Watch: BSF personnel celebrate International Yoga Day at India-Pakistan border
PM Modi is leading the national celebration from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, performing the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) with over 3 lakh participants.
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Time of India
a few seconds ago
- Time of India
Union Cabinet approves Rs. 5,801 Crore Lucknow Metro Phase-1B; CM Yogi hails boost to jobs & More
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has welcomed the Union Cabinet's approval of Rs. 5,801 crore for Phase-1B of the Lucknow Metro Rail Project, calling it a transformative step for Uttar Pradesh's capital. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, the project aims to significantly ease traffic congestion, improve public transport, and open new avenues for employment, tourism, and investment. The 11.165 km Phase-1B stretch will feature 12 stations—seven underground and five elevated—linking densely populated areas of old Lucknow with the new city. Once operational, the metro network will expand to 34 km, providing seamless access to key commercial hubs such as Aminabad, Yahiyaganj, Pandeyganj, and Chowk. It will also connect major healthcare institutions like King George Medical University and tourist destinations, including Bada Imambara, Chota Imambara, Bhool Bhulaiya, Clock Tower, and Rumi Darwaza. 'This decision will take Lucknow to new heights by strengthening its economic, social, and business infrastructure,' CM Yogi said, expressing gratitude to PM Modi. 'The metro expansion will not only modernise the traffic system but also generate employment, stimulate economic activity, and give tourism a major push.' The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Modi, approved the project to address urban challenges while promoting sustainable mobility. By reducing travel time, easing congestion, and cutting carbon emissions, Phase-1B represents a shift toward environmentally friendly transport solutions. Improved connectivity to the airport, railway station, and bus terminals will further enhance productivity, attract investments, and improve the quality of life for residents. Importantly, the project is designed to provide equitable access to all socio-economic groups, bridging transport gaps and integrating old and new Lucknow. As CM Yogi emphasised, the metro expansion aligns with the vision of transforming Uttar Pradesh into a leading state for development, innovation, and heritage tourism. This landmark approval not only strengthens Lucknow's infrastructure but also lays a foundation for its emergence as a world-class city.
The Hindu
30 minutes ago
- The Hindu
KBC hosts officers Sofiya Qureshi, Vyomika Singh for Independence Day show, stirs row
The appearance of Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, who became the faces of Operation Sindoor, along with Commander Prerna Deosthalee of the Indian Navy on the Independence Day special episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) has ignited controversy. While many praised the selection of participants for the show, controversy erupted after Kaun Banega Crorepati released a promo of the episode on its social media platforms. Critics took to social media to accuse the government of using the armed forces for political purposes. The episode hosted by actor Amitabh Bachchan will be aired on August 15. In the teaser, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi is heard saying, 'Pakistan ye karta chala aa raha hai. Toh jawab dena banta tha sir. Isiliye Operation Sindoor ko plan kiya gaya'. (Pakistan has been doing this. So it was necessary to respond, sir. That is why Operation Sindoor was planned.) The episode is expected to feature discussions on Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir. However, the decision to feature the officers on a reality show has drawn criticism online, with netizens questioning how such an appearance was approved so soon after a high-stakes military operation. All for propagating info on Op Sindoor but KBC is not the platform! Dont trivialize a major strategic victory this way! A well made 2hr documentary would be better if thats the objective #KaunBanegaCrorepati#OperationSindoor — Curious jeevi (@curiousjeevi) August 13, 2025 Have you ever seen anything like this after a military operation in any serious country? How is this even allowed for someone in service? The current regime is shamelessly using our forces for its petty politics and hyper nationalism. — Mohit Chauhan (@mohitlaws) August 12, 2025 Our Army was sacrosanct, above politics, beyond PR. Today, Modi govt parades serving soldiers on shows like KBC for image building. Even our Army has been made a political tool for Modi's PR. Our forces are to defend the nation, not a politician's — Mayank Saxena (@mayank_sxn) August 12, 2025 This is just unbelievable 🤯 Operation Sindoor heroes appearing on national TV show KBC Just because one "nationalist" party wants to milk some votes? — Amock_ (@Amockx2022) August 12, 2025 Also read: Entry of women in Indian Army has a chequered history Operation Sindoor was a mission by the Indian armed forces in the early hours of May 7, 2025, in a swift and decisive military action against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The mission carried out 24 precision strikes on nine different targets.
