Monday, December 29, 2025

Uttarakhand’s first Vande Bharat Express train flags off

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Tehelka WebDesk
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New Delhi : In a major boost to rail connectivity and passenger comfort, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday virtually flagged the first Vande Bharat train reaching Uttarakhand- which will run between Delhi and Dehradun.

The Delhi-Dehradun Vande Bharat will be the 17th running train service in the Vande Bharat network, marking a significant progress towards the improvement of the country’s railway network and the enhancement of passenger experiences.

Equipped with state-of-the-art amenities for passengers, the first such train will start its regular runs from May 29 and reduces the journey time between Dehradun and the national capital to four-and-45 minutes from the six hours and 10 minutes it takes on the Shatabdi Express. “The New train, covering 302 kilometers and will run all days of the week except Wednesday,” the official said.

“Tickets from Delhi to Dehradun in the AC chair car will cost Rs 1,065 and Rs 1,890 in the executive chair car,” he added.

“This train, which was designed and manufactured entirely in India, boasts several notable features that set it apart from traditional trains. Equipped with modern amenities and advanced technologies, the Dehradun Vande Bharat Train ensures a comfortable journey for its passengers. The train’s aerodynamically-designed exterior not only enhances its aesthetic appeal but also contributes to its speed and efficiency,” official said.

The 22457 Delhi (Anand Vihar) to Dehradun will depart from Anand Vihar railway station at 17:50 and reach Dehradun at 22:35. It will make halts at Meerut City, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Roorkee, Haridwar.

 “The Dehradun Vande Bharat Train offers high-speed connectivity, allowing passengers to reach their destinations in reduced travel times. With a maximum operational speed of 180 km/h, the train ensures swift and efficient transportation, cutting down the travel time between Dehradun and major cities by a significant margin,” the official said.

“The train also prioritizes passenger safety with its advanced security features. CCTV cameras are installed both inside and outside the train, enhancing surveillance and ensuring a secure environment for all travelers. Additionally, emergency communication systems and fire detection systems have been incorporated, guaranteeing prompt assistance in case of any unforeseen circumstances,” he added.

“Global tourists want to visit India to see the country and understand it. This is a great opportunity for Uttarakhand,” the prime minister said at the launch.

Addressing the flag-off ceremony, Modi said he just returned from a tri-nation tour and can say that the whole world looks towards India with great hope.

“The world appreciates the way India has strengthened its economy over the past few years despite various challenges,” he added.

The prime minister also mentioned various road and rail projects undertaken in Uttarakhand by the BJP’s “double-engine government” to boost connectivity.

During the virtually inauguration of the Vande Bharat route, the Prime Minister also unveiled newly electrified sections of rail lines in the state. With the new sections included, Uttarakhand’s entire rail route is now 100% electrified, the release said.

Plea in SC seeks direction for Parliament building’s inauguration by President

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Tehelka WebDesk
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New Delhi- A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking direction to the Lok Sabha Secretariat for the inauguration the new Parliament building by the President amid an ongoing political slugfest over the issue.

The plea filed by advocate C.R. Jaya Sukin said that the respondents — Lok Sabha Secretariat, Union of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice — have violated the Constitution and it was not being respected.

The plea said the statement issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat on May 18 and invites issued by Secretary General, Lok Sabha about inaugurating the new Parliament building is without following the basic principles of natural justice and violate Article 21, 79, 87 of the Constitution.

“Parliament is the supreme legislative body of India. The Indian Parliament comprises the President and the two houses — Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and Lok Sabha (House of the People). The President has the power to summon and prorogue either House of Parliament or to dissolve Lok Sabha, ” said the petition.

The plea contended that the Prime Minister is appointed by the President and other ministers are appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister.

The plea submitted that the President is authorised to appoint constitutional functionaries such as governors, judges of both Supreme Court and high court, Comptroller and Auditor General of India, chairman and manager of Union Public Service Commissioner, Chief Election Commissioner, financial commissioner, and other election commissioners.

“That main function of both the Houses is to make laws. Every Bill has to be passed by both the Houses and assented to by the President before it becomes law, ” it added.

