J'khand's 2nd Vande Bharat Express to be flagged off on Sunday
Ranchi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually flag-off Jharkhand's second Vande Bharat Express between Ranchi and Howrah on Sunday, a railway official said on Friday.
The regular run of the Ranchi-Howrah-Ranchi Vande Bharat Express will commence from September 27, he said.
On the inaugural day, an official function will be organised at Ranchi station at 10.45am. Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan and other dignitaries will be present on the occasion, chief public relation officer (CPRO) of Ranchi railway division under South Eastern Railway Nishant Kumar told PTI.
The first Vande Bharat Express for both Jharkhand and Bihar was launched on June 27.
The first trial run of the Ranchi-Howrah Vande Bharat was successfully conducted by the Ranchi railway division on Thursday. The Express will run six days a week.
According to the official communiqu by the railways on Friday, the train will depart from Ranchi at 5.15am and reach Howrah at 12.20pm. While returning, the train will leave Howrah at 3.45pm and reach Ranchi at 10.50pm.
The train will have stoppages at Muri, Kotshila, Purulia, Chandil, Tatanagar and Kharagpur, it said.
"The indigenously designed train is equipped with state-of-the-art passenger amenities. It will provide more comfort to rail users. The train will be immensely beneficial for students, businessmen, tourists and entrepreneurs. Enhanced connectivity will also provide a boost to socio-economic development in the region," the release said.
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Fake, completely fabricated: MEA on report claiming 'secret memo' targeting Sikh separatists
New Delhi, Dec 11: India has described as "fake" and "completely fabricated" a media report claiming that a "secret memo" was issued by New Delhi in April to take "concrete" measures against certain Sikh separatists, including Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Sunday that the report is part of a "sustained disinformation campaign" against India and the outlet that published it is known for propagating "fake narratives" peddled by Pakistani intelligence.
The report was published by online American media outlet "The Intercept".
"We strongly assert that such reports are fake and completely fabricated. There is no such memo," Bagchi said.
"This is part of a sustained disinformation campaign against India. The outlet in question is known for propagating fake narratives peddled by Pakistani intelligence. The posts of the authors confirm this linkage," he added.
"Those who amplify such fake news do so only at the cost of their own credibility," Bagchi said, responding to media queries on the report.
In September, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau levelled the allegation of "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist Nijjar on Canadian soil on June 18.
India strongly dismissed the charges, terming them "absurd".
"The Intercept", in its report, claimed that the Indian government issued instructions on a "crackdown scheme" against certain Sikh entities in western countries.
It further claimed that the secret memorandum issued by the MEA in April lists several "Sikh dissidents under investigation by India's intelligence agencies, including the Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar".
