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Congress and AAP share an edited video of PM Modi’s interaction with beneficiaries of PM Awas Yojana to malign the Modi govt

OpIndia Staff
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Congress and AAP share an edited video of PM Modi’s interaction with beneficiaries of PM Awas Yojana to malign the Modi govt

Social media is rife with a video of PM Modi’s interaction with a woman who denies having received benefits of schemes launched by the central government. The clip that is being shared online is 8 seconds long in which PM Modi asks the woman if she had received any benefits and the lady replies back that she had not received any benefits from the said scheme.

The video was shared by the official Twitter account of the Aam Aadmi Party. The caption to the tweet by AAP said: “The reason why PM Modi never addressed a press conference.”

The video was also shared by Congress functionaries. Hasiba Amin, National Convenor of Congress Social Media, also uploaded the clip on her Twitter account along with a moralising tweet.

“So this happened while PM was interacting with people from UP. Try to script and control narrative all you want, the truth does eventually come out,” Amin tweeted along with the video clip.

Before long, the video was shared by a raft of social media users, asserting that the video is a testament to the fact that schemes launched by the Centre have not reached the intended beneficiaries.

Fact check: Edited clip of PM Modi’s interaction with PM Awas Yojana shared online

The video of PM Modi’s interaction with a woman that is being bandied around on social media websites by overenthusiastic Congress and AAP supporters and leaders is evidently an abridged version of a longer video in which the woman who denies receiving benefits under PM Swanidhi Scheme admits how she and her family had benefited from other schemes launched by the Centre.

The interaction took place on Tuesday when PM Modi participated in Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the celebrations organised to mark the 75th anniversary of India’s independence. He inaugurated ‘Azadi@75 – New Urban India: Transforming Urban Landscape’ Conference-cum-Expo in Lucknow and digitally handed over house keys to 75,000 beneficiaries of Awas Yojana in 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh and interacted virtually with beneficiaries of the scheme in Uttar Pradesh.

The PM interacted with three beneficiaries — Vimlesh of Agra, Ram Janki of Kanpur and Babita of Lalitpur — asked how their lives changed after they got houses under the scheme. During his interaction with Babita from Lalitpur, he enquired about her livelihood and her experience with the scheme. He also said he would ask Yogiji (CM Adityanath) to give him a “chance” to have food at her place.

Here’s the entire conversation of PM Modi with Babita of Lalitpur:

PM Modi asked Babita about her life before she built a pucca house under the PM Awas Yojana. Babita said, “We have had difficulties living in the kaccha house. There were water supply constraints, we could not cook proper food and there were mosquitoes and flies around…now those problems are solved after we built a pucca house.”

When PM Modi asked how much money and through what means she had received monetary help to build her pucca house, Babita said her family had received Rs 2.5 lakhs from the government right in their bank account and they had to pay no middlemen to procure the amount.

“We had launched Jan Dhan Yojana scheme to ensure poor people have a bank account and the subsidy amount could be directly transferred to the intended beneficiary. The technology plays a big role in alleviating problems bedevilling the poor,” said PM Modi and further asking Babita if her husband had availed benefits under PM Swanidhi Yojana for his occupation of rearing goats.

Babita, who was probably unaware of the scheme launched by the central government, said her husband had not received any benefits under the PM SWAnidhi scheme. PM Modi then went on to educate Babita on how she and her family could avail benefits under the PM SWAnidhi Yojana.

PM Swanidhi Yojana, a scheme launched by the Centre for providing affordable Working Capital loans to street vendors to resume their livelihoods that have been adversely affected due to Covid-19 lockdown.

Later on, PM Modi further asks Babita if she had received any benefits under the Ujjwala Yojana, a social welfare scheme aimed at distributing LPG connections to women below the poverty line. The woman instantly responds in affirmative, saying that she now cooks food for her family on gas. PM Modi then jocularly asked her what dishes does she cook for her children and said he would ask Yogi Adityanath to give him permission to have food at her place.

