India

Ahmedabad, Aug 19 (IANS) Karan Adani, Managing Director of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ), said on Wednesday that he watched his father, Gautam Adani, building for the nation despite the Hindenburg attack on the Adani Group and the US Department of Justice (DOJ) proceedings.

The Adani Group Chairman continued to build because “beneath the noise one belief remained unshaken, that the work mattered more than the moment”.

In a LinkedIn post, Karan Adani wrote that he was asked one question more than any other: “What is it like, as a son, to watch your father endure all of this? I could never quite answer it. Not while we were living through it. Now that it is behind us, I can”.

There are two answers.

“One is what a businessman sees, an institution under extraordinary pressure. The other is what only a son can see. That answer is harder to put into words,” Karan Adani further wrote.

He said that through years of extraordinary pressure, “what struck me was how rarely Papa allowed circumstances to change how he treated the people around him”.

“That may be one of the most important lessons I have learnt from my father. Sometimes the strongest answer to a difficult period is not an answer at all. It is to keep building,” the post read.

Karan Adani said that there were mornings “when I woke to another headline. Another accusation. Another judgement on a man I have known all my life”.

“I felt anger. I felt concern. And, as a son, I often wondered, how much should one man have to absorb? But what stayed with me was not the noise,” he noted.

We often imagine resilience as something dramatic - a great speech, a show of defiance, a promise to prove everyone wrong.

“I saw none of that. I saw my father rise every morning and return to the work in front of him. Projects still had to be built. People still depended on us. Ports had to run. Power had to reach homes and businesses. Airports had to serve passengers. Investments whose results would be seen only decades later still had to be made,” Karan Adani emphasised.

India had not paused because our family was living through a storm. And neither did he.

“Growing up, I never thought of my father as ‘Gautam Adani.' To me, he was simply my Papa. And Papa has never been somebody given to elaborate speeches or public flourishes. He has always had an extraordinary ability to focus on the task in front of him,” he wrote.

These last three years made “me see my father differently”.

“I understood more deeply why he has devoted his life to infrastructure and nation-building. For him, these were never slogans. He has always believed that India’s aspirations will demand infrastructure on a scale most cannot even imagine today. That belief has shaped every major choice he has made,” said Karan Adani.

—IANS

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Ujjain, Aug 19 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh is stepping up preparations for Simhastha 2028 in Ujjain, with the state government focusing on pilgrim safety, improved connectivity and disaster management for the mega religious gathering, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said on Wednesday.

Addressing a training programme for Home Guards, Aapda Mitras and Civil Defence volunteers at Kalidas Academy in Ujjain, Yadav said preparations were underway to organise a grand and disaster-free Simhastha under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Preparations are proceeding in full swing to organise a grand, divine, extraordinary, captivating and disaster-free Simhastha 2028 in Ujjain,” Yadav said. He said Simhastha would be the largest event for religious tourism and stressed the need for coordinated efforts by the administration, police, Home Guards and disaster-response volunteers to ensure the safety of devotees.

Yadav also performed the bhoomi-pujan for a new 5.30-km elevated corridor costing Rs 945.20 crore. The corridor is expected to ease traffic movement during Simhastha and will also provide an alternative route to the Mahakal Temple.

He said infrastructure development in Ujjain was being accelerated ahead of the event. About 80 per cent of the Indore-Ujjain six-lane highway has been completed, while seven bridges are being constructed over railway lines and rivers in Ujjain.

The Chief Minister said the scale of preparations for Simhastha 2028 would be significantly larger than in 2016. While the ghats along the Shipra River covered around seven kilometres during the 2016 Simhastha, about 35 km of ghats are planned for devotees during the 2028 event.

“Enhanced management measures for devotees will be implemented in coordination with Home Guard personnel, the police and the administration. Continuous training is being provided to Home Guard personnel, Aapda Mitras and Civil Defence volunteers. They bear the responsibility of protecting lives and property and are the true heroes of society,” Yadav said.

The government is also expanding its disaster-response network. Ujjain has registered 1,100 Aapda Mitras so far, with a target of training 10,000 volunteers, district officials said.

Training is being provided in boat handling and underwater rescue operations by master trainers from the Home Guard and State Disaster Emergency Response Force (SDERF). The state is also training 300 snake rescuers in Ujjain.

Officials said the aim was to have trained snake rescuers at the panchayat and police station levels to respond to incidents involving snakes during the event.

