The City Standard February 4th, 2019- 4th issue

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PRAYAGRAJ

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PM visits Kumbh, Will Priyanka prove to be Mauritius wishes stronger ties with India game changer for Congress STAFF REPORTER

alliance. It wants to project that the party would utilise the experience of the old horses and make the young PRAYAGRAJ horses gallop in the field. Since 1990, A vast section of Congressmen is over the Congress had been urging her to the moon that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s entry into active politics is an ultimate Brahmastra and would prove to be a game changer for the Congress party. One has to admit that Priyanka in terms of charisma has mass appeal though it is different and debateable issue as to what extent she can convert her charisma into votes. So far, she has been a backstage actor and strategist. But with Sonia Gandhi having entered the phase of Nirvana and keeping in view her health conditions and the electoral battle this time becoming murkier by the day, Priyanka’s entry would certainly infuse some oxygen into the Congress which has just started regaining its lost ground. It is also a fact that Priyanka steals a march over enter active politics, but she had Rahul in terms of oratory skills. She has perfected the art much better restrained herself to campaign and than Sonia Gandhi and Rahul and in played the role of backroom strategist. terms of mannerism she resembles Of course, this has also invited comIndira Gandhi more. It is also said that ments that at a time when Rahul like her grandmother, she is firm in her Gandhi who had kept former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on tenteropinion and a taskmaster. The Congress hopes that with the hooks while dousing the prime ministeglossy image of Modi disappearing, rial ambitions of veterans like Pranab the charisma of Priyanka in Uttar Mukherjee and was being groomed as Pradesh would help the grand old party the next prime ministerial candidate, to meet the challenge of the SP-BSP introducing Priyanka on the political

scenario would affect the brand image of Rahul. The BJP, which too, is not in a situation where it can claim that it would be a cakewalk for it in the elections, is try-

ing to put up a brave face saying that the Congress had no option but to bring her into active politics since no party in any State was willing for political alliance. In UP, the SP-BJP refused to give any space for the Congress. In Andhra Pradesh too, it is now official that there would be no alliance between the TDP and the Congress. But then what the ruling party perhaps is trying to gloss over is that not having alliances in the States is itself a strategy

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Kolkata rally: Hamlet sans the Prince of Denmark KOLKATA Mamata Banerjee’s mega rally in Kolkata had one notable absentee. Although many in the Who’s Who of Opposition stalwarts graced the occasion, Rahul Gandhi was conspicuous by his absence. While some like Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, who overcame his party’s deep animus against the Congress in Rahul’s company during the recent Assembly elections, was present along with the DMK’s M K Stalin, who had recently proposed the Congress president’s name for the Prime Minister’s post if and when the Opposition Mahagathbandhan won the general election, his hero was nowhere to be seen. His place was taken by the Congress’s Mallikarjun Kharge. But the void was palpable. It was like staging ’Hamlet’ without the Prince of Denmark. True, Mayawati was also absent with her confidant, Satish Mishra, representing her. But she has recently been following a temperamental line of her own, abruptly breaking off ties with the Congress in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, and seemingly dictating the terms for her alliance with the Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav in UP. She can hardly be regarded, therefore, as someone who is amenable in the matter of winning friends and influencing people. Moreover, given her background of alliances with the Bharatiya Janata Party

(BJP), there is always the fear that if she does not have her own way, she may cross over to the other side. She may be a little more reliable at present than, say, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who is acquiring the reputation

of being a fence-sitter par excellence. But her absence as well as that of Patnaik will lend substance to the BJP’s charge about the gathbandhans being no more than a messy khichdi or a motley combine. It is possible that Rahul’s presence would have been an adequate riposte to the BJP’s jibe if only because, first, he has become a far more effective and aggressive speaker than in the past, who would have undoubtedly been a major attraction at the show. And, secondly, because the Congress still carries the aura of a national party unlike any of the other participants even if, for all practical purposes, the 134-year-old patriarch of Indian

