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Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
1,203: Himachal Pradesh deputy chief minister Mukesh Agnihotri hails HP bravery medal count
Shimla: Himachal Pradesh deputy chief minister Mukesh Agnihotri on Friday hailed the state as not only a 'Dev Bhoomi' (land of the gods) but also a 'Veer Bhoomi' (land of the brave), honouring its rich legacy of military sacrifice and valour, besides its gallantry medal count that has reached 1,203. Speaking at the 'Jai Hind Sabha' organised by the Congress Party in Shimla, Agnihotri paid tribute to soldiers from Himachal Pradesh who have died in the service of the nation. The state's bravery medal tally includes four Param Vir Chakras, four Ashok Chakras, 10 Mahavir Chakras, 25 Kirti Chakras, 57 Vir Chakras, and 99 Shaurya Chakras. "These decorations reflect the unmatched courage and patriotism of Himachal's sons, who made the ultimate sacrifice for the country," Agnihotri said. He cited the heroism of Major Somnath Sharma and Capt Vikram Batra, who were awarded the Param Vir Chakra posthumously, along with Lt Col Dhan Singh Thapa and Subedar Major Sanjay Kumar from Bilaspur, also recipients of the nation's highest military honour. State's health minister, retired Col Dhani Ram Shandil, reflecting on the 1971 war with Pakistan, recalled his deployment in Longewala and credited former prime minister Indira Gandhi with bolstering troop morale, contributing to the historic victory. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Click Here - This Might Save You From Losing Money Expertinspector Click Here Undo Rajya Sabha MP Ajay Maken said the 'Jai Hind Sabha' will be held at 15 locations across India to honour the armed forces. He claimed that India had conducted multiple cross-border strikes in 2008, 2011, 2013, and 2014, and although the armed forces deserved full credit, the Congress never had politicised military operations. Congress's HP in-charge Rajani Patil said the initiative had come on the instructions of party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge. Patil also shared her experience of visiting the families of victims of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that led to Operation Sindoor. Himachal Congress president Pratibha Singh added that similar tributes would be held across every district in the state, noting that nearly every district contributes soldiers to the armed forces. The event began with two minutes of silence in honour of the fallen, as speakers across ranks united in praise of HP's enduring legacy of service and sacrifice. MSID:: 121519763 413 |
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
‘World-class pricing, third-world drainage': Vivek Agnihotri mocks Mumbai's Rs 1 lakh/sq ft ‘waterfront property' at Peddar Road
Mumbai witnessed its highest single-day May rainfall since 2021 and the second-highest in the last ten years, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported. The downpour on Monday morning led to severe waterlogging across the city, including the high-end Peddar Road locality, raising concerns about the city's drainage and urban infrastructure. Agnihotri targets high cost, low civic value Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri took to social media to highlight the irony of paying premium prices for property in Mumbai while facing basic civic issues. 'Pedder Road. One of Mumbai's poshest addresses. Rs 1 lakh per sq ft for the privilege of watching your car float past your living room. World-class pricing. Third-world drainage. Enjoy the waterfront property. No extra charge,' Agnihotri posted on X (formerly Twitter). — vivekagnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) His post drew widespread attention and reactions, with many users criticising the state of urban planning. Some responded with sarcasm, others with concern. One user wrote, 'India needs to spend major on city infrastructure.' Another added, 'There is zero town planning and all planning happens in isolation.' A third remarked, 'Everyone craves for a water front property & muncipalty is bringing it to your doorstep, still people are complaining.' — vivekagnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) Earlier post highlights nationwide issue In an earlier post, Agnihotri had also shared a video showing waterlogging on Napean Sea Road and commented on broader urban challenges. 'Nepean Sea Road, home to India's top billionaires, top ministers & officials chokes in one shower. So do Delhi, Bengaluru and other cities, year after year. India's pathetic urbanisation is a scam wrapped in a sham. Poor ordinary citizens.. but who cares?' Rainfall data reveals scale of flooding According to data from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) automated weather stations, Nariman Point recorded 252 mm of rainfall, followed by Byculla at 213 mm, Colaba at 207 mm, and Do Taki station at 202 mm. Other affected areas included Memonwada (183 mm), Marine Lines (180 mm), and Worli (171 mm), all recorded between midnight Sunday and 11:30 am Monday. Live Events Monsoon arrives early this year The southwest monsoon arrived in Maharashtra on Sunday, a day after reaching Kerala, marking the earliest onset over the Indian mainland since 2009. Typically, the monsoon reaches Kerala by June 1 and Mumbai by June 11. It covers the entire country by July 8 and starts withdrawing from northwest India around September 17, concluding by October 15.
