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January 9, 2025 2:53 PM

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Midday News

THE HEADLINES:

 

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates 18th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas Convention at Bhubaneswar; Emphasizes crucial role of Indian diaspora in transforming the country into a developed nation by 2047.
  • Prime Minister Modi flags off Pravasi Bharatiya Express, a special tourist train for Indian diaspora.
  • Centre asks states and Union Territories to organize a 100-day intensified campaign on TB elimination.
  • Preparations in final stages for Maha Kumbh Mela starting from Monday in Prayagraj.
  • In United States, five persons killed and thousands evacuated as deadly wildfires spread across Los Angeles.
  • And in Tennis, India’s Yuki Bhambri and his French partner Albano Olivetti enter Men’s Doubles semifinals of ASB Classic at Auckland in New Zealand.

 

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today emphasized the crucial role of the Indian diaspora in transforming the country into a developed nation by 2047. Addressing the gathering after inaugurating the 18th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas Convention at Bhubaneswar in Odisha, the Prime Minister praised the diaspora for its significant role in global development and for their contribution to India’s growth story.

 

Prime Minister Modi highlighted the role of Indian values in gaining global respect for the diaspora.

 

The Prime Minister said, the country is excelling in all sectors including renewable energy, electric mobility, fighter aircraft manufacturing, metro and bullet trains, and soon, Pravasi Bharatiyas will fly back to the country in ‘Made in India’ aircraft.

 

Prime Minister Modi said, the day holds historical significance as it was on this day in 1915 when Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi returned to India returned to India after a long stay abroad.  The Prime Minister acknowledged the contributions of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in establishing the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas, which has evolved into a vital platform to strengthen bonds between India and its diaspora.

 

On the occasion, Prime Minister Modi also virtually flagged-off the inaugural journey of the Pravasi Bharatiya Express, a special tourist train for the Indian diaspora under the Pravasi Teertha Darshan Yojana. Departing from Nizamuddin Railway Station in Delhi, the train will take Indian diaspora members to various religious and tourist destinations across the country over three weeks.

The event was attended also by Union Ministers S. Jaishankar, Jual Oram, Dharmendra Pradhan, and Ashwini Vaishnaw, Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, among other dignitaries.

Speaking at the event, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar emphasized that hosting the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas Convention in Odisha reflects the Narendra Modi government’s “Poorvudaya” policy, showcasing the development and cultural richness of eastern India.

                                          

Chief Guest and President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Christine Carla Kangaloo also virtually addressed the diaspora at the event.

President Droupadi Murmu will attend the valedictory function of the convention in Bhubaneswar tomorrow.

 

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has redefined India’s relationship with its overseas communities, making them integral to the nation’s global image and development. This was stated by Chairman of US-India community foundation Dr. Bharat Barai in an article written in national daily. Dr Barai said, events like ‘Howdy Modi’ in Houston, ‘Hala Modi’ in Kuwait, and numerous others across continents have highlighted the Prime Minister personal connection with Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs).

 

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Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal today asserted that the main contest during the Delhi assembly elections is between AAP and BJP. Briefing media in New Delhi, Mr Kejriwal said, this is not the election of INDIA bloc. He thanked the parties who are supporting AAP, saying that TMC’s Mamata Bannerjee and Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav have supported AAP.

 

The AAP convenor said that he has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to include the Jat community of Delhi in the Center’s OBC list. He expressed concern that Central government institutions do not offer reservations to the Jat community of Delhi and termed it an injustice.

 

Meanwhile, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari alleged that Congress and AAP have teamed up many times in the past only to hide their corruption. He claimed that the two parties are not naturally aligned.

 

Senior Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil has accused the central Government of undermining the interest of the middle class and the poor of the country. Briefing Media in New Delhi today, Mr. Gohil also alleged that the BJP-led government at centre is only focusing on protecting the interest of Industrialists and corporates.

 

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BJP President JP Nadda today held a meeting with the party’s Delhi election management committee. The meeting held in the national capital was to fine tune the party’s strategies for the assembly polls. It was attended by Delhi BJP Chief Virendraa Sachdeva, party in-charge Baijayant Jay Panda and other senior leaders.

