Atal Bihari Vajpayee Left for Heavenly Abode

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Atal Bihari Vajpayee ,93, left for Heavenly Abode  today at05:05  pm  according to an official declaration .

 

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee continues to be on life support system since Wednesday and as per hospital sources at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) his condition “is very critical”.

A press release from the AIIMS on Thursday morning said: “Former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s condition continues to be the same. He is critical and is on life support systems.”

On August 16 morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited AIIMS to enquire about the health condition of Mr. Vajpayee, his second visit in less than 24 hours. Mr. Modi had visited the hospital on Wednesday evening to enquire about the BJP leader’s condition.

On Thursday morning, Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu and BJP leaders, including Home Minister Rajnath Singh, party president Amit Shah and BJP veteran L.K. Advani, also visited the AIIMS to enquire about him.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee was an iconic leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), known for his cultural moderation, liberalism and political reasonableness. He became the Prime Minister of India thrice. It was during his tenure that India successfully conducted nuclear tests at Pokhran and renewed hopes for peace between India and Pakistan emerged with the start of the New Delhi-Lahore bus service. His government has been till date the only non-Congress government to stay in power for five years. Besides being a seasoned politician and outstanding parliamentarian, Atal Bihari Vajpayee is also a renowned poet and a highly popular personality across the political spectrum.

The Narendra Modi Government has announced the conferment of Bharat Ratna on former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. His birthday on 25 December has been declared as ‘Good Governance Day’. Famous for his oratorical skills.

Early life

Atal Bihari Vajpayee was born in a middle-class Brahmin family to Krishna Devi and Krishna Bihari Vajpayee on 25 December, 1924 in Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh). His father was a poet and a school teacher. Vajpayee did his schooling from the Saraswati Shishu Mandir, Gwalior. Later, he studied at Victoria College, Gwalior – now Laxmi Bai College, for his graduation. It was at Dayanand Anglo-Vedic College, Kanpur that Vajpayee completed his post-graduation in Political Science.

Joining as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker in 1939, Vajpayee became a pracharak (full-time worker) in 1947. He also worked for Rashtradharma Hindi monthly, Panchjanya Hindi weekly and the dailies Swadesh and Veer Arjun.

Vajpayee chose to stay bachelor for whole life.

Political Career

Atal Bihari Vajpayee began his career in politics as a freedom fighter. Later he joined the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS), a Hindu right-wing political party, under the leadership of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee. He became national secretary of BJS in charge of the Northern region.

As the new leader of BJS, Vajpayee was elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time in 1957 from Balrampur. He rose to become the national president of the Jana Sangh in 1968. Supported by his colleagues Nanaji Deshmukh, Balraj Madhok and L K Advani, Vajpayee took the Jana Sangh to greater glory.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee participated in the Total Revolution movement launched by Jayaprakash Narayan (JP) against the Internal Emergency imposed by then prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1975. In 1977, Jana Sangh became a part of the Janata Party, the grand-alliance against the Indira Gandhi government.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee became a Union Minister in 1977 when Morarji Desai-led Janata Party coalition came to power for the first time. He became the Minister of External Affairs. As foreign minister, Vajpayee became the first person to deliver a speech at the United Nations General Assembly in Hindi. His career as a minister was short-lived as he resigned from his post following the resignation of Morarji Desai in 1979. But by then, Vajpayee had established himself as a political leader.

Vajpayee along with Lal Krishna Advani, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and others from the BJS and Rashtriya Swyamsevak Sangh (RSS) formed the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1980. He became a strong critic of the Congress (I) government that followed the fall of Janata Party government.

Vajpayee did not support Operation Blue Star and raised his voice against the anti-Sikh violence after the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984 by two of her Sikh bodyguards.

The BJP won two parliamentary seats in the 1984 elections. Vajpayee functioned as BJP President and Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament. Known for his liberal views, Vajpayee bemoaned the demolition of the Babri Mosque on 6 December, 1992 and declared it as the BJP’s “worst miscalculation”.

As Prime Minister of India

By 1984 elections, the BJP had established itself as an important political party in Indian politics. Vajpayee was sworn in as the 10th Prime Minister of India following the 1996 General Elections, where the BJP emerged as the single largest party in the Lok Sabha. However, the government collapsed after only 13 days after his government could not gather support from other parties to obtain a majority. He thus became the shortest serving Prime Minister in India.

The BJP-led coalition government came back to power as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in 1998. Vajpayee was again sworn in as the Prime Minister.

Vajpayee’s second term as PM is known for Nuclear tests conducted at Pokhran desert in Rajasthan, in May 1998. Vajpayee also pushed for peace process with Pakistan. He inaugurated the historic Delhi-Lahore bus service in February 1999. He also pitched for resolving the Kashmir dispute and other conflicts with Pakistan.

But Pakistan ditched India by launching Kargil War, wherein Pakistani soldiers infiltrated into the Kashmir Valley and captured border hilltops around the town of Kargil.

