Srinagar: The weather department has predicted widespread rainfall, gusty winds and snowfall at some places in Jammu and Kashmir in the next 36 hours due to a strong western disturbance, while heavy rains left roads waterlogged in Srinagar on Friday.Authorities have issued an advisory urging residents to avoid non-essential travel and follow safety precautions, especially in Srinagar.Fresh snowfall occurred in higher reaches of Kashmir, including Mughal Road in Shopian and Sadhna Top in Kupwara on Friday, while Srinagar and other districts received heavy rains, leaving roads waterlogged, making movement of people and vehicles difficult. Officials said five road accidents were recorded due to slippery roads.The weather department’s forecast said “irregular weather conditions” are likely to continue till April 10.The weather on April 4 is expected to be cloudy with moderate to heavy rain in the plains and snowfall in the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir. Although it will be cloudy on April 5 and April 6, there is a possibility of light rain at isolated places.The district administration in Srinagar has issued a public advisory, warning of inclement weather and wind speed of 40-50 km per hour till the evening of April 4. “The general public of district Srinagar is advised to avoid unnecessary movement on the roads except in cases of extreme necessity,” the advisory said.“Tourists, local shikara operators and other people around Dal Lake, Jhelum River and other water bodies are strictly advised not to venture out or operate without confirming the prevailing conditions and safety situation,” the advisory said.The administration also asked miners and others working near water bodies to exercise caution and avoid risk-prone activities near water bodies. Officials have urged people to remain alert, take necessary precautions and cooperate with authorities to ensure safety during the adverse weather.

New Delhi: A.S. Kerala In the 2026 assembly elections, the contest is no longer just about ideology or leadership, it is increasingly a battle of promises. From welfare payments and free services to large-scale infrastructure and economic transformation plans, all three major fronts – led by the LDF, UDF and BJP NDA – Issued detailed manifestos with the aim of wooing politically aware and welfare conscious voters.The scale and scope of the commitments mark a sea change in Kerala’s electoral politics. Welfare is no longer discriminatory; This is the baseline. What differentiates the parties is scale, delivery mechanisms and credibility of execution. In a state known for high human development indicators and strong public participation, voters are now weighing not just promises but also sustainability and governance capacity.All three alliances have united on key themes, social protection – employment, healthcare and infrastructure – while competing to outdo each other in quantity and coverage. The result is an intense, high-stakes policy competition where every section of society, from youth and women to farmers and senior citizens, has been targeted with tailored offers.

LDF: The ruling party’s bet is distribution, not disruption.

Ruling LDF under the leadership of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayanhas framed its manifesto as a continuation of its governance model, combining welfare expansion with long-term economic growth.At its core is the promise of eliminating absolute poverty with a targeted plan to uplift about five lakh families. There is a proposal to increase the welfare pension to Rs 3,000 per month along with expanded care systems for the elderly and bed-ridden.

The LDF has emphasized employability and skills, promising campus placements, expanding training programs and “back to campus” initiatives to bridge the employment gap. The target is to reach 50% of women’s participation in the workforce, supported by support systems such as child care, safe mobility and skills development.On the economic front, the Left has outlined an ambitious plan to attract investments worth Rs 2 lakh crore over five years, develop industrial corridors and promote innovation hubs. Public sector units will be modernized with a target of increasing the turnover to Rs 10,000 crore by 2031.Tourism, agriculture and infrastructure also feature prominently. The manifesto targets bringing in 5 crore domestic tourists by 2031, better support prices for major crops and expansion of transport networks including metro and water-based systems. Speaking after releasing the manifesto, Vijayan said the vision was to combine social justice with development, adding that development must remain “people-centric and inclusive”.

UDF: Comeback Pitch – Welfare with Accountability

The Congress-led UDF has countered with a manifesto mixing welfare guarantees with governance and institutional reforms. The document, released in Kochi, was presented by Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and handed over to Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan. The main attraction is the “Indira Guarantee” announced by Rahul Gandhi. These include:

The UDF has also promised to legally guarantee welfare pensions, saying they are “not a charity but a right.”Economic proposals include expansion of mission seas, aviation infrastructure and creation of 10,000 high-revenue enterprises to create a port-based economy. A “Job Watch Tower” is proposed to monitor employment trends.On social welfare, the alliance has promised food security through Indira canteens, free ration for vulnerable groups and a “Nav Ashray” housing scheme targeting five lakh beneficiaries.Health care and labor reforms include free dialysis for BPL patients, higher wages for Asha workers and subsidies for sectors like fishing and transportation.The manifesto also emphasizes social harmony, proposing a Ministry of Tolerance and a Department of Social Harmony to address communal tensions and political violence.