politics has become something of a regional outfit at present. However, it is because the Congress has succeeded in picking itself up from the floor after its 2014 drubbing that the party has become the primary target of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s criticism at virtually all his rallies while the BJP is no longer insisting on ushering in a Congress-mukt (free) India. It is also possible that since the much-criticised Nehru-Gandhi dynasty was at the Congress’ helm during its heyday, Rahul’s presence would have recalled some of the memories of those days, at least for the ordinary people if not the chatterati. Arguably, the Left parties might have decided to attend the rally if Rahul and Sonia Gandhi were present. The two dynasts would have also lent a lustre to the show and mostly been at the centre of television cameras. It is not impossible that Mamata Banerjee’s objective in staging the rally was more to project herself than to act as a catalyst for forming a grand alliance of anti-BJP parties. Her claim that the regional parties would be the BJP’s main opponent in the forthcoming general election was possibly a metaphor for her own ambitions about which her acolytes have been more vocal than the West Bengal Chief Minister herself. But it is precisely this kind of a self-serving agenda which will play into the BJP’s hands and raise the spectre of opportunism being the guiding force of the national Opposition.

of the 23 parties which vow to oust the saffron party from power. Show your strength in your respective States and let us pool our seats after the election and select a leader who can lead the country is the strategy. It would of course be na ve to think that the BJP does not know or understand this. All the moves it now proposes to take up, whether it be more sops in the vote on account budget to be introduced soon or the 10 EBC reservation which was passed in a hurry in Parliament are all aimed at dashing the dreams of the Opposition. That is why the Gathbandhan is contemplating to announce 52 percent reservation for OBCs. It feels that this can neutralise the impact of the goodwill Modi might have won by bringing in the 10 percent reservation for EBCs. What is most interesting is that even Shiv Sena has welcomed the entry of Priyanka into active politics. The Sena MP in Lok Sabha Arvind Sawant said, "Everyone has a right to enter into politics and active politics. She has come, we welcome her, wish her the best. We don’t know why they have brought her and what’s going to happen." Congress says, "We’re fired up & ready to go!" Let’s see how things shape up. For the public, she has the imperial mien of Indira Gandhi coupled with her father Rajiv’s ease. This is in sharp contrast to her brother, who still seems uncomfortable with public life.

to Prayagraj after Varanasi was a unique spiritual experience for him, his wife and the delegation. At Bade Hanuman Temple, he and his wife performed aarti in the presence of Mahant Narendra Giri, president of Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad (ABAP). Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth visited Kumbh Mela and took a dip in the Ganga on Thursday and wished for stronger ties with India. Accompanied by his wife Kobita Jugnauth, Jugnauth led a 25-member delegation from Mauritius visited Sangam, the Bade Hanuman temple and Kumbh’s newly developed integrated command and control centre in Prayagraj. They also paid obeisance to the sacred Akshayvat, the immortal banyan tree located inside the Akbar Fort. They offered prayers at the Sangam nose and took a dip in the holy waters. Urban Development Minister, Suresh Khanna, Commissioner, Dr. Ashish Goyal, ADG zone, SN Sabat, district magistrate, Suhas LY, SSP, Nitin Tiwari, Mela Adhikari, Vijay Kiran Anand, DIG/SSP Kumbh, KP Singh and other senior officials accompanied him during the trip.

From an outcast to demi-god Transgender leader an icon at Kumbh RAJEEV RANJAN MISHRA PRAYAGRAJ Dr. Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, who loves to be called as "Maa" has become icon at the Kumbh Mela, at Prayagraj. Thronged by visitors in hordes daily at her tent inside the Akhara camp at Sector 14 on the sandy banks of TriveniSangam, she blesses one and all who get mesmerized by the very charm of her personality. Her religious movement, called the Kinnar Akhada, became the first transgender group to take holy dip at Triveni-Sangam on the Makar Sankranti, the first of the five main bathing days of the over month long festival. Talking to ’The City Standard’ Tripathi said "After centuries down the line, it was when the community finally got its due," adding that the wait was no doubt longer but it has finally come. She also expressed her gratitude towards Mahant Hari Giri, the secretary of the Akhara Parishd, with whose support Kinnar Akhada became a part of the Juna Akhara, having a

