Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah addressed the Dikshant Parade of 75 RR batch of Indian Police Service (IPS) at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy in Hyderabad, today. On this occasion, many dignitaries including the Governor of Telangana, Union Home Secretary, Director, Intelligence Bureau and Director, CBI were present.

In his address, Shri Amit Shah said that today is a very important day for the trainees of 75 RR because they are those fortunate officers who will join the top leadership of Indian Police system during the centenary of the country’s independence and responsibility of the country’s internal security will be in their hands. He said that the 75th batch of Amrit Mahotsav of the Academy will have historical significance and these officers will make this occasion more historic by their hard work, devotion, sacrifice and dedication towards the country. Shri Shah said that when these officers would be leading the police forces of various states of the country, then nation will feel proud on the trainees of the 75th RR that they have left no stone unturned in ensuring the internal security of the country during their 25 years of service. Officer Trainees of 75 RR batch will have an important role in the direction of fulfilling the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s resolution of Amritkaal. When the country will be celebrating its centenary of independence, India will be leading the world in all fields, and all these officers will also have a huge contribution in it.

Union Home Minister said that Sardar Patel had laid the foundation of this academy very thoughtfully to take the country ahead. Our country has also completed 75 years of independence and has entered the period of Amritkaal. He said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has called upon the 130 crore people of the country this this the time to take resolutions and convert them into achievements. Shri Shah said that these 25 years are the years of making the country first in the world in every field and establishing its rightful and glorious place in the world. During the Amritkaal, these officers have to play an important role to ensure internal security of the country, security of the borders and maintaining law and order. He said that after passing out from the academy, these officers will have to ensure that the Constitution is duly implemented in the country and all the people get the rights provided by it.

Shri Amit Shah said that we should always remember that the country’s first Home Minister and iron man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel not only united this country but also did many important things to keep it united. He said that Sardar Patel not only created a united India by merging more than 550 princely states of the country, but also laid a strong system by starting the IPS cadre. Shri Shah said that Sardar Patel had said that if the Union would not have a good All India Service, which has the freedom to express its views, then the Union would cease to exist. This sentence is like a guiding principle for the IPS cadre. He added that once Sardar Patel had said this institute has nothing to look back but has a lot to set a tradition for the future generations. When this academy was established, it had no history, but in these 75 years, the IPS officers passed out from here have created a bright and glorious history to strengthen the internal and border security of the country. It is the responsibility of the trainees of the 75th batch passing out from here today to take this history forward and add many golden chapters to it. He said that today, 175 trainees passing out from here after completing the basic course including 20 foreign officers from Bhutan, Maldives, Mauritius and Nepal. There are 34 women officers among these 175 officer trainees.

Union Home Minister said that technology will play a very important role in handling internal security in the coming days, and that is why Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi constituted the Police Technology Mission. The objective of this mission is to make the Indian Police the most equipped in the world in terms of technology. We have to set up a system to make practical use of technology in policing and handling internal security and to keep the police always technologically two steps ahead of the criminal. He said that with all the experience and training here, when these officers will go to the field and interact with the public, then by combining this training with practical experience, they will be able to discharge their duties efficiently.

Shri Amit Shah said that today a woman officer has received the Best Officer Trainee Award and it is a matter of great pride for our country. He said that for the first time in the history of the Academy, a woman officer trainee Ms. Ranjita Sharma has got the opportunity to win the Squad of Honor of the IPS Association. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the country is progressing rapidly in women-led development. Modi government has recently ensured 33% reservation to ensure the participation of women in the country’s Parliament and State assemblies. Under the leadership of the women officers passing out today, Prime Minister Modi’s theme of Women-led Development will percolate to every village of the country.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that we have got independence after countless sacrifices and struggle. With the sacrifices of millions of people during the 90 years of freedom struggle from 1857 to 1947, today, after completing 75 years as an independent country, we stand proudly in front of the world. He said that many policemen have sacrificed their lives in this challenging journey lasting more than 7 decades. More than 36,500 police officers and jawans have made the supreme sacrifice keeping their duty paramount, that is why our country stands with pride before the world today. Shri Shah said that the sacrifice of those 36,500 police officers and jawans should be a source of inspiration for us.