Indian army units, under Operation Vijay, fought Pakistani intruders braving heavy artillery shelling amidst extremely cold weather, and treacherous hilly terrain, and ultimately emerged victorious. However, Vajpayee’s government lasted 13 months when the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) withdrew its support to the government in mid-1999.

In the following election, however, the NDA came back with full majority and Vajpayee was able to complete five years (1999-2004) in office as a non-Congress PM for the first time. Atal Bihari Vajpayee took oath as Prime Minister of India for the third time on 13 October 1999.

However, his third term also saw India yielding to terrorists when in December 1999, Indian Airlines flight IC 814 from Kathmandu to New Delhi was hijacked and taken to Kandahar, Afghanistan. The government had to release dread terrorists including Maulana Masood Azhar from prison to secure the freedom of passengers. On the brighter side, the Vajpayee government introduced many economic and infrastructural reforms, including encouraging the private sector and foreign investments. It also undertook National Highway Development Projects and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. Vajpayee adopted pro-business, free-market reforms approach to boost India’s economic development.

In March 2000, Vajpayee signed the Historic Vision Document during the visit of the then US President Bill Clinton. The Declaration incorporated several strategic issues, apart from pitching for expansion in trade and economic ties between the two countries.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee again tried for peace with Pakistan during the Agra summit with the then Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, but the talks failed to achieve any breakthrough as Musharraf declined to leave aside the Kashmir issue.

The Atal Bihari Vajpayee regime also witnessed an attack on Indian Parliament on 13 December 2001, when Pakistan-supported terrorists stormed the Parliament building in Delhi. They were ultimately foiled in their attempts by the Indian security forces.

Vajpayee as PM was pained when communal riots broke out in Gujarat in 2002 after the Godhra train tragedy.

Retirement

The 2004 General Election brought about the downfall of the NDA, which lost almost half its seats and the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) assumed the reins of power. Vajpayee refused to take up the position of the Leader of the Opposition paving the way for Lal Krishna Advani’s leadership of BJP. He now lives in retirement and seclusion owing to ill health.

Awards

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj (far right) hand over the Liberation War award to Vajpayee’s family members.
  • Padma Vibhushan in 1992
  • D. Lit. from Kanpur University in 1993
  • Lokmanya Tilak Award in 1994
  • Best Parliamentarian Award in 1994
  • Bharat Ratna Pandit Govind Vallabh Pant Award in 1994
  • Bharat Ratna in 2015
  • Liberation War award (Bangladesh Muktijuddho Sanmanona) in 2015

Facts and Information about Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Born 25 December 1924 (age 93) at Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh)
Parents Krishna Devi, Krishna Bihari Vajpayee
Education Victoria College (Now Laxmibai College), Gwalior ; DAV College, Kanpur .
Marriage Unmarried but has an adopted daughter, Namita
Recognition Known for his liberal social, cultural and political views
Awards Padma Vibhushan (1992), Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy from the Kanpur University (1993) and Bharat Ratna (2014)
Other than Politics An acclaimed poet, journalist and a brilliant orator
Political career Started as a freedom fighter; took part in Quit India Movement in 1942. Met Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS) leader Syama Prasad Mookerjee, took over BJS leadership after Mookerjee’s deathFounded the Bharatiya Janata Party (the BJP), along with his colleagues such as Lal Krishna Advani and Bhairon Singh Shekhawat in 1980. Served as the president of this party, during the first five years.

Served as a Member of Parliament for 50 years. Was elected 10 times to Lok Sabha beginning with 1957, represented six different constituencies.
As Prime Minister Elected as the Prime Minister of India thrice: 1996 – Vajpayee became Prime Minister for the first time but had to resign in just 13 days after the BJP failed to get the support of other parties.1998 – Headed the National Democratic Party (NDA) government as the Prime Minister for the second time but could rule only for 13 months when the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) withdrew its support.

1999 – Completed his full five-year term, becoming the longest serving non-Congress Prime Minister at the Centre (13 October 1999- 19 May 2004).

Vajpayee retired from politics in 2005.
Legacy – In May 1998, the Vajpayee government conducted five underground nuclear tests in Pokhran, Rajasthan.– Strongly pitching for India-Pakistan friendship, he inaugurated a bus service from Delhi to Lahore in Pakistan in 1999.

– His government set out on a number of economic reforms and encouraged foreign investment and privatisation.

– Asked the then Gujarat CM Narendra Modi to abide by his ‘Rajdharma’ after the Gujarat communal riots.

लाल किले के प्राचीर से प्रधान मंत्री का राष्ट्र को सम्बोधन

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देश बुधवार को 72वां स्वतंत्रता दिवस मना रहा है। बतौर प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी ने लाल किले पर पांचवीं बार तिरंगा फहराया। इस मौके पर उन्होंने कहा कि हमने फैसले लेने का साहस किया. भारत दुनिया छठवीं सबसे बड़ी अर्थव्यवस्था बना. संकल्प के साथ ही सपने पूरे होंगे. अगले साल जलियांवाला बाग हत्याकांड को 100 साल पूरे हो जाएंगे. मैं उन सभी को नमन करता हूं जिन्होंने अपने प्राणों की आहुति दी. इससे पहले वे राजघाट पहुंचे और महात्मा गांधी की समाधि पर श्रद्धांजलि दी.

