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.
BANIHAL, June 6: For railway engineer Tarun Kumar, Friday's inauguration of the Udhampur-Baramulla-Srinagar Rail Link (USBRL) -- Kashmir's historic rail connection to rest of India -- was an emotional culmination of a decade spent overcoming fear and personal sacrifice, including the loss of a colleague to terrorism. Kumar, an engineer with Indian Railway Construction International Limited (IRCON), shared the journey of his association with the project at the Banihal railway station, located 100 km from Srinagar along the national highway. "As a manager in IRCON, I was initially posted in Srinagar and later had my postings in Baramulla and Anantnag. My main job was to look after the tracks, bridges, station buildings, platforms and electrification. At that time, very few people from outside used to come to the Valley for work," Kumar said. He also said the locals in Kashmir are very cooperative and "if militancy is taken out of this place, it will turn into a real heaven". "I came to Kashmir from my home state Bihar in 2003 to work on the UBSRL project. Initially, I was really scared. There were forces everywhere, and bomb blasts were happening. I was not sure if I would continue for a long time. But with time, I got used to it and continued my work," Kumar said. Kumar said he was transferred outside Kashmir several times before being posted here again. "Seeing the project get completed today brought me a lot of joy," he added. Recalling the loss of a 30-year-old colleague named Sudhir Kumar Pundir from Meerut in 2004, Kumar said he was abducted from a railway construction site in south Kashmir's Awantipora and later police recovered his body with his throat slit. "The unfortunate incident will remain engraved in my mind forever. Pundir was on duty when he was abducted from a railway construction site," Kumar said. Fearful of the risks associated with working in Kashmir, the IRCON engineer said he decided to quit his job and go back to his native place. "But work commitment did not allow me to leave in the middle of the project... If militancy is taken out of Kashmir, this place is a heaven," Kumar said. Expressing happiness over the completion of the project, Kumar said he feels proud to be associated with the landmark endeavour. "I cannot explain how happy I am right now. It was like an impossible dream, and we gave up on it so many times. Today, the train has finally rolled out and it is a moment of pride for all of us. I am thankful to the Government for motivating us continuously," Kumar said. He also said the all-weather train will be a game-changer for the holistic development of the Himalayan region.
PRAYAGRAJ, India (AP) -- Millions of Hindu devotees, mystics and holy men and women from all across India flocked to the northern city of Prayagraj on Monday to kickstart the Maha Kumbh festival, which is being touted as the world's largest religious gathering. Over about the next six weeks, Hindu pilgrims will gather at the confluence of three sacred rivers -- the Ganges, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati -- where they will take part in elaborate rituals, hoping to begin a journey to achieve Hindu philosophy's ultimate goal: the release from the cycle of rebirth. Here's what to know abo ...Read More >
Katra (J-K) | Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate on Friday the world's tallest bridge over Chenab river ahead of dedicating to the nation the much-awaited Kashmir rail service here. After his arrival at the Air Force station in Udhampur, the prime minister left in a chopper to inaugurate the bridge over Chenab. A multi-tier security setup has been put in place for the prime minister's visit, his first to the Union Territory post Operation Sindoor launched by the Indian Armed Forces across the border to hit terrorist infrastructure during the intervening night on May 6 and 7 in ...Read More >
Katra, June 6 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said Pakistan engineered Pahalgam terror attack to hurt Kashmir's economy and brotherhood in the country, but its evil designs failed and Indian Armed Forces hit the neighbouring country deep inside. "Pakistan attacked both humanity and Kashmiriyat in Pahalgam. Its intention was to incite riots in India and disrupt the livelihoods of hardworking Kashmiris. By attacking tourists, Pakistan aimed to damage the region's economy and peace," Modi said while addressing a massive gathering. Recalling the start of Operation Sindoor exactly a ...Read More >
Katra: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate on Friday the world's tallest bridge over Chenab river ahead of dedicating to the nation the much-awaited Kashmir rail service here. After he arrived at the Air Force station in Udhampur, the prime minister left in a chopper to inaugurate the bridge over Chenab. A multi-tier security setup has been put in place for the prime minister's visit, his first to the Union Territory post Operation Sindoor launched by the Indian Armed Forces across the border to hit terrorist infrastructure during the intervening night on May 6 and 7 in retaliat ...Read More >
