Whispers of Karnataka Congress leaders on paying tributes to Sardar Patel go viral
Bengaluru, Nov 24: With the whispers between senior Congress leaders in Karnataka, D K Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah wondering about paying homage to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at an event organised to observe Indira Gandhi's death anniversary going viral, the BJP has accused the grand old party of showing respect to the country's first Home Minister only out of fear of the J P Nadda-led party.
The 1.15-minute video purportedly shows conversation between the two leaders, who were seated on the dais at the party office here to observe the event on October 31, which also happens to be Patel's birthday.
It was picked up by mics placed on the table while the cameras were on.
In the video, Siddaramaiah can be seen reminding Shivakumar, at the beginning of the event, that the day also happens to be Patel's birthday .
In response, Shivakumar says, "It is, Sir, but this is day (Indira's death anniversary) and that is birthday (Patel's). We don't keep their portraits together.
Following which Siddaramaiah can be heard saying, "But, what happens is, BJP will take advantage of it." To which Shivakumar replies, "Yes...but we have never kept (portraits together so far)."
The video is then fast-forwarded to show Shivakumar asking a party worker if Patel's portrait is there, and directs him to get it.
He then tells Siddaramaiah, he will get the Patel's portrait placed next to Indira, to which the former CM says, "it will be good."
Shivakumar then supervises the placement of Patel's portrait and all the leaders of the state including Siddaramaiah pay floral tributes to it.
Sharing the video, BJP leaders alleged that Congress shows respect to Patel, due to fear of BJP.
"If anyone had doubt about how much the Nehru Dynasty hated Sardar Patel, this video makes it clear. Congress leaders Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar agree to place photo of Sardar Patel along with that of Indira Gandhi fearing BJP. It is a shame that Slaves are so much scared of an Italian," BJP national General Secretary C T Ravi tweeted.
BJP MLA and Chief Minister's Political Secretary MP Renukacharya in a tweet said: "The Congress showed respect to Patel, due to fear of BJP."
ಬಿಜೆಪಿಗೆ ಹೆದರಿ ಪಟೇಲರಿಗೆ ಗೌರವ ತೋರಿದ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್! ನವರ ಕರ್ಮಕಥೆ. pic.twitter.com/TgytqmplOy
— M P Renukacharya (@MPRBJP) November 23, 2021
If anyone had doubt how much the Nehru Dynasty hated Sardar Patel, this video clears it.
— C T Ravi 🇮🇳 ಸಿ ಟಿ ರವಿ (@CTRavi_BJP) November 24, 2021
CONgress leaders @siddaramaiah & @DKShivakumar agree to place photo of Sardar Patel along with that of Indira Gandhi fearing BJP.
It is a shame that Slaves are so much scared of an Italian. pic.twitter.com/ZiO3pUegGu
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Train to Kashmir: 22-bogie train's trial run successful on Katra-Srinagar line
Jammu: A 22-bogie train chugged between Katra and Srinagar railway stations on Sunday, officials said, marking the first successful trial run on the newly completed line to connect Kashmir with the rest of the country via rail.
The train, comprising 18 AC coaches, two luggage carriers and two engines, left the Katra railway station at around 8 am, successfully reaching its destination within four hours under the watchful eyes of the railway authorities, the officials said.
This was the first trial run between Katra and Srinagar, and came within six days after the Commissioner of Railway Safety (Northern Circle) Dinesh Chand Deshwal authorised the opening of the newly constructed Broad Gauge line.
He had given the authorisation for the start of public carriage of goods and passenger traffic in a seven-page letter to the ministry and railway authorities, based on his detailed inspection of the track on January 7 and 8.
The CRS referred to his inspection of the newly constructed BG line between the Katra and Reasi section by a motor trolley and on foot, followed by a speed trial on the entire section from Katra to Banihal.
He had then authorised regular opening of the section for passengers and freight traffic at a maximum permissible speed of 85 Kmph on the main line and 15 Kmph on turnout.
The work on the dream project to link Kashmir by train was started in 1997 and it missed several deadlines given geological, topographical and meteorological challenges.
Out of the total 272 km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, 209 km was commissioned in phases with the first phase of the 118 km Qazigund-Baramulla section commissioned in October 2009, followed by 18 km Banihal-Qazigund in June 2013, 25 km Udhampur-Katra in July 2014 and 48.1 km long Banihal-Sangaldan stretch in February, last year.
The work on the 46-km Sangaldan-Reasi section was also completed in June last year, leaving a total of 17 km stretch between Reasi and Katra. And this section was finally completed in December 2024 as announced by the Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
On January 4, a successful trial run of an electric train was successfully conducted on the Katra-Banihal section. The railways has conducted six trials over the past month on various segments of the track, including the two major milestones of the Anji Khad and Chenab bridges.
Katra-Srinagar Rail Link: First 18-Coach Train Completes Trial Run Successfully pic.twitter.com/p68axcUClX
— Daily Excelsior (@DailyExcelsior1) January 19, 2025
