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After security breach, PM Modi cancels Ferozepur visit

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In a major security breach, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday cancelled his visit to Ferozepur town in Punjab, where he was scheduled to lay the foundation stones of Rs 42,750 crore projects, at the last minute.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced from the venue that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not be able to address the rally “due to some reasons”.

Mandaviya was here for the foundation stone of three medical infrastructures, including the 100 bedded PGI Satellite Centre in Ferozepur to be built at a cost of more than Rs 490 crore.

Earlier, the Prime Minister landed at Bhaisiana Air Force station in Bathinda town from where he was supposed to travel to Ferozepur by road.

As per the Ministry of Home Affairs’ statement on the PM Modi’s Punjab visit, “Today morning PM landed at Bathinda from where he was to go to National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala by helicopter. Due to rain and poor visibility, PM waited for about 20 minutes for the weather to clear out.

“When the weather didn’t improve, it was decided that he would visit the National Martyrs Memorial via road, which would take more than 2 hours. He proceeded to travel by road after necessary confirmation of security arrangements by the DGP Punjab Police.

“Around 30 km away from the National Martyrs Memorial in Hussainiwala, when the PM’s convoy reached a flyover, it was found that the road was blocked by some protesters. The PM was stuck on a flyover for 15-20 minutes. This was a major lapse in the security of PM.

“The PM’s schedule and travel plan was communicated well in advance to Punjab Government. As per procedure, they have to make necessary arrangements for logistics, security as well as keep a contingency plan ready. Also in view of the contingency plan, the Punjab Government has to deploy additional security to secure any movement by road, which was clearly not deployed.

“After this security lapse, it was decided to head back to Bathinda airport.”

The Ministry of Home Affairs took cognisance of the serious security lapse and has sought a detailed report from the state government.

This was Modi’s first visit to the state after the repeal of three contentious farm laws.

Earlier in the day, state Finance Minister Manpreet Badal welcomed Modi at the airport in Bathinda. Chief Minister Charanjit Channi was to address the programmes virtually.

“Welcoming Prime Minister, Shri @narendramodi Ji, on behalf of the Punjab Government for his official visit to Punjab,” Manpreet Badal tweeted.

Just hours ahead of his visit, Modi tweeted, “I look forward to being among my sisters and brothers of Punjab today. At a programme in Ferozepur, the foundation stone of development works worth Rs 42,750 crore would be laid, which will improve the quality of life for the people.”

Modi was to lay the foundation stone of development projects of Rs 42,750 crore comprising two mega road corridors to enhance accessibility to prominent religious centres and three health institutions in this town bordering Pakistan.

One of the road corridors will halve the travel time from 12 hours from the national capital to religious sites in Punjab, comprising Amritsar and Sultanpur Lodhi, and to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Jammu and Kashmir’s Katra.

After paying obeisance to freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev at the memorial in Hussainiwala, about 260 km from the state capital Chandigarh, the Prime Minister was to lay the stones and address a public meeting.

Modi last visited Hussainiwala in March 2015, where the last rites of the three freedom fighters were held after they were hanged in Lahore on March 23, 1931.

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Lawrence Bishnoi gang member Hari Boxer detained in US; process to bring him to India underway

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Jaipur : In a major breakthrough in Rajasthan Police’s ongoing crackdown on organised crime and criminal gangs, notorious gangster Harichand Jat alias ‘Hari Boxer’, an active member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and a wanted fugitive, has been detained in the United States. The operation was carried out under the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Rajiv Kumar Sharma as part of the state police’s sustained campaign against organised criminal networks. The Rajasthan Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), working under the guidance of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Dinesh M.N., played a key role in securing the detention. A special team operating under the supervision of Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) Deputy Inspector General of Police and Interpol Liaison Officer Yogesh Yadav gathered crucial intelligence and coordinated efforts to trace the fugitive.

As part of the international operation, Rajasthan Police facilitated the issuance of a Red Corner Notice against Hari Boxer. It also sent 14 separate references to Interpol across five countries to track his whereabouts and secure action against him. To strengthen the case for his detention, the police submitted a provisional arrest request, an updated and comprehensive dossier containing details of the accused, and his fingerprints to the concerned authorities. Hari Boxer has deep roots in Rajasthan. His birth, upbringing and early journey into the world of crime are all closely linked to the state. His real name is Harichand Jat, and he originally hails from the Bansur area of Rajasthan’s Kotputli-Behror district. His father Girdhari Jat is an ordinary farmer from the region.

