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Citing delays and poor communication, they said access is crucial to uncover the cause of the 2025 crash that killed 260 people and to get closure.","alternative":[],"sections":[{"domain-slug":null,"slug":"india","name":"India","section-url":"https:\/\/www.freepressjournal.in\/india","id":9753,"parent-id":null,"display-name":"India","collection":{"slug":"india","name":"India","id":22607},"data":null},{"domain-slug":null,"slug":"topnews","name":"Topnews","section-url":"https:\/\/www.freepressjournal.in\/topnews","id":9754,"parent-id":null,"display-name":"Topnews","collection":{"slug":"topnews","name":"Topnews","id":22608},"data":null},{"domain-slug":null,"slug":"fpj-shorts","name":"FPJ Shorts","section-url":"https:\/\/www.freepressjournal.in\/fpj-shorts","id":71945,"parent-id":null,"display-name":"FPJ Shorts","collection":{"slug":"fpj-shorts","name":"FPJ Shorts","id":174451},"data":null}],"read-time":3,"access-level-value":null,"content-created-at":1775327751927,"is-embargoed":false,"owner-name":"Asfar Khan","custom-slug":null,"push-notification":null,"publisher-id":571,"hero-image-metadata":{"width":1200,"height":675,"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","file-size":105044,"file-name":"Untitled-design-2026-04-05T000801.296.jpg"},"comments":null,"word-count":573,"story-features":{"push-notification":{"is-scheduled":false,"publish-at":null,"linked-with-story-fields-status":{"title":null,"message":null}}},"entities":[],"published-at":1775328101861,"embargoed-till":null,"breaking-news-linked-story-id":null,"storyline-title":null,"summary":null,"push-notification-title":null,"external-id":null,"canonical-url":null,"hero-image-hyperlink":null,"autotags":[],"linked-entities":[],"status":"published","hero-image-attribution":"IANS & File Pic","bullet-type":"123","hero-image-alt-text":null,"id":"9abaac88-2378-4c5d-8933-b862d27a0aaa","hero-image-s3-key":"freepressjournal\/2026-04-04\/moysr7wy\/Untitled-design-2026-04-05T000801.296.jpg","contributors":null,"cards":[{"story-elements":[{"description":"","page-url":"\/story\/9abaac88-2378-4c5d-8933-b862d27a0aaa\/element\/c31ba7f3-5c51-45a0-bd53-578ee01931be","type":"text","family-id":"5c91750e-973c-4294-b12f-dda81f0560d8","title":"","id":"c31ba7f3-5c51-45a0-bd53-578ee01931be","metadata":[],"subtype":null,"text":"

Ahmedabad, April 4:<\/strong> Families of those killed in the Air India Flight AI\u2011171 crash have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, pressing for the immediate release of the aircraft\u2019s Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) data as they seek clarity on the cause of the accident. <\/p>

The appeal is associated with the ongoing frustration with the pace of the investigation and the level of communication from authorities and the airline.<\/p>

In their letter, families described access to the black box recordings as \u201cextremely important\u201d to understanding the truth about what happened when the Boeing 787\u20118 Dreamliner crashed shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA) in Ahmedabad on June 12 last year.<\/p>

The catastrophe claimed the lives of 241 people on board and 19 on the ground, with only one passenger surviving.<\/p>

\u201cWe want to know the truth about what caused this crash and whether there was any technical problem,\u201d the letter states, urging that if the data cannot be released publicly, it should at least be shared directly with affected families.<\/p>"},{"description":"","page-url":"\/story\/9abaac88-2378-4c5d-8933-b862d27a0aaa\/element\/ba6f9bca-54b7-4497-9b03-4ca96d9dc611","type":"text","family-id":"78cf83e2-3157-4424-a029-e5d1bd5a0b89","title":"","id":"ba6f9bca-54b7-4497-9b03-4ca96d9dc611","metadata":{"linked-story-id":"8fe4d226-41f8-4a02-9191-f44e3289cd14","linked-story":{"updated-at":1775327310166,"author-name":"ANI","headline":"Union Minister Piyush Goyal Welcomes Fishermen Repatriated From Iran; Counters CM Stalin's 'Linguistic' Claims","story-content-id":"8fe4d226-41f8-4a02-9191-f44e3289cd14","is-published":true,"slug":"india\/union-minister-piyush-goyal-welcomes-fishermen-repatriated-from-iran-counters-cm-stalins-linguistic-claims","highlighted-external-id":null,"last-published-at":1775327311851,"highlighted-text":null,"alternative":[],"sections":[{"id":9753,"name":"India","slug":"india","data":null},{"id":9756,"name":"World","slug":"world","data":null},{"id":9754,"name":"Topnews","slug":"topnews","data":null},{"id":71945,"name":"FPJ Shorts","slug":"fpj-shorts","data":null}],"highlighted-slug":null,"public-preview-url":"https:\/\/www.freepressjournal.in\/preview\/story\/n7xJg38usHQjlyyigOsbI_HD5YSGSkbHBFVJCmZcIAum-L9opk16ukBxtC2KEugn","published-at":1775327311851,"status":"published","id":"8fe4d226-41f8-4a02-9191-f44e3289cd14","content-type":"story","frontend-url":"https:\/\/www.freepressjournal.in\/india\/union-minister-piyush-goyal-welcomes-fishermen-repatriated-from-iran-counters-cm-stalins-linguistic-claims","author-id":623872,"highlighted-headline":null,"story-template":"text","authors":[{"id":623872,"name":"ANI","email":"ani@fpj.co.in"}],"metadata":[],"highlighted-public-identifier":null,"public-preview-key":"n7xJg38usHQjlyyigOsbI_HD5YSGSkbHBFVJCmZcIAum-L9opk16ukBxtC2KEugn","publish-at":null}},"subtype":"also-read","text":"Union Minister Piyush Goyal Welcomes Fishermen Repatriated From Iran; Counters CM Stalin's 'Linguistic' Claims"},{"description":"","page-url":"\/story\/9abaac88-2378-4c5d-8933-b862d27a0aaa\/element\/6d8d7da5-1640-477e-949c-bdcb694766ca","type":"text","family-id":"9e90ceff-fc03-488b-a7c3-373b2f88bcd6","title":"","id":"6d8d7da5-1640-477e-949c-bdcb694766ca","metadata":[],"subtype":null,"text":"

The letter is in the process of being sent to the Prime Minister.<\/p>

Copies of the letter will also be sent to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Union Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu, Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) Director General G.V.G. Yugandhar, and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Director General Faiz Ahmed Kidwai.<\/p>

The letter follows a meeting on Saturday attended in person by about 25 family members, with more than 30 participating online, at which relatives discussed unresolved concerns about the investigation and support from Air India and the Tata Group.<\/p>

Participants said telephone calls often went unanswered and communication was largely restricted to email, a medium they said was not accessible for all.<\/p>

\u201cMany people in villages don\u2019t even know how to use email,\u201d one relative said, calling for a dedicated contact number or better support system.<\/p>