AAP and Congress shared conveniently cropped out video to malign the Modi government

The entire conversation with Babita is longer than 4 minutes but the usual suspects, in their bid to show the Modi government in a bad light, trimmed down the video to just 8 seconds to give an impression that the woman had snubbed PM Modi.

Congress and AAP conveniently edited out the part in which the woman lists down the benefits she and her family had received under PM Awas Yojana and PM Ujjwala Yojana to allege that beneficiaries are not receiving any of the benefits of the scheme launched by the central government.

It could be the case that Babita and her family were not aware of the PM SWAnidhi scheme or did not bother to avail its benefits. But the alacrity with which AAP and Congress leaders and supporters are sharing the spurious video indicates that they have little regard for the truth and they would even resort to sharing incomplete and manipulated videos to malign the central government.

Chhattisgarh: Hindu groups reinstall saffron flag at the same spot where Muslim mob had ripped it off, protest against Congress govt

OpIndia Staff
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Chhattisgarh: Hindu groups reinstall saffron flag at the same spot where Muslim mob had ripped it off, protest against Congress govt

A saffron flag was ripped off by a Muslim mob in Kawardha, Chhattisgarh, leading to communal clashes. Now, Hindu youths have once again mounted a saffron flag at the same spot with an image of Ram Bhakt Hanuman on it. The flag was mounted amidst loud cheers in a peaceful manner.

Hindu organisations protested against the Congress government in Kawardha following the clashes. They protested in huge numbers with saffron flags in their hands in front of the police units that patrolled the area. Slogans such as ‘Jai Shri Ram’, ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ were raised and the devotees offered prayers at the Maa Vindhyavasini Temple as a mark of protest.

While Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupendra Baghel has left for Uttar Pradesh to play politics over the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, Hindus in his own state are angry with his administration. In the videos, it can be observed that a huge crowd had gathered to mark their protest.

Earlier, a video had surfaced online that showed a Muslim mob uprooting a saffron flag and tearing it, which ultimately led to stone-pelting and clashes. According to reports, the police had conducted a ”Shanti Samiti” meeting with people on Sunday asking them to remove the religious flags from the Chowk in view of upcoming festivals and in order to maintain peace and harmony. “The groups even agreed to the same, however, some youth from both sides reached the site later and created a ruckus,” one police official had said.

Subsequently, section 144 was imposed on the area. Hindu groups said that the Muslim mob had attacked them but the police, instead of cracking down on the perpetrators of violence, chose to thrash them instead. BJP workers accused Congress of shielding the violent mob using law enforcement as a tool.

SBI card launches 3-day festival offer ‘Dumdaar Dus’ cashback ad, netizens say it caricatures South Indians: Watch

OpIndia Staff
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SBI card launches 3-day festival offer ‘Dumdaar Dus’ cashback ad, netizens say it caricatures South Indians: Watch

Recently, the State Bank of India released two new ad campaigns aimed to promote SBI Card’s online shopping festive offer, ‘Dumdaar Dus’ that commenced on 3rd October 2021. Both ad campaigns featuring actor Javed Jaaferi intended to give a peek into SBI Card’s festive offer. However, one of the ads has drawn flak from Netizens for caricaturing South Indians.

The SBI ad that has drawn flak for stereotyping South Indians

In the commercial, actor-comedian Javed Jaaferi is portrayed as a South Indian tabla instructor, teaching a group of children. Along with vibhuti on his forehead and traditional attire, the ad-makers visibly darkened the actor’s skin tone and gave him a curly hairdo, which miffed social media users.

Scientist and author Anand Ranganathan took to Twitter to slam the ad. He said, “A curly haired, buck-toothed, vibhuthi sporting muppet with a clownish accent – just how long will you carry on stereotyping us South Indians through such buffoonery. Mehmood began the damn trend with Padosan. It continues 50 years on”.

