On 12th January (Saturday), the National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the latest economic data (pdf). As per the NSO data, Core inflation has eased to a sub-4 percent level which has happened for the first time in the post-pandemic period. It has declined to 3.89 percent in December from 4.1 percent in November. With this, the core inflation has declined to a 48-month low in December 2023.
As per reports, reducing core inflation has been a key objective of the Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee. It has brought it down from 6.1 percent at the start of 2023 to the 48-month low in December 2023. Notably, core inflation is the inflation excluding food and fuel items.
Moreover, miscellaneous inflation, a broad indicator of price changes for services, decreased from 4.38 percent in November to 4.07 percent in December. However, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation has increased to a four-month high of 5.69 percent in December but it continues to remain within the RBI’s tolerance range of 2-6%. The CPI was 5.72% in December 2022, so there has not been much change on a year-on-year basis.
Food inflation remained high, which was 9.53% in December 2023, up from 4.19% in the same month previous year.
As per the statewide inflation rate, North Eastern states have achieved greater success in controlling inflation. The following map depicts the state-wide inflation rate for December month –
(NSO released statewide inflation rates for December month)
Nonetheless, nations across the globe have been facing the brunt of turbulent events including the Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Hamas wars, and attacks on the busy shipping lanes in the Red Sea which have resulted in higher costs of living across the globe. Consequently, India’s payments outgo for oil, gold, and other commodities have increased leading to a rise in the cost of raw materials and commodities.
A day after NSO released the economic data, Rajya Sabha MP and Uddhav Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi on 13th January (Saturday), targeted the Modi government.
In her post, she shared screengrabs of a media article taking a ‘Mehngai Dyan’ jibe at the Union government. However, netizens called her out for selectively sharing screenshots of a media report and omitting the part where the media portal had highlighted that core inflation has declined further in the country.
The Same article mentions that "Core inflation" for the 1st time post pandemic, eased further to 3.9% in December from 4.1% in November.
Sharing a screenshot of the same article which the Rajya Sabha MP omitted, an X user wrote, “The Same article mentions that ‘Core inflation’ for the 1st time post-pandemic, eased further to 3.9% in December from 4.1% in November. Selective SS posting won’t help in any way, except for the X payout.”
Earlier, the government estimate showed that the Indian economy is expected to expand by 7.3 percent in the fiscal year 2023-24, surpassing the predictions of most economists.
On the midnight of 11th January in the Adarsh Nagar area of Delhi, a fierce clash erupted between two rival gangs, reminiscent of the film ‘Gangs of Wasseypur.’ The confrontation in the capital involved the Gopi and Sahil gangs, both active in the Lal Bagh area, and has left the neighbourhood shaken.
The clash ensued following a longstanding dispute between the Gopi and Sahil gangs. Approximately fifty miscreants from Sahil’s group targeted Gopi’s residence in Mochi Bagh, launching a violent assault. The assailants’ faces were concealed with cloth masks. They unleashed a barrage of petrol bombs and fired 12 rounds into the air, causing panic in the vicinity. The entire 20-minute ordeal, including the hurling of petrol bombs and gunfire, was captured by a nearby CCTV camera.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the family members of Kishan, the homeowner, who had a previous dispute with the attacking group. PCR calls were made six times by locals, leading senior officials from the Adarsh Nagar police station to the scene. Upon investigation, Delhi police recovered eight empty cartridge shells.
#Watch : राजधानी दिल्ली के आदर्श नगर इलाके में फिल्म 'गैंग्स ऑफ वासेपुर' जैसा सीन देखने को मिला। यहां बेखौफ बदमाशों द्वारा एक घर के बाहर पेट्रोल बम फेंकने और गोलीबारी करने का मामला सामने आया है। इस घटना से इलाके में हड़कंप मच गया।#Delhipic.twitter.com/e8pth4Hup6
A minor has been apprehended in connection with the audacious attack, as seen in the viral CCTV footage where four youths, faces covered, hurled petrol bombs and fled. The victim, Kishan, confirmed the dispute with the attacking group, all of whom have prior criminal records. A case has been registered under sections 336, 436, and 506 of the Indian Penal Code, involving charges related to endangering life, mischief by fire, and criminal intimidation.