Family members also raised questions about when they would receive the digital belongings of their loved ones and emphasised the need for respectful and direct engagement from authorities.<\/p>"},{"description":"","page-url":"\/story\/9abaac88-2378-4c5d-8933-b862d27a0aaa\/element\/0ca1bf7c-2fee-4747-ab07-d66e2b4b97c9","type":"text","family-id":"27ed6a82-ce7b-4aa6-b12c-f16fdb9511a6","title":"","id":"0ca1bf7c-2fee-4747-ab07-d66e2b4b97c9","metadata":{"linked-story-id":"be474bb0-1b09-491c-86e0-749b7c5a6f8f","linked-story":{"updated-at":1775325006791,"author-name":"Digjyoti Lahkar","headline":"Guwahati: 'Assam Moving Towards Self-Reliance & Long-Term Stability,' Says Minister Pijush Hazarika","story-content-id":"be474bb0-1b09-491c-86e0-749b7c5a6f8f","is-published":true,"slug":"india\/guwahati-assam-moving-towards-self-reliance-long-term-stability-says-minister-pijush-hazarika","highlighted-external-id":null,"last-published-at":1775325008596,"highlighted-text":null,"alternative":[],"sections":[{"id":9753,"name":"India","slug":"india","data":null},{"id":9754,"name":"Topnews","slug":"topnews","data":null},{"id":71945,"name":"FPJ Shorts","slug":"fpj-shorts","data":null}],"highlighted-slug":null,"public-preview-url":"https:\/\/www.freepressjournal.in\/preview\/story\/iDLolfcA63BgyQrnjpt1D53gmKpAE-TAwINi8nR9C5Tbtbm_7Zh5LmABHeLjpF1g","published-at":1775325008596,"status":"published","id":"be474bb0-1b09-491c-86e0-749b7c5a6f8f","content-type":"story","frontend-url":"https:\/\/www.freepressjournal.in\/india\/guwahati-assam-moving-towards-self-reliance-long-term-stability-says-minister-pijush-hazarika","author-id":2031326,"highlighted-headline":null,"story-template":"text","authors":[{"id":2031326,"name":"Digjyoti Lahkar","email":"digjyotilahkar@quintype.com"}],"metadata":[],"highlighted-public-identifier":null,"public-preview-key":"iDLolfcA63BgyQrnjpt1D53gmKpAE-TAwINi8nR9C5Tbtbm_7Zh5LmABHeLjpF1g","publish-at":null}},"subtype":"also-read","text":"Guwahati: 'Assam Moving Towards Self-Reliance & Long-Term Stability,' Says Minister Pijush Hazarika"},{"description":"","page-url":"\/story\/9abaac88-2378-4c5d-8933-b862d27a0aaa\/element\/701c40d6-93be-42fb-a87a-ed63bec2ebf5","type":"text","family-id":"67605a27-a029-4b1d-a89d-ee5fab211b40","title":"","id":"701c40d6-93be-42fb-a87a-ed63bec2ebf5","metadata":[],"subtype":null,"text":"

After the gathering, one family member told reporters that releasing the black box data was vital for understanding \u201cthe truth and circumstances surrounding this tragic incident.\u201d<\/p>

The formal investigation into the crash is being led by the AAIB under internationally accepted protocols.<\/p>

Both the CVR and FDR were recovered from the wreckage days after the incident and transported to a laboratory in New Delhi for detailed examination.<\/p>"},{"description":"","page-url":"\/story\/9abaac88-2378-4c5d-8933-b862d27a0aaa\/element\/8716c54a-5e20-44b3-9f70-353ab91db8d9","type":"youtube-video","family-id":"273e925b-40cb-47e0-adc6-8034c8a119ab","title":"","id":"8716c54a-5e20-44b3-9f70-353ab91db8d9","url":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/5Fxx586qeQw?si=55LfRo6ct8TUeiBF","embed-url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5Fxx586qeQw?si=55LfRo6ct8TUeiBF","metadata":[],"subtype":null},{"description":"","page-url":"\/story\/9abaac88-2378-4c5d-8933-b862d27a0aaa\/element\/e7850695-5686-4762-a909-46376c81ea7b","type":"text","family-id":"93e3ad9a-568c-40a4-8f60-2af127e11881","title":"","id":"e7850695-5686-4762-a909-46376c81ea7b","metadata":[],"subtype":null,"text":"

An initial phase of data extraction was completed by late June, with technical experts analysing cockpit information and flight parameters to reconstruct the final moments before the accident.<\/p>

In a preliminary report published in July last year, the AAIB noted that both engines lost thrust shortly after taking off when the fuel control switches were moved from the \u201cRUN\u201d to the \u201cCUTOFF\u201d position within seconds of liftoff, leading to a complete loss of power.<\/p>"},{"description":"","page-url":"\/story\/9abaac88-2378-4c5d-8933-b862d27a0aaa\/element\/7487670f-3af5-4470-9263-08decaa26004","type":"text","family-id":"0e35fbaf-f845-4a98-885a-1c09d9502113","title":"","id":"7487670f-3af5-4470-9263-08decaa26004","metadata":{"linked-story-id":"f1825558-8892-4055-82a3-e052173a9b30","linked-story":{"updated-at":1775324745382,"author-name":"Shashank Nair","headline":"Himachal Tragedy: 3 Killed After Traveller Carrying 20 Tourists Veers Off Road In Kullu","story-content-id":"f1825558-8892-4055-82a3-e052173a9b30","is-published":true,"slug":"india\/himachal-tragedy-3-killed-after-traveller-carrying-20-tourists-veers-off-road-in-kullu","highlighted-external-id":null,"last-published-at":1775324749367,"highlighted-text":null,"alternative":[],"sections":[{"id":9753,"name":"India","slug":"india","data":null},{"id":9754,"name":"Topnews","slug":"topnews","data":null},{"id":71945,"name":"FPJ Shorts","slug":"fpj-shorts","data":null}],"highlighted-slug":null,"public-preview-url":"https:\/\/www.freepressjournal.in\/preview\/story\/cIV04-TOZAoqQfXFsh9PrYKOPRwi29GTWM9dI0WfD-pxUYwaFsdSfXbN79jk9IdF","published-at":1775324749367,"status":"published","id":"f1825558-8892-4055-82a3-e052173a9b30","content-type":"story","frontend-url":"https:\/\/www.freepressjournal.in\/india\/himachal-tragedy-3-killed-after-traveller-carrying-20-tourists-veers-off-road-in-kullu","author-id":2233371,"highlighted-headline":null,"story-template":"text","authors":[{"id":2233371,"name":"Shashank Nair","contributor-role":{"id":958,"name":"Author","type":"system"}}],"metadata":[],"highlighted-public-identifier":null,"public-preview-key":"cIV04-TOZAoqQfXFsh9PrYKOPRwi29GTWM9dI0WfD-pxUYwaFsdSfXbN79jk9IdF","publish-at":null}},"subtype":"also-read","text":"Himachal Tragedy: 3 Killed After Traveller Carrying 20 Tourists Veers Off Road In Kullu"},{"description":"","page-url":"\/story\/9abaac88-2378-4c5d-8933-b862d27a0aaa\/element\/5607c6c3-5a21-44ad-baa9-906f4c1f4876","type":"text","family-id":"dfc8dec0-c523-4bc8-9f65-2fa68d7e4f4c","title":"","id":"5607c6c3-5a21-44ad-baa9-906f4c1f4876","metadata":[],"subtype":null,"text":"

The report did not assign a definitive cause for the movement of the fuel control switches, with investigators continuing to review all available evidence.<\/p>

