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Congress not even in race in UP: MoS Baghel

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The Congress is not even in race in Uttar Pradesh assembly polls and if they are projecting Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as a chief ministerial candidate, it can be just too bad for her political career, Union Minister of State of Law, S.P. Singh Baghel said on Thursday.

“Earlier, I used to fear, if Rahul Gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi, who visit only Amethi or Rai Bareli, ventured out across Uttar Pradesh, there could have been a wave of support. People may remember Youth Congress days, they equate Priyanka as looking like Indira Gandhi. But it has not worked at all. And if Priyanka is being projected as a Chief Ministerial candidate, this can be just too bad for her,” Baghel told IANS after casting vote in Agra (South) constituency for the phase I of the seven phase assembly polls to the UP assembly.

Baghel was replying to a question about Congress’ attack on Prime Minister giving a longish television interview hours before the phase I polls. “The road to Delhi goes from Uttar Pradesh. The Congress is not seen anywhere. If at all, only those who are not originally from Congress, will win; those leaders with ground support who did not get tickets from their parties SP, BJP or BSP. Those originally from Congress are not going to win; they are all in a pathetic situation.”

Asked if the BJP will garner full support or go in for a coalition in view of the rural distress, Baghel – who is fighting from the Karhal seat against Akhilesh Yadav – said, “When he came there for filing nomination, he had declared karyakartas will fight the election, I will come straight on March 10 (day of the result) when we will win by a margin of 1.5 lakh. I challenged him that he will be forced to come here again. And he did come on February 6. (SP family members) Ram Gopal ji is camping in the area, Dharmendra, Dimple, Akshay are all out there asking for votes. This is an indication of their response.”

He also tried to downplay allegations that he is going against Mulayam Singh Yadav, saying, “I quit police service 29 years ago, why are they (SP) still talking about my past connection with Mulayam as his security officer? I am in active politics in Agra for the last 25 years, have won three elections, been in Rajya Sabha, was a minister in Yogi government and had I not resigned and contested Agra Lok Sabha seat, you would have been interviewing me as a UP Cabinet Minister.”

To a question if West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s campaigning in Uttar Pradesh will damage BJP’s prospects, Baghel said, “Mamata Di neither has any admirer nor any voter in the entire Uttar Pradesh. Had she not resorted to fascist tactics, had she not captured booths, had she not repressed BJP workers, not gotten them killed, she would have lost Bengal too. The BJP got 70 seats is an indication that we have reached the semi-finals. Long time ago, Chanakya had said, if the king is very popular, then enemy of the enemy will find an opportunity as a friend. Same is being done by Akhilesh and Mamata Di.”

Baghel sounded confident that BJP will win over 300 seats with ease. “The 2014 Parliament election ended the SP-BSP alternate game that Uttar Pradesh had witnessed since 1989 and now it is the Modi-Yogi story.

National News

Monsoon Havoc In Himachal Pradesh Claims 257 Lives Since June, 37 Missing And Over 1,000 Houses Destroyed

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Shimla: The monsoon havoc in Himachal Pradesh has claimed 257 lives since June 20, according to the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HP SDMA).

District-wise data shows that Mandi (26 deaths), Kangra (28), and Kullu (11) were among the worst-affected in rain-triggered disasters.

Among the deaths, 133 were deaths reported in rain-related incidents such as landslides, flash floods, drowning, and electrocution, and another 124 fatalities in road accidents,.

The cumulative report released on Friday evening paints a grim picture of widespread destruction. The state has also recorded 331 people injured and 37 missing during the ongoing monsoon season.

Landslides and flash floods alone have caused 16 deaths, while 27 people drowned in swollen rivers and nullahs. Other casualties were reported due to lightning, fire, snake bites, electrocution, and accidental falls.

In addition to human loss, the state reported massive damage to property and infrastructure. Over 1,028 houses were fully damaged and another 2,157 partially damaged, besides 285 cow sheds and 699 shops and factories destroyed. Public property worth more than Rs 2,14,403 crore has been lost, including extensive damage to roads, power lines, water schemes, and government institutions.

Animal losses have also been severe, with 1,625 cattle heads and over 25,700 poultry birds perishing in the rains.

The HPSDMA noted that Mandi district alone accounted for the heaviest financial damage, exceeding Rs 1,180 crore, followed by Kangra and Kullu districts.

