India's political landscape is ablaze with activity! From the ongoing debates surrounding the new farm bills and their impact on rural India, to the upcoming state elections shaping the national narrative, the stakes couldn't be higher. Key political figures are maneuvering strategically, with alliances shifting and power dynamics constantly in flux. The opposition's challenge to the ruling party is intensifying, sparking vigorous debates on crucial policy matters including economic reforms and social justice initiatives. Parliamentary proceedings are filled with heated exchanges, reflecting the deep divisions within the nation. This evolving political climate directly impacts the lives of every Indian citizen, influencing everything from economic opportunities to social welfare programs. Stay informed about the latest developments in Indian politics, from crucial legislative decisions to grassroots movements, by exploring Abtak.com for in-depth analysis and breaking news updates. Understanding the intricacies of our political system is crucial; stay engaged, stay informed, and stay ahead.
Mangaluru: The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) on Monday demanded that the Karnataka government immediately initiate construction of the long-pending Haj Bhavan in Mangaluru and facilitate direct Haj flights from the city's international airport. Addressing a press conference at the Haj Bhavan premises, SDPI Mangaluru Rural district president Anwar Sadath criticised successive governments for delaying the project for decades, reducing it to mere electoral assurances. "Pilgrims from coastal Karnataka continue to face severe logistical difficulties due to the absence of dedicated infrastructure," Sadath said. He pointed out that Mangaluru International Airport, the state's second international airport, is well-equipped to operate direct Haj charter flights, which would significantly ease the burden on thousands of devotees who otherwise have to travel to other cities for embarkation. The SDPI leader urged the state government to allocate necessary funds, clear pending approvals, and begin construction without further delay. He also called for coordination with the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs and the Haj Committee of India to operationalise direct flights at the earliest. Sadath emphasised the religious and emotional importance of the Haj pilgrimage for the Muslim community in the region. He argued that proper infrastructure would not only reduce hardships for pilgrims but also provide an economic boost to the coastal region through increased connectivity and related services. The party warned that continued governmental inaction would amount to neglecting the genuine aspirations of a significant section of Karnataka's minority population. SDPI leaders present at the conference indicated that the party would intensify its campaign, including submitting formal representations to both state and central authorities, until the demands are met.
NEW DELHI: Nine construction workers went missing after a midnight cloudburst triggered a massive landslide on Saturday (June 28) in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district on Yamunotri National Highway. A joint search and rescue operation has been launched by multiple agencies, and the Chardham pilgrimage on the Yamunotri track has been suspended for the next 24 hours. Police and rescue team members informed that around 19 workers were trapped under a thick mass of sludge that slid down due to a cloudburst at midnight. The deluge of sludge and debris completely devastated the labour camp where w ...Read More >
Kanpur, January 27: Due to the massive influx of devotees for the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, Varanasi's District Magistrate in Uttar Pradesh has announced that all schools in the district will be closed from Monday, January 27, 2025, to Wednesday, February 5, 2025. The decision is aimed at ensuring the safety of students and managing traffic congestion caused by the large number of pilgrims arriving in Varanasi for the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025. Despite the school closures, online classes will continue as usual to maintain the academic schedule, News18 reported. This directive applies to all CBSE, ICSE ...Read More >
Katra, June 06: The Chamber of Tourism, Trade and Industry Katra (CTTIK) Friday extended heartfelt gratitude to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for inaugurating and flagging off the much-anticipated Vande Bharat Express on the Katra-Srinagar railway line. This significant milestone is hailed as a transformative development for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, promising enhanced connectivity, economic growth, and spiritual resurgence. In addition to launching the Vande Bharat service, the Prime Minister also inaugurated two of India's most remarkable engineering feats: the Chenab Rai ...Read More >
Srinagar, June 26: The Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha on Thursday said that security measures have been strengthened to ensure the smooth conduct of the Amarnath Yatra this year. SInha acknowledged dip in the registration of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra pilgrims post the terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam in April this year. Addressing media persons at Raj Bhawan, Srinagar, Sinha said that registration dropped by around 10 percent, but maintained that ìthe numbers are now rising again.î ìPublic confidence is returning, and I am hopeful it will continue to grow. Befor ...Read More >