मोदी स्पीच अपडेट…

– 82 मिनट के भाषण से प्रधानमंत्री ने देश को संबोधित किया.

– मैं बेसब्र हूं क्योंकि कई देश हमसे आगे निकल चुके हैं, मैं बेसब्र हूं उन देशों से अपने देश को आगे ले जाने के लिए

– जम्मू कश्मीर के लोग स्थानीय निकाय के चुनाव की मांग कर रहे थे, मुझे खुशी है कि आने वाले कुछ महीनों में उन्हें अपने अधिकार का इस्तेमाल करने का मौका मिलेगा. यहां के चुने हुए पंचायत विकास को नई रफ्तार देंगे. जल्द यहां पंचायत के चुनाव हों, उसकी दिशा में हम आगे बढ़ रहे हैं.

– हम गोली और गाली से नहीं, हम कश्मीरियों को गले लगाकर आगे बढ़ना चाहते हैं.

– माओवाद आए दिन हिंसा की वारदात को अंजाम देता है, लेकिन विकास की नई-नई योजनाओं की वजह से माओवाद 126 जिलों से कम होकर 90 जिलों तक सिमट गया है.

– आज मुझे खुशी है कि सुरक्षाबलों के प्रयास, राज्य और केंद्र सरकार के प्रयास की वजह से त्रिपुरा और मेघालय पूरी तरह से अफ्पसा से मुक्त हो गए हैं.

– मुस्लिम बहनों को विश्वास दिलाना चाहता हूं, तीन तलाक की कुरीती ने महिलाओं को काफी मुश्किल का सामना करना पड़ा है. संसद में अभी भी कुछ लोग हैं जो इस विधेयक को पास नहीं होने देना चाहता हूं, लेकिन मैं मुस्लिम महिलाओं को विश्वास दिलाता हूं कि मैं आपकी आशा अकांक्षाओं को पूरा करने की पूरी कोशिश करुंगा और इसमे कोई कमी नहीं छोड़ुुंगा.

– भारतीय सशस्त्र सेना में एसएससी के माध्यम से महिलाओं को पुरुष की तरह पारदर्शी व्यवस्था का ऐलान करता हूं. देश की महिलाएं नए व शक्तिशाली भारत के निर्माण में कंधे से कंधा मिलाकर चल रही हैं.

– हमारे लिए गर्व का दिन है, भारत की सुप्रीम कोर्ट में तीन महिला न्यायाधीश हैं. आजादी के बाद यह पहली कैबिनेट है, जिसमे सुप्रीम कोर्ट में तीन महिला जज हैं.

– आज पर्यावरण की मंजूरी भ्रष्टाचार का पहाड़ पार करने जैसा है, लेकिन हमने इसे ऑनलाइन कर दिया है. हमने भाई भतीजावाद को खत्म कर दिया है. रिश्वत लेने वालों पर कार्रवाई बहुत कठोर हो रही है. 3 लाख संदिग्ध कंपनियों पर ताला लगा दिया गया है.

– 2013 के बाद यह संख्या पौने सात करोड़ हो गई है. ये ईमानदारी का जीता जागता उदाहरण है। देश ईमानदारी की ओर चल पड़ा है. इनडायरेक्ट टैक्स, 70 साल में सिर्फ 70 लाख का आंकड़ा पहुंचा था, लेकिन जीएसटी आने के बाद पिछले एक वर्ष में यह 70 लाख का आंकड़ा 1.16 करोड़ पहुंच गया है.

– आज देश ईमानदारी का उत्सव लेकर आगे बढ़ रहा है. देश में 2013 तक डायरेक्ट टैक्स देने वालों की संख्या 4 करोड़ थी. ये पिछले 70 साल की गतिविधि का परिणाम था.

– मैं देश के ईमानदार करदाताओं से कहता हूं कि मैं आपको विश्वास दिलाता हूं, आपके कर से ये योजनाएं चलती है, जब आप खाना खाने बैठते हैं तो आपके कर देने की ईमानदार प्रक्रिया का परिणाम है, आपके खाना खाने के समय में 3 गरीबों का पेट भरता है.

– बिचौलिए राशन को बाजार से खरीदकर उसकी ब्लैकमेलिंग करते थे, जबकि सरकार बाजार से 20-25 रुपए किलो गेंहू, चावल खरीदकर उसे गरीबों में 2-3 रुपए में बेचती है. लेकिन यहां अनाज को दुकानो को बेच दिया जाता था, लेकिन हमने इसे रोका है.