The Netizens fumed at SBI for stereotyping the South Indians. Arun Pudur, the founder and group president of Celframe Corporation slammed the country’s largest public-sector bank for making a racist advertisement.

He also slammed the bank for choosing actor Javed Jaaferi as its brand ambassador, whom he called a serial abuser.

“Disgusting stereotyping South Indians as Curly hair clowns. Much worst is using a Hindu hating & serial abuser Javeed Jafazri as ambassador. What an utter shame @TheOfficialSBI”. Tagging the chairman of SBI, Rajnish Kumar and India’s finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the businessman questioned the working of India’s public sector banks.

Here it may be recalled, how in January, last year, Javed Jaaferi was called out for posting a tweet where he made a shocking comment that India has become the most dangerous place to live in. Jaaferi had said that this had been found in a survey, and he had quoted a report by an obscure Pakistani website to make the claim. 

Meanwhile, another angry Twitter user replied to Arun Pudur’s Tweet by claiming that this ad would compel him to close his account with SBI.

Fuming at the bank’s campaign, a Twitter user asked “All Citizens from other Religions should close their Accounts with this Sharia bank”.

Similarly, another Twitter user wrote: “Shame on you SBI and Javed Jaffery for the racist Ad – We South India proud out skin Tone – Culture and traditions – When will Bigots like you will stop Rascism against South Indians – When was last time you met a South India like in the Ad – SBI Shame on you”.

People on YouTube were also not impressed with SBI for the ad, typecasting South Indians.

YouTube users react to SBI’s ad

Despite, attracting the wrath of Netizens, SBI has not yet issued an official statement regarding its recent ad campaign.

‘Pfizer now runs on Covid money’: New Project Veritas video shows scientists saying Pfizer vaccine is useless when people have natural antibodies

OpIndia Staff
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‘Pfizer now runs on Covid money’: New Project Veritas video shows scientists saying Pfizer vaccine is useless when people have natural antibodies

On October 5 (Local Time), Project Veritas released another video in its Covid-19 investigative series with clips from some scientists working for Pfizer. The officials were heard saying that the antibodies built after contracting Covid-19 are “probably better than the vaccination”.

One of the Pfizer scientists, identified as Nick Karl, said that in case someone has natural immunity, that means if they had contracted Covid-19, there is a high probability that they have more antibodies against the virus. He added that in such cases, the person is at a better position in terms of antibodies compared to what he could get from the vaccine. Karl is one of the scientists who is directly involved in the production of the Covid-19 vaccine at Pfizer, as per Project Veritas.

He said, “When somebody is naturally immune — like they got COVID — they probably have more antibodies against the virus…When you actually get the virus, you’re going to start producing antibodies against multiple pieces of the virus…So, your antibodies are probably better at that point than the [COVID] vaccination.”

Karl added that what the (Pfizer) vaccine gives a person is antibodies that develop based on just a part of the virus. When someone gets the virus, they start producing antibodies against multiple pieces of the virus.

However, Karl added that the vaccine mandate was a positive step for society. He said, “The city [of New York] needs like vax cards and everything. It’s just about making it so inconvenient for unvaccinated people to the point where they’re just like, ‘F*ck it. I’ll get it.’ You know?”

Pfizer Senior Associate Scientist Chris Croce was caught on a hidden camera saying that if a person has natural Covid-19 antibodies, that person is protected for a longer period compared to the antibodies gained via a vaccine. He also called Pfizer ‘an evil corporation’.

He said, “I still feel like I work for an evil corporation because it comes down to profits in the end. I mean, I’m there to help people, not to make millions and millions of dollars. So, I mean, that’s the moral dilemma… Basically, our organization is run on COVID money now,” Croce said that the immunity that a person gets after contracting the Covid-19 virus is the result of the natural response of the body.

When Veritas journalist asked him about the monoclonal antibody treatments, Croce said that it was pushed aside because of the cost involved. Notably, monoclonal antibody treatments are a way of treating Covid-19 that aims at reducing hospitalizations, viral loads and severity of the disease. It depends on the monoclonal antibodies that are similar to the ones that the body naturally makes in response to an infection.