Authorities have emphasised that a comprehensive investigation is being led with an impartial nature.<\/p>

(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and auto-generated from an agency feed.)<\/strong><\/p>"},{"id":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","description":"","title":"","subtype":null,"type":"text","text":"

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Chennai:<\/strong> Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday welcomed the Indian fishermen who arrived in Chennai after being repatriated from Iran via Armenia, following a significant diplomatic effort by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).<\/p>

Speaking to reporters, Piyush Goyal described the return as a \"Joyous day\" for the families of the fishermen, who had been stranded in Iran amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia.<\/p>

\"Today is a joyous day where our brothers and sisters who are suffering in Iran are coming back home to their families, motherland. We warmly welcome all our fishermen brothers and sisters... It was a difficult journey for them. They had to go 20 hours to Armenia and other countries,\" Goyal said.<\/p>"},{"description":"","embed-js":"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","page-url":"\/story\/8fe4d226-41f8-4a02-9191-f44e3289cd14\/element\/f16d607b-f71c-4c71-b93a-6839cbfa1857","type":"jsembed","family-id":"478277be-ce7f-413f-8e49-1404a4a0da3c","title":"","id":"f16d607b-f71c-4c71-b93a-6839cbfa1857","metadata":[],"subtype":null},{"description":"","page-url":"\/story\/8fe4d226-41f8-4a02-9191-f44e3289cd14\/element\/9f100510-d92d-48b2-8781-491c00ce7c84","type":"text","family-id":"ce0deade-6919-4726-946a-e85809504ecb","title":"","id":"9f100510-d92d-48b2-8781-491c00ce7c84","metadata":[],"subtype":null,"text":"

\"The MEA Officials worked day and night to bring them to Armenia. Today they are flying back from Armenia. We are very happy to receive them, welcome them back home,\" he added.<\/p>"},{"description":"","page-url":"\/story\/8fe4d226-41f8-4a02-9191-f44e3289cd14\/element\/dfcb98cb-08d4-428b-9447-7d2dbf607d57","type":"text","family-id":"c0007a5f-fd8a-4e56-94d6-53c4d11f8995","title":"","id":"dfcb98cb-08d4-428b-9447-7d2dbf607d57","metadata":{"linked-story-id":"be474bb0-1b09-491c-86e0-749b7c5a6f8f","linked-story":{"updated-at":1775325006791,"author-name":"Digjyoti Lahkar","headline":"Guwahati: 'Assam Moving Towards Self-Reliance & Long-Term Stability,' Says Minister Pijush Hazarika","story-content-id":"be474bb0-1b09-491c-86e0-749b7c5a6f8f","is-published":true,"slug":"india\/guwahati-assam-moving-towards-self-reliance-long-term-stability-says-minister-pijush-hazarika","highlighted-external-id":null,"last-published-at":1775325008596,"highlighted-text":null,"alternative":[],"sections":[{"id":9753,"name":"India","slug":"india","data":null},{"id":9754,"name":"Topnews","slug":"topnews","data":null},{"id":71945,"name":"FPJ Shorts","slug":"fpj-shorts","data":null}],"highlighted-slug":null,"public-preview-url":"https:\/\/www.freepressjournal.in\/preview\/story\/iDLolfcA63BgyQrnjpt1D53gmKpAE-TAwINi8nR9C5Tbtbm_7Zh5LmABHeLjpF1g","published-at":1775325008596,"status":"published","id":"be474bb0-1b09-491c-86e0-749b7c5a6f8f","content-type":"story","frontend-url":"https:\/\/www.freepressjournal.in\/india\/guwahati-assam-moving-towards-self-reliance-long-term-stability-says-minister-pijush-hazarika","author-id":2031326,"highlighted-headline":null,"story-template":"text","authors":[{"id":2031326,"name":"Digjyoti Lahkar","email":"digjyotilahkar@quintype.com"}],"metadata":[],"highlighted-public-identifier":null,"public-preview-key":"iDLolfcA63BgyQrnjpt1D53gmKpAE-TAwINi8nR9C5Tbtbm_7Zh5LmABHeLjpF1g","publish-at":null}},"subtype":"also-read","text":"Guwahati: 'Assam Moving Towards Self-Reliance & Long-Term Stability,' Says Minister Pijush Hazarika"},{"description":"","page-url":"\/story\/8fe4d226-41f8-4a02-9191-f44e3289cd14\/element\/a8bcffba-4d0e-4d6f-8f49-143124d64fe4","type":"text","family-id":"1ffaada5-2541-4e53-a1dc-9770183bda62","title":"","id":"a8bcffba-4d0e-4d6f-8f49-143124d64fe4","metadata":[],"subtype":null,"text":"

On MK Stalin's recent statement on imposing Hindi in the state, Goyal further claimed that Chief Minister MK Stalin has \"lost\" the upcoming Assembly elections and is resorting to \"false allegations\" out of desperation.<\/p>

\"I think Stalin has lost this election. He has already given up on these elections. That is why he makes false allegations. The people of Tamil Nadu know that no one is trying to impose Hindi on them. We want more and more children to learn Tamil. The third language is optional; whatever they want to learn. There is no compulsion to learn any particular language,\" the Minister stated.<\/p>"},{"description":"","page-url":"\/story\/8fe4d226-41f8-4a02-9191-f44e3289cd14\/element\/586a9d16-7c7e-4b18-a3e1-e10112909e11","type":"youtube-video","family-id":"8122070f-ebaf-4219-8752-b6c9598aea26","title":"","id":"586a9d16-7c7e-4b18-a3e1-e10112909e11","url":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/jER-gS_SFec?si=UHpNifmhIJRrkV-_","embed-url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/jER-gS_SFec?si=UHpNifmhIJRrkV-_","metadata":[],"subtype":null},{"description":"","page-url":"\/story\/8fe4d226-41f8-4a02-9191-f44e3289cd14\/element\/b983f013-4920-40b8-af26-b310bfc9cc3d","type":"text","family-id":"d10c75d5-e4b8-47ee-9f1c-e036d9a16665","title":"","id":"b983f013-4920-40b8-af26-b310bfc9cc3d","metadata":[],"subtype":null,"text":"

Goyal's remarks follow a heated exchange between CM MK Stalin and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday over the National Education Policy (NEP) and the alleged withholding of funds for Tamil Nadu's refusal to adopt the three-language formula.<\/p>

