Amit Shah reaches Varanasi to chair Central Zonal Council meeting
Union home and cooperation minister Amit Shah arrived in Varanasi on Monday ahead of the 25th Central Zonal Council meeting, which he will chair here on Tuesday. Union home minister Amit Shah and chief minister Yogi Adityanath offer prayers at Kaal Bhairav temple in Varanasi on Monday. (HT Photo)
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath, UP BJP chief Bhupendra Chaudhary and top officials welcomed Shah at the Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport.
Tuesday's meeting will be attended by chief ministers of four states – Yogi Adityanath (Uttar Pradesh), Pushkar Singh Dhami (Uttarakhand), Mohan Yadav (Madhya Pradesh) and Vishnu Deo Sai (Chhattisgarh).
In an X post in Hindi, Adityanath said, 'Hearty welcome to the Honourable Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri AmitShah ji in the holy city of Kashi, the abode of Devadidev Mahadev!'
From the airport, Shah, accompanied by Adityanath, headed to the Kaal Bhairav Temple where the two leaders offered prayers amid the chanting of Vedic mantras. Thereafter, Shah met the BJP workers waiting for him outside the temple.
The party workers showered flowers on Shah's convoy on the route from the airport to the Kaal Bhairav temple and from there to the hotel. Drums were also played at various locations. City unit BJP president Pradeep Agrahari led the party workers.
Later, Adityanath hosted a dinner for Shah, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav, Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai and Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in a prominent city hotel. A team of about 140 officials was also present at the dinner.
The Central Zonal Council meeting will begin at 11am and conclude at 2pm on Tuesday.
Tight security arrangements have been made across the city with special focus in and around the venue, said deputy commissioner of police (Crime) Saravanan T and added that 10 companies of PAC have been deployed.
Geo fencing has been done around the Kashi Vishwanath Temple area in order that no drone can enter the locality.
The Central Zonal Council comprises the states of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
The meeting will also be attended by two senior ministers from each state. The chief secretaries of the state governments and other senior officials, as well as senior officials from the Central Government, will also participate in the meeting.
The Central Zonal Council meeting is being organised by the Inter-State Council Secretariat under the Union ministry of home affairs in collaboration with the government of Uttar Pradesh.
The Zonal Councils discuss broad issues of national importance, including the speedy investigation of cases of sexual offences against women and children and the implementation of Fast Track Special Courts (FTSC) for their swift disposal.
The council is also likely to deliberate on providing brick-and-mortar banking facilities within the designated area of every village; implementation of the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS-112) and various regional-level common interest issues such as strengthening nutrition, education, health, electricity, urban planning, and the cooperative system.
Five Zonal Councils were established under Sections 15 to 22 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.
The Union home minister is the chairperson of these five Zonal Councils. The chief ministers/lieutenant governors/administrators of the member states and Union Territories are their members.
Among these members, the chief minister of one member state (rotating every year) acts as the vice-chairperson.
Each Zonal Council has also formed a permanent committee at the level of chief secretaries. Issues proposed by the states are initially presented to the permanent committee of the Zonal Council for discussion. After consideration by the committee, the remaining issues are then presented to the Zonal Council meeting for further deliberation, according to an official press statement.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasised the need to leverage cooperative and competitive federalism for the all-round development of the country, the statement added.
The role of the Zonal Councils is advisory.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Wire
30 minutes ago
- The Wire
From US Weapons to Nuclear Liability, How Modi Govt Has Turned Its Back on India to Appease Trump
For years, the BJP championed non-alignment and strategic autonomy as core to its 'cultural nationalism'. Now, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah have quietly abandoned that legacy, enforcing sweeping policy shifts that will harm the interest of ordinary Indians.