The incident has stirred public concern, with social media users expressing dismay over the apparent deterioration of law and order in the national capital. As the investigation unfolds, the Delhi Police are diligently pursuing leads to apprehend the remaining suspects involved in the violent clash. The clashes between the Gopi and Sahil gangs underline an ongoing feud, showcasing the challenges faced by law enforcement in curbing such instances of hooliganism in the city.
Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar on Saturday said that all the members of the opposition’s INDIA bloc agreed to the proposal that the alliance, formed to take on the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, should be headed by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge.
The senior opposition leader said that ‘everyone’ suggested Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s name for the post of the alliance’s convenor. “But the Janata Dal (United) national president’s opinion is that the one who is already in charge should continue,” Pawar said.
The NCP patriarch was speaking after attending the virtual meeting of Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc leaders, which began this afternoon to review the seat-sharing agenda, participation in the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, and other matters.
“A meeting of the INDIA bloc was held under the chairmanship of Mallikarjun Kharge. We had a discussion that we will all take a decision on seat sharing as soon as possible. It was suggested by some that the alliance should be headed by Mallikarjun Kharge and everyone agreed. We also formed a committee to make plans in the coming days. Everyone suggested that Nitish Kumar should take responsibility as the convenor, but his opinion is that the one who is already in charge should continue,” Pawar said.
On declaring the opposition’s prime ministerial candidate, he said, “After the elections, if we get the majority, then we would be able to give a better option to the country.”
Meanwhile, soon after the virtual key meeting, Kharge said that the seat-sharing talks are progressing in a positive way.
In a post on X, Kharge also invited all the INDIA bloc parties to join Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’, which is scheduled to kick off on Sunday, at their convenience.
“Leaders of the INDIA Coordination Commitee today met online and had a fruitful discussion on the alliance. Everyone is happy that the seat-sharing talks are progressing positively. We also discussed about joint programs in the coming days by INDIA Parties. I, along with Rahul Gandhi ji invited all INDIA Parties to join ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ at their convenience and use the opportunity to raise the social, political and economic issues plaguing the common people of this country,” Mallikarjun Kharge posted on X.
INDIA or ‘Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance’ is a group of opposition parties, including the Congress.
The parties have come together to take on the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which is led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and prevent it from winning a third straight term at the Centre in the Lok Sabha elections due in April-May.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
Terming the visit by the British High Commissioner in Islamabad, Jane Marriott, to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as “highly objectionable”, India has registered a ‘strong protest’ with the British High Commissioner in India.
This comes after British envoy Jane Marriott visited Mirpur city in the PoK region along with an official of the UK Foreign Office.
“India has taken a serious note of the highly objectionable visit of the British High Commissioner in Islamabad, along with a UK Foreign Office official, to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on 10 January 2024,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Saturday.
“Such infringement of India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is unacceptable,” it added.
Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra has lodged a strong protest with the British High Commissioner in India on this ‘infringement’.
The Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh “have been and shall always remain an integral part of India,” MEA added.
In October last year, the US envoy to Pakistan, Donald Blome, visited the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir region.
New Delhi conveyed to Washington its ‘strong objection’ to the visit and urged the international community to respect its “sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
Construction of a majestic temple at Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya is underway, and the consecration of the idol is scheduled to be conducted on 22nd January 2024, with the participation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Hindus globally are expressing their reverence for the devoted karsevaks who made sacrifices. However, some leaders from the Samajwadi Party are defending the 1990 massacre of Ram Bhakts, which was carried out on the orders of the then Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav.
The OpIndia team is currently in Ayodhya, where we met Shiv Dayal Mishra, a karsevak from the 1990s who miraculously survived two gunshot wounds. Shiv Dayal Mishra shared with us his firsthand account of the harrowing events of the 1990s.
Despite being a government school teacher, Shiv Dayal Mishra got into Karseva
Karsevak Shiv Dayal Mishra, an eyewitness and survivor of the 1990 firing on Karsevaks, is originally a resident of the Wazirganj police station area of Gonda district. The name of his village is Poore Basanti. In 1990, Shiv Dayal was an assistant teacher in a primary school in Gonda. He retired as headmaster in 2009. Shiv Dayal, now 77 years old, was approximately 45 years old in 1990. He is currently engaged in agricultural activities and dedicated service to cows. He has a son in his family.