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday expressed gratitude towards Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan for facilitating the evacuation of Indian fishermen from Iran amid the conflict in West Asia.<\/p>"},{"description":"","page-url":"\/story\/8fe4d226-41f8-4a02-9191-f44e3289cd14\/element\/37de74b0-c123-4a6e-85ec-3e0889e2878b","type":"text","family-id":"4b144081-f490-485a-a986-a65228496b59","title":"","id":"37de74b0-c123-4a6e-85ec-3e0889e2878b","metadata":{"linked-story-id":"f1825558-8892-4055-82a3-e052173a9b30","linked-story":{"updated-at":1775324745382,"author-name":"Shashank Nair","headline":"Himachal Tragedy: 3 Killed After Traveller Carrying 20 Tourists Veers Off Road In Kullu","story-content-id":"f1825558-8892-4055-82a3-e052173a9b30","is-published":true,"slug":"india\/himachal-tragedy-3-killed-after-traveller-carrying-20-tourists-veers-off-road-in-kullu","highlighted-external-id":null,"last-published-at":1775324749367,"highlighted-text":null,"alternative":[],"sections":[{"id":9753,"name":"India","slug":"india","data":null},{"id":9754,"name":"Topnews","slug":"topnews","data":null},{"id":71945,"name":"FPJ Shorts","slug":"fpj-shorts","data":null}],"highlighted-slug":null,"public-preview-url":"https:\/\/www.freepressjournal.in\/preview\/story\/cIV04-TOZAoqQfXFsh9PrYKOPRwi29GTWM9dI0WfD-pxUYwaFsdSfXbN79jk9IdF","published-at":1775324749367,"status":"published","id":"f1825558-8892-4055-82a3-e052173a9b30","content-type":"story","frontend-url":"https:\/\/www.freepressjournal.in\/india\/himachal-tragedy-3-killed-after-traveller-carrying-20-tourists-veers-off-road-in-kullu","author-id":2233371,"highlighted-headline":null,"story-template":"text","authors":[{"id":2233371,"name":"Shashank Nair","contributor-role":{"id":958,"name":"Author","type":"system"}}],"metadata":[],"highlighted-public-identifier":null,"public-preview-key":"cIV04-TOZAoqQfXFsh9PrYKOPRwi29GTWM9dI0WfD-pxUYwaFsdSfXbN79jk9IdF","publish-at":null}},"subtype":"also-read","text":"Himachal Tragedy: 3 Killed After Traveller Carrying 20 Tourists Veers Off Road In Kullu"},{"description":"","page-url":"\/story\/8fe4d226-41f8-4a02-9191-f44e3289cd14\/element\/a56a2068-505d-4099-b2e9-eab37373d1bc","type":"text","family-id":"d59f2a71-9173-4977-aef7-989b510c6a35","title":"","id":"a56a2068-505d-4099-b2e9-eab37373d1bc","metadata":[],"subtype":null,"text":"

\"Thank FM Ararat Mirzoyan and the Government of Armenia for facilitating the evacuation of Indian fishermen today from Iran, through Armenia to India,\" Jaishankar wrote on X.Armenia has been facilitating the evacuation of Indian nationals in Iran.<\/p>

On Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that more than 1,200 Indian nationals have been safely evacuated from Iran, out of which 996 moved to Armenia.<\/p>

(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and auto-generated from an agency feed.)<\/strong><\/p>"},{"id":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","description":"","title":"","subtype":null,"type":"text","text":"

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He also outlined a long-term plan to tackle floods through infrastructure upgrades, monitoring systems, and major investments over the next five years.","alternative":[],"sections":[{"domain-slug":null,"slug":"india","name":"India","section-url":"https:\/\/www.freepressjournal.in\/india","id":9753,"parent-id":null,"display-name":"India","collection":{"slug":"india","name":"India","id":22607},"data":null},{"domain-slug":null,"slug":"topnews","name":"Topnews","section-url":"https:\/\/www.freepressjournal.in\/topnews","id":9754,"parent-id":null,"display-name":"Topnews","collection":{"slug":"topnews","name":"Topnews","id":22608},"data":null},{"domain-slug":null,"slug":"fpj-shorts","name":"FPJ Shorts","section-url":"https:\/\/www.freepressjournal.in\/fpj-shorts","id":71945,"parent-id":null,"display-name":"FPJ Shorts","collection":{"slug":"fpj-shorts","name":"FPJ Shorts","id":174451},"data":null}],"read-time":2,"access-level-value":null,"content-created-at":1775324529971,"is-embargoed":false,"owner-name":"Asfar Khan","custom-slug":null,"push-notification":null,"publisher-id":571,"hero-image-metadata":{"width":1200,"height":675,"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","file-size":87774,"file-name":"Untitled-design-2026-04-04T231834.764.jpg"},"comments":null,"word-count":451,"story-features":{"push-notification":{"is-scheduled":false,"publish-at":null,"linked-with-story-fields-status":{"title":null,"message":null}}},"entities":[],"published-at":1775325008596,"embargoed-till":null,"breaking-news-linked-story-id":null,"storyline-title":null,"summary":null,"push-notification-title":null,"external-id":null,"canonical-url":null,"hero-image-hyperlink":null,"autotags":[],"linked-entities":[],"status":"published","hero-image-attribution":"X @ANI","bullet-type":"123","hero-image-alt-text":null,"id":"be474bb0-1b09-491c-86e0-749b7c5a6f8f","hero-image-s3-key":"freepressjournal\/2026-04-04\/96modhui\/Untitled-design-2026-04-04T231834.764.jpg","contributors":null,"cards":[{"story-elements":[{"description":"","page-url":"\/story\/be474bb0-1b09-491c-86e0-749b7c5a6f8f\/element\/fb8fd2bd-8296-4be7-b591-d742911e417b","type":"text","family-id":"669c51fc-448a-4f0a-a4da-2f557b95c01b","title":"","id":"fb8fd2bd-8296-4be7-b591-d742911e417b","metadata":[],"subtype":null,"text":"

Guwahati, April 4:<\/strong> Cabinet Minister Pijush Hazarika on Saturday presented an expansive account of the state government\u2019s work, ranging from jobs and education to flood management, saying Assam is moving towards \u201cself-reliance and long-term stability\u201d.<\/p>

Focus Areas<\/strong><\/p>

Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters, Hazarika said the government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, has focused on creating opportunities for youth and strengthening basic sectors.<\/p>

Highlighting employment, the minister said the government has already provided over 1.65 lakh jobs, going beyond its earlier promise, and aims to cross 2 lakh in the coming years. He pointed to job fairs, skill programmes and financial support schemes aimed at helping young people find work or start their own ventures.<\/p>

Self-Employment & Startups<\/strong><\/p>

According to him, lakhs of youth have received financial assistance under self-employment schemes, while startups and small businesses have also seen steady growth in recent years.<\/p>

On education, Hazarika said steps have been taken to ease the burden on families, including free textbooks, uniforms and bicycles for students. Financial support for girl students and free education for economically weaker sections were also highlighted.<\/p>

Higher Education & Skills<\/strong><\/p>

He added that higher education infrastructure has expanded, with new universities coming up and existing colleges being upgraded. Skill development initiatives and coaching support for competitive exams are also being extended to students.<\/p>

The minister said new investments are expected to create jobs, especially for local youth. He referred to upcoming industrial projects and said the government is working to ensure that employment opportunities benefit people from the state.<\/p>

Sports Infrastructure<\/strong><\/p>

Hazarika said efforts are underway to build sports infrastructure across districts and promote youth participation. Large-scale events like Khel Maharan, he said, reflect growing interest in sports.<\/p>

He also mentioned campaigns aimed at tackling drug abuse and improving overall social well-being.<\/p>