Shri Amit Shah said that the country was facing the challenge of terrorism, Left Wing Extremism and Naxalite violence for a long time, but in the last 10 years, due to the efforts of our brave policemen, we have been successful in curbing them. He said that our challenges are not over yet and many new challenges like organized crime, cyber crime, interstate and international financial crime, interstate gangs are standing before us today. He said that we have to continue our fight with the same vigor against challenges like drug trafficking, weakening of the country’s economy by crypto currency, hawala business and fake currency business. Shri Shah said that today when the officers of this new batch are going to take their first step in service, our country has started moving towards a new era. He said that the government led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has made watershed changes in the three laws of the British rule – CrPC, IPC and Evidence Act – and has placed three new criminal laws before the Parliament of the country. He said that soon all three new laws will be passed and on the basis of these laws our new criminal justice system will begin. He said after ending the era of laws made during the British period, India is entering a new era with new faith, hope and enthusiasm. The purpose of the old laws was to safeguard the government but the purpose of the new laws is to safeguard the rights of the public and to eliminate obstacles in the people’s access to those rights. Shri Shah said that with this fundamental change, the new officer trainees are getting an opportunity to lead in this changing era of criminal justice system through these three laws.

Union Home Minister said that it is the responsibility of trainee officers to implement these new laws in letter and spirit at the grassroots level. They have to understand the spirit of these laws and keep the public safe and have to protect their rights as well. Shri Shah said that terrorism and organized crime have been reinterpreted in the new law and many provisions have also been made to eliminate inter-state gangs. Apart from this, the police have been empowered by legalizing the technical provisions, the investigation process has been digitized and proper systems have been put in place to follow investigation charge sheet timeline and forensic provisions. He added that a time-bound plan has been prepared to increase the conviction rate under the new laws. Shri Shah said that through these laws many changes have also been made in the justice system. Home Minister asked the officer trainees to move beyond ‘Reacting and Responding’ policing to ‘Preventive, Predictive and Proactive’ policing and also to transform policing with time in the changing environment.

Shri Amit Shah said that sensitivity gives the Constitution its humane outlook and it is the responsibility of all of us to implement the spirit laid down in the Constitution by our Constitution makers with full sensitivity. He asked the police officers to always be sensitive towards the poor and weaker sections of the country and always be proactive in protecting their rights. Shri Shah said that we should focus on our duty and move forward without falling prey to fame. He told the police officers that while respecting the local language, tradition and history of the place of posting, they should maintain sensitivity with the people and move ahead by understanding the spirit of the law and rising above the bookish approach.

Union Home Minister said that the last 9 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi have been very important for the internal security of our country. We have achieved huge success in improving the law and order situation in the three hotspot areas of the country – North-East, Left Wing Extremism areas and Jammu and Kashmir. He said that during the 10 years from 2004 to 2014, there were 33,200 violent incidents in these three hotspots, which have been reduced to 12,000 in the last 9 years. We have moved forward by registering a 63% reduction in violent incidents and 73% reduction in deaths. Shri Shah said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India has adopted the policy of zero tolerance against terrorism and now we have to move beyond the policy of zero tolerance towards zero tolerance strategy and zero tolerance action.

Shri Amit Shah said that in the last 9 years, the government led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has worked to create databases in every field of internal security with the principle of One Data, One Entry. Arrangements for integration and mutual communication in various databases are also being made. Apart from this, work is also being done to increase the strength of all the agencies by equipping them with analytical tools. Under ICJS, CCTNS has been implemented in 99.93%, i.e. 16,733 police stations. 22,000 courts have been connected through e-Courts, data of about 2 crore prisoners is available through e-Prison, data of more than one crore prosecutions is available online through e-Prosecution, data of more than 17 lakhs is also available through e-Forensic. Records of more than 90 lakh fingerprints are available in NAFIS, a lot of data is also available in Integrated Monitoring of Terrorism, data of arrested narco offenders is available through NIDAN. He added that we have also made available Cyber Crime Reporting Portal in Crime Multi Agency Centre and Biometric Data in Prison Database. Shri Shah asked the police officers to work through all these databases and analytic tools and use Artificial Intelligence to always keep the police two steps ahead.

Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs and Petroleum & Natural Gas, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, said that the approach of government towards issues pertaining to Urban Transport has witnessed a significant change after 2014. The rapid Urbanisation has been embraced as an opportunity rather than a challlenge during this period, he said.

