New Delhi : The 37th National Games will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 26 at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Fatorda, South Goa.
Around twelve thousand people, including five thousand students, are expected to witness the event.
The games began in Goa with the ‘Badminton tournament’ on October 19, however the formal inauguration of national games will take place on Thursday.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, Minister of State for Tourism Shripad Naik, and Goa Sports Minister Govind Gaude will also be present on the occasion.
Sawant said that the inaugural programme will be full of performances by singers and other performers.
He said that noted singers Hema Sardesai and Sukhwinder Singh will perform on the occasion.
“Besides this, around 600 artistes will perform a national integration programme in the stadium, ” he said.
Around 43 sporting disciplines, including five indigenous sports — Mallakhamb, Kalaripayattu, Gatka, Lagori and Yoga — will be showcased during the National Games.
The event will be held across 28 venues in Panaji, Mapusa, Margao, Colva, Vasco and Ponda, and witness the participation of around 10, 806 athletes, 49 per cent of them being women.
Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP), Dilbagh Singh, has given a positive assessment of the current state of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, highlighting a considerable reduction in local youth joining militant ranks.
Singh, during his visit to the Mata Badrakali Temple in Handwara in north Kashmir said: “This year only 10 (local) youths have joined militancy. Last year, 110 had become militants. How good it would have been if none had joined the ranks because even among the 10, six have been killed, and the remaining four will also get killed.”
He appealed to those involved in militancy, saying, “They should leave the path of violence and come back,” emphasizing the importance of peace and reconciliation.
Singh expressed empathy for the families of militants, acknowledging that their deaths bring no happiness to the security forces.
“I also want to say that it is not as if we feel happy about the death of militants. They also belong to a family. We want that if anyone has left the path of peace should come back and drop his weapons to lead a normal life,” he said.
The DGP highlighted the overall transformation in the region over the past five years, noting that “The militancy, which had struck like a calamity on the entire Jammu and Kashmir, has been almost finished, and whatever remnants are left will be eliminated soon.”
He added, “The atmosphere of fear has ended, and people of all ages can move around freely. Today we have times of peace and happiness.”
Singh particularly mentioned the situation in North Kashmir, stating, “North Kashmir is almost free of militancy… There is no active militant but there are a few odd floating militants who keep moving from one place to another. They will also be eliminated.”
New Delhi, Aug 04 (ANI): Congress Party President Mallikarjun Kharge exchanges sweets with party leader Rahul Gandhi after the Supreme Court gave an interim order to stay for his conviction in a defamation case over ‘Modi’ surname remarks, at AICC Hq in New Delhi on Friday. (ANI Photo)
New Delhi : Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday greeted the nation on the occasion of Dussehra.
In a post on X, Kharge said, “Warm greetings on the auspicious occasion of Dusshera, which is being celebrated in different parts of the country. It is a symbol of India’s unity in diversity and shared togetherness.”
He said that the festivities remind us of the eternal message of victory of good over evil and mark the hope of a bright future.
“Let there be fraternity, amity and harmony among everyone, ” Kharge added.
Rahul Gandhi in a post said, “Best wishes to everyone on Vijayadashami, the great festival of victory of good over evil. Falsehood and ego should be destroyed, truth and humanity should reside in everyone’s life. Happy Dussehra.”
Vijayadashami, the day marks the victory of good over evil as on this day Lord Rama defeated demon King Ravana and Maa Durga won over Mahishasura. It falls on the tenth day of the month of Ashwin, seventh in the Hindu Luni-Solar Calendar.
After the nine days of Navratri, devotees of Maa Durga celebrate Dussehra with much pomp on the tenth day
Gorakhpur : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and head of Gorakshpeeth, Yogi Adityanath will on Tuesday evening ride a chariot to lead the traditional Vijayadashami procession from the Gorakhnath temple.
He will board his chariot after receiving the blessings of Guru Gorakshanath.
The procession of Gorakshpeethadhishwar will reach Mansarovar Temple amidst the sounds of trumpets, drums, and band music.
After reaching here, Gorakshpeethadhishwar Yogi Adityanath will worship Devadhidev Mahadev at the Mansarovar temple attached to the Gorakshpeeth.
