India

Kanyakumari, Sep 7 (IANS) The 3,570 km Bharat Jodo Yatra of the Congress will take a break and begin from the same point if Rahul Gandhi goes for campaigning in two election-bound states of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, said Digvijaya Singh on Wednesday.

Addressing a press conference here, Singh, who is convenor of the yatra, said, "Rahul Gandhi will walk all along the yatra route... if he takes a break for campaigning, then the yatra will stop and will restart from the same place."

The Yatra will go through 12 states and two union territories, but does not involve the election-going states. General Secretary Organisation K.C. Venugopal said, "We have not involved the election-going states of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh."

But all the state organisations will take a separate padyatra in the states for one month while all the blocks will take out padyatra this day at 5 p.m.

The party is launching a massive yatra on Wednesday around 5 p.m. Enroute the yatra, meetings with select groups of people will be done and in the evening mass connect programme will be held. All the yatris, including Rahul will take rest in specialised containers.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday said that this will be a turning point of Indian politics and will mark a new beginning.

"A day when India's oldest political party will launch the longest padyatra ever undertaken. It is a sombre day, a day for quiet reflection and renewed resolve. This is a turning point in Indian politics. It marks a new beginning," Jairam said

--IANS
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New Delhi, Sep 7 (IANS) The Adani Group will be building three giga factories in India leading to one of the worlds most integrated green-energy value chains, Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, said.

Speaking at an event where he was conferred the USIBC Global Leadership Award, Adani said this will extend from polysilicon to solar modules, complete manufacturing of Wind Turbines, and the manufacturing of Hydrogen Electrolyzers.

"As a result, we will generate an additional 45 GW of renewable energy to add to our existing 20 GW capacity, as well as 3 million tonnes of hydrogen, all of which will be completed before 2030," Adani said.

This value chain will be fully indigenous and aligned with the geopolitical needs of our nation. "However, I believe we can further accelerate our goals with support from companies in the US that are willing to work with us," Adani said.

He said the semiconductor industry is a classic example with more engineers deployed in India than anywhere else in the world, and yet, India has no semiconductor plant. India cannot remain dependent on global supply chains that are based on semiconductor nationalism and will need US support with technology transfer.

Adani said the term deglobalization gained prominence because of the divisions that came about as a result of the pandemic. "We must never allow this to happen again, given the mistrust it creates. Vaccine collaboration between our nations must be high on our priority list and needs to be formalized in a mutually beneficial way," he added.

Likewise, defence and cyber are two critical areas that the US and India must work on. Trust comes from collaboration in these areas. India needs support in both these areas and, at this time, we are just skimming the surface. These are two essential areas where our partnerships must span technology transfer to be able to build mutual confidence, Adani said.

He urged the USIBC to facilitate a broader platform that brings together executives from similar industries on both sides on a regular basis.

There are a lot of gains to divide with the size of the two economies beginning to converge as we approach 2050, Adani added.

--IANS
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Bhopal, Sep 7 (IANS) The Madhya Pradesh Congress will organise a 'Sarvadharm Prarthana Sabha' at Bhopal's New Market area to extend support to the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra'.

On this occasion, Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) general secretary Rajiv Singh appealed to the party leader and workers to assemble in the area for the 'prarthana sabha (prayers meet)'. Dignitaries associated with all religions have also been invited to participate in the meet at 4.30 p.m.

During the prayer meet, the MPCC has set up a big screen for the live telecast of 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' led by former Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Besides, various programmes have been prepared for this occasion at the party's district offices across the state, Rajiv Singh told IANS.

With an eye on the 2024 general elections, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi will launch the party's 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' from Kanyakumari this evening. The 3,500 kilometre-long-yatra will be covered in nearly 150 days.

Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi paid tribute at the memorial of his late father Rajiv Gandhi in Tamil Nadu's Sriperumbudur, where the former Prime Minister was killed in a suicide attack on May 21, 1991.

After visiting his father's memorial, Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "I lost my father to the politics of hate and division. I will not lose my beloved country to it too. Love will conquer hate. Hope will defeat fear. Together, we will overcome."

Gandhi will attend an event at Kanyakumari's Mahatma Gandhi Mandapam in the evening where Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will hand over the national flag to him for the yatra launch.

The 3,500 kilometre-long-yatra, dubbed by the Congress as the "longest march" organised in the country over the last century, will be launched at around 5 p.m. with a rally, and the 'padyatra' or foot march will begin from Thursday morning.

--IANS
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Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 7 (IANS) Senior Congress leader and the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday said that through 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' the party intends to apprise the people how the provisions of the Constitution are being violated in the country.

Speaking exclusively to IANS, the veteran leader termed the yatra "a turning point" in Indian politics which marks a new beginning.

On the need for such a grand yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, LoP Kharge said under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, the party will reach out to the people across the country and make them aware of the Centre's "divide and rule policy"of the Centre.

