News Analysis India

Tag: Varanasi

  • 54.18 per cent voting recorded till 5 pm in Uttar Pradesh polls

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: Over 54 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 5 pm in the seventh and last phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections for 54 seats on Monday.

    Voting started at 7 am.

    It ended at 4 pm in Chakia (Chandauli), Robertsganj and the Duddhi (Sonbhadra) seats, while in the rest of the segments, it continued till 6 pm.

    The districts where polls are underway in this phase are Azamgarh, Mau, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Mirzapur, Bhadohi and Sonbhadra.

    The voting percentage till 5 pm was 54.18 per cent, according to the Election Commission’s ‘Voter Turnout’ application.

    While Azamgarh witnessed 52.34 per cent voting, Bhadohi saw 54.26 per cent, Chandauli 59.59 per cent, Ghazipur 53.67 per cent, Jaunpur 53.55 per cent, Mau 55.04 per cent, Mirzapur 54.93 per cent, Sonbhadra 56.95 per cent and Varanasi 52.79 per cent, it showed.

    A total of 613 candidates are in the fray for the 54 seats, including those falling in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s parliamentary segment Varanasi.

    The fate of Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party president Om Prakash Rajbhar and several state ministers will be decided in this round, in which 2.06 crore people are eligible to vote.

    Besides state Tourism Minister Neelkanth Tiwari, who is contesting for the Varanasi South seat, other ministers in the fray in the last leg of the elections are Anil Rajbhar (Shivpur-Varanasi), Ravindra Jaiswal (Varanasi North), Girish Yadav (Jaunpur) and Ramashankar Singh Patel (Marihan-Mirzapur).

    Dara Singh Chauhan, who had resigned from the Yogi Adityanath cabinet and joined the Samajwadi Party (SP), is contesting from the Ghosi seat in Mau.

    Om Prakash Rajbhar (Zahoorabad), Dhananjay Singh (Malhani-Jaunpur) as the JD(U) candidate, and Abbas Ansari, the son of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, from Mau Sadar seat, are contesting in this phase.

    Campaigning in this phase reached its crescendo with Modi leading the BJP’s poll blitzkrieg in Varanasi and its adjoining districts.

    The state has 403 Assembly seats and the results of the elections will be declared on March 10. 

  • UP polls 7th phase: Over 46 per cent turnout recorded till 3 pm

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: Over 46 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 3 pm in the seventh and last phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections for 54 seats on Monday.

    Voting started at 7 am.

    It ended at 4 pm in the Chakia (Chandauli), Robertsganj and the Duddhi (Sonbhadra) seats, while in the rest of the segments, it will continue till 6 pm.

    The districts where polls are underway in this phase are Azamgarh, Mau, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Mirzapur, Bhadohi and Sonbhadra.

    The voting percentage till 3 pm was 46.40 per cent, according to the ECI’s Voter Turnout app.

    While Azamgarh witnessed 45.28 per cent voting, Bhadohi saw 47.49 per cent, Chandauli 50.79 per cent, Ghazipur 46.28 per cent, Jaunpur 47.14 per cent, Mau 46.88 per cent, Mirzapur 46.64 per cent, Sonbhadra 49.84 per cent and Varanasi 43.76 per cent, it showed.

    A total of 613 candidates are in the fray for the 54 seats, including those falling in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s parliamentary segment Varanasi.

    The fate of Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party president Om Prakash Rajbhar and several state ministers will be decided in this round, in which 2.06 crore people are eligible to vote.

    Besides state Tourism Minister Neelkanth Tiwari, who is contesting for the Varanasi South seat, other ministers in the fray in the last leg of the elections are Anil Rajbhar (Shivpur-Varanasi), Ravindra Jaiswal (Varanasi North), Girish Yadav (Jaunpur) and Ramashankar Singh Patel (Marihan-Mirzapur).

    Dara Singh Chauhan, who had resigned from the Yogi Adityanath cabinet and had joined the SP, is contesting from the Ghosi seat in Mau.

    Om Prakash Rajbhar (Zahoorabad), Dhananjay Singh (Malhani-Jaunpur) as the JD(U) candidate, and Abbas Ansari, the son of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, from Mau Sadar seat, are contesting in this phase.