– आप जानकर हैरान होंगे, जबसे हम सफाई अभियान में लगे हैं, भ्रष्टाचार को रोकने में लगे हैं, 6 करोड़ ऐसे लाभार्थी जोकि राशन कार्ड, पेंशन, एलपीजी के लाभार्थी थे वह ऐसे थे जो कभी पैदा ही नहीं हुए, उनके नाम से पैसे जा रहे थे. यह कितना कठिन काम था, इस सरकार ने इसे रोका है। भ्रष्टाचार और कालाधन को रोकने की दिशा में हमने कदम उठाए हैं. इसका परिणाम यह है कि 90 हजार करोड़ रुपए जो गलत तरीके से गलत लोगों के हाथ में चले जाते थे, वह अब देश के सामान्य नागरिकों के काम आ रहा है.

– 25 सितंबर को पंडित दीन दयाल उपाध्याय की जन्मदिन पर यह प्रधानमंत्री जन आरोग्य अभियान लॉच कर दिया जाएगा.

– आयुष्मान भारत के तहत इस देश के 10 करोड़ परिवार शामिल हैं. 10 करोड़ परिवार यानि करीब-करीब 50 करोड़ परिवार, हर परिवार को 5 लाख रुपए देने की योजना है, इसे हम देने वाले हैं.

– WHO की रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक 3 लाख बच्चे स्वच्छता के कारण मरने से बचे हैं.

– बाजार से बाजार तक के अप्रोच से हम कृषि के क्षेत्र में कई रिफॉर्म ला रहें है. 2022 तक किसानों की आय दोगुनी करना हमारा लक्ष्य है.

– आज हमारे देश की 65 फीसदी आबादी 35 से कम उम्र की है, इसलिए सारे विश्व की नजर हम पर बनी हुई है.

– हम कड़े फैसले लेने का सामर्थ्य रखते हैं, क्योंकि देशहित हमारे लिए सर्वोपरि है. जब हौसले बुलंद होते हैं, देश के लिए कुछ करने का इरादा होता है तो बेनामी संपत्ति का कानून भी लागू होता है.

– भारत की अर्थव्‍यवस्‍था बहुत तेजी से विकास कर रही है. पूर्वोत्‍तर भारत भी देश के विकास के साथ जुड़ रहा है. चार साल में नार्थ ईस्‍ट को भारत के साथ लाकर खड़ा कर दिया है.

– भारत की पहचान अब रिफॉर्म, परफॉर्म और ट्रांसफॉर्म के तौर पर है. हमने रिकॉर्ड आ​र्थिक ग्रोथ दर्ज की.

– देश के जवान के लिए कई सालों से पेंडिग वन रैंक वन पेंशन को हमने लागू किया.

– आज भारत की बात हर जगह सुनी जाती है. पूरा विश्व कहता है कि सोया हुआ हाथी जाग गया है.

– पहले विश्व के अन्य देश हमारे साथ जुड़ने से हिचकिचाते थे, कहते थे, भारत की अर्थव्यवस्था में रिस्क है लेकिन आज वही देश हमारे साथ जुड़ना चाहते हैं और उन्हें भारत में अवसर नजर आते हैं.

– आज लाल किले की प्राचीर से मैं देशवासियों को खुशखबरी सुनाना चाहता हूं. हमने सपना देखा है कि 2022 में आजादी के 75 साल पूरे होने के मौके पर या उससे पहले मां भारत की कोई संतान, चाहे बेटा हो या बेटी, वह अंतरिक्ष में जाएगा. हाथ में तिरंगा लेकर जाएगा. भारत के वैज्ञानिकों ने मंगलयान से लेकर अब तक ताकत का जो परिचय कराया है. जब हमारा यान हिंदुस्तानी लेकर जाएगा, तब अंतरिक्ष में मानव को पहुंचाने वाले विश्व के चौथे देश बन जाएंगे.

– आज भारत की हर चीज पर पूरा विश्व नजर रखता है। 2014 के बाद ये स्थिति बदली है.

– देश के छोटे व्यापारियों की वजह से, उनके दिमाग के खुलेपन की वजह से देश में जीएसटी लागू हुआ है.

– देश में आग छोटे शहरों में स्टार्टअप तेजी से बढ़ रहा है.

– 2014 से अबतक मैं अनुभव कर रहा हूं कि सवा सौ करोड़ देशवासी सिर्फ सरकार बनाकर रुके नहीं, वो देश बनाने में भी जुटे हुए हैं.

– देश आज रेकॉर्ड अनाज पैदा कर रहा है तो देश आज मोबाइल फैक्ट्री बनाने का काम भी कर रहा है. बाबा सहाब के बनाए गए संविधान में सबके लिए न्याय की बात की गई है. हमें ये सुनिश्चित करना होगा कि सभी को न्याय मिले और एक ऐसे भारत का निर्माण हो जिसमें तेजी से विकास हो.

