Archives for August 2019

Five villages in the Western Ghats submerged, over 30 partially flooded; Krishna river swelling drastically with the release of more than 5 lakh cusecs water from Maharashtra’s reservoirs

BELAGAVI:  Even as rescue teams were able to evacuate thousands of people caught in the disastrous floods in North Karnataka in the past few days, it has come to light that a couple is caught badly in the floods at Kabalapur village, near Belagavi, waiting desperately for rescue teams to evacuate them. Kallappa and Ratnavva, who were stranded on their flooded house for the past three days, waiting for the rescue teams to arrive, had to climb a tree for their safety when their house collapsed in gushing waters.

According to teams desperately trying to enter the flooded areas to rescue the couple, it is getting difficult to launch the rescue operation due to massive floods in Bellary Nala. The house of the couple was located on the other side of the nala, which is overflowing for the past three days halting traffic on several bridges on Belagavi city’s outskirts.

MLA Laxmi Hebbalkar, who is monitoring the ongoing rescue operation at Bellary Nala said, “The team of rescuers is leaving no stone unturned to reach the spot to evacuate the couple for the past two days. We will continue efforts to reach the spot where they are stranded. A mammoth 120-ft long crane is being brought from a private company to make the operation successful.’’

A helicopter was used by rescue teams to reach the spot by crossing the flooded Bellary nala but the chopper returned after flying half-way due to the inclement weather, sources said, adding that efforts are on to get an Army helicopter by contacting the officials.To evacuate the stranded couple, the district administration tried out several tricks and operations since yesterday. 

According to the rescue team, the rescue operation is getting highly risky as it takes rescuers to brave the rapid flow of floods to reach the spot.Commenting on the ongoing operation to evacuate the couple in Belagavi, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said, “Our teams will do their best to rescue the couple. An operation is on for the last two days to ensure that both of them are evacuated safely.’’

Trains to and from B’luru cancelled
Bengaluru: The following trains have been cancelled due to landslides and the subsequent restoration work between Srivagilu and Subramanya Road stations: Yesvantpur-Mangalore Express and Karwar-Yesvantpur Express, which were scheduled to depart on August 8. On Wednesday, KSR Bengaluru-Kannur/Karwar Express and Kannur/Karwar-KSR Bengaluru Express were cancelled. 

Special train from today
Bengaluru: To facilitate transport to flood-affected areas, a special unreserved overnight train will run between Yesvantpur and Miraj (Maharashtra) for four days starting Thursday (August 8).  

SWR sends relief to Belagavi
Bengaluru: Hubballi Division of South Western Railway has sent across essential items by train on Wednesday to those affected. Items worth nearly `50,000 were sent by the Hubballi-Hazrat Nizamuddin Express on Wednesday, said an official release.

These projects will usher in the next era of industrial growth in the State and will contribute towards the vision of an industrially prosperous Odisha, he said.

BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday launched 22 new projects involving a total investment of Rs 4,461.42 crore under his Make in Odisha initiative.

The projects, mostly in food processing, metal and downstream industries, cement, plastic, paper and tourism, are expected to create employment opportunities for 9,451 people. “I congratulate all the companies concerned on this achievement and assure everyone of complete facilitation support from the State Government,” Naveen said.

These projects will usher in the next era of industrial growth in the State and will contribute towards the vision of an industrially prosperous Odisha, he said.

Inaugurating 10 industrial units and performing groundbreaking of 12 other projects across nine different sectors including power and renewable energy, textile and apparels and infrastructure through video conference from Lok Seva Bhawan here, the Chief Minister said this would take the Make-in-Odisha initiative to new heights.

Some of the key projects include Rs 870.20 crore steel project of Shyam Metalics and Energy in Sambalpur district, Rs 50.90 crore Hindalco solar plant at Lapang, Rs 155 crore cement grinding unit of JK Lakshmi Cement in Cuttack, Rs 318 crore facility of JSW Cement at Kalinga Nagar and Rs 120 crore plastic industry of Oricon in Khurda district.

Major projects for which the Chief Minister performed groundbreaking include capacity expansion of steel of Rungta Mines Limited at Korakhole in Keonjhar district at a project cost of Rs 1677.98 crore, capacity expansion of Shree Hari Sponge Pvt Ltd with an investment of Rs 284 crore in Sundargarh, Rs 125 crore golf resort project of Mayfair Hotels and Resorts at Satapada in Puri and Rs 114 crore apparel manufacturing unit of Aditya Birla Fashion Retails in Rayagada district.

“In the past 20 months, we have undertaken groundbreaking and inauguration of over 120 industrial units with an investment of Rs 92,686 crore in the State creating employment opportunities for over 1.2 lakh people,” Naveen said.

Noting that Odisha aspires to become one of the top three investment destinations, he said, “We have devised the ‘5T’ strategy in which transformation goals will be achieved through teamwork, transparency and technology enablers in a time-bound manner.”
The Chief Minister also released a coffee table book ‘Make in Odisha conclave 2018’ on the occasion.

Pramesh Jain

Alvida Sushma Swaraj :Nation Bids tearful and Emotional ADIEU to People’s Minister Stalwart Iron lady Sushma Swaraj cremated with full state honours .