SRINAGAR: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday raided and subsequently searched 32 locations across Kashmir Valley as part of its "continuing investigations against terror conspiracy by Pakistan backed proscribed terrorist organisations and their offshoots to destabilise Jammu and Kashmir". The locations, it claimed, were residential premises of hybrid terrorists and overground workers associated with The Resistance Front (TRF), United Liberation Front Jammu & Kashmir (ULFJ&K), Mujahideen Gazwat-ul-Hind (MGH), Jammu & Kashmir Freedom Fighters (JKFF), Kashmir Tigers, PAAF and ot ...Read More >
Haridwar: A woman politician has been arrested for allegedly letting her boyfriend and others repeatedly rape her 13-year-old daughter in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. The horrifying crime, which occurred between January and March, was exposed when the minor bravely confided in her father, prompting a police investigation that led to the arrest of the accused. The accused was arrested with her boyfriend and one more. According to police reports, the minor was gang-raped multiple times, often in the presence of her mother. The minor, who had been living with her father following her parents' separat ...Read More >
Srinagar: Railway stations across the Kashmir Valley have been beautifully decked out as preparations peak for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to flag off the inaugural Delhi-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express -- the first-ever train connecting the valley directly to the rest of India. This landmark train will depart from Delhi and travel through Katra, the gateway to the revered Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, before reaching Srinagar. The event marks the successful culmination of one of India's most ambitious infrastructure projects, featuring two engineering marvels: the world's highest railway bridge o ...Read More >
Srinagar: Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is flagging off the Vande Bharat train service between Kashmir and Jammu today, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party has demanded that the train should be renamed after the Pahalgam attack victim, who died while saving tourists. PDP spokesperson Zuhaib Mir said that while the train service between Jammu and Kashmir is a historical event, it should be renamed as 'Syed Adil Vande Bharat Express'. Syed Adil Shah of Pahalgam was the penny operator who was killed by terrorists in Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam in Anantnag district on April 22, when 2 ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused Pakistan of attacking 'insaniyat' and Kashmiriyat by targeting tourists in Pahalgam, saying the intent was to trigger communal clashes in India and rob Kashmiri people dependent on tourism of their livelihoods. The prime minister was speaking after flagging off the first train service to the Kashmir Valley, and inaugurating several development projects, including the world's highest railway bridge over the Chenab river and India's first cable-stayed Anji bridge. He said tourism provided employment and acts as a connecting link between ...Read More >
Srinagar, Jun 06: Political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir have extended greetings to the people on the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Adha. They expressed hope that the revered occasion brings peace and prosperity to the region. Dr Farooq Abdullah National Conference (NC) president, Dr Farooq Abdullah conveyed his heartfelt greetings to the people on Eid-ul-Adha, wishing them peace, prosperity and unity. In his message, Dr Abdullah reflected on the profound significance of the day, saying, "As the Muslim Ummah comes together in celebration of Eid-ul-Azha, I extend my warmest greetings to ever ...Read More >
NEW DELHI - India is committed to efforts to develop its restive territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on June 6, accusing neighbour Pakistan of seeking to destroy livelihoods there with April's deadly attack on tourists. He was speaking on his first visit to the Himalayan region since Islamist attackers targeted Hindu tourists in the popular Pahalgam area, killing 26 men, triggering hostilities between the nuclear-armed neighbours that ended in ceasefire last month. "The atmosphere of development that emerged in Jammu and Kashmir will not be hindered by the attac ...Read More >
Katra, Jun 6 (PTI) As the valley delves into jubilation over freshly launched rail connectivity, traders in adjacent Jammu were a bit subdued, apprehending a loss of business because of the travellers bypassing them wholesale straight to Kashmir. As a result, traders' outfits in the district have urged the government to think about the economic impact and address it. "We congratulate the prime minister on this historic step. It will provide Kashmir with all-weather connectivity. But it will inevitably affect business in Jammu. The government must look into this aspect," Jammu Traders' Associ ...Read More >
Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi stated that the army has shifted Jammu and Kashmir's focus from "terrorism to tourism" while working towards 'Viksit Bharat 2047.' He emphasized the army's contribution to national security, development, and disaster relief, highlighting its role in achieving a "Progressive" and "Peaceful" India.Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Upendra Dwivedi said that while moving towards the goal of 'Viksit Bharat 2047,' the army has been able to transform the idea of Jammu and Kashmir from "terrorism to tourism." While addressing an event at Savitribai Phule Pu ...Read More >
