Centre unaware that at atleast one accident takes place every day on NH16, says Nitin Gadkari
The Union Minister clarified that the Centre was previously unaware of the fact that, on average, at least one road accident occurs daily on this stretch. He stated that an annual report titled 'Road Accidents in India' is prepared based on information collected from all States and Union Territories.
According to a report by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), a total of 1,614 accidents and 254 deaths occurred on the Gannavaram–Nallajerla route over the last five years, the Minister revealed.
He further stated that the highway stretch is being maintained by contractors and concessionaires in accordance with contractual agreements to ensure smooth traffic flow. In areas where land settlements have emerged, immediate corrective measures are being taken, he added.
To prevent accidents, awareness campaigns involving signboards, speed breakers, and safety measures are being undertaken. The Union Minister also informed that the government continues to monitor road safety in coordination with district police and administrative authorities, prioritising the safety of travellers and implementing effective measures consistently.
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Hindustan Times
19 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Maya reaffirms go-solo strategy for 2027 UP assembly polls
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati reiterated on Tuesday that her party will not ally with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the Congress-led Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) or any other front for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. BSP president Mayawati. (File Photo) In a post on social media platform X, Mayawati said: 'BSP is a party that works independently of casteist alliances. The party follows Ambedkarite principles and policies of 'Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay' (the welfare and happiness of all)'. The BSP president's statement has drawn mixed reactions from party leaders and supporters. While some welcomed her decision, others expressed apprehension that the decision to go solo might pave the way for further decline of the party's support base and defeat in the 2027 assembly elections in UP. 'At a time when political parties across the country are joining NDA or INDIA to retain relevance in the state and national politics, Behenji's decision may prove detrimental for the party which aims for revival in the 2027 elections. To remain relevant, the party will have to choose for an alliance either with the NDA or with INDIA alliance,' said a BSP leader who wished not to be named. However, another BSP leader said that with around two years to go for the assembly elections in UP, the party chief wishes to keep her options open. 'She will take the final call on alliance after the panchayat polls scheduled next year. She is working on strengthening the party organisation from booth level to state level. The party is working on the Dalit-OBC consolidation strategy to strengthen its base,' he said. Professor Vivek Kumar, a political observer, said: 'Mayawati is working on a tested formula to regain the lost ground in UP. Past alliance experiments have largely backfired. The BSP ended up transferring its votes to the alliance partners, but got little in return.' 'When a party goes for an alliance, it has to agree on a seat-sharing deal. In this situation, when the candidates campaigning for the party in the hope of getting a ticket are left in the lurch, they feel cheated. It also leads to rebellion as some contest as independent candidates. The organisation work is also adversely affected,' he added. 'Mayawati knows that the post-poll alliance brings more bargaining power in comparison to the pre-poll alliance. If the BSP manages two win around 30-40 seats in the assembly elections, it will be in a better position to bargain with the party that is vying to form the government,' he insisted. According to Anant Rao Akela, a Dalit ideologue, the support base as well as vote share of the BSP have shrunk in successive elections after the BSP lost power in 2012. 'Mayawati's strategy to regain power has failed. The BJP, SP and Congress have made inroads into its Dalit vote base. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the SP and Congress received a large share of Dalit votes,' he pointed out. 'The rise of Azad Samaj Party (ASP) leader Chandrashekhar is yet another challenge for the BSP to regain its hold over the Dalits. Mayawati's decision to remove her nephew Akash Anand from the post of national coordinator and re-appoint him has damaged his prospects in politics. If Mayawati goes solo in the 2027 assembly elections, Jatav votes will be divided between the BSP and ASP,' Akela said. According to BSP state unit president Vishwanath Pal, the party is organising cadre camps in all the assembly segments to regain its support base. 'The focus is on the youth. Senior party leaders have been directed to attend the camps to make the youth aware of the struggle of party's founder Kanshi Ram and president Mayawati,' he said. The BSP support base and vote share has been declining in the successive elections. In the 2007 assembly elections, the BSP polled 30.43% votes to form the government on its own. In 2012, the BSP polled 25.95% votes to bag 80 seats. In 2017, the BSP secured 22.23% votes to win 19 seats while in 2022, its vote percentage dipped to 12.88% and the BSP won a solitary seat. The story has been no different in the Lok Sabha elections. In 2004, the BSP polled 24.67% votes to bag 19 seats while in 2009, its vote percentage was 27.42% and the seat tally was 20. In 2014, the BSP's vote percentage declined to 19.77% and it failed to open its account. In 2019, the BSP contested in alliance with the SP and bagged 10 seats with a vote share of 19.42%. In 2024, the party failed to open its account with a vote share of 9.35%.
Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
Maratha map in NCERT text includes Raj, angers ex-royals; Maha historians cite treaty
Kolhapur: The depiction of Jaisalmer as part of the Maratha empire in a map featured in NCERT's Class 8 social science textbook has been criticised as historically misleading and wrong by Chaitanya Raj Singh, head of the former Jaisalmer royal family. He urged Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on 'X' to "correct" the "erroneous, malicious, and agenda-driven content" without delay. However, Maratha historians from Pune and Kolhapur said the depiction was accurate and cited documentary evidence such as the 1752 pact between the Mughal Empire and the Marathas to buttress the claim. The objection raised by Rajasthan's ex-royals to the depiction of Jaisalmer as part of the Maratha empire pertains to the map on Page 71 of Unit 3 'Rise of Marathas' published in the textbook 'Exploring Society: India and Beyond.' Prior to Chaitanya Raj Singh's objection, Bhupesh Singh, head of the former royal family of Bundi, had on X contested the portrayal of Rajput princely states as part of the Maratha empire and gone as far as declaring the Maratha empire a fictitious entity. "In the context of the Jaisalmer princely state, no authentic historical sources mention any Maratha dominance, invasion, taxation, or authority. Our royal records clearly state the Marathas never had any interference in the Jaisalmer princely state," Singh wrote. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Rajsamand's BJP MP Mahima Kumari Mewar and her MLA husband V S Mewar, a descendent of Maharana Pratap, joined in, as did Congress's ex-Union minister Jitendra Singh, member of the erstwhile Alwar royal family. "First misrepresented as being under British, now as under Marathas –– who is going to educate the educationists in NCERT?! Are they capable of presenting the factual history of India; seriously doubt it," Kumari wrote on X. NCERT director Dinesh Prasad Sakhlani and Gouri Srivastava, head of department of education in social sciences at NCERT, hadn't responded to calls and texts from TOI till late on Tuesday. Historian Pandurang Balkawade from Pune countered these claims, citing pacts and documents that demonstrate Maratha dominance. He referenced the NCERT map, which illustrates the Maratha Empire, including tributary states denoted in a specific colour, and cities governed by Marathas and their allies. Although Jaisalmer is not explicitly mentioned, the map's expanse includes Rajput states, showing Maratha reach from Peshawar to Cuttack. Indrajit Sawant, a Kolhapur-based historian, said, "Rajputana came under influence of the Marathas after Marathas started domination over the Mughal Badshah. Marathas used to run the Mughal empire and the Rajput states came under it. The Rajputs were jagirdars of the Mughals. They were made to mandatorily pay taxes. Though the Marathas didn't have day-to-day control over the Rajput states, there were deployments to ensure the terms were followed." Balkawade pointed to the 'Ahadnama', a pact between Mughal Badshah Ahmad Shah Bahadur and Malharrao Holkar and Mahadji Shinde for Nanasaheb Peshwa in April 1752, as evidence of Maratha authority over Rajput states. "There are sources and documents that provide a description of 'Ahadnama', the pact signed between Safdar Jung on behalf of the Mughal emperor and Shinde-Holkar on behalf of the Peshwa at Kannauj. The wazir of the Badshah brought Badshah's message that Ahmed Shah Abdali was marching towards Delhi, and he wanted Marathas to protect his empire. As per the pact, Marathas had to protect the emperor from internal enemies like Pathans, Rajputs or other rebels and external foes like Abdali. Marathas were given Rs 50 lakh for this. The Peshwa was given the right to levy chauth from Punjab, Sindh, and Doab, and the Peshwa was also granted viceroyalty of Agra and Ajmer," Balkawade said. He said Peshwa records indicate regular collection of chauth from regions including Ajmer, with a document showing Rs 13 lakh collected as tax. Other chauth areas were Delhi, Agra, Ujjain (Malwa) and Odisha. Following Badshah's death, Shinde installed Shah Alam on the throne in 1771, becoming deputy regent of empire. He pointed to disputes in royal families of Jodhpur and Jaipur on succession. "Marathas adjudicated in both and both rulers joined Maratha empire. "
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Informed Home Minister, still waiting for a response, says Tamil Nadu MP on chain snatching in Delhi
Congress MP from Tamil Nadu, Sudha Ramakrishnan, on Tuesday wondered about the fate of the common women in Delhi if the Union Home Ministry did not even take notice of an MP falling prey to snatchers in the Capital. Maintaining that she has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Ramakrishnan told The Indian Express, 'The Home Minister was informed about the snatching but he hasn't reacted even once. The Delhi Police is under the Home Ministry, not the state government. I am his (Home Minister) colleague and there is still no response.' 'I didn't see a single policeman or patrol car that day. The police are saying they have increased security for Independence Day, where is it? If the government is not reacting when it comes to a colleague who is an MP, I don't know what common women go through,' she added. On Monday morning, a scooter-borne man had snatched her gold necklace while she was on a morning walk in Chanakyapuri with MP Rajathi Salma. The Mayiladuthurai MP was staying at Tamil Nadu House to attend the ongoing Monsoon Session of the Parliament. Alleging that 'Delhi is simply not safe', Ramakrishnan said, 'This is irrespective of MPs, women or children; it's not safe for anyone.' She added, 'I was too traumatised to go for my daily walk today… My clothes were torn in the incident. I had to return to the guest house in that state.' '…We saw a police patrol car around two minutes after we returned. I told one of the police officers what had happened. I thought they would alert the traffic police or someone, but they just took my phone number and took me to the police station,' said Ramakrishnan, adding that she expected the police to give the snatcher a chase since it had not been very long since the incident. Ramakrishnan said that she was grateful that her influence as a member of the Parliament got her speedy access to the police and higher authorities. 'Everyone says crime is common in Delhi. They tell women not to go out after dark, they say 'keep your phone carefully, don't wear heavy jewellery'. Is this supposed to be the image of the Capital?'