Ahead of Amarnath Yatra, a terrorist of Jaish -e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit was gunned down during an encounter between security forces and four terrorists in the Basantgarh area of Udhampur district on Thursday morning, army's Nagrota-based White Knight Corps stated on X. Earlier, a senior police officer said that acting on an intelligence input, a joint operation was launched by the police and the army in Basantgarh during which they came under intense fire, triggering a gunfight. Additional reinforcements were rushed to the area. Jammu zone IGP Bhim Sen Tuti said the encounter took place aroun ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: The government on Saturday extended the term of the chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Ravi Agrawal by one year, an official notification said.The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the re-appointment of Agrawal, an IRS officer of the 1988 batch, as CBDT chairman for one year from July 1 this year to June 30, 2026, on contract basis.Agrawal took over as the CBDT chairman from Nitin Gupta in June 2024 after Gupta's extended tenure ended. Agrawal has been a member of CBDT. He was member administration and had served as DG investigation in Delhi. The gover ...Read More >
SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited the Nunwan and Chandanwari base camps, on Sunday and reviewed the arrangements for the holy pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji, which is scheduled to begin from July 03. At Nunwan Base camp, the Lieutenant Governor inaugurated a foot overbridge for smooth movement of pilgrims. The new facility will ensure efficient security checks and reduce the waiting time for devotees. The Lieutenant Governor interacted with the administrative and security officials deputed for the holy Yatra, and took stock of the security arrangements and preparations of sta ...Read More >
Kolkata: A two-member National Commission for Women team on Sunday visited the south Kolkata law college where a student was allegedly gang-raped last week.The team, accompanied by a videographer, was initially denied entry and asked to produce a formal order. After an hour-long discussion at the college entrance, the team, led by Archana Majumdar, was allowed in under two conditions -- no access to the crime scene and no videography permitted.The visit lasted 10 minutes. "We were denied access to the crime scene and other floors. I will include this in my report," said Majumdar, who was the f ...Read More >
A cloudburst near Barkot-Yamunotri road in Uttarkashi has caused significant damage to a hotel construction site, leaving several workers missing as rescue operations are underway. Separately, heavy rainfall has blocked the Badrinath-Rishikesh highway, disrupting pilgrimage travel. Chief Minister Dhami has advised caution and urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel due to the adverse weather forecast.A cloudburst in Baligarh, along the Barkot-Yamunotri road in Uttarkashi district, caused sign ...Read More >
Amid Exposition work, tourists throng Basilica of Bom Jesus Roque Dias Old Goa: With the 18th decennial Exposition of the sacred relics of St Francis Xavier set to begin on November 21, Old Goa is bustling with activity as final touches are being given to works taken up by the government authorities. From the attractive pandals of various sizes erected on the premises of the Basilica of Bom Jesus to the tents put up in the area near Se Cathedral, everything is well designed to accommodate the expected huge number of devotees who will visit Old Goa during veneration of the sacred relics. Se ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 18 (PTI) The Pakistan high commission on Wednesday said it issued 84 visas to Indian pilgrims to visit the Shree Katas Raj temples in Punjab province's Chakwal district. The group has been given visas to visit the Katas Raj temples from December 19 to 25. The temples are also known as Qila Katas. It is a complex of several Hindu temples connected to one another by walkways. Under the provision of a bilateral protocol on visits to religious shrines, Sikh and Hindu pilgrims from India visit Pakistan every year.Pakistani pilgrims also visit India every year under the protocol. ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) In a major boost to connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, regular services of the Vande Bharat Express between Srinagar and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra commence on Saturday. The Northern Railway has confirmed that the semi-high-speed trains will operate six days a week, significantly reducing the travel time between Kashmir Valley and the prominent pilgrimage hub in Katra. This development marks a transformative step in the region's transport infrastructure. The new Vande Bharat service will cut the travel time between Srinagar and Katra to just three hours, ...Read More >
BENGALURU: A senior police officer had raised red flags over the lack of security personnel and potential crowd control issues just hours before a stampede killed 11 people outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's IPL victory celebration on June 4.According to official letter accessed by the TOI, MN Karibasavana Gowda, who oversees legislature security, issued a written warning to the state government on the morning of the event. In a letter addressed to G Sathyavathi, Secretary of the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms, Gowda cautioned against hol ...Read More >