“A people’s minister, Sushma will be remembered by friends, foes alike”
Former external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj was cremated with full state honours at the Lodhi Road crematorium here on Wednesday. Hundreds of people, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and veteran party leader Lal Krishna Advani, bade farewell.
Tears rolled down her face as Bansuri performed the last rites of her mother Sushma Swaraj,surrounded by a sea of mourners on Wednesday.
Swaraj’s husband Kaushal Swaraj and daughter saluted the mortal remains, wrapped in a tricolour,as they were kept on a hearse decorated with flowers at the BJP office on DDU Marg,before its final journey to Lodhi Road crematorium.
Sushma Swaraj was cremated at Delhi’s Lodhi Road electric crematorium on Wednesday with full state honours.The last rites of the 67-year-old BJP stalwart were performed by her daughter Bansuri Swaraj,as her husband Swaraj Kaushal stood beside her
Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with other prominent leaders paid last respect to former Swaraj.After paying tribute to the late leader at her residence,PM Modi got emotional as he condoled the family of the BJP Stalwart Sushma Swaraj.A glorious chapter in Indian politics comes to an end. India grieves the demise of a remarkable leader who devoted her life to public service and bettering lives of the poor. Sushma Swaraj Ji was one of her kind, who was a source of inspiration for crores of people,PM Modi said,leading the nation in paying her tribute.
Swaraj,who also served as the Leader of Opposition and chief minister of Delhi,was given full state honours after which her body was cremated in the electric crematorium.Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, several leaders from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as well as the opposition,were present.
Swaraj died on Tuesday night at the age of 67.The senior BJP leader was brought to AIIMS around 9:30pm and was taken to the emergency ward after suffering a massive cardiac arrest.
Swaraj had put out a tweet on Tuesday evening congratulating Modi after the Centre’s move to revoke the special status for Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcate the border state into two Union Territories secured Parliament’s approval.Narendra Modi ji – Thank you Prime Minister. Thank you very much. I was waiting to see this day in my lifetime,” she had said.
The body of the long-time BJP leader on Wednesday was brought to the crematorium from the party office around noon.Many jostled for a last glimpse as the casket with Swaraj’s mortal remains, wrapped in the tricolour,was put in the hearse in preparation for her final journey. Others tried to capture images on their mobile phones in the main hall of the BJP headquarters and outside as the van rolled across the street.
Other leaders who paid their respects included Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal,Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal,Union ministers,Rajnath Singh, Harsh Vardhan and Ashwini Kumar Choubey, BJP working president JP Nadda, and New Delhi MP Meenakshi Lekhi.
Describing Swaraj as a great parliamentarian and a lady of extraordinary gifts,Congress leader Sonia Gandhi said she shared a warm personal relationship with her and felt her loss greatly.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi described Swaraj as an extraordinary parliamentarian and a gifted orator,adding that her legacy will live on and continue to touch the lives of millions of Indians.In a letter to Swaraj’s husband Swaraj Kaushal,Gandhi said he was deeply saddened by her untimely demise.We have lost an extraordinary parliamentarian and a gifted orator,Gandhi said.
Senior Congress leaders Anand Sharma, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also attended the funeral.Swaraj’s mortal remains were consigned to flames in the electric crematorium, amid sounding of the ceremonial bugle and strains of vedic mantras in the background.
Modi was seen comforting her husband Swaraj Kasushal and daughter Bansuri. People from multiple faiths converged at the crematorium, and many came from as far as Bihar and Madhya Pradesh to pay homage to Swaraj.
National President of Jamaat Ulama-e-Hind Molana Suhaib Qasmi,who came with a group of people from Nizamuddin area, told media persons that Her death is a big loss for the party,and the country.As a foreign minister,she had helped so many distressed diaspora people,whether it was in Saudi Arabia or Iraq or Yemen.I had once travelled with her to Yemen.She raised India’s stature as the external affairs minister. We are shocked by her death,he said.
Choubey said that Swaraj’s death was a huge loss for the party and an irreparable loss for the country.Our prayers are with the family. 
Lekhi,who had also visited the family at the AIIMS on Tuesday night, besides a host of the other senior leaders, lauded Swaraj, saying, she was an icon for every woman.Any woman who wants to be in politics, ask her, and she would say I want to be like Sushma Swaraj. She had exemplary oratory skills, was academically sound and was a leader of immense credibility who could take the opposition head on,” she said.
AAP MLA Somnath Bharti said, Swaraj was a “rare politician” who was liked by people across parties.
“I used to invite her for the events, when I was the alumni association president at IIT. BJP has several good leaders but the leaders of the stature of Vajpayeeji (former PM) and Sushmaji, I don’t think we see them any longer,” he said.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat expressed grief at Swaraj’s demise, saying it was an irreparable loss for the country’s politics.Extremely saddened to hear about Sushma ji’s demise.It is an irreparable loss for the country’s politics. We have lost a great leader and a brilliant orator who was full of human emotions,” he said. 
Rawat’s Punjab counterpart,Amarinder Singh,said he was shocked to learn about the former Delhi chief minister’s demise and described her as a dynamic and sensitive leader.
Shocked to learn of the sudden demise of Sushma Swaraj ji.I will always remember her as a dynamic and sensitive leader with the ability to empathise with the common people. Will miss her. May your soul rest in peace,” the senior Congress leader said in a tweet.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said he was deeply shocked to learn about Swaraj’s demise.It is a personal loss for me,he wrote on Twitter.
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa paid his last respects to the departed leader and remembered her association with the southern state. He said Swaraj had a close connection with Karnataka since 1999, when she contested the Lok Sabha polls against UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi from Ballari.She made it a point to visit Ballari every year for the Varamahalakshmi pooja for a decade. She is fondly remembered by the people for such gestures,” Yediyurappa said.May her soul rest in peace and may god give the strength to his family and loved ones to endure this loss.Yediyurappa also remembered Swaraj as an excellent orator and an exceptional leader who rose to great heights in her political career as a committed soldier of the country.Sushma Swaraj served as the minister of external affairs and was the second woman to hold the office after Indira Gandhi.Her proactive outreach to people in distress and accessibility to citizens earned her love and respect from the masses,he said.
The former Delhi chief minister was hailed as India’s best-loved politician by the global media, he added. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister EK Palaniswami expressed grief over Swaraj’s demise and hailed her contributions to the country.He described Swaraj as “one of the highly-respected women leaders” in the world of politics and said her demise was a great loss to the country.I was shocked and grieved on hearing about the demise of Sushma Swaraj, who had held various portfolios including that of external affairs,Palaniswami said in a statement issued in Chennai.She was cordial to leaders of all political hues and her demise is a great loss not just to her family, but the country,” the chief minister said.
Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi and Chief Minister V Narayanasamy also condoled Swaraj’s demise. In her condolence message,Bedi said, “The passing away of Sushma Swaraj is a personal and national loss. She brought warmth and care in her work.
Narayanasamy described Swaraj as a “veteran Parliamentarian and powerful speaker. Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray expressed grief over the “irreparable loss” his family had suffered following the demise Swaraj, whom party patriarch Bal Thackeray had once backed as the NDA’s prime ministerial face.He recalled that his father Bal Thackeray shared an affectionate rapport with the BJP leader.A resplendent era in India’s politics has come to a halt with the demise of Sushma Swaraj. It is not only the country and the BJP, but the Thackeray family too has suffered an irreparable loss.The rapport (late) Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray and Sushmaji shared was an affectionate one, Uddhav Thackeray’s office quoted him as saying on Twitter.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik condoled the former external affairs minister’s demise, describing her as a “tall leader and an icon for millions of women”. “As a self-made public persona, she was always eager to help stranded Indians anywhere in the world. She was at the forefront when it came to using social media for providing instant assistance to people in distress.Her multi-linguistic skills and convincing oratory made her a leader of the masses and an icon for millions of women,” Patnaik said. 
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma condoled Swaraj’s demise, hailing her as one of India’s tallest leaders and an epitome of integrity”.
Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik also expressed grief over Swaraj’s demise.Describing her as a dynamic politician and a symbol of women empowerment who always worked for the country’s betterment, he said it was difficult to fill the space left behind by Swaraj.In a condolence message, Malik prayed for peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family in this hour of grief he said.
Swaraj had served as a member of the Rajya Sabha, the Lok Sabha and the Haryana Legislative Assembly. She was even chief minister of Delhi for a short while in 1998.
While Swaraj delivered many key speeches during her career, including a few at the United Nations.
One particular speech that has resurfaced after her death is a Lok Sabha address from 1996.BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee had to resign merely 13 days after he became the prime minister, and Swaraj’s speech from June 11, 1996, is a scathing attack on Vajpayee’s and BJP’s opponents.Swaraj drew analogies from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, equating Atal Bihari Vajpayee with Lord Ram and King Yudhishthir.Don’t make your speech so interesting, the Speaker told Swaraj after the comparisons caused an uproar in the House.Our opponents accuse us of being communal,Swaraj said.Yes, we are communal because we advocate that people sing our national song Vande Matram,we fight for the honour of the tricolour,we demand Article 370 of the Constitution be revoked,we talk of implementing a uniform civil code,and we give a voice to the pain of Kashmiri refugees. We are communal because we are not ashamed of being Hindus she said.
Harish Salve, one of India’s top lawyers, on Tuesday said that hours before Sushma Swaraj’s demise, she had asked him to collect his fee of Re 1 that he had charged for the case against Pakistan involving Kulbhushan Jadhav.While talking to a media persons, Salve said,I am in a state of shock.I spoke to Sushma Swaraj at 8.50 pm and she asked me to meet her tomorrow and collect the fee of Rs 1.Harish Salve, one of India’s top lawyers, had charged only Rs 1 as the fee for fighting India’s case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ)against the death penalty given to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav by a Pakistani military court.This was disclosed by former external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj in response to a tweet by one Sanjeev Goyal, who said India could have got any good lawyer with much less fee than what Salve must have charged for fighting the case.Not fair. #HarishSalve has charged us Rs. 1/- as his fee for this case,Swaraj tweeted.
In her last tweet that was sent out on August 6, Swaraj thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for scrapping the special status for Jammu and Kashmir.
Not just politicians in India, leaders from the US, China, Bangladesh, Iran and Singapore also condoled Swaraj’s demise and recalled her important role in cementing India’s relations with the world.

