Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha Anniversary: Yogi Adityanath Says PM Modi Ended 500-Year Wait for Ayodhya

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) chairman BR Naidu on Saturday visited some of the people injured in a recent stampede here and handed them cheques in aid. Six people died and nearly 40 were injured in the stampede at Bairagi Patteda near MGM School and Vishnu Nivasam counters in Tirupati on Wednesday, as hundreds of them jostled for tickets for Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam at Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple on Tirumala Hills.

Kolkata Metro has decided to run additional services along the North-South corridor from January 13 on a trial basis, an official statement said.Fourteen additional services (seven up and down each) would be run from Monday to Saturday between Noapara and Kavi Subhash along the Blue Line in peak hours in the morning (9 am to 11 am) and evening (5 pm to 8 pm) on a trial basis.

The Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises made these remarks during his address when he visited the Coir Board head office here, an official statement said.

He underscored the critical role of MSMEs in India’s economy, contributing 30.1 per cent to the GDP, 35.4 per cent to manufacturing, and 45.73 per cent to exports, the statement added.

"I would like to thank the entire BJP leadership, including PM Modi, JP Nadda, Virendra Sachdeva, Harsh Malhotra and every party worker, for showing faith in me and giving me a ticket to contest the elections," says BJP leader Priyanka Gautam, party candidate from Kondli Assembly constituency. 

On L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan advocates a 90-hour work week, Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra says, "I have a huge respect for Narayan Murthy and others. So let me not get this wrong. But I have to say something. I think this debate is in the wrong direction because this debate is about the quantity of work. My point is we have to focus on the quality of work, not on the quantity of work. So it's not about 40 hours, or 70 hours or 90 hours. What output are you doing even if it's 10 hours? You can change the world in 10 hours... I have always believed that you have to have leaders and people in your company who make wise decisions and wise choices. So the question is, which kind of mindmakes the right choices and right decisions? And I think a mind that is exposed to holistic thinking, thinking that is open to inputs from around the world, that's when you'll make a good decision. If you don't spend time at home, if you're not spending time with friends, not reading, and don't have time to reflect, how will you bring the right inputs into making a decision?... I don't want it to be about quantity. Ask me what's the quality of my work. Don't ask me how many hours I work...."

On his candidature from Narela Constituency, BJP leader Rajkaran Khatri says, "I am a small worker of the BJP party and I am happy that the high command has shown trust in me...I will give my 100 per cent and the people will choose the BJP party in the elections..."

Congress leader Udit Raj says, "Kerala is an educated state...In comparison to other states in North India, there are fewer cases of harassment and molestation of women. North India is far ahead of Kerala in this matter (there are more cases of crime against women here). So this is a shocking thing that a girl was raped in Kerala I demand an investigation and punishment should be given to those people who are doing this..."

Former NCW chief and Rajya Sabha MP Rekha Sharma says, “This is really serious and shocking that girl who is now 16, maybe she was 13 when people started raping her. It is a serious concern. I think Kerala police should take this very seriously. I've heard that they've arrested a few people. But they must arrest everybody who was involved in it. And the things should come out that who were those people? Were they from the family or outside the family or were some influential people who were doing this? Let the details come out. I also would request DGP Kerala to take things seriously, arrest everyone immediately and give this girl counselling..."

Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya says, "I have seen how the 3000 youth who participated in the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue have prepared and presented themselves... I would say that these youth will make Prime Minister Modi's dream of a developed India come true..."

Uttar Pradesh DGP Prashant Kumar says, "In view of the security of the devotees coming for the upcoming Maha Kumbh, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh had given instructions to create a circular security around Prayagraj, including the 7 routes connecting Prayagraj district and the districts falling on those routes and the border districts. In compliance with the above instructions, a total of 102 fronts have been created for checking and frisking of vehicles and individuals... Uttar Pradesh Police is committed to the security of the devotees coming for the Maha Kumbh."

On Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut's statement, NCP MP Sunil Tatkare says, "Party from different ideologies formed the INDI alliance to defeat PM Modi...The people of Maharashtra rejected the Maha Vikas Aghadi in the state elections...Now the leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi are levelling allegations against each other..."

He further says, "A lot will happen in the coming days. Let us wait and watch"

Rain lashes several parts of the National Capital. 

On the statement of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, AAP Spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar says, "BJP demolishes every slum it goes to...The people of Delhi should be cautious of the BJP. Arvind Kejriwal has always worked for the development of slum dwellers"

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan says, "The Greenko project in Andhra Pradesh started 15 years ago. Greenko is a major energy company that has invested Rs 1.5 lakh crore in India, of which Rs 33,000 crore has been invested in Andhra Pradesh, and they are continuing to invest more. The project has provided employment to 12,000 people. The Pinnapuram project itself is worth Rs 10,000 crore, with an additional Rs 24 crore investment planned. Electricity generation has started with a capacity of 2,000 MW, and the project spans a total area of 2,800 acres. Out of this, 1,700 acres were purchased by the company..."

Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini says, "I have issued orders to the officials for carrying out a survey and providing benefits to the beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana...Our government is committed to providing homes to the poor people...Amrit Sarovar Yojana was launched by PM Modi and under the scheme 2000 'Amrit Sarovar' were built in Haryana...Orders have been given to build 2200 more 'Amrit Sarovar' in the state...We have set up a target of setting up one lakh solar panels in the state..."

A mob on Saturday stormed and destroyed a makeshift camp of the Assam Rifles in Manipur's Kamjong district over alleged harassment and restrictions on transportation of timber, officials said.

The members of the group that attacked the camp in Hongbei area belonged to Kasom Khullen block of the Naga majority district.

The first phase of the long-awaited Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail project will be completed by the end of 2026, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Saturday after visiting the project site at Karnaparayag-Simai.

A tunnel is being made as part of the project at Karnaprayag-Simai.

"It is a unique project. You can see how difficult it is to make tunnels in the hills. However, work is progressing at a fast pace. By the end of 2026, the first phase of the project will be operational," Dhami told reporters in Karnaprayag.

 Divers on Saturday fished out bodies of three workers from a flooded coal mine in Assam's Dima Hasao district, where they had been trapped since January 6, an official said.

With this recovery, bodies of four out of the total nine workers stuck in the flooded quarry were found. The first one was recovered from the mine in Umrangshu, around 250 km from Guwahati, on Wednesday.

"The rescue operations resumed this morning and three bodies were recovered six days after the incident,” the official said.

Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday said India’s energy security will fuel the country’s bid to become a USD 4 trillion economy much earlier than the projected 2027.

Puri was addressing a session at the 7th Mangaluru Literary Festival on Saturday.

He said the International Monetary Fund has projected India to reach there by 2027. “But if the present trajectory continues, India will arrive there much before that,” Puri said.

On Delhi Assembly elections 2025, Congress candidate from Kalkaji, Alka Lamba says, "The former CM and the temporary CM are more in touch with the RSS Headquarters than the people of Delhi... Arvind Kejriwal, stop visiting PMO, BJP, and RSS. He can't even sleep at night because the BJP has instilled fear in him... We are challenging both AAP and BJP because both are responsible for Delhi's destruction..."

On Union HM Amit Shah's speech, she says, "... They (BJP and AAP) just keep blaming each other for Delhi's poor condition. Congress' hand is going to make a comeback on 5 February... BJP and AAP are making a joint effort to avoid any discussions on Delhi's issues... That's why they want to distract people with these counter-allegations... We are trying our best to ensure that the people of Delhi vote on the basis of Delhi's issues..."

Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar says, "Let's do our best and leave the results to God. I don't need anyone's support, I will work as the party... No one should insist on my behalf. I don't want anyone's support. No MLA should support me in this matter. I have a Congress party. I will work as the party leaders have said. MLAs and activists should not shout on my behalf. I will do my duty...."

RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha says, "...Our children have been subjected to injustice in BPSC and the government stood as a mute spectator. All these things are interconnected...BPSC students will definitely get justice, you can delay but cannot deny it."

AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal writes to Chief Election Commissioner regarding allegations of irregularities in the voter list in the New Delhi Assembly constituency

"Union ministers and leaders of BJP are getting fake votes made at their home addresses. FIR should be lodged against them immediately and action should be taken. An application has been given to create 33 new votes at the address of BJP candidate Parvesh Verma. If this has happened with the will of the BJP candidate, then Parvesh Verma should be immediately disqualified from contesting elections...," reads the letter

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) announces to boycott the Erode (East) Assembly constituency by-election scheduled on February 5.

The AIADMK said, "The ministers and DMK members of the administratively incompetent DMK's Stalin model government will misuse their power. They will not let people vote freely. We believe that the elections will not be held freely and fairly"

On AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal's statement, Congress candidate from Kasturba Nagar assembly constituency Abhishek Dutt says, "...Arvind Kejriwal should declare himself as the CM face (of AAP). Arvind Kejriwal has put up huge hoardings declaring himself as the CM face of AAP. A legal notice should be sent to AAP because he is creating confusion among the people of Delhi. He (Arvind Kejriwal) cannot become the CM face of Delhi because he cannot go inside the CM office. Why is he lying to the people of Delhi?..."

Speaking at the 'Slum Dwellers' conference, Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, "We said that Ram Mandir will be built in Ayodhya, Arvind Kejriwal used to say that toilets should be built... After a long wait of 500 years, we built Ram Mandir in Ayodhya... PM Modi has given houses to more than 3.58 crore poor people in the country... This is PM Modi's guarantee and every person living in a slum will be given a permanent house...The toilet in his (Arvind Kejriwal) 'sheeshmahal' is more expensive than the slums..."

