NATIONAL 
EXPRESS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said, after decades it will be the first election in which terrorism, separatism, stone pelting, firing from across the border are not the election issues for Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing a public meeting at Udhampur today, he said, earlier, even holding Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra or Amarnath Yatra safely were a big concern. Mr Modi said, today the situation has completely changed. He said, today, development is taking place in Jammu and Kashmir and trust is also rising. The Prime Minister said, the time is not far when Assembly Elections will be held in Jammu and Kashmir and it will get back the status of a state. Taking a jibe at the opposition parties, he said, these dynastic parties are opposed to development and also to heritage. The Prime Minister said, Ram Mandir was neither an election issue, nor is it nor will be. He said, the struggle for Ram temple is 500 years old, even before BJP was born and even when there was no trace of elections.

Prime Minister and senior BJP leader Narendra Modi has said that the NDA government at the Centre has made the country much more stronger during the past ten years. Addressing an election rally in Rishikesh, Mr Modi said, whenever there has been a weak and unstable government in the country, the enemies have taken advantage and terrorism has spread its roots. Prime Minister said that his government has implemented one rank one pension scheme for soldiers. He said, BJP government at the Centre has also provided made in India bullet proof jackets to the soldiers, saving their lives. Prime Minister said, today, everything from modern rifles to fighter planes and aircraft careers are being made in the country itself. He said, border villages are being developed under BJP government on priority basis. Mr. Modi said, 900 kilometer long highway is also being built to connect Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath. Prime Minister outlined various government programs aimed at enhancing Uttarakhand’s economic potential and boosting tourism to stimulate job growth. Mr Modi said BJP government has provided tap water connection to 90 percent families of Uttarakhand.

Senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh said that we do not discriminate between Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians. Addressing BJP’s public meeting in Deotalab Assembly Constituency of Mauganj Rewa, he said, we take everyone along. Referring to the development in Madhya Pradesh, he said that Madhya Pradesh is no longer a sick State, it has become an engine of growth. While mentioning the public welfare schemes of the Central Government, he said that it would take hours to count the schemes brought out by the NDA Government.  He said, earlier, India was at the 11th position in the world in terms of economy, today it is at the 5th position. Mr. Singh added that by the end of 2024, India will be among the top three countries.

Senior Party leader Amit Shah said that the BJP government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have always worked in the interest of the poor and farmers. Addressing public meetings in Mandla and Katni in Madhya Pradesh today, he said, as a result, 95 lakh farmers have received Samman Nidhi and the poor are getting free food grains. He appealed to make the BJP alliance win more than four hundred seats. Mr Shah said that the Congress party ruled for 70 years based on casteism, nepotism and corruption but Mr. Modi worked to eliminate casteism, nepotism and corruption from the country. He alleged that the dynastic alliance aims to bring their son, daughter and nephew to power. Mr. Shah slammed former Congress President Rahul Gandhi and said that Congress would have never given a tribal a respectable position. But, Prime Minister Modi has given the representative of the tribal society the highest position in the country. He added that the NDA government has brought the country’s economy from number 11 to number 5 in 10 years. Mr. Shah said that Prime Minister Modi has helped eliminate Naxalism from Madhya Pradesh in a short time. He added, in contrast, Congress being in power for 70 years, could not do anything to contain terrorism. Mentioning the various initiatives of the NDA government on the religious front, he referred to Ram temple, Kashi Vishwanath corridor and Somnath temple.

New Delhi: The Ambassador of Nepal to India, Shankar Prasad Sharma, has called for the Indian business community to consider investing in Nepal and added that New Delhi is the number one place to promote investing in the Himalayan nation. While speaking to the news agency ANI at an "Industry Outreach Meet" organised in New Delhi, the envoy said, "The largest investor in Nepal is India. One-third of the total investment is from India... India is the number one place to promote investing in Nepal." He said that Indian investors should be interested in going to Nepal and investing in the hydropower sector."If they need more skilled people in Nepal, they can bring them from India as there is no requirement for a passport or visa... Nepal has started exporting electricity to India. So, Indian investors should be interested in going to Nepal and investing in the hydropower sector." he said. The envoy invited Indian businessmen to Nepal at the "Industry Outreach Meet" organised here in the national capital, on Thursday, by the Embassy of Nepal in India and PHDCCI India-Nepal Centre. The event is held before Nepal Investment Summit 2024, which will be held on April 28-29 in Kathmandu. About the promising investment opportunities in Nepal, Ambassador Sharma, and Sushil Bhatta, CEO, Investment Board Nepal, made detailed presentations. Showing high interest in Nepal as a natural investment destination from India, the program witnessed the overwhelming participation of leading industry captains and decision-makers from the government.

Prime Minister and senior BJP leader Narendra Modi has said that BJP government has provided tap water connection to 90 percent families of Uttarakhand. Addressing an election rally in Rishikesh, Mr Modi said that his government has implemented one rank one pension scheme for soldiers. He said, the BJP government at the Centre has also provided made in India bullet proof jackets to the soldiers, saving their lives. Prime Minister said, today, everything from modern rifles to fighter planes and aircraft careers are being made in the country itself. He said, border villages are being developed under BJP government on priority basis. Mr. Modi said, nine hundred kilometer long highway is also being built to connect Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath. Prime Minister said today there is a government in the country which has made India much more stronger during the past ten years.

