PM Modi unveils word's tallest Statue of Unity in honour of Patel, flays 'political prism'

Agencies
October 31, 2018

Kevadiya, Oct 31: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday dedicated to the nation the much- awaited 182-metre high Statue of Unity in honour of coutry's first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Mr Modi urged critics not to dismiss his government's efforts to pay tributes to icons like Patel with 'political prism'. 

Paying rich tributes to Sardar Patel, the Prime Minister said the towering statue will serve as a reminder about the courage and firm political commitment of a man who brought in unity among all princely states in 1947 and later and thwarted efforts to disintegrate India.

Built on Sadhu Bet Island on Narmada river, the imposing statue is twice as high as the 93-metre Statue of Liberty in New York and surpasses the China's Spring Temple Buddha by about 29 metres. 

He lashed out at those skeptics and political detractors who try to see his government's efforts to show due respect to great sons of India such as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel with 'political prism'.

"At times, they give an impression as if by remembering the contributions of great sons of India like Sardar Patel is an offence. Is it an offence?," Mr Modi said. 

The remarks from the Prime Minister came even as critics and a section of citizens on social network and micro blogging site Twitter have tried to suggest that showing tributes to the legacy of Patel was akin to election gimmick.

Three Indian Air Force planes flew past the Patel figure and created the tricolour in the sky on the occasion graced among others by Gujarat Governor O P Kohli, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, BJP chief Amit Shah, Madhya Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala.

The grand ceremony coincided with Patel's 143rd birth anniversary. Originally, the concept of such a grand statue was conceptualised by Mr Modi in 2010 during his stint as the Gujarat Chief Minister.

"It is in fitness of things that Sardar Patel's birthday today is being celebrated as Ekta Diwas in the country," Mr Modi said.

He said it goes to the visionary statesmanship of Sardar Patel that the fundamental right is today inherent part of India's democracy.

Approximately 70,000 tonnes of cement in addition to 18,500 tonnes of reinforcement steel and 6000 tonnes of structural steel have been used to build the statue - also billed as an architectural wonder.

"Had Sardar Patel not united the country, we would need visas to see lions in Gujarat or pay homage at Somnath or view the Charminar in Hyderabad," Mr Modi said, lauding the stellar role played by Sardar Patel in integrating the princely states after the partition of 1947.

PM Modi described the Statue of Unity as a symbol of the country's engineering and technical capabilities. He also took part in a 'pooja' on the occasion.

He also recorded appreciation of the erstwhile rulers of the princely states and said their 'sacrifice' and decision to merge with Indian union was no less.

A viewing gallery has been created at a height of 135 metres at the venue to enable tourists to have a view of the dam and nearby mountain ranges.

This Statue will boost tourism and help local tribals get a regular source of income, Mr Modi said.

The world's largest statue is also a symbol of 'New India' as being envisioned by his government, Mr Modi said.

"This statue is recognition of contribution of tribals and farmers who contributed iron pieces and their sincerity for the unique statue," the Prime Minister said.

"When I proposed this Statue on October 31, 2010, I wanted that the man deserves his due place in Indian history," the Prime Minister said. 

"There were skeptics who thought India's diversity will be a weakness. Sardar Patel proved the prophets of doom wrong. During the time of such skepticism, it was Sardar Patel who stood as a symbol of unity," the Prime Minister said.

Sardar Patel had the unique synthesis of 'Kautiyla's diplomacy and Shivaji's bravery', Mr Modi said.

Comments

Anti-modi
 - 
Thursday, 1 Nov 2018

when you vote for a man who always lie then your futur will be in danger, the day will come to india that they will be all poor people and all political people are rich and dont think thast they will develop hindu people, you are the most effected people in india not muslim or cristian.

 

 

softman
 - 
Wednesday, 31 Oct 2018

Use this money for poor in the name Sardar Patel.

