World-Class Roads Vital For PM's $5 Trillion Economy Goal: Nitin Gadkari

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday said roads of world standards are needed for India to become a USD 5 trillion economy as envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Addressing a gathering in Dumad near Vadodara city, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways assured that all highways in India will be of "world standards" by 2024.

"You will find good quality national highways anywhere you go in the country. Our country is changing. It is our PM's dream to make India a developed and self-reliant nation which takes care of its poor and needy citizens.

"To make India a USD 5 trillion economy as envisaged by PM Narendra Modi, it is necessary to have world class road infrastructure in the country. And that is what we are trying to achieve," said Gadkari.

Stressing on the need to have better roads, the minister informed the audience that former US president John F Kennedy had once said American roads are not good because America is rich but America is rich because American roads are good.

"In Gujarat, highway projects of Rs 2 lakh crore are currently underway. I want to assure you that before the end of 2024, all the highways across the country will be of world standards, as good as American roads," the Union minister asserted.

Gadkari also said the 'Signature Bridge' connecting Okha with Beyt Dwarka island in Devbhumi Dwarka district of Gujarat was nearing completion and it would be inaugurated by the PM ahead of Janmashtami, which will be observed in September.

The Union minister was here to inaugurate a flyover, an underpass and a service road built at Dumad junction on the Surat-Ahmedabad National Highway 48 at a cost of Rs 48 crore.

According to Gadkari, the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, being built at a cost of Rs 1 lakh crore, has been completed till the Rajasthan border, while the remaining stretch till Mumbai will be finished in the next six months.

Work on the Surat-Chennai Expressway, Amritsar-Jamnagar Expressway and between Sanchore in Rajasthan and Mehsana in Gujarat was underway, he added.

On the request of Vadodara Lok Sabha MP Ranjanben Bhatt, Gadkari approved an underpass at Chhani Junction near the city and the widening of nine narrow bridges on the highway between Vadodara and Vapi.

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Naveen Patnaik Rushes To Control Room As Trains Derail In Odisha

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will go to Balasore tomorrow morning to oversee rescue operations at the site of a railway accident involving three trains. He rushed to the control room that is taking stock of the situation tonight.

Thirty people were killed and 300 were injured when a passenger train hit the derailed coaches of another train in Odisha's Balasore this evening. Many are feared trapped. A third freight train was also involved in the accident.

"I have just reviewed the situation about this truly tragic railway accident. I will be visiting the spot tomorrow morning," Mr Patnaik told reporters.

The details of the two trains are 12841 Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express and 12864 Yashwantpur-Howrah Superfast Express.

Fifteen coaches of Coromandel Express came off the tracks, while two of the other train got derailed.

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"Not The Easiest To Write": Salman Rushdie To Author Book On Knife Attack

British author Salman Rushdie has said that he is writing a book about the knife attack that took place on him last year in New York, as per a report in The Guardian. In a pre-recorded Zoom appearance at the Hay Literary Festival, he said, "I'm trying to write a book about the attack on me - what happened and what it means, not just about the attack, but around it."

The award-winning author added, "It will be a relatively short book, a couple of hundred pages. It's not the easiest book in the world to write but it's something I need to get past in order to do anything else. I can't really start writing a novel that's got nothing to do with this ... So I just have to deal with it."

Mr Rushdie also told the audience that he was in good health, mentioning that he was "doing OK". He also expressed his appreciation for the response to his most recent work, 'Victory City', which he had completed before the stabbing incident. "I never take anything for granted. Most people seem to like the book and that means a lot," he continued. 

On August 12, 2022, the novelist was giving a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution in New York when a man reached the stage and stabbed and punched him several times. He lost sight in one eye and the use of one hand following the "brutal" attack and spent approximately two months in the hospital. 

Mr Rushdie's attacker Hadi Matar is being held without bail in the Chautauqua County Jail in the village of Mayville. He has been charged with second-degree attempted murder and could face a lengthy prison sentence after the trial is over. 