Yadav said the development of Mahakal Lok had already boosted religious tourism and created employment opportunities, while plans for an Indore-Ujjain metropolitan region would further strengthen the area's infrastructure.

--IANS

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Jaipur, Aug 19 (IANS) The Rajasthan Agriculture Department has confirmed fraud in the procurement of insurance claims under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) in Kalusar village in Sri Ganganagar district, officials said on Wednesday.

FIRs have been ordered against e-Mitra operators, farmers and other individuals allegedly involved in obtaining fraudulent crop insurance claims.

Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena has directed officials to take strict legal action against those involved and ensure that the benefits of PMFBY reach only genuine farmers.

A departmental inquiry found that multiple crop insurance policies were taken out for the same piece of land, resulting in claims amounting to around Rs 30 lakh.

Agriculture Commissioner Naresh Kumar Goyal said that FIRs have been ordered against farmers Banwari Lal, Richhpal and other participating farmers, e-Mitra operators Vikas Kumar and Bijesh, as well as other parties found involved in the alleged irregularities.

According to the inquiry, Banwari Lal insured a groundnut crop on 10.37 hectares of his land as a loanee farmer.

At the same time, crop insurance was obtained for the same land through e-Mitra operators, resulting in multiple policies covering the same area.

Banwari Lal received a total insurance claim of Rs 23.35 lakh through three policies.

The land was subsequently leased to Richhpal on a sharecropping arrangement.

Richhpal also obtained crop insurance for the same 10.37-hectare area and received a claim of Rs 7.80 lakh.

Other farmers also obtained insurance for groundnut cultivation on the same parcel, although their claims were rejected by the insurance company.

The inquiry found that multiple policies were issued against the same Khasra and that insurance coverage was obtained for an area around seven times the actual size of the land parcel.

The Agriculture Department suspects possible collusion among e-Mitra operators, farmers and other stakeholders and has ordered strict action against all those found responsible.

The Agriculture Department also lodged FIRs on Tuesday against e-Mitra operators and other individuals allegedly involved in fraudulent crop insurance cases for the Kharif 2026 season in Malpura tehsil of Tonk district and Shahpura tehsil of Jaipur district.

Commissioner Naresh Kumar Goyal said the Agriculture Department has launched 'Operation Clean' to identify and prevent irregularities in crop insurance.

The department has also made Farmer ID mandatory along with crop insurance policies, which will help identify beneficiaries and detect suspicious cases.

Policies taken by farmers who have not obtained agricultural loans will also undergo detailed scrutiny.

Goyal added that the state government follows a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and no one will be allowed to compromise the integrity of the PMFBY scheme.

The Agriculture Commissioner warned e-Mitra operators, farmers, brokers, insurance company personnel and financial institutions that fraudulent crop insurance policies must be cancelled immediately.

He said those found involved in fraud will face departmental as well as legal action under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

The Agriculture Department said it remains committed to protecting the interests of genuine farmers and will take strict action against anyone found misusing the crop insurance scheme.

--IANS

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Bhavnagar, Aug 19 (IANS) Four people have died, and 18 others have been hospitalised, eight of them in critical condition, after consuming spurious liquor illegally brought from Madhya Pradesh and sold in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar district, police said on Wednesday.

The victims had consumed duplicate liquor sold under the name of a popular Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) brand. Gujarat is a dry state, where the manufacture, sale and consumption of alcohol are prohibited.

Director General of Police (DGP) G.S. Malik told IANS, "As of now, four people have died in the incident. Necessary instructions have been given to all police units across the state to carry out intensive checks."

The first death was reported on Tuesday evening, followed by another later that night, while two more people died on Wednesday.

Officials said at least 22 people had been affected by the spurious liquor. The deaths of Kartik Makwana, 40, Upendra Gohil, 25, and Ghanshyamsinh Jadeja, 50, have been confirmed as being caused by consumption of spurious liquor.

The post-mortem and toxicology reports of the fourth victim, Narendra Yadav, are awaited. All four deceased were from Bhavnagar district.

Of the 18 people currently admitted to five hospitals, including Sir Takhtasinhji General Hospital and four private hospitals, two are in critical condition, four are in intensive care, two are on ventilator support, and 10 are stable.

The district administration received information around 6 p.m. on Tuesday that four people had fallen ill after consuming illicit liquor at a party in Kharkadi village in Ghogha taluka on August 16.

Senior government doctors have been deputed to private hospitals to supervise treatment. At the same time, a nephrology team from the Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre (IKDRC), Ahmedabad, was being sent to Bhavnagar to provide specialist assistance.

