New Delhi, Oct 17: Amid high drama, leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Friday met with the family of Dalit Hariom Valmiki, who was brutally beaten to death in Raebareli recently, and expressed his solidarity with their grief.

Reports came that the family refused to meet Rahul Gandhi, saying that they are satisfied with the government’s action. Some posters were also put up along the streets Rahul Gandhi was to pass by. The posters said there should be no politics over the issue. The members of the Congress party tore the posters and said that the family members had been forced to give a statement under pressure from the government.

Later, kin of Hariom Valmiki finally met Rahul Gandhi under a heavy police presence.

Rahul Gandhi took to his social media platform ‘X’ and posted, “The brutal murder of Hariom Valmiki has shaken the conscience of the entire nation. There was a question in the eyes of his family, filled with pain. Is being a Dalit in this country a crime? In Uttar Pradesh, the administration is busy intimidating the victim’s family. They even tried to stop the family from meeting me. This is the same failure of the system, which every time becomes a shield for the culprits and puts the victim on the dock.”

“Justice cannot be kept under house arrest. The BJP government should end the pressure on the victim’s family and ensure the strictest punishment for the guilty. I stand firmly with Hariom Valmiki’s family and every exploited, deprived, and weak citizen of the country. This fight is not just for Hariom – it is for every voice that refuses to bow before injustice,” he added.

The Congress party on its X handle also shared the same post.

After meeting the victim’s family, Gandhi condemned the incident, stating, “What happened to Hariom Valmiki is a grave offence against the Constitution of this country. Such a base ideology is a blot on society. We will continue to fight against this injustice and oppression. This country will be governed by Baba Saheb’s Constitution, not by Manuism.”

The lynching of the Dalit youth in Raebareli has sparked widespread outrage and turned into a major political controversy. The city’s top police official said that five accused persons have been arrested, with more suspects currently under investigation and expected to be taken into custody once their involvement is established.

The incident has sparked a political battle. The Congress has accused the UP government of protecting the culprits. The government has denied the charges and said that swift action has been taken.

Earlier, on October 7, the Congress party had condemned the “brutal lynching” of the Dalit youth, calling it a “stain” on the nation and a “profound question mark on the collective morality” of Indian society.

The victim, Hariom, was allegedly beaten to death with sticks and belts by a group of locals who mistakenly believed he was a thief.

Mumbai: Prolonged delays in land acquisition for the Mahul pumping station have resulted in a cost escalation of Rs 202 crores. Initially estimated at Rs 403 crores, the project’s revised cost has now soared to Rs 605.28 crores.

The Mahul pumping station is one of the eight pumping stations recommended as part of the flood-mitigation measures proposed by the Chitale Committee following the devastating 2005 Mumbai floods.

As per the Chitale Committee’s recommendations, the Irla pumping station in Juhu was the first to be commissioned in 2010, followed by the Haji Ali, Cleveland, Lovegrove (Worli), Reay Road–Britannia, and Gajdharbandh (Khar Danda) pumping stations.

However, the BMC has continued to face persistent challenges in acquiring land for two critical projects — the Mahul and Mogra pumping stations. Despite repeated efforts, the BMC faced setbacks in acquiring 6.17 acres of land at Wadala for the pumping station, due to delayed coordination with the Salt Commissioner, who controls much of the required land, civic sources said.

“At present, the land is being used for salt production by M/s Hormuz Salt Works, and therefore remains under their possession. To acquire this land, the BMC has initiated negotiations with them. The process of providing compensation to both the land occupants and the Salt Commissioner has already begun, and we expect to take possession of the land shortly,” said a senior civic official. The contract for the project has been awarded to M/s Laxmi-Avighna-Villo (JV).

The firm had initially quoted Rs 462 crore, which was 10.93% higher than the BMC’s estimated cost. Since the quote was first submitted in 2018, it has been revised to reflect current rates and taxes. The updated cost of the pumping station now stands at Rs 605 crore.

“The revised estimate also includes seven years of maintenance, higher fuel costs, and additional pumps,” said a senior civic official.

The Mahul pumping station is expected to reduce waterlogging in low-lying areas such as Kurla, Sion, Matunga, and Chembur. During high tide, floodgates are closed to prevent seawater from entering the city. Pumping stations like Mahul play a crucial role by pumping stormwater from the drains and discharging it into the sea.

New Delhi, Oct 17: As India gears up for the high-voltage ODI series against Australia, the spotlight inevitably falls on two modern greats — Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

The duo, who have defined an era of Indian cricket, were seen training intensely in Perth, looking as sharp and motivated as ever. But amid the excitement, a cloud of uncertainty looms large – is this the last dance for India’s iconic pair?

Both Rohit and Virat have served Indian cricket with unmatched consistency and leadership. Yet, with a generational shift underway and the rise of new stars under young skipper Shubman Gill, speculation about the veterans’ future refuses to die down.

Some believe the management might be using this series as a litmus test – giving them one last shot before gradually transitioning to younger legs. Others argue that form and fitness should be the only yardsticks, and if the two perform in Australia, they deserve to stay in contention till the 2027 ODI World Cup.

What’s certain is that the series means more than just runs and wickets. For fans, it’s a chance to relive the magic of Rohit’s effortless stroke play and Kohli’s fierce determination – traits that have brought India countless memorable victories.

For the team, it’s about striking the perfect balance between experience and youth as Gill begins his journey as India’s new leader Down Under.

Whether this tour marks a new beginning or the closing chapter of a golden era, one thing is undeniable – the cricketing world will be glued to Rohit and Virat once again, hoping their bats do the talking, just as they have for over a decade.

The opening clash between India and Australia will take place at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Sunday, October 19.

India’s ODI squad for the Australia tour includes Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (VC), Axar Patel, KL Rahul (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel (WK), and Yashasvi Jaiswal.