Congress will construct Ram Path if comes to power in MP: Digvijaya Singh

Agencies
September 12, 2018

Bhopal, Sept 12: The Congress will construct "Ram Path" (a mythical route taken by Lord Ram during his 14-year exile) stretching up to the borders of Madhya Pradesh if voted to power, senior party leader Digvijaya Singh said Tuesday. He said the Congress would also construct the Narmada Parikrama Path".

Assembly elections are due in Madhya Pradesh later this year. The Congress has been out of power in the central state since 2003. "The ruling BJP had announced to develop the 'Ram Path' but never kept its promise. But, we are thinking to construct the 'Ram Path' up to the borders of the state. The 'Narmada Parikrama Path' would also be constructed," Singh told a press conference in Bhopal. Narmada parikrama is a walk along the banks of the river Narmada which covers a distance of 3,300 kms.

Responding to a query whether the Congress is adopting "soft Hindutva", the former chief minister said there was nothing like soft or hard Hindutva. "Hindutva has nothing to do with the religion," he said. When asked if the Congress was emulating the BJP by promising development of the 'Ram Path' and setting up cow shelters in the state, Singh replied in negative.

The Shivraj Singh Chouhan government had announced on on October 1, 2007 that it would track the 'Ram Gaman Path' or the route that Lord Ram had taken in the 11 out of 14 years of his exile he had spent in the forests of state through the districts of Satna, Panna, Shahdol, Jabalpur and Vidisha. Singh said the so-called worshippers of the cow are only interested in collecting funds.

"During the ersthile rule of the Congress, 'Gaushalas' were constructed in MP. Nobody should have objections if the Congress talks about setting up Gaushalas in every Panchayat (to avoid the problems of stray cattle)," he said. Singh said he never harboured animosity against the BJP or even the RSS. "There may be political rivalry, but no acrimony," he said.

The Congress leader dared Chouhan to prove a single instance of corruption during his 10-year rule as the chief minister from 1993-2003. "The BJP has failed to prove even a single corruption charge in the last 15 years. Why to talk about proving, they even could not level a charge against me. But, I am saying that the family of Shivraj Singh Chouhan is involved in Vyapam scam and illegal sand mining," he alleged. Singh accused the BJP of raising issues that may create social tension.

Replying to a query, Singh said, "Neither Hindus nor Sanatan dharma is in danger. Mughals had ruled this country for 500 years and Christians for 150 years, but Sanatan Dharma continued to exist. Some people are misleading common people to serve their political interests". Singh said he would soon serve a legal notice to chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

"Shivraj had termed me anti-national, but no case has been registered against me so far. Now, they (BJP) are saying that I have relations with Naxals. This allegation against me shows their mental status," he said.

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News Network
October 25,2024

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A substantial wave of Israeli settlers is migrating to Cyprus, fueling concern over what analysts are calling a “silent occupation” as Israeli buyers snap up properties across the island. Following Israel’s recent military offensives in Gaza and Lebanon, thousands of Israelis have reportedly relocated, seeking real estate and creating enclaves of secretive luxury resorts that cater exclusively to affluent settlers. This shift represents the third major wave of Israeli migration to Cyprus, driven by a mix of war fallout, economic pressures, and Israel's internal political unrest.

Dimitri Lascaris, an investigative journalist and activist, reports on the rapid real estate acquisition in Cyprus, revealing that Israelis have been “buying anything in sight” amid the recent regional crises. He warns of an underlying agenda, stating that Cyprus has historically been viewed by Zionist ideologues as a potential site for a Jewish settlement due to its proximity to Israel and suitability for European-style development. Lascaris draws a link to early Zionist ambitions for Cyprus, recalling the Third Zionist Congress of 1899 when David Trietsch and Theodor Herzl both championed Cyprus as a base for Jewish settlement—a precursor to claiming Israel itself by force.

This migration, which has swelled Cyprus’s Israeli community from 6,500 in 2018 to over 12,000 by April 2024, has sparked an influx of 250-300 Israelis monthly. This quiet but steady stream has led to a larger presence of Israelis in Cyprus, with many pursuing strategic real estate purchases despite legal restrictions. Under Cypriot law, foreign entities can only acquire 500 square meters of land. However, by registering as Northern Cyprus firms and securing at least 51% Turkish Cypriot ownership, Israeli companies can circumvent this rule, enabling them to buy extensive tracts of land.

