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After Modi’s INS Viraat jibe, Ramya slams PM with pic of Canadian Akshay on INS Sumitra

News Network
May 10, 2019

New Delhi, May 10: Congress leader Divya Spandana on Thursday cited the example of Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in response to his allegations against former PM Rajiv Gandhi. Posting photos of Mr Kumar on board the presidential yacht INS Sumitra, she asked whether it was proper to take a "Canadian citizen" onboard a navy warship.

PM Modi "took a Canadian citizen @akshaykumar with you on-board INS Sumitra," she said in the post, tagging both, the prime minister and the actor. "Most of us have not forgotten this controversy" Ms Spandana, an actor-politician, referencing a 2016 article criticising the event.

PM Modi, at a rally in Delhi on Wednesday, had claimed that Rajiv Gandhi, father of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, used INS Viraat as his as a personal taxi for family vacations in 1987. He said that when the late PM Rajiv Gandhi came on board the aircraft carrier, his friends and Italian mother-in-law were with him. PM Modi, in his tweet, also enclosed a news story by India Today from 1988.

The Congress rebutted his allegations, quoting retired Vice Admiral Vinod Pasricha, who clarified that Rajiv Gandhi was on an official visit on INS Viraat and not on a vacation. The Congress further accused PM Modi of using Air Force jets as his "own taxi", paying "as low as Rs. 744" for trips during the election.

Divya Spandana's tweet also revived the row over Akshay Kumar's citizenship which began after his "non-political" interview of PM Modi last month. Days later, when Mumbai went to polls, his wife, Twinkle Khanna voted, but he didn't. After dodging question on why he didn't vote, the 51-year-old actor admitted that he held a Canadian passport.

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: Public transport in Mangaluru is set for a state-led transformation as the government moves to deploy 100 new electric govt buses to replace unreliable private services. The initiative aims to provide a dependable alternative to private operators who have been frequently "cutting trips," leaving thousands of commuters stranded.

The announcement was made by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV during a public phone-in session. The move specifically targets routes where private bus service has become erratic, ensuring that citizens no longer have to rely on a fluctuating private sector for their daily commute.

Restoring the Govt Presence

The transport crisis was brought to the forefront by Ramayya, a resident of Bajal, who highlighted a growing trend of private buses skipping morning and night trips. With the previous KSRTC (govt) services discontinued, residents have been left without a fallback option.

To fix this, the DC confirmed that the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme will bring 100 government-owned electric buses to the city:

•    Phased Deployment: The first 50 of the new 100 government buses are scheduled to arrive by March 2026.

•    State Infrastructure: Two new government depots, including one at Mudipu, are being prepared for operations.

•    Recruitment: The state has already begun training a new batch of government bus drivers to ensure the fleet is operational the moment it arrives.

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