 

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Preparations are in the final stages for the Maha Kumbh, set to begin on the 13th of January in the temporary district of Maha Kumbh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh. The banks of the rivers in the Sangam area have been meticulously prepared for the bathing rituals, spanning an area of twelve kilometers. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is scheduled to review the final preparations for the grand event in Prayagraj this evening. The Maha Kumbh Mela is scheduled to take place from 13th of this month to 26th of February at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers in Prayagraj. The Mela is expected to draw a massive crowd of devotees from across the country and abroad. We have a report:

 

More than 45 crore devotees are expected to come in the biggest event of Sanatan culture, Maha Kumbh, starting from January 13. All preparations have been completed to give devotees a great spiritual experience. The major ghats of the Sangam area have been redeveloped for the devotees coming to the Maha Kumbh. Mela officer Abhinav Pathak said that seven concrete ghats have been built on the banks of Ganga and Yamuna river. These include Dashashwamedh Ghat, Kali Ghat, Chhatnag Ghat of the Ganga River and Kila Ghat, Saraswati Ghat, Mori Ghat and Maheva Ghat of the Yamuna river. Changing rooms have also been built on all the ghats. Different symbols like damru, trishul have been installed on every ghat so that people can easily identify the ghats. Apart from this, watch towers have been installed for the safety of the people. Water police have also been deployed along with water barricading for safe snan. Om Awasthi, Akashvani News, Lucknow.

 

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The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has requested all states and Union Territories to organize a 100-day intensified campaign on tuberculosis (TB) elimination in prisons and correctional institutions, as part of the central government’s commitment to eliminating the disease from the country. In a letter, the Ministry asked all states and Union Territories to organize screening camps and display Information, Education, and Communication material in all prisons. It also requested them to initiate the pledge (Ni-kshay Shapath) shared by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare from 27th January to 2nd of February. The Ministry further urged the states and Union Territories to conduct awareness generation activities about tuberculosis for the staff of prisons and correctional institutions.

 

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President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have expressed grief over the loss of lives during a stampede at Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh. In a social media post, the President extended her condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured.

 

The State Government is providing all possible assistance to those affected.

 

At least six people lost their lives and several others were injured after a stampede broke out in Tirupati town during the distribution of tokens for Vaikunta Ekadasi Darshanam yesterday. meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh government has announced an ex-gratia of 25 lakh rupees for the families of the victims who lost their lives during the stampede in Tirupati yesterday.

 

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In Assam, specialised Indian Navy divers continue their rescue efforts with advanced technology to evacuate at least eight workers trapped at the coal mine in Umrangso in Dima Hasao. Yesterday, the divers retrieved the body of a trapped coal miners from the flooded mine. On Monday, water entered the illegal rat hole coal mine with the water level reaching upto 100 feet.

 

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In the United States, the massive wildfires at the plush towns of California’s Los Angeles, has killed five people, burnt down thousands of structures and led to the evacuation of thousands. The developments prompted the outgoing US President Joe Biden to cancel his last foreign trip to Italy to monitor the raging wildfires across the Los Angeles area.

 

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In Tennis, India’s Yuki Bhambri and his French partner Albano Olivetti defeated the third-seeded British duo of Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash to reach the Men’s Doubles semifinals of the ASB Classic at Auckland in New Zealand today.

 

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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:

 

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates 18th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas Convention at Bhubaneswar; Emphasizes crucial role of Indian diaspora in transforming the country into a developed nation by 2047.
  • Prime Minister Modi flags off Pravasi Bharatiya Express, a special tourist train for Indian diaspora.
  • Centre asks states and Union Territories to organize a 100-day intensified campaign on TB elimination.
  • Preparations in final stages for Maha Kumbh Mela starting from Monday in Prayagraj.
  • In United States, five persons killed and thousands evacuated as deadly wildfires spread across Los Angeles.
  • And in Tennis, India’s Yuki Bhambri and his French partner Albano Olivetti enter Men’s Doubles semifinals of ASB Classic at Auckland in New Zealand.

 

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