full separate identity within the Akhara. Tripathi further says that whatever time she gets, she spends with her Lord so that He guides her in serving the mankind, adding that she had nothing to lose and that she has neither a family nor children hence she spends most of the time with the people who need her and whatever time is left she spends it with the Almighty. On being asked whether she has any plans of coming into politics, Tripathi quipped, "the day when Indians will stop selling their votes, thereafter she will think of joining politics," adding her life is an open book and there is no blemish on it and that she wants to keep it like this only because the day if anyone pointed a even a finger towards her, then the utility of ’chola’ (pointing to her dress) will end. When asked whether her misson is complete and that she is satisfied

with what she has achieved, the Mhamandaleshwar said that whatever she has done is for herself and her self respect and that if from this if her community gets benefited, what is the harm, adding that she is neither a social reformer nor a torch bearer. When asked as to what her future plans are she said "Change is the law of Nature and time has come for the society to change," adding that today in this male dominated society, people have become ’Chitragupt’ and they want to judge every one according to their likings which in turn leads to degradation. Her wish is to bring equality in this society, where everyone gets due share. Quoting from a ’Chaupai’ from the "Ramcharit Manas" of Goswami Tulsidas, Tripathi says that the place of

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STAFF REPORTER

Kumbh for visitors and devotees. The Mauritius Prime Minister PRAYAGRAJ took a holy dip at Sangam at Prime Minister of Mauritius, Prayagraj Kumbh along with Pravind Kumar Jugnauth and his family and offered his his better half Kovita Jugnauth arrived at Prayagraj by boarding a special flight from Varanasi. Prime Minister of Mauritius arrived at Bamrauli airport, where he was accorded a rousing reception by Union Minister, General VK Singh, Urban Development Minister, Suresh Khanna, Tourism & Women Welfare Minister, Dr. Rita Bahuguna Joshi. They were felicitated by ministers with angwastram (stole) and introduced to dignitaries, adminis- worship to Lord Hanuman. trative staff and top officials. After visiting Kumbh’s newly Mauritius PM meticulously developed Integrated observed the Kumbh Command Control Centre he Integrated Command & returned to New Delhi. He Control Centre at the office of visited the Kumbh after Prayagraj Mela Authority. attending the 15th Pravasi Commissioner, Dr. Ashish Bharatiya Divas at Varanasi. Goyal & ADG zone, SN Sabat He also interacted with mediagave detailed information persons and expressed gratiabout control process, which tude towards Prime Minister is being carried out in a sys- Narendra Modi. He thanked tematic & organised way for the Indian government and ensuring vigilance in every Prime Minister Narendra step of the way. Prime Modi for inviting him as a Minister of Mauritius, Pravind chief guest of the 15th edition Kumar Jugnauth applauded of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas the arrangements, utilization in Varanasi. of cutting edge technology, Jugnauth appreciated the security apparatus for ensur- arrangements made for the ing safe and memorable Kumbh mela and said coming

Kinnars in Indian culture dates back to the Ramayana. As per the epic, Ram is exiled from the holy city of Ayodhya, with the entire kingdom following him into the forest. He orders them to turn back, but returning after 14 years, finds the Kinnars waiting for him in the same spot. Impressed by their devotion, he grants them the power to invoke blessings and curses on people. It is worth mentioning that for centuries, though their lives were far from easy and many people now cheer Tripathi for reclaiming the lost place in Hinduism for India’s ’third gender’, known as the hijras, worshipped as demi-gods for thousands of years, but ridiculed and side-lined during British colonial rule. A law passed in 1871 classed the hijras as ’criminals’. Little changed after Independence and hijras were pariahs, living in tribes, begging or soliciting for sustenance and harassed by police. It was only in 2014 that the Supreme Court officially recognised transgender people as a third gender.Tripathi is one of the best known and she continues to carry forward her mission, unmoved by the obstructions and hasles coming in her march.