Before entering the world of crime, Harichand reportedly led an ordinary life in his village and aspired to serve the country or the state. A look into Hari Boxer’s background reveals that Harichand Jat initially aspired to join the Indian Army or Rajasthan Police. While preparing for competitive examinations, he moved to Jaipur, the state capital. During his stay in Jaipur, he underwent professional boxing training and later started coaching young people in the sport. His association with the boxing ring in Jaipur and his subsequent work as a boxing coach earned him the nickname ‘Hari Boxer’. The name gradually became popular among his friends and on social media before gaining recognition in criminal circles as well. The process to bring Hari Boxer back to India is now underway. His detention marks a significant achievement for Rajasthan Police in its efforts to dismantle organised criminal networks and pursue gangsters operating beyond India’s borders.

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National News

Nitin Nabin’s remarks on Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav trigger political slugfest; BJP, Oppn trade charges

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New Delhi : Political leaders from the BJP, Congress, Samajwadi Party and other parties on Saturday exchanged sharp reactions to remarks made by BJP National President Nitin Nabin during an exclusive interview with Media, in which he targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav over family-centric politics, alleged attempts to create unrest and their political approach. Backing Nabin, BJP spokesperson RP Singh said the party president is absolutely right in describing Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav as leaders whose concerns were limited to their respective families. He alleged that neither leader thought beyond family interests. West Bengal Minister Tapas Roy also endorsed Nabin’s remarks, shifting the focus to development and governance in the state.

Criticising successive Communist and Trinamool Congress governments, Roy alleged that little had been done over the past 50 years to generate employment or establish adequate industrial and infrastructure facilities. He said the Centre is now working with a welfare-oriented approach. However, Congress MP Balwant Wankhade rejected Nabin’s criticism of Rahul Gandhi and the Gandhi family. Speaking in Amravati, Maharashtra, Wankhade said the family had always prioritised the country over personal interests. Citing former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, he said they had sacrificed their lives for the nation and maintained that Rahul Gandhi is continuing to fight for the country’s interests.

Samajwadi Party MP Ramashankar Rajbhar also hit back at Nabin over his remarks concerning Sanatan and the politics surrounding the ‘topi’. He alleged that the BJP was unsettled by Akhilesh Yadav’s PDA (Pichde, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) politics, religious practices and the temple being constructed in Etawah. Meanwhile, SBSP MLA Bedi Ram welcomed Nabin’s observations, particularly on development, and thanked him for highlighting infrastructure expansion. Pointing to road construction, expressways, connectivity and rural roads, he said good infrastructure was essential for a state’s and country’s progress. Nabin’s remarks also targeted the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation over its foreign funding, accused Rahul Gandhi of being used as a ‘foreign toolkit’ to create unrest, and questioned the Congress leader’s approach towards democratic institutions and parliamentary traditions.

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‘Prepare for your next life’: Rajbhar mocks Akhilesh Yadav, says he won’t become CM in this life

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Lucknow : Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief, Om Prakash Rajbhar, on Saturday took a swipe at Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav over his claim that his party would return to power in Uttar Pradesh and he would become the Chief Minister again. Reacting to Akhilesh Yadav’s assertion, Rajbhar said that the Samajwadi Party chief should prepare for his next life if he wished to become Chief Minister, as he would not get the opportunity in his present life. “Prepare for your next life. You will not become the Chief Minister in this life,” Rajbhar told Media, taking a dig at the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister. The remarks came after Akhilesh Yadav expressed confidence that the Samajwadi Party would return to power in the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections and that he would once again become the Chief Minister.

Earlier, addressing a gathering in Varanasi, Akhilesh Yadav had indicated that he would not contest the 2027 Assembly elections himself. Instead, he said that he would take the oath as Chief Minister directly from his position as a Lok Sabha member if the Samajwadi Party formed the government. The SP chief also made several promises for Varanasi, including bringing a Metro rail project to the holy city if his party returned to power. He further assured that the Varuna river would be cleaned and that farmers would receive adequate compensation under his government. Rajbhar also commented on the growing scale of the Deepotsav celebrations in Ayodhya, saying that the festival was attracting increasing public participation and gaining popularity with every passing year.

“The Deepotsav programme is gaining popularity day by day, and people’s attraction towards it is increasing. This is why it is being celebrated on a much larger scale than last year,” he said. The minister also reacted to the Election Commission’s decision to provide another opportunity to people whose names have been left out of the voter lists during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in seven states, including Delhi. Defending the Election Commission’s repeated efforts to ensure that eligible voters are included in the electoral rolls, Rajbhar said the poll body did not want anyone’s name to be excluded from the voter list. “The Election Commission does not want anyone’s name to be left out of the voter list. That is why it is repeatedly publishing the lists and asking people to fill in the required forms or approach the authorities for assistance. If people are not taking the process seriously, what can the Election Commission do?” he said.

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