In IPL Cricket, Punjab Kings will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Chandigarh today. The match will begin at 7.30 this evening. Yesterday, Chennai Super Kings defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by seven wickets at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, in Chennai. Chasing a target of 138, Chennai reached 141 at the loss of three wickets, with 14 balls to spare. Skipper Rithuraj Gaikwad scored an unbeaten 67 runs from 58 balls. Earlier, put in to bat first, Kolkata scored 137 for the loss of nine wickets.

Senior BJP leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that this election of 2024 is a very important election for the 21st century India. Mr Modi was addressing a gathering in Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday. He said that this is not just an election but a mission to build a new India. Mr Modi said that the BJP government is following the mantra of Sabka Saath-Sabka Vikas and is giving priority to every city and village of the country. Referring to the development of infrastructure, he said that our government is spending crores of rupees on modern infrastructure in the country. He said, the BJP has given respect to the Dalit-backward-tribal section of the society, which was deprived of even their identity by the previous governments. He said that Congress did not even give the status of freedom fighter to a revolutionary like Govind Guru. It is our government which gave the status of freedom fighter to Govind Guru, he added. He said that our government honoured Tantya Mama and started the Tribal Pride Day for the first time on the birth anniversary of Lord Birsa Munda. Mentioning the success of the country’s foreign policy, he said that once the Congress government used to go to other countries with its complaints. But today the time has changed, big countries of the world, countries at war with each other, come to India to talk about their issues. Seeing this status of our country, the morale of every Indian is boosted, he added.

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that Assam and other North Eastern states developed during the last 10 years like never before. He was addressing a public meeting at Chukuli Bhoria in Lakhimpur Lok Sabha constituency in Assam on Tuesday. He slammed Congress for negligence and insensitivity towards  Assam during their government. Mr. Amit Shah said that today the Northeast has emerged as India’s success story. He informed that several peace agreements have been signed in the last ten years under the leadership of the Prime Minister and more than 9,500 insurgents have surrendered and joined the mainstream of the society. Due to the improved security situation, the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has been withdrawn from 80 percent of the Northeast, added the Minister. Lakhimpur Parliamentary Constituency is held by the BJP, with incumbent MP Pradan Baruah seeking a third successive term.  He is pitted against Congress candidate Uday Shankar Hazarika. Mr. Shah will also take part in a road show from Chaliha Nagar to Thana Chariali in Tinsukia town in the evening.  Tinsukia town comes under the Dibrugarh Parliamentary Constituency, from where Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal is contesting as the BJP candidate.  Sonowal is locked in a triangular fight with United Opposition Forum, Assam, nominee Lurinjyoti Gogoi and Aam Aadmi Party candidate Manoj Dhanowar. Elections in Lakhimpur and Dibrugarh, along with three other constituencies of the state, are slated in the first phase on April 19.

Senior BJP leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India has demonstrated that nothing is impossible for it to achieve. Addressing an election rally at Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh today, Mr Modi said, ”No matter how difficult the goal is, if India is determined to achieve it, it will definitely achieve”. Prime Minister said that with that inspiration and energy, his government was working to make India a developed India. Mr. Modi said that the Congress government used to seek help from the world but during the Corona pandemic, India sent medicines and vaccines to the world. He added that when the country is strong then the world listens to that country. Prime Minister said that there is an emergence of new job opportunities for the youth. He highlighted Pilibhit’s significance in agriculture production, underlining the government’s efforts to support farmers. He highlighted the government’s initiatives for sugarcane farmers, including the opening of new sugar mills and the expansion of existing ones, along with increased financial support to farmers. Taking a jibe at the opposition, Mr Modi said that the INDI alliance had opposed the construction of the Ram Temple and rejected Pran Pratistha’s invitation as well. He claimed that those who attended the pran pratishtha had been expelled from the part Eight parliamentary constituencies in Uttar Pradesh will vote in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls on April 19. These are Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina (SC), Moradabad, Rampur and Pilibhit.

President Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate a two-day Homeopathic Symposium on Wednesday on World Homeopathy Day 2024 at Yashobhoomi Convention Centre Dwarka, New Delhi. The symposium to be organized by the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH) under the aegis of Ministry of Ayush is based on the theme of ‘Empowering Research, Enhancing Proficiency.’ The event aims to promote holistic health and wellness and head towards utilization of advanced techniques for homoeopathy research. The Scientific Convention will also include sessions on Translational Research, Epidemic and Public health, Homoeopathic Drug Standardisation and Basic Research among others. Several publications will also be released during the event. Ministry of Ayush, Secretary, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Director General of CCHR, Dr. Subhash Kaushik, National Commission for Homoeopathy, Chairman, Dr. Anil Khurana and the Padma Awardees in Homoeopathy are also slated to attend the symposium.

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar met with Secretary General of Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Theodora Gentzis in New Delhi on Tuesday. In a social media post, Dr. Jaishankar said that they discussed strengthening economic and political cooperation between India, Belgium and the European Union. Dr. Jaishankar also took up the concerns of the diamond industry and exchanged views on semiconductors and green growth.