Latest news with #LadliBehna
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
BJP orders 15k sindoori red sarees for PM's Bhopal rally
1 2 3 4 Bhopal: The BJP state unit has ordered 15,000 sindoori red sarees for the team that will welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Lokmata Ahilyabai Mahila Sashaktikaran Maha Sammelan at the Jambooree Maidan on Saturday. The ruling party stated that Saturday's Maha Sammelan will be the first entirely women-oriented and organised function following the success of Operation Sindoor. From welcoming the PM at the venue to organising the function and police security, everything will be managed by women. Very few men, including those in police security, will be seen at the Jambooree Maidan venue on Saturday morning. Over two lakh women self-help group members, beneficiaries of the Ladli Behna scheme, and women BJP workers from across the state will gather at the venue to listen to Modi's address. After the embarrassing remark by tribal affairs minister Vijay Shah on Col Sofiya Qureshi, the party decided to feature her image along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh's at the Maha Sammelan. Both women officers of the armed forces are already mascots at the state BJP office. Posters of Col Qureshi and Wing Commander Singh are displayed at the state BJP office, and now cut-outs of the two will adorn the venue or even the dais at Jambooree Maidan. CM Mohan Yadav, BJP state chief VD Sharma, BJP state unit in-charge Mahendra Singh, and the state party organisational general secretary will be on the podium with Modi. The rest of the podium will be occupied by women ministers, MPs, and MLAs of the state. All women people's representatives have been asked to come to Bhopal for the function, which is being held to observe the 300th birth anniversary of the 18th-century queen Ahilyabai Holkar. BJP state chief Sharma said, "We are fortunate that PM Narendra Modi is coming when we are celebrating the 300th birth anniversary of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar with over 2 lakh women self-help group workers. The party organisation is wholeheartedly working for the success of the function of the Mohan Yadav govt. We are ensuring that every woman worker of the party, right from the grassroots, gets to participate and support the govt function. It will be a historic programme." He further added that after Operation Sindoor, this would be the first women empowerment function to be addressed by the PM. On Tuesday, the state BJP called a meeting of its women functionaries at the party office. Over 2,000 women, led by cabinet minister Krishna Gaur and Bhopal mayor Malti Rai, attended the meeting and discussed the line-up for the women empowerment Maha Sammelan. Speaking to TOI, BJP state spokesman Ajay Singh Yadav said, "This is an exclusive function for women and their empowerment after Operation Sindoor. The state unit is honoured that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the function on the 300th birth anniversary of Queen Ahilyabai Holkar, who was known for her able administrative competence. Lakhs of women from across the state will join the function to show their strength, and the women leadership of the state has been given the responsibility to organise the event. "
NDTV
4 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Security, Hospitality, Logistics: PM Modi To Attend All-Women Bhopal Rally
Bhopal: In a remarkable display of women empowerment, Bhopal's Jamboree Ground is set to host a grand convention on May 31, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the chief guest. What makes this political gathering stand out is not just its scale but the fact that women are managing every layer of its execution, including security. From planning and hospitality to traffic management and helipad coordination, the event is being spearheaded entirely by women - a first-of-its-kind initiative by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), built around the theme 'Sindoori', symbolising feminine strength and cultural identity. The convention also marks the 300th birth anniversary of Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar, a revered Maratha queen, with a focus on mobilising BJP's core women voter base. The BJP sees this as a pivotal moment to showcase its commitment to women empowerment, especially after Operation Sindoor, that mobilised lakhs of female supporters across Madhya Pradesh. Security In Women's Hands Security for this high-profile event will be under the leadership of women. Senior IPS officer Sonali Mishra will oversee a robust multi-layered security network. Of the 90 senior security officials deployed, 47 are women, including four Superintendents of Police (SPs) and 11 additional SPs. The command posts, monitoring rooms, and convoy security will see women personnel in charge. Over 1,500 women commandos and 3,000 personnel have been deployed to secure the venue, with traffic and crowd control systems being coordinated to avoid disruptions. The Prime Minister's helipad within the event premises is being handled by women officers, showcasing their leadership in high-stakes operations. More than 620 women from Self Help Groups (SHGs) have been engaged in organising the event, including food, transport and stage management. BJP has invited 20 women representatives from each party mandal across the state, all instructed to dress in sindoori (red)-colored attire, reinforcing the symbolic theme of unity and strength. The BJP claims to be reaching out to over one lakh women through this initiative. PM Modi will also launch metro rail projects in Indore, inaugurate new ghats along the Shipra River in Ujjain, and lay the foundation stone for Singhasth Mahaparv 2028 preparations. The Opposition, on the other hand, criticised the BJP for holding this event while schemes likely Ladli Behna and other initiatives remain to be effectively implemented. women during elections? The schemes like 'Ladli Behna' and financial promises remain largely unfulfilled."
