BJP has given free hand to mining mafias in Haryana: Surjewala
Chandigarh (PTI): Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala on Tuesday accused the BJP-led Haryana government of giving a free hand to mining mafias, leading to large-scale damage to the Aravalli hills.
Surjewala said that even though the Supreme Court had stayed its earlier order, there was no check on blasting and mining in the Aravalli range in Haryana.
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The party general secretary alleged that the situation had turned villages and residential areas into unsafe zones.
Surjewala said indiscriminate mining was underway in Usmapur village of the state's Mahendragarh district.
He claimed that blasting was taking place just 350 metres from the village, with about 12 blasts daily and over 900 dumpers transporting minerals every day.
He alleged that the explosions had caused cracks in houses, severe dust pollution and serious problems for residents, and even the cattle were not spared.
The Congress leader claimed that the mining permission granted for over 33.10 hectares was being misused and accused the BJP of ignoring illegal mining and putting the environment and people's lives at risk.
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First-ever life-size Vivekananda statue in US unveiled in Seattle
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New York (PTI): The first-ever life-size statue of Swami Vivekananda in the US was unveiled in Seattle, honouring the renowned Indian philosopher and spiritual leader.
The life-size bronze statue, installed at the busy Westlake Square in downtown Seattle, is the first such installation hosted by a city government anywhere in the US, officials said.
Sculpted by Indian artist Naresh Kumar Kumawat, it was jointly unveiled on Saturday by Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and Consul General of India in Seattle Prakash Gupta.
"From Chicago 1893 to Seattle 2026! Seattle's skyline has a new Indian icon: Swami Vivekananda! City of Seattle becomes the first city government to host the Swami Vivekananda Monument in the heart of downtown Seattle," the Consulate General of India in Seattle said in a social media post.
Addressing the event, Wilson said the monument reflects Seattle's inclusive spirit and strengthens cultural ties between India and the diverse metropolitan tech hub in the US Pacific Northwest.
The statue has been gifted by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) to the City of Seattle in recognition of its "in recognition of the city’s rich multicultural character and spirit of inclusivity", the Indian mission in Seattle said in a statement.
The unveiling of the statue was held on the occasion of the celebration of ICCR Day and is part of India's broader cultural diplomacy initiatives aimed at strengthening people-to-people ties between India and the US Pacific Northwest, the Consulate said.
Located at the bustling Westlake Square, which sees over 400,000 visitors daily, the monument stands near prominent landmarks including the Amazon headquarters ‘Spheres’, the Seattle Convention Centre and the Seattle Centre Monorail.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by several local leaders, including mayors from cities in the Greater Seattle area, community representatives and members of the Indian-American diaspora.
Swami Vivekananda had delivered his historic address at the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893, introducing Hindu philosophy to a global audience.
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