– अगर शौचालय बनाने में 2013 की रफ्तार से चलते तो शायद तो कितने दशक बीत जाते. अगर हम गांव में बिजली पहुंचाने की बात करें, तो 2013 के आधार के आधार पर सोचें, तो एक दो दशक और लग जाते. 2013 को सोचें तो एलपीजी कनेक्शन… अगर 2013 की रफ्तार से ऑप्टिकल फाइबर लगाने का काम करते तो गांवों में पहुंचाने में पीढ़ियां निकल जातीं.

– आजादी का ये पर्व हम तब मना रहे हैं, जब उत्तराखंड, मणिपुर, तेलंगाना, आंध्रप्रदेश हमारी की बेटियों ने सात समुंदर पार किया और देश वापस लौट आईं. हमारे दूरसुदूर जंगलों में रहने वाले बच्चों ने एवरेस्ट पर झंडा फहराकर तिरंगे की शान बढ़ा दी.

– पीएम मोदी ने पढ़ी सुब्रमण्यम भारती की कविता

– अगले साल जलियांवाला बाग हत्याकांड को 100 साल पूरे हो जाएंगे. मैं उन सभी को नमन करता हूं जिन्होंने अपने प्राणों की आहूती दी.

– भारत विश्व की छठी सबसे बड़ी अर्थव्यवस्था बना. हमने ओबीसी को संवैधानिक दर्जा दिया.

– मोदी ने इससे पहले चार बार के अपने भाषण में किसी न किसी बड़ी योजना का ऐलान किया.

Live update of PM speech from the Red Fort

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his fifth Independence Day speech as Prime Minister, from the ramparts of Red Fort.

He announced the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Abhiyaan, a national healthcare scheme that will “impact 50 crore Indians.” He also announced ‘Gaganyaan’, a space programme to be launched by 2022.

Here are the updates:
8: 45 AM
PM on triple talaq
Speaking on triple talaq, the PM says, “The practice of triple talaq has caused great injustice among Muslim women. We are trying to end this practice but there are some people who are not wanting it to end. I ensure the Muslim women that I will work to ensure justice is done to them.

8: 35 AM
Justice for women
PM Modi says, “We have to free our country from this mentality of rape. In Madhya Pradesh, rapists were given death penalty within 5 days. We should make people more aware.”

8: 25 AM
PM announces Jan Arogya Abhiyaan
“Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Abhiyaan will be launched on 25th September this year. It is high time we ensure that the poor of India get access to good quality and affordable healthcare

“The healthcare initiatives of the Government of India will have a positive impact on 50 crore Indians. It is essential to ensure that we free the poor of India from the clutches of poverty due to which they cannot afford healthcare,” he says.

8; 20 AM
PM announces Gaganyaan space programme
An Indian astronaut, be it a man or a woman, will go on a space odyssey by 2022 on board ‘Gaganyaan’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says.

“When India celebrates 75th year of Independence in 2022 and if possible even before, an Indian son or daughter will undertake a manned space mission on board ‘Gaganyaan’ carrying the national flag.”

8: 15 AM
Will bring modernity to agricultural sector: PM Modi
“Out of the 13 million who have taken the Mudra loan, 4 million people have taken it for the first time. This presents a new India.

“Today our full focus is to bring modernity to change in the agricultural sector. With a ‘Beej Se Bazar Tak’ approach, we are bringing remarkable changes in the agriculture sector. The aim is to double farmer incomes by 2022.

“Due to Swachh Bharat mission, lakhs of children can lead healthier lives. Even the World Health Organisation has lauded the movement,” he says.

8: 10 AM
Talent from North East
North East is nowadays coming up with news that is giving inspiration to the country, PM Modi says. “There was a time when it felt like it was too far from Delhi. Now we have brought it to the doorstep of Delhi.”

8: 07 AM
PM Modi presents NDA report card
Speaking about the achievements of the BJP government in the last four years, PM Modi says,

“The demand for higher MSP was pending for years. From farmers to political parties to agriculture experts, everybody was asking about it but nothing happened. With the blessings of the farmers, the decision on MSP was taken by our Government.

“Who did not want the passage of the GST? Yet it was pending for years? Last year GST became a reality.

“The OROP demand was pending for decades. The people of India, our brave army personnel had faith in us and we were able to take a decision on OROP.

“From being seen as among the fragile five, India is now the land of reform, perform and transform. We are poised for record economic growth. India’s voice is being heard effectively at the world stage. We are integral parts of forums whose doors were earlier closed for us.

8: 05 AM
Modi takes a dig at UPA govt
In a veiled dig at the UPA government, PM Modi says. “If we had continued at the same pace at which toilets were being built in 2013, the pace at which electrification was happening in 2013, then it would have taken us decades to complete them

“We are very proud of what we have achieved but at the same time, we also have to look at where we have come from. That is when we will realize the unbelievable strides the nation has taken.”

7: 55 AM
‘Social justice for all’
PM Modi says, “The Constitution of India, given to us by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar has spoken about justice for all. We have to ensure social justice for all and create an India that is progressing rapidly.