On the recurring flood problem, the minister said the government is shifting its approach from short-term control to a long-term solution.<\/p>"},{"description":"","page-url":"\/story\/be474bb0-1b09-491c-86e0-749b7c5a6f8f\/element\/a327d2ad-32ed-411e-8c90-a6957abc982a","type":"text","family-id":"f79d3393-f8cf-4bd0-ab95-f9596cdffda7","title":"","id":"a327d2ad-32ed-411e-8c90-a6957abc982a","metadata":{"linked-story-id":"e3a9d31a-96f4-48cd-8425-c696ed274dc1","linked-story":{"updated-at":1775323877095,"author-name":"PTI","headline":"West Bengal Elections 2026: PM Modi To Launch BJP Campaign From Cooch Behar On April 5 With Bijoy Sankalpa Sabha","story-content-id":"e3a9d31a-96f4-48cd-8425-c696ed274dc1","is-published":true,"slug":"india\/west-bengal-elections-2026-pm-modi-to-launch-bjp-campaign-from-cooch-behar-on-april-5-with-bijoy-sankalpa-sabha","highlighted-external-id":null,"last-published-at":1775323878384,"highlighted-text":null,"alternative":[],"sections":[{"id":9753,"name":"India","slug":"india","data":null},{"id":9754,"name":"Topnews","slug":"topnews","data":null},{"id":71945,"name":"FPJ Shorts","slug":"fpj-shorts","data":null}],"highlighted-slug":null,"public-preview-url":"https:\/\/www.freepressjournal.in\/preview\/story\/Vyul_bYLY7L1BUmFpk6PErVFSokul8PZBe9BP3kW5fb_WxqT9ij-q_H3pIos10Kt","published-at":1775323878384,"status":"published","id":"e3a9d31a-96f4-48cd-8425-c696ed274dc1","content-type":"story","frontend-url":"https:\/\/www.freepressjournal.in\/india\/west-bengal-elections-2026-pm-modi-to-launch-bjp-campaign-from-cooch-behar-on-april-5-with-bijoy-sankalpa-sabha","author-id":623873,"highlighted-headline":null,"story-template":"text","authors":[{"id":623873,"name":"PTI","email":"pti@pti.in"}],"metadata":[],"highlighted-public-identifier":null,"public-preview-key":"Vyul_bYLY7L1BUmFpk6PErVFSokul8PZBe9BP3kW5fb_WxqT9ij-q_H3pIos10Kt","publish-at":null}},"subtype":"also-read","text":"West Bengal Elections 2026: PM Modi To Launch BJP Campaign From Cooch Behar On April 5 With Bijoy Sankalpa Sabha"},{"description":"","page-url":"\/story\/be474bb0-1b09-491c-86e0-749b7c5a6f8f\/element\/13bdd761-4d09-42e2-ae14-7039d7ca2544","type":"text","family-id":"0709b353-141f-40c5-8251-23c555648085","title":"","id":"13bdd761-4d09-42e2-ae14-7039d7ca2544","metadata":[],"subtype":null,"text":"

He said a major investment plan has been drawn up over the next five years to address floods and erosion. Work is underway on strengthening embankments, improving drainage systems and restoring affected land.<\/p>"},{"description":"","page-url":"\/story\/be474bb0-1b09-491c-86e0-749b7c5a6f8f\/element\/60992e24-d3eb-4f72-bc49-54efcc38dcec","type":"youtube-video","family-id":"1210aaa4-03b0-46e3-86d6-c887efeba8cd","title":"","id":"60992e24-d3eb-4f72-bc49-54efcc38dcec","url":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/-G6idku_GOk?si=uFFM9PlGRGk7WBJo","embed-url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-G6idku_GOk?si=uFFM9PlGRGk7WBJo","metadata":[],"subtype":null},{"description":"","page-url":"\/story\/be474bb0-1b09-491c-86e0-749b7c5a6f8f\/element\/7b83d5e8-e18f-4c52-8a54-ca10361b4640","type":"text","family-id":"85aaa329-7c6d-4d57-aec6-d51a69670ef0","title":"","id":"7b83d5e8-e18f-4c52-8a54-ca10361b4640","metadata":[],"subtype":null,"text":"

Plans are also in place to set up a dedicated monitoring system with trained personnel for better response during floods.<\/p>

Citing recent efforts, Hazarika said rescue operations over the past few years involved boats, helicopters and coordinated work by agencies such as disaster response forces and civil defence teams. Relief materials and medical teams were deployed in large numbers in affected areas.<\/p>

Hazarika said the government\u2019s focus is on building a stronger and more resilient Assam, where development reaches the grassroots and young people have better opportunities.<\/p>"}],"card-updated-at":1775325005944,"content-version-id":"ae3ef5a0-f6b3-48ec-b9fa-9f6c32fc23e5","card-added-at":1775324529977,"status":"draft","id":"a2c30e39-d11c-4479-8300-23941054fd22","content-id":"a2c30e39-d11c-4479-8300-23941054fd22","version":6,"metadata":{"social-share":{"shareable":false,"title":"Guwahati: 'Assam Moving Towards Self-Reliance & Long-Term Stability,' Says Minister Pijush Hazarika","message":null,"image":{"key":"freepressjournal\/2026-04-04\/96modhui\/Untitled-design-2026-04-04T231834.764.jpg","url":null,"attribution":"X @ANI","alt-text":null,"caption":"Cabinet Minister Pijush Hazarika","metadata":{"width":1200,"height":675,"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","file-size":87774,"file-name":"Untitled-design-2026-04-04T231834.764.jpg"}}},"attributes":[]}}],"url":"https:\/\/www.freepressjournal.in\/india\/guwahati-assam-moving-towards-self-reliance-long-term-stability-says-minister-pijush-hazarika","story-version-id":"41fc389f-8308-4b59-b6f4-7a704724bca3","content-type":"story","content-updated-at":1775325008812,"author-id":2031326,"owner-id":2201800,"linked-story-ids":["e3a9d31a-96f4-48cd-8425-c696ed274dc1"],"access":null,"asana-project-id":null,"first-published-at":1775325008596,"hero-image-caption":"Cabinet Minister Pijush Hazarika","version":6,"story-template":"text","sequence-no":null,"created-at":1775325005694,"authors":[{"slug":"digjyoti-lahkar-2","social":[],"name":"Digjyoti Lahkar","contributor-role":null,"avatar-url":null,"bio":null,"id":2031326,"avatar-s3-key":null,"twitter-handle":null}],"metadata":{"card-share":{"shareable":false}},"subscription-metadata":null,"publish-at":null,"assignee-name":"Asfar Khan"}},{"id":"f1825558-8892-4055-82a3-e052173a9b30","score":null,"type":"story","item":{"headline":["Himachal Tragedy: 3 Killed After Traveller Carrying 20 Tourists Veers Off Road In Kullu"]},"story":{"updated-at":1775324745382,"seo":{"meta-title":"Himachal Tragedy: 3 Killed After Traveller Carrying 20 Tourists Veers Off Road In Kullu","meta-description":"At least three tourists died after a vehicle carrying 20 passengers fell off a road near Sojha in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, Deputy Commissioner Anurag Chandra confirmed. 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Rescue teams, aided by locals, transferred survivors to a Banjar hospital, with five in critical condition. Visuals show the intense rescue efforts. Similar past accidents underline the risks on hilly roads.","alternative":[],"sections":[{"domain-slug":null,"slug":"india","name":"India","section-url":"https:\/\/www.freepressjournal.in\/india","id":9753,"parent-id":null,"display-name":"India","collection":{"slug":"india","name":"India","id":22607},"data":null},{"domain-slug":null,"slug":"topnews","name":"Topnews","section-url":"https:\/\/www.freepressjournal.in\/topnews","id":9754,"parent-id":null,"display-name":"Topnews","collection":{"slug":"topnews","name":"Topnews","id":22608},"data":null},{"domain-slug":null,"slug":"fpj-shorts","name":"FPJ Shorts","section-url":"https:\/\/www.freepressjournal.in\/fpj-shorts","id":71945,"parent-id":null,"display-name":"FPJ Shorts","collection":{"slug":"fpj-shorts","name":"FPJ Shorts","id":174451},"data":null}],"read-time":1,"access-level-value":null,"content-created-at":1775323436638,"is-embargoed":false,"owner-name":"Shashank Nair","custom-slug":null,"push-notification":null,"publisher-id":571,"hero-image-metadata":{"width":1200,"height":675,"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","file-size":39635,"file-name":"Swarna-2026-04-04T232223.172.jpg"},"comments":null,"word-count":207,"story-features":{"push-notification":{"is-scheduled":false,"publish-at":null,"linked-with-story-fields-status":{"title":null,"message":null}}},"entities":[],"published-at":1775324749367,"embargoed-till":null,"breaking-news-linked-story-id":null,"storyline-title":null,"summary":null,"push-notification-title":null,"external-id":null,"canonical-url":null,"hero-image-hyperlink":null,"autotags":[],"linked-entities":[],"status":"published","hero-image-attribution":"X","bullet-type":"123","hero-image-alt-text":null,"id":"f1825558-8892-4055-82a3-e052173a9b30","hero-image-s3-key":"freepressjournal\/2026-04-04\/ah40yv4u\/Swarna-2026-04-04T232223.172.jpg","contributors":null,"cards":[{"story-elements":[{"description":"","page-url":"\/story\/f1825558-8892-4055-82a3-e052173a9b30\/element\/2834f444-e34f-42f6-b612-59fc86f13181","type":"text","family-id":"1300e6bf-06a3-4c6c-8c9d-883d07d3a75d","title":"","id":"2834f444-e34f-42f6-b612-59fc86f13181","metadata":[],"subtype":null,"text":"