NDA: Breaking the monopoly – recognition, benefits and large-scale projects

The BJP-led NDA, whose manifesto was released by party president Nitin Nabin, has combined direct welfare benefits with infrastructure and governance-centric proposals.Among the key promises:

The NDA has also promised to set up AIIMS in Kerala and expand healthcare coverage under Ayushman Bharat to all residents.

On infrastructure, the alliance has proposed a high-speed rail corridor connecting Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur, expansion of the metro network and developing Vizhinjam port as a major industrial hub.The manifesto includes a strong focus on religious and institutional reforms, including a commitment to revive Devaswom boards and ensure “greater participation of devotees” in temple management.“We will protect Sabarimala, Guruvayur and all other places of worship by reforming the Devaswom Board,” Nabeen said.It also promises a time-bound CBI probe into the Sabarimala gold theft case and a dedicated infrastructure mission for the temple.On the economic front, the NDA aims to transform cities into regional hubs, establishing Thiruvananthapuram as an IT capital, Kochi as a shipbuilding hub and Kannur as a defense innovation hub.Nabin criticized both the LDF and UDF, accusing them of “negligible industrial growth, economic stagnation and fiscal misgovernance” and claiming that voters were seeking change.

Common ground: welfare as the political centerpiece

Despite sharp political differences, a clear pattern emerges in the manifestos, with welfare remaining central to Kerala’s electoral politics.The three alliances have:

This convergence reflects both the expectations of Kerala’s voters and the competitive nature of its politics, where incremental gains can decide the outcome.

Beyond promises: the real test

Although the manifestos are comprehensive, the main question is one of implementation. Kerala’s fiscal constraints, rising debt and structural economic challenges pose significant obstacles to meeting large-scale commitments.Additionally, the overlap in promises raises the credibility stakes. Voters are likely to evaluate not only what is being promised, but also who is in the best position to deliver on it.As the campaign gathers pace, the 2026 elections are shaping up to be not just a contest of parties, but a referendum on competing models of welfare, development and governance.(with inputs from agencies)

अयोध्या नगर के प्रतिष्ठित एमएलएमएल इंटर कॉलेज में भव्य विदाई सम्मान समारोह का आयोजन किया गया. यह कार्यक्रम विद्यालय के वरिष्ठ व्याख्याता श्री दान बहादुर सिंह एवं पदाधिकारी श्री राम भवन के सेवानिवृत्ति के अवसर पर आयोजित किया गया था। समारोह की अध्यक्षता प्राचार्य श्री जीतेन्द्र कुमार राव ने की, जबकि संचालन वरिष्ठ व्याख्याता आशुतोष प्रकाश सिंह ने किया। इस अवसर पर विद्यालय के शिक्षकों एवं कर्मचारियों ने बड़ी संख्या में भाग लेकर दोनों सेवानिवृत्त कर्मचारियों को भावभीनी विदाई दी।

सम्मान में विशेष उपहार दिये गये
कार्यक्रम के दौरान विद्यालय परिवार ने दोनों सम्मानित अतिथियों को पुष्प गुच्छ, 11 किलो की माला, अंगवस्त्र, श्री राम लला की दिव्य मूर्ति, रामायण, भागवत गीता, उच्च गुणवत्ता वाली ट्रॉली सूटकेस और नियम आदि उपहार भेंट किये। इन उपहारों के माध्यम से उनके वर्षों के योगदान को सम्मानित किया गया।

प्राचार्य ने सराहना की
प्राचार्य श्री जीतेन्द्र कुमार राव ने अपने सम्बोधन में कहा कि श्री दान बहादुर सिंह एक कर्तव्यनिष्ठ, अनुशासित एवं गम्भीर व्यक्तित्व के शिक्षक रहे हैं। स्कूल के लिए उनका योगदान हमेशा याद रखा जाएगा। उन्होंने दफ्तरी श्री राम भवन की कड़ी मेहनत, सतर्कता और सरल स्वभाव की भी सराहना की और कहा कि उनका जीवन सभी के लिए प्रेरणादायक है।

सेवानिवृत्त शिक्षक ने अनुभव साझा किये
इस अवसर पर सेवानिवृत्त प्रवक्ता श्री दान बहादुर सिंह ने विद्यालय परिवार द्वारा आयोजित इस भव्य आयोजन के लिए आभार व्यक्त किया। उन्होंने अपने 35 वर्षों के सेवाकाल के अनुभवों को साझा करते हुए सभी शिक्षकों एवं कर्मचारियों को धन्यवाद दिया। उनकी बातों में भावुकता साफ झलक रही थी.

