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Krishna became ‘Dwarkadhish’ only after becoming Gujarati: Rupala

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Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala has said that Lord Krishna became popular as “Dwarkadhish” only after becoming a part of Gujarat.

He was speaking at a programme by the Vishwa Gujarati Samaj (VGS) to felicitate prominent Gujarati community personalities on Sunday.

“The Gujarati community has always been special with a rich tradition and past right from the times of mythology. Krishna might be known as Krishna or Kanhaiya but he received the title of Dwarkadhish only after he came here, became a part of Gujarat and became a Gujarati,” said Rupala.

Rupala felicitated historian Dr Rizwan Qadri with the ‘Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Vishwa Pratibha Award’ and Rs 2.50 lakh in cash for his research work on the ironman of India Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. “The saints of Swaminarayan sect in Maninagar (Ahmedabad) inspiring Dr Qadri to do research on the Sardar and thereafter Dr Qadri studying and researching is a very historic and proud Gujarati moment. Exploring Sardar Patel’s magnanimous personality is like exploring the ocean,” added Rupala.

Besides Dr Qadri, the VGS also felicitated the Surat-based diamond firm owner and Padma Shri awardee Mathurbhai Savani with the ‘Shri Kanjibhai Desai Gujarat Pratibha Award’ along with prize money of Rs 1 lakh.

Besides, another awardee was the Delhi Gujarat Samaj, the Delhi chapter of VGS, which was recognised as an awardee for ‘Sreshth Gujarati Samaj Award’ and was awarded Rs 1 lakh for it’s contribution in 125 years.

“Having a history of 125 years in itself is a thing of honour for the Delhi Gujarati Samaj. I am glad that this institution has been maintaining the decorum of the Gujarati culture in the national capital for all these years,” he said.

Other awardees were cardiologist Dr R.K. Patel, who is also the honorary director at UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology. Patel was awarded for his special contribution in the Covid-19 situation duties.

Speaking about Dr R.K. Patel’s contribution in Gujarat, Rupala said: “If there is any hospital which can compete against corporate hospitals, then that is the Ahmedabad Civil hospital. It is only due to Dr Patel and a few others’ efforts that the hospital is now considered to be having highest of healthcare standards.”

Talking about the Gujarati culture and heritage, Rupala said: “The ancient heritage, right since the time of Narsinh Mehta continued to bring glory to the state and was sustained in the prevailing times by Dayanand Saraswati Maharaj,” he said.

On the Swaminarayan sect, he said: “If any institution which can be named to bring glory to the temple structure in the world, then that is the present Swaminarayan sect and the efforts of Pramukh Swamiji Maharaj.”

The minister also spoke about political leadership from Gujarat. “When you talk about the freedom struggle, then also it were the Gujaratis at the forefront. The duo of Gandhi and Sardar led the country towards freedom. Thereafter, Gujarat was led by Dr Jivraj Mehta in this journey of growth and today that journey has led us to a point where the state is now known as the growth engine of India,” Rupala said.

“On the business front, Gujaratis are known to be the leaders. The Surat diamond business is dominating in the world. Eighty per cent of global diamond business is controlled by Surat. Morbi is leading the world in clock manufacturing and ceramic industry. The ceramic of Morbi is now competing against China,” Rupala said.

Former president of VGS, Gujarat High Court advocate Krishnakant Vakhariya, was also felicitated for his contribution in leading VGS for nearly three decades.

After receiving the award and the prize money, Dr Qadri announced that the entire prize money of Rs 2.5 lakh will be utilised in further research work on Sardar. This was supported by Savani through his prize money of Rs one lakh.

“It is a thing of pride for me that I am honored for a work which is associated with the Sardar Saheb. But it is also a pity that our rich heritage and culture is being wasted and found in flea markets. An unknown painter called Chagan Jadhav painted the Dandi March, which I found in the Sunday flea market in Ahmedabad. Swami Maharajji inspired me to document this and the ‘Unseen Drawings of Dandi March’ was published. The prime minister Narendra Modi saw this publication which inspired the Aazadi ka Amrit mahotsav,” said Dr Qadri.

The VGS has been felicitating prominent Gujarati personalities every year since the past 17 years, except for last year owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to president C.K. Patel.

“As an organisation we will be now moving towards reaching out to rural population and farmers in the coming days so as to carry out more work that needs to be done. We want to make a big movement,” said C.K. Patel.

National News

2 Teachers Killed, 10 Injured In Van-Truck Collision In Chhattisgarh’s Korba

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Korba: Two women teachers were killed and ten other persons injured after a van in which they were travelling collided with a trailer truck in Chhattisgarh’s Korba district on Thursday, police said.

About The Accident

The accident occurred in the morning near Tanakhar village when 11 staffers and two students of Eklavya Model Residential School, run by the tribal development department, in Pondi Uproda village were heading to their institute from Katghora town, a police official said.

As per preliminary information, the van driver attempted to overtake another vehicle and ended up colliding with a truck, coming from the opposite direction.