The Minister was speaking at the inaugural session of 16^th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference cum Expo 2023 here today. Shri Pradeep Singh Kharola, Chairman and Managing Director, India Trade Promotion Organisation, Shri Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA), and Shri Vikas Kumar, Managing Director, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. were also present at the event.

During the event, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri shared his thoughts on the major transformation that country has gone through in the field of rail-based rapid transit systems. Speaking about the metro rail’s journey in India, he said that the pace of growth of metro network in the country has seen unprecedented increase in recent years. In 2014, only 248 kms of metro rail was operational in India. Merely in 9 years, 895 kms of metro lines are operational in 20 different cities today, he said.

The Minister said that at present, India’s metro network is the 3^rd largest in the world. In the next 2 to 3 years our metro network will surpass the operational length of the USA metro network, and become the 2^nd largest metro network in the world, he added.

Shri Puri said that the metro network has brought comfort, stability and security to the lives of our citizens. “I am happy to note that the metro network has a daily ridership of around 1 crore”, he said. He said that the ridership number is going to increase with ease of last mile connectivity, and other factors.

The Minister also noted the importance of Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) and Vande Bharat Trains in the regional and inter-city connectivity.

Highlighting the efforts of Government of India to overhaul Urban Transport in the country, the Minister said that a beginning in this direction has been made through initiatives such as FAME- I, FAME-II and PM-eBus Seva Scheme. He said that PM-e-bus Sewa scheme will augment city bus operations; while giving priority to cities that lack organised bus services. Adding further, he said that 10,000 e-Buses will be deployed on a PPP model in 169 cities alongside support for associated infrastructure, bus depot and behind the meter power infrastructure. The scheme also envisages environment-friendly initiatives like bus priority infrastructure, multimodal interchange facilities, National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) based Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS), Charging infrastructure, etc. under Green Urban Mobility Initiatives (GUMI).

Sharing his thoughts on the development of sustainable Urban Transport, Shri Puri highlighted that besides promoting Green Mobility through e-vehilces, the focus has also been placed on biofuel blending, clean energy alternatives -biogas, Green Hydrogen etc.

16^th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference cum Expo 2023

The 16^th UMI Conference & Exhibition 2023 is being organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs through the Institute of Urban Transport (India) and with the support of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. from 27th – 29th October, 2023 at the Manekshaw Centre, Parade Road, Delhi Cantt., New Delhi. The Conference was inaugurated today by the Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri in the presence of other dignitaries and delegates. Senior officers from Central and State Governments, policy makers, Managing Directors of Metro Rail Companies, Chief Executives of transport undertakings, International experts, professionals, academicians and students are also participating in this event.

This year, the Conference is focusig on the theme of “Integrated and Resilient Urban Transport”. It will emphasize on designing and implementation of efficient, high quality, integrated and resilient Urban Transport systems in the cities. Rapid climate change and its impact on city transport system calls for integrated and resilient transport system to meet the mobility needs of public. The innovations have led to a wide range of transport options to emerge, thereby widening the choice available to commuters. The need of the hour is to strengthen the resilience of transport systems right from the planning stage.

Detailed day wise program of the UMI Conference is enclosed at Annex-I.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated, dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth about Rs 7500 crores in sectors like health, rail, road, oil and gas in Shirdi, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra today. The multiple development projects include Ayush Hospital at Ahmednagar Civil Hospital; Electrification of Kurduwadi-Latur Road railway section (186 Km); 3rd & 4th railway lines connecting Jalgaon to Bhusaval (24.46 km); four laning of Sangli to Borgaon section of NH-166 (Package-I); and additional facilities at Manmad Terminal of Indian Oil Corporation Limited. He laid the foundation stone of the Maternal & Child Health Wing at Ahmednagar Civil Hospital. Shri Modi also distributed Ayushman cards and Svamitva cards to beneficiaries.

Among other projects, Shri Modi inaugurated the new Darshan Queue complex at Shirdi, dedicated to the nation the left bank (85km) canal network of the Nilwande Dam, and launched the ‘Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana’ benefitting more than 86 lakh farmer-beneficiaries.