Cyprus’s geopolitical position—close to Israel, with NATO membership and new gas reserves—amplifies the strategic importance of this quiet expansion. Additionally, the island hosts a significant UK military base at Akrotiri, which has served as a launch point for aircraft bound for Palestinian territories, further heightening the controversy around Israeli-Cypriot connections.

Economically, the high cost of living in Israel and divisive internal issues, such as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s contentious judicial reforms, have also driven migration from the occupied lands. According to a Hebrew-language report by Maariv, the first seven months of 2024 saw an exodus of 40,000 Israeli settlers—nearly triple previous years’ numbers—primarily to Cyprus and other nearby regions.

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News Network
October 29,2024

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Kasargod, Oct 29: At least 154 people have been injured in a fireworks accident at the Anjootambalam Veererkavu Temple in Kerala's Kasaragod district. Among the injured, eight individuals are reported to be in serious condition, with one person in extremely critical condition. The tragic incident occurred just after midnight on Monday during the traditional Theyyam festival, which drew over 1,500 attendees to the temple.

Eyewitnesses stated that the accident was triggered when sparks from firecrackers ignited additional fireworks stored in a nearby room. As panic ensued, a stampede followed, leading to further injuries. Local authorities confirmed that 97 individuals have been admitted to various hospitals in Kasargod, Kozhikode, Kannur, and Mangalore for treatment.

A young girl present during the incident recounted, "The accident took place after sparks from crackers fell into a room where other fireworks were stored. Soon, we were all running away, and I fell down and got injured. My sister escaped unhurt."

Safety Protocols Ignored: Police Detain Temple Officials

Authorities have attributed the cause of the fire to negligence on the part of the temple officials. The police have taken two members of the temple committee into custody for questioning. According to local officials, the temple had stored low-intensity fireworks worth around Rs 25,000 for the festival, which concludes on Tuesday night.

Kasargod district Superintendent of Police (SP) D. Shilpa emphasized that the temple authorities failed to comply with safety protocols, noting that they did not secure the mandatory licenses required for the bursting of firecrackers. District Collector K. Inbasekar confirmed that a thorough investigation is underway, with forensic samples collected from the accident site.

Local CPI(M) MLA M. Rajagopal expressed his condolences, calling the incident "very unfortunate" and reinforcing that safety measures must be strictly adhered to during such celebrations. Kasargod MP Rajmohan Unnithan echoed these sentiments, pointing out the serious lapses on the part of officials responsible for ensuring safety during the festival.

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News Network
October 22,2024

Bengaluru, Oct 22: Torrential rains wreaked havoc in Karnataka’s capital on Monday night, leading to significant flight disruptions at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA). According to airport authorities, over 20 flights were delayed due to the downpour, as reported by ANI.

Among the diversions were an Air India flight from Delhi and three IndiGo flights from Delhi, Hyderabad, and Chandigarh, all rerouted to Chennai. A Thai Lion Air flight from Thailand also had to be diverted to Chennai amid the heavy rainfall.

After western Bengaluru bore the brunt of Sunday’s rains, it was the northern, southeastern, and eastern parts of the city that were pounded by intense thundershowers on Monday. Rainfall across the city varied from light to very heavy, leaving many areas waterlogged.

By 11 PM, Sahakaranagar and Yelahanka in northern Bengaluru had received 154.4 mm and 110 mm of rainfall, respectively, according to data from Weather Union, a platform for crowd-sourced weather information. Other areas that saw heavy downpours included Devanahalli and Koramangala (88.2 mm each), HSR Layout (81.6 mm), and BEL Road (70.4 mm).

While RR Nagar, the most affected neighborhood on Sunday, saw a significant drop with only 19.4 mm of rainfall on Monday evening, other areas faced relentless showers. HAL airport recorded 42.3 mm of rain until 8:30 PM, with a monthly total of 228.5 mm, far exceeding the normal average of 177.3 mm.

Kempegowda International Airport recorded 105 mm of rainfall, while GKVK saw 21.2 mm as rains intensified late into the night, leaving northern and eastern Bengaluru grappling with the aftermath.

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