Pfizer Scientist Rahul Khandke admitted that the scientists had been asked to keep the information from the public. He said, “We’re bred and taught to be like, ‘vaccine is safer than actually getting COVID.’ Honestly, we had to do so many seminars on this. You have no idea. Like, we have to sit there for hours and hours and listen to like — be like, ‘you cannot talk about this in public.” He added, “If you have [COVID] antibodies built up, you should be able to prove that you have those built up.”

Experts had categorically vouched against natural immunity

US infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci in September had said even if the person had Covid-19 in the past, there was no surity if the person would be protected for an indefinite amount of time. He said, “So it is conceivable that you got infected, you’re protected, but you may not be protected for an indefinite amount of time. So, I think that is something that we need to sit down and discuss seriously because you very appropriately pointed out, it is an issue and there could be an argument saying what you said.” He was responding to a study in Israel that pointed out that natural immunity was better compared to the vaccine.

In the same month, a study published by CDC claimed over 35% of cases did not develop antibodies after contracting the disease. Based on that study and studies done by Pfizer and Moderna, a paper published in Nebraska Medicine claimed that natural immunity is not better than the vaccine. It also pointed out another CDC study that claimed unvaccinated individuals with a history of contracting Covid-19 has 2.34 times more chance of contracting the disease again.

Ahead of his meeting with Amit Shah, Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi uses Lakhimpur Kheri violence to demand a rollback of three farm laws

Jinit Jain
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Ahead of his meeting with Amit Shah, Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi uses Lakhimpur Kheri violence to demand a rollback of three farm laws

In what seems like a veiled threat to the central government, Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Tuesday tried to use the Lakhimpur Kheri violence as leverage to demand the invalidation of three farm laws.

Ahead of his meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah, Channi said three agriculture laws should be immediately repealed and incidents like the Lakhimpur Kheri violence should be stopped. He said he would discuss the incident during his meeting with the Union Minister.

Channi is tentatively scheduled to meet Amit Shah at 6 in the evening. This will be Channi’s first meeting with the Union Home Minister after being elected to the Punjab CM position on September 20 after Captain Amarinder Singh tendered his resignation following a prolonged conflict with then Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu and some other leaders.

Earlier yesterday, Channi, along with his cabinet colleagues, met governor Banwarilal Purohit and submitted a memorandum marked to PM Modi, asking him to direct the Uttar Pradesh government to ensure justice is delivered to the families of victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.

In the memorandum, the CM also sought the annulment of the three agriculture laws.

Violence in Lakhimpur Kheri

On October 3, eight people died after BJP workers were attacked by protesting ‘farmers’ at Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh. As per reports, a large group of alleged farmers had gathered in Lakhimpur Kheri to mark their protest against the three Agriculture laws enacted in September last year. Deputy CM was scheduled to visit Lakhimpur Kheri. The protesters went violent and pelted stones at BJP’s convey.

One of the cars allegedly hit the protestors, after which the protestors not only burnt two vehicles but also ambushed the people and beat the occupants of the vehicle to death. Disturbing visuals had emerged of the incident that led to several speculations. CM Yogi promised to take strict action against whoever was behind the incident. A heavy police force was deployed in Lakhimpur Kheri to maintain law and order.

Opposition parties unite to exploit Lakhimpur Kheri violence to undermine Yogi Adityanath government ahead of UP assembly polls

Channi’s meeting with Union Minister Home Minister Amit Shah is seen as a part of a concerted attempt by the opposition parties to corner the central government on the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, months before assembly elections are scheduled to take place in Uttar Pradesh. From Priyanka Gandhi’s theatrics to Akhilesh Yadav’s insistence on visiting the village, to the Aam Aadmi Party’s rhetorics on the violence that engulfed the village in the wake of attack unleashed by ‘protesting’ farmers, the otherwise fragmented opposition parties seemed to be united in their objective of besmirching the Yogi Adityanath’s impressive governance record in Uttar Pradesh by insinuating involvement of his administration in stoking violence.