    Campaigning in this phase reached its crescendo with Prime Minister Modi leading the BJP’s poll blitzkrieg in Varanasi and its adjoining districts.

    The state has 403 Assembly seats and the results of the elections will be declared on March 10.

  • Sedition charge on Cong’s Ajay Rai in Varanasi over remarks on Modi, Adityanath

    By PTI

    VARANASI: Congress candidate in Uttar Pradesh Ajay Rai was on Saturday booked for sedition for allegedly making a hate speech against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, officials said here.

    He was also booked for alleged violation of the model code of conduct and COVID-19 protocols during an “unauthorised” election campaign at Rajetara village in the Pindra assembly constituency area of Varanasi district on January 31, they said.

    The action against Rai comes close on the heels of a sedition case registered against Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) candidate from Bijnor Neeraj Chaudhary over alleged pro-Pakistan slogans during campaigning for the assembly polls.

    The Congress has fielded Rai from the Pindra seat for the elections in the state. The FIR against him, seen by PTI, was lodged at the Phoolpur police station on Saturday evening following a report by the local returning officer of the assembly area.

    Besides IPC section 124A (sedition), Rai has been booked under sections 269 (unlawfully or negligently spreading infection of any disease dangerous to life), 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 153A (promoting enmity between groups on ground of religion, class etc) and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), the FIR showed.

    “Multiple complaints were received regarding the episode which was also shared live by Ajay Rai on his Facebook page and cognisance of the matter taken. A four-member team was formed and all due procedures followed after which he was found guilty,” Varanasi Deputy Collector and Pindra Returning Officer Rajeev Rai told PTI.

    The officer said the Congress leader’s response was sought over the issue but his explanation was found unsatisfactory as his interpretation of the event appeared contradictory to what was seen in the video.

    “Rai has been found holding the campaign without permission, in violation of the guidelines for coronavirus and also violating the model code of conduct. During the campaign, he also used objectionable language against the prime minister and the chief minister,” the returning officer said.

    Ajay Rai stood third in the assembly polls from Pindra in 2017. BJP’s Avadhesh Singh had won the election. Pindra, which falls in Modi’s parliamentary constituency of Varanasi, will go to polls on March 7 during the last phase of the assembly elections in the state. Election results will be declared on March 10.

  • PM Narendra Modi arrives in Varanasi to open Kashi Vishwanath Dham; to take part in ‘cruise baithak’

    By PTI

    VARANASI: The stage was set for the inauguration of the first phase of the ambitious Kashi Vishwanath Corridor project on Monday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi arriving here.

    Modi will also take part in a ‘cruise baithak’ later and enjoy watching fireworks and festivities to be hosted at ghats of the ancient city.

    “The Prime Minister landed in Varanasi a short while ago,” the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted around 10.45 am.

    Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed him at the airport.

    Modi, on his two-day trip to the holy town, will first visit Kal Bhairav Mandir for ‘darshan’ of the deity, and then travel by river route to reach the ghat adjoining the corridor, Varanasi District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma had said on Sunday.

    After dedicating the Kashi Vishwanath Dham to the people in the afternoon, PM Modi, later in the evening will take part in an informal ‘baithak’ with state chief ministers and deputy chief minister, onboard the river cruise.

    “Being an MP from Varanasi, he had expressed his desire to showcase the grandeur of Kashi, situated on the banks of the river to the chief ministers.

    Also, from his cruise, the PM will witness Ganga ‘aarti’ and grand festivities being hosted on the lines of ‘Dev Deepawali’ on the ghats, which will culminate with fireworks and laser show,” the DM said.

  • Mosque painted ‘saffron’ in Varanasi ahead of PM Narendra Modi’s visit

    By PTI

    VARANASI: A mosque on the road leading to the Kashi Vishwanath temple here has been painted “saffron” by the authorities ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s expected visit on December 13, according to a masjid committee panel member.

    There was no immediate comment from the authorities over the claim but an official had earlier said all buildings on the road are being given an uniform colour, which is “light pink”.

    After an objection was raised by members of the Muslim community, the mosque located in the Bulanala area is being repainted white again.

    Mohammad Ejaz Islahi of the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee said, “The mosque was first white in colour. It was painted saffron. The masjid committee was not consulted.”

    He alleged that is was done under a “conspiracy” and they submitted their objection to the Kashi Vishwanath temple office.

