New Delhi, Sep 25: As heavy rains continue to lash Marathwada in Maharashtra, leading to loss of lives and livestock plus extensive damage to crops, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Thursday expressed condolences to the affected families and appealed to the government to expedite relief efforts.

Taking to X, LoP Rahul Gandhi said, “The news of loss of lives and extensive damage to crops due to heavy rainfall in Marathwada, Maharashtra, is extremely heartbreaking. In this difficult time, my condolences are with all the affected families.”

He also appealed to the “government and administration to expedite relief efforts and, after assessing the crop devastation, provide complete assistance to the farmers.”

LoP Gandhi also urged Congress leaders and workers to cooperate with the Maharashtra administration and provide all possible help to those in need.

It is pertinent to note here that Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar on Thursday announced that he would donate his six months’ income to help the growers in distress.

After the ruling MahaYuti leaders including the BJP’s Maharashtra chief Ravindra Chavan and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar and their partymen announced that they would give one month’s salary to rain-affected farmers in Maharashtra, Congress leaders have come to the fore with bigger pledges.

Pointing out that the crop damage was widespread, Vijay Wadettiwar said that “one month’s salary won’t be of much help and that six months’ income should be donated.”

Stating that farmers have incurred heavy losses due to the rain fury in the state, the Opposition leader said that everyone should come forward and help the farmers to the maximum extent possible to pull them out of distress.

After the rains and flooding, crops have been affected by yellow mosaic virus, further adding to the woes of farmers, the Congress leader told the media.

He also demanded that the Agriculture Minister should conduct a panchnama of the crop loss and announce Rs 50,000 per hectare as compensation.

Wadettiwar said that if the Maharashtra government does not come forward to help, it will be responsible for the plight of farmers in Vidarbha and Marathwada.

On Wednesday, he said that the small amount announced by the Maharashtra government is a “cruel joke”.

The Congress and NCP-SP demanded that the government declare a “wet drought” in the state.

Notably, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis informed that the government has already sanctioned Rs 2,215 crore financial assistance to 31.64 lakh farmers.

The Chief Minister said that out of this, Rs 1,829 crore has been distributed at the district level and will be deposited in the bank accounts of the farmers in the next 8 to 10 days.

Greater Noida, Sep 25: Stressing that the country must become self-reliant, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that despite global uncertainties, India’s growth remains resilient and remarkable.

During his keynote address at the Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show 2025 here, PM Modi said that this time, the country partner of the trade show is Russia, which means “we are further strengthening this time-tested partnership”.

Stressing that the government is doubling down on its efforts towards the ‘Make in India’ initiative, PM Modi said that we aim to make ‘chips to ships’ in the country.

The Prime Minister also informed that the first, fully indigenous AK-203 assault rifles are set to be delivered to the Army soon.

The Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) is a joint venture company that has been established for the indigenous production of AK-203, named ‘Sher’ in India, in Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi. The AK-203 rifles are significantly more modern compared to the AK-47 and AK-56 rifles. They are one of the most lethal rifles in the Kalashnikov series.

PM Modi further stated that Indians now believe that swadeshi products are getting better, user-friendly and long-lasting. “Hence, there should be no compromise on quality,” the Prime Minister told the gathering, adding that the country must become self-reliant and every product that can be made in India should be made here.

As soon as the Prime Minister reached the venue to inaugurate the mega trade show, he took a tour of the exhibition area, where he witnessed next-generation innovations across the spectrum.

The third edition of the mega event — envisioned under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath — is taking place at the India Expo Centre and Mart from September 25 to 29 — showcasing the state’s industrial, agricultural, cultural, and innovation strengths on a global stage.

The event focuses on showcasing industrial progress, promoting trade collaborations, and attracting investments. Attendees will include business leaders, industry experts, startups, exporters, and government officials. Over 2,400 exhibitors and 1,25,000 B2B visitors are expected to participate in the trade show.

Mumbai: The official X handle of Mumbai Police has honoured the Nirbhaya, which has become a lifeline of courage and compassion for women, children, and senior citizens across the city. On the eve of Navratri, the department celebrated the bravery of its women officers, equating their service to the fierce and protective spirit of the Goddess who destroyed evil forces.

The officers, including Police Constable Priyanka Rajendra Pagari, Police Constable Vandana Madhukar Pandey, Police Constable Seema Machindra Kashyap, Police Constable Sushma Sandeep Ambedkar, and Police Constable Anita Amitmali, shared their experiences of working in the Nirbhaya Pathak (Squad) since 2021.

The squad not only responds to distress calls but also reaches out to schools, guiding children on sensitive issues like good touch and bad touch. “We tell the girls, if you don’t sit quietly, tell the police what is happening to you,” added Constable Kashyap, stressing the importance of encouraging young girls to speak up.

“We need to increase our response time. We need to post within 5–10 minutes when a woman calls us,” said Constable Pagari, underlining the team’s dedication to quick action.

The officers also narrated heartwarming incidents of reuniting missing children and helping vulnerable citizens. Constable Ambedkar recalled how they often find children lost in Kurla’s crowded areas and reunite them with their families. “Then we take the boys from our Nirbhaya Pathak car and take them around. While making announcements, we enquire about their parents,” she explained.

The squad’s compassion extends to senior citizens as well. During a night shift, they found an elderly woman who did not remember her name or address. “She told us her village address. Meanwhile, we got the number of the village head and later traced her son,” shared Constable Pandey, proud of reuniting her with her family.

The team also saved the life of an eight-year-old girl who attempted suicide by jumping into a lake. “We rescued her and admitted her to Baba Hospital. We saved her life,” said Constable Amitmali. “I feel very proud that I am a member of Mumbai Police,” she added, echoing the sentiment of the entire squad.