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Tuesday,25-August-2026
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Kashi Vishwanath project is symbol of India’s spiritual soul: Modi

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor Project was a symbol of India’s spiritual soul.

Dedicating the newly constructed Kashi Vishwanath Dham project to the nation, the Prime Minister said, “Today, a new chapter is being written in the history of Kashi Vishwanath. Kashi Vishwanath Dham premises is not just a grand building but a symbol of India’s culture and traditions. Kashi shows how inspirations of the ancient are giving direction to the future.”

The Prime Minister said that Kashi is a beautiful amalgam of antiquity and novelty that come alive together. He said that the glory of the past is coming alive again, showcasing India’s antiquity, traditions, energy and mobility.

Quoting extensively from scriptures, the Prime minister also spoke in Bhojpuri and established a connect with the local people.

‘Kashi and Ganga belong to all. The invaders attacked this city, tried to destroy it. The history of Aurangzeb’s atrocities, his terror tried to change civilization by the sword. But the soil of this country is different from the rest of the world. If Aurangzeb comes here, Shivaji stands up. If any Salar Masood moves here, then brave warriors like King Suheldev make him realise the power of our unity,” he said.

He said that when the temple was attacked, Ahilyabai Holkar helped in its reconstruction.

The Prime Minister said that earlier the temple area was only 3,000 square feet, it has now become about 5 lakh square feet.

“Around 50 to 75 thousand devotees can now be accommodated in the temple premises,” he said.

Modi further said that Kashi is the city of eternity where awakening is life and even death is a celebration. He termed it as the religious and spiritual capital of the country.

He said that new India was developing alongside and listed the achievements of his government in changing the lives of people for the better.

The Prime Minister also expressed his gratitude towards every labourer who has worked for the construction of this complex and did not stop work even during the pandemic.

The Prime Minister asked people to make three promises to him. He said that people must promise cleanliness, innovation and self-reliance.

“India is moving towards a new tomorrow but we need to work harder on cleanliness. We also need to stress on innovation. Startups are changing the face of the country and we need to carry it forward. We also have to emphasise on ‘Atmanirbhar’ which is essential to make the country strong,” he said.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, BJP president J.P. Nadda, Deputy Chief Ministers Dinesh Sharma and Keshav Maurya, Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, Mahendra Pandey and state BJP president Swatantra Dev Singh were present on the occasion.

Crime

Police official suspended over case involving Telangana minister’s former OSD

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Hyderabad, Aug 25: Inspector of Jubilee Hills Police Station in Hyderabad has been suspended over Forest and Endowments Minister Konda Surekha’s former OSD, N. Sumanth’s case.

Muttu Yadav, the Inspector (Station House Officer) of Jubilee Hills Police Station, faced the action over the alleged delay in filing the First Information Report (FIR) and failure to trace Sumanth.

Police Commissioner V. C. Sajjanar issued orders, suspending the SHO. A departmental inquiry has also been ordered into the handling of the case by the police.

Sumanth remained at large in a case of alleged assault on a real estate businessman. His driver was picked up by police on Sunday.

Sumanth and five others were booked following a complaint filed by the realtor, who alleged that he was assaulted with iron rods and that the accused demanded Rs 10 crore from him.

An attempt to murder case was registered against the former OSD and five others.

A zero FIR was registered against N. Sumanth and five others at Medipally Police Station of Malkajgiri Police Commissionerate last week.

Later, the case was transferred to Jubilee Hills Police Station of Hyderabad Commissionerate.

Gongidi Harikrishna, a resident of Boduppal, lodged a complaint. Harikrishna alleged that he was assaulted with iron rods and sticks and threatened with dire consequences.

The case was registered against former OSD Sumanth, Ramu, Prashanth, Arun Kumar Reddy, Karthik and Mahender Reddy under Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The complainant said Sumanth and others assaulted him on July 30.

Harikrishna stated that Sumanth asked him to meet at Ramu’s office. Sumanth allegedly abused him and hit him with an iron rod. On Sumanth’s direction, others also joined the assault.

The complainant claimed that he sustained a fracture to his left hand, bleeding injuries and other injuries and that he underwent surgery on August 10.

The case was registered amid a controversy involving Minister Konda Surekha’s family.

Her daughter Konda Sushmitha’s recent remarks against Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy triggered a storm in the ruling Congress party.

At her mother’s birthday celebrations in Warangal district, Sushmita declared that she would contest from Parkala Assembly constituency in the next elections even if she was denied a party ticket. She also made allegations of corruption against the Chief Minister’s family.

Taking serious note of the allegations, the disciplinary committee of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) issued a show-cause notice to the minister.

Surekha distanced herself from her daughter’s remarks, saying the latter expressed her personal views.

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National News

KMVSTDCL funds routed to Rahul Gandhi’s house, alleges Karnataka BJP leader

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Bengaluru, Aug 25: Former Karnataka Minister and BJP leader, B. Sriramulu, on Tuesday alleged that the funds allegedly misappropriated from the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Limited (KMVSTDCL) were routed to the residence of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Addressing the media at the BJP state headquarters Jagannatha Bhavan in Bengaluru, Sriramulu alleged that BJP leaders had raised slogans in the Assembly claiming that the misappropriated Valmiki Corporation funds had reached Rahul Gandhi’s residence and the government curtailed the Assembly session.

