General
Modi flags off Uttarakhand’s first Vande Bharat Express train

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday flagged off the inaugural run of Uttarakhand’s first Vande Bharat Express from Dehradun to Delhi and slammed the previous governments for not working on the connectivity in the hill state.
The Prime Minister said that the Vande Bharat Express will attract more tourists to �the state.
Prime Minister Modi also dedicated the newly electrified rail line sections as a part of his vision to provide cleaner means of public transport and electrifying rail routes in the country. With this, the state will have its entire rail route 100 per cent electrified.
Speaking on the occasion, Modi underlined that now Dev bhoomi will be connected to the national capital through Vande Bhart Express which will make the journey more pleasant.
Modi said that the manner in which India has strengthened its economy has earned the trust of the world. Even during the Covid pandemic, the country gave a tough fight and supplied vaccines to other countries.
“Today, people want to come to India and in such a scenario, it is a big opportunity for Uttarakhand and this Vande Bharat train will help the hill state,” Modi said.
“After offering prayers at Baba Kedarnath, I had murmured that this decade will be of Uttarakhand’s and today the way the state is striding ahead in development is commendable. It is good for preserving the identity of Devbhoomi. This devbhoomi will be the centre of attraction of spirituality,” he said.
On tourists visiting Uttarakhand, the PM said, “We have seen how people visit the state for char dham yatra and also to participate in the Kumbh here. There are only a few states in the country where people come in such large numbers.”
Catering to so many people is not an easy task but the double engine government is working at full pace. BJP has focused on Kedarnath and Badrinath projects worth Rs 1,300 crore, Rs 2,500 crore for Gaurikund-Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib ropeway work, promotion of home stay, 16 eco tourism development, spread of health services, among others.
In Udhamsingh Nagar AIIMS satellite centre is being built, Tihri lake development project work Rs 2000 crore is underway, Rishikesh and Hardiwar are emerging as adventure tourism destinations and yoga capital. Work on the Tanakpur-Bageshwar rail line will also start soon, he said.
Under Pushkar Singh Dhami government, all the projects have been paced up on Chardham project with Rs 12,000 crore, between Dehradun and Delhi expressway is also on fast track, which will ease the travel.
Besides roadways, works are also going on ropeway connectivity. With the Parvat Mala project, it will change the face of the state as people have waited for long for proper connectivity. Riskiest and Karnprayag projects will be completed in the next two to three years and over Rs 16,000 crore is being spent on that,” Modi said.
“This project will help in creating employment opportunities and industrial development and Vande Bharat Express will also act as a big gift for the people,” Modi said.
Uttarakhand is now emerging as a film shooting destination, wedding destination, tourism Hub, adventure tourism hub with the efforts of the state government and is attracting the foreign tourists as well, he said.
Now, many parts of the country are having Vande Bharat Express. Train is the first choice of families for long travels.
Taking a pot shot at the previous governments, Modi said, “For��long, the ruling parties did not understand the people’s requirements. Those were focused more on scams, corruption, they were involved in families. In India for high speed trains, previous governments made hig promises. And even after many years they couldn’t do so.
“Similar was the condition of electrification of the Railway network as only one third of the rail network was electrified. So it was impossible to think of running high speed trains. So after 2014, we started bringing the high speed train projects and on other hand we also started preparing trains for semi high speed trains. And also sped up the process of electrification of the rail network. Today, more than 90 per cent of electrification of the entire network has been done and in Uttarakhand we have achieved 100 per cent electrification of the rail network,” he said.
During previous governments, Uttarakhand used to get Rs 200 crore, but this time the state has been granted Rs 5,000 crore projects and this is the reason why the rail network is expanding in the state which is needed for a hill state,” he charged.
“How many villages went vacant due to connectivity issues, we want to save the generations from the issue and thus we are focusing on connectivity. Even for providing proper connectivity to defence forces these projects would help,” he said.
The semi-high speed train will be India’s 17th and Uttarakhand’s first-ever Vande Bharat train which commenced its inaugural run from Dehradun to Delhi’s Anand Vihar terminal.
According to Northern Railway, the regular operations for the Delhi-Dehradun Vande Bharat Express will commence on May 29. The train will cover a distance of 302 km in four hours and forty-five minutes. It will operate six days a week, except Wednesday.
The Vande Bharat is scheduled to depart from Dehradun at 7 a.m. and will reach Delhi’s Anand Vihar terminal at 11.45 a.m., while it would depart from Anand Vihar at 05.50 p.m., and arrive at Dehradun by 10.35 p.m.
During the journey, the train will stop at Meerut City, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Roorkee, and Haridwar.
The fare for an AC chair seat from Delhi to Dehradun will be Rs 1,065, while an executive chair car ticket will cost Rs 1,890.
According to the Prime Minister Office’s (PMO) official release, the train is equipped with advanced safety features including the Kavach technology.
Maharashtra
Arun Gawli Released from Nagpur Jail After 17 Years as Supreme Court Grants Bail

