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Veteran Odia actor Uttam Mohanty dies while undergoing treatment in Gurugram
At the age of 66, veteran Odia actor Uttam Mohanty passed away while receiving treatment at Medant Hospital in Gurugram, southwest of New Delhi.
New Delhi : Veteran Odia actor Uttam Mohanty died this evening while undergoing treatment at Medant Hospital in Gurugram, in the southwest of New Delhi, at the age of 66 years. Mohanty’s nephew confirmed about his death at the hospital.
It is to be noted here that Mohanty had recently gone for a film shooting when he complained of health discomfort, following which he was rushed to a private hospital. He returned home after treatment. But again his health deteriorated a couple of days ago and he was rushed to a private hospital in Bhubaneswar.
Due to his liver cirrhosis, he was quickly admitted to the hospital's intensive care unit (ICU). However, when his condition deteriorated and he required organ support, his family members airlifted him to Medant Hospital on the advice of the doctors. But unfortunately he breathed his last today while undergoing treatment at the hospital.
On social media, his admirers, well-wishers, and a number of important people expressed their deepest condolences as the news of his death spread.
Mohanty has got the most prestigious Jaydeb Preskar in 1999, besides Odisha Living Legend Award 2012 and Odisha State Film award for several times as Best Actor for his work and contribution to the film industry.
Mohanty’s wife, Aparajita, and son Babushka are also very well-known actors of Odia film industry.
Meanwhile, the veteran Odia actor received condolences from people from all walks of life.
Ramadan 2025 date is unknown, but it is expected to begin in India, UAE, and Saudi Arabia on the same date.
Start of Ramadan in 2025 in India, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Dubai: If the crescent moon is visible after 6:00 p.m., Ramadan is expected to begin in 2025 on Friday, February 28. Fasting will begin on March 1 in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates if the moon is seen on February 28. If the moon is not sighted, Ramadan will begin on March 2.
Date of Ramadan 2025:
The Islamic holy month of Ramadan, also known as Ramzan, Ramazan, or Ramazan, is the ninth month of the Hijri or Islamic lunar calendar and is also considered as one of the most sacred months. The start and conclusion of each month in the Islamic calendar are set through the sighting of the crescent moon, which occurs shortly after the new moon.
One of Islam's two major holidays, Eid al-Fitr (the Festival of Breaking the Fast), is celebrated at the end of Ramadan. Here's everything you need to know about Roza, which is a month of fasting from dawn to sunset.
Ramadan 2025: Know the expected date and moon sight timings
According to the lunar Islamic calendar, Ramadan in 2025 is expected to begin on the evening of February 28 (Friday), contingent upon the sighting of the crescent moon after 6:00 PM.
However, this date is tentative; it might instead start on March 1 (Saturday) or possibly March 2 (Sunday), as the official start date of Ramadan will be determined based on astronomical calculations and the traditional sighting of the moon.
Fasting will begin on March 1 in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates if the moon is seen on February 28. If the moon is not sighted, Ramadan will begin on March 2.
A day later, the moon is seen in South Asian nations like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
The date for Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, will also depend on the lunar cycle and is anticipated to fall on March 30 or 31, 2025.
Neelam Shinde accident: MEA takes up family's urgent visa request with US
Neelam Shinde has reportedly suffered severe injuries to her head, hand, and chest. Her family has sought an urgent visa to travel to the US to be by her side.
Indian student Neelam Shinde, who died in California due to a road accident, has requested an urgent visa for her family in the United States.
Neelam Shinde, a resident of the Satara district in Maharashtra, sustained severe injuries in the accident on February 14 and has been in a coma ever since. Neelam Shinde has reportedly suffered severe injuries to her head, hand, and chest. In order to be by her side, her family has applied for an urgent visa to visit the US.
The MEA has taken up the matter with the US. The US side is looking into the formalities for early grant of visa for the applicant's family,” the sources cited in the PTI report said. Student Neelam Shinde has met with an accident in the USA and is hospitalized in a local hospital," she said in a post on X.
Her father, Tanaji Shinde, from Satara, Maharashtra, India, urgently needs to visit his daughter due to a medical emergency. Sule stated, "Tanaji Shinde needs assistance because she has applied for an urgent visa to the United States." Since February 16, Neelam Shinde's family has been applying for a visa.
"We got to know about the accident on February 16 and have been trying for a visa since then. But we haven't got it yet," the report quoted Neelam’s father Tanaji Shinde as saying. The family claims that the last time they spoke to their daughter was on February 12, two days before the tragic accident that put her in a coma.
Indian student Neelam Shinde critical after accident, family seeks urgent visa to US Neelam Shinde, from Maharashtra, is in a coma after she reportedly met with an accident on February 14 in California.
The family of an Indian student, who is hospitalized in the United States after meeting with an accident, is seeking an urgent visa to visit her. The student, named Neelam Shinde, is from Maharashtra’s Satara district and her father, Tanaji Shinde, has requested an urgent visa due to medical emergency.
Nationalist Congress Party MP Supriya Sule raised the issue on social media and urged Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar to look into the matter and help Neelam’s family. Through a post on X, formerly Twitter, Sule said, “Student Neelam Shinde has met with an accident in the USA and is hospitalized in a local hospital. Her father, Tanaji Shinde, from Satara, Maharashtra, India, urgently needs to visit his daughter due to a medical emergency. Tanaji Shinde requires assistance because she has applied for an urgent visa to the United States.
