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PM Modi hails India’s para athletes, says their success gives new meaning to life

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New Delhi, Aug 27: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hailed India’s para athletes for their ability to overcome adversity and inspire entire families and communities, saying their achievements can change the way people look at life and demonstrate how sport can improve the quality of life.

Addressing the youth virtually during the Khelo India Dialogue, Modi highlighted the journeys of India’s leading para athletes and said their success carries significance beyond medals, particularly for families who witness their struggles in the early stages of their sporting careers.

“Our Para athletes are a big example of how sports change lives. When one sees a Parathlete in the field, the way of thinking about life changes. And when he achieves something, his whole family gets a new life along with that athlete. For those parents, brothers and sisters who see their child struggling in the early days, that athlete’s success gives new heights to their dreams and courage. I have always been inspired by such players,” PM Modi said while addressing the youth during Khelo India Dialogue.

The Prime Minister specifically recalled the achievements of Indian para athletes Sheetal Devi, Avani Lekhara, Sumit Antil, Nitesh Kumar, and Jandu Kumar, citing them as examples of the transformative power of sport.

“You all have heard India’s daughter’s name in Archery- Sheetal. When she won a medal at the Paralympics, the whole of Jammu and Kashmir and the whole of India were proud of her. Similarly, we have another daughter, Avni Lekhra, who won Paralympic medals twice. Whenever I meet her, I feel very proud. Be it Sumit Antil, Nitesh Kumar, and our recent champion, Jandu Kumar, such are our Para-athletes. Such are our teammates. They inspire us too. Sports is a guarantee to a better life, and it improves our quality of life,” he mentioned.

Modi also underlined the wider role of sporting culture in shaping individuals and society, arguing that the lessons learnt through competition extend well beyond the playing field.

“We often hear that the spirit of sportspersons is very important for a healthy society, a good family system, and a better culture. Sportsperson spirit is very important for a healthy society, for a good family system, for a good culture. It is very difficult to learn the spirit of a sportsperson without going to the sporting field. Sports not only teach us to be champions but also how to be better competitors. To get up, to fall, to fall and to get up again. Sport brings this feeling inside us,” the Prime Minister said.

The address also touched upon the government’s efforts to strengthen India’s sporting infrastructure and create a broader pathway for athletes from grassroots talent identification to international competition.

“Our government is fully committed to creating a modern sports ecosystem in India in the 21st century. Today, from sports universities to modern training centres, a system is being created in the country which will provide support at every level, from identifying talent to bringing it to the world stage,” PM Modi stated.

He added that India was working with countries across the world in areas including sports science, training and coaching, while also stressing the role of youth in shaping the country’s sporting future.

“Khelo India Samvaad is not just about sports. It’s a platform where every suggestion and opinion can provide a new vision to sports. The programme focuses on what youth think about the sports ecosystem, talent development, governance and Viksit Bharat and considers their suggestions. These things will be heard and will be included in the policy process. Therefore, I urge everyone to use this platform as much as possible. Let new ideas come. These new ideas of youth will be the strength of a developed India,” he noted.

Crime

Gurugram hit-and-run case: Car driver, cousin sent to two days’ police custody

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Gurugram, Sep 16: A Gurugram court on Wednesday sent Kalyan Bainsla, the driver accused of hitting a woman biker on Golf Course Road, and his cousin to two days’ police custody in connection with the hit-and-run case.

Bainsla and his cousin Lavneesh were produced before Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMIC) Nidhi Beniwal, who sent them to police custody.

Both accused will be produced before the court again on September 18.

The development came a day after Gurugram police arrested Bainsla from Rajasthan’s Dausa and Lavneesh from Haryana’s Palwal in connection with the incident.

Lavneesh was allegedly present in the car along with Bainsla at the time of the incident.

The Gurugram Police had earlier added Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), pertaining to attempt to murder, to the FIR after the victim, Sia, and her family approached the police seeking stringent action against those involved.

The case was initially registered after the police took suo motu cognisance of a video showing a car hitting a female biker on Golf Course Road.

Following a detailed investigation and analysis of CCTV footage, the police added the attempt-to-murder charge, which carries a punishment of up to 10 years.

The development came after Sia’s family submitted her written statement to Inspector Manoj Kumar, Station House Officer of Gurugram’s Sector-56 police station. The police are also recording her detailed statement as part of the investigation.

The Gurugram police have maintained that lawlessness will not be tolerated and said they are committed to taking strict action against those responsible.

Meanwhile, Sia on Wednesday appealed for strict punishment for all four occupants of the car, saying it was necessary to send the right message to society regarding women’s safety.

Speaking to media, Sia said she had “great expectations” from the court and wanted justice in the case. “I stated in court yesterday that all four, who were in the car, should be arrested and that strict action taken against all of them. In my opinion, they should face harsh consequences; that is the only way to send a message to such young men—so that anyone thinking of committing such an act would think twice,” she said.