Bhavnagar Police detained four suspected bootleggers on Tuesday night in connection with the illegal transportation of the liquor from Madhya Pradesh and its sale in the district.

Superintendent of Police Nitesh Pandey said 16 police teams had been formed to arrest the accused and establish the extent of the distribution network.

“When the incident came to our attention, we formed 16 police teams and began the hunt to apprehend the accused bootleggers and to find out the extent of the distribution of the particular liquor consignment,” Pandey told reporters.

FSL teams have joined the investigation and samples of the suspected liquor have been sent for testing.

Meanwhile, Ahmedabad Rural Police have intensified checks after the suspected liquor route was believed to have passed through the district.

Around 800 personnel conducted checking operations from Tuesday night until 6 a.m. on Wednesday, resulting in 177 liquor-related cases being registered.

The operation is being expanded to around 500 villages. Police teams will meet residents and village representatives to trace possible movement, storage and sale of the liquor.

Sarpanches have also been asked to report information about illegal liquor.

Ahmedabad Rural SP Om Prakash Jat said, “We have carried out checking at various locations across the district from the night until 6 a.m. Discussions with village sarpanches in Ahmedabad Rural are continuing. Anyone having information regarding the movement or storage of the liquor should inform the police.”

Police have specifically warned residents against consuming liquor being sold under the brand name ‘Royal Stag’ and urged anyone who has purchased or consumed such liquor to inform the authorities immediately.

--IANS

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Gangtok, Aug 19 (IANS) The Opposition Citizen Action Party (CAP) on Wednesday filed an FIR with the Sikkim Vigilance Police, seeking a probe into an alleged revenue discrepancy of around Rs 27 crore in tourism permit collections and accountability for those responsible.

CAP spokesperson Albert Gurung said the complaint was filed following Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang's reported statement that revenue generated through tourism permits had not been fully accounted for.

According to Gurung, around Rs 31 crore was collected through Nathula permit fees in 2025, while only about Rs 3 crore was reflected as available with the government, raising questions over the whereabouts of the remaining amount.

"If the government cannot stop corruption under the existing system, how will introducing a new rate chart solve the problem?" Gurung said.

He added that the FIR, submitted to the Vigilance Superintendent of Police, seeks investigation into officials and others who may have been involved in the alleged revenue leakage.

Gurung said the Chief Minister's statement should be examined as part of the investigation and those found responsible should face action.

He also asked how such a large discrepancy could allegedly occur when the permit mechanism falls under the check-post division of the Sikkim Police.

The CAP leader warned that the party would approach the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) if it was not satisfied with the Vigilance Department's probe.

The alleged revenue discrepancy has also become a major point of CAP's opposition to the proposed Integrated Online Permit System.

Gurung said the Tourism Department had discussed the proposed system and a revised rate structure with selected stakeholders on August 5.

He claimed the proposed fees would be linked to vehicle engine capacity rather than the number of tourists.

For Nathula, the proposed charges include Rs 2,000 for vehicles below 1,000cc, Rs 3,000 for vehicles above 1,000cc, Rs 5,000 for Tempo Travellers and buses, and separate charges for motorcycles.

Gurung opposed the proposed structure, saying that higher permit charges could discourage tourists when road and other tourism infrastructure remain inadequate.

He also alleged that a private company could benefit from the proposed online system and raised questions about its alleged political connections, while acknowledging that these were allegations requiring verification.

The CAP leader urged the state government to put the proposal on hold, consult tourism stakeholders and reconsider the fee structure.

He warned that the party would intensify its campaign, including street protests, if the state government proceeded without addressing the concerns.

--IANS

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Kolkata/Itanagar, Aug 19 (IANS) Search for the five soldiers, missing after the major cloudburst in Arunachal Pradesh, will continue, the Army's Eastern Command has said.

With weather improving in the area, assets of the Army Aviation Corps, under the Command, carried out extensive search operations on Wednesday. The operations were called off only in the evening after light failed.

"Operations will resume again from early on Thursday. Ground teams are co-ordinating with the helicopters during the search in the extremely rugged terrain. Search will continue till we trace them," a senior official said.

"Two critically injured soldiers were evacuated from a riverbed. Efforts continue to intensify the search for the missing personnel swept away by flash floods," the Eastern Command posted on X.

