Latest news with #TirangaYatras
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
CM Nayab Singh Saini leads Gurgaon Run, promotes ‘1 nation, 1 election'
Gurgaon: Making an impassioned plea to youths and citizens to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'One nation, one election', Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini led Gurgaon Run on Sunday. The CM said the initiative — "a national interest agenda" — aims to unify electoral processes to ensure cost savings, effective governance and "uninterrupted development". Speaking at the Leisure Valley parking area, Saini said, "This is not just a political reform, it's a democratic movement. Simultaneous elections will reduce administrative fatigue, save public resources and allow governance to continue without frequent electoral interruptions." He urged youths to create awareness in colleges, villages and on digital platforms. Successful public movements such as Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao originated from Haryana and became a national campaign, Saini said, calling for public participation in promoting the "One nation, one election" concept. He condemned the Pahalgam terror attack in (Jammu and Kashmir), saying the ongoing Tiranga Yatras across the country reflected India's unity and patriotic strength. Minister of state for sports Gaurav Gautam said frequent elections disrupt development and exhaust public funds. "The campaign is a step toward a streamlined, focused and stronger India," he said. Industry minister Rao Narbir Singh, Pataudi MLA Bimla Chaudhary, Gurgaon MLA Mukesh Sharma and city mayor Raj Rani Malhotra attended the event. BJP national secretary Om Prakash Dhankhar and state president Mohan Lal Kaushik were also present. Surprise Cricket Match Saini stopped his convoy near Rajiv Chowk to join a group of local youths playing cricket. On his way to the PWD Rest House after Gurgaon Run, Saini stepped onto the field, picked up a bat and played a few shots. He was joined by Rao, Gautam and party state president Mohan Lal Kaushik.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Why PM pic in Op Sindoor poster, asks UPCC chief Ajay Rai
Varanasi: UP Congress chief Ajay Rai on Monday attacked the PM Narendra Modi and BJP over a poster released on the success of Operation Sindoor for political gains. Rai questioned why Modi had been portayed in the poster instead of Indian soldiers. "Such posters have come up everywhere, from petrol pumps to public places, showing Modi in military attire, wearing sunglasses and holding a helmet. However, there are no pictures of actual soldiers. Operation Sindoor is even being marketed on train tickets," said Rai. He also attacked the PM for using 'sindoor' (vermilion), a sacred identity for married women, for political gains. The army showed valour and struck back, but Modi, who accepted a ceasefire under the pressure of US president Donald Trump, is marketing himself, said the UP Congress chief, adding that instead of showing sympathy to martyrs and innocent citizens killed in Pahalgam and paying tributes to them, the BJP is celebrating the occasion by carrying out Tiranga Yatras on govt expenses. On Congress MP Rahul Gandhi raising questions for Modi govt, Rai said, "Raising questions is logical. External affairs minister S Jaishankar should reply how many terrorists were killed in the Indian strikes and whether the terrorists behind the Pahalgam killings were eliminated." Earlier this month, Rai had stirred a row by mocking the Centre with a toy Rafale jet adorned with nimbu-mirchi (lemon and chillies), accusing the Modi govt of inaction in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack .
The Print
26-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Op Sindoor setting the tone for Bihar polls—yet enemies & frenemies have Nitish Kumar on edge
A couple of months earlier, as the BJP was organising Tiranga Yatras ahead of the 70th Independence Day, Kumar had taken a dig at it. Those who 'never recognised the tricolour as national flag', he said , were taking out Tiranga Yatras. 'The entire nation stands with you [Narendra Modi] as you are the Prime Minister, but what about those BJP leaders who have repeatedly used the strike to play politics?' Kumar said . In October 2016, addressing the national council of the Janata Dal (United), Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party for 'politicising' the surgical strike. Much water has flowed under the Gandhi Setu since then. As the BJP took out Tiranga Yatras across Bihar for 10 days to celebrate Operation Sindoor's success, Kumar watched them silently—and warily, perhaps. The operation has brought springs to BJP leaders' feet. The 2024 Lok Sabha poll blow is a thing of the past. PM Modi has started taking his own name again—Modi's cool mind and the hot sindoor in his veins, Modi's chest, et al. It was in his first public rally after the Pahalgam terror attack in Bihar's Madhubani, when PM Modi had vowed to punish the perpetrators 'beyond their imagination'. The vow fulfilled, he will be back in Bihar on 29 and 30 May. The BJP's preparations for Modi's roadshow in Patna are in full swing. People standing on both sides of the road would be showering flower petals on him. That's how a victor is welcomed. 'Caste, the main determinant' How will Operation Sindoor impact the Bihar elections? Let's first look at where the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) stood before the strikes on Pakistan's terror infrastructure and military installations. DesignBoxed, a political digital campaign management company, conducted a survey in Bihar last month. I got access to its report, which has great news for the NDA: Almost 60 per cent of the respondents were either very or somewhat satisfied with Kumar's performance as chief minister . Over 60 per cent said that Kumar is fit to serve as chief minister for the next five years. Over 50 per cent said the NDA is expected to win the next election. The NDA was the voting choice for 68.72 per cent of the extremely backward classes (EBCs) , who constitute 36 per cent of the total population . It was the voting choice for 39.63 per cent of the other backward classes (OBCs) , who constitute 27 per cent of the total population. INDIA bloc was the voting choice for 17.74 per cent of the EBCs and 44.14 per cent of the OBCs. Among the Scheduled Castes (SCs), who constitute 19.6 per cent of Bihar's population, the NDA was the voting choice for 48.23 per cent respondents , and INDIA , for 28.11 per cent. Over 56 per cent Muslims opted for the INDIA bloc , and 28.47 , for the NDA. Overall, the DesignBoxed survey indicated a clear edge for the NDA. Mind you, it was conducted before Operation Sindoor. Nitish Kumar's principal challenger, Tejashwi Yadav, also has some positive takeaways from the survey. If elections were to be held tomorrow, 46.7 per cent of respondents said they would vote for the NDA, against 35.6 per cent who favour the INDIA bloc, with 13.8 per cent 'undecided'. If Tejashwi were to swing the 'undecided', the game would be on. For 43.8 per cent respondents, unemployment and migration are the most important issues in the upcoming elections—Tejashwi's key plank in 2020. What would make him even happier is the survey finding that 63.76 per cent people want the current government to be replaced. This sounds incongruous, as a majority of respondents were satisfied with Kumar's performance. Those involved in the DesignBoxed survey, however, claim that it's no surprise. One of them told me: 'You come across many respondents who are ok with Nitish Kumar but still want his government changed. It's vice versa, too. It's a lot to do with people's castes becoming the main determinant.' Kumar has been the chief minister since 2005, except for a short interlude of nine months in 2014-15. The yearning for change is understandable. How much of it can Tejashwi exploit? Can he beat the caste arithmetic that seems to be in the NDA's favour today? We will find out in November. Also read: The multibillion-dollar question: what does President Trump want from India The Paswan blow Union home minister and the BJP's chief strategist Amit Shah once told journalists: 'People in Bihar are so political. They sit at tea stalls and read the entire newspaper—from the first to the last page.' Five months is obviously a long time for such political people to change their mind. But it's not just Tejashwi that CM Kumar would be worried about. The BJP says that the next election will be fought under his leadership, but it's evasive on the question of Kumar becoming the CM again if the NDA wins. Kumar wouldn't forget the big celebrations at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi after the 2020 poll results. The NDA had barely managed to cross the majority mark, securing 125 seats in the 243-member Assembly. The reason BJP leaders were so rapturous that day was the fact that the JD(U)'s tally was down to 43, against the BJP's 74. The BJP was the big brother in the alliance, finally. Chirag Paswan of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), self-proclaimed 'Modi's Hanuman', had fielded candidates in all the seats that the JD(U) contested. Chirag's LJP won just one seat but damaged the JD(U) on 40 seats. Nitish Kumar was furious, but the BJP was rapturous. What if the 2020 results are repeated in 2025? The BJP had contested 110 seats and the JD(U) contested 115, as alliance partners in the 2020 elections. Given the JD(U)'s strike rate last time, there is no way that the BJP would partake with as many seats this time. The lesser the number of seats the JD(U) contests, the slimmer the chances of Kumar becoming chief minister again. And if he manages to wangle it one more time, he may very well have to give a post-dated resignation letter to the BJP. Also read: Shashi Tharoor is hot property for everyone but Rahul Gandhi The third alternative I asked the president of a party, a BJP ally in Bihar, whether the NDA would give Kumar another term. 