A profound scar is still visible on his left knee, marking the spot where a paramilitary bullet shattered his ankle. Additionally, there is a bullet injury in the toes of his right foot, where the bullet grazed leaving behind enduring scratch marks.
Shiv Dayal mentions that to this day, pain lingers in both of his wounds. Despite the persistent discomfort, he finds solace in recalling the sacrifices made in the name of Lord Ram. Shiv Dayal expresses that even if his life were to fade away, there would be no reason for sorrow.
Shiv Dayal’s left leg still has marks of bullet wounds. Image Source: OpIndia Hindi
There was a passion to give life in the name of Lord Ram
When we asked Shiv Dayal why he chose the path of Karseva despite being in a government job, he said, “What is a job and a family when it comes to Lord Ram?” Shiv Dayal added that karsevaks from various parts of the country were passing through his village, displaying a profound readiness to sacrifice their lives for Ram Bhakti. Witnessing their dedication, Shiv Dayal mobilised a group of individuals from his village and the nearby areas. Simultaneously, he organised provisions for the lodging, meals, and refreshments of the Ram devotees arriving from other regions.
Karsevaks walked through waterlogged fields and thorny paths
Shiv Dayal recalled the day of 30th October 1990. The aerial distance from his house to Ayodhya is about 25 kilometres. He explained that in the morning, as he and his group headed towards Ayodhya, they observed that trees had been cut and placed on the main roads to prevent people from reaching Ayodhya.
Police vehicles were patrolling the lesser-known byways, taking Ram devotees en route to Ayodhya to unfamiliar destinations. Shiv Dayal advanced through the fields alongside the Ram Bhakts. He mentioned that numerous fields were inundated with knee-deep water at that time. In several instances, the feet of the karsevaks were injured by thorns, and even leeches stuck to their legs.
Despite this, the Ram devotees continued to advance cautiously. Shiv Dayal Mishra states that their goal, along with his companions, was Ayodhya, akin to the unwavering focus Arjuna had for the eye of a bird. Whenever the wailing sirens or the sounds of approaching vehicles echoed, Ram bhakts would conceal themselves amidst the water and fields. Despite these challenges, the determination of the Ram devotees remained unshaken, and eventually, in the afternoon, Shiv Dayal, along with his group, reached the banks of the Saryu River. Ayodhya was on the other bank of the river.
Crossing the Saryu meant death
Shiv Dayal recounted that despite reaching the outskirts of Ayodhya with his companions, the onward journey from that point felt akin to traversing the path of death. It was October, and the monsoon season had recently concluded. During that time, the Saryu River was flowing at its peak, making its currents formidable even for proficient swimmers to navigate.
Even if someone dared to swim across the river, there was no assurance that an armed policeman stationed on the riverbank wouldn’t open fire. As per Shiv Dayal, the sole viable entry point to Ayodhya was the Saryu Bridge. However, the path was heavily guarded, to the extent that not even a mosquito could navigate through. The karsevaks interpreted this as a challenge by Mulayam Singh Yadav, who had declared, ‘Not even a bird can flutter its wings.’
The first step on the bridge and the mayhem starts
Ram Janmabhoomi was approximately 3 kilometres from the location where Shiv Dayal and his group arrived. The only available route to enter Ayodhya was the bridge, where a substantial police force was stationed. As the karsevaks advanced to cross the bridge, the front-row police personnel instructed them to step back.
The Ram Bhakts, who were singing Ramdhun, refused to retreat and continued to move towards the bridge. Meanwhile, another troop came from behind the police personnel. That troop had state-of-the-art weapons. Shiv Dayal suspects that it was a paramilitary force.
The Saryu Bridge where the massacre of Ram devotees took place. Image Source: OpIndia Hindi
According to Shiv Dayal, the troop that came from behind the police started firing without any warning. The bullets hit the head, legs and chests of the karsevaks. In the indiscriminate firing that lasted for about 5 minutes, many karsevaks died on the spot.