Separately, the incident has also, in part, afforded the Congress party time to set its house in order in Punjab, which was in flux after Punjab Congress President Navjot Singh Sidhu submitted his resignation on September 28, barely 10 days after Captain Amarinder Singh resigned from the post of Punjab CM amidst enduring disagreement within the party. Channi was then selected as the chief minister to lead the state even though speculations were rife that the position was a mere nominal post, with Sidhu being the acting chief and the person at the helm of affairs in Punjab.

Even so, Gandhis were not sure whether a change in guard in Punjab would iron out the many problems facing the party. With the fallout with Captain Amarinder Singh fresh in mind, Gandhis were reluctant to give free rein to new CM Charanjit Singh Channi and Navjot Singh Sidhu, lest other leaders in the state mimic Singh and start submitting their resignations. From administrative shuffle to the appointment of bureaucrats to the selection of ministers in the new Punjab Cabinet, Gandhis were reportedly having a say in all decisions concerning the state. The decision to take absolute control in Punjab state stemmed from the bad optics the party attracted in the wake of the unceremonious removal of Captain Amarinder Singh from the post of the chief minister.

But this decision was beset with another set of problems as Sidhu felt smothered and helpless operating under the shadows of the Gandhis. And shortly later, he decided he can no longer put up with the indignity meted out on him by the Gandhis and resigned from the post of Pradesh Congress Committee chief. With the focus shifted to the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, the Congress party is desperately seeking to bridge the internecine conflicts existing in its ranks and salvaging the party’s only remaining bastion, which is also set to go to polls early next year.

Indore Police arrests Bangladeshi smuggler and sex racket mastermind from Surat

OpIndia Staff
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Indore Police arrests Bangladeshi smuggler and sex racket mastermind from Surat

Indore police arrested a wanted Bangladeshi smuggler and a sex racket mastermind, Munir ul Dazi, from Surat on Friday, 1st October, 2021.

According to reports, Munir ul Dazi was a Bangladeshi pimp who smuggled innocent girls from Bangladesh to India. He was also accused of making the girls addicted to drugs and providing them Indian citizenship through illegal means. Munir ul Dazi confessed that he was involved in a sex-racket between India and Bangladesh. According to reports, the 28 year old Bangladeshi used to marry girls and lure them into prostitution. He also used to bring girls to India by promising them jobs.

Indore SP Ashutosh Baaghri had said that the police have already jailed 30 people accused of bringing in Bangladeshi girls and dragging them into prostitution. The police had also rescued 21 Bangladeshi girls from these Bangladeshi pimps Munir ul Dazi targeted vulnerable orphan girls and trapped them on the pretext of providing jobs. Munir kept the girls in Kolkata after smuggling them through the border where they were trained and then sent to Mumbai for the next step. The girls were then put into prostitution and supplied according to the demand.

Reports said that the police were working on an operation to bust the racket for a long time rescuing 21 girls in the last 11 months. The police operation also resulted in the arrest of individuals named Sagar, Afreen, Amreen and others while Munir ul Dazi was on the run.

Last month, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) while investigating the human trafficking case in Bengaluru filed a charge sheet against 13 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in a special NIA court.

During the investigation, it was found that the thirteen charge-sheeted accused had crossed into India illegally. They also lured women from Bangladesh into India on the pretext of getting them jobs. These women were confined and sexually exploited in rented lodgings. The accused had also obtained faked identity cards such as Aadhaar cards, PAN card, for themselves as well as their victims.

Centre sanctioned 18,000 houses, SP govt did not even build 18: PM Modi on how Akhilesh Yadav betrayed the poor

OpIndia Staff
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Centre sanctioned 18,000 houses, SP govt did not even build 18: PM Modi on how Akhilesh Yadav betrayed the poor

On Tuesday (October 5), Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav for depriving poor families of government-sanctioned households. He made the remarks during his address at the ‘Azadi@75-New Urban India: Transforming Urban Landscape’ Expo in Indira Gandhi Prathisthan in Lucknow.