The gunfight continued between security forces and terrorists in the upper mountain belt of Harwan. In a major breakthrough, the security forces killed a wanted terrorist, who was responsible for terror attack in Ganderbal, during an ongoing encounter in the upper reaches of Dachigam in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday. The Kashmir Zone Police in a social media post announced the killing of the terrorist, identified as Junail Ahmed Bhat. The Police said that Bhat was an A category terrorist of Lashkar-e-Taiba terror outfit and was involved in the killing of civilians in Ganderbal, Gagangir and o ...Read More >
Katra: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off the Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express, inaugurating an alternative all-weather transportation system for Kashmir by connecting the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link with the national railway network. The train will commence commercial operations from Saturday, allowing passengers to travel in the two pairs between Srinagar and Katra except on Wednesdays. The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail project in the tough Himalayan terrain has been referred to as a marvel. It is expected to be a game changer in the development of the mount ...Read More >
SRINAGAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the iconic Chenab Bridge, Anji rail bridge and Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project and flagged off Vande Bharat Trains, connecting Kashmir to Kanyakumari. Speaking on the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha called it a momentous occasion that will go down in history. In his address, the Lieutenant Governor expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for dedicating the historic railway projects to the people of Jammu Kashmir and the nation. "Kashmir to Kanyakumari is no longer a ...Read More >
Officials say the train will help the troubled region, but many Kashmiris see it as a tool to entrench the Indian government's control. After decades of highly complex engineering work and billions of dollars in investment, India has finally connected the Himalayan region of Kashmir by rail to the rest of the country. The train link, which was officially inaugurated on Friday, fulfilled a dream dating back to the British colonial era. Indian officials called it a transformative leap for the res ...Read More >
NEW DELHI (AP) -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated one of the most ambitious railway projects ever built in India, which will connect the Kashmir Valley to the vast Indian plains by train for the first time. Dubbed by government-operated Indian Railways as one of the most challenging tracks in the world, the 272-kilometer (169-mile) line begins in the garrison city of Udhampur in Jammu region and runs through Indian-controlled Kashmir's main city of Srinagar. The line ends in Baramulla, a town near the highly militarized Line of Control dividing the Himalayan region between ...Read More >
Srinagar, Dec 4 (PTI) Security forces continued their search for militants in the Dachigam forest here on Wednesday, a day after a Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist was killed in an encounter in the area, officials said. According to officials, the security forces halted their search on Tuesday night but maintained a tight cordon in the area. The search for militants in the vast mountainous and forest area of Dachigam resumed in the morning, they said. Also Read | ISRO PROBA-3 Mission Launch Delayed: Indian Space Agency Reschedules Launch of PSLV-C59 After Detecting 'Anomaly'. "The search operation ...Read More >
New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey on Friday stoked a new controversy after he called Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hypocrite for questioning Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar over providing information about Operation Sindoor to Pakistan. The Congress clapped back at the BJP leader, stating that he "repeatedly displays his stupidity." Dubey's accusation stems from Rahul Gandhi's criticism of S. Jaishankar, which the BJP MP views as inconsistent with Gandhi's previous statements. Dubey referenced a 1991 Indo-Pak military transparency pact signed during a Congress-backed go ...Read More >
Pakistan's former Foreign Minister and Chairman of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, recently faced public embarrassment at a United Nations press briefing after he was fact-checked by a reporter for making unsubstantial claims that Muslims were being 'demonised' in India. Bilawal Bhutto, part of Islamabad's diplomatic team at the UN, made the remarks during a press conference to clarify Pakistan's stance on Kashmir. Pahalgam attack was politicised to demonise Indian Mus ...Read More >