"With the divide and rule policy in place, the nation is being divided in the name of religion and language. The Constitution is being attacked. Our democracy was being run in sync with the constitution which has been ruined.

"That is the reason why Bharat Jodo Yatra of 3,750 Kms has been launched. When the public will connect with us through this Yatra, they will know how the democracy and Constitution is being violated", he said.

On whether this Yatra aims at 'comeback' for Congress in 2024, Kharge said there is no connection between the yatra and Lok Sabha polls. This is an ideological fight and there is no politics in this. We are fighting ideologically and all those who are connected with this ideology across the party have come together. There is no politics in this, the party leader said.

Responding to BJP's allegation, that this is not 'Bharat Jodo Yatra but Congress Jodo Yatra', Kharge said that it is their work to criticise us.

"BJP and RSS always target Congress and Rahul Gandhi because there is only one person who fights their divisive ideology and that is him", Kharge asserted.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Sep 7 (IANS) India reported 5,379 fresh Covid cases in the last 24 hours, which is a marginal rise over the previous day's count of 4,417, said the Union Health Ministry on Wednesday.

In the same period, the country recorded 27 more Covid related deaths taking the national fatalities tally to 5,28,057 as per the report.

Meanwhile, the active caseload has come down to 50,594 cases, accounting for 0.11 per cent of the country's total positive cases.

The recovery of 7,094 patients in the last 24 hours took the cumulative tally to 4,38,93,590. Consequently, India's recovery rate stands at 98.70 per cent.

Meanwhile, India's daily positivity rate has marginally risen to 1.67 per cent, while the weekly positivity rate currently also stands at 2.00 per cent.

Also in the same period, a total of 3,21,917 tests were conducted across the country, increasing the overall tally to over 88.80 crore.

As of Wednesday morning, India's Covid-19 vaccination coverage exceeded 213.91 crore.

Over 4.05 crore adolescents have been administered with a first dose of Covid-19 jab since the beginning of vaccination drive for this age bracket.

--IANS
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Kanyakumari, Sep 7 (IANS) Ahead of the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' on Wednesday, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said that this will be a turning point in Indian politics and will mark a new beginning.

"A day when India's oldest political party will launch the longest padyatra ever undertaken. It is a sombre day, a day for quiet reflection and renewed resolve. This is a turning point in Indian politics. It marks a new beginning," Ramesh said.

In Kanyakumari Rahul Gandhi will visit the Thiruvalluvar Memorial, Vivekananda Memorial and Kamaraj Memorial.

There will be a prayer meeting at the Mahatma Gandhi Mandapam and National Flag Handover Ceremony at Gandhi Mandapam then Rahul Gandhi will march with the 'Bharat Jodo Yatris' thus launching the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

The national flag will be handed over by three chief ministers -- Tamil Nadu's M.K. Stalin, Chhattisgarh's Bhupesh Baghel and Rajasthan's Ashok Gehlot.

The purpose behind the march with the national flag is that the Congress wants other like-minded parties and civil society groups to join the programme, said a Congress leader.

Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said that the opposition has no way but to go to the people of the country.

--IANS
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Lucknow, Sep 7 (IANS) The Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport (CCSIA) in Lucknow has slipped into a silent mode from Wednesday.

The silent airport is an initiative to ensure that passengers can enjoy a relaxed journey experience while they utilise their wait time in their favourite activities, without disturbance.

A spokesperson for the airport said: "Silence in the airport means more time for passengers to read a book, talk to their travel partner, listen to their favourite playlist, or work as per their need. With this initiative, the CCSIA will join the league of airports like Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Chennai, and Bengaluru."

He said that "However, the airport will ensure that no vital information for passengers is missed. So CCSIA will display flight information for passenger convenience at all the 81 Flight information display screens across Terminal-1 and Terminal-2. The screens are placed at strategic locations - outside terminals, in check-in halls, security hold areas and arrival halls of the airport."

Only announcements relating to change in boarding gates as well as passenger baggage in Level-4 of Inline Baggage Screening System will be made.

Emergency and security-related announcements will continue on the public announcement systems as per requirement, in addition to the mandatory Covid-19 protocol announcements.

A pan-India campaign to sensitise passengers about the silent airport initiative of the CCSIA will also be undertaken on social media handles on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

CCSIA connects 30 destinations - domestic and overseas and operates on an average 120 flights per day. It manages over four million domestic and international passengers in a year.

--IANS
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Srinagar, Sep 7 (IANS) Two terrorists killed in Poshkreeri area of South Kashmir's Anantnag district on Tuesday have been identified, officials said.

Police said acting on a specific information regarding the presence of terrorists in village Poshkreeri area of Anantnag, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by the Police and the Army.

"During the search operation, as the joint search party approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter," the Police said.