Indian Express
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Urbanisation is a scam': Vivek Agnihotri's outburst on waterlogging in Mumbai amid heavy rain
Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri has expressed frustration over Mumbai's persistent waterlogging problem, criticising the state of civic infrastructure and governance, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the city experienced its highest single-day rainfall in May since 2021 and the second-highest for the month in the past decade. Sharing a video of severe waterlogging on the posh Napean Sea Road, an area home to some of India's wealthiest people, Agnihotri questioned the state of urban planning in the country. 'Nepean Sea Road, home to India's top billionaires, top ministers & officials chokes in one shower,' he wrote. 'So do Delhi, Bengaluru and other cities, year after year. India's pathetic urbanisation is a scam wrapped in a sham. Poor ordinary citizens.. but who cares?' the filmmaker added. See here: Nepean Sea Road, home to India's top billionaires, top ministers & officials chokes in one shower. So do Delhi, Bengaluru and other cities, year after year. India's pathetic urbanisation is a scam wrapped in a sham. Poor ordinary citizens.. but who cares? — Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) May 26, 2025 His post quickly gained traction, prompting reactions from social media users. 'India needs to spend major on city infrastructure,' a user wrote. 'There is zero town planning and all planning happens in isolation,' another user commented. 'Everyone craves for a water front property & muncipalty is bringing it to your doorstep, still people are complaining,' a third user wrote in a sarcastic comment. Data from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) automated weather stations revealed that several areas in the city received over 200 mm of rainfall between midnight on Sunday and 11.30 am on Monday. According to the records, the highest rainfall was recorded at Nariman Point with 252 mm, followed by Byculla (E ward office) at 213 mm, Colaba at 207 mm, and Do Taki station at 202 mm. Other areas such as Marine Lines and Chandanwadi received 180 mm and Memonwada recorded 183 mm, while Worli saw 171 mm of rainfall. The southwest monsoon arrived in Maharashtra on Sunday, just a day after reaching in Kerala, marking its earliest onset over the Indian mainland since 2009. Typically, the monsoon reaches Kerala by June 1 and Mumbai around June 11 and covers the entire country by July 8. The withdrawal process begins from northwest India around September 17 and is usually complete by October 15.
Indian Express
26-05-2025
- Indian Express
Delhi candidates send romantic messages to HR on WhatsApp instead of CV, leave recruiter stunned
In an unusual incident, a female talent acquisition specialist from Delhi was left baffled after a hopeful applicant decided to skip the resume and instead sent her a romantic shayari over WhatsApp. The poetic message shared by the HR on LinkedIn turned what should have been a professional interaction into an awkward and inappropriate exchange. Ritika Agnihotri, a recruiter at Depex Technologies, shared her experience, posting screenshots of several messages she had received from male candidates during the hiring process. What she exposed wasn't just unprofessional, it veered into outright flirtation. 'One candidate sent me shayari, while another commented on my looks and even gave me missed calls in the middle of the night,' she wrote. One message she received read, 'Muskan ban jaata hai koi, dil ki dhadkan ban jaata hai koi, Kaise jiye ek pal bhi unke bin, Jab zindagi jeene ki wajah ban jaata hai koi…' Another texted her saying, 'Aap sundar itni ho main aapko dekhne ke baad ab tak nahi bhool paya ma'am. But jo sach tha woh bola, gussa mat hona. You are the most beautiful girl in the world.' Frustrated, Agnihotri questioned how recruiters are expected to deal with such behaviour. 'How are we supposed to respond to applicants who not only lack professionalism but also basic communication sense?' she asked. See here: Her post quickly gained traction on LinkedIn, with many users expressing similar concerns and calling out the lack of boundaries some job seekers exhibit during the hiring process. 'We should disclose their identity to teach them a lesson and prevent them from targeting others. Blocking alone won't stop such behavior. Some may argue that this could ruin their career, but if we don't take action, they will continue to harass others,' a user wrote. 'I usually just let them know, I will be sending screenshots to current and future HRs of their companies, it works like magic. Trust the word,' another user commented. 'The best way to handle this is to expose them not hide them,' a third user reacted.