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India, Bangladesh Security Forces Play Volleyball Match At Meghalaya Border

Border Security Force and Border Guard Bangladesh on Friday played a 'Maitree' volleyball match on the Indo-Bangladesh border of East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya. The match was played at Barsora village near BSF outpost Kuliang, East Jaintia Hills.

Sanjay Sharma, Commandant 172 Batallion BSF welcomed 35 members of the BGB delegation led by Mohd Assadunnabi, Commanding Officer 19 BGB.

"On the occasion, BSF Commandant Sanjay Sharma stated that the event was conducted to encourage and strengthen the friendly ties between two great nations and both elite border guarding forces. He emphasized that such matches will promote cordial relations and coordination in order to maintain peace and tranquillity on Border," the official statement said.

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On 02 June 2023, a friendly volleyball match was played between 172 Battalion Border Security Force and 19 Border Guard Bangladesh at bordering village Barsora, East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya.@PIBShillong @ANI pic.twitter.com/35G79Vsxq8

— BSF MEGHALAYA (@BSF_Meghalaya) June 2, 2023

"The match was attended by around 500 villagers from nearby bordering villages and troops of both the Border Guarding Forces. The commanding officer, 19 BGB expressed gratitude for a warm welcome by BSF and for organizing the 'Maitree' volleyball match," the statement added.

The event concluded with the distribution of prizes to the participants.

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"Rally Postponed Due To Security Reasons": #MeToo-Accused Wrestling Chief

Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Friday said that Jan Chetna Maharally, which was scheduled for June 5, has been postponed due to security reasons adding that he is grateful for the wishes he received in support of the rally.

While addressing reporters in Ayodhya, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh said, "I thank media persons, people of Ayodhya, people from across the country who blessed us. Also, we have cancelled the Jan Chetna Maharally due to security reasons."

#WATCH | "The rally was cancelled due to safety reasons": BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on a rally that was called in his support in Ayodhya pic.twitter.com/DYuuZT5OTT

— ANI (@ANI) June 2, 2023

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexually harassing some women wrestlers also said that purpose of the rally was to discuss the "evil forces" of the society but in view of the ongoing police probe and directions of the top court, the rally has been postponed.

"In the present situation, some political parties are trying to disturb social harmony by promoting provincialism, regionalism and caste conflict by holding rallies at various places. The purpose of holding a 'Sant Sammelan' at Ayodhya on June 5 was to discuss the evil forces that are spreading in the entire society," he said.

The WFI president also thanked and expressed gratitude to all his supporters and well-wishers.

"Lakhs of supporters and well-wishers from all religions, castes and regions have supported me in a humble way on this issue. That's why I express my gratitude to everyone and assure you that I and my family will always be indebted to you," he said.

Several ace grapplers including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik have been protesting against the BJP MP accusing him of sexual harassment and demanding his arrest. A group of seers had extended support to Singh and announced a 'Sant Sammelan' in Ayodhya.

On Thursday, Brij Bhushan Singh alleged that the protesting wrestlers are changing their "demands and language" continuously and added that he still stands by his statement that he will hang himself if even one of the allegations against him is proven to be true.

"...First they (protesting wrestlers) had some other demand and later they demanded something else. They are changing their demands and language continuously. I had said that if even one case against me gets proven, I will hang myself...I stand by my statement..," the BJP MP told reporters in Gonda.

On Tuesday, Olympic medalist wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik alongwith Vinesh Phogat arrived in Uttarakhand's Haridwar to immerse their all medals including Olympic ones in the river Ganga, as a mark of their protest.

However, on the intervention of farmer leader Naresh Tikait, the wrestlers held off immersing their medals and said that a Khap meeting would be held on the issue.

The wrestlers later issued a five-day ultimatum to the authorities to act against the WFI chief.

On May 28, wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia along with Vinesh Phogat and Sangeeta Phogat were detained by Delhi Police while attempting to march to the new Parliament building where they planned to stage a demonstration. FIR has been filed under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 147, 149, 186, 188, 332, 353, Section 3 of the PDPP Act, said Delhi Police.

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CSK और MI के कोच आए आमने-सामने! कौन है बेस्ट पर शुरू हुई बहस? एक-एक कर गिनाईं खूबियां

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