Kullu<\/strong>: Disturbing news has come to light from Kullu in Himachal Pradesh. At least three tourists have died after a tourist vehicle fell off the road near Sojha in Kullu district, according to officials. The deaths have been confirmed by Deputy Commissioner Kullu, Anurag Chandra.<\/p>

Reportedly, the vehicle was carrying 20 tourists. The remaining passengers have been rescued and transferred to a hospital in nearby Banjar, local authorities said. Five of them have been reported critically injured.<\/p>

Visuals from the spot have surfaced, showing rescue operations by locals and the police.<\/p>"},{"description":"","embed-js":"PGJsb2NrcXVvdGUgY2xhc3M9InR3aXR0ZXItdHdlZXQiPjxwIGxhbmc9ImVuIiBkaXI9Imx0ciI+VHJhZ2ljIGFjY2lkZW50IGluIEJhbmphciwgSGltYWNoYWwuIEEgdHJhdmVsbGVyIHZhbiBjYXJyeWluZyB0b3VyaXN0cyBmcm9tIERlbGhpIGFuZCBuZWFyYnkgYXJlYXMgZmVsbCBpbnRvIGEgZ29yZ2UsIDMgbGl2ZXMgbG9zdCwgNSBjcml0aWNhbGx5IGluanVyZWQsIDE3IHJlc2N1ZWQgb3V0IG9mIDIwIG9uYm9hcmQuIFJlc2N1ZSBvcGVyYXRpb24gYnkgbG9jYWxzIGFuZCBwb2xpY2UgaXMgb25nb2luZy48YnI+PGJyPlByYXllcnMgZm9yIHRoZSBsb3N0IGxpdmVzIGFuZCBhIHNwZWVkeeKApiA8YSBocmVmPSJodHRwczovL3QuY28vWjZQYnRyNG5PRiI+aHR0cHM6Ly90LmNvL1o2UGJ0cjRuT0Y8L2E+IDxhIGhyZWY9Imh0dHBzOi8vdC5jby9NbDh3cGhpUmc2Ij5waWMudHdpdHRlci5jb20vTWw4d3BoaVJnNjwvYT48L3A+Jm1kYXNoOyBOaWtoaWwgc2FpbmkgKEBpTmlraGlsc2FpbmkpIDxhIGhyZWY9Imh0dHBzOi8vdHdpdHRlci5jb20vaU5pa2hpbHNhaW5pL3N0YXR1cy8yMDQwNDc4ODU4NzI2NzUyNjg4P3JlZl9zcmM9dHdzcmMlNUV0ZnciPkFwcmlsIDQsIDIwMjY8L2E+PC9ibG9ja3F1b3RlPgo8c2NyaXB0IGFzeW5jIHNyYz0iaHR0cHM6Ly9wbGF0Zm9ybS50d2l0dGVyLmNvbS93aWRnZXRzLmpzIiBjaGFyc2V0PSJ1dGYtOCI+PC9zY3JpcHQ+Cgo=","page-url":"\/story\/f1825558-8892-4055-82a3-e052173a9b30\/element\/f07c5b63-aecd-4934-bc29-ed9efe9871a1","type":"jsembed","family-id":"df072f71-b8bb-4ac4-b9ce-c75cef439899","title":"","id":"f07c5b63-aecd-4934-bc29-ed9efe9871a1","metadata":{"tweet-url":"https:\/\/twitter.com\/iNikhilsaini\/status\/2040478858726752688","provider":"twitter","tweet-id":"2040478858726752688"},"subtype":"tweet"},{"description":"","page-url":"\/story\/f1825558-8892-4055-82a3-e052173a9b30\/element\/e867c125-fae3-486d-95a4-a9221567b8f2","type":"text","family-id":"a8a40e52-e6d9-4c86-8e3e-4345fc654c0b","title":"","id":"e867c125-fae3-486d-95a4-a9221567b8f2","metadata":[],"subtype":null,"text":"


Similar Incident <\/strong><\/p>

In a similar incident in January, at least 14 people lost their lives and over 35 were injured when an overloaded private bus overturned and fell into a deep gorge in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur district.<\/p>