Earlier, Pakistan media had reported that it was considering calling back its acting high commissioner to New Delhi Syed Haider Shah.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday asked the Indian government to call back its High Commissioner to Islamabad Ajay Bisaria following the Centre’s decision to scrap Article 370 that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

The decision was taken during the National Security Committee meeting held here, a statement by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

New Delhi has also been informed that Pakistan would not be sending its high commissioner-designate to India, Moin-ul-Haq. Haq is currently in Pakistan and was expected to officially take charge on August 16.

Earlier, Pakistan media had reported that it was considering calling back its acting high commissioner to New Delhi Syed Haidar Shah for consultations in the light of the Indian government’s move on Kashmir.

The Jammu and Kashmir (Reorganisation) Bill, 2019, which strips Jammu and Kashmir’s status of a state and converts it into a Union Territory with legislature and carving out Ladakh region as a UT without legislature, was passed in the Lok Sabha yesterday.

A 28-year-old woman working as recruiter in a private firm has alleged that the ex-employee of the company has been sexually harassing her.

BENGALURU: A 28-year-old woman working as recruiter in a private firm has alleged that the ex-employee of the company has been sexually harassing her. The employee quit the job in just two months, allegedly over not getting sufficient salary. However, he continued to harass the woman.

Kavya (name changed) works for a private firm in Jeevan Bima Nagar police station limits. In her complaint, she has accused her ex-colleague, identified as Udaya Kumar, of harassing her. She told police that Kumar contacted her company on March 5, and joined on March 20. She had recruited him, but after a month, he started complaining to her about the pay not being sufficient.  Kumar would fight with Kavya over the issue and often use filthy language. On May 17, he quit the job.