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
MP's nine-month celebration of an 18th-century queen: The importance of Ahilyabai Holkar
THE 18TH-CENTURY Maratha queen Devi Ahilyabai Holkar is seeing a revival in Madhya Pradesh, with the Mohan Yadav-led BJP government orchestrating one of the most comprehensive state-led cultural commemorations in recent memory, in the run-up to her 300th birth anniversary celebrations later this month. The culmination, on May 31, will see Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurate the Indore Metro Rail's first phase, along with Datia and Satna airports, as well as give an address to a 'Women Empowerment Grand Conference' in Bhopal. Over two lakh women are expected to attend, including Self Help Group (SHG) members, Ladli Behna scheme beneficiaries, and entrepreneurs. The Madhya Pradesh campaign — spanning nine months since September 2024, multiple cities, and political, academic and developmental initiatives – has elevated Ahilyabai from a historically revered figure to the centerpiece of politics in Madhya Pradesh. It helps that Ahilyabai, apart from her administrative genius, is a cultural symbol with much resonance for her contribution towards restoration of many temples. As part of the celebrations, Madhya Pradesh has held folk and dance performances; art exhibitions; theatrical dramas across cities like Maheshwar, Chitrakoot, Indore, Ujjain, Omkareshwar, and Orchha on Ahilyabai; sanctioned a state-sponsored film on her life and a commemorative book; exhibitions of 234 watercolor paintings of temples she restored (including the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi), and a light-and-sound show in her name. Alongside this, the Marathi Sahitya Academy is translating documents related to Ahilyabai and planning her statues along the Narmada Parikrama route. At a recent Cabinet meeting, held at Ahilyabai's Rajwada Palace in Indore, Yadav approved Rs 3,876 crore worth of development projects related to the campaign, and sanctioned a youth training programme named after her to provide interest subsidies on loans. A Women Start-Up Policy is in the works, with female artisans and entrepreneurs being prominently showcased at exhibitions on Ahilyabai. CM takes the lead Mohan Yadav has taken personal ownership of the campaign around Ahilyabai, linking her story to the development work and women's empowerment schemes of his own government. Ahilyabai's place in the Hindutva pantheon is an additional bonus for the first-time CM, who is seeking to consolidate his position in the state's politics. His selection as CM ahead of other leaders after long-time CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan was moved to the Centre as Union minister had come as a surprise. Deepak Tiwari, the former Vice Chancellor of Makhanlal Chaturvedi University and an author on Madhya Pradesh's political history, pointed out that Ahilyabai's renovation of Shiva temples across India makes her a figure with lasting cultural resonance. While other CMs have highlighted religious and historical figures, Tiwari noted, it was the first time that events were being planned at this scale. 'This type of politics did not happen in the past. The first time sadhus entered the political scene was with Uma Bharti in 2003. But the celebration of a religious icon at this level on the government level never took place before' he said. Tiwari also pointed out that Mohan Yadav is the first Madhya Pradesh CM who is himself in-charge of Indore district. 'Indore is the commercial and financial capital of the state. He is treating Indore like he treats Ujjain (his home base).' The decision to hold the Cabinet meeting at Rajwada Palace, from Ahilyabai's seat of power, was deliberate, Tiwari said. Indore, incidentally, is the turf of BJP heavyweight and Urban Development Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, who was considered a probable CM face before the BJP picked Yadav. At a recent event, Mohan Yadav also linked Ahilyabai's temple-restoration legacy to resistance against the Mughals. 'The Mughals launched a campaign to destroy our devasthans. I have no hesitation saying that barring Ahilyabai Holkar, the big rulers did not pay attention to this issue,' he said. This links with the BJP narrative of praising 'homegrown' princely states for upholding India's cultural history. BJP leaders in the state counter the contention that the celebration of Ahilyabai is aimed at scoring political points. Senior BJP leader and Indore (Rural) District President Ghanshyam Naroliya said the events were just an extension of Yadav's women-centric governance. Naroliya said, 'The celebrations will continue under all BJP-ruled states. We want to take her story to pan-India level.' A senior RSS leader from Indore said, 'It is unfair to say Devi Ahilyabai is used by the BJP and RSS for political points. The Sangh is celebrating her social and religious contribution, her governance model. We want society to know about all of this. We celebrate national heroes like Dr Ambedkar, Vivekananda, and the 1857 rebellion. The Sangh commemorated all of these important historical events. Why should the whole country not know about Ahilyabai? She was not just a queen based in Indore.'
