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United News of India
27-07-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
PM holds roadshow in Trichy, Gangaikonda Cholapuram
Chennai, July 27 (UNI) On a two-day visit to Tamil Nadu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held a road show in Trichy and at Gangaikonda Cholapuram in Ariyalur district of the State. First he conducted a road show in Trichy before departing for Ariyalur to take part in the birth anniversary of King Rjendra Chola-1 and to release a commemorative coin to mark the occasion. Mr Modi, who arrived in Trichy from Tuticorin last night after launching various projects an inaugurating the new Terminal building at Tuticorin airport, held the road show from the hotel, where he stayed overnight, till the airport. A large number of people, including women and children, carrying BJP flags, enthusiastically cheered the Prime Minister by lining up on both sides of road and showed rose petals on his car. A smiling Mr Modi responded to the crowd by waving his hands from his car and greeted them with folded hands. The road show spanning about 8 km from Courtyard Marriott Hotel, covered Major Saravanan Roundabout, MGR Statue, Court, Bharathidasan Road, Head Post Office, Good Shed Bridge, TVS Tollgate, Pudukottai Road leading to the Trichy Airport. Later, Mr Modi boarded a helicopter to reach Ariyalur from where he left for Gangaikonda Cholapuram by road for the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple--a replica of the Lord Brihadeswara Temple in Thanjavur, built by Rajendra Chola-1--and the birth anniversary of the king on the auspicious occasion of the Adi Thiruvaathirai star. The festival was being celebrated as 'Mupperum Vizha', commemorating 1000 years of maritime expedition of Rajendra Chola-I to South East Asia, the birth anniversary of the emperor and commencement of construction of the Gangaikondacholapuram temple. . Upon landing at the makeshift helipad in the Ponneri area, adjacent to the bypass road in Gangaikonda Cholapuram, the Prime Minister, cld in traditional white dhoti and white shirt with an angawastram round his neck, conducted a roadshow leading to the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple, the venue for the main event, by greeting the enthusiastic people who, braving the blazing heat, have gathered on both sides of the road all along the route. Mr Modi was seen standing near the front door of his car as he raised his hand and waved to the people, sporting a big smile. Giant portraits of Mr Modi and cut outs dotted the entire stretch from helipad to the temple, where a tastefully decorated Green arch was erected at the temple entrance to welcome him . At the temple, Mr Modi offered special darshan, participated in the "Aadi Thiruvathirai" ceremony, marking the 1000th birth anniversary of legendary emperor Rajendra Chola-1 and released a commemorative coin in his honour. Earlier, at the Tiruchirapalli airport AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, with whose party the BJP has revived its electoral ties for the crucial 2026 Assembly elections which was eight months away, met him and submitted a memorandum urging him to implement key demands of the state. After the Adi Thiruvaathirai fest in the temple, he would return to Trichy and leave for New Delhi around 1430 hrs. UNI GV 1230
Civil.ge
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Civil.ge
In Surprise Move, Prosecution Softens Charges Against Detained Activist
In a surprise move, prosecutors reclassified the charges against Saba Skhvitaridze, an activist and member of the opposition Ahali party, reducing the severity of the criminal accusations as courts continue to try and sentence dozens of those arrested amid protests on serious charges. Skhvitaridze was initially charged with the attack against a police officer resulting in health damage, carrying a jail penalty of 7 to 11 years. As the proceedings entered their final phase, however, the prosecutors shared the arguments of the defense that Skhvitaridze couldn't know the man was a police officer, leading to a reduced charge of 'intentional minor bodily harm,' punishable by a fine, correctional labor, house arrest, or one to three years in prison. Skhvitaridze continues to maintain his innocence, arguing he acted in self-defense. Despite the reduced charges, Judge Jvebe Nachkebia denied the defense's request to release him from pre-trial custody. 'Since it was confirmed that the defendant may not have clearly known that the individuals were police officers performing their official duties, we therefore made an objective and fair decision regarding the change of the legal qualification,' prosecutor Roin Khintibidze told journalists following the court hearing on July 24. The charges stem from a December 4, 2024, incident near the Courtyard Marriott Hotel at Tbilisi's Liberty Square, close to the protest epicenter, during the first week of ongoing protests. The confrontation broke out after a group emerged from the hotel following an opposition meeting and was approached by men in black plain clothes wearing medical masks. According to the defense, which cites video evidence from the scene, the incident incident when opposition member Teona Chalidze pulled down the hood of one of the men, reportedly believing he was a thug, a so-called Titushka . Violent Titushki attacks were frequently reported during the early weeks of the protests. The man responded by slapping Chalidze in the face, which, according to the defense, prompted Skhvitaridze to intervene as part of self-defense. The prosecution later identified the man, who wore no insignia at the time of the incident, as police officer Mirian Kavtaradze and as the alleged victim. Skhvitaridze was detained on December 5, a day after the incident. He later alleged inhuman treatment at the hands of police, including beating and rape threats. On June 24, Amnesty International, a legal watchdog, addressed a letter to Georgia's Prosecutor General, urging authorities 'to ensure a prompt, impartial, independent and effective investigation into the allegations of torture and other ill-treatment of Saba Skhvitaridze and to bring all those responsible to justice in fair trials.' Dozens of those arrested in the context of protests since November 2024 are currently tried on criminal charges, with seven already sentenced to years in jail. The proceedings continue as no police officer has been held accountable despite numerous documented abuses during dispersals.
