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‘Sangam par Charcha’: Prayagraj boatmen’s views offer insight into ‘Mood of the Nation’

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New Delhi, May 14 (IANS) ‘Triveni Sangam’ in Prayagraj and the banks of river Ganga in the holy cities of Varanasi and Haridwar keep brimming with influx of pilgrims throughout the day, with boatmen giving them a hearty welcome and also a memorable ride for the picturesque evening aarti.

Boatmen termed ‘Mallah’ in the local dialect, comprising a sizeable community here, would often take naps and be found slouching in their boats in earlier days but today they are a busy lot. Not just overly occupied with work, they are also a happier lot today because of the spurt in their income and earnings.

On one such morning, as the dawn broke and the river shimmered with sunlight, the mesmerising pictures of the Sangam were caught in the camera. The boatmen arrived for work and so did the excited tourists for the boat ride.

While a group of tourists embarked on their ‘joyride’ on riverboats, the first experience for some, the IANS team stood by them to gauge their opinion not just on the pilgrimage but also on the electorate dynamics emerging from the region.

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It is said that what the nation thinks about elections, the boatmen of Prayagraj anticipate in advance and often ‘predict’ the right outcome. The premise for their forecast is believed to be the congregation of individuals from across the globe and their extensive interaction with these boatmen.

We spoke to a couple of boatmen about what changed for them over the years and also to understand how the political and electoral landscape was taking shape in the river belt.

Boatman Pappu Nishad said that earlier, days would pass waiting for tourists but today, the times have changed. It is ‘dhakaadhak’, he said, expressing his views in one word.

“Today, we are loaded with work and very happy about it. Religious tourism has come as a boon for us,” he said.

A couple of boatmen showered lavish praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and vowed to support him for a third term.

“The scale of work has been immense over the years. Not just our city but the whole country is changing. It’s because of the Modi government, our lives have changed and are getting better every day,” he said.

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According to some reports, the Mallahs of Prayagraj reflect the pulse of the nation and have been rightly gauging the mood of the nation, for the past three decades.

Notably, Pappu Nishad is not a solitary voice but he represents many fellow ‘Mallahs’ who feel grateful to the current dispensation for a slew of opportunities.

The community, unskilled and untrained for other works feels circumscribed due to their ‘backwardness’ and sees this surge in tourism as a welcome change.

Anil Nishad, another boatman praised the Modi government for the positive changes in their lives.

“Since the pandemic, the Modi government is providing free ration. We have also much support in the fishing business,” he told IANS.

Naresh Kumar Nishad, declaring his support for the BJP, said that it will surely cross the 400 mark on the back of its farmer-friendly, women-friendly policies.

“Today, looting and robbery have taken a backseat and growth has taken precedence over everything. The objective of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas is taking everyone along,” he added.

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Boatman Rajesh Nishad is happy not just with the surge in business but also with the free education of his children. He said that he doesn’t have to pay school fees for his children anymore, and neither does he have to pay for the textbooks.

“For girl child, free online education is doing wonders,” he added.

Rajesh Prasad, another boatman credited the incumbent government not just for re-inventing spirituality among the youth but also for refurbishing many spiritual centres and turning them into fresh ‘pilgrimage hubs’.

“Because of the good initiatives of this government, we are getting ample work. Our earnings have increased, we and our family are happy,” he said.

Notably, Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, the erstwhile Allahabad, marking the confluence of river Ganga, Yamuna and the invisible Saraswati comprises one of the most revered spots for Hindus, where a mere bath is said to wash away all the sins and frees oneself from the cycle of re-births.

–IANS

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BJP ran away from debate in MP Assembly, says Jitu Patwari

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Bhopal, July 6 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh Congress Chief Jitu Patwari on Saturday accused Chief Minister Mohan Yadav-led BJP government of running away from the debate in the Assembly.

He claimed that the Assembly was adjourned sine die nine days before its schedule because the Congress legislators raised public issues in the House.

The monsoon session of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly that had begun in July, was adjourned sine die on July 5, while the session was scheduled to run till July 14.

“The BJP adjourned the House hurriedly because the Congress exposed their failure. Even the BJP MLAs were questioned over Nal Jal Yojana, which is why the Assembly was adjourned before its scheduled time,” Patwari said during a press conference.

He also claimed that the BJP government did not reply to 64 per cent of the questions asked during the monsoon session.