“Article 87 of the constitution provides two instances when the President specially addresses both Houses of Parliament. The President of India addresses both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha at the beginning of the first Session after each general election when the reconstituted lower house meets for the first time. The President also addresses both the houses at the beginning of the first session of each year.

“Article 85, the President can summon each House of Parliament to meet at such time and place as he thinks fit, to ensure that six months shall not intervene between its last sitting in one session and the date appointed for its sitting in the next session, ” the petition added.

Sukhbir Badal to attend new Parliament inauguration ceremony

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Tehelka WebDesk
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Chandigarh: Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) President Sukhbir Badal will attend the ceremony being held to inaugurate the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28.

Disclosing this here, senior SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema on Wednesday said “the inauguration of the new parliament building is a moment of pride for us and this occasion should not be politicised”.

Daljit Cheema also took on both the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress which have decided to boycott the inauguration ceremony. He said AAP was talking about the issue being one of respect for the President.

“The respect Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has for the first citizen can be gauged from the fact that he did not even receive her when she visited the state. We have also seen how much the Chief Minister respects the President’s nominee — the Governor of Punjab on many occasions.”

Similarly, Cheema said “people were also aware about the respect the Congress had for the Constitution when it enforced the draconian Emergency and trampled civil rights”.

“The respect the Congress party showed to President Zail Singh is also a matter of record, ” he added.

Vice President Dhankhar decorates 35 BSF personnel for bravery, meritorious service

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Tehelka WebDesk
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New Delhi:  Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday decorated 35 Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, including two for displaying bravery in thwarting a cattle smuggling bid along the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal, for rendering commendable service.

The personnel of the border force were felicitated during an investiture ceremony and the annual ‘Rustamji memorial lecture’ that was delivered by Dhankhar at the Vigyan Bhawan here.

The lecture is organised in the memory of the BSF’s first chief and founding father K F Rustamji, who was the director general of the force during 1965-74. He died in 2003.

Arvind Kejriwal, Bhagwant Mann meet Uddhav Thackeray; seeks Sena support in tussle against Centre

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Tehelka WebDesk
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Mumbai : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray at the latter’s residence in Mumbai on Wednesday to seek support for the AAP’s fight against the Centre’s ordinance on control of services in Delhi.
He was accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha members Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha, as well as Delhi minister Atishi. Kejriwal, the AAP’s national convener, will also meet Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar to seek his support against the Centre’s ordinance. On Tuesday, Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann met West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata as part of their nationwide tour to garner support for the AAP’s fight against the Centre’s ordinance.
The Centre on Friday promulgated an ordinance to create an authority for transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi, with the AAP government calling the move a deception with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services.
The ordinance, which comes a week after the Supreme Court handed over the control of services in Delhi excluding police, public order and land to the elected government, seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre.
Transfer and postings of all officers of the Delhi government were under the executive control of the lieutenant governor before the May 11 verdict of the apex court.

PM Modi, Albanese hold bilateral talks, discuss cooperation in various fields

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Tehelka WebDesk
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese on Wednesday held bilateral talks and discussed cooperation in the fields of defence and security; trade and investment; new and renewable energy, green hydrogen; critical minerals; education; migration and mobility; and people to people ties.

In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said that the bilateral meeting took place at the Admiralty House in Sydney and Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome and Guard of Honour upon his arrival.

The PMO said that both leaders recalled their productive first Annual Leaders’ Summit held in March 2023 in New Delhi and reaffirmed their commitment to further broadening and deepening of the multifaceted India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

“The discussions focused on cooperation in defense and security, trade and investment, new and renewable energy, green hydrogen, critical minerals, education, migration and mobility and people to people ties, ” the statement said.

Modi and Albanese also welcomed the signing of the India-Australia Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement (MMPA), which will facilitate mobility of students, professionals, researchers, academics and others, including through a new skilled pathway named MATES (Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early Professionals Scheme) specifically created for India.

“They also welcomed the finalisation of Terms of Reference of the India-Australia Hydrogen Task Force, which will advise on opportunities to accelerate manufacture and deployment of clean hydrogen, focusing on hydrogen electrolysers, fuel cells as well as supporting infrastructure and standards and regulations, ” it said.

