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Dusted, rusted approach of vote bank is no longer working, says Nadda

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BJP chief J.P Nadda on Monday said that Indian politics has undergone a rapid transformation in the last eight years.

In a letter to fellow citizens, Nadda said: “Indian politics has undergone a rapid transformation in the last eight years. The tried, tested, or I should say dusted and rusted approach of vote bank politics, divisive politics, and selective politics is no longer working.”

Nadda’s letter follows a joint statement of opposition parties on recent violence. “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his emphasis on ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas’ every Indian is being empowered and is getting the wings to rise further. Unfortunately, this thrust towards development politics is being bitterly resisted by the rejected and dejected parties who are once again taking refuge in vote bank and divisive politics,” Nadda wrote.

He further wrote that today, India is seeing two distinctive styles of politics – the NDA’s efforts which are seen in their work and the petty politics of a group of parties, which is seen in their acerbic words. “In the last few days, we have seen these parties come together yet again in letter (whether in spirit too, time will tell) in which they have waged a direct onslaught on the spirit of our nation and cast aspersions on our hard working citizens,” he wrote.

Referring to violence in Rajasthan, he said: “I want to remind the rejected and dejected political parties – since you talk about vote bank politics, why have you forgotten the shameful happenings in Karauli, Rajasthan? What are the compulsions that are driving your haunting silence on the issue?”

“In November 1966, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi opened fire on Hindu Sadhus sitting outside Parliament who had marched towards Delhi with the demand of banning cow slaughter in India. And who can forget Rajiv Gandhi’s infamous words – “When a big tree falls, the earth shakes” – that justified the killing of thousands of Sikhs in the wake of PM Indira Gandhi’s death,he said.

He mentioned violent incidents– Gujarat in 1969, Moradabad 1980, Bhiwandi 1984, Meerut 1987, various incidents against the Hindus in Kashmir valley throughout the 1980s, 1989 Bhagalpur, 1994 Hubballi. “The list of communal violence during Congress rule is long. Under which Government did the Muzaffarnagar Riots happen in 2013 or the Assam Riots in 2012,” he asked.

He noted that it was the UPA, controlled by an extra-constitutional NAC that brought in the most horrific Communal Violence Bill, which stooped to new lows of vote bank politics by even UPA standards.

“Similarly, the most horrific massacres against Dalits and Tribals have taken place under Congress regimes. This is the same Congress that even got Dr Ambedkar defeated in Parliamentary elections,” he said.

He mentioned that in Tamil Nadu, elements aligned to the ruling party in the state have left no stone unturned in verbally lynching, smearing and humiliating one of India’s tallest musical maestros just because he has views not palatable to one political party and their allies. “Is this democratic? One can have different views and yet coexist happily but why take to insults,” he further asked.

Talking about violent attacks on party workers in Kerala and West Bengal, the BJP chief said: “The shameful political violence in West Bengal and Kerala, and the repeated killing and targeting of BJP workers offers a glimpse of how some of our political parties view democracy.”

He pointed out that in Maharashtra, two Cabinet Ministers have been arrested on serious charges of corruption, extortion and links with anti-social elements. “Is this not worrisome for us as a nation that a state which houses India’s financial capital has such an uninspiring coalition where top Cabinet ministers have such extortionist tendencies,? he asked.

“This brings me to my next point. The reason for the shameful conduct by a select group of political parties lies in the above list of incidents that I have shared. Dyed in the wool proponents of vote bank politics that they are, these parties are fearing that their shenanigans are being finally exposed comprehensively,” the veteran leader said.

He alleged that for decades, they freely patronised lumpen, anti-social elements who bullied common people. Now that these elements are being subjected to the laws of the land, the parties which sheltered these elements are panicking and thus taking to this bizarre conduct.

“The results of the recently held Assembly election should be an eye-opener for those who thrive on vote bank politics. India’s largest state on the electoral map, a coastal state on the western coast, a state in the Northeast and a hill state have given a resounding mandate to the BJP,” he said.

Nadda claimed that due to the BJP, India is seeing a sentiment of pro-incumbency where developmental politics is being resoundingly rewarded.

The BJP also became the first party in many years to cross the 100 figure in the Rajya Sabha and get an absolute majority in the UP legislative council. The Opposition should introspect why the parties that ruled the nation for so many decades have been confined to the margins of history now, he noted.

“The youth of India want opportunities, not obstacles. They want development, not divisions. Today, when people across all faiths, all age groups as well as from all walks of life have come together to defeat poverty and take India to new heights of progress, I would urge the Opposition to change track and embrace the politics of development. We owe this to our coming generations,” Nadda added.

National News

India storm into semis of 2025 Women’s T20 World Cup for the Blind

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Bengaluru, Nov 15: India advanced to the semi-finals of the Cricket for the Blind 2025 Women’s T20 World Cup with a commanding ten-wicket win over the USA.

In only their sixth match of the tournament, India secured their fourth consecutive win, defeating the USA by ten wickets in a contest that was as symbolic as it was one-sided.

For the USA Women’s Blind Cricket Team, this was a remarkable occasion. As they made their World Cup debut, the team was assembled from scratch over the past year, shaped through an unprecedented developmental partnership with Indian institutions that identified, trained, and nurtured visually impaired cricketers across the United States.