The accident occurred as the bus was travelling from Solan to Haripur Dhar. The driver reportedly lost control on a hilly section of the route, causing the vehicle to overturn and fall into the gorge.<\/p>"},{"description":"","page-url":"\/story\/f1825558-8892-4055-82a3-e052173a9b30\/element\/76824c05-67e3-4a11-8863-cad1dc52161f","type":"text","family-id":"6c17f8f6-7061-4b59-a6e6-e558823316ed","title":"","id":"76824c05-67e3-4a11-8863-cad1dc52161f","metadata":{"linked-story-id":"08f1bb81-3664-426a-a9d2-6df1db6b5180","linked-story":{"updated-at":1775297330929,"author-name":"PTI","headline":"Himachal Pradesh Class 10 Exam Scandal: Jyora School Papers Allegedly Tampered, Students Demand Justice","story-content-id":"08f1bb81-3664-426a-a9d2-6df1db6b5180","is-published":true,"slug":"education\/himachal-pradesh-class-10-exam-scandal-jyora-school-papers-allegedly-tampered-students-demand-justice","highlighted-external-id":null,"last-published-at":1775297332420,"highlighted-text":null,"alternative":[],"sections":[{"id":9764,"name":"Education","slug":"education","data":null},{"id":71945,"name":"FPJ Shorts","slug":"fpj-shorts","data":null}],"highlighted-slug":null,"public-preview-url":"https:\/\/www.freepressjournal.in\/preview\/story\/b0Aoy8Xs9wRjLWibSNj6jbCactD1nPeyNbKEiaIVSnwCXJ7me4XaMWC64foXAIEF","published-at":1775297332420,"status":"published","id":"08f1bb81-3664-426a-a9d2-6df1db6b5180","content-type":"story","frontend-url":"https:\/\/www.freepressjournal.in\/education\/himachal-pradesh-class-10-exam-scandal-jyora-school-papers-allegedly-tampered-students-demand-justice","author-id":623873,"highlighted-headline":null,"story-template":"text","authors":[{"id":623873,"name":"PTI","email":"pti@pti.in"}],"metadata":[],"highlighted-public-identifier":null,"public-preview-key":"b0Aoy8Xs9wRjLWibSNj6jbCactD1nPeyNbKEiaIVSnwCXJ7me4XaMWC64foXAIEF","publish-at":null}},"subtype":"also-read","text":"Himachal Pradesh Class 10 Exam Scandal: Jyora School Papers Allegedly Tampered, Students Demand Justice"},{"description":"","page-url":"\/story\/f1825558-8892-4055-82a3-e052173a9b30\/element\/457729d8-a3e2-40bc-8ba4-fdcd0cb10278","type":"text","family-id":"26ffeb00-44c7-48de-91df-59273644faee","title":"","id":"457729d8-a3e2-40bc-8ba4-fdcd0cb10278","metadata":[],"subtype":null,"text":"

According to authorities, the bus was carrying more passengers than its seating capacity of 39 at the time of the accident. The vehicle fell approximately 500 feet into the gorge, suffering severe damage.<\/p>"}],"card-updated-at":1775324744294,"content-version-id":"668338cc-d85d-4211-8ee4-0995dabad360","card-added-at":1775323436644,"status":"draft","id":"34ad8b70-563a-4c6e-82f8-1f65bc9617dd","content-id":"34ad8b70-563a-4c6e-82f8-1f65bc9617dd","version":25,"metadata":{"social-share":{"shareable":false,"title":"Himachal Tragedy: 3 Killed After Traveller Carrying 20 Tourists Veers Off Road In Kullu","message":null,"image":{"key":"freepressjournal\/2026-04-04\/ah40yv4u\/Swarna-2026-04-04T232223.172.jpg","url":null,"attribution":"X","alt-text":null,"caption":null,"metadata":{"width":1200,"height":675,"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","file-size":39635,"file-name":"Swarna-2026-04-04T232223.172.jpg"}}},"attributes":[]}}],"url":"https:\/\/www.freepressjournal.in\/india\/himachal-tragedy-3-killed-after-traveller-carrying-20-tourists-veers-off-road-in-kullu","story-version-id":"a9c67f3b-2d1e-461a-a686-a204478456bd","content-type":"story","content-updated-at":1775324749556,"author-id":2233371,"owner-id":2233371,"linked-story-ids":["08f1bb81-3664-426a-a9d2-6df1db6b5180"],"access":null,"asana-project-id":null,"first-published-at":1775324749367,"hero-image-caption":null,"version":25,"story-template":"text","sequence-no":null,"created-at":1775324744280,"authors":[{"slug":"shashank-nair","social":[],"name":"Shashank Nair","contributor-role":{"id":958,"name":"Author"},"avatar-url":"https:\/\/media.assettype.com\/freepressjournal\/2025-09-17\/f11i2kil\/DSC07171.JPG","bio":"A digital journalist with over three years of experience, specialised in political reporting. Has covered one general election and around six state elections. works by the mantra of learning at least one new thing every day. Previously worked with HW News Network as an Assistant Editor.","id":2233371,"avatar-s3-key":"freepressjournal\/2025-09-17\/f11i2kil\/DSC07171.JPG","twitter-handle":null}],"metadata":{"card-share":{"shareable":false}},"subscription-metadata":null,"publish-at":null,"assignee-name":"Shashank Nair"}},{"id":"e3a9d31a-96f4-48cd-8425-c696ed274dc1","score":null,"type":"story","item":{"headline":["West Bengal Elections 2026: PM Modi To Launch BJP Campaign From Cooch Behar On April 5 With Bijoy Sankalpa Sabha"]},"story":{"updated-at":1775323877095,"seo":{"meta-description":"PM Narendra Modi will launch BJP\u2019s West Bengal election campaign from Cooch Behar on April 5. 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The rally aims to set the tone for the party\u2019s campaign ahead of the April 23 polls, focusing on governance, development, and law and order issues.","alternative":[],"sections":[{"domain-slug":null,"slug":"india","name":"India","section-url":"https:\/\/www.freepressjournal.in\/india","id":9753,"parent-id":null,"display-name":"India","collection":{"slug":"india","name":"India","id":22607},"data":null},{"domain-slug":null,"slug":"topnews","name":"Topnews","section-url":"https:\/\/www.freepressjournal.in\/topnews","id":9754,"parent-id":null,"display-name":"Topnews","collection":{"slug":"topnews","name":"Topnews","id":22608},"data":null},{"domain-slug":null,"slug":"fpj-shorts","name":"FPJ Shorts","section-url":"https:\/\/www.freepressjournal.in\/fpj-shorts","id":71945,"parent-id":null,"display-name":"FPJ Shorts","collection":{"slug":"fpj-shorts","name":"FPJ Shorts","id":174451},"data":null}],"read-time":3,"access-level-value":null,"content-created-at":1775323594006,"is-embargoed":false,"owner-name":"Imran Shaikh","custom-slug":null,"push-notification":null,"publisher-id":571,"hero-image-metadata":{"mime-type":"image\/jpeg","focus-point":null,"width":999,"file-size":303497,"file-name":"20251225301L.jpg","height":562},"comments":null,"word-count":613,"story-features":{"push-notification":{"is-scheduled":false,"publish-at":null,"linked-with-story-fields-status":{"title":null,"message":null}}},"entities":[],"published-at":1775323878384,"embargoed-till":null,"breaking-news-linked-story-id":null,"storyline-title":null,"summary":null,"push-notification-title":null,"external-id":null,"canonical-url":null,"hero-image-hyperlink":null,"autotags":[],"linked-entities":[],"status":"published","hero-image-attribution":"ANI","bullet-type":"123","hero-image-alt-text":null,"id":"e3a9d31a-96f4-48cd-8425-c696ed274dc1","hero-image-s3-key":"freepressjournal\/2025-12-31\/pjbf6eg9\/20251225301L.jpg","contributors":null,"cards":[{"story-elements":[{"description":"","page-url":"\/story\/e3a9d31a-96f4-48cd-8425-c696ed274dc1\/element\/29ec9c8f-0167-4757-bf99-98eba86ef170","type":"text","family-id":"e519f384-0f22-4690-b6a4-dd47ffa27fa3","title":"","id":"29ec9c8f-0167-4757-bf99-98eba86ef170","metadata":[],"subtype":null,"text":"