After witnessing the subsequent scene, it seemed as if the police vehicles had arrived prepared for a massacre from the start. The lifeless bodies were swiftly loaded into the vehicles. During this process, doctors stationed in temporary camps also fled due to the fear of gunfire.
Claims are being made that, due to the absence of doctors, numerous karsevaks who were still alive were allegedly taken away as corpses. According to Shiv Dayal, there were no witnesses to the fate of these individuals thereafter. There is a concern that their bodies might have been discarded into the river and disposed of.
Shiv Dayal Mishra survived after being hit by 2 bullets
According to Shiv Dayal Mishra, he felt sharp pain in both his legs amid indiscriminate firing. When he looked down, blood was coming out of both legs. He was shot in the knee of the left leg and the sole of the right leg.
Karsevak Shiv Dayal expressed that had he fallen he might have met the same fate of being thrown among the living corpses and discarded into the river. In this challenging situation, he gathered the courage to persevere. Shiv Dayal found support from fellow surviving karsevaks. Ultimately, navigating the same thorny path and waterlogged fields, he successfully made his way back.
When Shiv Dayal was taken to a local hospital, the doctors there declared themselves incapable of treatment. Eventually, Shiv Dayal was admitted to a better hospital by the rest of the Ram devotees. Here the bullet was removed from his knee. The bullet was seized by the local administration. Doctors declared that the wound on the other leg was not that dangerous.
Upon receiving the news, the family members of Karsevak Shiv Dayal rushed to the hospital. Subsequently, Shiv Dayal remained bedridden for nearly six months, and the entire cost of his treatment was covered by his funds. At one point, there were concerns that the karsevak might require leg amputation. However, Shiv Dayal attributes it to the blessings of Lord Ram that such a situation was avoided.
Shiv Dayal Mishra spends time doing cow service. Image Source: OpIndia Hindi
Vegetable seller Razzaq would threaten Shiv Dayal Mishra
Shiv Dayal Mishra shared that after approximately six months of being bedridden, he gradually resumed his teaching duties. The news of his injury during Karseva had circulated in the neighbouring areas. Whenever Shiv Dayal visited the nearby Wazirganj market, Razzaq Khan, a vegetable vendor, would lock eyes with him.
During a heated argument one day, Razzaq Khan went to the extent of labelling Shiv Dayal a ‘betrayer.’ Nevertheless, Shiv Dayal staunchly characterised Karseva as an expression of his devotion to Lord Ram. He told to Razzaq that he took pride in his work. Additionally, Shiv Dayal acknowledged that not only the Hindu community but also officers with Hinduist thoughts had accorded him considerable respect as a karsevak.
Presently, Shiv Dayal and his family remain devoted to Lord Ram. Shiv Dayal emphasizes that despite being around 77 years old if allowed to engage in Ramkaj (service to Lord Ram), he would not be tempted by his life.
Reflecting on his departed colleagues, Shiv Dayal became emotional, expressing that the echoes of those snapping bullets still occasionally resonate in his ears even today. He considers his life to be blessed and the efforts he put in as worthwhile. Shiv Dayal also openly commended Modi and Yogi for their leadership.
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev frequently makes headlines due to his extensive business, but, this time the brand ambassador for Patanjali Ayurved has courted controversy due to a statement related to Other Backward Class (OBC). However, he issued a clarification when the matter escalated.
A video clip from Baba Ramdev’s sermon on his Ashtha channel had appeared on social media where he appeared to be making derogatory comments about OBCs. A large number of people shared the clip on X, accusing Ramdev of making anti-OBC comments.
When the media asked bout about the comment, he denied making any comments on OBCs and claimed, “I have not made any such remark.” When he was reminded of his words by a journalist, he referred to All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi and stated, “Owaisi! His head is in the wrong place. What should I say about him? Owaisi and his forefathers always possessed an anti-national mindset. I don’t take him seriously.”
In response to the boycott hashtag trending in his name on social media over his comments on OBC, he said, “I have never said anything wrong about them, I never said anything negative on OBCs.”
