Ayodhya Gears Up For ‘Ram Navami’ Rush Of Devotees

by Manisha Das

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

The Ayodhya administration is gearing up for the largest ever crowd management exercise on Ram Navami which falls on April 17.

Ayodhya, Mar 29: The Ayodhya administration is gearing up for the largest ever crowd management exercise on Ram Navami which falls on April 17.

The officials are expecting a congregation of more than 50 lakh pilgrims on the day.

Director General of Police (DGP) Prashant Kumar and Chief Secretary D.S. Mishra are closely monitoring the preparations being made for Ram Navami and the nine-day long ‘Ram Janamotsav’ starting from April 9 which will conclude on April 17.

The chief secretary and DGP, who also visited Ram Janmabhoomi and reviewed security arrangements at the temple complex, have asked officials to make proper arrangements for devotees to make their visit to Ram temple comfortable.

Ram Navami, the festival to celebrate the birth of Lord Ram, will be observed on the ninth day of the ‘Chaitra Navratri’ .

According to officials , they are working on a war footing to ensure the safety and comfort of the devotees during Ram Navami. However, it is tough to gauge the actual number of expected devotees and different teams are working on it.

Officials are pondering over multi entries and exits for devotees to avoid any stampede-like situation. Keeping in view the hot weather, water and mats on the open floors are also being arranged to save devotees from heat stroke.

Officials are also ensuring availability and regular supply of essentials such as milk, sugar, tea, foodgrains and vegetables, etc., in dharamshalas, temples, tent cities and hotels where the pilgrims will stay.

(IANS)

BJP Will Win All 21 Lok Sabha Seats In Odisha: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan

by Hemanta Pande

Jharsuguda, Apr 28: Union Minister and BJP candidate from Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat, Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday exuded confidence that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is going to win all 21 seats in Odisha adding that there is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's wave in the country and the state.

"The CM of Chhattisgarh lead the grand program of the BJP today. There is a PM Modi wave in the country and in Odisha. All 21 seats in Odisha will be won by the BJP," Pradhan told reporters.

Earlier today, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda slammed the Naveen Patnaik government in Odisha, saying that Patnaik did not allow the centre's insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat to be implemented in his state.

"10.74 lakh poor families, that is, 55 crore individuals, who are known by their professions like rikshawalas, vegetable vendors, bus conductors, cleaners, drivers, truck cleaners and drivers, liftman operators, barbers...all of them have been given Rs 5 lakh annually for treatment of serious illnesses. However, unfortunately, the poor in Odisha are not included in it. Naveen Babu has deprived them," Nadda said at a public meeting in Odisha's Berhampur on Sunday.

Continuing his attack against the Chief Minister, Nadda said, "He (Naveen Patnaik) has not allowed Ayushman Bharat to be implemented here. Should we let such a government be in power? You have to change the government, make five of our candidates win and Ayushman Bharat will be implemented here as well."

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which is often seen as a friendly party of the BJP, is not fighting the polls in Odisha with the BJP. Both parties are political rivals in the eastern state.

Assembly and Lok Sabha elections will be held simultaneously in Odisha in four phases, starting from Phase One on May 13, Phase Two on May 20, Phase Three on May 25 and the final Phase on June 1. The results will be announced on June 4.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) got the maximum number of seats (12), followed by the BJP (8) and the Congress just one. (ANI)

Read More: Odisha News

Rahul Gandhi Slams BJD Govt In Odisha, Seeks Votes For Congress

by Hemanta Pande

Cuttack, Apr 28: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, stepping up the party’s campaign in Odisha on Sunday lashed out at the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government for rampant 'corruption' in last 24 years and appealed the people to vote infavour of the Congress candidates for the all-round development in Odisha.

Addressing a huge public gathering at Salepur in Cuttack, Gandhi alleged that the Naveen Patnaik government was facilitating the loot of the state’s resources in various fields including plantation and mining.

The Gandhi scion declared if Congress came to power in the state, the looted money would be returned to the residents.

“Your money was stolen by the BJD government through the mining scam worth Rs 9 lakh crore, farmers’ land grab worth Rs 20,000 crore and plantation scam worth Rs 15,000 crore. I am giving these numbers because when the Congress party comes to power here in Odisha and in Delhi, we will start returning the money they have looted from you,” roared Rahul at the rally, drawing applause from the crowd.

Gandhi said that Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik was running the government for a ‘select few’. He also said that though Naveen Patnaik was the Chief Minister, the state government was being run by his aide VK Pandian.

The Lok Sabha MP from Wayanad also promised the crowd that if Congress came to power in the state, Rs 2000 each per month would be deposited in the bank account of women, Rs 3000 would be deposited in the account of unemployed youths and free electricity up to 200 units, kitchen gas cylinder at Rs 500 will be given to the public.

He also elaborated on the several Nyay Yojanas of the Congress party and explained how these will benefit the common citizens if the party is voted to power.