Odisha CM joins Ashram students to listen to ‘Mann Ki Baat'
The chief minister advised the students to take inspiration from the message of the prime minister and his initiatives. He also urged the children to study well, work hard and strive to become successful individuals.
In the latest episode, PM Modi highlighted inspiring initiatives from across the country, including the revival of traditional Santhali sarees by tribal women in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district. The PM also highlighted the importance of protecting nature, citing the efforts of Pramila Pradhan from Keonjhar district.
Through his 'Mann Ki Baat' program, Modi has been emphasising the struggles, successes and innovations of ordinary people, inspiring citizens across the nation.
On the occasion, the chief minister planted a neem sapling on the ashram premises.
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The Print
an hour ago
- The Print
Denied meeting with Modi, OPS walks out of NDA, keeps political opponents guessing next move
He also said OPS would begin his state-wide tour ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections after taking stock of the prevailing political scenario in Tamil Nadu. 'At present, we are not in alliance with any party,' Ramachandran said in response to a question about whether OPS would consider an alliance with another party ahead of the state polls. Speaking to reporters here Thursday, OPS adviser and former state minister Panruti S. Ramachandran said, 'We are breaking the alliance with NDA. You all know the reason.' Chennai: Days after PM Narendra Modi declined to meet him and hours after he met Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin during a morning walk in Adyar, former AIADMK leader O. Panneerselvam (OPS) Thursday walked out of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Not long after Modi declined to meet him, OPS publicly began to criticise the BJP-led central government for 'withholding funds' under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan Scheme—marking a shift from his earlier pro-BJP stance. On whether he would consider teaming up with actor-turned politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), former chief minister OPS said, 'Time will tell, and there is still time for elections.' Later in the evening, OPS met Stalin at his residence. Speaking to reporters, he said it was a formal meeting to inquire about his health and 'no politics was discussed'. Asked if he would join the DMK-led alliance, he said, 'Anything can happen in politics. There is enough time for elections. There is no permanent friend and permanent enemy in politics.' OPS was always seen as Modi's man in the AIADMK. He himself publicly told supporters in July 2017 that he decided to combine forces with AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) at the behest of the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Former coordinator of the AIADMK, OPS was expelled from the party in July 2022 and has since been heading the AIADMK Cadres Rights Retrieval Committee—while legally contesting EPS's control of the party. Chennai-based political analysts ThePrint spoke to said OPS has three options, but it has yet to be seen if he can expand his support base. Political analyst N. Sathiya Moorthy underlined that the main issue between OPS and EPS was that the former wanted to lead AIADMK and serve as chief minister. 'Now, if he joins any party, he cannot be the chief ministerial face. Secondly, all these years, OPS is known to have been ideologically aligned with BJP. He cannot wash it off easily to join any of the parties in Tamil Nadu that are anti-BJP including Vijay's TVK.' However, referring to the former AIADMK leader's meeting with Stalin, political commentator Raveenthran Duraisamy said OPS might join DMK and become its 'Maravar face'. The Maravar is a backward community primarily based in southern Tamil Nadu. 'He (OPS) was shown the doors by BJP, hence he cannot go back there. Though TVK and Seeman's NTK are there for him, he might choose DMK over others for a better political space,' Duraisamy told ThePrint. Sathiya Moorthy added that OPS might lose his support base if he joins the DMK, since its opposition to DMK has been a core tenet of the AIADMK. Duraisamy, however, held a somewhat different view. The dynamics in Dravidian politics, he said, changed since the demise of former chief ministers M. Karunanidhi and J. Jayalalithaa. 'There is no hate against Stalin, unlike his father Karunanidhi. The previous elections data shows AIADMK's votes have moved to DMK. It is also proven that a lot of former AIADMK ministers, including Senthil Balaji, Sekar Babu and K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran, are now faring well in DMK as well. Hence, OPS has a good future in the DMK, but he may not reveal it now,' said Duraisamy. Also Read: Why EPS' call for anti-DMK alliance meets only rejection and silence From CM to rebel: OPS's political journey After Jayalalithaa's death on 5 December, 2016, OPS was unanimously elected chief minister by AIADMK MLAs. He had already served as chief minister between 2001 and 2002, and 2014 and 2015 when Jayalalithaa faced disqualification on account of a disproportionate assets case. By 7 February, 2017, OPS opened a front against Jayalalithaa's close aide V.K. Sasikala, who was then elected general secretary of the party and chosen to replace him as chief minister. He sat at Jayalalithaa's memorial and launched a Dharmayudham (war of principles) against Sasikala, who sacked him from the party position. He asserted at the time that he was appointed to the party post by Jayalalithaa and nobody could remove him. Sasikala was convicted in a separate disproportionate assets case, she declared EPS as the next chief minister before going to prison. In August 2017, OPS's faction merged with EPS's faction, after the latter turned against Sasikala and her nephew T.T.V. Dhinakaran. On 21 August that year, OPS was sworn in as deputy to CM