इसमें शिक्षकों एवं कर्मचारियों की भारी भागीदारी रही
कार्यक्रम में विद्यालय के कई शिक्षक एवं कर्मचारी उपस्थित थे. इनमें सुरेश कुमार, रवींद्र गुप्ता, ज्ञानेश द्विवेदी, मृत्युंजय सिंह, अमरनाथ सिंह, राजेश कुमार पांडे, प्रभाकर सिंह, रामललन, अमित चौधरी, हरि नारायण ओझा, परमात्मा प्रसाद, बलराम, कमलेश सिंह यादव, राजन चतुर्वेदी, नागेंद्र सिंह, रामधनी, सत्य प्रकाश, दयाराम, अवनीश वर्मा, विजय बहादुर, प्रदीप कुमार तिवारी, इंद्रजीत विश्वकर्मा, अंबुज मालवीय, सुश्री रश्मी शुक्ला, प्रभाकर वर्मा, विनीत आशीष अनसन, इंद्र कुमार वर्मा, देवेंद्र प्रताप सिंह, अमित कुमार शामिल हैं। पांडे, शनि कुमार, राम किशोर तिवारी, श्रीमती संध्या तिवारी, पुलकित राज, डॉ. बाल मुकुंद सिंह, श्रीमती ऐश्वर्या त्रिपाठी, अरुण कुमार सिंह, अमिताभ श्रीवास्तव, किशन कुमार, अवधेश मिश्रा, सियाराम, अक्षत पांडे, अरविंद कुमार, बृजकिशोर, मुन्नीलाल, मो. साबिर, अविनाश कुमार पांडे, सुखराम, शिव नारायण सिंह, मनोज कुमार शुक्ला, दयानंद, विनय कुमार सिंह व अजीत कुमार चतुर्वेदी समेत अन्य शामिल रहे।

भावुक माहौल में समापन हुआ
पूरे कार्यक्रम का माहौल भावुक था, जहां सभी ने अपने प्रिय साथियों को बधाई दी और उनके उज्ज्वल भविष्य की कामना की। यह समारोह विद्यालय परिवार की एकता एवं आपसी सम्मान का प्रतीक बन गया।

(रिपोर्ट:अनूप कुमार अयोध्या)

Controversy has erupted in the United States after Indian-origin Congress candidate Jai Waingakar was criticized for campaigning in Hindi while addressing members of the ‘desi’ community in New Jersey.The controversy began when Indian American commentator Mehak Cook posted on Twitter reacting to a video of Waingakar speaking in Hindi about the rise of the “desi community” in the state.He said that Jai is replacing Americans in the US: “A candidate for the US Congress is running his entire campaign in a foreign language. Jai Vaingankar is not campaigning for Americans – he is campaigning for their replacement. This is not subtle anymore.”

Who is Jai Waingakar?

28-year-old Waingakar is a former Biden administration official and is contesting from New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District. His campaign has also recently highlighted strong early fundraising figures.According to his campaign, he raised nearly $110,000 in the first quarter of 2026, bringing his total to more than $260,000. This includes more than $150,000 raised in December 2025 when they launched their bid.A press release from the campaign stated that the funding came largely from grassroots support, with no contributions from corporate political action committees or special interest groups. The average online donation was reported to be $33.44.“We are running this campaign the right way, with real grassroots support from people who want a new generation of leadership in Congress,” Waingakar said.Jay said, “We are not taking a dime from corporate PACs or special interests, and that means we are accountable to the people we set out to serve. This early support shows that our message is resonating and that we are in a strong position to compete against elected officials twice our age, candidates who have run for office before or who have long-standing political networks.”Wangacker previously served as a special advisor in the Office of Policy at the U.S. Department of Energy. His work focused on energy policy, including clean energy initiatives and efforts to improve efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.He grew up in Hightstown, New Jersey, to immigrant parents and studied at the University of Pennsylvania. She later worked as a community organizer and in the community solar sector, focusing on increasing access to affordable energy.The campaign video that sparked controversy shows Waingakar speaking in Hindi while addressing the South Asian community, an important voter group in parts of New Jersey.He is of Indian descent and was raised in Hightstown, New Jersey by parents who immigrated from Mumbai before his birth.