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PM Modi launches development projects worth ₹2,200 crore in Varanasi
In a major move to support farmers, the Prime Minister also released the 20th instalment of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, transferring Rs 20,500 crore to the bank accounts of over 9.70 crore eligible farmers across the country.
Additionally, he distributed assistive devices such as wheelchairs, tricycles, and visual aids to people with disabilities and senior citizens during a special programme held at Banauli village in the Sevapuri block.
"Hum Kaashi ke har parivar-jan ke pranaam karat hai (I extend my respectful greetings to every family of Varanasi)", said the prime minister in the local dialect, drawing massive cheers from the crowd as he opened his address.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, both his deputiesKeshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathakalong with several ministers, public representatives, and BJP's state unit president Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary were present at the event.
According to Dilip Patel, head of the BJP's Kashi region unit, this marks PM Modi's 51st visit to his parliamentary constituency.
Coming just ahead of Rakshabandhan and in the auspicious month of Shravan, the visit is expected to provide a significant developmental boost to the Purvanchal region.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said his promise to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack through Operation Sindoor was fulfilled with the blessings of Lord Shiva.
"My heart was filled with sorrow for the 26 people who lost their lives in the Pahalgam terror attack," Modi said while addressing a public meeting in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi.
"My promise to avenge 'Sindoor' of our daughters was fulfilled with blessings of Mahadev," he said, adding, "I dedicate the success of Operation Sindoor at the feet of Mahadev."
The prime minister also stressed that the "unity of 140 crore countrymen" became the "strength of Operation Sindoor".
The prime minister is in Varanasi -- his Lok Sabha constituency for the third term running -- to inaugurate and lay foundation for development projects worth over Rs 2,000 crore and to distribute the 20th installment of the PM KISAN Samman Nidhi worth Rs 20,500 crore to over 9.70 eligible farmers nationwide.
The 52 projects span key sectors such as road infrastructure, healthcare, education, sports, tourism, and urban development. Initiatives include road construction and widening, hospital upgrades, improvement of educational institutions, better drinking water and sanitation, development of sports infrastructure, establishment of a homeopathic college, construction of paved ghats for religious tourism, expansion of electricity and parking facilities, pond renovation, and the setting up of libraries, animal hospitals, and dog care centres, according to an official statement.
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The Hindu
6 minutes ago
- The Hindu
O. Panneerselvam: Friendless in Dravidian politics
Three-time Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and former coordinator of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), O. Panneerselvam, could scarcely have imagined, even at the time of his expulsion from the party in July 2022, that he would one day visit the residence of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and interact with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president twice in 12 hours. On July 31, both met at the historic and salubrious Theosophical Society in Adyar during their morning walk. In the evening, accompanied by his son and former Theni MP P. Ravindhranath Kumar, Mr. Panneerselvam held discussions with the Chief Minister and his son and Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin for about 45 minutes at Mr. Stalin's residence in south Chennai's upmarket Alwarpet. The actions of the tea seller-turned-politician raised many eyebrows because he had all along fashioned himself as a quintessential loyalist of Jayalalithaa, who wore anti-DMKism on her sleeve on the lines of the AIADMK's founder and former Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran. For the 74-year-old, who hails from the caste and communally sensitive southern region of the State, time seems to be running out for stitching the right alliance to face the Assembly election, due for April-May next year. Mr. Panneerselvam, widely known as OPS, is still considered a persona non grata, as far as the AIADMK general secretary, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, is concerned. As for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a party which Mr. Panneerselvam and his son had assiduously cultivated after Jayalalithaa's death in December 2016, the 'spell of love' towards the septuagenarian does not appear to exist any more. It has been sometime since Mr. Panneerselvam met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah. When Mr. Modi visited Tamil Nadu to take part in the Aadi Thiruvathirai festival in Gangaikondacholapuram on July 26-27, Mr. Panneerselvam's request for a meeting was not granted. But Mr. Palaniswami, once a colleague-turned-foe of