Meanwhile, Mandi district reported the highest disruption, with 203 roads blocked and 458 transformers out of service, followed by Kullu where 79 roads remain closed, including NH-305 at Jhed (Khanag) due to a major landslide. Water supply schemes were also severely affected in Chamba (24), Kangra (41), and Mandi (44).

In Kinnaur, six roads including NH-5 were blocked after heavy downpours, while Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti reported widespread outages due to flash floods and HT line faults.

Authorities cautioned that intermittent rainfall in the coming days may worsen the situation, and appealed to people to avoid travel through vulnerable stretches.

Officials warned that the situation remains critical with rains expected to continue, urging residents to avoid travel through vulnerable stretches and follow safety advisories.

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National News

Aadhaar-Based Face Authentication Doubles To 200 Crore Transactions In Just 6 Months

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Aadhaar-based face authentication has set new benchmark, doubling from 100 crore to 200 crore transactions in just 6 months, the government said on Monday.

Aadhaar Face Authentication lets Aadhaar holders verify their identity instantly, securely, and contactless anytime, anywhere, no documents needed.

On August 10, 2025, UIDAI celebrated a landmark 200 crore transactions of Face Authentication, showcasing India’s rapid move towards seamless, secure, and paperless authentication, according to IT Ministry.

The pace of adoption has been exponential. 50 crore transactions were recorded by mid-2024. The number doubled to 100 crore transactions in January 2025 in just about five months. In less than six months, this figure has again doubled, reaching the 200 crore milestone, the ministry informed.

“Reaching 200 crore Aadhaar Face Authentication transactions in such a short time underlines the trust and confidence that both residents and service providers have in Aadhaar’s secure, inclusive, and innovative authentication ecosystem,” said Bhuvnesh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), UIDAI.

The journey from 100 crore to 200 crore transactions in under six months is a testament to its scalability and the country’s digital readiness.”

He further added, “From villages to metros, UIDAI is joining forces with governments, banks, and service providers to make Aadhaar Face Authentication a grand success and by giving every Indian the power to prove their identity instantly, securely, and anywhere.”

The swift rise from 100 crore to 200 crore Aadhaar Face Authentication transactions in just six months reflects the core vision of Digital India, transforming the country into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.

By enabling instant, secure and paperless identity verification across every corner of the nation, UIDAI is strengthening the backbone of digital governance.

“This milestone is not just about numbers, it is a testament to how inclusive technology, when scaled efficiently, can bridge divides, empower citizens and accelerate India’s journey towards a truly connected and confident digital future,” said the ministry.

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Maharashtra

171 Maharashtra Tourists Safe, Search On For Missing Woman In landslide-hit Uttarakhand

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Mumbai: A woman tourist from Maharashtra has remained untraceable since landslide and flash floods hit Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, state Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan said on Saturday.

The minister’s office in a statement said that 171 out of the 172 tourists from Maharashtra, who were stranded in the Dharali area, could be contacted, and they were all confirmed safe.

The Statement

“Only one person, Kritika Jain, is still missing, but the authorities are trying to locate her. Efforts are underway to establish contact with the tourist, and the Uttarakhand State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) has been instructed to conduct a search for her,” the statement said.

Of the 171 tourists from Maharashtra, 160 are safe at various locations – 31 are in Matli, six in Jolly Grant, and 123 in Uttarkashi – and have continued their journey as planned. The remaining 11 tourists are safe in Harsil and will be airlifted to safety, it stated.

Mahajan is overseeing the rescue operation on-site in Uttarkashi to ensure the safety of tourists.

The Maharashtra State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) is in constant touch with its Uttarakhand counterpart, the district control room, the district emergency operations centre in Uttarkashi, and the National Emergency Response Centre in New Delhi.

According to the statement, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is monitoring the situation.

As per information shared by Uttarakhand authorities, the airlift of tourists stranded in Harsil was scheduled for Saturday morning. Army, NDRF, SDRF and local rescue teams are operational in Dharali.

The landslide and floods have damaged roads and disrupted communication networks. Efforts are underway to restore connectivity and basic infrastructure.

A satellite phone has been deployed by IGP Rajeev Swaroop, and the Army has been alerted for immediate response.

The Maharashtra SEOC is coordinating rescue arrangements, updating information, and assisting the concerned families, the statement added.

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