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New Delhi, Oct 5 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Sunday that the government is fully committed to supporting the Prajapati (potter) community in the city by promoting the sale of their products and making them self-reliant.

Speaking at the Prajapati (Kumhar) Mahakumbh, organised by the National Prajapati Federation at Adarsh Ramlila Ground in Narela, Outer Delhi, the Chief Minister assured that her government will continue to work for the welfare, education, skill development, and empowerment of the Prajapati community.

Reaffirming her commitment to advancing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Swadeshi’ and ‘Vocal for Local’, CM Rekha Gupta said the Delhi government is taking concrete steps to promote locally handcrafted products and make artisans self-reliant.

She praised the artistry, hard work, and creativity of the Prajapati (Kumhar) community, saying their traditional skills and dedication are truly inspiring.

She said the government is fully committed to supporting the community in every possible way.

Member of Parliament Yogender Chandolia, MLA Rajkaran Khatri, several dignitaries, social organisations, and local residents from the Prajapati community attended the event.

Interacting with community representatives and artisans, the Chief Minister commended their craftsmanship and industrious spirit, calling their work a true source of inspiration.

She reiterated that her government is determined to provide every possible form of assistance and support.

The Chief Minister stated that the Delhi Government will take concrete measures to safeguard the interests of the Prajapati community and continue its efforts towards their welfare, education, skill development, and empowerment.

She added that such initiatives would not only improve the economic conditions of the community but also give new recognition to indigenous industries.

CM Gupta said that traditional craftsmanship is not merely a means of livelihood but a reflection of India’s rich cultural heritage, and it is the government’s responsibility to preserve and strengthen it.

Praising the Prajapati community, she said they are true creators who shape deities, utensils, and beauty from clay, connecting society through their labour and artistry. She also noted that for years, the community has not received the recognition and opportunities it truly deserves, but now the Delhi government will take strong and meaningful steps for their upliftment and empowerment.

–IANS

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Patna, Oct 5 (IANS) With Bihar set to get another operational airport in Muzaffarpur, in sometime soon, this will improve the air connectivity from Hindi heartland to other states and also make it an important landmark in the aviation club.

The airport building will be constructed on a pre-fabricated steel structure and the tendering process has begun for the same.

This has left the local residents overjoyed and ecstatic as this will address their long-standing demands of building direct connectivity with major towns and commercial hubs of the country.

Locals in Muzaffarpur are brimming with joy, as the tendering process has begun for the inclusion of the airport in the Airport Authority of India (AAI). They said this is a significant achievement and was long awaited.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made it happen. It will bring many conveniences to the people here,” locals said expressing gratitude to the Prime Minister.

Kanchan Mala, a local woman told IANS: “When PM Modi visited Muzaffarpur, he talked about building an airport. Now, plans have been made for its construction. This is a very good thing. Previously, people had to travel to Patna and Darbhanga, now it will be very convenient for the people here. Many thanks to PM Modi for the airport.”

Sahil Chaudhary said: “It is a matter of pride that an airport will soon be built in Muzaffarpur. Previously, we had to travel approximately 100 kilometers to reach the airport. The construction of the airport will save time and improve connectivity. I feel proud to hear about the news of construction of airport in my hometown.”

Earlier, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary announced that a significant project to modernise and upgrade the Muzaffarpur airport has been approved. Under this project, the existing airport will be developed to safely operate Code-2B aircraft.

–IANS

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Kolkata, Oct 5 (IANS) Raju Bista, a two-time BJP Lok Sabha member from Darjeeling constituency in West Bengal, on Sunday, has written a letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee requesting her to declare the ongoing crisis in the hills, Terai and Dooars regions amid heavy rainfall and frequent landslides as a “state-level disaster”.

“My appeal comes in response to the massive rainfall on the night of October 4 and October 5, which caused extensive damage and devastation across the Darjeeling hills, Terai, and Dooars regions,” Bista said.

In his letter, the BJP MP claimed that he had highlighted the significant loss of lives, damage to critical infrastructure such as roads and bridges, and the destruction of agricultural fields, homesteads, and livelihoods.

He had also urged Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to inform the Union government about the extensive losses faced by the north Bengal region, in order to facilitate additional resources for the affected region.

“I have also expressed my concerns over the West Bengal government’s failure to declare the Teesta Flood of 2023 a “disaster”, which left victims without due compensation and support,” Bista claimed.

According to the BJP MP, in his letter to the Chief Minister, he had also emphasised the need for financial compensation for all victims and collaboration with the Union government to provide further assistance.

“I am hopeful that the Chief Minister will take necessary action to provide all relief, support to the victims, and collaborate with the Central government to ensure the timely reconstruction of all infrastructures and rehabilitation of all victims,” Bista said.

As per the latest information available, till now 20 people have been reportedly killed and several others injured in the hills following the torrential rains and landslides.

According to reports by NDRF and the district administration, deaths were reported from several locations — Sarsaly, Jasbirgaon, Mirik Basti, Dhar Gaon (Mechi), Nagrakata, and Mirik Lake area.

Saying that the loss of lives is unfortunate, North Bengal Development Minister Udayan Guha told media persons: “As of now, the death toll is 20. It is likely to go up.”

–IANS

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Kottayam, Sep 21 (IANS) As visuals of empty chairs from the Global Ayyappa Sangamam began circulating on television channels and social media, Kerala Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan on Sunday offered an explanation, dismissing the criticism as misleading and politically motivated.

The minister clarified that the one-day spiritual and cultural conference, held in Kottayam, saw a total participation of 4,126 devotees and dignitaries. Of these, 2,125 came from outside Kerala, representing states such as Maharashtra, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. A further 182 participants arrived from abroad, including 39 from Sri Lanka. In addition, 1,119 Ayyappa devotees travelled in vehicles arranged by various devaswom boards in the state.

Explaining the images of vacant chairs, Vasavan said the main venue itself had a seating capacity of 4,000, which was filled during the inaugural session. “Hundreds who arrived for the opening could not be accommodated inside and had to stand. After the inaugural ceremony, many participants moved to other halls to attend parallel panel discussions. The empty seats that appeared in visuals were simply the result of invitees shifting to their respective venues,” he said.

The minister criticised the circulation of photographs showing empty chairs, arguing that they were being used to paint a false picture of the event.

“Only those specifically invited to the main session remained there. The visuals being shared are from a short interval after the inaugural function, and they are being misused to spread misleading narratives,” he added.

Vasavan further underlined that the conference was entirely complaint-free. He noted that even a senior Congress leader from Karnataka, who attended the programme, had not raised any concerns about the arrangements.

“The event was smooth, well-organised, and a grand success. Participation exceeded expectations, and no one who attended went back dissatisfied,” he said.

Echoing CPI(M) state secretary M.V. Govindan’s criticism of the media, the minister accused certain outlets of deliberately attempting to tarnish the image of the Global Ayyappa Sangamam. In reality, he insisted, the conference achieved its goal of bringing together devotees from across India and abroad in a unique spiritual congregation.

–IANS

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