India Gazette
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- India Gazette
Himachal: Transport department set to cross Rs 1000 crore revenue mark this year, says Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], May 18 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, who also holds the transport portfolio, said that the state's transport department has generated Rs 912 crore revenue last year, a growth of nearly 17 per cent. The government is 'confident' that the transport department will cross the Rs 1000 crore revenue mark this fiscal, he said in a press conference on Saturday while sharing a detailed overview of the 'remarkable strides' made by the state's transport department over the past year. 'In the past one year, the Transport Department has generated revenue of Rs 912 crore,' said Agnihotri, adding that this marks an increase of Rs 132 crore compared to the previous year , a growth of nearly 17 per cent. 'This year, we are confident that we will cross the Rs 1000 crore revenue mark,' he stated. He informed that since the beginning of the new financial year on April 1, the department has already earned Rs 1.5 crore. 'I want to brief you that during the last one year, 1.5 lakh new vehicles have been registered in Himachal Pradesh. At present, nearly 23 lakh vehicles are registered in the state,' Agnihotri said. The number of driving license holders has also risen, with one lakh new licenses issued in the past year. 'There are now 16 lakh active driving license holders in the state,' he noted. The Centre has recognized the department's performance for two consecutive years, he said. 'Last year, we received a performance award with a grant of Rs 25 crore, and this year the award amount increased to Rs 28.71 crore. This reflects the efficiency of our department. I extend my congratulations to all our officers and staff,' said the Deputy CM. Announcing expansion plans, Agnihotri said, 'We have decided to introduce 1000 new vehicles in the state. These will create opportunities for both transporters and unemployed youth.' He said of the 234 new public transport routes notified, 181 have already been claimed. The department is inviting private players to operate around 350 minibuses (18-seaters) and 422 large buses. 'Around 3,000 new commercial vehicles are already operating in the state, and nearly 1000 more will soon be added,' he said. He also shared that since the formation of the current government, 26,812 new permits for buses and taxis have been issued. 'People have started purchasing new buses, and 40 such vehicles are already on the roads,' he added. The auction of fancy vehicle numbers has emerged as a significant revenue stream. 'So far, we have earned Rs 37 crore through e-auctions. Some individuals have paid as much as Rs 20 to 25 lakh for a single number,' Agnihotri revealed. The Deputy CM raised concerns about a central government policy that allows a bus to pay a one-time fee of Rs 3 lakh and operate anywhere in India. 'This policy is problematic. While our HRTC buses are forced to pay Rs 18 to 20 lakh, outside buses can operate freely with just Rs 3 lakh. We have imposed a special road tax in response,' he explained. The state government has expressed its disagreement with the Centre over this issue. 'We will build our own transport model and levy our own charges,' he asserted. The department has also given two years for defaulters to pay pending taxes. Despite increasing rates multiple times, only Rs 14 crore was recovered. 'We've now stopped allowing vehicles without tax payments. They must now clear dues through the Excise Department,' Agnihotri said. The state collected Rs 23 crore from tax defaulters through regulatory enforcement. The Deputy CM added that all transport tax systems are now streamlined through an efficient online platform. 'Though the Centre has different ideas, we'll stick to our own robust system,' he remarked. Agnihotri highlighted the progress in vehicle scrapping facilities. 'Two scrapping centers have become operational - one in Una and another in Nadaun, Hamirpur. So far, nearly 3,000 vehicles have been scrapped, though 2,500 of them were scrapped outside the state due to lack of facilities earlier,' he said. Government vehicles will now have to be scrapped via an online portal, and private vehicles will be scrapped through negotiations. Vehicle testing, earlier a manual process, is now shifting to an automated system. 'We're establishing seven automated vehicle testing stations - four under the private sector in Bilaspur, Mandi, Nahan, and Nalagarh, and one in Mehrauli. These will be operational very soon,' he said. Agnihotri also discussed the implementation of the Smart Traffic Management and EV Infrastructure of Intelligent Traffic Management Systems (ITMS). 'Through our intelligent systems, 2,571 traffic violators, especially over-speeding cases, have been identified and fined,' he said. The state is also investing in electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure. 'We've already set up EV charging stations at 23 petrol pumps. In 2025, 88 new charging stations will be established by various companies,' he said. Six green corridors have been planned, and agreements are in place with three companies under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model for 41 new stations, mostly near tourism department hotels. 'Work is underway to install charging points at 65 hotels - 11 in the first phase and 44 in the second. Additionally, 400 government locations have been identified for EV charging stations,' Agnihotri informed. As part of a welfare initiative, 39 commercial vehicles owned by unemployed youth are now being used in the government sector. He also touched on road safety improvements. 'While the number of vehicles has increased, road accidents have decreased by 4.3 per cent and accident-related deaths by 2.4 per cent. Road safety is our top priority,' he said. Black spots across the state are being identified for corrective measures. 'This year will be transformational for the transport sector. We are introducing revolutionary reforms and new systems,' Agnihotri added. (ANI)