RAJEEV RANJAN MISHRA

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PRAYAGRAJ After the conclusion of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Varanasi, the emigrants took a trip to the ongoing largest human congregation ’Kumbh Mela’ in Prayagraj on Thursday. Pravasi Bharatiya delegates were swept off the floor after coming across the unique arrangements by the authorities for their visit. The exceptional grandeur and ambience of Kumbh caught them off guard and they were all praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi & Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for going an extra mile in ensuring a pleasurable and memorable journey for PBD delegates in every step of the way. "Arrangements made by the government are fantastic", they claimed and said, "Social and religious harmony and spirit of tolerance are laudable." "I experiencing peace, bliss and happiness at Kumbh," said a PBD delegate from Washington, America. His counterpart from South Africa said, "Ghats are very attractive, beautiful, mesmerising and clean. Lighting arrangements are also attractive." He also lauded

transport, lodging and other arrangements. "India’s unity in diversity is unique. Special occasion of Kumbh and worship practices always attract us. We have keen interest in concepts of Dhyan, Atma and Parmatma," opined another delegate and gave ’very good’ remark for arrangements at Prayagraj Kumbh. They were given a warm welcome at Tent City at Kumbh. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas guests have been given accommodation for stay at four tent cities namely Indraprastha, Vedika, Kumbham and Agaman in sector 20 at Prayagraj Kumbh. Elaborate security arrangements were in place. They visited Sanskriti Gram and Kala gram to observe the Indian arts and crafts. They also visited Sangam, Akshaya Vat, Saraswati Koop and Bade Hanuman Temple. Visiting PBD guests expressed happiness at the arrangements including security arrangements. They have also appreciated the government’s decision to club the PBD with Kumbh and Republic Day ceremonies. During interaction with mediapersons, Dr. Krishna Kumar from New York, Rashmi Sharma of Singapore, Sudhir Gupta of Germany, Ravi Kumar

Narayan of Qatar, Suryanand Mitwa and Devant Ques of Mauritius, Acharya Pravin Kumar of United Kingdom, Pravin Kumar Khanna of New Zeeland

Minister of State External Affairs Minister General VK Singh on Thursday turned a tourist guide for the emigrants and held the mike while guid-

and others praised the security arrangements and the efforts by government to preserve traditional, spiritual and cultural legacy and ethos of India. They concluded their visit by exclaiming that they are experiencing heaven on earth after visiting Kumbh.

ing and briefing them about the importance of ’Kumbh’. PBD Convention tweeted, "It’s over to @PrayagrajKumbh! After the successful conclusion of #PBD2019, the Pravasis travel to take dip in the Ganges at the #KumbhMela, which has been

inscribed on the list of ’Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’ by @UNESCO in 2017". "It’s a unique spiritual experience for me", exclaimed an overjoyed Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth who visited Kumbh mela, along with Pravasi Bharatiya delegation on Thursday. He thanked the Indian government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for inviting him as the chief guest of the 15th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Varanasi. Accompanied by his wife Kovita Jugnauth, PM Jugnauth took achman (intake of sip of water before puja) at Sangam. He performed puja as per Tamil culture and prayed to Ganga Maiya for stronger ties between Mauritius and India. While addressing the media at the Sangam venue, he thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this unique and memorable get-together. The Mauritian Prime Minister was on a daylong visit to Prayagraj. This visit will convey the message of Divya Kumbh and Bhavya Kumbh to the Indians living abroad. The delegation after attending Pravasi Bharatiya Divas sammelan at Varanasi,

came to Kumbh to have a glimpse of the glory and grandeur of the divine Kumbh. The honoured guests said they were very happy to visit their homeland. One of the guests said that although they are residing abroad yet their roots are in India. They lauded the arrangements made by government and administration and said for the first time they have seen amazing views of the Kumbh. They felt blessed to be part of the grand and divine Kumbh. All the NRIs were overwhelmed by the VIP treatment which they have received and added: "We will miss India, its festivals and the enormous hospitality extended by the hosts." On Thursday, morning the delegation reached the Kumbh region by bus and they were the first group to arrive in the Mela. They were welcomed by General V.K Singh, Foreign Minister of State, Health Minister Siddharth Nath Singh, Rita Bahuguna Cabinet Minister UP, Commissioner Dr. Ashish Goyel. They were presented a rose and shawl accompanied by the chanting of mantras. The artistes were dressed up in traditional attire of all the states and presented songs and cultural programmes in honour of the visiting guests.

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PBD delegates applauded unique grandeur & ambience of Kumbh


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The City Standard February 4th, 2019- 4th issue by Sandeep Mitra - Issuu