After quitting, he started spreading rumours about Kavya. On July 31, he barged into the office and called out to her loudly. Kavya rushed out of her cabin, and she saw Kumar, who then started clicking pictures of her. He threatened to tarnish her image. He also told her that he would make sure she leaves her current job and is not recruited anywhere else either.

The same day, Kumar uploaded her photos on Facebook and posted lewd comments. He wrote online that Kavya is a prostitute and also said he will marry her.Unable to cope with the harassment, Kavya filed a sexual harassment complaint. An investigating officer said, “We have taken necessary action against Kumar based on Kavya’s complaint, and are investigating further.”

Her stellar role in the rescue of 46 women Malayalee nurses held captive by ISIS insurgents in Iraq after intense diplomatic efforts in July 2014, is still fresh in the minds of people.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There have been many instances when Sushma Swaraj personally intervened to save the lives of people facing trouble outside the country. But in Kerala, her stellar role in the rescue of 46 women Malayalee nurses held captive by ISIS insurgents in Iraq after intense diplomatic efforts in July 2014, is still fresh in the minds of people.

According to the then spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, the Minister, who was on her way to Bhopal, cancelled her visit midway to return to Delhi and led the diplomatic efforts to rescue the nurses. Besides being in touch with her counterparts in all major Gulf countries, she also opened informal channels to reach out to ISIS and other warring groups in Iraq. Her efforts were lauded by the then Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who was camping in New Delhi at the time of crisis.Filmmaker Mahesh Narayanan made a movie ‘Take Off’ to narrate the diplomatic victory and the evacuation of nurses.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan mourned the death of the former External Affairs Minister. Expressing deep sorrow, he said Sushma Swaraj was noted for her intervention in Parliament and diplomacy. Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the nation lost a good ruler, public worker and a parliamentarian. 

“Our friendship started when Sushma Swaraj and I were ministers of housing at Haryana and Kerala respectively in 1977. She had heard about the Chengalchoola housing project during its first phase and visited the state to see the model project,” said Chandy. Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said he lost a sister who was always accessible whenever he visited Delhi.“When I became a minister, she was happy and gave advice. She had told me I could approach her for any doubts in the department,” said Muraleedharan.

Strong winds, speed reaching 40-50 kmph, are likely to prevail over the entire Arabian Sea and West Coast and central and north Bay of Bengal, West Bengal and Odisha coasts.

NEW DELHI: The India Meteorological Department said that isolated places over Konkan, Goa, South Interior, Coastal Karnataka and Odisha are likely to receive heavy rainfall on Wednesday.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall with extremely heavy falls at isolated places over Chhattisgarh, East Madhya Pradesh, Madhya Maharashtra, West Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Telangana, North Interior Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu,” the weather forecasting stated in its All India Weather Warning Bulletin.

Heavy rainfall is also witnessed at isolated places over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal, Gujarat region, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Lakshadweep.

Strong winds, speed reaching 40-50 kmph, are likely to prevail over the entire Arabian Sea and West Coast and central and north Bay of Bengal, West Bengal and Odisha coasts.

The organised has advised fishermen not to venture into these areas. 

Pramesh Jain

Sushma Swaraj,Former Foreign Minister and BJP Stalwart, Passes Away at 67 in AIIMS Hospital after Heart Attack.

Highlights :
* Sushma Swaraj reportedly died of cardiac arrest at AIIMS”.
* Sushma Swaraj a leader who broke the political glass ceiling.
* Sushma Swaraj was a Youngest Cabinet Minister at 25 years of age.
* Made Indian film industry eligible for bank finance.
* Set up 6 AIIMS.
* Raised Balochistan issue in UN.
* Act East Policy.
* Resolved Doklam.
* Rescued 90,000 distressed Indians.
* Her last Twitter post was about thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the government’s move on Kashmir stating that she was waiting for this day in her lifetime.