Srinagar: Lieutenant governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, on Thursday said that the Pahalgam attack has impacted tourism and the number of registrations for the Amarnath yatra has fallen 10% so far, compared to last year. Speaking to the media in Srinagar, he said elaborate security arrangements have been put in place to ensure a smooth yatra and urged all pilgrims to ensure that they move in a security convoy - right from Lakhanpur in Jammu to the holy cave in Kashmir. The LG was hopeful of an increase in the number of yatris. The duration of the yatra, starting from July 3, has been ...Read More >
Srinagar, Jun 29 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha visited the Nunwan and Chandanwari base camps on Sunday to review the arrangements for the annual Amarnath pilgrimage, which is scheduled to begin from July 3. At the Nunwan base camp, the LG inaugurated a foot overbridge for smooth movement of the pilgrims. The new facility will ensure efficient security checks and reduce the waiting time for the devotees, an official spokesperson said. Sinha interacted with administrative and security officials deputed for the Amarnath Yatra, and took stock of the security arrang ...Read More >
Jammu, Jun 29 (PTI) Police set up a number of checkpoints on Sunday to bolster security arrangements in Jammu district and carry out daily anti-sabotage checks ahead of the Amarnath Yatra, which is scheduled to start from July 3. The 38-day annual pilgrimage is scheduled to start on July 3 from the twin routes -- the traditional 48-kilometre Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the shorter but steeper 14-kilometre Baltal route in Ganderbal district -- leading to the 3,880-metre-high Amarnath cave shrine. The first batch of pilgrims will leave for Kashmir from the Jammu-based Bhagwati Nagar ...Read More >
Srinagar- Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said foreign countries were told clearly during the post-Operation Sindoor diplomatic outreach that in case of a fresh provocation, India would repeat its action. Speaking at a discussion at the Ahmedabad Management Association, Tharoor said Indian delegations which visited foreign countries in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor managed to convey that India acted with restraint and responsibility. "In other places, we actually were able to get some very high-placed people to say not only that they respected and supported India's right of self- ...Read More >
New Delhi, December 5: Uttar Pradesh's Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh expressed confidence that Mahakumbh 2025 will play a pivotal role in showcasing India's rich cultural heritage and Sanatan traditions globally. Speaking on the progress of preparations, he told IANS, "The arrangements for Mahakumbh are progressing in full swing. We are committed to welcoming all devotees, irrespective of their origin -- whether from different states of India or other countries. We aim to host them with unmatched arrangements that combine magnificence, divinity, and cultural vibrancy." "This gran ...Read More >
Digha: A day after Rath Yatra, the festive fervour continues in Digha as the seaside town is now gearing up to host Ulta Rath or the return journey of the deities from the 'Masir Bari' or the old Jagannath temple. On July 5 -- the Ulta Rath day -- hotels are hoping for fresh tourist influx. Though the deities are currently in Masir Bari, a large queue of devotees visited the newly-constructed Jagannath temple on Saturday. They offered prayers to the stone idol permanently installed there. It is the wooden idols of Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra that have taken the chairot rides. Bipradash Cha ...Read More >
Imphal, June 29 (UNI) A series of successful operations carried out by Manipur Police and security forces during the last 24 hours led to the arrest of several individuals involved in vehicle theft, insurgent activity, and the recovery of a significant cache of arms and ammunition. Police arrested a vehicle lifter identified as Syed Riyaj from his residence at Lilong Chaobok in Thoubal District. The arrest was made under Lilong Police Station. Authorities seized a blue two wheeler without registration number, along with a key and an Aadhaar card believed to be linked to the suspect. In a s ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 29 (PTI) The Congress on Sunday attacked the Centre and Rajasthan governments over the reported plan to redraw the boundaries of the Sariska Tiger Reserve for the reactivation of over 50 mining operations, saying the move would be "ecologically devastating". The opposition party also said that with the Rajasthan and Union environment ministers both being from Alwar, this "double engine" cannot be supporting such a move. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh shared on X a media report which claimed that a plan to redraw the boundaries of Rajasthan's ...Read More >