At about 2 hours and 24 minutes into the programme, PM Modi stated, “I remember the time when despite best efforts, Uttar Pradesh was lagging behind in the construction of houses. Today, when I am in Lucknow, I think I must tell the story to you in detail. The people of UP must know this to understand how urban planning in a State becomes the victim of petty politics.”

He emphasised, “The Central government was sending money for the construction of new homes. However, the government, which existed prior to 2017 in the State, did not want to build houses for the poor at all. We had to plead with the previous government to build houses for the needy people. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, the Centre had sanctioned the construction of 18000 homes prior to 2017.”

(Video Courtesy: Youtube/Narendra Modi)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi pointed out, “The then State government did not even build 18 houses for the people. Permission to build 18K houses but not even 18 houses built. These things must make you ponder. Funds were available for the construction of houses but the State government was deliberately creating hurdles. The people of UP can never forget the actions (of Akhilesh Yadav and the Samajwadi party).

PM Modi informed that after Yogi Adityanath came to power in UP in 2017, about 9 lakh poor families in urban areas were allocated homes under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. He added that about 14 lakh new homes are in different stages of construction. He said that the housewarming events have become joyous for poor families since they now have access to electricity, water supply, and gas connections.

PM Modi set a challenge for UP CM, asks PMAY beneficiaries to light 18 lakh diyas

The Indian Prime Minister had also appealed to the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) to light 2 diyas on the occasion of Diwali and surpass the record of 7.5 lakh lit diyas in Ayodhya. He had set up the mammoth challenge before the Yogi Adityanath government to ensure its implementation. At about 2 hours 27 minutes into the programme, PM Modi remarked, “Since I have come to Uttar Pradesh, I want to give some homework. But you will have to do it. Will you?”

He emphasised, “I have read in the papers that there will be an event during Diwali at Ayodya wherein 7.5 lakh diyas would be lit. I want to encourage the people of Uttar Pradesh to join me in this competition of ‘light.’ I want to see that the 9 lakh houses alloted under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana light 2 diyas i.e. a total of 18 lakh diyas as compared to Ayodhya’s 7 lakhs. Can this be done?” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Lord Ram will be pleased with such a sight.

Delhi: Ten people including two women arrested for attacking Police in Seemapuri, one of the hotspots for 2019 anti-CAA violence

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi: Ten people including two women arrested for attacking Police in Seemapuri, one of the hotspots for 2019 anti-CAA violence

The Delhi Police have arrested ten people including two women for pelting stones at a police vehicle and attacking policemen in the Seemapuri area, Shahdara on 1st October. The incident had occurred when the police had visited the area for the investigation of a case.

According to reports, five policemen were injured in the attack that occurred on Saturday, in Seemapuri of Shahdara. The police had visited the area while investigating a case when some people of the area turned hostile and attacked the police with bricks and stones.

A video from the incident had gone viral on social media.

As per reports, the police were chasing some miscreants following information on a firing incident that took place earlier in the area. A meat shop owner was attacked by some miscreants. Near the Bengali street in the D-Block vegetable market in Seemapuri, some people came out to rescue the miscreants from the police and started assaulting the police personnel.

The attack on the police injured SHO Padam Singh Rana of Seemapuri police station, ASI Ompal, ASI Vijay Kumar, ASI Mahavir and constable Mukesh. However, one accused named Moidul Sheikh was arrested from the spot.

The names of the arrested people include Moidul Sheikh, Rukhsana, Firoz, Ajay, Iqbal, Hasibul Miyan, Rahul, and Amin, as per reports. Some more accused are yet to be arrested.

