
PM Modi in Kanpur on May 30, to launch several development projects
The PM will address a public meeting on the ground of the Chandrashekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology (CSA). Ahead of PM Modi's visit, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath conducted an on-site inspection on Wednesday and reviewed the venue's readiness, along with senior officials.
During his visit to Kanpur, Adityanath inspected the CSA ground and reviewed a detailed presentation on the preparations. He instructed officials to ensure seamless arrangements, including parking facilities, availability of drinking water and sanitation facilities at the event venue. He also directed that a special cleanliness drive should be organised to clear roads and remove overgrown vegetation.
To avoid traffic congestion, the CM emphasised the need for a well-structured traffic and parking management plan, a statement said.
As part of the visit, five major units will be inaugurated or have their foundation stones laid, including Khurja Supercritical Thermal Power Plant (1320 MW, Bulandshahr), Obra Thermal Power Station (1660 MW, Sonbhadra) – under Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited Jawaharpur Supercritical Thermal Power Station (1320 MW, Etah).
Adityanath termed these projects as milestones in Uttar Pradesh's journey towards energy sufficiency. He said the increased electricity supply would play a pivotal role in meeting both industrial and domestic energy demands across the state.
He also directed Metro officials to regularly organise free rides for various groups, including workers, retired employees, sanitation workers, meritorious students, and members of civil society organisations. He said such initiatives would help popularise Metro services as an efficient and inclusive mode of public transport.
In a security review, Police Commissioner Akhil Kumar presented a plan for the public meeting. The Chief Minister instructed that emergency response, traffic regulation, and anti-drone measures must be robust and fail-proof. He also emphasised close coordination with the SPG, NSG and IB to ensure electric and fire safety.
The Chief Minister urged public representatives to organise a Tiranga Yatra on May 30, culminating at the public meeting venue.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


News18
13 minutes ago
- News18
‘Badalta Patna'? New Airport & Ganga Bridge After 7 Decades, But Crime Still Rules Headlines
Last Updated: The murder of businessman Gopal Khemka in the heart of Patna last week has brought back the focus on law and order in the city and whoever can assure that will win later this year It is surely a 'Badalta Hua Patna'—from a new swanky airport to India's longest cable-stayed bridge over the Ganga, and a fast-upcoming metro. These are changes in Patna that few had imagined even a decade ago. But as the recent murder of a businessman in the heart of Patna shows, some things may not have changed. Law and order are still the elephant in the room when it comes to the upcoming Bihar elections. A new airport terminal greets one now on landing in Patna. It is a far cry from the cramped and untidy airport that Patna had for years. The new terminal inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month is worth Rs 1,200 crore, boasts of modern aerobridges and modern passenger facilities and can cater to about one crore passengers a year. For an average Bihari, the airport is a pleasant surprise and a symbol of pride. 'Delhi wale se bhi achha hai na (this is better than the Delhi airport, right)," a Patna couple asks us. Our second stop was the new Ganga bridge that was inaugurated last month by CM Nitish Kumar. This is no ordinary bridge. Nearly 20 kilometres long and built at a cost of Rs 5,000 crore, it is India's longest cable-stayed bridge. The first six-km stretch which is operational now is the sole connectivity from Patna to Raghopur, the stronghold of the Lalu Prasad family. Former deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav is the current MLA from Raghopur, and his parents Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi have represented the seat too in the assembly. But for over the last seven decades, one had to take a boat on the Ganga to reach Raghopur as there was no bridge over the river to reach the area. Tejashwi Yadav himself took the boat many a times to highlight the apathy being faced by locals. But the new bridge is now a reality, and locals see it as a big gift. Many throng here in the evening to take selfies. 'Roads and bridges have been made. But nothing else. Voting does not happen on issue of development, but caste. We will vote for RJD," two local youngsters on the bridge say. Metro and Flyovers The 'Ganga Kinare' ring road in Patna is a long drive besides the Ganga and gives one a glimpse over the various bridges made over the vast river. Inside the city also, a network of flyovers and a major hospital has emerged. The big highlight is the upcoming Metro and a six-km stretch is expected to be inaugurated by August 15 by the prime minister. Work is on at frantic pace in Patna to complete the metro stretch. But this means that internal roads in Patna are a mess—dug-up and incessant rains make them waterlogged. 'The main roads of Patna are smooth but go a bit inside and you will find the mess. Two days back, I fell with my scooty inside an open manhole on a water-logged road…of what use is such development?" a youngster having Bihar's famous litti-chokha on Budh road says. Another local says that while infrastructure has improved in Patna, things are pretty much the same in villages. 'Bihar is not just Patna. It is a very big state. If you go inside the villages, you will see the poor suffer," another local says. A group of elders in Patna, however, told CNN-NEWS18 that electricity and water has changed the fortune of rural Bihar. 