KATRA, Jun 6: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday said that the dream of a truly united India -- from Kashmir to Kanyakumari -- is no longer a mere slogan, but a lived reality, thanks to the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has dedicated the Kashmir rail project to the nation. Addressing a gathering after PM Modi inaugurated Chenab Bridge, Anji Bridge and flagged off train to Kashmir, LG Sinha said, "By flagging off the Vande Bharat trains and dedicating the Kashmir rail project to the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has physically and emotionally united t ...Read More >
Guwahati, June 6 (UNI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, while slamming Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for his 'surrender Modi' jibe, took his followers through a "reality check" as to which party and family surrendered India's interest and territory. "Rahul Gandhi has the audacity to mock the Prime Minister despite the massive success of OperationSindoor . Let's jog his memory as to which party and family has surrendered India's interest and territory, and backstabbed the people with their treachery," said the Assam Chief Minister on his X handle. "1947-48 - PoK Betrayal: It was Nehru who ...Read More >
J&K lieutenant governor (LG) Manoj Sinha on Friday called inauguration of Kashmir rail project "a momentous occasion that will go down in history". In his address, Sinha expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for dedicating the historic railway projects to the people of Jammu Kashmir and the nation. "Kashmir to Kanyakumari is no longer just a slogan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has turned this decade-long dream into reality. He has connected the hearts of millions of Indians, forging an unbreakable bond from north to south. With Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Ra ...Read More >
Jammu: For railway engineer Tarun Kumar, Friday's inauguration of the Udhampur-Baramulla-Srinagar Rail Link (USBRL) -- Kashmir's historic rail connection to rest of India -- was an emotional culmination of a decade spent overcoming fear and personal sacrifice, including the loss of a colleague to terrorism. Kumar, an engineer with Indian Railway Construction International Limited (IRCON), shared the journey of his association with the project at the Banihal railway station, located 100 km from Srinagar along the national highway. "As a manager in IRCON, I was initially posted in Srinagar and ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 5 (PTI) Moody's Ratings will consider India-Pakistan conflict while evaluating India's rating, a source said. Representatives from the US-based rating agency on Thursday met India's finance ministry officials. Moody's currently has the lowest investment grade rating for India at "Baa3" with a stable outlook. "The rating agency will consider India-Pakistan conflict in its sovereign rating assessment," a source said. Last month, Moody's had said escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan will not have any major economic disruption in the country, but will be a setback f ...Read More >
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted searches at 32 locations across Jammu and Kashmir, targeting a terror conspiracy orchestrated by Pakistan-based outfits. These raids focused on residential premises of hybrid terrorists and overground workers linked to groups like TRF and others affiliated with LeT and JeM. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) carried out searches at 32 locations across Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday to probe a conspiracy hatched by Pakistan-based terror outfit ...Read More >
JAMMU: "Today is a historic day in the journey of Viksit Bharat and Viksit Jammu & Kashmir," said Gaurav Gupta, BJP Spokesperson for J&K UT, reacting to the launch of the first-ever train service to the Kashmir Valley by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He described the moment as monumental, not only in terms of infrastructure but also in the emotional and historical legacy it carries. "This milestone is a living tribute to Maharaja Pratap Singh, the third and longest-serving Dogra ruler of Jammu & Kashmir, who first envisioned a railway link between Jammu and Kashmir in the year 1898," Gupta s ...Read More >
Katra, June 06: Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a powerful message to Pakistan and ter-rorists today, reaffirming India's resolve to protect Jammu and Kashmir from terrorism and ex-ternal aggression. "Whenever Pakistan hears the name Operation Sindoor, it will be reminded of its humiliating de-feat," Modi declared, referring to the recent successful military operation that struck terror infra-structure inside Pakistan. He said Operation Sindoor demonstrated the strength of Aatmnirbhar Bharat and praised the armed forces for their trust in 'Make in India.' "You have seen how Operation ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: In a dramatic turn of events, Canadian PM Mark Carney called PM Modi and invited him for the G7 summit that begins eight days from now at Kananaskis in Alberta. Modi accepted the invitation and said he was looking forward to meeting him at the summit.The announcement by Modi on X followed almost a week of suspense over his participation because of a lack of invitation, drawing barbs from the opposition about his possible exclusion from the summit. India is not a member of G7 but Modi has been invited for all summits since 2019. Modi congratulated Carney on his poll win and thanked h ...Read More >