Srinagar: With the annual Amarnath Yatra set to commence on July 3, Director General of Police (DGP) Jammu and Kashmir, Nalin Prabhat has directed all security agencies to take proactive and preventive measures to counter any potential threats. He emphasised strict adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and robust coordination among forces to ensure a peaceful and safe pilgrimage. Chairing a high-level security review meeting in Jammu, DGP Prabhat said dismantling terror networks and maintaining a vigilant security grid throughout the 38-day pilgrimage was a top priority. "We must ...Read More >
Drones and remote sensing technology Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) are being used to map the 620 acres densely populated Dharavi slums In a first for any slum rehabilitation project in India, the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) has embraced cutting-edge technologies to survey and document Asia's largest slum, officials said. Drones and remote sensing technology Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) are being used to map the 620 acres densely populated Dharavi slums. This is to ensure accuracy, transparency, and efficiency in a redevelopment project of this scale and complexity. The D ...Read More >
Thousands of pilgrims, including foreigners, congregated in Digha, West Bengal, for the Rath Yatra festival. The Chief Minister, along with cabinet members, initiated the chariot procession of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra. Rituals commenced in the morning with 'Pahandi Vijay' at the newly-built Jagannath Dham Temple, followed by the idols being placed on the chariots amid devotional chants and festivities.Thousands gathered from different parts of the state to attend the Rath Yatra fe ...Read More >
SRINAGAR, June 28: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today held a meeting with the members of civil society organisations, religious leaders, elected representatives, trade and business community and discussed the arrangements for forthcoming Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Chief Minister Omar Abdullah; Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo; Special Director General (Coordination), PHQ, SJM Gillani; Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor and CEO, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, Dr Mandeep K Bhandari; Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Vijay Bidhuri; Administrative ...Read More >
New Delhi: On this day in 2024, India defeated South Africa by 7 runs and lifted the T20 World Cup title at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. India posted a 177-run target for the Proteas in 20 overs after opting to bat first. Virat Kohli smashed 76 runs off 59 balls with the help of six boundaries and two maximums. Axar Patel also batted brilliantly and scored 47 runs off 31 balls, hitting four maximums and one boundary in his sensational knock. Chasing the target of 177 runs, Bumrah provided India their first breakthrough when he removed Reeza Hendricks in the second over of the run-chase, ...Read More >
Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) [India], June 29 (ANI): A severe landslide caused by heavy rainfall struck a labour camp at Silai Band on the Yamunotri Highway on Sunday, resulting in nine workers missing while ten others were rescued. Officials confirmed that a 10-12 meter stretch of the highway was completely washed away, severely disrupting road connectivity and delaying immediate rescue operations. Also Read | Puri Temple Stampede: Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi Seeks Forgiveness From Jagannath Devotees, Tender Apology for Stampede During Jagannath Rath Yatra. According to officials, teams from ...Read More >
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], June 29 (ANI): Search and rescue operations are underway in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district after a cloudburst triggered a massive landslide near Barkot on Sunday, killing two workers and leaving seven others missing. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the disaster management department, and the local administration are continuing their search to trace the missing workers, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said. Also Read | How To Spot a Fake Website? PIB Fact Check Shares 5 Simple T ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 5 (ANI): The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday announced that it would streamline its technology-driven system for generating Index Cards and various other post-election statistical reports. The new system will ensure faster reporting through automation and data integration. "This upgraded mechanism replaces the traditional manual methods, which were often time-consuming and prone to delays. By leveraging automation and data integration, the new system ensures faster reporting," the press note issued by the Election Commission read. Also Read | Delhi: Hig ...Read More >
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Thursday took strong action against the police officers allegedly responsible for the Bengaluru stampede, suspending several high-ranking officials, including the city's police commissioner. Addressing a press conference, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also announced a one-man commission to probe the lapses that triggered the deadly stampede. "Cubbon Park Police Station police inspector, station house master, station house officer, ACP, Central Division DCP, cricket stadium in-charge, additional commissioner of police, commissioner of police have been susp ...Read More >