 

Foolish decision to spend for statue

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Agencies
May 19,2020

Lucknow, May 19: The administration of the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI) has ordered a probe into the cardiac procedure conducted on a corona positive patient in the hospital.

The patient underwent a cardiac procedure without being tested for corona before the surgery. He later tested positive for COVID-19, leading to panic among the staff and other patients.

The medical staff that came in contact with the patient were quarantined on Monday while the area was sanitized.

As per orders from the State Medical Education Department, even in emergency cases, patients are to be screened for Covid-19 before procedures are done.

According to the SGPGI administration, the incident took place late on Sunday night.

In an official statement, director, Prof R.K. Dhiman said, "The 63-year-old patient was a case of complete cardiac blockage and needed an urgent temporary pacemaker. The patient was admitted to the holding area of the institute and later shifted to the MICU for permanent pace making."

He said that when the patient's corona status was found to be positive on the Hospital Information System, she was shifted to the Rajdhani COVID Hospital.

The Director said, "Though the involved areas have been sanitized and healthcare workers were quarantined as per protocol, a probe has been ordered to investigate the lapses."

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News Network
March 7,2020

Mumbai, Mar 7: Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray visited Ayodhya on Saturday to commemorate 100 days in office and pledged Rs 1 crore towards the building of the Ram Temple.

Taking a dig at BJP, Uddhav said his party had separated from its erstwhile ally but not Hindutva.

Recollecting the contribution of his father Balasaheb Thackeray, uddhav said he was forced to skip the Sarayu River 'aarti' due to Coronavirus fears but he would continue visiting Ayodhya.

Earlier in the day, the Sena, which heads the tripartite dispensation in the state, said there was no change in its ideology.

Launching a veiled attack on BJP, an editorial in the Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' also said that Lord Ram and Hindutva is not the sole property of any single political party.

The Sena also said the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government — which also comprises the NCP and the Congress — has completed 100 days, much to the chagrin of those who were claiming that the new dispensation will not survive more than 100 hours.

“Those whose government lasted for 80 hours were claiming that the Thackeray regime will not last for even 100 hours. But this MVA government not only thrived but has instilled trust in the minds of people during this period with its performance,” the editorial said.

The Sena was apparently referring to the second inning of the erstwhile Devendra Fadnavis government which lasted for only 80 hours in November last year.

"Hence, CM Thackeray's visit to Ayodhya has to be welcomed as he is offering the flowers of works (done by the government) at the feet of Lord Shriram," it said.

The Sena said Thackeray's visit to the temple town is out of devotion for Lord Shriram. "The government in Maharashtra comprising three ideologically different parties is working as per Constitution and Thackeray is leading such government," it said.

The edit said on this background various questions were raised over Thackeray's visit to Ayodhya by his political opponents. "The government maybe backed by anyone, but Uddhav Thackeray and the Shiv Sena remain the same from within and outside. There is no change in the ideology. Lord Shriram and Hindutva is not the property of any single party," it stated.

Referring to senior RSS leader Suresh 'Bhaiyyaji' Joshi's remark that the Hindu community is not synonymous with the BJP and that opposing the BJP does not amount to opposing Hindus, the Sena said similarly Ayodhya belongs to all.

"The political and cultural battle in Ayodhya is now over. The Supreme Court cannot be thanked enough for this (for its verdict in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute case that allowed construction of the Ram temple)," it said.

Hailing the Supreme Court's November, 2019 verdict, the Sena said the country had to fight a big battle to prove that Ayodhya belonged to Lord Shriram.

"In that battle, several (people) were unmasked. But only (late) Shiv Sena president Balasaheb Thackeray stood behind the Ayodhya (temple) campaigners like a mountain," it said.

Bal Thackeray created trust among Hindus from across the world about the creation of the temple, the Sena said. The party further said late Thackeray's assertion that he was proud if the Babri mosque was razed by Sena workers and that the temple of Lord Ram would come up in Ayodhya was akin to the thunder of "thousands of lightnings" in the sky.