In the ensuing encounter, two terrorists were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. They have been identified as Danish Ahmad Bhat alias Kokab Duree, resident of Jablipora Bijbehara and Basharat Nabi Lone, resident of Fatehpora Anantnag linked with proscribed terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen (HM).

"... both terrorists were active since year 2019. They had a history of terror crime cases including attacks on security forces and civilian atrocities. Besides, they were also involved in killing of two Territorial Army personnel namely Manzoor Ahmad at Sadoora Anantnag on July 6, 2019 and Mohammad Saleem at Bijbehara on April 9, 2021. Moreover, they were also involved in killing of two civilians on May 29, 2021 in Jablipora Bijbehara area," they added.

Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including one AK-56 rifle, 35 AK rounds, two AK magazines, one pistol, one pistol magazine and two pistol rounds were recovered from the site of encounter.

All the recovered materials have been taken into custody for further investigation.

Police have registered a case under relevant sections of law and further investigation has been initiated.

--IANS
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Bengaluru, Sep 7 (IANS) Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Minister Umesh Katti died of heart attack on Tuesday late night in Bengaluru.

According to family sources, 61-year-old Umesh Katti complained of chest pain and collapsed in the bathroom at his Dollars Colony residence at 10.30 p.m.

He was immediately shifted to the M.S. Ramaiah hospital. However, Umesh Katti succumbed to heart attack at the hospital.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai rushed to the hospital immediately after getting the information. Opposition leader Siddaramaiah, who was in Mysuru, has also left for Bengaluru.

The body would be taken to his native Tilakawadi in Belagavi on Wednesday morning. It would be kept for public view at his residence in Shivabasavanagar in Tilakawadi.

Umesh Katti was the senior most elected representative in Karnataka legislature. He entered politics in 1985 after the death of his father Vishwanath Katti.

Umesh Katti batted for separate north Karnataka state and also claimed that he would become Chief Minister of the new state stirring controversy. He worked as a minister in cabinets of B.S. Yediyurappa, D.V. Sadananda Gowda, Jagadish Shettar during the tenure of BJP government.

He represented Chikkodi assembly constituency for eight times. He represented Janata Party, Janata Dal, Janata Dal (U) and BJP.

Umesh Katti also contested election as a Congress party candidate in 2004.

--IANS
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Srinagar, Sep 6 (IANS) After remaining suspended for more than 33 years, the annual Urs of Sufi saint Syed Qamar-ud-Din Bukhari will be observed in J&K's Ganderbal district from Wednesday.

The four-day long Urs has a historical background and it had to be suspended because of opposition from followers of radical Islam.

Despite the strait jacket concept of Islam advocated by the Ahle Hadis school of thought, the iconic Urs at the Sufi's shrine in Ganderbal stands out to prove that Sufism has deeper roots in Kashmir.

Till its suspension, the Urs at Ganderbal would attract hundreds of devotees who would come to pay obeisance at the saint's mausoleum.

Sweetmeat sellers, fruit sellers, garment stalls and entertainment avenues for children would be the other highlights of the Urs.

The water transport from Srinagar through Jhelum and Sindh stream would enable scores of people who would come in 'Dongas' (non-luxury houseboats) to attend the Urs.

These Dongas would remain stationed on the Sindh stream for around a week when people from Srinagar would spend sometime away from city's hustle and bustle.

Authorities have made arrangements this year to facilitate the movement of Dongas to revive this important aspect of the Urs.

People living in villages close to the shrine would invite relatives and friends on this annual Urs while family get togethers gave an important value addition to the devotees' prayers.

The Urs formally begins Wednesday evening with nightlong prayers and chanting of 'Doruds' (prayers of the Holy Prophet).

"We had to restrict the Urs for the last 33 years because of turmoil. We would, however, perform the nightlong prayers at the shrine during all those years.

"This year, the grandeur and gaiety for which Syed Qamar-Ud-Din Bukhari's Urs is known throughout the Valley is again returning to Ganderbal," said a member of the shrine's management committee.

One significant highlight of this Urs in the past used to be the participation of Kashmiri Pandits alongside their Muslim brethren.

While it is not known from where the saint came to this village, folklore has it that the entire area would get devastated because of the annual floods in the Sindh stream.

"Locals implored the saint to save them from the vagaries of annual floods and after this the saint started praying by the banks of the Sindh stream (where the shrine is located today).

"After he stationed himself by the banks of the stream, there were no annual floods. Pleased with the saint's blessings, locals decided to celebrate the Urs at the shrine each year," said the management committee member.

Whether the saint's miracle or the extensive flood protection works undertaken by the government after Independence prevented the annual floods in the Sindh stream, the fact remains that the reverence for the saint has withstood all tides of fundamentalism and radicalisation in Kashmir.

--IANS
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