Former external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj passed away on Tuesday after suffering a cardiac arrest, senior health ministry officials said.
Swaraj, 67, had been rushed to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi earlier this evening.
The senior BJP leader, who underwent a kidney transplant in 2016, had opted out of contesting in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections citing ill health.
As an union minister she kept up a punishing schedule travelling overseas to meet her counterparts after her recovery from her surgery.
She was a favourite on Twitter during her term in office responding to calls and messages of distress from Indians all over the world.
Earlier on Tuesday she expressed delight over the passing of key bills pertaining to Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the same.
Thank you Prime Minister. Thank you very much. I was waiting to see this day in my lifetime,” Swaraj tweeted at 7:23 pm.
Swaraj who was the foreign minister 26 May, 2014 to 30 May, 2019, was the second woman to hold the office, after Indira Gandhi. She had won from Vidisha constituency in Madhya Pradesh for a second term n 2014, retaining her seat by a margin of over 400,000 votes.
A seven-time Member of Parliament, she also served as MLA for three terms. She also served as 5th Chief Minister of Delhi from 13 October, 1998 to 3 December, 1998.
At the age of 25 in 1977, she became the youngest cabinet minister in Haryana. She also served as the chief minister of Delhi in 1998.
Swaraj, who was for the Bharatiya Janata Party’s most prominent woman face, did not contest the recently held Lok Sabha elections in which the party won a massive majority. Last November, she had announced she would not contest the general elections.
Swaraj was perhaps the most ‘millennial’ minister the Indian government has ever had. From being tagged the ‘supermom’ of India by Washington Post to becoming one of the most-followed politicians on Twitter, the late external affairs minister had truly struck a chord with young and old alike with her round-the-clock social media presence, eagerness to help, and ready wit on social media.
Sushma Swaraj former foreign minister and one of the BJP’s tallest leaders respected across party lines, has died, Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences said late this evening. A number of her party colleagues and ministers have already reached the premier hospital. Among the first to arrive were Nitin Gadkari, Dr Harshvardhan, Rajnath Singh and Smriti Irani.
Senior BJP leader and former foreign minister Sushma Swaraj passed away a while ago at AIIMS on Tuesday. The BJP veteran, who died of heart attack, died at the age of 67.
“A glorious chapter in Indian politics comes to an end. India grieves the demise of a remarkable leader who devoted her life to public service and bettering lives of the poor. Sushma Swaraj ji was one of her kind, who was a source of inspiration for crores of people,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a series of tweets. Several senior ministers, including Harsh Vardhan, Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani Prakash Javadekar, reached AIIMS after she was admitted to the hospital.
On Twitter, PM Modi described her as a “prolific orator and outstanding parliamentarian” who was “admired and revered across party lines”.
Ms Swaraj was rushed to the hospital by her family sometime after 9 pm today when she was taken ill. 
The 67-year-old, who had a kidney transplant three years ago, had not been keeping well lately. She had not contested the recently held Lok Sabha election and opted out of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s new government for health reasons. In June, she had moved out of her official residence.
Hours before her death, Ms Swaraj had tweeted congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the passage of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation bill in parliament.
India grieves the demise of a remarkable leader,” said PM Modi on Twitter, describing her as “an excellent administrator” and praising her for “her compassionate side, helping fellow Indians who were in distress in any part of the world.”
The reference was to her extraordinary response through her term as Foreign Minister to tweets that sought help from her. They ranged from seeking information on relatives stranded in avalanches in other countries to families who needed help in bringing a relative’s body home from a foreign nation. Hundreds of people sent their wishes and thanked her when it became clear that she would vacate her office.
“As soon as the news of Former Union Minister Stalwart Iron Lady Sushma Swaraj death was announced, condolences started pouring in from leaders and across nation”.
In his message,President Ram Nath Kovind said Ms Swaraj “epitomised dignity, courage & integrity in public life.Ever willing to help others, she will always be remembered for her service to the people of India,” his tweet read.
President Ram Nath Kovind:Extremely shocked to hear of the passing of Sushma Swaraj.The country has lost a much-loved leader who epitomised dignity,courage&integrity in public life.Ever willing to help others,she’ll always be remembered for her service to people of India.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu: Deeply shocked by the sudden demise of Sushma Swaraj.Her death is a huge loss to the country & personal loss to me.She was an excellent administrator,outstanding Parliamentarian &a remarkable orator.My heartfelt condolences to bereaved family members.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi,in his tweets,hailed Swaraj as a “prolific orator and outstanding parliamentarian”and said she was admired and revered across party lines.She was uncompromising when it came to matters of ideology and interests of the BJP,whose growth she immensely contributed to,An excellent administrator, Sushma Ji set high standards in every Ministry she handled.She played a key role in bettering India’s ties with various nations.As a minister we also saw her compassionate side,helping fellow Indians who were in distress in any part of the world.A Glorious Chapter in Indian Politics Comes to an End,PM-A glorious chapter in Indian politics comes to an end. India grieves the demise of a remarkable leader who devoted her life to public service and bettering lives of the poor. Sushma Swaraj Ji was one of her kind, who was a source of inspiration for crores of people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his series of tweets.
Saddened by the demise of Sushma Swaraj, Union Home Minister,Amit Shah also expressed his grief.
Defence Minister,Rajnath Singh said he was deeply shocked and anguished by the sudden demise of an extremely valued colleague.
External Affairs Minister,S Jaishankar said, Deeply shocked to learn of the passing away of Smt Sushma Swaraj.Difficult to accept this news.The whole nation grieves, the Foreign Ministry even more so.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said,Shocked at the untimely demise of Smt. @SushmaSwaraj.Paid my respects and expressed my condolences to her family. Her speeches in the Parliament,full of substance and firepower,motivated several of us.Sharing a photo from the 2014 swearing in ceremony she said.
Harsimrat Kaur Badal Union Cabinet Minister said,Today, India lost a great leader, the world lost an exemplary human being and I lost an elder sister.The void left by the passing of former external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj ji can never be filled. May Waheguru grant peace and shelter to the dearly departed she said.
Smrithi Z Irani Union Cabinet Minister expressed her grief by telling,I have an axe to grind with you Didi.You made Bansuri pick a restaurant to take me for a celebratory lunch.You left without fulfilling your promise to the two of us she said.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal: Passing away of Sushma ji is an irreparable loss. People of the country will remember her contribution for a long time. Whenever any Indian got into trouble, didi took care of it herself, even when it came to the return of a single nurse from abroad he said.