VIDEO | "I said 'Owaisi' and not 'OBC'," says Ramdev in response to a media query whether he had made any remarks on 'OBC'. pic.twitter.com/oTyDOLTXQI
It all started after an old video of Baba Ramdev from his program on the Aastha TV channel surfaced online in which he declared, “My original gotra (the exogamous unit used to denote the paternal lineage of Hindus) is Brahma gotra and I am an Agnihotri. I am an Agnihotri Brahmin. Someone told me ‘Baba you are an OBC, OBCs can go to hell’.” He further reiterated, “I am an Agnihotri Brahmin. I am a Vedi Brahmin. I am a Dwivedi Brahmin. I am a Trivedi Brahmin and I am a Chaturvedi Brahmin. I studied the four Vedas.”
He then proclaimed, “I am Brahmin because I remove ignorance. I am a Kshatriya because I eliminate everyone’s fear. I am a Vaishya because I fulfil people’s needs. I am a Shudra because your body, mind, life, food, thoughts, voice, behaviour, actions and conduct are cleansed by me. I purge every vice and establish the light of purity and knowledge. I am a Mahashudra as well as a Mahabrahmin.”
With a playful tone, he informed that those who perform the last rites of the deceased in Haridwar are called Mahabrahmins and announced that even he can perform those ceremonies. He then remarked, “We took down every obstacle and demonstrated to the people that you have everything and and everything is due to you. You are going to be the start of a new world and a fresh era. I am filling you with strength and bravery. I am transforming you into a Brahmin, a Kshatriya, a Vaishya and a Shudra. I am forming you into an Arya, a saint, a divine being and a part of Brahma. I am evolving you into a yogi and a devotee.”
The video’s year or exact time remains unknown.
बाबा राम देव का एक वीडियो Viral हुआ है जिसमे कहा जा रहा है, बाबा रामदेव ने OBC का अपमान किया है!
लेकिन वह पूरा वीडियो नही है पूरा वीडियो देखने पर पता चला सच्चाई कुछ और है!
Notably, Ramdev was narrating the discourse between him and another person, but only a small clip of the video is being shared, claiming that his comments quoting another person are his own comments. ‘Boycott Patanjali’ began trending on social media since a 30-second clip taken from the footage gained traction among netizens, which didn’t give the full context of his speech.
From the longer video, it is clear that someone had insulted him saying that he is an OBC, and Ramdev was responding to that. In the full video, Baba Ramdev can be heard talking about the unification of all castes in an individual and mocking the idea of associating with one caste.
Ahead of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ram Mandir on January 22, the work of installing doors in the temple has reached its final stage, while the process of grinding and cleaning the stones for the third floor is underway at a fast pace.
The intention of the Ram Mandir Teerth Kshetra Trust and the building construction committee is that as much work as possible should be completed before the programme on January 22, given that all the work will be done on a war footing.
Dharam Veer, the artisan who is constructing these doors, said that 16 doors have been placed so far and 4-5 more are yet to be placed. “All work will be completed by January 19,” he said.
“I am feeling immense joy by working for Lord Shri Ram. The way we installed the gold studded doors on the main gate of the sanctum sanctorum of Ramlala, there was enthusiasm and joy in our minds. It is a very difficult task to express in words. I consider myself very fortunate that I am working for my Ramlala,” he added.
Doors are being made for the third floor of the temple in Ramsevak Puram of Ayodhya. The beautiful carvings on these doors are mesmerising to the eyes.
The work of grinding and cleaning the stones for the construction work of the third floor of the temple is going on at a fast pace. 25 male workers have come from faraway places and are doing their work with great enthusiasm while singing Ramdhun and calling themselves very lucky.
Geeta, a labourer, told ANI “We have been working with 25 women for more than a year. We are working with great joy and heart. We are very happy that we got the opportunity to help in the construction work of Shri Ram Mandir. In the future, when our children will also see this, they will be happy that our mother has made a small contribution to this construction work.”
Labourer Lal Shankar Katara said that we have been working with 25 people for the last year. The work of construction of the second floor of the temple has been completed. We are doing the work of grinding and cleaning the pillars of the third floor. These stones are lifeless.
