LIVE: BJP National Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia's Press Briefing
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The Hindu
23 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Odisha announces 21 NACs to boost infrastructure and services under urbanisation
The Mohan Majhi Government on Friday (August 15, 2025) announced the creation of 21 new Notified Area Councils (NACs) to boost infrastructure and services in line with Odisha's urbanisation needs. 'Better infrastructure and urbanisation are key components of development. Only 17% of our population lives in urban areas. Considering the State's rapid growth and people's aspirations, our government has decided to establish 21 more NACs,' Chief Minister Mohan Majhi declared during the Independence Day celebrations here. The creation of NACs was a major campaign plank ahead of the 2024 elections. The previous Naveen Patnaik Government had promised to set up NACs and municipalities to woo semi-urban voters, but the names were never announced. The Majhi Government also unveiled a welfare measure under which every family covered by the Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana will receive an additional 5 kg of rice per month for the next three months, benefiting 27 lakh families. After unfurling the Tricolour, Mr. Majhi dwelt at length on women's empowerment and safety — an issue on which the Opposition parties had been sharply critical. 'I have said on various platforms that the government follows a policy of zero tolerance towards crimes against women. Anyone committing violence against women — no matter how powerful or influential — belongs behind bars, not in civilised society,' he asserted. The CM, who also holds the Home portfolio, said the police had been given full authority to take necessary action. 'I have issued clear instructions that any neglect of women's safety will invite strict legal action. While law and order is generally under control, it must become more effective and robust,' he said. The State Government has recently faced criticism following a spate of incidents — including four girls committing self-immolation and several cases of gang rape and sexual assault — with both the Congress and Biju Janata Dal attacking its handling of women's safety.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
BJP wraps Dharmasthala case in faith narrative, Congress battles perception war
Bengaluru: What began as an investigation into allegations of mass burials at Dharmasthala — one of the country's most prominent Hindu pilgrimage centres — has evolved into a politically charged contest over faith, identity, and control of the narrative. The special investigation team (SIT), tasked with examining claims that hundreds of bodies were secretly buried, has so far produced limited physical evidence. Yet in the political arena, the case is being reframed as an attack on Hinduism, with BJP signalling it could be a major campaign plank in the run-up to the 2028 assembly polls — a prospect which troubles governing Congress. The investigation was launched in July after a whistleblower — a former sanitation worker employed at the temple from 1995 to 2014 — alleged he had buried hundreds of bodies, including women allegedly .raped before being killed. He also claimed he faced threats to his life and family if he spoke out. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru | Gold Rates Today in Bengaluru | Silver Rates Today in Bengaluru Opposition BJP and affiliated Hindutva organisations have cast the investigation as a conspiracy to malign Hindu temples. Opposition leader in the assembly R Ashoka called it an anti-Hindu conspiracy to defame the temple by both "urban naxals and international hands", while incorrectly claiming the whistleblower is a Muslim. He is a Dalit. BJP also views the matter as a potential rallying issue, with Vishwa Hindu Parishad hinting at a statewide campaign, describing the investigation as part of a drive by "divisive forces". On Sunday, a team of BJP functionaries is expected to visit Dharmasthala as devotees in a show of support. Congress, wary of being labelled anti-Hindu, has reined in its criticism and has been insisting that they ordered the probe with good intentions and not to defame the temple. "Should such claims be allowed to linger?" home minister G Parameshwara asked. "Shouldn't the truth behind these allegations emerge? We formed the SIT to find the truth, so that those facing allegations are treated fairly." He also said the govt is contemplating action against those who carried out a misinformation campaign – including the sanitation worker – against the pilgrim town and its authorities, if investigation fails to substantiate the allegations. But deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar struck a different note, echoing BJP's position: "It is a big conspiracy to tarnish the pilgrim town." Analysts say this divergence underscores Congress's concern over the BJP's Hindutva framing. Political analyst MN Patil said: "Instead of debating whether crimes took place, the conversation has veered toward whether Hindu temples are being unfairly targeted. This narrative mobilises BJP's core vote-bank." Dharmasthala's hereditary head, Veerendra Heggade, has been Dharmadhikari since 1968 and was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by BJP in 2022 — a fact seen as adding a political layer to the controversy. Legal expert N Venkatesh warned: "When you cast a criminal allegation as an attack on religion, the legal process becomes subordinate to political mobilisation." Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy Krishna Janmashtami Wishes ,, messages , and quotes !
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Kerala govt's focus on welfare development and unity: Pinarayi
Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday said state govt was committed to the goal of strengthening people's welfare and the state's development. In his Independence Day address, Vijayan said, "We are at a stage where we have undertaken the mission to transform Kerala into a knowledge-based innovative society. Kerala is being built on a knowledge-based economy to secure the future of our coming generations. We are moving forward by strengthening both people's welfare and state's development. On one hand, there is eradication of extreme poverty and on the other, building the future Kerala. This is also the occasion to pledge that all efforts will be made for these goals. We are advancing into a new era, achieving digital literacy and more. This is a comprehensive advancement that includes everyone." It's time to renew our commitment to make the country free of poverty, hunger deaths, child labour, illiteracy, caste bias, religious intolerance, lack of basics and unemployment, he added. "An India without poverty, starvation deaths, child labour, illiteracy, caste discrimination, religious hatred, denial of basic necessities and unemployment. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Have we been able to make this dream a reality? The truth is, we have not. Therefore, during this Independence Day celebration, we must rededicate ourselves to making all these dreams come true," said Vijayan. "India's greatest achievement in the past decades is that, except for a brief period, we have been able to maintain democracy in the country. This is no small feat. We have seen neighbouring countries where democracy was overthrown and replaced by military rule. We have seen calls for theocracy gaining strength in some places. We have also seen democratic govts being replaced by puppet regimes under imperial control," he said. "No matter what shortcomings exist at any level, the framers of our Constitution have reflected in it the determination that democracy should not ultimately be destroyed. We must protect it," he added. "Even as external imperial threats rise against the sovereignty of the country, divisive threats that can fracture the unity of the people are emerging from within. Forces of communalism are intensifying efforts to fracture the 'idea of India' along caste and religious lines. We must be able to resist and defeat this with unity beyond all divisions. This is the occasion to take such a pledge," he said. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy Krishna Janmashtami Wishes ,, messages , and quotes !