"The Hindu culture got lit up in the glow of that lightning. The resplendent rays showed the path of power to the Hindu community. Hence, no one can deny the contribution of the 'Hinduhridaysamrat' (Bal Thackeray) as good as that of Lord Shriram, in creating the current political order in the country," the Sena said.

"We have experienced several times that Balasaheb lives in the mind of Ayodhya. Now Uddhav Thackeray himself is going there with the same faith. He had gone there when not in power. He is going there now after becoming chief minister with the same humility. Lord Shriram is of everyone," the Sena said.

The party said Maharashtra is being run on the path shown by Lord Shriram and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. "A Ram Rajya entails fulfilling promises made to the people. This is precisely what Mahatma Gandhi wanted, and the government following this ideology is in place in Maharashtra. It will continue work on that line. Ultimately, Lord Shriram is there to support it," the Sena said.

Thackeray completed 100 days in the office on Friday. He had assumed office as the chief minister of the Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government on November 28 last year, after the Sena joined hands with the NCP and the Congress.

Senior Sena leader Sanjay Raut had said that Thackeray will not take part in the 'aarti' programme on the banks of river Sarayu in the temple town.

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News Network
January 17,2020

Jan 17: India's "high power" communication satellite GSAT-30 was successfully launched in the early hours of January 17, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said.

The satellite, aimed at providing high-quality television, telecommunications and broadcasting services, was launched onboard Ariane 5 rocket from French Guiana.

Blasting off from the Ariane Launch Complex in Kourou, a French territory located in northeastern coast of South America at 2.35 am IST, European space consortium Arianespace's Ariane 5 vehicle injected GSAT-30 into the orbit in a flawless flight lasting about 38 minutes.

Arianespace CEO Stéphane Israël tweeted about the successful launch of GSAT-30.

ISRO's U R Rao Satellite Centre Director P Kunhikrishnan, who was present in Kourou, congratulated the ISRO community and Arianespace team on the successful launch.

Calling it an "excellent start" to 2020 for ISRO with the launch, he said, "The mission team at the master control facility have already acquired the satellite and they will immediately complete the post launch operations...."

The 3,357-kg satellite, which was deployed from the lower passenger position of Ariane-5 launch vehicle (VA 251) into to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO), is configured on ISRO's enhanced I-3K Bus structure to provide communication services from Geostationary orbit in C and Ku bands.

The satellite derives its heritage from ISRO's earlier INSAT/GSAT satellite series, and is equipped with 12 C and 12 Ku band transponders.

GSAT-30 is to serve as replacement to the "aging" INSAT-4A spacecraft services with enhanced coverage, ISRO has said, adding the satellite provides Indian mainland and islands coverage in Ku-band and extended coverage in C-band covering Gulf countries, a large number of Asian countries and Australia.

With a mission life of 15 years, GSAT-30 is an operational communication satellite for DTH, television uplink and VSAT services.

The Bengaluru-headquartered ISRO has said the communication payload of GSAT-30 is specifically designed and optimised to maximise the number of transponders on the spacecraft bus.

According to the space agency, the spacecraft would be extensively used for supporting VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) network, television uplinking and teleport services, digital satellite news gathering (DSNG), DTH television services, cellular backhaul connectivity and many such applications.

One Ku-band beacon downlink signal is transmitted for ground-tracking purpose, it added.

For its initial flight of 2020, Arianespace on its website said, it would orbit EUTELSAT KONNECT, a telecommunication satellite for the operator Eutelsat, along with GSAT-30, using an Ariane 5 launch vehicle from the Guiana Space Centre.

EUTELSAT KONNECT – which was produced by Thales Alenia Space for Eutelsat – was riding in the upper position of Ariane 5's payload arrangement, and was released first in the flight sequence at 27 minutes following liftoff.

Since the launch of India's APPLE experimental satellite on Ariane Flight L03 in 1981, Arianespace has orbited 24 satellites, including GSAT-30, for the Indian space agency.

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