Meanwhile, the ‘Shri Ram Charan Paduka Yatra’ will leave from Chitrakoot on January 15. The Yatra will start from Bharatkup, Chitrakoot via Prayagraj and will reach to its destination Ayodhya.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will perform rituals to mark the pran prathishta of the idol of Ram Lalla at the grand temple on January 22. A team of priests led by Lakshmikant Dixit will perform the main rituals of the pran prathistha of Ram Lalla on January 22.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
In a major development, Janata Dal-United (JDU) supremo and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has reportedly rejected the proposal to become INDIA Alliance’s convenor. Reports say that Congress party president Mallikarjun Kharge has been selected as the Convenor of the opposition bloc.
During a media interaction today in Delhi, (JDU) leader Sanjay Kumar Jha said, “The CM (Nitish Kumar) wanted the INDIA alliance convenor should be from Congress only.”
#WATCH | "The CM (Nitish Kumar) wanted that INDIA alliance convenor should be from Congress only," says JD(U) leader Sanjay Kumar Jha in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/QGsh3tU0Pe
On Saturday, leaders of the INDI Alliance held a virtual meeting to address issues such as participation in the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, seat-sharing agendas, and other issues.
Notably, Mamata Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and West Bengal Chief Minister as well as Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray reportedly did not attend the meeting. The conference was attended by NCP leader Sharad Pawar, DMK leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.
Meanwhile, parallel meetings are on with the Congress’ alliance committee taking the lead in consulting with various parties of the INDIA bloc on state-level alliances. On Friday there was a meeting of Congress and Aam Aadmi Party leaders on Friday evening regarding seat sharing. The meeting lasted for about two hours at Mukul Wasnik’s house, and the leaders of both parties described the meeting as a positive move, as per sources. On Saturday the Congress alliance committee is meeting leaders from Jharkhand to continue efforts to stitch up the alliance.
As the Lok Sabha elections draw near, India’s political landscape is undergoing a significant reshuffling. The emerging INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) consortium is gearing up to challenge the established National Democratic Alliance, setting the stage for an electoral showdown.
Earlier in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the NDA won 353 seats, the UPA stood at 91, and Others won 98. The voting was staggered in seven phases between April 11 and May 19, in which around 67 per cent of the nearly 900 million eligible people exercised their franchise to elect 542 members of the Lok Sabha.
Ahead of the opposition bloc’s virtual meeting, speculations were made that Nitish Kumar would most likely become the convenor, however, the JDU leader refused the proposal. Interestingly, Nitish Kumar has reportedly been upset with the INDI Alliance ever since Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge’s name was brought up as the alliance’s prime ministerial candidate for the coming Lok Sabha election.
It was reported that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had also reached out to Nitish in December last year amid media reports that the latter was miffed when the alliance didn’t declare him as the bloc’s PM candidate in the fourth meeting held in Delhi.
It was reported that several alliance partners within the opposition bloc, particularly the RJD and JD(U) – the ruling parties in Bihar were upset when Mallikarjun Kharge’s name came up as the alliance’s appropriate pick for Prime Minister. Former JDU president Lalan Singh’s unceremonious ouster as the party chief hinted the same although Singh did not openly say anything about it. There were rumours that JDU might move back to the NDA fold, however, the party refuted the same.
Earlier yesterday, PM Modi inaugurated the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewari-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu, India’s longest bridge, in Maharashtra.
The Atal Setu, an engineering marvel that stands testament to the country’s rapid infrastructural growth, is the longest sea bridge in the country and one that would augment connectivity between Navi Mumbai and Mumbai, two important financial nerve centres of the country.
Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis were also present on the occasion.
The foundation stone of the bridge was also laid by the Prime Minister in December 2016.
Atal Setu has been constructed at a total cost of more than Rs 17,840 crore.
It is a 21.8-kilometer-long, 6-lane bridge with about 16.5 km of length over sea and about 5.5 km of length on land.
However, no sooner did PM Modi throw open the new bridge to public use, a large number of social media users, presumably supporters of the Congress party and Congress IT cell members, took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to either downplay the engineering ingenuity or raise aspersions on the toll fare to be charged to traverse through the Atal Setu.
