Prime Minister Narendra Modi kickstarts his campaign for the upcoming assembly elections in Delhi by launching multiple developmental projects worth Rs 4,500 crore in the capital. As the air quality in Delhi remains in the 'very poor' category for the fourth consecutive day, PM Modi also addresses the issue and assures that traffic deadlock will be resolved by 2025. The political parties engage in a war of words over the alleged irregularities in the voter registration details, with BJP accusing AAP of trying to delete names of certain communities from Delhi's electoral roll.
Prime Minister Modi's Delhi Campaign Launch and Key Announcements
On January 7, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated multiple developmental projects worth Rs 4,500 crore in Delhi, marking the start of his campaign for the upcoming assembly elections.
Key Projects Launched:
Air Quality and Traffic Congestion
PM Modi also addressed the persistent issue of air quality in Delhi, which has remained in the 'very poor' category for several days. He acknowledged the severity of the situation and assured that the government is working towards resolving the traffic deadlock by 2025. He emphasized the importance of public transport and the need for reducing congestion.
Political Controversy
In the lead-up to the elections, political parties have engaged in a war of words over alleged irregularities in voter registration details. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of attempting to delete names of certain communities from Delhi's electoral roll. The AAP has denied these allegations, claiming they are politically motivated.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers
Q1: What are the major developmental projects launched by PM Modi in Delhi?
Q2: What is the current air quality status in Delhi?
Q3: What measures are being taken to improve air quality?
Q4: What is the alleged voter registration controversy?
Q5: When is the upcoming Delhi assembly election scheduled?
On January 13, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Lohri with the public in New Delhi, spreading warm wishes and highlighting the festival's cultural significance. Lohri, marking the end of winter and the beginning of the harvest season, symbolizes prosperity and togetherness among people from all walks of life. The celebration was filled with joy and the traditional rituals of gathering around a bonfire, singing folk songs, and offering offerings for a successful and abundant year ahead.
Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna has taken action against Allahabad High Court Judge Shekhar Yadav for his alleged anti-Muslim remarks at a Vishwa Hindu Parishad event. Khanna has requested a fresh report from the Allahabad High Court Chief Justice on the issue, after the Collegium previously met with Justice Yadav for an explanation. This is seen as a first step in the process to initiate an in-house inquiry for judicial misconduct, based on a previous Supreme Court ruling that sets guidelines for handling such cases.
In a recent interview, a former Supreme Court Justice reflects on the crucial role of the judiciary in maintaining a check-and-balance system within the government. He emphasizes the need for a certain level of distance between the judiciary and the government, and discusses his experience working with different chief justices. While admitting to having some differences in perception, he also highlights the importance of standing firm on administrative decisions to ensure the independence of the judiciary.
Odisha has become the 34th state to join the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana scheme, much to the appreciation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He criticized the previous BJD government for not adopting the scheme, which aims to provide affordable and high-quality healthcare to all citizens. The new BJP-led government in Odisha has replaced the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana with the Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana, in line with the national health scheme. This move is expected to benefit women and senior citizens in the state.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched his party's Delhi campaign with a fiery speech at a public meeting in the Muslim-dominated area of Seelampur. He took aim at both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, accusing them of failing to deliver on their promises. As the Congress sets its sights on reclaiming its minority vote bank, Gandhi reminded the audience of the party's past successes under former CM Sheila Dikshit and promised to prioritize Delhi's development. Despite the AAP and Congress being part of the same INDIA bloc, Gandhi made it clear that the two parties are now strong competitors in the upcoming assembly elections.
Addressing a gathering at the inauguration of the Sonamarg Tunnel, Abdullah lauded Modi's efforts in bridging the gap between the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the central government. He commended the smooth conduct of elections in the Union Territory and expressed hope for the restoration of statehood. Paying homage to the victims of a terrorist attack near the tunnel site, Abdullah affirmed that terrorism will not stop the region's development and democracy.
General Upendra Dwivedi, speaking at the Army's annual press conference, disclosed that only four local men in J&K joined militant ranks in 2020 and that 60% of those killed during counter-terrorism operations were from Pakistan. He emphasized that the local people were in favor of peace and that the violence in the region was being orchestrated by Pakistan. Despite the challenges faced by the Army in the past two years, recent successes in reworking the counter-terrorism grid have led to a positive change and the theme of "terrorism to tourism" is gradually becoming a reality in Jammu and Kashmir.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his efforts to bridge the gap between Delhi and Union Territory. He praised the Prime Minister for keeping his promise of conducting Assembly elections in the region and stated that it has led to an increase in trust among the residents. PM Modi inaugurated the 6.5-kilometre Sonamarg Tunnel, which will now be called the Z-Morh Tunnel, in a major infrastructure boost for the region. Chief Minister Abdullah also mentioned the Centre's efforts to reduce the distance between Delhi and the heart of the region, leaving the Prime Minister with a smile.
As the number of women in India's armed forces steadily increases, Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi announces plans for gender neutrality and enhanced roles for women in the military. With approximately 1,700 women officers set to join the Indian Army and other forces after training, the push for a strong and equal female presence in the tri-services is gaining momentum. The Army Chief notes that women officers have been performing exceptionally well, and efforts are being made to ensure a gender-neutral approach to their roles and opportunities in the armed forces.
The National Commission for Women has formed a committee to investigate the brutal killing of a female BPO employee by her colleague in the parking lot of their company. The committee will be headed by NCW Member Secretary Meenakshi Negi and will also include former DGP's Dr B K Sinha and R Sreelekha. The committee's mandate includes identifying lapses in workplace security and bystander inaction, and proposing measures for improving safety in the tech industry.