Mangaluru, September 9: Former union finance minister and senior Congress leader Janardhana Poojary said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should take steps to slash fuel prices which were sky-rocketed due to illegal storage of petroleum products in the country.

Speaking to reporters here on Sunday, Poojary said that those who store petrol and diesel illegally should be jailed. If the government took such a step, then the price would be automatically reduced, he said.

The Congress which has given bandh call should handle its impact. The Supreme Court has already made it clear that those who call for bandh should bear the loss caused due to bandh. It was very easy for both the Congress and BJP to give bandh calls. But who would compensate the loss worth thousands of crores revenue? If a case was filed against it, no one could escape from it, he said.

When he was the Union Finance Minister, he had tried to minimize the central excise duty. But later, he understood that it was his mistake. It was not right to slash the cess of the state on fuel, he said.

‘Ready to contest if ticket is given’

If the Congress high command assured him the ticket for the forthcoming Lok Sabha election, he would contest the poll. He might contest the election or might not, Poojary said.



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New Delhi: Ayodhya’s Deepotsav celebrations set a remarkable world record as more than 25 lakh earthen lamps illuminated the banks of the Sarayu river, creating a mesmerizing golden glow across the holy city. Originally aiming to light over 28 lakh diyas, organizers succeeded in lighting exactly 25,12,585 diyas, marking a new global achievement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the spectacular display, calling it "amazing, incomparable, and unimaginable," and extended congratulations to the people of Ayodhya for their devotion. "This Jyotiparva, illuminating the sacred birthplace of Ram Lalla, is filled with emotion. This radiance from Ayodhya Dham will fill every household across the country with renewed energy," the Prime Minister shared online.

The Deepotsav, showcasing Ayodhya’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage, featured performances by artists from Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Indonesia, alongside a Ram Leela from Uttarakhand. Performers from various Indian states added further color to the celebrations.

“This is the first Deepotsav following the consecration of the Ram Mandir, and every effort was made to bring grandeur and divinity to the celebrations,” shared UP Minister Jaiveer Singh.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath led an 'aarti' at the event and took part in a ceremonial chariot pull. As a highlight of the occasion, 18 elaborate tableaux were created by Saket Mahavidyalaya, depicting scenes from Tulsidas’s Ramcharitmanas, including Bal Kand, Ayodhya Kand, and Sundar Kand, among others.