Earlier in the day, Shri Modi performed pooja and darshan at Shri Saibaba Samadhi Temple, Shirdi and performed the Jal Pujan of Nilwande Dam.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that projects worth Rs 7500 crores are being inaugurated and foundation stones being laid with the blessings of Sai Baba. Referring to the work of Nilwande Dam which had been pending for 5 decades, the Prime Minister mentioned its inauguration today. He also expressed gratitude for getting the opportunity to perform Jal Pujan at the site. Speaking about the Darshan Queue Complex at Shri Saibaba Samadhi Temple, Shri Modi informed about laying its foundation stone in October 2018 and said that it will further increase the convenience for pilgrims from India and abroad.

The Prime Minister mentioned the sad demise of  Baba Maharaj Satarkar of the Warkari community this morning. The Prime Minister paid tribute to the Baba Maharaj and recalled his work of social awareness by Kirtan and Pravachan which will keep on inspiring the generations to come.

“The true meaning of social justice is when the nation is free from poverty and the poor get ample opportunities”, the Prime Minister underlined as he reiterated the Government’s mantra of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’.  He underlined that the welfare of the poor is the highest priority of the double-engine government and informed about increasing the budget for the same as the country’s economy is expanding. He mentioned distributing 1 crore 10 lakh Ayushman Cards to beneficiaries in Maharashtra who will receive health insurance up to Rs 5 lakh where the Government is spending Rs 70,000 crores. He also informed about the government expenditure of more than Rs 4 lakh crores each for providing free ration to the poor and constructing pucca houses for them. The Prime Minister also pointed out that the said expenditure is six times more than what it was in the decade before 2014. To provide tapped water supply to the homes of the poor, the Prime Minister informed that the government has spent more than Rs 2 lakh crores. Under PM Svanidhi Scheme, he informed that street vendors are getting assistance up to thousands of rupees. Shri Modi also touched upon the newly launched PM Vishwakarma Scheme which aids lakhs of families of carpenters, goldsmiths, potters and sculptors with a government expenditure of more than Rs 13,000 crores.

Talking about the small farmers, the Prime Minister mentioned PM Kisan Samman Nidhi under which small farmers received 2 lakh 60 thousand crore rupees including 26 thousand crore rupees for the small farmers of Maharashtra. He expressed happiness that the Maharashtra Government has started ‘Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana’ under which Maharashtra Shetkari families will get an extra 6000 rupees, meaning local small farmers will get 12,000 rupees of Samman Nidhi, he said.

Throwing light on the Nilwande project which was approved in 1970 and had been pending for 5 decades, the Prime Minister highlighted that it came to completion only after the present government came to power. “Those doing vote politics in the name of farmers have made you yearn for every drop of water”, he interjected, “Today Jal Pujan was performed here.” He mentioned that the Right Bank Canal will soon become operational. He also touched upon the Baliraja Jal Sanjeevani Yojana which is also proving to be a boon for the drought-affected areas of the state. He underlined that the central government is working towards completing 26 more irrigation projects in Maharashtra that have been pending for decades which will be of great benefit to the farmers in the region.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the government is committed to the empowerment of farmers. The Prime Minister informed that in the 7 years foodgrain worth 13.5 lakh crore rupees was procured under MSP while this figure was a mere 3.5 lakh crore during the tenure of a senior leader in the earlier government. Oilseed and pulses worth 1 lakh 15 thousand crore were procured after 2014 compared to 500-600 crore rupees worth MSP procurement earlier. Direct Benefit transfer has removed corruption and leakage, he said.

Speaking about the recent Cabinet Decisions to increase the MSP for Rabi crops, Shri Modi informed that the MSP of gram has been increased by Rs 105 and that of wheat and safflower by Rs 150. He also mentioned that the MSP of sugarcane has been increased to Rs 315 per quintal. In the last 9 years, the Prime Minister informed that ethanol worth about Rs 70,000 crores has been purchased and the money has reached the sugarcane farmers. “To ensure timely payment to sugarcane farmers, assistance worth thousands of crores of rupees has been provided to sugar mills and cooperative societies”, he added.

The Prime Minister said “Our government is working to strengthen the cooperative movement. More than 2 lakh cooperative societies are being formed across the country.” To ensure better storage and old storage facilities PACs and cooperatives are being provided facilities. Small farmers are being organized through FPOs as more than 7500 FPOs are already functional.