“The poor get justice, everyone has the opportunity to move forward according to his will and aspirations.”

7:45 AM
Modi invokes Bharathiyar
The Prime Minister in his I-Day speech invoked Tamil poet Subramanya Bharathiyar. Speaking in Tamil, he says, “Bharathiyar wrote that India would not only emerge as a great nation but also inspire others. He said India will show the whole world the way to get rid of all kinds of shackles.”

7: 35 AM
Modi kicks off Independence Day speech
After unfurling the tricolour at Red Fort, PM Modi kicks off his last Independence Day address before the Lok Sabha election in 2019.

He says,

My beloved Indians, I wish you a Happy 72nd Independence Day.

I salute the women of India. Our daughters have crossed all seven seas and have coloured the world in tricolour.

I salute the children of tribals who unfurled the national flag on Mount Everest and made India proud.

PM Modi speaks about the Monsoon Session of Parliament

He says,

The recently concluded Parliament session was one devoted to social justice. The Parliament session witnessed the passage of the Bill to create an OBC Commission.

Mr. Modi speaks on the monsoon floods that have ravaged many states across the country. “Many parts of the nation witnessed a good monsoon but at the same time parts of India have been affected by flooding. My thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives due to floods in various parts of India,” he says.

7:30 AM
PM Modi arrives at Red Fort
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaches Red Fort, accompanied by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Earlier, he paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.

7:20 AM
Health scheme to be announced
Mr. Modi is expected to announce the pilot launch of the Ayushman Bharat-National Health Protection Scheme in his last Independence Day address before the Lok Sabha election in 2019.

Read more
7: 00 AM
Shaurya Chakra for Major Aditya, Aurangzeb
Major Aditya Kumar who fired on a stone-throwing mob, and rifleman Aurangzeb who was abducted and killed by terrorists, both in Jammu and Kashmir, were selected for the Shaurya Chakra on the eve of Independence Day.

Ayushmaan Bharat on cards today

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New Delhi:

With the nation gearing up to celebrate its 72nd independence on August 15, 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to launch Ayushman Bharat-National Health Protection Scheme (AB-NHPS) on Wednesday. The full roll-out of the world’s largest government-funded public health insurance scheme is expected to be announced from September 25 onwards.

The announcement is expected to come during PM Modi’s Independence Day speech at Delhi’s Red Fort.

Ayushman Bharat, also referred to as ‘Modicare’, is the national healthcare policy launched by the Government of India in February this year. The ambitious healthcare policy promises to cover over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families (approximately 50 crore beneficiaries) providing coverage up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation.

Benefits of the scheme are portable across the country and a beneficiary covered under the scheme will be allowed to take cashless benefits from any public/private empanelled hospitals across the country.

The scheme is entitlement based, with the entitlement decided on the basis of deprivation criteria in the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) database. The beneficiaries can avail the facilities in both public as well as empanelled private healthcare centres.

राष्ट्र आराधना का सर्वोत्तम समय

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Glorious Independence Day

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Let’s pray together for our Matribhumi

 

Heavy to very heavy rain is predicted in 16 states

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Heavy to very heavy rains are expected in 16 states, including Kerala, Uttarakhand and West Bengal, in next two days with fishermen are advised not to venture in central Arabian Sea, the NDMA said on Saturday.

Heavy to very heavy rains are expected in 16 states, including Kerala, Uttarakhand and West Bengal, in next two days with fishermen are advised not to venture in central Arabian Sea, the NDMA said on Saturday.

In a statement, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said heavy rains are also expected in large areas along Bay of Bengal.

Red warning for heavy to very heavy rain at a few places with extremely heavy falls at isolated places very likely over Uttarakhand tomorrow and Monday, theNDMA said quoting a bulletin of the India Meteorological Department.

Rough to very rough sea conditions are likely to prevail over west central Arabian Sea. Fishermen are advised not to venture into this area, it said.

Heavy to very heavy rains are likely at isolated places over Uttarakhand, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, coastal Andhra Pradesh, coastal Karnataka,Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

As many as 718 people have lost their lives in incidents related to floods and rains in seven states during the monsoon season so far.

According to the Home Ministry’s National Emergency Response Centre (NERC), 171 people lost their lives in Uttar Pradesh, 170 people have died in West Bengal, 178 have died in Kerala and 139 have died in Maharashtra.

As many as 52 people lost their lives in Gujarat, 44 died in Assam and eight perished in Nagaland.

A total of 26 people were also missing, Kerala (21) and West Bengal (5), while 244 others received injuries in rain-related incidents in the states, it said.

‘Time to revamp education system’ : Venita Kau

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Venita Kau

Emeritus professor calls for universalisation of quality school education

The world forward is not necessarily the three career choices — engineering, accountancy and medicine. It is opening up for new start-up initiatives that are going to be the future of the country, said Venita Kaul, professor emeritus (education), Ambedkar University, Delhi.