On CAG report on Delhi liquor policy, Delhi Assembly LoP and BJP candidate from Rohini Vidhan Sabha, Vijender Gupta says, "... The liquor scam was a roadmap for corruption. Every day new scams related to it keep coming out... Arvind Kejriwal should be instantly expelled from politics. AAP has no moral ground to keep functioning as a political party anymore... Kejriwal is a symbol of corruption."
 

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath spins the Charkha as he inaugurates the 'Khadi Mahotsav 2025' at the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan in Lucknow.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah attends 'Slum Dwellers' conference in Delhi.

AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal says, "We are getting information that Ramesh Bidhuri's name will be officially announced (as BJP CM face) in the coming one or two days. I congratulate Ramesh Bidhuri on becoming the CM face of BJP. Ramesh Bidhuri should tell what he did for the development of Delhi while being an MP. What is his vision for Delhi? ... After the official announcement of his name, there should be a debate between the CM candidates of BJP and AAP in front of the people of Delhi..."
 

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said, "There have been scams during Arvind Kejriwal's tenure... Now the report that has come shows that Arvind Kejriwal's government was corrupt, so we demand to remove Arvind Kejriwal and bring the BJP to power. We are contesting elections on 15-20 seats but BJP should not suffer any loss, my party is in NDA, and we support BJP, NDA. Our role is to ensure that the BJP government comes here..."

 BJP National Spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi says, "...Investigation into fake votes in Delhi has revealed that votes of Bangladeshi infiltrators are being made by making fake Aadhar cards and signatures of two AAP MLAs - Mohinder Goyal and Jai Bhagwan Upkar have been found in this conspiracy... AAP is taking support of anti-national forces... What is the secret of Arvind Kejriwal's love for anti-national forces?..."

The CAG has projected a loss of Rs 2,026 crore due to the Delhi government's excise policy, and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party has not tabled the report in the assembly to hide its misdeeds, the BJP claimed on Saturday.

BJP leader Anurag Thakur told a press conference the CAG report has arrived at 10 major findings about the policy, which was scrapped by the AAP government amid a row, asserting that former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal will have to answer the questions it has raised.

"He will have to say who pocketed rhe money," Thakur said, alleging that Kejriwal is the kingpin of the scam.

Nine hardcore Naxalites, allegedly involved in attacks on security forces and carrying a cumulative bounty of Rs 43 lakh, surrendered in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Saturday, police said.

The cadres, including two women, turned themselves in before senior officials from the police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) here, citing disappointment with "hollow" and "inhuman" Maoist ideology and infighting within the outlawed outfit, Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan said.

All eyes are on the Supreme Court which will examine the law on appointing members of the Election Commission as its validity has been challenged for not having the chief justice of India as a member of the selection panel.

The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, which came into force in December 2023, was first used to appoint Gyanesh Kumar and S S Sandhu as Election Commissioners in March 2024 to fill up the vacancies created following the resignation of Arun Goel and retirement of Anup Chandra Pandey.

 The BJP rolled out a campaign song for Delhi Assembly polls "Bahane Nahi Badlav Chahiye.." rendered by party MP Manoj Tiwari on Saturday.

The song "Bahane Nahi Badlav Chahiye, Delhi Mein BJP Sarkar Chahiye" (need change not excuses, Delhi requires BJP government) reflects the mood of the city to oust the Aapda (AAP) government that "cheated" people with false promises and set record of corruption, charged Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva.

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will spend the entire day on Sunday with the participants in the 'Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue', being held as part of his efforts to bring one lakh youths having no political link in politics.

The programme is being held on National Youth Day, which marks the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.

An official statement said Modi will engage with 3,000 "dynamic young" leaders from across India.

A Sanskrit scholar in Odisha's Ganjam district has authored a 'Mahakavya' on the life and works of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Sanskrit language.

The 700-page work 'Narendra Arohanam', authored by Somanath Dash, associate professor in National Sanskrit University, Tirupati and published by Somnath Sanskrit University, Veraval, Gujarat was unveiled in an youth festival held at Veraval, last week.

The book consists of 1,200 slokas (verses) in 12 chapters, with English and Hindi descriptions. It has depicted the life journey of Modi, his childhood activities, as chief minister in Gujarat and as prime minister till his second term.

A public prosecutor has been arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 1.5 lakh to help a company get acquittal in a case in Maharashtra's Ratnagiri district, the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) said on Saturday.

Based on a complaint, the ACB laid a trap in Chiplun and caught Rajesh Jadhav, a special public prosecutor, allegedly accepting the bribe on Thursday evening, an official said.

The bodies of three workers, who were trapped inside a coal mine in Assam's Dima Hasao district, were recovered on Saturday from the quarry during rescue operations, an official said.