A total of 12 occupants of the van sustained injuries, he said.

The victims were taken to the Community Health Centre Katghora, from where the seriously injured persons were referred to different hospitals, he said.

Two teachers, identified as Anjana Sharma (30), a resident of Delhi, and Manju Sharma (32) of Haryana, succumbed to their wounds during treatment at a hospital, he said.

The two deceased were staying in rented houses in Katghora.

Five injured persons have been admitted to a hospital in Korba, two in Bilaspur, and three others, who sustained minor injuries, in Katghora, he said.

A case has been registered and a probe is underway, he added.

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Maharashtra

Supreme Court Stays Bombay High Court’s Acquittal in 2006 Mumbai Train Blasts Case

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New Delhi, July 24, 2025 — The Supreme Court of India has issued a stay on the Bombay High Court’s recent decision to acquit 12 men previously convicted in the 2006 Mumbai suburban train bombings. The apex court, however, clarified that the accused will not need to return to jail while the legal process continues.

The move comes days after the Maharashtra government filed a challenge against the High Court’s ruling, expressing serious concern over the acquittal of all 12 individuals who had been found guilty nearly a decade earlier. The Supreme Court agreed to examine the appeal and put the acquittal order on hold until further notice.

Background of the Case

On July 11, 2006, a series of coordinated bomb blasts targeted local trains on Mumbai’s Western Railway line during evening rush hour. The attacks resulted in the deaths of around 190 people and left over 800 injured. It was one of the deadliest terror strikes in India’s history.

In 2015, a special court convicted 12 men under anti-terror laws, sentencing five to death and the remaining to life imprisonment. However, the Bombay High Court overturned these convictions in July 2025, citing weak and unreliable evidence, inconsistencies in witness testimonies, and procedural lapses in the investigation.

Supreme Court’s Intervention

Responding to the state’s petition, the Supreme Court noted the seriousness of the matter and temporarily suspended the High Court’s decision. The court stated that although the acquittal order is stayed, the accused who had already been released will not be required to surrender at this stage.

Government’s Stand

The Maharashtra government described the High Court’s judgment as deeply concerning, arguing that the earlier trial had followed due process and that crucial evidence—such as confessions and material recovered—was improperly dismissed. The government urged the Supreme Court to uphold the original convictions in the interest of justice for the victims and their families.

What Lies Ahead

The Supreme Court is expected to conduct a detailed review of the High Court’s findings and the prosecution’s evidence. The final verdict could have a significant impact on how terrorism-related cases are investigated and prosecuted in the future, especially with respect to the handling of confessional statements, forensic evidence, and procedural safeguards.

The case continues to be a matter of national attention due to its historical gravity and implications for the justice system. Families of the victims, legal experts, and civil rights advocates are all watching closely as the country’s top court re-evaluates one of India’s most complex terror cases.

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Maharashtra

‘Gujarat Portion Of Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project To Be Completed By December 2027’: Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

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New Delhi: The Gujarat portion of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) Project between Vapi and Sabarmati is planned to be completed by December 2027, while the entire 508 km project is expected to be completed by December 2029, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed Parliament on Wednesday.

However, the bullet train project is a very complex and technology-intensive and the exact timelines for its completion can only be reasonably ascertained after the completion of all associated works of civil structures, track, electrical, signalling & telecommunication and supply of trainsets, the minister added.

MAHSR is under execution with technical and financial assistance from the Japanese government. The project is passing through Gujarat, Maharashtra, and the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli with 12 stations planned at Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Billimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad, and Sabarmati, the minister said.

A cumulative financial expenditure of Rs 78,839 crore has been incurred on the project till June 30, 2025, he said.

The total estimated cost of the MAHSR project is approximately Rs 1,08,000 crore, out of which Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is funding 81 per cent of the project cost which works out to Rs 88,000 crore while the balance 19 per cent cost amounting to Rs 20,000 crore will be funded through equity contribution from Ministry of Railways (50 per cent) and Maharashtra and Gujarat state governments (25 per cent each).

The delay in land acquisition in Maharashtra impacted the project till 2021. However, currently, the entire land (1389.5 hectares) for the MAHSR project has been acquired. The Final Location Survey and Geotechnical investigation has also been completed, and alignment finalised. All Statutory Clearances relating to wildlife, Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and Forest clearance have been obtained, and all the civil contracts of the project have been awarded, Vaishnaw said.

Till now, 392 km of pier construction, 329 km of girder casting and 308 km of girder launching have been completed. The work on the undersea tunnel (21 km approx.) has also started. In order to expand the high-speed rail (HSR) network in India beyond the MAHSR corridor and to meet the growing passenger demand between major cities of commercial and tourist importance, Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) are being prepared by the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), he added.

HSR projects are highly capital-intensive, and any decision to take up a new project is based on many factors such as technical feasibility, financial & economic viability, traffic demand and availability of funds & financing options. The commercial operation of the MAHSR project involves an affordable fare structure for the services, taking into account the socio-economic conditions of the clientele for optimum patronage of the HSR sectors, the minister added.

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