“Are we preparing our children for that? Are we giving them those skills,” she asked delivering the ninth memorial oration of the Kuruvila Jacob Initiative For Promoting Excellence In School Education organised by Kuruvila Jacob Memorial Education Trust.

“There is a need to introspect and see where we are today in terms of our education system and the status of learning continuum of education starting from pre-primary to higher education.

“In a recent study done in three States, we found that a large number of pre-school children came out of it without [the necessary] competency. We didn’t find even one classroom that had any play opportunities for children of this age. They were doing only rote memorisation of alphabets and numbers,” she said.

Holistic education

In secondary level, they were alarmed to see children enrolled in schools but attending tuitions too. “What’s the holistic education we talk about? They are only preparing for exams and admissions,” she said.

She noted that the need of the hour was to ensure there was universalisation of school education with quality. “Children need interactive and participative teaching sessions they can engage in, without any threat or fear. Policy level reforms are needed to execute this,” she noted.

As part of the Kuruvila Jacob Initiative for Promoting Excellence in School Education, various teacher training programmes were organised and certificates were given.

N. Murali, chairman, Kasturi and Sons Limited, and S. Viji of Kuruvila Jacob Memorial Education Trust, spoke on the occasion.

कभी हम जीतते हैं तो कभी हमारी हार होती है: सोनिया Gandhi

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गुरुवार को राज्यसभा के उपसभापति के लिए हुए उपचुनाव में विपक्ष के उम्मीदवार बीके हरिप्रसाद, एनडीए प्रत्याशी हरिवंश से हार गए

राज्यसभा के उपसभापति के लिए हुए चुनाव में एक बार फिर विपक्ष को हार का मुंह देखना पड़ा है. इस हार के बाद सोनिया गांधी ने कहा कि कभी हम जीतते हैं और कभी हार होती है. कांग्रेस अध्यक्ष का पद छोड़ चुकी सोनिया फिलहाल यूपीए चेयरपर्सन हैं.

एनडीए की तरफ से जेडीयू के राज्यसभा सदस्य हरिवंश उपसभापति पद के लिए उम्मीदवार थे. गुरुवार को उन्हें इस पद के लिए चुना गया. उन्हें विपक्ष की ओर से कांग्रेस के उम्मीदवार बी के हरिप्रसाद को मिले 105 मतों के मुकाबले 125 मत मिले.

हरिवंश के पक्ष में जेडीयू के आरसीपी सिंह, बीजेपी के अमित शाह, शिव सेना के संजय राउत और अकाली दल के सुखदेव सिंह ढींढसा ने प्रस्ताव किया. वहीं हरिप्रसाद के लिए बीएसपी के सतीश चंद्र मिश्रा, आरजेडी की मीसा भारती, कांग्रेस के भुवनेश्वर कालिता, एसपी के रामगोपाल यादव और एनसीपी की वंदना चव्हाण ने प्रस्ताव पेश किया.

नेता सदन अरुण जेटली, नेता प्रतिपक्ष गुलाम नबी आजाद, संसदीय कार्यमंत्री अनंत कुमार और संसदीय कार्य राज्यमंत्री विजय गोयल ने हरिवंश को बधाई देते हुए उन्हें उपसभापति के निर्धारित स्थान पर बिठाया. इसके बाद प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी ने हरिवंश को शुभकामनाएं देते हुए उनके अनुभव के हवाले से उनके निर्वाचन को सदन के लिए गौरव का विषय बताया.

सूत्रों के हवाले से बताया जा रहा है कि हरिवंश को बीजेपी गठबंधन पार्टियों के 91 सदस्यों के अलावा तीन नामित सदस्यों और निर्दलीय अमर सिंह का वोट मिला. इसके अलावा उन्हें गैर एनडीए दलों-एआईएडीएमके के 13, टीआरएस के छह, इनेलो के एक सदस्य का समर्थन मिला. बीजेडी के 9 सांसदों ने भी हरिवंश को वोट किया. कुल मत 123 हुए लेकिन कहा जा रहा है कि दो निर्दलीय सांसदों ने भी एनडीए के पक्ष में वोट किया जिससे कुल आंकड़ा 125 बैठता है. वाईएसआर कांग्रेस के दो सदस्य वोटिंग से गैर-हाजिर रहे.

AIADMK’s self-goal may put NDA in troubled waters

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There is no little amount of irony in the fact that a party that preaches rationalism, atheism and iconoclasm is desperate to secure for its departed leader a memorial for the ages. DMK’s desperation to get a Marina Beach burial for Muthuvel Karunanidhi (1924-2018) and its deification of Kalaignar stands in stark contrast with its so-called anti-idolatry ideology.

Yet if the Dravidian ideologue is being imbued with a cultish aura and venerated as a demigod in death, the absurdity mirrors the confusion within the larger Dravidian Movement that has deviated from its egalitarian ideals and roots in cultural autonomy to emerge as a vehicle for Tamizh chauvinism, driven by an insecurity forged in the fire of identity politics.