Four bodies have so far been recovered with the first one taken out from the mine on Wednesday, he said.

A potential tragedy was averted with the recovery of four IEDs planted by Naxals to target security forces in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district, police said on Saturday.

The explosives were unearthed from the Kachchapal-Toke road under Kohkameta police station limits on Friday afternoon by a joint team of District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Border Security Force (BSF), a police official said.

wenty-three persons from Maharashtra, including five from Mumbai, have been invited as special guests to witness the 76th Republic Day Parade in New Delhi.

The invitees are among 10,000 special guests from across the country who will witness the parade at Kartavya Path, a release stated.

Parts of Rajasthan received light rainfall on Saturday under the influence of a western disturbance, the meteorological centre here said.

Dense fog enveloped large parts of the state in the morning. Fatehpur (Sikar) was the coldest place in the state with a minimum temperature of 6.8 degrees Celsius, it said.

In the last 24 hours which ended at 8.30 am, Phalodi recorded the highest rainfall at 2.8 mm, the meteorological centre said.

A team of Rajasthan's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) recovered Rs 8.50 lakh unaccounted cash from the chief manager of Central Cooperative Bank Limited, officials said on Saturday.

The chief manager, Sanjay Sharma, is being questioned, they said.

Police registered a case and launched an investigation to trace a 29-year-old man for allegedly raping a woman from Kalyan in Thane district on false marriage promise, an official said on Saturday.

The accused, a Tamil Nadu resident, and the victim, who is associated with the ship-building profession, became friends in 2020.

Minimum temperatures rose across Kashmir due to cloud cover but remained below the freezing point, officials said on Saturday. The relief, however, is likely to be short-lived as fresh snowfall is expected in the higher reaches during the day.

The minimum temperature in Srinagar settled at minus 3.6 degrees Celsius on Friday night, up from the previous night's minus 4.3 degrees Celsius, the meteorological department said.

Cold weather conditions continued to persist in Punjab and Haryana on Saturday with Gurdaspur being the coldest place as it recorded the minimum temperature of 3.8 degrees Celsius.

Among other places in Punjab, Amritsar recorded a low of 9.4 degrees Celsius, four degrees above normal, according to a report of the meteorological department.

The full team of the 16th Finance Commission, headed by its chairman Arvind Panagariya, is expected to arrive here on January 29 for a four-day visit to Tripura, an official said on Saturday.

During their visit to the northeastern state, they will meet Chief Minister Manik Saha and hold discussions with government officials and other stakeholders to learn about the wish list of Tripura, state Finance Secretary Apurba Roy

The first anniversary celebrations of the Ram Lalla idol consecration ceremony at the Ram temple here started on Saturday with a large number of devotees reaching the holy city to take part in various events.

Religious and cultural programmes will commence in the Ram Temple complex starting Saturday. The anniversary celebrations began with the recitation of the Yajurveda.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will perform the 'abhishek' of Ram Lalla. The grand 'aarti' of the deity will take place around 12.20 pm, followed by an offering of 56 dishes to the deity.

The court of Ram Lalla has been decorated with flowers.

An idol of Lord Hanuman in a temple here was vandalised by unidentified persons, police said on Saturday. An FIR has been registered in the matter.

The incident took place in the Golbazar locality in the Sikandarpur police station area on Friday evening, they said.

Station House Officer (SHO) Vikas Chandra Pandey said the mace of Lord Hanuman's idol in the temple was broken.

A 10-month-old child has been detected with the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infection, the first such case this season in Assam, officials said on Saturday. The total tally rises to 13, PTI reported. 

A man was killed after the driver of a car died when it collided with another car on the road in the Safdarjung Enclave area of ​​South West Delhi, ANI reported.

The driver of the other car is absconding.

The matter is under investigation

AAP MLA Gurpreet Gogi was found dead with bullet injuries. DCP Jaskaran Singh Teja said, " Gurpreet Gogi was declared brought dead at the hospital, his body has been kept at the mortuary in DMC hospital. Post-mortem will be conducted. As per the family members, he shot himself accidentally, he sustained bullet injuries to his head. Cause of death will be clear once post-mortem report comes..."

A special MP MLA Court in Pune on Friday granted bail to Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the Savarkar defamation case, ANI reported.

The Congress leader is now expected to appear before the court on February 18.

A man in Madhya Pradesh's Dewas killed his live-in partner in March last and kept her body in the refrigerator for almost 10 months.

Devotees chant Ram Bhajans as they gather in Ayodhya ahead of the first-anniversary celebration of Ram Temple's Pran Pratishtha ceremony.

France President Emmanuel Macron has confirmed that PM Modi will be in France on February 10-11 for the AI Action Summit.

Visibility reduced to zero as a blanket of dense fog witnessed in parts of Delhi-NCR