    Efforts were also made to raise the objection before the district magistrate but he could not be met, Islahi said.

    “Later, the administration understood this and the mosque is being painted white,” he added.

    Sunil Verma, Secretary of the Varanasi Development Authority (VDA) and the Chief Executive Officer of the Kashi Vishwanath temple, had earlier said the buildings on the road leading to shrine are being given an uniform colour.

    Most structures in the area are made of sandstone, which is of “light pink” colour, he had said.

    The buildings of the area are being painted with this theme, he had added.

  • 100 years after being smuggled out, Goddess Annapurna idol to reach Kashi Vishwanath Temple

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: An ancient idol of Goddess Annapurna, which was smuggled out of the country around 100 years ago, has been brought back and it will be installed in Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, where it was originally placed. 

    The statue reached Delhi on October 15. 

    The idol of Goddess Annapurna retrieved from Ottawa, Canada has been received by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and it will be taken to Varanasi, union culture minister G Kishan Reddy said on Tuesday.

    In November last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the idol was being brought back. 

    It was stolen and taken out of the country around 1913 said Modi during his monthly radio programme –Mann Ki Baat.

    According to the culture ministry, since 1976, 55 idols have been returned to India — nearly 75 per cent of them were retrieved during the tenure of 2014-2020.

    Out of the 55 antiquities, 42 were returned after 2014 with the Annapurna Devi being the last addition to this, said the ministry.

    The idol of Annapurna idol will be first taken to Aligarh on November 11 then Kannauj and reach Ayodhya on November 14. It will reach its final destination Varanasi on November 15 where it will be placed at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple after the appropriate rituals.

    “The ministry of culture is working closely with the ministry of external affairs to repatriate the antiques which hold heritage value and have local importance. The faith and confidence in people from whom their ancestral heritage was taken will be reimposed,” said the ministry.

  • Priyanka Gandhi invokes Goddess Durga, urges people to chant ‘Jai Mata Di’ at Varanasi rally

    By PTI

    VARANASI: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday invoked Goddess Durga and urged the audience to chant ‘Jai Mata Di’ as she addressed a rally in Varanasi, one of the holiest cities of Hindus and the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    “I am on fast and I will start my speech with the ‘stuti’ (prayer) of Maa,” she said at the public meeting held to express solidarity with farmers in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.

    The Congress general secretary recited two shlokas in Sanskrit and urged the people to chant ‘Jai Mata Di’ with her to which the audience reciprocated.

    She also ended her speech with the salutation ‘Jai Mata Di’ and greeted the people on the festival of Navratri when Goddess Durga is worshipped.

    ALSO READ | Kolkata Durga Pujas themed on NRC, partition

    Priyanka Gandhi’s gesture is significant as the Congress has been projecting “Hinduism that is inclusive and secular” as a counter to the BJP’s Hindutva, which the opposition party has dubbed as a “political doctrine based on exclusion”.

    हमें शक्ति हमारे संघर्षों से मिलती है। भाजपा सरकार चाहे हमें जेल में डाले, चाहे जितनी रुकावट डाले, लेकिन हम किसानों, नौजवानों, दलितों, महिलाओं और गरीबों की आवाज दबने नहीं देंगे।मैं उप्र की जनता से आह्वान करती हूं कि न्याय की लड़ाई में हमारे साथ आएं।#KisanKoNyayDo pic.twitter.com/jhadWoRZsd
    — Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) October 10, 2021
    As the public meeting started, Priyanka Gandhi, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and other Congress leaders present on the dais chanted ‘Har har Mahadev’.

    It was followed by a reading of excerpts from the holy Koran and the Gurbani.

    “The Congress under the leadership of Priyankaji will comprehensively defeat the demon power which has unleashed itself in various parts of the state,” UP Congress spokesperson Ashok Singh said.

    Earlier, senior Congress leader and former Union minister Salman Khurshid, when asked as to how will the party counter the “BJP’s Hindutva”, said, “‘This is a Hindu majority nation.

    Uttar Pradesh is a Hindu majority state.

    You cannot honestly believe that the majority must not have a voice in deciding how the state is run.”

    “It will have a voice. But the majority’s voice cannot completely negate the minority. It cannot happen,” he said.

    The Congress leader also said that his party has a campaign on Hinduism.