NDTV
39 minutes ago
- NDTV
AIADMK Faces Backlash After Clip Targeting Periyar, Annadurai Played At Lord Muruga Conference
Chennai: What was billed as a grand spiritual celebration - the Lord Muruga conference in Tamil Nadu's Madurai on Sunday - has turned into a major political embarrassment for the opposition AIADMK. Organised by the Hindu Munnani and spearheaded by the BJP, the event took a controversial turn when a video critical of Dravidian icon Periyar and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister CN Annadurai was screened with several senior AIADMK leaders on stage, including Deputy Leader of the House RB Udhayakumar. The AIADMK, which draws ideological legitimacy from Annadurai, whose name it carries, was caught off guard, with its leaders facing backlash for remaining silent during the episode. The video, which reportedly questioned the legacy of Periyar and Annadurai, has provided ammunition to the ruling DMK, which wasted no time in slamming the AIADMK for "mortgaging itself to the BJP". "Even God will not forgive a spiritual event being turned into a political meet," said DMK spokesperson Dr Syed Hafezullah, calling the episode a blatant political stunt disguised as a devotional gathering. The AIADMK said the video should not have been played. "They could have avoided using this video. In future, this has to be avoided and no room should be given for fodder to rivals to portray that all is not well in the AIADMK-BJP alliance," party spokesperson Kovai Sathyan told NDTV. Senior leader SP Velumani also sought to downplay the controversy, warning critics not to underestimate the party's reverence for its late leaders. "You know how our leader responded when our late leaders were insulted," he said, referring to the AIADMK's past decision to snap ties with the BJP following controversial remarks by former state BJP chief K. Annamalai. Despite the unease, the AIADMK has indicated that its alliance with the BJP remains intact. The conference, attended by thousands, was part of the BJP's larger effort to expand its footprint in Tamil Nadu, a state where it has historically struggled to gain electoral traction. The party has pinned its hopes on leveraging religious symbolism and cultural events, such as this Lord Muruga conference, to build resonance in the Dravidian heartland. To boost appeal, the BJP roped in Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and actor Pawan Kalyan, whose appearance added star power to the event. The exhibition also showcased replicas of all six abodes of Lord Muruga, attracting large crowds. Marking their presence at the exhibition ahead of the conference were BJP-appointed governors, including Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi and Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan, offering prayers. However, the controversy over the anti-Periyar video may have overshadowed the BJP's larger messaging, with critics calling it a deliberate provocation to undermine the Dravidian movement, which remains deeply rooted in the state's political and social fabric. As the political fallout unfolds, the AIADMK finds itself on the defensive, trying to balance its alliance with the BJP while safeguarding the legacy of its founding icons.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Marathi language being 'insulted': Raut on govt meetings over 3-language policy
Amid a row over the three-language formula, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday (June 23, 2025) claimed the Maharashtra government's move to hold a series of meetings on the issue was an "insult" to Marathi language. Talking to reporters, Mr. Raut also questioned the "silence" of prominent Marathi literary figures and celebrities, and claimed many of them were not vocal on the issue due to their association with the government. He also said children of several Cabinet Ministers and literary personalities studied in English-medium schools, hence they have no moral right to speak about conserving the Marathi language. The state government last week issued an amended order, stating Hindi will generally be taught as the third language to students in Marathi and English medium schools from Classes 1 to 5, leading to a controversy. The government had maintained that Hindi would not be compulsory, but mandated consent of at least 20 students per grade in a school for studying any Indian language other than Hindi. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis held a meeting on Monday (June 23, 2025) night and said a final decision on the three-language formula will be taken only after consultations with all stakeholders, including litterateurs, language experts and political leaders. Mr. Raut criticised the government over its policy and meetings over the issue. "There is no need to force the learning of Hindi in Maharashtra. Why is CM Devendra Fadnavis insisting on it? He is doing something else under this guise," the Sena (UBT) leader claimed. "Did the CM and DCM ever hold meetings for the promotion of Marathi? Fadnavis and Shinde are enemies of Maharashtra," he alleged. The Rajya Sabha member further targeted Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde over the row. "Hindi is not mandatory in Gujarat. Does Dy CM Eknath Shinde have the courage to ask the BJP why Hindi is not being forced there like in Maharashtra?" he asked. On the recent deliberations by the government regarding the three-language policy, Raut claimed these meetings have no meaning. "All this government needs to do is issue an order and withdraw the decision. He (referring to Shinde) is only spoiling the atmosphere. Holding such meetings again and again is an insult to the Marathi language," he claimed. Asked about the state government's decision to consult literary figures, Raut dismissed the move. "There is no need to meet literary figures. Does Fadnavis even know 10 names of prominent literary personalities from Maharashtra? Can Shinde name even five?" he asked. Taking a dig at Marathi celebrities, Raut said actor Prakash Raj from the South has taken a clear stand against the imposition of Hindi under the three-language policy. "Where is Nana Patekar? Where is Prashant Damle? Where is Madhuri Dixit? Where are our Marathi cricketers? Marathi people have supported and celebrated their achievements, but when it comes to the Marathi language being attacked, they remain silent," he said. Mr. Raut claimed many renowned literary personalities have been silenced due to their associations with the government. "Don't lecture us about literary figures. Ninety per cent of them have received awards and felicitations and have been kept indebted by the government," Mr. Raut said. Taking aim at the ruling party's leadership, Raut questioned their commitment to the Marathi language. "My own children studied in Marathi-medium schools. But most cabinet ministers and literary figures have admitted their children in English-medium schools. They have no moral right to speak about conserving the Marathi language," he said.
