UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay announced the addition of 58 new cities to the network, now encompassing 408 cities across more than 100 countries. These cities are acknowledged for harnessing creativity to drive sustainable development, preserve cultural identity, and foster innovation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the achievement, highlighting Lucknow as a vibrant emblem of India’s rich cultural and culinary heritage. He expressed his delight on social media, encouraging global travelers to experience the city’s unique gastronomic charm firsthand and explore its distinctive offerings.

Union Culture Minister described the honor as a tribute to Lucknow’s profound culinary legacy and its significant contribution to India’s diverse food traditions. State officials also celebrated the recognition, viewing it as a reflection of India’s growing global stature.

Lucknow’s cuisine, steeped in centuries of Awadhi tradition, is a testament to artistry and hospitality influenced by Mughal and Nawabi legacies. Iconic establishments continue to preserve and present these time-honored flavors, embodying the city’s deep-rooted pride in its culinary excellence. The network of culinary artists, chefs, and food experts across India have widely acclaimed this recognition as a long-overdue acknowledgment of Lucknow’s significant influence on Indian gastronomy. This international accolade is expected to significantly boost tourism, opening a new chapter for Uttar Pradesh’s hospitality sector and further cementing Lucknow’s reputation as a destination of taste and tradition.

The accused, identified as Sanat Gorai, was arrested from the Raj State Muslim Basti in the Ghatshila police station area of the Purvi Singhbhum district of Jharkhand. He is a 12th-grade graduate. Gorai targeted people through online gaming, luring them into scams. A 14-year-old class six student from Dhanuwasand village, a victim of his fraud, died by suicide on September 15. Investigations confirmed the presence of the Free Fire Max game on the student’s mobile phone.

The chief guest and Sarkaryavah of the RSS, Shri Dattatreya Hosabale, stated that ‘Rashtradharma’ is an eternal duty and that every person born in India has a responsibility to consider their contribution to the nation. He emphasized that the magazine was initiated during the challenging period of 1948-49 to bring about an ideological shift in society, not for financial gain.

Hosabale highlighted the essence of a ‘swayamsevak,’ who views themselves as an integral part of society rather than separate from it. He reminisced about the RSS’s 100-year journey, marked by sacrifices and hardships endured by numerous workers, who remained steadfast in their goals. He also acknowledged the contributions of leaders like Deendayal Upadhyaya and Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

As the world regards India as a global leader, the Sarkaryavah asserted the importance of India guiding the world through its spirituality, culture, and values. He clarified that the RSS’s objective is not merely to build an organization but to refine each individual.

The program also reflected on the historical journey of the Rashtradharma magazine. It was noted that its first issue was published on August 31, 1947, featuring an article ‘Chiti’ by Deendayal Upadhyaya and the poem ‘Hindu Tan Man’ by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. In its early days, Deendayal ji himself operated the printing machine, and Atal ji distributed the copies on a bicycle.

The program was presided over by Vinod Solanki. The special guest, Aarti Rana, shared her experiences on the empowerment of women from the Tharu tribe. The event was attended by various dignitaries, including All India Pracharak Pramukh Swantaranjan ji, Cabinet Minister Aseem Arun, and Mayor Sushma Kharkwal. The program concluded with the national anthem.

Initially, the plan was to run 60 trains. This was changed based on the availability of coaches. Currently, the Railway Board is operating over 100 trains for Bihar, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Delhi. These trains pass through Lucknow. These are all trains of North and Northeast Railway. Despite this, there is a huge rush of passengers during Dussehra, Diwali, and Chhath Puja.

Due to the heavy crowd in Lucknow, people going to Bihar and Kolkata are not getting seats in the trains. The same is the case with trains coming from Delhi and Mumbai to Lucknow and Gorakhpur. Even in festival specials, ‘no room’ is visible (passengers are not getting even waiting tickets) in the trains that are running regularly. Passengers are not getting even waiting tickets in these trains.

Keeping all this in mind, the Lucknow Railway Division has decided to run 52 festival special trains for the convenience of passengers. According to railway officials, a proposal has been sent to the Railway Board to run 52 festival special trains. Approval from the Railway Board may be received within a week. Apart from the festival special trains, the railway administration has also decided to run circular trains. These trains will run between short-distance stations.

During the demonstration, the protesting students vehemently shouted slogans against Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar and the government. A tense clash erupted between the students and the police, after which the police detained several activists and took them to Eco Garden. The situation in the area became tense for a while due to the demonstration.

On Monday, ABVP activists and students protested against the lack of recognition for the LLB course and alleged illegal activities at the Ram Swaroop University in Barabanki. It is alleged that the university has been running law courses without recognition from the Bar Council of India (BCI) since 2022, jeopardizing the future of the students. During the protest, the police carried out a baton charge, injuring more than 24 students.

Some students sustained serious injuries in the baton charge and were admitted to Mayo Hospital and the district hospital. Students allege that the police not only carried out a brutal baton charge, but also that external goons, at the behest of the university administration, attacked the students. This incident has created a political storm across the state.

The anger of the protesting students intensified when Cabinet Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar allegedly made controversial remarks about the injured students. The minister stated that the police rightly used batons on ABVP goons. Condemning this as insulting, ABVP workers held a sit-in outside Rajbhar’s residence on Tuesday night and burned an effigy. During the protest, angry students climbed the gate of the residence and raised slogans against the government and police administration.

Pushpendra Bajpai, the Awadh province secretary of ABVP, said, “Our demand is that strict action should be taken against the university administration and the guilty policemen. Our agitation will continue until justice is served to the injured students.”

Heavy police force was deployed at the scene to control the demonstration. As soon as the students started raising slogans by climbing the gate, the police tried to stop them. During this, there was a scuffle and a heated argument. The police used mild force to control the situation and took several protesters into custody and took them to Eco Garden.

This incident also gave the opposition parties an opportunity to attack the government. The Samajwadi Party (SP)’s student wing, Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha, and NSUI demonstrated in front of Raj Bhavan in Lucknow in support of ABVP. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav termed it a fight for dominance between the ruling parties and demanded compensation of one lakh rupees each for the injured students and proper treatment. Congress MP Tanuj Punia also condemned the police action by visiting the injured students at the trauma center.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took cognizance of the matter and ordered immediate action. Barabanki CO City Harshit Chauhan was removed, while Kotwali SHO Ramkishan Rana and outpost in-charge Gajendra Singh were put on the line. Along with this, the Divisional Commissioner of Ayodhya and IG have been directed to investigate. The CM has also issued orders to investigate the validity of the university’s degree.

ABVP and other student organizations have demanded that the Vice Chancellor of the university be dismissed, the expelled students be reinstated, and a clear position be presented regarding the recognition of the law degree. The students have warned that if their demands are not met, the agitation will be intensified.

Shukla’s parents, family, and many Lucknow residents eagerly awaited his arrival. His neighborhood, Triveni Nagar, was immersed in a festive atmosphere, with posters of Shubhanshu, hailed as a national hero, displayed throughout Lucknow. Children and fans gave Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla a rousing welcome upon his arrival, with crowds gathering to catch a glimpse of him. Fans showered Shubhanshu Shukla with flower petals.