Congress ecosystem runs down Atal Setu by citing ‘exorbitant’ toll charges
Rezina Sultana, an otherwise #FreePalestine bot on X, shared the picture of the fare chart at the Atal Setu and took a swipe at the Modi government saying a car will have to pay Rs 250 for a single ride or Rs 12,500 monthly, which according to her is higher than the housing rent of a middle -class family.
So if you are a car owner, and want to use this fantastic bridge daily, for a year, you can get a pass made for only Rs. 1.5 lakh. For a truck, it's just Rs.5 lakhs. Naturally, this is after you have paid extortionate rates of tax while buying your car, and income tax, and… pic.twitter.com/psDsgDwpgb
Never mind that the bridge is in Mumbai and the cost of house rent for a middle-class family in Mumbai is nowhere close to Rs 12,500 by any stretch of imagination. But for folks like Sultana, who, according to her X profile, lives in Kolkata, among the dirtiest cities in India as per a recent survey, making unfounded but scandalous but unfounded claims could attract eyeballs and shift the public focus from the ease of commutation the new bridge will provide to lakhs of daily commuters to a much for visceral issue of its financial viability.
Congress loyalists pretending to be ‘neutral’ political commentators, too, jumped on the bandwagon of trashing the central government over the toll charges at the Atal Setu.
Sandeep Manudhane, a vocal supporter of Congress and its senior leader Rahul Gandhi, tried to belittle the opening of the bridge, tweeting that the annual cost of riding a car through the bridge would come to around Rs 1,50,000 and for a truck Rs 500,000, after paying a host of other taxes such as GST, fuel tax, income tax etc.
This, again, is a preposterous argument, to begin with, but the benefit of the doubt must be granted to Congress supporters, who are either genuinely dumb or pretend to one to make their supreme leader appear smarter. Only a low-IQ compulsive critic would compare indirect taxes like GST with toll charges for using a bridge.
If Congress supporters and trolls were not enough, Pankaj Pachauri, former journalist and PMO official—in another language, one of the members of the darbari media from the UPA era—notched the propaganda to the next level when he compared the annual bridge pass with India’s per capita annual Gross Net Income.
Throwing shades on the financial viability of the toll, Pachauri tweeted that an annual bridge pass for Atal Setu is Rs 150,000 (for cars) while India’s per capita annual Gross Net Income is just Rs 113,395.
While this infantile comparison should be dismissed with the contempt it deserves, let me try to explain with logic, even though rationality eludes the Congress IT cell and, dangerously, even its leaders.
Pachauri’s argument implies three things: 1.4 billion people in India own a car. Second, 1.4 billion will use their vehicles to travel through the Atal Bridge. Third, people from all over the country, from Dwarka in Gujarat to Guwahati in Assam, Leh in Kashmir to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, will be using the Atal Bridge daily for their commutation.
More importantly, India’s per capita annual Gross Net Income is a metric to measure what an average Indian earns in a financial year. Statistically speaking, it is a median figure; there exist people on both sides of the median, people with both earnings lesser than the per capita annual Gross Net Income and those who earn significantly higher than that. To claim that the fare is exorbitantly high using the argument of India’s per capita annual Gross Net Income is grossly misleading and fallacious. There exist people in India whose annual income is several times higher than India’s per capita annual Gross Net Income and who would not mind shelling out Rs 250 daily at the toll at Atal Setu, just to save them time and distance. But such basic understanding is predictably missing among the members of the Congress ecosystem.
And to imagine Pachauri was a part of PMO India during the UPA days, one can rationalise why the Congress government at the centre was synonymous with incompetence, corruption, and policy paralysis.
Hatred for PM Modi and the country now bordering on insanity
Such denigration could be at best described as carping by a bunch of folks desperate to show the Modi government in a bad light and criticise their every move and decision. The hatred for PM Modi and the country is now bordering on insanity for the detractors, who don’t mind making a fool of themselves by offering foolish and vacuous arguments in the hopes of reversing their inexorable march to political oblivion.