After this, his procession will reach Mansarovar Ramlila Maidan.
He will perform the coronation of Lord Shri Ram in the ongoing Ramlila here.
Along with this, Aarti will also be performed after worshiping Lord Shri Ram, Mata Janaki, Laxman, and Hanuman.
Not only this, Gorakshpeethadhishwar will also bless the devotees in the traditional Tilakotsav program to be held in Gorakhnath temple on the day of Vijayadashami.
On the evening of Vijayadashami, a traditional feast will also be organized in the Gorakhnath temple, in which a large number of people from all communities participate.
Yogi Adityanath will also settle disputes of saints at Gorkashpeeth.
According to the tradition of Nathpanth, every year on the occasion of Vijayadashami, the disputes of saints are settled by the Peethadheeshwar in Gorakhnath temple.
Chief Minister and Gorakshpeethadhishwar Yogi Adityanath is also the president of Nathpanth’s apex body, Akhil Bharatvarshi Avadhoot Bhesh Barah Panth Yogi Mahasabha, and his position is that of a magistrate in the organisation.
Before the settlement of disputes, saints will worship Yogi Adityanath in the form of a deity (Patra Dev) as per tradition.
New Delhi : For the second straight day, the air quality in the national capital continued be “very poor” with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 309 on Monday morning, according to data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).
In Dhirpur, the AQI plunged into a “severe” category at 348.
Notably, the AQI between zero and 50 is considered “good”, 51 and 100 “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 “moderate”, 201 and 300 “poor”, 301 and 400 “very poor”, and 401 and 500 “severe”.
In Pusa, it 306 falling under “very poor”category.
At Lodhi Road, the AQI with PM 2.5 concentration was at 304 coming under the “very poor” category and the PM 10 stood at 177 under the moderate category.
Besides, the PM 2.5 was at 313, “very poor” category at IIT Delhi station, while the PM 10 reached 175, in the “moderate” category.
Mathura Road was under “moderate” category with PM 2.5 at 200 with PM 10 concentration at 180.
According to SAFAR, the air quality of the city is likely to deteriorate further under “very poor” category with PM 2.5 reaching 320 and the PM 10 concentration at 200 “under poor” category on Monday.
The air quality at Delhi’s neighbouring cities of Noida stood at 317 and the PM 10 concentration at 322 both under the “very poor” category, while Gurugram’s AQI was reported at 293, under “poor” category and the PM 10 concentration at 171 under “moderate” category.
Kashmiri fast bowler Samiullah Dar has joined the England cricket team as a net bowler for the ongoing World Cup 2023, according to Kashmir Sports Watch.
Hailing from Srinagar, Dar’s journey with the English team began in Delhi, where he practiced with the squad before traveling with them to Mumbai. His next destination is Bangalore, where the team is set to participate in their upcoming match.
This isn’t Dar’s first experience as a net bowler, as he also fulfilled a similar role for the Kolkata Knight Riders during the 2023 IPL season. Despite his impressive skills as a right-arm fast bowler, he is still awaiting the opportunity to represent the state team of Jammu and Kashmir. Samiullah Dar’s presence as a net bowler with the England team highlights the growing recognition of talent from regions not traditionally associated with international cricket
New Delhi : The Delhi government has decided to provide an ex-gratia of Rs 1 crore to the families of two more Covid-19 warriors who lost their lives serving the people during the pandemic.
The beneficiaries are the families of Satpal, a Nursing Orderly who served in the Delhi Health Department, and Constable Amit Kumar of the Delhi Police.
Tragically, Satpal and Kumar contracted the virus while performing their Covid-related duties and subsequently lost their lives.
The Chief Minister on Friday declared that Delhi stands as a “beacon of recognition for the sacrifices of Covid warriors” across the nation. So far, an ex-gratia honorarium of Rs 1 crore has been extended to the families of 92 coronavirus warriors, and the government is committed to providing continuous support to their families in the future.
Kejriwal recounted the immense suffering experienced by the people of Delhi during the pandemic, and he recognised the numerous Covid warriors, including doctors, healthcare workers, police officers, sanitation workers, paramedics, and volunteers, who courageously risked their lives to serve the community.