“Congress and BJP MLAs have asked a total of 4,270 questions, of which 2,756 went unanswered,” Patwari said.

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Meanwhile, the State Congress Chief targeted Chief Minister Yadav over unemployment and the law and order situation in the state.

–IANS

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Kerala HC asks Railways to manage waste on tracks

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Kochi, July 6 (IANS) The Kerala High Court has slammed Indian Railways for the waste found besides tracks and directed it to ensure proper disposal of garbage.

A Division Bench of the High Court made these observations while hearing the case that was registered by it suo motu after a fire broke out at Brahmapuram, near here and also dealing with the management of gypsum generated by Fertilizers & Chemicals Travancore Limited (FACT).

The court observed that Railways has a duty to prevent the disposal of waste on tracks.

It said that while the waste generated near the railway stations was managed, not much was being done to remove garbage from the side of the tracks.

The court said the main reason for this dumping was that train compartments do not have adequate garbage bins.

It further pointed out that the waste disposed on the tracks flows into water bodies causing damage to the environment.

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The court, looking into the two cases, directed Indian Railways to file an affidavit detailing the steps taken to clear the plastic waste from tracks.

On the second issue, the court expressed whether the gypsum generated could be used in road construction and asked FACT and the National Highway Authority of India to explore the possibility.

The court posted the case for further hearing on July 26.

–IANS

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Bolpur tragedy: Two persons arrested, extra-marital affair emerges

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Kolkata, July 6 (IANS) The police have arrested two persons, including a woman, in connection with the carnage at Bolpur in West Bengal’s Birbhum district which killed three members of the same family.

The woman who has been arrested in this connection is Smirti Bibi, who is the wife of Sheikh Ratan, the younger brother of Sheikh Tuta, 40, who was killed in the carnage.

Besides, Sheikh Tuta, his wife Rumpa Bibi, 30, and son Ayan Sheikh, 94, were also killed in the carnage.

Sheikh Safiqul, a quack residing in an adjacent village, with whom Smirti Bibi allegedly had an extra-marital affair, had also been arrested in connection with the incident.

Based on the complaint lodged by other members of the family, there were often quarrels in the family over an alleged extra-marital affair.

The family members as well as the neighbours of the family have informed the police that since Sheikh Tuta was vocal against this extra-marital affair, both Smirti Bibi and her paramour had developed a grudge over the deceased person.

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On early Friday morning, the room where the three deceased individuals were sleeping was set on fire.

While Rumpa Bibi and Ayan Sheikh died on Friday only after they were brought to the hospital, Sheikh Tuta died early Saturday morning.

The local police have started an investigation into the matter.

Sources said that based on statements of different persons as well as some circumstantial evidence, the two persons were arrested on Saturday.

–IANS

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Rowdy elements should be afraid of the police, says K’taka CM

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Bengaluru, June 6 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Saturday that rowdy elements should be afraid of the police, adding that it is a shame that some policemen do not even know that the e-beat system is in place.

“Why are you given guns? Why are rowdies not afraid of it,” Siddaramaiah questioned the state police while speaking after the inauguration of the 2024 Senior Police Officers Conference at the police headquarters here.

He also released a new software on the occasion.

“Who are the drug dealers? The respective station officials know who the rowdies and real estate agents are.” He asked why it was not stopping.

He congratulated Home Minister G. Parameshwara and the Karnataka Police for maintaining law and order without communal riots in the state in the last one year.

The CM gave a clear instruction that it is mandatory for every SP-DCP-IG to visit and inspect every station in their jurisdiction as per the police manual.

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–IANS

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PM Modi congratulates Iran's new President Pezeshkian

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New Delhi, July 6 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday congratulated Masoud Pezeshkian for his election as Iran’s new President.

“Looking forward to working closely with you to further strengthen our warm and long-standing bilateral relationship for the benefit of our people and the region,” PM Modi said in a post on X.

India-Iran partnership in various sectors, including connectivity, has expanded tremendously in recent times, especially during the tenure of Iran’s late President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi who passed away in a helicopter crash in May this year.

India had also observed a day’s state mourning as a mark of respect to the late Iranian President and other eight people, including the country’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, who lost their lives in the tragic accident.

It was also under India’s presidency that Iran joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

Both countries have fast-tracked infrastructure cooperation, focusing especially on the Chabahar project and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) – the 7,200 km-long multimodal trade corridor linking Russia with India via the ports of Iran.

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–IANS

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