Opting to bat first, USA fought hard but were limited to 60/8 in 20 overs, owing to India’s disciplined bowling and sharp fielding. Tatyana (17 off 41, B2) and Caroline (12 off 26, B2) demonstrated resilience against a relentless attack, but wickets kept falling as India’s bowlers kept tight lines and created pressure throughout.

Simranjeet Kour (B2), Sunita Srathe (B2), Simu Das (B1), and Ganga Kadam (B3) each picked up a wicket, while India’s fielders contributed with multiple run-outs — a testament to their coordination across all categories.

What followed was an extraordinary display of batting authority. Chasing just 61, India romped home in 3.3 overs without losing a wicket. Player of the Match Simranjeet Kour blasted an unbeaten 31 off 12 balls (B2), while Kavya N.R (B3) complemented her with a swift 21 off 12*, sealing the match in minutes. The gulf in experience showed, yet the spirit displayed by the young USA side reflected the courage and commitment fueling their rise on the global stage.

India now turn their attention to what promises to be one of the marquee fixtures of the tournament: a high-voltage showdown against arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday in Colombo.

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Mumbai Local Train Update: Megablock On Central, Harbour, Trans-Harbour & Western Railway Lines On Nov 16; Check Details

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Mumbai: Mumbai suburban railway commuters will face major travel disruptions on Sunday, 16 November 2025, as Central, Harbour, Trans-Harbour and Western Railway authorities have planned extensive maintenance work, resulting in a major megablock across multiple corridors.

The block has been scheduled for several hours during the day and will affect both Up and Down services with diversions, cancellations, and restricted operational stretches. Passengers have been urged to plan their journeys in advance and expect changes in train timings, halts and routes.

On the Central Line, the megablock will be enforced between CSMT Mumbai and Vidyavihar on the Up and Down slow tracks between 10.55 am and 3.55 pm. Down slow locals departing CSMT between 10:48 hrs and 15:45 hrs will be diverted via the fast line up to Vidyavihar while halting at limited stations, Byculla, Parel, Dadar, Matunga, Sion and Kurla, before switching back to the slow track. Similarly, Up slow services leaving Ghatkopar between 10:19 hrs and 15:52 hrs will run on the fast line until CSMT and halt at Kurla, Sion, Matunga, Dadar, Parel and Byculla.

On the Harbour Line, services between Vashi and Panvel will remain affected from 11.05 am to 4.05 pm. During this period, Up trains from Panvel to CSMT between 10:33 hrs and 15:49 hrs, and Down trains from CSMT to Belapur/Panvel between 09:45 hrs and 15:12 hrs, will remain cancelled. To ease passenger movement, special trains will operate between CSMT and Vashi during the block.

The Trans-Harbour Line will also face restrictions between 11.05 am and 4.05 pm, and services will run only between Thane and Vashi/Nerul. Up trains from Panvel to Thane between 11:02 hrs and 15:53 hrs, and Down trains from Thane to Panvel between 10:01 hrs and 15:20 hrs, will remain suspended. The Uran Line will function normally and will not be affected by the block.

Meanwhile, the Western Railway will operate a five-hour Jumbo Block between 10.00 am and 3.00 pm on the fast track between Ram Mandir, Borivali and Goregaon. Up fast services will shift to slow lines between Borivali and Andheri, while Down fast trains will run via slow tracks between Andheri and Goregaon.

Passengers have been advised to follow announcements, use real-time railway apps and consider alternate travel arrangements to avoid inconvenience.

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ED arrests real estate firm MD in PMLA case, accused sent to 14-day custody

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New Delhi, Nov 15: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Ocean Seven Buildtech Pvt. Ltd. (OSBPL) Managing Director Swaraj Singh Yadav after conducting searches at nine locations across Delhi-NCR and other regions in a money-laundering probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, an agency statement said on Saturday.

The action stems from allegations that Yadav diverted and laundered funds collected from homebuyers across multiple projects, including those under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).

The searches on Thursday led to the recovery of Rs 86 lakh in cash, suspected to be proceeds of crime, along with incriminating documents and digital evidence.

According to the ED, Yadav orchestrated a large-scale diversion of homebuyer funds through fraudulent cancellation and resale of units at inflated prices, cash-based premiums collected outside banking channels, and misuse of escrow accounts.

He allegedly routed substantial sums into shell entities and concealed cash proceeds with relatives, the ED statement said.

Investigators also found a pattern of rapid liquidation of assets held personally and through company entities in Gurugram, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, which the agency believes was intended to secure illicit gains and evade legal scrutiny.

His wife and children have already relocated to the United States, the probe revealed.

The agency said Yadav operated a dual-payment mechanism in the resale of PMAY flats and even in the sale of parking spaces — routing only nominal amounts through banks while collecting the bulk in cash. These activities form part of a wider probe linked to multiple FIRs alleging cheating, forgery, and other predicate offences.

Following his arrest, Yadav was produced before the Court of ASJ-06 at Patiala House Courts on Friday, in compliance with Supreme Court directions.

After detailed submissions from both sides and a pass-over granted to allow him legal assistance, the court sent him to ED custody for 14 days, until November 28.

The agency has been directed to produce him before the court at 2 p.m. on the date of expiry of remand.

The ED said it is pursuing further investigation to trace, freeze, and attach assets acquired from the laundered funds, to ensure recovery and restitution to affected homebuyers.

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