Sharing a photo and Calling Sushma Swaraj as her legendary friend,Kiran Bedi, in a tweet,said,With whom I spent my University days and later on duty.Her going away is a personal and national loss.She brought warmth and care in her work.A beautiful and dignified face of an Indian woman.My legendary friend Sushma and me. With whom I spent my University days and later on duty.Her going away is a personal and national loss.She brought warmth and care in her work.A beautiful and dignified face of an Indian woman. 
Swaraj’s Life a Story of Hard Work to Heights: Pranab Mukherjee |Shocked beyond words and distressed at the passing away of Sushma Swaraj.An astute parliamentarian, an effective orator & an excellent humane leader, she will forever be remembered and missed.Hers was a story of hard work to heights! My deepest condolences and prayers, Pranab Mukherjee expressed his grief.
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa expressed his grief,Nation mourns today the loss of one of the strongest leaders & finest spokespersons India has seen.Her work as the MEA has been impeccable & as a politician she inspired many women to enter politics. May her soul rest in peace. #OmShanthi#SushmaSwaraj he said in his tweet.
P. Muralidhar Rao,BJP leader said,India has lost a great leader with the demise of Smt Sushma Swaraj ji.A great parliamentarian, orator and an excellent team member.My personal association with her has been very long,very deep and very intense.From my Swadeshi days,I cannot forget her support for various issues like weavers of Telangana,fishermen of the entire country and on the farmers crisis.Even after becoming BJP member and incharge for various sectors and southern states, her personal involvement,support and guidance has always helped and not only strengthened the cause but also worked as guidance for me.I had also visited her parliamentary constituency along with her & seen her attending to different issues of constituency very closely.As Foreign Min she has attended d scores of personal issues & helped d Indians in various countries & provided Indianness to foreign policy.With Smt #SushmaSwaraj ji’s demise,BJP has lost a very important leader with vast experience and commitment to democratic values.Om Shanti! P Muralidhar Rao expressed his grief in series of tweets.
Terribly shocked ! Huge loss to India as our beloved leader Sushma Swaraj ji is no more!Best leader.Finest orator.Advocate of Nationalism.And one of the most humble and sincere leader of @BJP4India !Her passing away is my personal loss.Unbelievably enough, just few hours ago,she expressed in her tweet that her dream got fulfilled as the Parliament scrapped #Article370,even mentioning that she waited to see this day in her life.as if she lived her life to see only this moment & day before resting in peace.Sushma ji created a record of creating records.Right from being the youngest woman politician to being MLA to MP to Chief Minister (that too of different states),Leader of Opposition to External Affairs Minister in just 1 lifetime! What a personality.Her connect with the masses was massive.She set a new trend of public engagement while being the External Affairs Minister and gave a boost in feeling of belongingness to the Indian diaspora residing in foreign countries.I’ve grow up listening to Sushma ji’s speeches, not just decades ago but her oratory inspires even today!I remember her for continuous guidance to me, her active participation during my every election campaign, her dedication towards party & the Nation.Sushma ji, me and crores like me would miss you for ever !My heartfelt tributes.And deepest condolences to family, friends, karyakartas, innumerable fans and followers.Maharastra CM Devendra Fadnavis expressed his grief in series of tweets.
Ambassador of France to India Alexandre Ziegler, “My heartfelt condolences to the family & loved ones of former EAM of India, Smt. Sushma Swaraj ji. One of India’s most respected leaders, she showed remarkable dedication to serving her fellow citizens and took the Indo-French relationship to new heights.”
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant condoled the death of former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. The senior BJP leader was brought to AIIMS between 9:30 pm and 10:00 pm on Tuesday and was straight away taken to the emergency ward. She died a little while later. She was 67.She was closely associated with Goa. She was a very strong leader who worked for the party. It is a major loss for the BJP and the nation,” Sawant told reporters here.
Swaraj Leaves Behind a Void Which is Difficult to Fill: Jaitley | Saddened, pained & broken on the demise of Sushmaji. She was one of the most outstanding politicians in the Present Era. She distinguished in all positions. She held Senior Positions with the Party, NDA Govt. & while in opposition. She leaves behind a void which is difficult to fill.
The Congress condoled her demise.We are saddened to hear about the untimely demise of Smt Sushma Swaraj.Our condolences to her family and loved ones, the party said.I’m shocked to hear about the demise of Sushma Swaraj Ji, an extraordinary political leader, a gifted orator & an exceptional Parliamentarian, with friendships across party lines. My condolences to her family in this hour of grief. May her soul rest in peace. Om Shanti,” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Twitter.
Deeply shocked and anguished by the sudden demise of an extremely valued colleague Smt.Sushma Swaraj.She was a seasoned Parliamentarian and widely respected cutting across the party lines. Her demise is a monumental loss for us, Rajnath Singh said.Smt Sushma Swaraj served the nation with diligence and brilliance. Her contribution to the nation and the party will always be remembered. I offer my heartfelt tributes to her and extend my condolences to her bereaved family,” he said in a series of tweet.
The demise of Sushma Swaraj has caused an irreparable loss for the country, the party and for me personally. May her soul rest in peace,Nitin Gadkari said.
Saddened About Untimely Demise’ |Congress in a tweet,We are saddened to hear about the untimely demise of Smt Sushma Swaraj. Our condolences to her family and loved ones.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said,I’m shocked to hear about the demise of Sushma Swaraj Ji,an extraordinary political leader,a gifted orator and an exceptional Parliamentarian,with friendships across party lines.My condolences to her family in this hour of grief.May her soul rest in peace.Om Shanti.
Calling the demise of Sushma Swaraj terrible news,KPCC President Dinesh Gundu Rao said,One of India’s great parliamentarians,who could hold her own in any debate.Respected, affable and well-liked by all. We’re going to miss her.”
MLA Manjinder S Sirsa said,With a heavy heart, I share that India’s truly respected and loved statesman Sushma Swaraj Ji is no more.
Genuine People’s Person and Brilliant Speaker in Hindi: Tharoor | “Shocked and saddened by this news. She was a brilliant speaker in Hindi, a genuine people’s person” in Government &I was proud of our excellent relationship when I chaired the External Affairs Committee. Om Shanti…” Shashi Tharoor on the sudden demise of Sushma Swaraj.
Shocked and deeply saddened by this tragic news of the demise of Sushma Swaraj, Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi said, “My sincerest condolences. Knew her from SC days, as highly cultured attendee at my wife’s ghazal & sufi recitals, most graceful, powerful orator, warm & helpful. Very soft & considerate yet committed to causes.
Never Imagined She Will Leave Us: Azad | Ghulam Nabi Azad, who arrived at AIIMS, said, “We’re shocked, we never imagined that she’ll leave us so soon. I knew her since 1977 when I was in youth Congress, we knew each other for the last 42 years. We never called each other by name, she used to call me ‘bhai’ & I used to call her ‘behen’.”
Saluting Sushma Swaraj for her service to the nation, former minister Rajeev Shukla, in a tweet, expressed his grief.
Former Chief Election Commissioner Dr SY Quraishi said, “I feel devastated to hear the sad news about passing on of Sushma Swaraj. Ever since she became my minister in 1977 in Haryana (youngest minister in the country) she had been very fond of me. She brought me as DG Doordarshan. Always a pillar of support.  I love you ma’am! RIP.”
Sushma Swaraj Used to Call Me ‘Sharad Bhau’, Recalls Pawar | Shocked at the demise of the Sushma Swaraj, Sharad Pawar recalled that she used to call him ‘Sharad Bhau‘We’ve lost a great statesman, eloquent orator, efficient administrator, fellow parliamentarian and above all a kind-hearted person,” he said.
Expressing grief Former Prime Minister,HD Devegowda said,I am deeply saddened by the sad demise of Former Union Minister, ex-CM of Delhi @SushmaSwaraj ji.A loss to our Nation.May God give her family the courage to bear this pain.#SushmaSwaraj he said.
Expressing grief, former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy said, “I’m shocked to learn about the sudden demise of Former Chief Minister of Delhi, Former Union Minister Sushma Swaraj ji. May her soul rest in peace.My condolences to her family and loved ones.
DMK’s MK Stalin said he was deeply pained by the demise of Sushma Swaraj. “As a woman she scaled many heights in public life and excelled. My condolences to her family, friends and cadre,” he added.
Had the Honour of Working With Her: Sania Mirza | “Shocked at the passing away of my dear Sushma Swaraj Ji. Had the honour of working as the brand ambassador of the ‘girl child’ campaign under her able guidance and will cherish my personal relationship with her forever. R.I.P. ma’am,” Sania Mirza said in a tweet.
Shocked at the passing away of my dear Sushma Swaraj Ji. Had the honour of working as the brand ambassador of the ‘girl child’ campaign under her able guidance and will cherish my personal relationship with her forever. R.I.P. ma’am.
Expressing grief, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said, “Sad! The death of Sushma Swaraj ji is an irreparable loss. May God give peace to her soul and strength to her family. Sushma ji will always be remembered for efficient leadership and excellent efficiency. Humble tribute!”
Indian Women Cricket team captain Maithali Raj said,Shocked to hear about the sudden demise of @SushmaSwaraj ji. Gone too soon. It was so refreshing to hear her speak. What a dynamic leader & a wonderful orator. Big loss for India. #RIPSushmaSwarajJi she expressed her grief.
Mamatha Banerjee West Bengal Chief Minister said,Deeply saddened,shocked at the sudden passing away of Sushma Swaraj Ji.I knew her since the 1990s.Even though our ideologies differed, we shared many cordial times in Parliament. An outstanding politician, leader, good human being.Will miss her.Condolences to her family/admirers she said.
A nine-time parliamentarian, a fabulous orator and a gifted administrator, Sushma Swaraj became the youngest minister of a state back in 1977.
A former lawyer of Supreme Court, she started her political career with Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad in the 1970s.
After the death of senior party leader Pramod Mahajan in 2006, Ms Swaraj emerged as the most prominent face among the Gen Next leaders of the BJP.
She grew in stature after the BJP, contesting the 2009 Lok Sabha polls under the stewardship of LK Advani, failed to dislodge the Congress-led UPA government from the Centre. Mr Advani, who was then 86, had to make way for Ms Swaraj, as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
Before stepping into the foreign minister’s office, Sushma Swaraj has been the chief minister of Delhi, and later held the portfolios of information and broadcasting, and health in the NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Often described as warm hearted, acceptable to leaders across political parties, Swaraj was a surprise pick for foreign minister in Prime minister Modi’s cabinet after she won a seat as Lok Sabha MP for the seventh time from Vidisha constituency given that she was seen as a loyalist of BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani.
In meetings with her counterparts, apart from plainspeak Swaraj was known to use wit and charm to push India’s cause.
Mortal remains of Former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will be taken from AIIMS to her Delhi residence and will be kept there tonight people would be able to pay their respects to Ms Swaraj at her residence till 11 am and at the BJP headquarters from noon.At 3 pm she will be taken to Lodhi road crematorium,where her last rites will be performed with full state honours,JP Nadda told reporters.
Swaraj had a kidney transplant in 2016 and had opted out of contesting Lok Sabha polls earlier this year for health reasons. She is survived by her husband Swaraj Kaushal and daughter Bansuri.