Prime Minister Modi also thanked Australia for its support in establishing a Consulate General of India in Brisbane.

“The two leaders reiterated their determination to ensure a peaceful, prosperous and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, underpinned by a rules-based international order. They also discussed reform of UN Security Council, ” the PMO statement said.

Meanwhile, Albanese expressed Australia’s strong support to India’s G20 Presidency and initiatives and Modi looked forward to welcoming his counterpart for the G20 Summit in New Delhi in September, it added.

As part of the final leg of his three-nation tour, Modi arrived in Sydney on Monday night as a guest of the Australian government. In 2014, Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Australia after Rajiv Gandhi, where he addressed 20,000 people at the Sydney SuperDome at Olympic Park.

Mamata assures Kejriwal of full support over Centre’s ordinance on bureaucratic service

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Tehelka WebDesk
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Kolkata- West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday assured her counterpart in Delhi and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal of full support of the Trinamool Congress in the Rajya Sabha against the Union government’s ordinance to negate the Supreme Court’s order handing over administrative services in the national capital to the elected government there.

While the BJP is poised to get the ordinance passed in the Lok Sabha owing to its numerical superiority, the situation might turn tricky in the Upper House where the Trinamool Congress has 12 MPs.

Banerjee made this announcement after an hour-long meeting with Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann here. Delhi Education Minister Atishi and AAP’s Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha were also present at the meeting.

“If all the opposition parties unite against the BJP on this ordinance issue, the saffron party can be surely defeated. If that happens, it will be a moral defeat for the BJP before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. And if any miracle happens, the fate of the current Union government will be uncertain, ” Banerjee said.

Kejriwal, on his part, alleged that after any Assembly election, if the BJP does not get the requisite majority, it first tries to capture power through the backdoor by twisting or pressurising the opposition MLAs.

“Even if that tactic is not successful, it tries to take control over the state administration through Governors. This practice of using Governors against any non-BJP ruled state government has become rampant in West Bengal, Punjab and Telangana, ” Kejriwal said.

He also said that the Union government tactfully brought the ordinance on the day the Supreme Court was going on vacation.

“They were aware that had the Supreme Court been in session, the matter would have stayed on the very next day, ” he said.

Expressing gratitude towards Banerjee for extending support on the ordinance issue, Mann said that he is aware as to how the Governor is being used in West Bengal to disturb the functioning of the elected state government.

Mann was also vocal about the use of central investigating agencies against the leaders of the opposition parties.

“I congratulate Mamata Banerjee for the manner in which she is fighting against the pressure of the central agencies, ” the Punjab Chief Minister said.

All the three Chief Ministers also agreed on a united move by all non-BJP parties against the saffron acmp in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Rahul Gandhi hitch-hikes truck while heading to Shimla

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Tehelka WebDesk
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Chandigarh- Just days after the party’s landslide win in the Karnataka polls, a video on Tuesday went viral depicting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a holiday mood hitch-hiking a truck on the Delhi-Chandigarh national highway while heading to Shimla.

He was on way to his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s cottage, located amid forests of pine and cedar in the suburbs of the Himachal Pradesh capital where she was recently holidaying with her family, when he took a ride of the truck on the Delhi-Chandigarh national highway near Ambala in Haryana.

Rahul Gandhi took the truck ride in Haryana from Murthal to Ambala to speak to the drivers to understand their issues and problems, party sources said on Tuesday.

According to Congress sources, he arrived in Haryana’s Murthal around 11 p.m.

From Murthal, he took a truck ride around 12 in the midnight and reached Ambala.

During his journey from Murthal to Ambala, the Congress leader spoke to the truck drivers about the issues and problems they face. He also spoke to them about other issues bothering them most and how they can be sorted out.

After reaching Ambala, Rahul Gandhi then proceeded towards Himachal Pradesh’s Shimla via road route.

However, party leadership remained tight-lipped on the late night journey of Rahul Gandhi.

One of his fans wrote on Twitter that he took the ride to understand issues faced by heavy vehicle drivers as they work overnight.

In one of the videos posted on social media, Rahul, riding on a truck, was seen waving at passersby.