Reacting to the accused’s reported claim that he was in a hurry to use the restroom, Sia said the explanation was “despicable”, stating that the entire incident had been recorded on video. She said that had the dashcam on her bike not recorded the incident, she “probably wouldn’t have even been able to justify what happened”. “So many women, who might be heading to work, have to face this kind of harassment. They don’t have cameras, and often, cases like this don’t even get registered,” she said.

Sia reiterated that all four occupants of the car should face action, saying: “All four must be punished; only then can we set an example for our society.”

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BJP chief Nitin Nabin to visit Madhya Pradesh on PM Modi birthday, to light ‘Ashirvad Ka Diya’ in Ujjain

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New Delhi, Sep 16: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President Nitin Nabin will undertake a two-day visit to Indore and Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, from Thursday, September 17.

The visit comes amid BJP’s preparations to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi completion of 25 years in public service and his birthday under the party’s nationwide ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’. The ‘Swamitva Scheme’ event in Indore is one of the key highlights of his visit to state.

Nabin will also light ‘Ashirvad Ka Diya’ at Ujjain’s Ram Ghat, leading the celebrations to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 25 years of public service.

Nabin is scheduled to arrive at the Devi Ahilyabai Holkar International Airport in Indore in the afternoon on September 17, where senior BJP office-bearers and party workers will welcome him.

After participating in local programmes, the BJP President will reach Gandhi Nagar Ground where he will take part in an event organised under the ‘Swamitva Scheme’.

During the programme, he will formally inaugurate the new statewide registration process under the scheme.

Towards the evening, Nabin will head to Ujjain, where he will participate in the ‘Maa Shipra Aarti’ at Ram Ghat.

As part of the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’, the BJP chief will light the ‘Ashirvad Ka Diya’ at the banks of the Shipra river, amid a large-scale devotional programme.

According to the BJP, lakhs of illuminated diyas will be lit up at the Ram Ghat during the programme, creating a festive and spiritual atmosphere along the banks of the river.

Nabin will also attend a ‘Bhajan Sandhya’ organised at the ghat.

On the second and final day of his visit to the state on September 18, Nitin Nabin will offer prayers at Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple, attend the sacred ‘Bhasma Aarti’ ritual at the renowned Jyotirlinga temple and also perform traditional worship rituals.

The two-day visit will combine BJP’s organisational and public welfare programmes with religious and spiritual engagements in Indore and Ujjain as part of the party’s nationwide activities marking Prime Minister Modi’s 25 years of public service.

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BJP not against Muslims; protest was against cop’s remarks: K’taka MP on Ganesh procession row

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Mysuru, Sep 16: Mysuru-Kodagu MP and royal scion Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar on Wednesday said the BJP was not opposed to Muslims and clarified that the party’s protest in T. Narasipura town was against remarks made by a police inspector regarding a procession in front of a mosque.

Speaking in Mysuru, Yaduveer said the BJP had staged the protest condemning the police inspector’s statement that a procession would not be allowed in front of a mosque.

“We are opposed to the T. Narasipura police inspector. For that reason, we have protested. We have not protested targeting Muslims,” he said.

Yaduveer said the BJP’s protest should not be portrayed as being directed against the Muslim community.

Responding to criticism over BJP leaders wearing shoes and slippers while holding Ganesh idols during the protest in front of the T. Narasipura police station, Yaduveer said the idols being carried by the protesters had not been installed.

“For installed idols, that kind of respect is given. The idols which we held were not installed. In that respect, it is not an issue of controversy. We were wearing chappals while protesting on the street,” he said.

Yaduveer also alleged that the police had defended Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar over the issue.

“I have observed that the police defended CM Shivakumar. If you defend such statements, what would be the public opinion?” he questioned.

Referring to the police inspector’s remarks at a peace meeting, Yaduveer said the language used by the officer was inappropriate.

He quoted the inspector as saying in Kannada, “If a procession is taken in front of the mosque, he will make them repent,” and, “If you people go there, you get charged up.”

Yaduveer questioned whether such language was appropriate for a police officer to use during a peace meeting.

“You ask anyone in society whether using such language in a peace meeting is right or wrong. If such language is used in a peace meeting, who is answerable?” he asked.

The BJP MP maintained that the party’s protest was against the police inspector’s alleged remarks and not against any particular community.

It can be recalled that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday (September 13) staged a protest in Karnataka’s T Narsipur over alleged curbs on a Ganesha procession, even as the district police said there were no restrictions on the route or the festival.

The protest was held after T Narsipur Police Inspector Dhananjaya warned Ganesha procession organisers against bursting crackers in front of a mosque on Link Road, reports said. The BJP interpreted the remarks as restrictions on the procession and demanded the inspector’s suspension.

Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka, Mysuru-Kodagu MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, MLA T.S. Srivatsa, former MP Pratap Simha and other BJP leaders joined the protest. Ashoka carried a Ganesha idol and led a march along the Link Road. The BJP leaders were later detained by the police and subsequently released.

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