Concluding the address, the Prime Minister said “Maharashtra has been a center of immense potential and possibilities. The faster Maharashtra develops, the faster India will develop.” Prime Minister Modi also recalled flagging off the Vande Bharat train connecting Mumbai and Shirdi and highlighted that the network of railways is continuously expanding in Maharashtra. He noted that movement on the Mumbai-Howrah rail route will become easier with the commencement of the third and fourth railway lines between Jalgaon and Bhusaval. Similarly, the construction of four-lane road from Solapur to Borgaon will improve the connectivity of the entire Konkan region benefitting the industries as well as sugarcane, grape and turmeric farmers in the region. “This connectivity will create a new path not only for transport but also for progress and economic development”, he concluded.

Governor of Maharashtra, Shri Ramesh Bais, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Eknath Shinde, and Deputy Chief Ministers of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis and Shri Ajit Pawar were present on the occasion among others.

Background

Inaugurated by the Prime Minister, the new Darshan Queue complex at Shirdi is a state-of-the-art modern mega building envisaged to provide comfortable waiting areas for the devotees. It is equipped with several waiting halls with a cumulative seating capacity of more than ten thousand devotees. It provides air-conditioned public amenities like cloakrooms, toilets, booking counters, prasad counters, information center etc. The foundation stone of this new Darshan Queue Complex was laid by the Prime Minister in October 2018.

The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation the left bank (85km) canal network of the Nilwande Dam. It will benefit 182 villages from 7 Tehsils (6 in Ahmednagar district and 1 from Nashik district) by facilitating pipe distribution networks of water.  The idea of Nilwande Dam was first conceived in 1970. It is being developed at a cost of about Rs 5177 crores.

The Prime Minister launched the ‘Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana’. The Yojna will benefit more than 86 lakh beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana in Maharashtra by providing an additional amount of Rs 6000 per year to them.

The Prime Minister also inaugurated and dedicated to the nation multiple development projects including Ayush Hospital at Ahmednagar Civil Hospital; Electrification of Kurduwadi-Latur Road railway section (186 Km); 3rd & 4th railway line connecting Jalgaon to Bhusaval (24.46 km);  four laning of Sangli to Borgaon section of NH-166 (Package-I); and additional facilities at Manmad Terminal of Indian Oil Corporation Limited. He laid the foundation stone of the Maternal & Child Health Wing at Ahmednagar Civil Hospital. Shri Modi also distributed Ayushman cards and Svamitva cards to beneficiaries.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi performed Jal Pujan of Nilwande Dam in Shirdi, Maharashtra today. Shri Modi also took an onsite visit to the dam and released canal water.

The Prime Minister posted on X:

“Jal Pujan of Nilwande Dam is a pivotal moment that marks the end of an extended wait. It also demonstrates our unwavering commitment to harnessing Jal Shakti for the greater good of the public.”

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi performed puja and darshan at Shri Saibaba Samadhi Temple in Shirdi, Maharashtra today.

The Prime Minister’s Office posted on X:

“PM Narendra Modi prays at Shri Saibaba Samadhi Temple in Shirdi, Maharashtra.”

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Maharashtra and Goa on 26th October, 2023.

At around 1 PM, Prime Minister will reach Shirdi, Ahmednagar District, where he will perform pooja and darshan at Shri Saibaba Samadhi Temple. He will also inaugurate the new Darshan Queue Complex at the temple. At around 2 PM, Prime Minister will perform the Jal Pujan of Nilwande Dam and dedicate a canal network of the dam to the nation. At around 3:15 PM, Prime Minister will attend a public programme in Shirdi, where he will inaugurate, dedicate to nation and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth about Rs 7500 crore in sectors like health, rail, road and oil and gas.

At around 06:30 PM, Prime Minister will reach Goa, where he will inaugurate the 37th National Games.

PM in Maharashtra

The new Darshan Queue complex at Shirdi, which will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister, is a state-of-the-art modern mega building envisaged to provide comfortable waiting areas for the devotees. It is equipped with several waiting halls with a cumulative seating capacity of more than ten thousand devotees. It has provision of air-conditioned public amenities like cloak rooms, toilets, booking counters, prasad counters, information centre etc. The foundation stone of this new Darshan Queue Complex was laid by the Prime Minister in October, 2018.

Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation the left bank (85km) canal network of the Nilwande Dam. It will benefit 182 villages from 7 Tehsils (6 in Ahmednagar district and 1 from Nashik district) by facilitating pipe distribution networks of water.  The idea of Nilwande Dam was first conceived in 1970. It is being developed at a cost of about Rs 5177 crore.

