Haryana's Subhan Khan gains fame for daring rescue in Telangana Floods
Hyderabad: In a remarkable display of courage, Subhan Khan from Haryana has become a local hero after rescuing nine people stranded on a bridge during severe floods in Telangana. Khan, operating a bulldozer, managed to reach the Prakash Nagar bridge over the Munneru River in Khammam district, where the individuals were trapped due to rising water levels.
The stranded group had recorded a video appealing to the state government for help, as their situation worsened. Although the state government had dispatched a helicopter for the rescue operation, it was unable to reach the location due to adverse weather conditions.
Faced with the lack of immediate assistance, Subhan Khan took matters into his own hands. Despite warnings from others about the risks involved, Khan decided to use his bulldozer to reach the marooned individuals. "If I die, it is one life, but if I return, I will save nine," Khan said before embarking on the rescue mission. He successfully brought the nine people to safety, and his return was met with cheers from the community.
The rescue operation was further highlighted by a video in which a voice, believed to be Khan’s daughter, expressed pride in his bravery: "I am shivering, my daddy, he managed to do what he set out to."
Khan's heroic actions have garnered widespread praise, and his phone has been inundated with congratulatory messages. Among those who reached out was KT Rama Rao, a prominent Opposition leader and former minister.
In a post on X, Rao praised Khan's bravery: "Just congratulated him on the phone. It isn’t just about a lot of guts; you need a heart to be a true hero. You, my brother Subhan Khan, have saved so many families from lifelong pain by helping these nine people."
Rao continued, "When the government was considering how to deploy a helicopter for rescue, you walked into danger and saved them all. Salute to your big heart and amazing grit! I look forward to meeting you once I am back. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Subhan bhai The Hero who saved 9 Lives.
— Krishank (@Krishank_BRS) September 2, 2024
When Congress Government failed to manage a Helicopter in entire day,
Subhan bhai showed that CM Revanth may use Bulldozer to make people homeless but Subhan used the same Bulldozer to bring back 9 people alive … pic.twitter.com/nhVWDStiiU
If I go, it is one life, if I return, I will save nine lives: this was the courage shown by #Subhankhan who took a JCB to bring back 9 people marooned on Prakash Nagar Bridge #Khammam from early hrs on Sept1; You can hear daughter brimming with pride #MyDaddyBravest #RealLifeHero pic.twitter.com/tbthGfUhRB
— Uma Sudhir (@umasudhir) September 3, 2024
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Ex-PM Devegowda warns opposition of electoral losses if they continue to allege 'vote chori'
New Delhi (PTI): Former Prime Minister H D Devegowda on Monday said the Opposition parties would "suffer" if they continue to raise allegations of "vote chori" and create suspicion in the minds of voters by blaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.
Participating in a discussion on election reforms in the Rajya Sabha, he criticised the Opposition for making a mockery about the Prime Minister "in the streets and on the public platform".
"This (India) is a very big country. A large country. Congress may be in three states. Remember my friends please, by using the words 'vote chori' you are going to suffer in the coming days. You are not going to win the battle," Devegowda said, referring to the Opposition members.
He asked what the Opposition is going to earn by "blaming Narendra Modi's leadership and creating a suspicion in the mind of the voters" through the claims of "vote chori".
"What has happened to their minds? Let them rectify," Devegowda said.
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The former prime minister said that during his over seven decades of public life, he has never raised such issues of vote theft despite facing defeat in elections.
He also cited a letter written by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru regarding inclusion of "18,000 votes" (voters) in Kerala.
"Why I am telling this (because) during the Nehru period also, there were certain lapses in the electoral system," said Devegowda, who was the prime minister between June 1, 1996 and April 21, 1997.
He said that the Congress party faced defeat in the recent Bihar elections despite raising the issues of mistakes in the electoral rolls.
"What happened after that even after so much review (of voters list). Think (for) yourself! You got six MLAs," the senior Janata Dal (Secular) leader said.
Devegowda questioned the Opposition as to why they want to make allegations against the prime minister on the issue of the voters list?
"Election Commission is there. Supreme Court is there. The Election Commission has given direction to all the state units to rectify all these things," he said.
Devegowda said people of the country have full confidence in Narendra Modi's government and it will come back to power after the next Lok Sabha elections as well.
K R Suresh Reddy, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party's Rajya Sabha member from Telangana, said that electoral reforms are the backbone for a healthy democracy.
He said a large and diverse nation like Indi needs clean electoral rolls.
Asserting that strict re-verification should not become a mechanism for exclusion, Reddy said no eligible voter should lose their right to vote simply because accessing paperwork is difficult.
He said while the concern definitely is on the voters' exclusion, "we should also be equally concerned about the percentage of voting."
"What is happening in voting today? Once the election ends, the drama begins. The biggest challenge that the Indian democracy has been facing in spite of two major Constitutional amendments has been the anti-defection. Anti-defection is the name of the game today, especially in smaller states, especially where the legislatures are small in number," Reddy said.
The senior BRS leader suggested creation of a parliamentary committee "which would constantly look into the defection" and "ways and means to cutting that".
AIADMK's M Thambidurai raised the issues related to election campaigning.
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"Election campaigns are one of the important election processes. In that, political parties must be given the proper chance to campaign," he said and cited problems faced by his party in Tamil Nadu in this regard.
Thambidurai said political parties were facing hardships in Tamil Nadu to conduct public meetings and to express their views to the public.
YSRCP's Yerram Venkata Subba Reddy stressed on bringing electoral reforms at both the state and national levels.
He also suggested replacing Electronic Voting Machines with paper ballots in all future elections.
"EVM may be efficient but can't be trusted. Paper ballot may not be efficient but can be trusted. You need trust in democracy," Reddy added.
