You treated me like mother’: Sonia Gandhi's appeal to telangana voters

EMPHASIZING the context of Telangana's formation in 2014, Gandhi asserted that the Congress party had delivered on its commitment to the people of the state.

THE 17-day long wait for the 41 workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel of Uttarakhand finally ended on Tuesday.

All the workers have been evacuated by the rescuers following a gruelling operation.

Munna Qureshi, a rat miner from Delhi, was the first one to reach to the other side.

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“I removed the last rock. I could see them. Then i went to the other side. I couldn’t They hugged us, lifted us. And thanked us for taking us out. We worked continuously in the last 24 hours. I can’t express my happiness. I have done it for my country,” he said. “The respect they (trapped workers) have given us, I can’t forget my whole life,” he told HT.

Prior to the first evacuation, the personnel from the SDRF and NDRF had entered the tunnel with stretchers. Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Union minister VK Singh were present to welcome the workers.

Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari took to social media platform X to thank the agencies involved in the rescue operations.

“I am completely relieved and happy as 41 trapped laborers in the Silkyara Tunnel Collapse have been successfully rescued. This was a well-coordinated t hen I went to the other s I de. I couldn’t t hey hugged us, l I fted us. a nd thanked us for tak I ng us out. w e worked cont I nuously effort by multiple agencies, marking one of the most significant rescue operations in recent years. Various departments and agencies complemented each other despite facing numerous challenges. Tireless and sincere efforts by everyone, coupled with prayers from all, have made this operation possible. The dedicated endeavors of the rescue teams have yielded favorable results,” he said.

I removed the last rock. I could see them.

I n the last 24 hours. I can’t express my happ I ness.

Celebrations erupted as locals distributed sweets outside Silkyara tunnel as trapped workers are being rescued from the tunnel.

A portion of the tunnel had caved in on November 12, with the debris falling in the 60-metre stretch on the Silkyara side of the tunnel, thereby trapping 41 labourers inside the underconstruction structure.

Former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday appealed to the voters of Telangana, urging them to support the grand old party in the upcoming assembly elections on November 30. Emphasising the historical context of Telangana's formation in 2014 after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, Gandhi asserted that the Congress had delivered on its commitment to the people of the state. Gandhi further said that she is grateful to the people of Telangana for their love and respect.

In a two-minute video message on X, she said, "Namaskaram, my dear sisters and brothers of Telangana, I could not come among you all but I am very close to your hearts. Today I want to say something to you. I want to see the dream of the martyred sons of Mother Telangana fulfilled."

"I sincerely wish that we all convert 'Dorala' Telangana into 'Prajala' Telangana (from a Telangana of landlords to that of people's). Make your dreams come true and give you a true and honest government," the Congress leader said.

"You have given me immense respect by calling me Sonia Amma. You treated me like a mother, I will always be grateful to you for this love and respect and will remain dedicated to you forever,” she added.

“I request our sisters, mothers, sons, daughters and brothers of Telangana to use all their power this time to bring about a change. Vote for the Congress. 'Marpu Kavali - Congress Ravali',” Sonia Gandhi said in her message.

The message from the chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party came on the final day of campaigning in the southern state, where the BRS holds authority.

The video message was also shared by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on X. "Message from Telangana's own 'Sonia Amma' to the people of the state," the leader captioned his post.

Telangana is poised for a three-way electoral involving the BJP, the incumbent BRS, and the Congress on November 30. The counting of votes will take place on December 3.

india, uS seek to deepen space ties as nASA chief kicks off key visit

NEW DELHI: India and the US on Tuesday held talks on deepening space collaboration with focus on the proposed role of an Indian astronaut who will be trained by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and will fly to the International Space Station next year, a top US official said, adding that the two countries will launch a low earth orbit observatory from India in early 2024.

NASA administrator Bill Nelson (Getty file photo)

NASA administrator Bill Nelson (Getty file photo)

A NASA delegation, led by administrator Bill Nelson, held a meeting with minister of state for science and technology Jitendra Singh and discussed space cooperation.

“I had a discussion with the minister on what the Indian astronaut would do on the space station. And the two of us talked about the fact that things that are important to India in scientific research, the Indian astronaut ought to have that as a choice to do. If there is a particular part of research that he or she would be interested in, then I want to encourage that,” Nelson said during a media interaction.

He called India “a great future partner for astronauts in space.”

Nelson asked Singh to expedite the programme related to sending India’s first astronaut aboard a NASA rocket to ISS, the Indian department of space said in a statement.

“NASA will help train the Indian astronaut to fly to ISS by end of 2024. Those details are being worked out. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will announce that,” Nelson said.

He said the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) observatory would be launched in the first quarter of 2024. NISAR completed a key trial at ISRO’s compact antenna test facility in midNovember.

“In the first quarter of 2024, in a joint venture, India will launch a very expensive spacecraft, NISAR, and it is part of what we call our great observatories. And the combination of these four or five observatories that will be put up, and all our 25 spacecraft looking at the Earth...the combination of all that information...is helping us precisely determine what is happening to the Earth and its climate,” Nelson said.

Nelson earlier called India “a leader in space.”

“Touchdown in India! Ready to embark on a week of engaging meetings and events to grow @NASA’s partnership with @isro. India is a leader in space and we’re looking forward to a productive visit,” he wrote on X.