During the public programme, Prime Minister will launch the ‘Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana’. The Yojna will benefit more than 86 lakh beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana in Maharashtra, by providing an additional amount of Rs 6000 per year to them.

Prime Minister will inaugurate and dedicate to the nation multiple development projects including Ayush Hospital at Ahmednagar Civil Hospital; Electrification of Kurduwadi-Latur Road railway section (186 Km); 3rd & 4th railway line connecting Jalgaon to Bhusaval (24.46 km);  four laning of Sangli to Borgaon section of NH-166 (Package-I); Additional facilities at Manmad Terminal of Indian Oil corporation Limited;

Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of the Maternal & Child Health Wing at Ahmednagar Civil Hospital.

During the programme, Prime Minister will also distribute Ayushman cards and Svamitva cards to beneficiaries.

PM in Goa

Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the sports culture in the country has undergone a sea change. With the help of continuous government support, the performance of athletes has witnessed tremendous improvement at the international level. Recognizing the significance of holding national level tournaments for identifying top performers and further enhancing the popularity of sports, the National Games are being held in the country.

Prime Minister will inaugurate the 37th National Games at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Margao, Goa on 26th October 2023. He will also address athletes taking part in the Games.

The National Games are being held in Goa for the very first time. The Games will be held from 26th October to 9th November. More than 10,000 athletes from across the country will compete in over 43 sports disciplines across 28 venues.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today witnessed Ram Leela at Dwarka in Delhi and saw Ravan Dahan.

Addressing on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that Vijaydashimi is a festival of victory of justice over injustice, of humility over arrogance and patience over anger. He said this is also a day of renewing pledges.

The Prime Minister noted that this time we are celebrating Vijay Dashmi exactly two months after the Chandrayaan landing. Referring to the Shastr Poojan tradition on this day, the Prime Minister emphasized that in India weapons are not used for annexation but for defence.  He said that Shakti Pooja means wishing for the happiness, well being, victory and glory of the entire creation. He emphasized the eternal and modern aspects of Indian philosophy. “We know ‘maryada’ (boundaries) of Ram as well as also how to defend our borders”, Prime Minister Modi said.

The Prime Minister said “the temple being built on the birthplace of Lord Ram is a symbol of victory for the patience of us Indians after centuries of waiting.” He said next Ram Navmi, prayers at the temple will spread happiness in the entire world. “Bhagawan Shri Ram bas aane hi wale hain”, Lord Ram’s arrival is imminent, the Prime MInister said. Recalling signs of arrival described in Ramcharitmanas, the Prime Minister mentioned similar signs now, such as India’s economy becoming the fifth largest economy, landing on moon, new Parliament Building, Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. “India is today emerging as the world’s largest democracy as well as the most trusted democracy”, he said. As Lord Ram is coming under such auspicious signs, the Prime Minister said that “in a way, after 75 years of independence, India’s fortunes are now going to rise.”

He emphasized the need to stay vigilant  against the forces of pathologies that wreck harmony of the society, casteism and regionalism and thinking that is about selfishness instead of development of India. “We should take a pledge to end evils and discrimination in the society”, he said.

The Prime MInister reiterated the importance of the next 25 years for India. “We have to create an India of Lord Ram’s ideas. A developed India, which is self-reliant, a developed India, which gives the message of world peace, a developed India, where everyone has equal rights to fulfill their dreams, a developed India, where people feel a sense of prosperity and satisfaction. This is Ram Raj’s vision”, he said.

In this light, the Prime Minister asked everyone to take 10 resolutions such as saving water, promoting digital transactions, cleanliness,vocal for local, making quality products, seeing the country before thinking of foreign, promotion of natural farming,  prompting and adopting millets, fitness and finally “we will raise the social status of at least one poor family by becoming a member of their household.” The Prime MInister concluded “as long as there is even a single poor person in the country who does not have basic facilities, no house, electricity, gas, water, no treatment facilities, we will not rest.”

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, on October 24, 2023, visited the forward posts in Arunachal Pradesh and carried out first-hand on-ground assessment of the operational preparedness of the Armed Forces there. He interacted with the troops deployed in the frontline locations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and celebrated Dussehra with them. The Raksha Mantri expressed gratitude to the unyielding spirit, unwavering commitment and unparalleled courage of the troops, who are deployed on the borders in tough conditions, but always ensure that the nation and its people are safe. The entire nation is proud of the Armed Forces and is standing with them, he said.