    “Our Hinduism campaign is that Hinduism is inclusive, Hinduism is secular. And, therefore Hinduism wants to move hand in hand with other religions including Islam,” he told PTI.

    “They say that Hinduism is alone. We say that Hinduism is accompanied by other religions. I am confident that the state will decide in our favour,” Khurshid added.

  • Uttar Pradesh’s efforts in combating COVID ‘commendable’: PM Narendra Modi

    By PTI
    VARANASI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday described as “commendable” the efforts of the Uttar Pradesh government in combating the COVID-19 crisis. “The way in which UP has controlled the second Covid wave and stopped its spread is unprecedented,” the prime minister, who arrived at his parliamentary constituency earlier in the morning, said while addressing a gathering.

    Earlier, even minor problems assumed monstrous proportions due to the shortage of health facilities and the lack of willpower, he said. The prime minister inaugurated projects worth around Rs 744 crore and laid the foundation stones of several projects and public works worth about Rs 839 crore.

    These include the Centre for Skill and Technical Support of Central Institute of Petrochemical Engineering and Technology (CIPET), 143 rural projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission and mango and vegetable integrated pack house in Karkhiyanv.

    Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, the chief minister and state ministers were also present on the occasion. Modi will also inaugurate the International Cooperation and Convention Centre, Rudrakash which has been constructed with Japanese assistance.

    Thereafter, he will inspect the Maternal and Child Health Wing, BHU. He will also meet officials and medical professionals to review Covid preparedness.

  • PM Modi inaugurates, lays foundation stones of projects worth over Rs 1,500 crore in Varanasi

    By PTI
    VARANASI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated and laid foundation stones of multiple development projects in Varanasi worth more than Rs 1,500 crore at the IIT-BHU ground.

    After reaching Varanasi, Modi inaugurated various public projects and works, including a 100-bed MCH wing in BHU, multi-level parking at Godauliya, Ro-Ro vessels for tourism development on river Ganga and a three-lane flyover bridge on the Varanasi-Ghazipur highway.

    The prime minister inaugurated projects worth around Rs 744 crore and laid foundation stones of several projects and public works worth about Rs 839 crore.

    These include the Centre for Skill and Technical Support of Central Institute of Petrochemical Engineering and Technology (CIPET), 143 rural projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission and mango and vegetable integrated pack house in Karkhiyanv.

    Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and state ministers were also present on the occasion. Modi will also inaugurate the International Cooperation and Convention Centre, Rudrakash which has been constructed with Japanese assistance.

    Thereafter, he will inspect the Maternal and Child Health Wing, BHU. He will also meet officials and medical professionals to review COVID preparedness.

  • PM Narendra Modi lands in Varanasi, received by Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel

    By PTI
    LUCKNOW: Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed at Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency, on Thursday.

    At the airport, he was received by Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, BJP national vice-president and party’s UP in-charge Radha Mohan Singh, and other dignitaries as well as officials.

    In a tweet on Thursday, the PMO said, “The prime minister landed in Varanasi a short while ago. He was received at the airport by UP Governor Smt. @anandibenpatel, CM Shri @myogiadityanath and other dignitaries as well as officials.”

    The Prime Minister landed in Varanasi a short while ago. He received at the airport by UP Governor Smt. @anandibenpatel, CM Shri @myogiadityanath and other dignitaries as well as officials. pic.twitter.com/DmwyAwL9tN
    — PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 15, 2021

    During the visit, he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of multiple development projects worth over Rs 1,500 crore.

    The prime minister will inaugurate public projects and works, including a 100-bed MCH wing in BHU, multi-level parking at Godauliya, Ro-Ro Vessels for tourism development on River Ganga and three-lane flyover bridge on the Varanasi-Ghazipur Highway.

    Projects worth around Rs 744 crore will be inaugurated. He will also lay the foundation stones of several projects and public works worth around Rs 839 crore.

    These include the Centre for Skill and Technical Support of Central Institute of Petrochemical Engineering and Technology (CIPET), 143 rural projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission and mango and vegetable integrated pack house in Karkhiyanv.

    He will inaugurate the International Cooperation and Convention Centre, Rudrakash, which has been constructed with Japanese assistance. Thereafter, he will inspect the Maternal and Child Health Wing, BHU. He will also meet with officials and medical professionals to review COVID preparedness.