Nasheman News

Winners Of The NiF Photography and Film Awards 2019 Announced

Sixth Edition of Asia’s Premier Nature and Wildlife Festival “Nature inFocus” In Bengaluru City On August 2, 3 and 4

–Shuvam Nath won the NiF Photographer of the Year 2019–

Bengaluru, Sunday, August 4, 2019: The 6th edition of the Nature inFocus Festival went on the floor on August 2nd at Chamara Vajra, Jayamahal Road in Bangalore. Nature and wildlife enthusiasts from across the country flocked to the gorgeous venue in the centre of India’s garden city to attend talks, film screenings, the 120-image photography exhibition and everything nature and wildlife. The three-day festival also witnessed the announcement of the prestigious NiF Photography Awards and the inaugural NiF Film Awards.

Shuvam Nath took home the grand prize of the NiF Photographer of the Year for his image ‘Buzz-kill’ which also won the Animal Behaviour category. Sounak Datta won the Animal Portraits category for ‘Nothing To See Here’, Aniket Thopate won the Creative Nature Photography category for ‘You’ll Float Too’, Salil Nair won the Wildscape & Animals in Habitat category for ‘In Heat, On Snow’, and the Conservation Issues category was shared between three images: ‘A Tale Of Two Cities’  by Sarang Naik, ‘Crossing The Styx’ by Ankit Kashyap and ‘New Enemies’ by Devki Nandan. The Young Photographer category was won by Wewin Pandian.

