but the vehicle arranged to transport them did not stop at the intended location. The CRPF later stated that permission to hold a protest had not been granted.

Rahul Gandhi questions treatment of survivor

Reacting to the incident, Rahul Gandhi posted on X questioning whether the survivor was being mistreated for raising her voice against injustice. In his post, he asked if such treatment of a gang rape survivor was justified and criticised what he described as a justice system that grants bail to convicts while treating survivors like criminals.

The survivor, who was sexually assaulted by Sengar in 2017, has said she also wants to meet the Prime Minister to place her concerns directly before him. The case and the latest court decision continue to draw national attention, reigniting debate over survivor safety and access to justice.