Shri Rajnath Singh performed Shastra Puja with the troops at Tawang, where he reiterated that Dussehra signifies the victory of good over evil. In his address, he described the righteousness and dharma of the brave Armed Forces personnel as the living testament to the ethos of the festival of Vijayadashmi.

The Raksha Mantri pointed out that the valour and commitment of the Armed Forces is one of the main reasons that India’s stature has grown on the international stage and it is now among the most powerful nations. Citing his recent tour to Italy, he stated that he paid a visit to Montone memorial (Perugia Province) which has been built to honour the contribution of Naik Yaswant Ghadge and other Indian soldiers who fought in the Italian campaign to liberate Montone in World War II. He added that not just Indians, but even Italian people pay their respects at the memorial, which is proof that the bravery of Indian soldiers is recognised globally.

In view of the current global scenario, Shri Rajnath Singh asserted that there is no option but to bolster the country’s security apparatus, underlining that all efforts are being made by the Government to strengthen the nation’s military prowess through indigenous production of defence equipment. “Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, giant strides have been made towards ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence. Earlier, we used to rely on imports to upgrade our military. But today, a number of major weapons & platforms are being manufactured within the country. Foreign companies are being encouraged to share their technology and produce the equipment in India with domestic industry. In 2014, the value of defence exports was about Rs 1,000 crore, but today we are exporting defence equipment worth thousands of crores,” he said.

The Raksha Mantri also visited the Tawang War Memorial, where he laid a wreath and offered tributes to the bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice during the 1962 war. He was accompanied by Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande; General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) Eastern Command Lt Gen RP Kalita; GOC, 4 Corps Lt Gen Manish Erry and other senior officers of the Indian Army.

Shri Rajnath Singh also visited the 4 Corps Headquarters at Tezpur in Assam. During the visit, he reviewed the operational readiness of the formation, which is deployed in one of the easternmost parts of the country. The Raksha Mantri was briefed on the infrastructure development along the LAC and the employment of cutting-edge military equipment and technology to enhance the operational efficiency of the troops deployed in the frontline. He commended the stellar work and yeoman services being rendered by all ranks of the Corps under challenging conditions.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah inaugurated IFFCO’s Nano DAP (Liquid) Plant at Kalol in Gandhinagar, Gujarat today. Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya and many other dignitaries were present on this occasion.

Addressing the inauguration program as the chief guest, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah greeted the countrymen on Dussehra and said that Dussehra is celebrated as the day of victory of good over evil in our culture. He said that this is the day when Lord Shri Ram had killed Ravana and Mahishasura was also killed on this day. He added that today is also the birth anniversary of the great freedom fighter Captain Lakshmi Sehgal of Azad Hind Fauj. She, along with Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, bravely led the freedom struggle.

Shri Amit Shah said that today is a very important day for the entire Western India including Gujarat as IFFCO’s Nano DAP (Liquid) plant has been inaugurated at Kalol in Gandhinagar district. Minister of Cooperation, while congratulating the IFFCO team for taking India first in the world in Nano Urea and Nano DAP, said that India is an agricultural country blessed with large and fertile cultivable land and climate suitable for three to four crops, a combination not to be found anywhere else in the world. He said that India is the only country where in the last 75 years we have developed such a system that farmers can do farming every month.

Union Minister of Cooperation said that it is the responsibility of the cooperative institutions of India to bridge the gap between the requirement and production of food grains in the country. He said that after ten years, when the list of biggest experiments done in agricultural sector would be prepared, IFFCO’s Nano Urea and Nano DAP will find a place in it. Shri Shah said that the need of the hour is to reduce the use of urea and move towards natural farming but at the same time there is also a need to increase production. Shri Shah said that Nano Urea is sprayed not on the ground but on the plants and due to this, there is a zero possibility of destruction of natural elements or the earthworms present in the soil. If all the Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) use Nano Urea and Nano DAP in partnership with IFFCO then very soon our land will move towards natural farming.