'Ab toh hamare yahan gai bhi pankhe mein so rahi hai (even our cows are sleeping under a fan in villages)," a local elder told us. This group said Nitish Kumar remains a popular chief minister despite him changing political camps many a time. They point to the jungle-raj under the Lalu Prasad regime to say Bihar won't ever go back to the old ages. 'Saanp ka beta sapola hi hota hai," they said on the Lalu family. Murder in Patna The murder of businessman Gopal Khemka in the heart of Patna last week has, however, put the NDA on the back foot. The murder seems to have been orchestrated from inside Beur jail by a gangster, bringing Bihar's infamous jail-crime-supari (contract killing) nexus to the fore yet again. The opposition, RJD and Congress, are now targeting the NDA government over the failing law and order situation, even in a posh area of Patna. They are ironically asking if this is jungle-raj under Nitish Kumar and countering NDA's narrative. NDA ally Chirag Paswan also expressed his discomfort over the law-and-order situation. 'If a murder like this is happening in Patna, imagine what is happening in the villages. The way crime has increased in Bihar and the manner in which law and order has collapsed is concerning," Paswan said. The bottom line in Bihar is that it is a fight between two big alliances based on caste considerations and development is a strong narrative working for the NDA. But crime, law, and order remain the big elephant in the room. People want peace and security first. Whoever can assure that will win later this year. First Published: News elections 'Badalta Patna'? New Airport & Ganga Bridge After 7 Decades, But Crime Still Rules Headlines Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


Time of India
19 minutes ago
- Time of India
PM Modi takes on Mamata government: 'Bengal suffering due to TMC misrule,' says PM; to address state BJP meet on July 18
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday took on the government in West Bengal, saying that the state was "suffering due to the misrule of Trinamool." He further informed that he would be addressing a party meet in Durgapur on July 18. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "West Bengal is suffering due to the misrule of Trinamool. People are looking towards the with great hope, and they are certain that only the BJP can bring about development. Tomorrow, 18th July, I will speak at a @BJP4Bengal public meeting in Durgapur. Join us!" he said in a post on X. This comes a day after West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee launched a sharp attack against the BJP-led Centre at a protest rally in Kolkata and accusing the party of targeting and harassing Bengali-speaking people across BJP-ruled states. 'I am ashamed and disheartened at the Centre and the BJP's attitude towards Bengalis,' Banerjee said. 'I will challenge the central government notices which were surreptitiously sent to BJP-ruled states to harass Bengali-speaking people and detain them at the slightest suspicion,' she added. Countering the BJP's alleged narrative on illegal immigration, Banerjee said, 'I challenge you to prove that Bengali-speaking migrants are Rohingya Muslims.'


News18
32 minutes ago
- News18
India's Voice Is Strategic, Not Silent
To say India has 'lost its voice,' as some critics argue, is to misunderstand what that voice sounds like today. In moments of war, outrage is easy. Diplomacy is not. And in the shadow of the Gaza crisis, with bombs falling, civilians dying, and global opinion fracturing, the urge to take a moral stand can feel overwhelming, especially for a democracy like India, long seen as a voice for the voiceless. But to say India has 'lost its voice," as some critics argue, is to misunderstand what that voice sounds like today. It's not the voice of X (previously Twitter) diplomacy. It's not always loud. But it is deliberate, strategic, and deeply shaped by history. India was one of the earliest champions of the Palestinian cause. In 1974, it became the first non-Arab country to officially recognise the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). By 1988, it had recognised the State of Palestine. This was not just foreign policy, it was an extension of India's own story: a nation born from anti-colonial struggle, standing in solidarity with others seeking the same. And while the headlines may focus on India's growing defence partnership with Israel, its support for Palestinian civilians has been steady and substantial. Since the conflict began, India has sent nearly 70 metric tonnes of humanitarian aid to Gaza, including 16.5 metric tonnes of life-saving medical supplies delivered in two separate tranches. This aid went directly to United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) and the Palestinian Ministry of Health. That's not all. In 2024 alone, India disbursed $5 million to UNRWA, matching its contribution from the previous year. These funds support education, healthcare, and emergency services for Palestinian refugees, many of whom have nowhere else to turn. India's diplomatic engagements also underscore its commitment to the Palestinian cause. In September 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on the sidelines of the Summit of the Future in New York, expressing deep concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and reaffirming India's steadfast support for the Palestinian people India's policy is rooted in a clear position: firm support for a negotiated two-state solution. Since the Hamas–Israel war erupted in October 2023, the UN General Assembly has voted 13 times on resolutions related to Palestine. India voted for 10 of them. It abstained on just three. That's not indifference, it's discernment. India isn't choosing sides. It's choosing balance. In 1992, as the Cold War order gave way to new alliances and economic pragmatism, India established full diplomatic ties with Israel. India wasn't walking away from Palestine. It was stepping into a multipolar world, where relationships needed to reflect not just ideology, but national interest, security, and innovation. Israel offered what India urgently needed: advanced defence