Nagpur, September 3, 2025
Veteran gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli walked out of Nagpur Central Jail on Wednesday afternoon after spending over 17 years in prison. His release came after the Supreme Court granted him bail in connection with the 2007 murder of Shiv Sena corporator Kamlakar Jamsandekar.
A bench of Justices M. M. Sundresh and N. Kotiswar Singh observed that Gawli, now 76 years old, had already undergone more than 17 years of incarceration while his appeal remained pending. Taking into account his advanced age and the delay in the judicial process, the apex court allowed his release on bail, subject to conditions imposed by the trial court.
Gawli, popularly known as “Daddy” in Mumbai’s underworld circles, was convicted in 2012 under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and sentenced to life imprisonment. The Bombay High Court later upheld the conviction in 2019. Despite previous denials of bail, the prolonged incarceration became a decisive factor in the Supreme Court’s ruling this time.
His release from Nagpur Central Jail was marked by the presence of family members, close associates, and supporters, who had gathered outside the prison since morning. Security was kept tight during the process.
Arun Gawli rose to prominence in the 1980s and 1990s as a key figure in Mumbai’s underworld, building his base at Dagdi Chawl in Byculla. Transitioning into politics, he founded the Akhil Bharatiya Sena and served as an MLA from Chinchpokli between 2004 and 2009. Even during his time in prison, Gawli remained in the public eye—most notably when he excelled in a Gandhian philosophy examination in 2018.
While his release is being seen as a significant development, the legal battle is far from over. The Supreme Court has scheduled the final hearing of his appeal for February 2026. Until then, Gawli’s future—both politically and personally—remains uncertain.
Maharashtra
Maratha Quota Stir: Govt Promises GR on Hyderabad Gazette, Jarange Patil Firm at Azad Maidan

Mumbai: The ongoing Maratha reservation agitation led by activist Manoj Jarange Patil at Azad Maidan took a crucial turn today after a delegation of state ministers assured the protestors that the government will issue a Government Resolution (GR) to implement the Hyderabad Gazette. This step would grant Kunbi status to Marathas from the Marathwada region, paving the way for their inclusion in the OBC quota.
According to officials, the GR is expected to be issued within an hour. The development came soon after the Bombay High Court accepted the agitators’ request for a temporary pause in the protest to allow discussions with the government-appointed sub-committee.
Meanwhile, Maratha leaders at the venue appealed to demonstrators, urging that apart from around 5,000 people stationed at Azad Maidan, the rest should proceed towards Navi Mumbai in compliance with the High Court’s directions.
Earlier in the day, Patil had declared that he would not vacate Azad Maidan “even at the cost of his life,” after police served a notice citing violation of the court’s interim order that had outlined conditions for the protest. In response, police teams began clearing agitators gathered at CSMT railway station, while heavy deployment of security personnel was also seen around BMC headquarters and Kila Court, where officers requested people to leave roads and footpaths to maintain order.
The situation remains tense as protestors await the government’s official resolution, while the administration continues to balance law and order with the demands of the Maratha community.
Maharashtra
*Bombay High Court Directs Maratha Reservation Protestors to Vacate Site by 3 PM*

Mumbai, October 25, 2023 — In a significant development regarding the ongoing Maratha reservation agitation, the Bombay High Court issued directives today, instructing protestors to vacate the agitation site by 3 PM. The court’s ruling comes in the wake of increasing tensions and disruptions caused by the protests, which have been demanding the restoration of reservations for the Maratha community in government jobs and educational institutions.
The protests began several weeks ago, with thousands of Maratha activists rallying across Maharashtra to voice their demands. The community argues that the lack of reservation has hindered their access to opportunities in public sector employment and education. The Maratha community, which constitutes a substantial demographic in the state, has long been at the forefront of political discussions regarding social justice and affirmative action.
During the proceedings, the bench emphasized the need for maintaining public order and ensuring that the rights of other citizens are not infringed upon. It called for a peaceful resolution to the situation, urging protestors to consider the implications of their continued presence at the site.
“While we understand the significance of the movement, it is imperative to balance the right to protest with the rights of other citizens,” the court stated. The judges underscored that the authorities would provide assistance to ensure a smooth transition and safe evacuation from the protest site.
Following the court’s ruling, leaders of the Maratha community expressed disappointment but reiterated their commitment to the cause. “We respect the judiciary, but we will continue to fight for our rights and the rightful reservation we believe we deserve,” said a prominent leader. Plans for future demonstrations and strategies are already in the discussion among community leaders.
As the deadline approaches, law enforcement agencies are on high alert, ready to intervene if necessary. Many citizens have expressed their concerns about the prolonged protests, hoping for a resolution that benefits both the Maratha community and the state as a whole.
The Maratha reservation issue remains a contentious topic, and it is expected that discussions will continue both in the courts and in public forums in the coming days. Community leaders confirmed that they are exploring all legal avenues to achieve their goals while adhering to the court’s directives.
As the clock ticks toward the 3 PM deadline, the state observes with bated breath, hoping for a harmonious outcome to this pivotal chapter in Maharashtra’s socio-political landscape.
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