'That's the elephant in the room nobody is addressing,' he responded with a cryptic smile. Now that Paswan is back in the NDA, should Kumar feel safer? One never knows. Poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor can potentially do to Kumar in 2025 what Paswan did in 2020. Going by the DesignBoxed survey, PK's Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) would be a non-starter. Only 2.7 per cent respondents chose him as the 'preferred candidate' for chief minister. About 34 per cent respondents called PK's party a vote katua (vote cutter), while 27.4 per cent found it a 'serious contender'. I don't agree with the survey findings about the JSP. First, I saw that people were quite curious about PK when I went to Khagaria to interview him last year. It's possible that this doesn't translate into votes, but who knows? Second, PK wasn't a celebrated poll strategist for nothing. He wouldn't be wasting so much time, energy, and money in his political venture if his own surveys showed such dismal prospects. That's beside the point. As it is, PK is projecting himself as a third alternative in Bihar politics. For someone who aspires to become the alternative face in Bihar politics, downing Kumar should be a priority. On the face of it, PK's party should be eating into anti-incumbency votes and hurting Tejashwi's prospects too. However, PK's politics today is what used to be Kumar's in the 2005 and 2010 elections—aspirational, development-centric. Kumar lost his mojo after that. Tejashwi wants to fill that vacant slot, but he carries over huge baggage from his father. PK is, therefore, better suited to claim the Vikas Purush's slot—if Biharis don't vote along caste lines, which, many would say, is wishful thinking. Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in 2015, a BJP general secretary had come across me in the Central Hall of Parliament. 'We are sweeping,' he said. Really! 'Are you saying that you are beating Lalu-Nitish combine? Why would the OBCs and the EBCs abandon them and come to you?' I said. The BJP leader asked me when was the last time I had visited Bihar. 'About a year ago,' I said. He then turned to those sitting around us. 'Yeh dekhiye! Inhe pataa hi nahin hai ki Bihar kitna badal gayaa hai? Wahan log vikas aur double-engine ki baat karte hain aur yeh DK Ji caste mein hi phanse hue hain (Look at him. He doesn't know how Bihar has changed. People there are talking only about development and double-engine government. And here DK is stuck with caste).' Even my media friends sitting there looked at me in complete disapproval. I found it better to leave the subject there. The rest is history. So if PK is confident that the Biharis will vote for development and their children's future, not for caste or religion, we can only hope against hope that he is proved right. Be that as it may, downing Kumar is certainly in PK's interest. For the BJP, 2025 offers a great opportunity to finally fulfil its long-cherished dream of having its own chief minister in Bihar. It would only be grateful if PK could repeat what Chirag did in 2020—causing just enough damage to the JD(U) but not to the extent that the NDA falls short of the majority mark. For all we know, the ex-poll strategist must be hoping to emerge as the kingmaker at least. To cut the long story short, Nitish Kumar going down in this election suits everyone—from Modi-Shah and JP Nadda to Tejashwi, Chirag, PK, and you name it. As things stand, the Bihar CM must be confused about his political enemies and frenemies. DK Singh is Political Editor at ThePrint. He tweets @dksingh73. Views are personal. (Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)
Hans India
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Op Sindoor reflects India's resolve: PM
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that Operation Sindoor was not just a military mission, but "the face of a changing India" that reflects the country's resolve, courage, and growing strength on the global stage. Addressing the nation through his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister said, "Today the entire country is united against terrorism, filled with anger and determination." Modi hailed Operation Sindoor as a turning point in the global fight against terror, describing it as a symbol of India's growing strength and clarity of purpose. "Operation Sindoor has infused new confidence and energy into the global fight against terrorism," he said. Modi lauded as "extraordinary" the precision with which Indian forces attacked the terrorist infrastructure across the border. He emphasised that the operation was not a one-off military action, but a reflection of a changing and resolute India. "Operation Sindoor is the picture of our resolve, courage, and a changing India," he said, and delved on the impact of the operation that resonated deeply across the country. The operation's success was followed by a series of gestures in tribute to the armed forces, ranging from patriotic poems on social media to paintings by children and massive Tiranga Yatras. "In many cities, youth volunteered for civil defence, wrote poems, sang songs of resolve, and children made paintings carrying powerful messages," Modi said. The PM talked about a recent visit to Bikaner where he was gifted paintings made by children. "In cities like Katihar and Kushinagar, families named their newborns 'Sindoor' in honour of the operation," he said. The PM credited India's home-grown defence capabilities for the mission's success, following the spirit of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'. "This was the ultimate bravery of our soldiers, backed by the power of weapons, equipment, and technology made in India," he said. Modi noted a renewed energy across the country towards the 'Vocal for Local' campaign post-Operation Sindoor, saying the mission had not just inspired patriotism but also strengthened the spirit of self-reliance.