technology, agricultural innovation, counter-terror expertise. And for Israel, India became a key democratic partner in the Global South, vast, stable, and increasingly influential. Today, the relationship is multifaceted. Israel supplies India with drones, radar systems, and missile technology. Intelligence cooperation runs deep. For a country facing cross-border terrorism, complex insurgencies, and a volatile neighbourhood, this partnership is neither optional nor ideological, it is essential. India lives with the daily reality of terrorism. Its foreign policy can't be built on ideals alone, it must function in a world of asymmetric threats, complex alliances, and 1.4 billion people watching. And yet, India has not abandoned the Palestinian cause. India continues to support a two-state solution. It sends humanitarian aid to Gaza. It engages with both Israeli and Palestinian leadership. This is not fence-sitting. It's calibration. And it's exactly what a rising power is supposed to do. It has consistently called for restraint, civilian protection, and de-escalation. India's commitment to peace remains unchanged. What's evolved is its approach: quieter influence, strategic action, and diplomacy that prioritises outcomes over optics. And then there's Iran. India's ties with Tehran run deep. Strategically, Iran gives India access to Afghanistan and Central Asia through the Chabahar Port. Economically, Iran has long been a vital source of energy. India's engagement with Iran remains active and strategic, anchored by the Chabahar Port, a project critical to New Delhi's regional connectivity and geopolitical balancing. In May 2024, India and Iran signed a 10-year agreement granting India Ports Global Ltd. (IPGL) the rights to operate the Shahid Beheshti terminal. India committed $120 million in direct investment and extended a $250 million credit line to upgrade infrastructure. Jointly managed by IPGL (a JV between Jawaharlal Nehru and Kandla Port Trusts) and Iran's Aria Banader, Chabahar offers India a crucial alternative trade route to Afghanistan, Central Asia, and Russia bypassing Pakistan and countering China's influence through Gwadar Port and the Belt and Road Initiative. As tensions between Iran and Israel escalate, India is closely monitoring risks to both Chabahar and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal trade network linking India to Eurasia via Iran. These tensions are not abstract for India, they are tied to real infrastructure, energy flows, and diplomatic alignments. And they sharpened dramatically after October 7, when Hamas launched a brutal attack on Israel that triggered the ongoing war in Gaza. India responded immediately and unequivocally: it condemned Hamas's actions as terrorism. But condemnation did not mean abandonment. India's support for Palestinian self-determination, anchored in decades of principled diplomacy remains intact. To some, that duality may look like fence-sitting. In truth, it's strategic autonomy: a deliberate choice in a volatile world. This is not appeasement. It's agency. India has always believed in peace but not performatively. It acts. Quietly. It evacuated its citizens from Israel and Iran during the height of tensions. It sent aid to Gaza. And it remains one of the few countries that can still speak to all sides, Israel, Palestine, Iran, the United States, the Gulf. That, too, is power. The world is not binary. India knows this better than most. To expect India to echo talking points is to ignore the reality of a multipolar world. India doesn't follow anymore. It positions. Predictably, much of the moral outrage over India's foreign policy comes not from the global South or West, but from India's own opposition benches, especially the Congress Party, which now seems more committed to performative critique than constructive diplomacy. Whether it was the Balakot airstrikes, the abrogation of Article 370, or India's engagement with Israel, Congress's pattern has remained consistent: question first, assess later. From surgical strikes to border skirmishes, Congress's instinct has been reflexive doubt, especially when national interest clashes with its preferred narrative. At best, it's ideological rigidity. At worst, it's political self-sabotage. Either way, it does not align with India's 21st-century realities. After the October 7 Hamas attacks, India unequivocally condemned terrorism. Congress chose to frame this as a deviation from India's principled foreign policy, overlooking the fact that condemning terrorism and supporting Palestinian rights are not mutually exclusive. This tendency to politicise foreign policy choices, often in the face of cross-party consensus, undermines both credibility and coherence. Moreover, by portraying strategic partnerships as ideological compromises, the party risks disconnecting from the lived realities of a rising India, one that must engage with a multipolar world on its own terms. Foreign policy isn't theatre. It's triage. India today is balancing multiple priorities, deepening ties with Israel, managing energy dependencies with Iran, building strategic infrastructure in Chabahar, and remaining a voice for de-escalation in West Asia. That balancing act is fragile. It cannot afford to be derailed by outdated moral binaries or domestic political point-scoring. top videos View all In a world that's fracturing into camps, India is refusing to be boxed in. It is doing what serious nations do, preserving space to speak to all sides. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. About the Author Natasha Jha Bhaskar Natasha Jha Bhaskar is Executive Director at Newland Global Group, Australia's leading corporate advisory firm focused on strengthening India-Australia trade and investment ties. She is also the UN Women More tags : israel-gaza war Israel-Iran tensions Narendra Modi view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 23, 2025, 11:55 IST News opinion Opinion | India's Voice Is Strategic, Not Silent Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.