To give a perspective, the Bandra-Worli sea link, a 5.6 kilometre-long bridge, charged Rs 80 one way as of 4 January 2024. The per kilometre cost of driving through the Bandra-Worli sea link comes to Rs 14.28. The Atal Setu on the other hand, is 21.8 kilometres long and charges Rs 250 one way, which comes down to Rs 11.46 per kilometre. This is, in no way, an endorsement of the fares charged at Atal Setu. Nor is this an attempt to treat the fare at the Bandra Worli sea link as a touchstone for ideal toll charges. It is only cited as an example to debunk the propaganda tropes peddled by the Congress ecosystem.
Commuters not wanting to spend on tolls at Atal Setu can continue to use existing routes
It is worth noting that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has provided an Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan for the ambitious Mumbai Trans Harbour Link project or Atal Setu. Japanese banks financed the construction of the bridge. Those arguing that the bridge should not have any toll charges at all need to understand that the Indian government has to pay back the loans to the Japanese banks. The development of infrastructure incurs costs, and it has to be paid by those who are going to avail of the facilities.
But more importantly, the Atal Setu only adds to the commutation options that the people of Mumbai and Navi Mumbai presently have. For years, people in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region have been demanding the construction of the bridge to ease their daily commutation and reduce their travel time. As per reports, the new bridge will reduce the distance from Mumbai metropolis to Navi Mumbai International Airport, Pune, Goa, and the rest of South India. It would also divert traffic and ease congestion on the present route via the Vashi Creek bridge. Residents who believe the toll charges are exorbitant can opt for the traditional route via Vashi Creek Bridge or go for the locals if are fine with travelling in public transport. Those who have enough time on their hands and do not want to pay the toll charges can give Atal Setu a skip and opt for the traditional route to reach their destination.
However, above everything, this criticism by the Congress ecosystem reflects their inability to appreciate the good work accomplished by the Modi government and their inveterate habit of denigrating the Centre for no good reason.
And to conclude, what amount can be labelled as “too high”? The answer to this question is philosophical rather than analytical. For those used to freebie culture and free services, shelling out even a single rupee on a better service would be a burden on their pockets because they are used to handouts and doles by the governments in every aspect of their lives. For others who are willing to pay, the new bridge would serve as a gateway to new opportunities to enhance their lives, save time, and create more wealth and render the argument of toll charges infructuous.
Veteran actor Arun Govil, who played the character of Lord Ram in Ramanand Sagar’s ‘Ramayan’, expressed his happiness on receiving the invitation to the ‘Pran Pratishta’ ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22. He said that he is looking forward to visiting the city and Ram Lalla’s darshan.
Govil told ANI, “I am happy that I received an invitation for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony, and I am looking forward to going there (Ayodhya) to witness it and for the Ram Lalla darshan. It is a very big opportunity. I consider myself lucky that this has happened in my lifetime; everything is going very well, the atmosphere is positive, the energy is there, and we are all very happy.”
Giving credit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this lifetime event. He said, “I believe that if we have to give credit to one person, then we will give it to Modi ji because of the way he has worked and spread the energy throughout, although I have accepted that whenever such work is done, it is not done by one person. The one who has spread all the positive energy is Modi ji. And the rest is collective work; everyone has worked a lot for many years, and many people have made sacrifices and are still working. So, whatever is happening, it’s a lifetime event.”
The ceremony is scheduled to take place on January 22, 2024.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the ceremony at the Ram Temple on January 22. The event has garnered significant attention, with several VVIP guests from India and abroad receiving invitations to participate in the auspicious occasion in Ayodhya. Vedic rituals for the Pran-Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla (infant Lord Ram) in Ayodhya will begin on January 16, a week before the main ceremony.
A priest from Varanasi, Lakshmi Kant Dixit, will perform the main rituals of the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla on January 22. From January 14 to January 22, Ayodhya will mark the Amrit Mahotsav.
A 1008 Hundi Mahayagya will also be organised, in which thousands of devotees will be fed. Several tent cities are being erected in Ayodhya to accommodate thousands of devotees, who are expected to arrive in the temple town of Uttar Pradesh for the grand consecration.
According to the Sri Ram Janambhoomi Trust, arrangements will be made for 10,000-15,000 people. Local authorities are gearing up for the anticipated surge in visitors around the grand ceremony and are in the process of implementing enhanced security measures and making logistical arrangements to ensure a smooth and spiritually enriching experience for all attendees.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