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Entire nation united in eliminating terror: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed the precision strikes carried out by the armed forces in Pakistan under Operation Sindoor, saying the action against terrorism has lent a new confidence and enthusiasm to the fight against terrorism across the world. Modi made the remarks during the 122nd episode of his monthly radio show, Mann Ki Baat, the first after Indian armed forces struck down nine terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under Operation Sindoor on May 7. The operation was in retaliation to April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives. 'Today, the entire nation is united against terrorism, filled with anger, but determined. Today, every Indian's resolution is to eliminate terrorism,' PM Modi said. 'The precision and accuracy with which our forces destroyed the terrorist hideouts across the border is extraordinary. Operation Sindoor is not just a military mission; it is a picture of our resolve, courage and a transforming India and this picture has infused the whole country with a sense of patriotism and has painted it in the hues of the tricolour.' In the previous episode of his radio broadcast on April 27, days after the terror attack at picturesque Baisaran meadow in south Kashmir's Pahalgam, the PM had reiterated the resolve to hand the 'harshest punishment' to those behind the dastardly attack, which he said aimed at derailing development in Jammu and Kashmir. A week later, Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor. On Sunday, Modi noted that Tiranga Yatras were held across India in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, with viral videos emerging from Chandigarh showing children making paintings and newborn babies being named after Sindoor. 'You must have seen that in many cities, villages and small towns of the country, Tiranga Yatras were organised. Thousands of people came out holding the tricolour to pay their respects & honour to the country's armed forces,' he said. Recalling his recent tour to Bikaner in Rajasthan, Modi said he received a gift in the form of a painting by children and underlined that Operation Sindoor has influenced the people of the country. 'In Katihar in Bihar, Kushinagar in UP, and many other cities, children born during that period have been named Sindoor,' the PM said. He also stressed the success of indigenous weapons used during the military operation. 'Our soldiers destroyed terror bases; it was their indomitable courage, along with the power of weapons, equipment and technology made in India,' Modi said, asserting the resolve for Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) Story of 'change' In his address, the PM also shared a story of the first bus services being started at Katejhari village in Maoist-affected Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. He noted that the villagers had waited for years for a bus service, and when the first bus finally arrived, they celebrated its arrival with drumbeats. 'This change in Katejhari is being felt in the entire surrounding region. Now the situation here is becoming normal rapidly. On account of the collective fight against Maoism, basic facilities have started reaching such areas as well. The people of the village say that with the arrival of the bus, their lives would become much easier,' he said. Modi also highlighted educational progress in areas once affected by left-wing extremism (LWE), particularly in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh. He noted that students from the district achieved impressive results in the 10th and 12th board examinations, with around 95% pass rate. 'Yoga for vibrant living' PM Modi also appealed to people across the world to embrace yoga for holistic well-being and vibrant living, with his call coming less than a month before the 11th International Day of Yoga on June 21. He added that the enthusiasm for the yoga day continues to increase across the globe. 'Since the inception of Yoga Day on June 21, 2015, the attraction towards it is rising continuously. This time too, the zeal and enthusiasm among the people world over for Yoga Day are amply visible,' the PM said.
