Varanasi:

Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi on Friday witnessed spectacular fireworks and a mesmerizing laser show on the occasion of Dev Deepawali.

The festivities were attended by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.

The festivities illuminated the night sky over the sacred river Ganga, as thousands of devotees gathered on the Ghats to celebrate the auspicious occasion.

Amidst the chanting of ‘Har Har Mahadev’, people enjoyed boat rides as fireworks lit up the heavens. The celebrations also featured a grand Aarti at Saryu Ghat in Ayodhya.

The laser and sound show at Chet Singh Ghat further added to the vibrant atmosphere, as the city reverberated with spiritual fervor.

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— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) November 15, 2024

In the grand event, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath call Kashi “unique on the occasion said that the city has preserved its tradition and culture while transforming remarkably over the past decade under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

“In the last 10 years, we have witnessed a changing India, and the people of Kashi have been part of this transformation. Kashi has preserved its tradition and culture while emerging anew. Ten years ago, experts wouldn’t even recommend using the water of the Ganga here for bathing due to pollution,” CM Yogi said during an event marking Dev Deepawali in Varanasi.

He further highlighted the cleaning of the Ganga under the Namami Gange project, initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Under PM Modi’s leadership, the river has been cleaned as part of the Namami Gange project. Today, its water is so clean that it can even be used for drinking,” he added.

The Chief Minister praised Kashi as a magnificent spiritual and religious centre. “Our Kashi is unique across the three worlds. It is the sacred abode of Baba Vishwanath, with the uninterrupted flow of Mother Ganga and its holy pilgrimages presenting Kashi as a magnificent spiritual and religious hub for India and the world,” he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Mumbai:

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has openly disagreed with Yogi Adityanath, his ally BJP’s star campaigner for the November 20 polls in the state, on his “Batoge toh katoge” (If we divide, we will be cut) slogan calling for Hindu unity.

Commenting on the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s controversial slogan, Ajit Pawar told NDTV: “All castes should unite and think about India. They should think about Maharashtra. Development cannot happen by creating such differences among each other.”

Mr Pawar, who is contesting the first state election since breaking away from his uncle Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party and joining the state’s BJP government, faces his nephew Yugendra Pawar, in the polls.

Appearing to critique his ally, Mr Pawar claimed the BJP follows an “80-20” voter strategy – that seeks the support of the 80 per cent and not the 20 per cent – and this has, at times, marginalised minority voices. Calling for a return to Maharashtra’s philosophy of inclusion inspired by leaders like Shivaji, Shahu, Phule, and Ambedkar, he said, “I want to follow a political ideology in which everyone is united whether Hindu, Muslim, Dalit or Maratha.”

He also spoke about what he believed was politics of inclusiveness under BJP stalwart and former PM Atal Behari Vajpayee. “Remember Vajpayee when he was in power, he tried to take everyone along. His government was both a coalition and a majority, yet he led with an inclusive vision. Our country is so vast, and such thinking resonates with our youth, who are active on social media, constantly seeking new information and forming their opinions,” Mr Pawar told NDTV.

“Prime Minister Modi speaks of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas,’ and we fully support that slogan. We need everyone to sit together and truly follow that vision. However, if conflicts arise, would you return to the Maha Vikas Aghadi or align with Sharad Pawar’s NCP? Our goal is to first form our Mahayuti government and win more MLAs. The election results are out on November 23, and the government must be formed before November 26,” he added.

Addressing rumours of rifts within the Pawar family, particularly concerning the Baramati constituency where his nephew has opposed him, Mr Pawar downplayed any ongoing disputes. “Everyone has the right to contest elections,” he said.

Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra assembly will be held on November 20 and votes will be counted on November 23.

Pilibhit, UP:

In an apparent dig at his own party, BJP MP Varun Gandhi asked people at an event in UP not to disturb a sadhu standing nearby as nobody knows “when ‘maharaaj ji’ will become the Chief Minister”.

On Monday, when he was addressing party workers in his constituency Pilibhit, the sadhu’s phone started ringing. But the BJP MP stopped workers from asking the sadhu to switch it off.

“Please do not not stop him, never know when ‘maharaaj ji’ will become the Chief Minister. Then what will happen to us?” Mr Gandhi joked.

The video of the incident surfaced online with people interpreting it as a reference to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is also the Gorakshpeethadheeshwar of Gorakshpeeth. Mr Adityanath is always in a sadhu’s dress.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)