PM's photo on train ticket saluting heroes of Operation Sindoor tribute to our soldiers: Railways
New Delhi, May 19 (PTI): The use of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's picture "saluting the heroes of Operation Sindoor" on train tickets is a tribute to the soldiers' valour, the Railway Ministry said on Monday.
It added that besides using the PM's photo on tickets, all divisions and zones have been at the forefront of celebrating the success of Operation Sindoor by organising various activities and events at railway stations.
"The hon'ble prime minister salutes the heroes of Operation Sindoor and celebrates its success," Dilip Kumar, Executive Director, Information and Publicity, Railway Board, told PTI when asked about tickets displaying PM Modi in a saluting pose with a mention of the operation.
"Top stations across the country were beautifully decorated with the tricolour. In several divisions, schoolchildren participated in painting competitions centred around the theme of Operation Sindoor.
"Public display systems at several stations played video clippings highlighting the bravery of soldiers during this operation," he said.
Kumar highlighted that Jammu, Pathankot, New Delhi and Srinagar stations among others took painted concrete benches and other station facilities in the colours of armed forces' fatigues.
A railway official from the Jammu division said, "Some divisions also decorated stations in vermilion colour to mark the success of Operation Sindoor."
One of such station was Pathankot and the picture was posted by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on his X handle with the message, "'Rang Ye Sindoor Ka' (This is the colour of vermilion)."
Railway Officials said that some stations like New Delhi have not only painted benches in the colours of fatigues but also reserved them specifically for defence personnel.
"We have written 'Sainik Samman' (respect for soldiers) on these concrete benches that have been reserved for defence personnel. Seats in the waiting lounge have also been dedicated to our forces," said Himanshy Upadhaya, the Chief Public Relation Officer of the Northern Railway.
According to a recent press statement from the Jammu Division, "Benches at all main stations such as Jammu, Samba, Mukeria, Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Kathua were painted in the dress code colour of the Indian soldiers and Sainik Samman was also written on them as a tribute to the courage and bravery of the soldiers."
Officials from the North Central Railway zone said that besides decorating stations and colouring concrete benches, they held 'Tiranga Yatra' with the help of Scouts and Guides and the volunteers of civil defence.
"These events were extremely successful and a lot of youngsters participated in it. We also displayed video clippings of patriotic songs and events on public display systems at a majority of NCR stations," said Shashi Kant Tripathi, the Chief Public Relations Officer of North Central Railway.
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Kangana Ranaut sparks row: Claims Gandhi made 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram' the national anthem
New Delhi: A significant political controversy has erupted following the Modi government's decision to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), a move that has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties. The row was further fueled by BJP MP Kangana Ranaut, who, while defending the name change, erroneously claimed that Mahatma Gandhi had made the devotional song "Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram" India’s national anthem.
The central government has rebranded the flagship rural employment scheme from MGNREGA to the "Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission," abbreviated as VB-G RAM G. The removal of Mahatma Gandhi's name from the scheme has been termed an insult to the Father of the Nation by the Congress and other opposition parties.
When questioned by the media outside Parliament regarding the opposition's allegations, Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut defended the government's decision by invoking Mahatma Gandhi's devotion to Lord Ram.
"How is naming it 'Ram Ji' an insult to Gandhi ji?" Ranaut asked. "Mahatma Gandhi made 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram' the national anthem to organize the entire country. Therefore, this is an insult to Mahatma Gandhi? The government is fulfilling his dream by giving it the name of Ram."
Ranaut's claim regarding the national anthem was immediately seized upon by the opposition. Congress leader Supriya Shrinate shared the video of Ranaut’s statement on social media, tweeting sarcastically, "Come on brother, today we learned a new national anthem! The BJP is full of such gems."
Social media users also trolled the MP for the factual error. One user quipped, "Kangana ji forgot to mention that Bapu made this the national anthem after the country got independence in 2014," while another commented that the party finds people who "don't use their brains while forwarding WhatsApp messages."
Beyond the social media mockery, senior Congress leaders criticised the renaming on ideological grounds. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot took to X (formerly Twitter) to condemn the move.
"The biggest irony is that Mahatma Gandhi was a lifelong devotee of Lord Ram and said 'Hey Ram' in his last moments," Gehlot wrote. "Today, the central government is making a despicable attempt to sideline Gandhi ji under the guise of the same 'Ram' name (VB-G RAM G), which is highly condemnable."
मनरेगा का नाम बदलने की केंद्र सरकार की कवायद महात्मा गांधी के प्रति उनकी ओछी मानसिकता और असम्मान का प्रमाण है। सरकार पहले 'पूज्य बापू' के नाम का शिगूफा छोड़ती है और फजीहत होने पर अब 'विकसित भारत-गारंटी फॉर रोजगार एंड आजीविका मिशन (VB-G RAM G)' जैसा नाम थोपना चाहती है। बार-बार नाम…
— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) December 15, 2025
गांधी जी ने ‘रघुपति राघव राजा राम’ को लेकर नेशनल एंथम बनाया था
— Supriya Shrinate (@SupriyaShrinate) December 16, 2025
BJP MP कंगना रनौत
चलो भाई आज नया नेशनल एंथम भी पता चला है!
BJP में एक से एक शिरोमणि भरे पड़े हैं 😂🤣 pic.twitter.com/9DvyV5xLb1