A cloudburst in the Pashu Pani area of Anini in the Upper Dibang Valley triggered a massive flash flood and landslide that swept away two shelters at the 5th Grenadier’s Pasu Pani Army camp on August 14, 2026.

Seven Army personnel were swept away in the sudden flooding. Two were subsequently rescued, while five remain missing. Rescue operations began immediately, and search teams from the 5th Grenadier were deployed, while personnel from the 58th Battalion of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), 62 RCC of the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF), Arunachal Pradesh Police and local volunteers joined the operation.

A State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) team has also reached from Pasighat. Army aviation assets operated when the weather allowed.

Officials said that inclement weather, heavy inundation and difficult terrain have affected search operations, even on the ground. Going is tough for the rescuers amid fast-flowing rivers near a rocky landscape.

"Army Aviation is undertaking continuous Search and Rescue and Casualty Evacuation operations in Dibang Valley," the Army posted, indicating that operations will continue. More assets will be deployed if the need arises, the official said.

The Army may also be joined by the Indian Air Force in the search. "One of the problems is that much of the area is uninhabited. Hence, we cannot expect local reports," the official said.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Aug 19 (IANS) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday directed authorities to immediately initiate water conservation works in these drought-prone locations.

He also said that villages across Maharashtra that required water supply via tankers over the last five years will receive priority inclusion under the Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan 3.0.

The decisions were taken during a high-level review meeting on soil and water conservation management chaired by Chief Minister Fadnavis at his official residence, 'Varsha'.

The meeting focused on accelerating water conservation projects, strengthening existing water sources, and creating an integrated management strategy through cross-departmental coordination.

"Prioritising the development of micro-watershed areas and strengthening water resources across the state is essential," CM Fadnavis said.

He assured that adequate funds would be provided for all identified projects and urged all concerned departments to work in sync to ensure swift and impactful execution.

The Chief Minister instructed officials to conduct special surveys in villages that relied on tanker water over the past five years to tailor conservation measures according to local geography and water requirements.

To highlight the positive impact of these initiatives, CM Fadnavis also directed the state administration to document and circulate success stories related to newly strengthened water bodies.

During the meeting, Shriram Vedire, Chief Advisor to the Chief Minister on Water Resources, delivered a comprehensive presentation on soil and water conservation management.

Meanwhile, Soil and Water Conservation Minister Sanjay Rathod said on Wednesday that on the occasion of the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister late Sudhakarrao Naik, the Department of Soil and Water Conservation is organising 'Maha Walkathon 2026 - Walk for Water' on August 21.

The state-level event will take place at Worli Promenade in Mumbai, alongside simultaneous events at all district headquarters across Maharashtra.

He appealed to all citizens to actively participate in this public movement to secure the state's water future.

He urged the public to spread the core message: "Block Water, Percolate Water, Build a Water-Sufficient Maharashtra."

The initiative expects wide participation across all districts, including citizens, students, youth, women, public representatives, artists, athletes, government officials, employees, and various social organisations.

Minister Rathod emphasised that the event is not merely a three-kilometre walk, but a collective effort of 4,000 steps toward a water-secure future for Maharashtra.

--IANS

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Maihar/Bhopal, Aug 19 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Wednesday said that the respect and economic empowerment of sisters and daughters remain the top priorities of his government.

Addressing the state-level ‘Ladli Behna Sammelan’ (conclave) in Maihar, he transferred Rs 2,148.30 crore to the bank accounts of more than 1.25 crore “Ladli Behnas” (beloved sisters) as the 39th instalment of the Chief Minister Ladli Behna Yojana, along with a special Raksha Bandhan shagun of Rs 250, taking the total amount credited to each beneficiary to Rs 1,750.

The Chief Minister described the transfer as a “Naihar Ki Neg” (gift from the maternal home) sent to the state’s beloved sisters from the sacred land of Maihar, blessed by Goddess Sharda. He said that while Raksha Bandhan comes once a year, the government ensures the protection and welfare of sisters every month.

Since the launch of the scheme in June 2023, a total of Rs 63,248 crore has been transferred in 39 instalments. A budget provision of Rs 23,882.81 crore has been made for 2026-27, and the Cabinet has approved continuation of the scheme for the next five years with an outlay of over Rs 1.14 lakh crore.

CM Yadav visited the “Maa Sharda temple” before the event.

At the Sammelan held at Ustad Alauddin Khan Stadium, he showered flowers on the sisters, tied Rakhis, and was joined by local hockey players Ananya Awadhiya and Unnati Pandey in presenting Rakhis.