The Dravidian Movement (that has its roots in the erstwhile Justice Party, founded in 1916 by around 30 non-Brahmanical leaders) has been vastly influential in shaping Dravidian identity, regional politics and even strengthening federalism in India.

However, for all the stress on “rationalism” and “atheism” espoused by founder EV Ramasamy (Periyar) and later handholding by CN Annadurai’s DMK (that gradually deviated from its demand for a separate Dravida Nadu to join the political mainstream), the Dravidian Movement could never rid the Tamizh society of its steadfast rootedness in theism.

It is here that we must seek the answers from the contradiction within DMK’s ranks that teaches iconoclasm, yet seeks divinity for its leaders so that party workers, cadres and supporters can pay eternal homage. Politics, after all, is shaped by the society. A grasp of this reality is essential in understanding the controversy around a Marina Beach burial for the five-time Tamil Nadu chief minister who breathed his last on Tuesday at the age of 94.

M Karunanidhi passed away on Tuesday

If DMK revealed the hollowness of its idealism in seeking a memorial for its departed patriarch, the AIADMK revealed its penchant for scoring own-goals in making a controversy out of it. The fact that the Madras High Court had to step in to act on a petition filed by the DMK at a special hearing and order the state government to permit the burial of Karunanidhi at Anna Square on Marina sands beside his mentor and former chief minister Annadurai, amounts to little more than political suicide for the ruling party.

Chief minister E Palaniswamy (EPS) and his deputy O Panneerselvam (OPS) should have realised that the act of rejecting DMK’s wish to lay Kalaignar to rest at Marina Beach (near the memorials of J Jayalalithaa and MGR) might be seen as a slight to Tamil Nadu’s tallest leader, a grave insult to his memory and trigger widespread popular outrage. If EPS and OPS failed to grasp the depth of the blunder, it could only be put down to their lack of political maturity.

In denying DMK’s demand, the AIADMK government had cited rules of the Coastal Regulation Zone Act and stressed on the fact that Karunanidhi was a “former” chief minister, not a “sitting” one and therefore, unlike Jayalalithaa, did not merit a place at Anna Square. The death of a popular leader is an emotive issue. The ruling party’s stance looked more like vendetta politics and pettiness over a deceased’s mortal remains instead of a rational position.

The AIADMK leadership perhaps failed to grasp the fact that the nonagenarian Kalaignar wasn’t just Tamil Nadu’s tallest leader butwas also one of the greatest influencers in Tamizh society and culture through his writings, films, poetry, not to speak of his contribution to the Dravidian cause over the course of a long political career spanning several decades.

He was also at the forefront of resisting ‘imperialism of northern India’ — always a sensitive issue in Tamizh politics. The Justice Party, father of the Dravidian Movement, received a boost in its political campaign back in 1937 “when the Madras Presidency government led by C. Rajagopalachari insisted on compulsory learning of Hindi in the State”, as Sruthisagar Yamunan writes in The Hindu.

‘Anti-Hindi’ sentiment and ‘resisting cultural imperialism of the north’ remained the keystones of DMK’s politics. Karunanidhi’s political career benefitted immensely in taking part in and shaping that fight. The Congress, for instance, scripted its own death in the state when in 1965, it tried to make Hindi the sole ‘official language’ of the country. It could never to return to power after being rejected by voters in 1967. This sentiment, closely tied with supremacy of Tamizh culture espoused by the Dravidian Movement, holds its relevance in regional politics.

This latest controversy, therefore, will obliquely harm even the BJP — which is seen as an unofficial ally of the AIADMK — and have wider implications for national politics beyond the confines of the state. To understand this, we need only take a look at the way the Congress and DMK are trying to set the battle lines.

The Congress or the DMK spokesperson’s suggestions — that BJP is behind the ‘slight to Kalaignar’ — might appear as far-fetched, given the fact that the BJP has gone out of its way not to let such an impression develop. The Centre has declared a day of national mourning, the Tricolour will fly at half-mast and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman have rushed to pay their last respects to the departed leader.

Yet, BJP’s apparent proximity with the AIADMK has given DMK and Congress the opportunity to paint them in a corner. The AIADMK recently voted against the no-confidence motion against the Modi government, causing MK Stalin to call its arch-rival”spineless”.

It has also emerged that AIADMK may endorse the BJP-backed candidate in the Thursday election to the post of Rajya Sabha deputy chairman. The shifting sands of regional and national politics will soon see all local skirmishes getting subsumed within the larger political battle for 2019. If the controversy over Kalaignar’s burial triggers an emotive, statewide reaction and hands DMK an electoral advantage, the party could emerge much stronger in 2019 and be in a position to call the shots.

The opening of Tamil politics following the departure of both Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi presents opportunities for the existing players. The AIADMK seems to have committed a tactical blunder. This may lead to upsetting BJP’s carefully laid plans.