Union Minister of Cooperation said that IFFCO has set up pan-India plants in a very modern manner. There can be no greater example of Make in India than this. IFFCO’s Kalol unit will produce about 42 lakh bottles of green technology based Nano DAP which will definitely benefit the farmers. He said that 60 percent of the people in our country are dependent on agriculture for earning a living and 60 percent of the country’s land is suitable for agriculture, but for years both farmers and agriculture were ignored.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that in 2014, before the formation of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, the budget of the Government of India for farmers was Rs. 22,000 crores, while Prime Minister Modi has increased this budget to Rs. 1,22,000 crores by the financial year 2023-24. He said that this increase of Rs. 1 lakh crore in the budget has also yielded results. In the year 2013-14, a loan of Rs. 7 lakh crores was extended to the farmers, whereas in 2023-24, Narendra Modi’s government provided loan of Rs. 19 lakh crores to the farmers. He added that earlier the production was 323 million tonnes, and now the production has increased to 665 million tonnes. In the year 2013-14, the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of paddy was Rs. 1310 per quintal, which has been increased to Rs. 2203 per quintal by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, which is an increase of about 68 percent. He said that the MSP of wheat was Rs. 1400 per quintal, which has been increased to Rs. 2275 per quintal. The MSP of millet was Rs. 1250 per quintal and today it is Rs. 2500 per quintal, which is a 100 percent increase.

Minister of Cooperation said that after Covid pandemic, when the prices of fertilizers increased in the world market, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi did not pass any burden onto the farmers. In the year 2013-14, the total subsidy on fertilizer was Rs. 73 thousand crores and in the year 2023-24 this subsidy has been increased to Rs. 2 lakh 55 thousand crores by the government. Shri Shah urged the top officials of IFFCO to compile a book on the journey of Nano Urea and DAP so far. He said that three factories have become operational in Kalol, Phulpur and Ambla and so far 8 crore bottles have come in the market and it is going to be expanded to 18 crore bottles in the coming days. He said that nanotechnology is going to bring a big change in plant nutrition and it is economical and full of nutrients. This also leads to savings of about 8 to 20 percent.

Shri Amit Shah said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Ministry of Cooperation has formed two co-operative institutions for seed conservation and export of agricultural produce. He urged the IFFCO management to share its experience to make both these institutions the best institutions in the world like IFFCO. He said that through these two institutions, a revolution has to be brought by changing the crop pattern in the country and for this purpose, IFFCO should also come forward. Shri Shah said that the Ministry of Cooperation has tried to make the cooperative sector vibrant for the farmers once again by taking 57 different initiatives, and IFFCO has made a big contribution in it.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted ITBP personnel on the raising day of ITBP.

The Prime Minister posted on X :

“On the occasion of ITBP Raising Day, I salute the indomitable spirit and valour of our ITBP personnel. They play a vital role in protecting our nation. At the same time, their commendable humanitarian efforts during natural disasters are a testament to their unwavering commitment to the nation. May they continue to serve with the same dedication and fervour.”

Mr Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency called on the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today.

The Prime Minister underscored India’s enduring commitment to safe and secure use of atomic energy for peace and development. Prime Minister shared India’s ambitious goals to enhance the share of environmentally friendly nuclear power generation capacity as part country’s energy mix.

Director General Grossi commended India’s impeccable record as a responsible nuclear power. He praised India’s progress in nuclear science and technology, particularly highlighting the development and deployment of indigenous Nuclear Power Plants. He acknowledged India’s global leadership role in civil nuclear applications for societal benefits. This includes the remarkable progress that India has made in utilising nuclear technology address the challenges faced by humankind including those related to health, food, water treatment, plastic pollution and climate change.

Views were exchanged on expanding the role of nuclear energy in meeting net zero commitments, including through Small Modular Reactors and Mircro-Reactors.

Director General Grossi conveyed his admiration for the outstanding partnership between IAEA and India. He commended India for its training and capacity building programmes that has helped many countries. Both sides  agreed to explore avenues of cooperation between India and IAEA for extending civil nuclear technology applications in the Global South.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has spoken with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan where they exchanged views on the developments in the West Asia region. Shri Modi also expressed shared concerns regarding terrorism, violence and loss of civilian lives and emphasized the need for concerted efforts for early resolution of the security and humanitarian situation.

The Prime Minister posted on X:

“Spoke with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan. Exchanged views on the developments in the West Asia region. We share concerns regarding terrorism, violence and loss of civilian lives. Concerted efforts needed for early resolution of the security and humanitarian situation.”