Mr. Panneerselvam, met PM Modi at the Tiruchi airport, along with his senior colleagues. At the time of announcing the revival of ties between his party and the AIADMK in April, Mr. Shah made it clear that the BJP would not like to 'interfere in the internal affairs' of the Dravidian party. In the 2024 Lok Sabha poll, Mr. Panneerselvam contested unsuccessfully from the Ramanathapuram constituency as part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. Before holding the July 31 evening meeting with Mr. Stalin came the announcement that the 'OPS' camp had decided to exit the Alliance, a move that was attributed to the Union government's refusal to provide funds to Tamil Nadu under the Samagra Shiksha scheme. Modi's man All the recent developments must have been odd for the Mr. Panneerselvam, who was not long ago seen as Mr. Modi's loyal supporter. He was present when Mr. Modi filed his nomination papers in Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency in 2019. He surprised many in November 2020 when he used a government function, where Amit Shah and Mr. Palaniswami were present, to announce that the AIADMK, for which he was the coordinator then, and the BJP would continue their alliance for the 2021 Assembly polls. At the function, the veteran political leader, who joined the AIADMK in 1977, had hailed the Union Minister as a 'modern day Chanakya'. The gist Panneerselvam was the AIADMK's 'natural choice' for the CM post in September 2001 after the Supreme Court unseated Jayalalithaa; in September 2014, when Jayalalithaa was convicted in a disproportionate assets case; and in December 2016, after her death After his resignation, he patched up with Palaniswami and became the Deputy Chief Minister. He was seen as a close supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Late last month, the 'OPS' camp decided to exit the NDA, a move that was attributed to the Union government's refusal to provide funds to Tamil Nadu under the Samagra Shiksha scheme The perception generated by Mr. Panneerselvam's meetings with Mr. Stalin may be hard to digest for the traditional supporters of the AIADMK, who have been schooled in viewing the DMK as an 'evil force'. But he seems to be having limited options. Even though he still has the option of going along with the fledgling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) led by actor Vijay, the seasoned leader knows fully well that given the grip of the bipolar system in the State, it is next to impossible for a third force to capture even a handful of seats. Not everyone views Mr. Panneerselvam sympathetically and there are critics who say he has 'proved yet again' that he is 'unreliable'. Originally, he drew his strength from his proximity to former interim general secretary of the AIADMK V.K. Sasikala, who had served as an aide of Jayalalithaa for about 30 years, and her nephew T.T.V. Dhinakaran, who is now heading the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK). All of them belong to the same caste group — Mukkulathor — though they are from different sub-groups: Mr. Panneerselvam from Maravar and Ms. Sasikala and Mr. Dhinakaran from Kallar. Once called 'Mr. Faithful', Mr. Panneerselvam, who was with the Janaki Ramachandran group of the party at the time of the party split in 1988, came to be noted for qualities such as humility and fierce loyalty. No wonder, he became the party's nominee for the chairmanship of the Periyakulam Municipality in 1996. His stock in the party began growing, particularly after he served as a key member of the campaign team when Mr. Dhinakaran contested from the Periyakulam Lok Sabha constituency in 1999 and won. Next year, Mr. Panneerselvam became the Theni district secretary of the AIADMK. His qualities and the reputation of an archetypal feudal supplicant had stood him in good stead. He was the party's 'natural choice' for the CM post in September 2001 after the Supreme Court unseated Jayalalithaa; in September 2014, when she was convicted in a disproportionate assets case; and in December 2016 after her death. In Jayalalithaa's Cabinet, he was, at one time, Minister in charge of 13 portfolios. 'Righteous war' The high point in his political career came in February 2017 when he went out all guns blazing against Ms. Sasikala. After quitting the CM post and a 40-minute long 'meditation' at the Jayalalithaa mausoleum on the Marina, he made a dramatic announcement, claiming that he was 'compelled to quit the post'. This marked the launch of his 'dharmayudham' (righteous war) against the 'domination' of Ms. Sasikala's family in the party affairs. In no time, he patched up with Mr. Palaniswami, and became the Deputy Chief Minister six months later. Feeling that he had only a limited space to operate in the party and the government under Mr. Palaniswami, he swiftly re-established ties with Mr. Dhinakaran. At the time of the 2021 Assembly polls, he tried hard for the AMMK's accommodation under the AIADMK fold, but to no avail. 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Time of India
14 minutes ago
- Time of India
4 of total 16 elections held for vice-president posts won uncontested
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Time of India
19 minutes ago
- Time of India
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