Gunjan Sharma, Arunav Sinha And Kunal Dutt

Stories by Gunjan Sharma, Arunav Sinha And Kunal Dutt

India Gate turns a page: Amar Jawan Jyoti merged with war memorial flame

India Gate turns a page: Amar Jawan Jyoti merged with war memorial flame

Rediff.com   21 Jan 2022

The Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate in New Delhi was merged with the eternal flame at the National War Memorial on Friday.

Parties hope to gain from 'lucky 7' in 7-phase UP polls

Parties hope to gain from 'lucky 7' in 7-phase UP polls

Rediff.com   16 Jan 2022

From invoking the 'Saptarishi' (Ursa Major) constellation, seven basic notes of Indian classical music to 'saat phere' (seven circumambulations) -- parties give different reasons and logic to claim that they will emerge victorious in the polls.

BJP vs SP? Don't write us off, remind BSP, Congress and others

BJP vs SP? Don't write us off, remind BSP, Congress and others

Rediff.com   10 Jan 2022

With their high-decibel campaigns so far, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Samajwadi Party may appear to be locked in a direct fight in Uttar Pradesh.

After Lord Ram, leaders turn to Krishna ahead of UP poll

After Lord Ram, leaders turn to Krishna ahead of UP poll

Rediff.com   5 Jan 2022

Krishna chants gained more currency when Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav invoked the deity.

Kashi Vishwanath corridor: Will it give BJP edge in 2022 UP polls?

Kashi Vishwanath corridor: Will it give BJP edge in 2022 UP polls?

Rediff.com   15 Dec 2021

The newly-inaugurated Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi is being largely hailed as a symbol of resurrection of India's spiritual consciousness but a section of people here claims that the mega project is being showcased so that the ruling party gets a "political edge" in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.

Modi's midnight tryst with Varanasi

Modi's midnight tryst with Varanasi

Rediff.com   14 Dec 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, ventured out on the streets of Varanasi in the early hours of Tuesday and visited the just-inaugurated Kashi Vishwanath Dham and the Banaras railway station.

Modi winds up Varanasi visit with watching Ganga aarti from cruise

Modi winds up Varanasi visit with watching Ganga aarti from cruise

Rediff.com   13 Dec 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi witnessed the spectacular Ganga 'aarti' in Varanasi on Monday evening while on board a river cruise with chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh and other Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states.

Bharat Mata, Adi Shankara statues installed at Kashi Vishwanath Dham

Bharat Mata, Adi Shankara statues installed at Kashi Vishwanath Dham

Rediff.com   13 Dec 2021

The mega corridor, whose foundation stone was laid by Modi on March 8, 2019, connects the main temple with Lalita Ghat via a corridor, and grand gateways and ornamental arches have been built in heritage architecture style in four directions, facing the ancient temple at its core.

Modi to inaugurate multi-crore Kashi Vishwanath corridor on Monday

Modi to inaugurate multi-crore Kashi Vishwanath corridor on Monday

Rediff.com   12 Dec 2021

The inauguration of the state-of-the-art infrastructure surrounding the historic Kashi Vishwanath Temple near the iconic Dashashwamedh Ghat comes ahead of the assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh early next year.

UP polls: Mamata likely to support Akhilesh, visit Varanasi in Jan

UP polls: Mamata likely to support Akhilesh, visit Varanasi in Jan

Rediff.com   5 Dec 2021

"Didi has already said in Delhi that if Akhilesh Yadav needs our help, we are ready to extend help. The gesture of senior SP leader Jaya Bachchan seeking votes for the TMC during the West Bengal Assembly elections will be reciprocated in Uttar Pradesh," said Laliteshpati Tripathi, who recently joined the TMC.

How the farmers kept their protest going for a year

How the farmers kept their protest going for a year

Rediff.com   19 Nov 2021

For the past one year, an overwhelming number of farmers have been camping at the Singhu border area of Delhi, braving by turns biting cold, monsoon rains, COVID pandemic scare and also accusations of 'creating obstructions,' but the spirt of solidarity has allowed them to soldier on against all odds.

Priyanka a 'storm', Yogi feeling threatened: UP Congress chief

Priyanka a 'storm', Yogi feeling threatened: UP Congress chief

Rediff.com   1 Nov 2021

The Congress would go to the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections without a chief minister face but will fight under the watch of general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, whom the state party chief Ajay Kumar Lallu described as a 'storm' that will help sweep the polls.

BJP will fight UP polls under Yogi, CM issue 'settled': Dy CM

BJP will fight UP polls under Yogi, CM issue 'settled': Dy CM

Rediff.com   24 Sep 2021

Uttar Pradesh deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma has said the issue of the state's next CM is already 'settled' with the BJP top brass making it clear that the coming assembly elections will be fought under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath.

'Can't even think of returning to Afghanistan'

'Can't even think of returning to Afghanistan'

Rediff.com   23 Aug 2021

'It's hell right now'

'On our Independence Day, we Afghans feel like prisoners'

'On our Independence Day, we Afghans feel like prisoners'

Rediff.com   19 Aug 2021

'Today with Taliban at our doorsteps literally, we can't even put up our national flag. Only Allah knows, what will happen to Afghanistan now'

Indian teachers stranded in Kabul hope for immediate evacuation

Indian teachers stranded in Kabul hope for immediate evacuation

Rediff.com   18 Aug 2021

'We have tried to get in touch with the embassy as well as the Ministry of External Affairs. We have not heard from them yet but I am confident that the government must be putting efforts for our safe and quick evacuationfrom Kabul'

'People in villages cried, couldn't sleep when Tikait wept'

'People in villages cried, couldn't sleep when Tikait wept'

Rediff.com   30 Jan 2021

Tikait's tears galvanised people, as on Saturday a large number of farmers and other supporters came to the protest site at the Delhi-UP border from not just his home state of Uttar Pradesh but from Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand as well to show solidarity with the movement.

Ladakh to make debut in Republic Day Parade on Rajpath

Ladakh to make debut in Republic Day Parade on Rajpath

Rediff.com   22 Jan 2021

"Our tableau will be showcased for the first time on Rajpath in the grand parade. We had struggled to get a separate UT status and that aspiration was fulfilled in 2019 and we had celebrated it in Ladakh. And, now as an independent UT, with our own identity, we will be taking part in the ceremonial event. We feel very happy," said Diksit Palmo, who hails from Leh.

Volunteers polish shoes of farmers at Singhu border

Volunteers polish shoes of farmers at Singhu border

Rediff.com   11 Jan 2021

The sewadars, which also include a woman, sit on the ground and urge people to offer their 'jodas' (shoes) while they wait in front of their makeshift counter, on the Haryana side of the Singhu border, close to a tent where farmer leaders speak vociferously against the new farm laws, reiterating demands for repealing them.

People shouldn't hesitate to get vaccinated: Delhi's 1st COVID patient

People shouldn't hesitate to get vaccinated: Delhi's 1st COVID patient

Rediff.com   11 Jan 2021

With final preparations underway and the vaccine set to arrive in the national capital in the next couple of days, Rohit Datta, who was the first person to be diagnosed with coronavirus infection on March 1, said "it feels surreal".