EPS. In the party structure, OPS held the position of coordinator, while EPS was joint-coordinator, establishing a dual-leadership in the party. However, merger of the factions could not prevent infighting and the dual leadership model collapsed in 2022 in the aftermath of AIADMK's loss to the DMK-led alliance in Assembly polls the previous year. In the AIADMK general council meeting held in July 2022, EPS was unanimously elected interim general secretary and OPS, then coordinator and treasurer of the party, was sacked from primary membership, accused of collaborating with DMK, and attempting to disrupt party activities. OPS has since waged a lonely legal battle to reclaim AIADMK leadership, alleging that the election of general secretary was unfair. The Madras High Court and later the Supreme Court rejected his pleas to stay EPS's election as general secretary. Meanwhile, he also filed a petition with the Election Commission in this regard, in which inquiry is still pending. Despite being expelled from AIADMK, OPS contested the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from Ramanathapuram seat as an Independent with BJP support under the 'Jackfruit' symbol. He lost to IUML's K. Navas Kani. In February 2025, OPS's camp expressed willingness to return to AIADMK, which EPS dismissed. After AIADMK and BJP formally revived their alliance for the 2026 Assembly elections, top BJP leaders including Modi and Shah kept an arm's distance from OPS during their visits to the state. (Edited by Amrtansh Arora) Also Read: AIADMK's Muslim face Anwhar Raajhaa joins DMK, says his former party is 'now in hands of the BJP'
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Modi to release 20th instalment of Kisan Nidhi in Kashi on Aug 2
1 2 Lucknow: UP will account for around 25% of the total small and marginal farmers nationally who will receive the 20th instalment of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi (PMKSN), scheduled to be released by PM Narendra Modi from Varanasi on August 2. The scheme envisages the distribution of Rs 6,000 to identified farmers in three instalments. In all, the centre is scheduled to release a sum of Rs 20,500 crore to be distributed to around 9.7 crore farmers nationally. Of this, 2.3 crore farmers from UP are proposed to benefit from the ambitious scheme, which was rolled out by Modi on Dec 1, 2018. UP agriculture minister Surya Pratap Shahi said that the upcoming instalment was important for the farmers to meet the requirements of farming and irrigation in the ongoing Kharif season. Data show that around 2.38 crore farmers in UP benefited from the scheme in 2024-25. Shahi said that the state govt has been screening the list of beneficiaries on a regular basis for the efficient distribution of the funds amongst the farmers. As a matter of fact, the state govt has decided to make elaborate arrangements to engage farmers virtually at the district, block, and panchayat levels. According to a communique sent to all divisional commissioners and district magistrates, principal secretary (agriculture) Ravinder said that the public representatives (MP, MLA, and MLCs and gram pradhans) should be engaged in the event. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villa Prices in Dubai Might Be Lower Than You Think! Villa for sale in Dubai | Search Ads Learn More Undo Progressive farmers too have been asked to attend the event scheduled to be telecast in different locations, including Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), PM Kisan Samriddhi Kendra, Cooperative and Mandi samitis. Special arrangements are proposed to be made in the case of KVKs, where central and state ministers are expected to reach. The state govt has also sought elaborate arrangements to publicise the govt schemes and how the funds were being directly credited into the accounts of farmers.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Trump's right on 'dead economy', remarks Rahul Gandhi, blames PM Modi
NEW DELHI: Congress neta Rahul Gandhi Thursday said US President Donald Trump has stated a fact that India has a "dead economy", asserting that the BJP govt is running the country to the ground because PM Narendra Modi "works for just one person, Adani". Claiming there is "total confusion", Rahul said the Modi govt has destroyed the economic policy, foreign policy and defence policy of India, and Modi "does not know how to run the country". "Modi works for only one person - Adani. They have destroyed all small businesses. You will see, this (Indo-US trade) deal will happen, and Trump will define how this deal is done, and Modi will do as Trump dictates," he said. Speaking to reporters amid the row over Trump's imposition of tariffs, Rahul said there is no question the "Indian economy is a dead economy, the entire world knows it, except the PM and the finance minister". He quipped, "Am glad that President Trump has stated a fact." He said, "The Indian economy is dead, Modi killed it", mentioning among reasons the "Adani-Modi partnership, demonetisation and flawed GST". Suggesting that Trump's tariffs had to be seen in conjunction with other geo-political issues, Rahul said India's "genius foreign policy" can be gauged from the fact that "while the US is abusing India, China is after you", and no country condemned Pakistan for the Pahalgam terror attack when multi-party delegations went across the world. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Gunung: New Container Houses – Take A Look At The Prices! Container homes | Search ads Learn More Undo He said the PM did not name Trump and China (in Parliament), and could not acknowledge that no country had condemned Pakistan while "Trump is having lunch with Pakistan's military chief who is behind the Pahalgam attack". "And they say it is a big success. What success?" he jibed. Rahul said the key questions was why Modi was unable to respond to Trump's claim, made over 30-odd times, that he forced the ceasefire, that India lost five planes, and is now saying India will pay 25% tariffs.