Kolkata, Apr 4:<\/strong> Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Cooch Behar district on Sunday to launch the BJP\u2019s campaign for the West Bengal Assembly elections, a senior party leader said.<\/p>

PM to address Bijoy Sankalpa Sabha in Cooch Behar<\/strong><\/p>

Modi is scheduled to address the BJP\u2019s 'Bijoy Sankalpa Sabha' at the historic Ras Mela grounds in the afternoon, marking the start of the party\u2019s intensified outreach in north Bengal, with the aim of consolidating grassroots support in a region that has become a saffron stronghold over the years and a critical electoral battlefield.<\/p>

During the rally, the PM is expected to outline the party\u2019s vision for a \"developed West Bengal\", highlight issues raised in the BJP\u2019s recently released 'People\u2019s Chargesheet' against the ruling TMC in the state, and focus on governance, law and order, and alleged corruption.<\/p>

First rally after poll announcement<\/strong><\/p>

This will be Modi\u2019s first election rally in the state, following the declaration of Assembly polls, and the fourth public meeting at the Ras Mela grounds, after his previous rallies at the same venue during his campaign for the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the 2021 Assembly polls.<\/p>

Elections to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in two phases - on April 23 and April 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.<\/p>

Campaign to focus on \u2018fear-free\u2019 governance<\/strong><\/p>

The BJP leader said Modi\u2019s address is likely to set the tone for the party\u2019s campaign narrative, emphasising a \"fear-free\" environment and restoration of public trust in institutions.<\/p>

\u201cThe Prime Minister\u2019s visit is centred on transitioning West Bengal from an era of systemic \u2018bhoy\u2019 (fear) to a future of \u2018bhorosa\u2019 (trust). This rally serves as a definitive launchpad to replace the \u2018chronicle of betrayal\u2019 with a commitment to security and growth,\u201d a BJP statement said.<\/p>

While \u201cdismantling the rule of fear\u201d will be articulated in the PM\u2019s vision for a fear-free state, the \u201cpledge for trust\u201d will be reinforced in \u201cModi\u2019s guarantee to end syndicate raj and cut-money culture\u201d, it said.<\/p>

\u201cBeyond political victory, the Bijoy Sankalpa Sabha seeks to restore the cultural glory of Kaviguru Rabindranath Tagore\u2019s West Bengal, pledging an end to state-sponsored lawlessness,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>

BJP plans series of rallies and outreach programmes<\/strong><\/p>

The April 5 rally will be followed by a series of public meetings, roadshows and organisational programmes by senior BJP leaders across the state ahead of the polls, another party leader said, emphasising its plans for the final push for a decisive mandate in Bengal.<\/p>

Modi had last visited the state on March 14 to address a rally at Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata, and inaugurate development projects worth around Rs 18,680 crore, marking the culmination of the party\u2019s \u2018Poriborton Yatra\u2019.<\/p>

North Bengal remains key electoral battleground<\/strong><\/p>

BJP\u2019s added focus in north Bengal bore fruit in the 2021 Assembly elections, when the party won 30 of the 54 seats in the region, with Cooch Behar contributing seven of the nine seats from the district. The TMC wrested the Dinhata segment later in a bypoll, after BJP\u2019s Nisith Pramanik moved to Delhi to take charge as junior Union minister.<\/p>

The saffron party lost the Cooch Behar Lok Sabha segment in 2024, but won six of the eight parliamentary seats in north Bengal that year.<\/p>

Also Watch:<\/strong> <\/p>"},{"description":"","page-url":"\/story\/e3a9d31a-96f4-48cd-8425-c696ed274dc1\/element\/d672fca7-cea1-4b00-9f52-821e6941d15a","type":"youtube-video","family-id":"c7429b52-3931-461e-8bc3-701919ff8a1a","title":"","id":"d672fca7-cea1-4b00-9f52-821e6941d15a","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=fYFJF-Vx84Y","embed-url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fYFJF-Vx84Y","metadata":[],"subtype":null},{"description":"","page-url":"\/story\/e3a9d31a-96f4-48cd-8425-c696ed274dc1\/element\/cc0cbf43-df64-4933-a2e8-6a21fad376aa","type":"text","family-id":"2fb900bd-7410-4790-83bc-c0ce21cd900a","title":"","id":"cc0cbf43-df64-4933-a2e8-6a21fad376aa","metadata":{"linked-story-id":"90d65ae2-16d3-4e50-ab16-12c2c9d11c8c","linked-story":{"updated-at":1773747317437,"author-name":"Vinay Mishra","headline":"West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026: TMC Releases List Of 291 Candidates; Mamata Banerjee To Face BJP\u2019s Suvendu Adhikari In Bhabanipur","story-content-id":"90d65ae2-16d3-4e50-ab16-12c2c9d11c8c","is-published":true,"slug":"india\/west-bengal-assembly-elections-2026-tmc-releases-list-of-291-candidates-mamata-banerjee-to-face-bjps-suvendu-adhikari-in-bhabanipur","highlighted-external-id":null,"last-published-at":1773747319132,"highlighted-text":null,"alternative":[],"sections":[{"id":9753,"name":"India","slug":"india","data":null},{"id":9754,"name":"Topnews","slug":"topnews","data":null}],"highlighted-slug":null,"public-preview-url":"https:\/\/www.freepressjournal.in\/preview\/story\/JIzA789APegs-J1hQh1hBcOeVlMd5Davv_tJCr7oSgV0bOLdP8JiUbpCAPPGYFwZ","published-at":1773747319132,"status":"published","id":"90d65ae2-16d3-4e50-ab16-12c2c9d11c8c","content-type":"story","frontend-url":"https:\/\/www.freepressjournal.in\/india\/west-bengal-assembly-elections-2026-tmc-releases-list-of-291-candidates-mamata-banerjee-to-face-bjps-suvendu-adhikari-in-bhabanipur","author-id":1916328,"highlighted-headline":null,"story-template":"text","authors":[{"id":1916328,"name":"Vinay Mishra","contributor-role":{"id":958,"name":"Author","type":"system"}}],"metadata":[],"highlighted-public-identifier":null,"public-preview-key":"JIzA789APegs-J1hQh1hBcOeVlMd5Davv_tJCr7oSgV0bOLdP8JiUbpCAPPGYFwZ","publish-at":null}},"subtype":"also-read","text":"West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026: TMC Releases List Of 291 Candidates; Mamata Banerjee To Face BJP\u2019s Suvendu Adhikari In Bhabanipur"},{"description":"","page-url":"\/story\/e3a9d31a-96f4-48cd-8425-c696ed274dc1\/element\/1c3a8835-eb40-4f8e-8ada-927d8f19f132","type":"text","family-id":"e1084e5a-e1a0-4572-976d-68013b041562","title":"","id":"1c3a8835-eb40-4f8e-8ada-927d8f19f132","metadata":[],"subtype":null,"text":"

According to observers, BJP\u2019s renewed political focus on Cooch Behar has been propelled by keeping in forefront development schemes like the Rs 1,010-crore city gas distribution project covering the district and adjacent Alipurduar, whose foundation stone was laid by Modi last year.<\/p>

(Disclaimer:<\/strong> Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)<\/em><\/p>"},{"id":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","description":"","title":"","subtype":null,"type":"text","text":"

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