The inaugural NiF Film Awards has been divided into two segments: Professional and Emerging Talent. In the Professional segment, the Conservation film category was won by Pankaj Singh and Shaktiraj Jadeja for their film ‘The Boy Who Saw More’, and the Natural History film category by Mihir Godbole and Vishwatej Pawar for their film ‘Treasures of Grasslands’. In the Emerging Talent segment, Aravind Mohanraaj and Cibi won the Conservation film category for their film ‘The Wetland’s Wail’, and Hardik Rathod won the Natural History film category for his film ‘The Bird Who Never Gave Up’.

The Mobile Moments award for an edited or unedited video clip shot on a mobile phone that captures an incredible moment of animal behaviour went to Ravi Shankar for ‘Enter The Dragon.’

NiF Photography Awards:

The NiF Photography Awards is a six-category award with a bracket solely dedicated to conservation issues. Lined up for the contest are entries from both adults (above 17) and young photographers (17 years and under). Winners will be chosen in the categories of Animal Portraits, Animal Behaviour, Conservation Issues, Creative Nature Photography, and Wildscape & Animals in Habitat. Open to those under 17, the ‘Young Photographer Award’ will put the spotlight on fresh and passionate young talent.

Category winners will be awarded a cash prize of Rs. 50,000 and a guided safari tour to a national park of choice (Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Ranthambore, Tadoba and Corbett only) courtesy of Nature Wanderers, while category runners-up will get a cash prize of Rs. 25,000 and second runners-up will get Rs. 10,000.

An additional cash prize of Rs. 50,000 and a trip to the Maasai Mara National Park in Kenya courtesy of Nature Wanderers await the ‘NiF Photographer of the Year.’ All winners and runners-up are also entitled to a certificate and a winner’s trophy.

The winners this year are chosen by a 5-member jury comprising of photographer and filmmaker Jyothy Karat, independent environmental photographer Arati Kumar-Rao, IFS, Chief Conservator Of Forests Vijay Mohan Raj, renowned wildlife photographer Sudhir Shivaram, and wildlife filmmaker and photojournalist Sandesh Kadur. The jury curator is Nature inFocus co-founder, Kalyan Varma who is a wildlife photographer, filmmaker and naturalist. 

NiF Film Awards:

The Awards invited entries from both professional and emerging filmmakers. Both Professional and Emerging Talent categories have two sub-categories in Natural History and Conservation. Participants in the Emerging Talent category can tell a story of an animal, plant or habitat in under 5 minutes in the Natural History segment or can highlight a conservation issue in under 5 minutes in the Conservation segment. The Emerging Talent category is only open to Indian participants. In the Professional category, the films can be of any length and can be submitted from anywhere in the world. The Mobile Moments category is also open to all, an edited or unedited video clip shot on a mobile phone that captures an incredible moment of animal behaviour.

The Emerging Talent and Professional category winners will each be awarded a cash prize of Rs. 50,000 and the Mobile Moment category winner will receive a cash prize of Rs. 10,000. 

The winners this year are chosen by a 7-member jury comprising of Rita Banerji, Founder-Director at Dusty Foot Productions, Gautam Pandey, Director at Riverbank Studios, Akanksha Sood Singh, a Natural History Filmmaker, Raghu Chundawat, a Conservation Biologist, Joanna Van Gruisen, a Wildlife Filmmaker and Manish Mundra, the Founder of Drishyam Films. The jury curator is Sara, a wildlife filmmaker and a member of the NiF Advisory Board. 

About Nature inFocus:

Nature inFocus is in the space of curation and dissemination of information about India’s wild spaces. It aims to do this by using photography as a tool to make these conversations accessible to everyone.

Founded in 2014 by Kalyan Varma and Rohit Varma, Nature inFocus started as an offline event for the wildlife and nature community in the country. The Nature inFocus Festival is the one and only event of its kind in Asia, where photographers, filmmakers, conservationists and researchers come together to showcase their work, stay informed on global happenings and discuss important topics of conservation and more.

In 2015, Nature inFocus introduced its inaugural Photography Awards and with all the amazing content pouring in from the festival and the awards, a year later, NiF created an online space that would help archive this material for the larger public experience. 

NiF’s online portal became a photo-led exploration into India’s wilderness, enabling relevant knowledge sharing and curation of everything to do with nature. A truly community-driven platform powered by its contributors.

In 2017, Nature inFocus created NiF Hive, a platform, which allows you to create your online portfolio about nature photography. 

About the Organisers:

Rohit Varma: Founder

Rohit Varma’s love for nature and wildlife shouldn’t surprise anyone given that he was born and raised in Balaghat, a small town bordering Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh.

After successfully managing multiple roles over 15 years in companies like AMD, SanDisk and CyberMedia, Rohit hung up his corporate boots to pursue his passion for photography and wildlife – which led to the creation of Nature inFocus.

Rohit’s work has been published in national and international media, and he shares his work under creative commons. He believes that wildlife photography can, not only drive people closer to nature, but they can also make them experience, appreciate and conserve it. His TEDx talk on “Half a flush to save the tiger” was truly thought-provoking and highlighted environmental issues in a unique fashion.  

Kalyan Varma: Founder

Kalyan Varma is an award-winning wildlife photographer, filmmaker, naturalist and explorer specializing in environment, science and ecology in India. He freelances with many of the world’s leading magazines, environmental NGOs and television networks like Nat Geo and BBC.

Over the last 12 years, he has worked on a number of landmark blue-chip wildlife series for the BBC and National Geographic networks. His work has appeared in many publications worldwide, including the National Geographic, Nature, The Guardian, BBC Wildlife, GEO, Smithsonian, Lonely Planet among others. 

Kalyan won the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year in 2013 and he is also a winner of the Sanctuary Asia Photographer of the Year award.

Kalyan hopes to combine an artist’s eye with a journalist’s curiosity and aesthetic of storytelling in his visual style, resulting in a body of work which he hopes will inspire the viewer to discover more.