New members of the Jan Abhiyan Parishad also offered a large Rakhi to the Chief Minister.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 25 development projects worth over Rs 256 crore in Maihar district. He also performed the ground-breaking for the first phase of Maa Sharda Lok, estimated to cost Rs 9 crore, as part of the state’s temple development push after Mahakal Lok.

Highlighting women’s empowerment, Yadav said sisters nurture both parental and marital homes and form the backbone of families. The government is promoting self-help groups and has announced an additional Rs 5,000 incentive for women working in employment-oriented industries.

He also spoke about the campaign against drug abuse, closure of liquor shops near 19 religious places, expansion of irrigation in the Vindhya region through the Bargi Canal, and round-the-clock electricity for farmers.

The Chief Minister emphasised that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the government remains committed to the dignity, security and economic progress of women across Madhya Pradesh.

--IANS

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Raipur, Aug 19 (IANS) Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao on Wednesday launched a sharp counterattack on Congress leader and former Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s remarks on “Dimagi Naxals,” asserting that such elements are deeply hurt by the near‑elimination of armed Naxalism from the state and the country.

Responding sarcastically, Sao said the “Dimagi Naxals” were saddened by the success achieved in wiping out left‑wing extremism from Chhattisgarh, particularly Bastar. He cautioned people to remain vigilant against their ulterior motives.

“It is clear from the statements of Congress leaders that they never want Naxalism to end in the country and in Bastar,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.

Sao claimed that armed Naxalism has been completely eradicated from Bastar. He said anyone visiting Bastar today could easily feel the change, noting that ordinary people’s lives, lifestyles and temperaments had transformed.

He alleged that Congress leaders have consistently worked against national unity and the Constitution, sometimes secretly and sometimes openly, undermining the country’s systems.

“It is time to protect the country from people with this mentality,” he added.

The Deputy Chief Minister further stated that the people of Bastar deserve prosperity, progress and better education. He alleged that Congress leaders never wanted this and had never done anything for it.

“They do not even want tribals in Bastar to receive any benefits. That is why they continue to make statements in support of Naxalism in various ways and on various platforms,” Sao charged.

Turning to the Congress’s allegations regarding a “transfer industry” in the state, Sao launched a scathing rebuttal. He said the entire state of Chhattisgarh knows at whose behest the so‑called transfer industry operated in the past.

“Those who ran the transfer industry should introspect before making such allegations. The reality is that transfers are made purely on administrative grounds and based on administrative needs. That is exactly what has happened,” he asserted.

Sao’s remarks come amid a political slugfest over the declining influence of Naxalism in Chhattisgarh and the state’s administrative decisions.

The Deputy Chief Minister maintained that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)‑led government remains focused on development, security and the welfare of tribal communities in the once violence‑hit regions.

--IANS

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Jaipur, Aug 19 (IANS) A day before the start of the Assembly session scheduled for Thursday, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma called upon Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators to actively participate in proceedings of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly and effectively highlight the state government’s achievements, development initiatives and future vision.

Addressing a meeting of the legislative party at his residence on Wednesday, Sharma said the government was fulfilling promises made to the people at an unprecedented pace.

He urged MLAs to ensure that welfare‑oriented policies and development programmes are prominently presented during Assembly discussions.

The Chief Minister said public welfare remains the BJP government's guiding principle, and it has successfully implemented a wide range of projects and schemes across Rajasthan.

He asserted that the government had accomplished “unparalleled work” in just two and a half years compared with the five‑year tenure of the previous Congress government.

Sharma added that the BJP government’s “double‑engine” approach has given Rajasthan a clear roadmap for comprehensive development.

According to him, the state has made significant progress across key sectors, including water, electricity, industry, employment and road infrastructure.

He called on party legislators to communicate these achievements effectively to the public and counter what he described as misinformation and political criticism of the government.

Taking a dig at the Congress, Sharma alleged that the party was associated with corruption and appeasement politics and had a record of reneging on promises made to the people.

He urged BJP legislators to make the public aware of what he termed the Congress’s political record and cautioned against trusting the opposition party.

The Chief Minister emphasised that legislators have an important role in strengthening the government’s connection with the people by raising public issues in the House while also showcasing the impact of government initiatives.

He said the government would continue working to make Rajasthan a leading state through sustained development, effective governance and delivery of welfare schemes.

Sharma urged party MLAs to remain united, proactive and focused on communicating the government’s vision and achievements during the Assembly session.

--IANS

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