Seemapuri is known to be a volatile place. Earlier, during the 2019/2020 anti-CAA protests in Delhi, Seemapuri was in the news when SIT Delhi Crime Branch revealed that a number of Bangladeshis, illegally living in the Seemapuri area were involved in the protests in Delhi. Incidents of stone-pelting were also reported at that time from the area.

PM Modi challenges Yogi Adityanath, asks PMAY beneficiaries to light 18 lakh diyas and surpass Ayodhya’s record

OpIndia Staff
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PM Modi challenges Yogi Adityanath, asks PMAY beneficiaries to light 18 lakh diyas and surpass Ayodhya’s record

On Tuesday (October 5), Prime Minister Narendra Modi posed a challenge before the Yogi Adityanath-led-Uttar Pradesh government ahead of Diwali celebrations next month. PM Modi made the remarks during his address at the ‘Azadi@75-New Urban India: Transforming Urban Landscape’ Expo in Indira Gandhi Prathisthan in Lucknow.

The Indian Prime Minister has appealed to the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) to light 2 diyas on the occasion of Diwali and surpass the record of 7.5 lakh lit diyas in Ayodhya. He had set up the mammoth challenge before the Yogi Adityanath government to ensure its implementation. At about 2 hours 27 minutes into the programme, PM Modi remarked, “Since I have come to Uttar Pradesh, I want to give some homework. But you will have to do it. Will you?”

(Video Credits: Youtube/Narendra Modi)

He emphasised, “I have read in the papers that there will be an event during Diwali at Ayodya wherein 7.5 lakh diyas would be lit. I want to encourage the people of Uttar Pradesh to join me in this competition of ‘light.’ I want to see that the 9 lakh houses alloted under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana light 2 diyas i.e. a total of 18 lakh diyas as compared to Ayodhya’s 7 lakhs. Can this be done?”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Lord Ram will be pleased with such a sight. “The 9 lakh families who have been provided houses under the PMAY in the past 7 years must light 2 diyas outside their homes on Diwali. About 7.5 lakh diyas will be lit in Ayodhya. But, 18 lakh diyas will be lit in the houses of my poor brothers and sisters. Even Lord Ram will be pleased,” PM Modi concluded. The Indian Prime Minister also digitally handed over keys to 75000 PMAY beneficiaries in 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh.

BJP sweeps Gandhinagar civic polls with a full majority, wins 41 out of 44 seats, AAP decimated: Details

OpIndia Staff
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BJP sweeps Gandhinagar civic polls with a full majority, wins 41 out of 44 seats, AAP decimated: Details

Ahead of the all-important assembly elections early next year, the incumbent BJP has won over 41 of the total 44 seats of the Gandhinagar municipal corporation that went to the polls on October 3. The Congress party has managed to win 2 seats while the new entrant AAP has bagged only 1 seat.

This is the first time that the BJP has managed to get a full majority after Gandhinagar got Municipal Corporation status in 2010. The Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party, which were quite optimistic going into the polls, had an embarrassing outing as it had a dismal performance, winning just 1 of the total 44 seats.

As the poll results hinted towards a full majority of the BJP in Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation, workers of the saffron party hit the streets in celebrations.

A total of 162 candidates were in the fray for the 44 seats across 11 wards in GMC. With the entry of AAP, the elections had become a three-pronged battle. The BJP and the Congress party had fielded candidates on all 44 seats while the AAP had selected candidates for 40 seats. Besides, other candidates contesting the polls included 14 from the BSP, two from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), six from other parties and 11 independents.

The polling had taken place on Sunday, October 3. A total of 2.82 lakhs—1.45 lakh males and 1.36 lakh females—were expected to cast votes in the polls. About 284 polling booths were installed by the SEC and 129 of them were marked as ‘sensitive’.

Along with the GMC, elections were also conducted in two Nagar Palika–Tharad in Banaskantha and Okha in Devbhumi Dwarka–and mid-term elections to Bhanvad Nagar Palika in Devbhumi Dwarka. The three Nagar Palika witnessed an estimated average of 59.52 per cent voting.

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