Sriramulu said the BJP has decided to undertake a padayatra from September 1, led by state BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra, BJP leaders Gali Janardhana Reddy, R. Ashoka, Bangaru Hanumantu and other party leaders.

The 10-day padayatra will begin in Raichur on September 1 and conclude in Ballari on September 10, he said.

“The padayatra will highlight issues including the government’s alleged negligence towards irrigation, corruption in the ST Corporation and the Valmiki Corporation issue. The Congress has been neglecting Dalits. The BJP is undertaking this major padayatra because we will not allow injustice to be done to Dalits,” Sriramulu said.

Sriramulu accused Congress leaders of shedding “crocodile tears” over issues concerning Dalits.

He alleged that the government had curtailed the Assembly session after taking note of the BJP’s protests over the issue.

“Protests were held in both the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council. Congress leaders have betrayed Babasaheb Ambedkar, Babu Jagjivan Ram and the Dalit community,” he alleged.

It can be noted that the Valmiki Corporation scam involves the alleged illegal diversion of funds from the KMVSTDCL.

The alleged scam came to light in May 2024 following the suicide of 52-year-old corporation superintendent Chandrasekar. P., who left a suicide note detailing unauthorised fund transfers and corruption.

While initial irregularities centered around smaller figures, investigative agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) pegged the total misappropriation and diverted funds at around Rs 89 crore.

Funds earmarked for tribal welfare projects were illegally moved to unauthorised bank accounts—including bogus accounts opened using forged KYC documents at the Union Bank of India’s MG Road branch in Bengaluru—and later layered through shell cooperatives like Hyderabad’s First Finance Credit Cooperative Society.

The then-Karnataka Minister for Scheduled Tribes Welfare was identified by probe agencies as a primary mastermind behind the layering and siphoning of the funds. Nagendra previously resigned from the Cabinet, faced arrest, and later secured bail.

Currently, Nagendra has recently taken charge of Minister for Planning and Statistics in the Cabinet led by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. BJP and JD (S) have announced that they will agitate until Nagendra is sacked from the Cabinet.

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Crime

Delhi Police arrest 20-year-old, recover 200 quarters of illicit Haryana liquor

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New Delhi, Aug 25: Prompt action by the staff of Delhi’s Hauz Qazi police station led to the arrest of a 20-year-old man on Tuesday and the recovery of 200 quarters of illicit country-made liquor being transported for illegal sale in the national capital.

The police also seized a grey-coloured scooty used for transporting the liquor. A case under the relevant provisions of the Delhi Excise Act has been registered, and further investigation is underway.

According to police, the incident took place on August 24 at around 10.30 p.m., when staff of PS Hauz Qazi were conducting routine patrolling in the area of Lal Kuan Road near Farashkhana Road.

During the patrolling, the police team noticed a person on a scooty coming from the Lal Kuan side. On spotting the police personnel, the rider suddenly turned the vehicle around and started moving in the opposite direction, raising suspicion.

The police team immediately followed and intercepted the scooty. During the subsequent checking, a heavy white plastic bag was found placed on the vehicle. The rider allegedly failed to provide any satisfactory explanation regarding the contents of the bag.

Upon checking the bag, the police recovered 200 quarters of country-made liquor, each containing 180 ml. The bottles were bearing the label, “For Sale in Haryana Only”.

The rider was identified as Akash, a resident of Burari in Delhi, aged about 20 years. The recovered liquor was taken into possession in accordance with the law, while the scooty used for its transportation was also seized.

Accordingly, FIR No. 389/26 under Sections 33 and 38 of the Delhi Excise Act was registered at PS Hauz Qazi, and further investigation was initiated.

The recovery was made by a police team comprising SI Ranvijay Singh, In-charge of Police Post Rodgran, Head Constable Paramveer, and Constable Daya Chand. The operation was carried out under the leadership of Inspector Amrender Kumar Suman, SHO of PS Hauz Qazi, and under the overall supervision of Rajiv Bhardwaj, ACP, Kamla Market.

Police said the alertness and prompt response of the patrolling team led to the interception of the accused and the recovery of a substantial quantity of illicit liquor. The seizure of the scooty allegedly used for transportation has further strengthened the investigation into the illegal transportation and supply of liquor.

During interrogation, Akash disclosed that he used to procure illicit liquor from areas near the Haryana border and subsequently supply it in and around the Sadar area of Delhi to earn money and meet his personal expenses.

The accused was further questioned about the source of the recovered liquor and the persons allegedly involved in its procurement and supply. Police said efforts are underway to identify the source and ascertain whether other persons are involved in the illegal liquor supply network.

Police records revealed that Akash, son of Pappu, was previously involved in an Excise Act case registered at PS Burari. He was named in FIR No. 254/25 under Sections 33 and 38 of the Delhi Excise Act.

Further investigation is in progress.

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