“You can disqualify him from the Parliament but will never disqualify him from people’s hearts, ” wrote a Twitter user.

Rahul will stay in Priyanka’s cottage — with wooden frames and shingled exteriors and a sloping tiled roof — at a height of more than 8, 000 feet in Chharabra, some 15 km uphill from here.

Rahul Gandhi since last month had visited Bengali Market, Jama Masjid area and enjoyed the local food among the public.

He then also visited North Delhi’s Mukherjee Nagar area to interact with the UPSC aspirants and then a few days later he had lunch with the Delhi University students at PG Men’s Hostel.

The Congress had also visited the Shakur Basti area in Delhi and spoke to the slum dwellers about the fear in which they live.

The women residents of Shakur Basti area had pointed out to Rahul Gandhi about the fear of bulldozers razing their homes and also other issues like no proper water supply, prices of essential items skyrocketing and how they are unable to buy LPG cylinders.

Hardeep Puri slams Congress for criticising inauguration of new Parliament building

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Tehelka WebDesk
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New Delhi- Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday slammed the Congress for criticising the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28.

In a series of tweets, Puri said: “From criticising the New Parliament Building & questioning its very necessity despite many of them advocating for it before but not executing it, Congress President & other worthies are now shifting the goalpost by generously misquoting an article a day from the Constitution!

“They should feel better if they remember Oct 24, 1975 the day when Smt Indira Gandhi inaugurated the Parliament Annexe! Or August 15, 1987 when Sh Rajiv Gandhi laid the foundation of the Parliament Library!

“So, instead of now finding articles to justify their hypocrisy why can’t they just smile & join India on this momentous achievement & her march to greatness!”

He also attached a screenshot of comments of Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor and Manish Tewari.

Puri’s remarks come amid a war of words between the Congress and BJP over the inauguration of the new Parliament House.

Taking to Twitter on Monday, AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge said that government has ensured election of President of India from the Dalit and the Tribal communities only for electoral reasons, adding that the Office of the President has been reduced to tokenism under it.

“It looks like the Modi Govt has ensured election of President of India from the Dalit and the Tribal communities only for electoral reasons. While Former President, (Ram Nath) Kovind was not invited for the New Parliament foundation laying ceremony… The President of India Droupadi Murmu is not being invited for the inauguration of the new Parliament Building, ” he said

Taking a swipe at the governmen, Kharge added: “The Parliament of India is the supreme legislative body of the Republic of India, and the President of India is its highest Constitutional authority. She alone represents government, opposition, and every citizen alike. She is the First Citizen of India.”

“Inauguration of the new Parliament building by her will symbolise Government’s commitment to Democratic values and Constitutional propriety. The Modi government has repeatedly disrespected propriety. The Office of the President of India is reduced to tokenism under the BJP-RSS Government, ” he said, attacking the government.”

On May 28, Modi will inaugurating the new Parliament building — a triangular-shaped four-storey building with a built-up area of 64, 500 square metres.

The building’s construction started on January 15, 2021 and was to be completed by August 2022.

Built in an area of 64, 500 square metres, the new building will house 1, 224 MPs and is a four-storey structure.

It has a library, multiple committee rooms and dining rooms. Tata Projects has constructed the building at an estimated cost of Rs 970 crore.

PM Modi to be in Ajmer on May 31

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Tehelka WebDesk
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Ajmer in Rajasthan on May 31, said party leaders on Tuesday.

He will address a public meeting on the occasion of completion of nine years of his government. BJP has started preparations to accord a grand welcome to the PM, said party workers.

Party leaders furnished this information saying that earlier it was BJP national president J.P. Nadda who was scheduled to visit. However, now, preparations are being made for PM Modi’s scheduled visit. BJP workers said that a place has been proposed for the programme where he will address the public meeting. A decision in this regard will be taken in the BJP meeting to be held on Tuesday.

Modi can also announce ‘gifts’ on completion of nine years of the government. There is a possibility of scheduling a few inaugurations and foundation laying programmes on this occasion. Earlier, it was expected that Modi will be visiting Sikar, however now party leaders said that he will be coming to Ajmer on May 31.

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