Economic Times
30 minutes ago
- Economic Times
PM Modi uses Trump backlash in India to bolster support before vote
Synopsis Amidst escalating trade tensions with the US, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leveraging the friction with US President Donald Trump to rally support from farmers ahead of a crucial state election. Modi has vowed to protect farmers' interests, signaling resistance to US pressure on agriculture and dairy markets. ANI Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and others (file photo) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ruling party have seized on growing friction with US President Donald Trump to bolster support from farmers ahead of a crucial state election.A day after Trump stunned New Delhi by slapping 50% tariffs on the nation's exports to the US, Modi promised supporters he'd protect the interests of farmers, even if it means he pays a personal price for it. Modi's top aides, including his trade minister, have signaled India won't give in to US pressure to open up its agriculture and dairy markets to American imports. On Tuesday, leading farmer groups met with India's agriculture minister in New Delhi to pledge support to the about-turn on India in recent weeks — slamming the Asian nation for its trade barriers and ties with Russia — has shifted public sentiment against the US president and pushed Modi into defensive mode. Opposition parties and farmer groups have also repeatedly warned the government against offering the US excessive concessions to clinch a trade deal.'India's tone has changed quite dramatically. This is a smart political spin by Modi,' said Shumita Deveshwar, chief India economist at Lombard. 'The US is pushing for access to agriculture, and external forces trying to pry open the sector won't go down well with farmers,' she said. 'India can't be seen cowing down to a foreign power.' All of this is playing out in the run up to a crucial election in the eastern state of Bihar, where nearly half the population work in farming and related sectors. Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party is reliant on its allies in the state to hold on to power, with some analysts seeing the election as a close contest. Modi's approval ratings have held steady in the face of Trump's actions, according to daily tracker data from polling agency C-Voter. About 46% of respondents surveyed on Aug. 1 were 'very much satisfied' with Modi as prime minister, compared with 45.8% on April 15.'Modi has maintained momentum and edge, and the latest on Trump-US will only aid it,' said Yashwant Deshmukh, the founder and director C-Voter. 'There is no swing towards the opposition and I don't see electoral fortune shifting away from Modi.'Farmers — one of the most influential voting blocs in the world's most populous nation — include millions of smallholders with less than two hectares (five acres) of land. They've proved powerful in the past in effecting political change. A year-long protest by hundreds of thousands of farmers forced Modi's government to repeal three contentious agricultural reform laws in late 2021. In a meeting with farmer groups on Tuesday, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan hailed the importance of the sector. An official statement that followed the meeting cited several farmer groups pledging their support to Modi's government.'The courageous decision not to allow American companies into our agriculture and dairy sectors is echoing in every field, village, and cowshed,' Virendra Lohan of the Chhattisgarh Youth Progressive Farmers' Association said in the statement. 'You have shown that the Indian farmer is not just a food provider but the very soul of this nation, a soul no foreign power can ever control.'Nalin Kohli, spokesperson for the ruling BJP, said India will continue to be driven by national priorities and 'at no cost can we cause any prejudice or risk to our farmers, agriculture and other similar sections of society.'Domestic media have largely rallied behind the government's pushback against US pressure. Prominent commentators — and even some opposition figures — have called Trump a 'bully' in recent days. Meanwhile, Swadeshi Jagran Manch, a group linked to the BJP, is pushing Indians to boycott some American goods and food chains, like McDonald's, Reuters reported on the sharpest rhetoric from Modi's officials, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Sunday efforts to penalize India reflect unease with the country's rising global stature. Without naming anyone, he took a veiled swipe at the US president, saying someone who sees himself as 'everyone's boss' is rattled by India's US tensions are also serving to shift attention away from recent scrutiny over a controversial revision of electoral rolls in Bihar that opposition leaders warned could disenfranchise millions from marginalized communities. Opposition groups led by the main Indian National Congress have accused the Election Commission of India of voter fraud and demanded an end to the exercise. Lawmakers have repeatedly disrupted the current parliamentary session taking place in New Delhi, demanding a debate on the matter. On Monday, police prevented Rahul Gandhi, the main face of the Congress party, from leading a protest march to the commission's offices, briefly detaining some of the protesters. Gandhi has called out Modi for his friendly ties with Trump, saying it was a misstep to align so early with a leader who's proved to be fickle. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge accused Modi of failing to do enough to cushion the impact on farmers, even though Trump had been threatening reciprocal tariffs for months. Modi's strategy may hold for now, but analysts warn it could falter if economic pain from Trump's tariffs intensifies. Citigroup Inc. estimates that 50% tariffs would reduce India's annual economic growth by as much as 0.8 percentage points.'Trump is being a bully with regards to India and its natural for Indians to want to stand with the leaders,' said Neelanjan Sircar, an associate professor at Ahmedabad University. 'Modi might use this for his advantage but it will all depend on how economic pain pans out.'