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
CM invokes Lord Ram as govt credits Rs 1,551 cr to 1.27 cr ‘Ladli Behnas'
Bhopal : CM Mohan Yadav on Thursday invoked Lord Ram's ideals as he credited Rs 1,551.89 crore directly into the bank accounts of 1.27 crore beneficiaries of the Ladli Behna scheme in Sidhi, saying the state govt was committed to keeping its promises -- even at the cost of life. "We are followers of Lord Ram's ideals -- those who fulfil their promises, even at the cost of their lives," he said, after transferring Rs 1,250 each to the accounts of 'Ladli Behnas' during a public event. Releasing the 24th instalment of the scheme, Yadav said the state was celebrating "Raksha Bandhan" with its sisters every month through the scheme. Women in the state had received more than Rs 28,000 crore so far, he said. Yadav further said the govt was firmly committed to the welfare of the poor, farmers, youth, and women of MP. The CM said honouring women has been a timeless tradition in India. "The govt's doors are always open for sisters," he said. "India is the only country where the land is worshipped as a mother," Yadav said, reflecting on the deep-rooted values of Indian family culture, where mothers prioritise their children over themselves. In addition to "Ladli Behnas", he also transferred Rs 341 crore to 56.83 lakh social security pension beneficiaries, and Rs 30.83 crore for LPG cylinder refills to over 26 lakh women. He also inaugurated and laid the foundation stones with "Bhoomi Pujan" for various development projects in Sidhi district worth Rs 112 crore. He declared that there will be no compromise in the development of the Rewa-Sidhi region. Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, Yadav said Pakistan had been exposed on the global stage. "India is entering a new era, and our military's valour makes the entire country proud," he said, noting that victory parades and "Tiranga" rallies were being held across cities.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
MP's borrowing binge continues as state reels under record debt
Bhopal: The state govt will raise a loan of Rs 5,000 crore on May 6, pushing its total debt beyond Rs 4.26 lakh crore -- more than the state's annual budget of Rs 4,21,032 crore. This will be the govt's first borrowing in the current financial year. A notification for the fresh loan was issued on Thursday. As of March 31, the state's outstanding debt stood at Rs 4,21,740.27 crore. The govt maintains that such borrowings are essential for funding development projects and schemes across the state. Consent of the central govt has been obtained to the floatation of this loan as required by Article 293 (3) of the Constitution. Loans taken from the central govt and from other sources were mainly utilised for development of the state and for the creation of remunerative assets such as construction of irrigation dams, improvement of transport services, grant of loans to third parties like cultivators, local bodies, loan to power generation, power transmission among others, states the state govt while taking a loan. MP has more than five percent of the total debt in the country. Total outstanding liabilities of state govts in India was Rs 93,93,317.5 cr. In it, Rs 4,80,976.0 cr was total liability of MP, as per RBI at March end (budget estimates 2025). MP stands 9th position in the country in outstanding liabilities. Despite the rising loan burden, the govt has not hesitated in buying a state plane, new cars for ministers and renovation of ministers' bungalows. On July 10, the MP govt cleared a proposal to buy a jet plane worth over Rs 230 crore. Among the major financial responsibilities of the govt is the 'Ladli Behna' scheme that needs over Rs 1,550 crore every month.
