Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday virtually interacted with the tribal community members from across the nation during the Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas programme in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli, organised on the occasion of the 151st birth anniversary of tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda.

During the programme, the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 246 development projects worth approximately Rs 3,000 crore, aimed at strengthening education, healthcare, livelihood opportunities and community infrastructure for tribal communities across the country.

During this event, the members of the tribal community told the Prime Minister about the benefits they have received from the schemes of the Centre government.

Krishna Nagorao Teka, a PM-JANMAN beneficiary from Maharashtra’s Yavatmal, said, “Earlier, we faced many difficulties. During the rainy season, living in our house was very difficult, and we also faced problems with insects and pests. Now, under the PM-JANMAN scheme, we have received a permanent house, a toilet and other facilities. We no longer face those difficulties. We are very grateful to you.”

“I am very happy to learn that the PM-JANMAN Mission has brought changes to the lives of you and the people in your village. Nothing gives me greater satisfaction than this. As you describe, all facilities have reached your village, and the people there remain connected to their cultural heritage,” PM Modi said.

Interacting with Vajir from Hathakundi village in Netrang tehsil in Gujarat’s Bharuch district about the New Gujarat Pattern Yojana, the Prime Minister asked him about the struggles faced by the tribal community and how the initiative has transformed his life.

“In 2004, I received training under the Gujarat government’s New Gujarat Pattern Yojana, through which I was trained in bamboo work. I have also benefited from several schemes under PM-JANMAN. I respectfully thank you, the Gujarat government and the Government of India under your leadership,” Vajir said.

Taking aim at the previous UPA-led government, PM Modi said, “Vajir ji, you are likely aware that the British devised a major ploy by classifying bamboo as a ‘tree’; consequently, anyone who cut bamboo would be thrown into jail. This law should have been abolished after independence. However, regrettably, some individuals in the previous governments neither understood the tribal communities nor cared about them.”

“However, when we came to power, we ended that law and made sure that the tribals have full rights over bamboo,” he added.

Sabavat Anvesh from Hyderabad thanked the Prime Minister for introducing the PM SHRI Schools (Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India), which he said is enabling people to complete their higher education.

Meanwhile, of the total projects, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated 173 initiatives, including 38 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) for tribal students and 100 Multi-Purpose Centres under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN).

He also inaugurated various other projects under PM-JANMAN and the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA).

Other key projects inaugurated include the Tribal Research Institute (TRI) building at Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh and the Ropuiliani Tribal Freedom Fighter Museum at Aizawl in Mizoram, aimed at preserving tribal culture and heritage.

The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of 19 new Eklavya Model Residential Schools, further strengthening the commitment to providing quality education to tribal children.

He also laid the foundation stone of 12 Tribal Multi-purpose Marketing Centres (TMMCs) to strengthen market access for tribal producers.

In addition, Prime Minister Modi also laid the foundation stone for 42 other projects under PM-JANMAN and DAJGUA.

The programme marks the culmination of Janjatiya Gaurav Pakhwada, being observed across the country from November 1 to 15.

Police and security agencies were put on high alert following a bomb threat targeting the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) Railway Station in Mumbai, officials said on Sunday.

According to the officials, the threat was received at approximately 6:50 p.m. on Saturday. The police control room received a threatening call via the 112 emergency helpline.

“The caller, using the mobile number 9420112655, claimed that a bomb had been planted at the CSMT railway station,” the officials said.

Upon receiving the threat, a dog squad and a Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) were dispatched to the scene. A thorough search operation was subsequently conducted across the entire railway station premises, the police said.

The search operation concluded around 9:30 p.m.; however, no suspicious objects or explosive materials were discovered.

The railway police have reported the incident to the main control room.

Efforts are currently underway to locate and identify the individual who made the threatening call.

Security remains tight at and around the CSMT Railway Station.

Further details are awaited.

The threat came as the railway stations across India are witnessing a festive rush. People are heading home or coming back to the cities amid the festive season.

Earlier this week, a series of email threats were received, targeting Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan’s bungalow, the Mumbai Mayor’s office, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, the Mahalaxmi Racecourse, several banks and courts in the city.

Security was tightened following this, and bomb squads along with dog squads and local police arrived at the scene and cordoned off the area. However, nothing suspicious was found in any of the locations

Mumbai : Amid ongoing intense speculation in Maharashtra’s political circles regarding the potential merger of the two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions—Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP) and Ajit Pawar’s NCP—the NCP (SP) Working President and MP Supriya Sule on Saturday categorically rejected any talk of a merger or joining the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Sule told reporters, “There is no discussion about joining the NDA. When there is no discussion, questions of commas or full stops do not arise. If the essay itself hasn’t been written, why talk about it?” With these words, she put a firm full stop to all merger speculations. Expressing her fatigue over the persistent rumours, Sule emphasised that the possibility of a merger died alongside her brother, Ajit Pawar.

“I am now fed up with these merger discussions,” Sule said. “The discussions about a merger, and even fixing a date, existed only as long as my brother was here. The day my brother passed away, a full stop was put on the merger in my mind and in my party—a discussion that had taken place with party office-bearers and my Dada (Ajit Pawar), videos of which you all have broadcast,” she noted. She added, “As long as my brother was there, the merger was discussed. The day my brother left, the merger came to a permanent end. We haven’t made a single statement since then. We didn’t even counter the statements coming from the Ajit Pawar faction. Whatever future path was charted, it was charted with Ajit Dada. Some things come straight from the heart. Ask all your questions about the merger today and let’s settle it once and for all. I will not speak on the merger hereafter; I am exhausted by these discussions.”

“In a vibrant democracy, everyone has the right to express their opinion. However, I am folding my hands and requesting that we stop asking questions about a merger over and over again. I am tired of this subject, and I will not answer questions about it anymore.” Acknowledging past discussions, Sule stated, “Did my brother and senior leaders from our party discuss a merger? Yes, they did. Videos of that have also come to light. The discussions regarding a merger were ongoing as long as my brother was here, and a date for it had even been fixed. Leaders from both parties have acknowledged this.” Sule also firmly reiterated that the question of the NCP (SP) joining the ruling coalition does not arise, confirming that no proposal, phone call, or message has been received from the Ajit Pawar faction.

“The moment my brother passed away, the entire chapter was closed,” she asserted. When asked if any official proposal or communication regarding a merger had been received from the rival NCP camp, Sule firmly denied it, stating, “I haven’t received any phone call, WhatsApp message, or letter from anyone in the Ajit Pawar faction. I can tell you clearly that nobody has met me regarding this. No discussions are happening, which is why I find all these ongoing speculations quite amusing.” Sule made it clear that her party pays no heed to statements or internal discussions happening within the rival NCP camp. “After my brother passed away, we put a complete full stop to these discussions from our side. We have nothing to do with whatever discussions take place within the Ajit Pawar-led NCP. We do not comment on their reactions. The close bond between my brother and me remains, and that warmth will always stay,” she concluded.