Satpal, who served as a Nursing Orderly at the District Medical Store in Saket, and Kumar, stationed at Bharat Nagar Police Station, made incredible contributions to the fight against Covid-19, he said.
New Delhi : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met the Gig Workers Association and assured them that the government stands with the common people at every step.
“We will create robust laws to provide social security to gig workers, but it may take some time, ” the Chief Minister said.
Kejriwal instructed Minister Atishi to ascertain whether gig workers fall under the Construction Workers Welfare Board.
“If the Central government issues clarification that gig workers also fall under the Construction Workers Welfare Board, then there won’t be a need for separate legislation, ” he said.
Kejriwal further said that state governments have a “significant amount of funds under the Construction Workers Welfare Board, which often remains underutilized”.
The association sought separate laws to provide job security, ESIC, PF, and other benefits for gig workers in app-based companies. Kejriwal assured them that the government would consider their demands within the ambit of policies solemnly.
New Delhi : The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Wednesday approved the Rs 20,773.7 crore project on Green Energy Corridor Phase-II – Inter-State Transmission System for the 13 GW Renewable Energy Project in Ladakh.
The project is targeted to be set up by FY 2029-30 in which the Central financial assistance at 40 per cent of the project cost which works out to Rs 8,309.48 crore, according to an official statement issued after the CCEA meeting.
The project will create a state-of-the-art inter-state transmission infrastructure to link the Ladakh green energy project to the National Grid.
“Keeping in view the complex terrain, adverse climatic conditions and defence sensitivities of Ladakh region, Power Grid Corporation of India Limited will be the implementing agency for this project. A state-of-the-art Voltage Source Converter based High Voltage Direct Current system and Extra High Voltage Alternating Current systems will be deployed for the project, ” a statement said.
The transmission line for evacuating this power will pass through Himachal Pradesh and Punjab up to Kaithal in Haryana, where it will be integrated with the National Grid.
An interconnection is also planned from this project in Leh to existing Ladakh grid so as to ensure reliable power supply to Ladakh.
It will also be connected to Leh-Alusteng-Srinagar line to provide power to Jammu & Kashmir.
The project will entail setting up of 713 km transmission lines and 5 GW capacity of HVDC terminal each at Pang (Ladakh) and Kaithal in Haryana.
The project will contribute to achieving the target of 500 GW of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuels by year 2030. The project will also help in developing long term energy security of the country and promote ecologically sustainable growth by reducing the carbon footprint.
It will generate large direct and indirect employment opportunities for both skilled and unskilled personnel in power and other related sectors, especially in Ladakh region, the statement said.
This project is in addition to Intra-State Transmission System Green Energy Corridor Phase-II (InSTS GEC-II), which is already under implementation in the States of Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh for grid integration and power evacuation of approximately 20GW of RE power and is expected to be completed by 2026.
The InSTS GEC-II scheme targets addition of 10753 ckm of transmission lines and 27, 546 MVA capacity of substations having estimated project cost of Rs 12, 031.33 crore and Central financial assistance at 33 per cent, i.e. Rs 3, 970.34 crore.
New Delhi : A complaint has been filed against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at Prayagraj district court in Uttar Pradesh for giving a name to a dog that also finds place in the Holy Quran.
The complaint has been filed by AIMIM spokesperson Mohd Farhan through his lawyer Amjad Ali.
Interestingly, an FIR was also lodged against Farhan himself for making objectionable comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi three months ago.
Farhan has received a stay on his arrest. Mohd Farhan said in the complaint that he gathered through English and Hindi newspapers that Rahul gifted his mother and party chief Sonia Gandhi a puppy on October 4, the World Animal Day.
Farhan claimed that the puppy was named ‘Noori’ by Rahul and said that since the name is connected to the Prophet Muhammad, it is considered pure and holy.
“Noori’ has been mentioned in the Holy Quran multiple times. Many mosques are also of the same name and thus using this name for a dog has hurt the sentiments of Muslims, ” the AIMIM spokesperson said.
The complaint has been filed before the chief judicial magistrate.
Farhan’s lawyer Ali said the chief judicial magistrate has fixed November 8 for recording statements of the complainant. He said that Rahul Gandhi also shared the photograph of the puppy on his Facebook and YouTube accounts.