According to a report from NDTV, Neelam was involved in an accident on February 14 in California and is currently in a coma and in critical condition. According to the report, she was struck by a four-wheeler, sustaining serious head and chest injuries as well as multiple fractures. According to a report from NDTV, Neelam was involved in an accident on February 14 in California and is currently in a coma and in critical condition. She was hit by a four-wheeler, the report says, and suffered serious injuries to her head and chest and multiple fractures. Speaking about the responses to her social media post, Supriya Sule told the news outlet that Indian students in the US have reached out to her to extend help for Neelam. She also told NDTV that while she hasn’t been in touch with the family personally, she got somebody locally to contact and ensure the family.
Sule went on to express optimism regarding the assistance of the authorities for the family. Although we may disagree politically, I must declare that Mr. Jaishankar is extremely helpful and sympathetic when it comes to student issues. My interactions with
the Ministry of External Affairs, or MEA, have been extremely positive. They always go the extra mile to help,” she said. The MEA has taken up the matter, news agency ANI reported citing unnamed sources. It also stated that the US side is investigating the requirements for an early visa grant to the applicant's family.
Happy Maha Shivaratri 2025: Maha Shivaratri, the sacred festival dedicated to Lord Shiva, is celebrated with great devotion each year. This year, it falls on February 26. On this auspicious day, devotees visit temples, offer prayers to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, and observe a fast. Make the occasion even more special for your loved ones by sharing our thoughtfully curated wishes, messages, and greetings.
Happy Maha Shivaratri 2025: Special wishes and messages
1. Wishing you a blessed Maha Shivaratri! May Lord Shiva’s divine energy fill your life with peace, prosperity, and happiness. Om Namah Shivay
2. On this sacred night of Maha Shivaratri, may Lord Shiva guide you towards righteousness, strength, and success. Har Har Mahadev!
3. May the blessings of Bholenath bring you joy, good health, and prosperity. Wishing you and your family a blissful Maha Shivaratri!
4. Let’s celebrate the glory of Lord Shiva and seek His divine blessings for a life full of positivity and peace. Happy Maha Shivratri!
5. May Lord Shiva remove all obstacles from your path and bless you with wisdom, strength, and success. Have a spiritually uplifting Maha Shivratri!
6. On this auspicious occasion, may your prayers reach Mahadev and bring you endless joy and fulfilment. Om Namah Shivaya!
7. May the divine energy of Lord Shiva always be with you, protecting and guiding you through every challenge. Wishing you a blessed Maha Shivaratri!
8. As we worship Neelkanth this Shivaratri, may all our troubles dissolve like the darkness before the dawn. Har Har Mahadev!
9. Celebrate this holy occasion with devotion and joy. May Mahadev’s blessings always shine upon you and your family. Happy Maha Shivratri!
10. This Maha Shivaratri, surrender to Lord Shiva’s infinite wisdom and embrace a life of peace, love, and spiritual growth. Om Namah Shivaya!
born 17 September 1950) heis an Indian politician who has served as the prime minister of India since 2014. Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014, and he is the member of parliament (MP) for Varanasi. He is a member of the Bhatiya Janta Party (BJP) and of the Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a right- Hindu nationalist paramilitary volunteer organization. He is the longest-serving prime minister outside the Indian National Congress.
Modi was born and raised in Vadnagar in northeastern Gujrat, where he completed his secondary education. He was introduced to the RSS at the age of eight. At the age of 18, he was married to Jashod Aben Modi, whom he abandoned soon after, only publicly acknowledging her four decades later when legally required to do so. Modi became a full-time worker for the RSS in Gujarat in 1971.
The RSS assigned him to the BJP in 1985 and he rose through the party hierarchy, becoming general secretary in 1998. In 2001, Modi was appointed chief minister of Gujarat and elected to the legislative assembly soon after. His administration is considered complicit in the Gujarat 2002 and has been criticized for its management of the crisis. According to official records, a little over 1,000 people were killed, three-quarters of whom were Muslim; independent sources estimated 2,000 deaths, mostly Muslim.
A Special Investigation Team appointed by the Supreme Court of India in 2012 found no evidence to initiate prosecution proceedings against him. While his policies as chief minister was credited for encouraging economic growth, his administration was criticized for failing to significantly improve health, poverty and education indices in the state.
In the 2014 Indian general election, Modi led the BJP to a parliamentary majority, the first for a party since 1984. His administration increased direct foreign investment, and reduced spending on healthcare, education, and social-welfare programmes. Modi began a high - profile sanitation campaign and weakened or abolished environmental and labour laws.
His demonetization of banknotes in 2016 and introduction of the Goods and services Tax in 2017 sparked controversy. Modi's administration launched the 2019 Salakot airstrike against an alleged terrorist training camp in Pakistan. The airstrike failed, but the action had nationalist appeal. Modi's party won the 2019 general
election which followed. In its second term, his administration revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, and introduced the Citizenship Amendment Act, prompting widespread protests, and spurring the 2020 Delhi riots in which Muslims were brutalized and killed by Hindu mobs. Three controversial farm laws led to sit-ins by farmers across the country, eventually causing their formal repeal.
Modi oversaw India's response to the COVID - 19 pandemic, during which, according to the World Health Organization's estimates, 4.7 million Indians died. In the 2024 general election, Modi's party lost its majority in the lower house of Parliament and formed a government leading the National Democratic Alliance coalition.
Under Modi's tenure, India has experienced democratic backsliding, or the weakening of democratic institutions, individual rights, and freedom of expression as prime minister, he has received consistently high approval ratings. Modi has been described as
engineering a political realignment towards right- wing politics. He remains a controversial figure domestically and internationally, over his Hindu nationalist beliefs and handling of the Gujarat riots, which have been cited as evidence of a majoritarian and exclusionary social agenda.
Early life and education
Narendra Damodar Das Modi was born on 17 September 1950 to a Gujrati Hindu family of Other Backward class (OBC) background in Vadnagar, Mehsana district, Bombay state (present-day Gujarat). He was the third of six children born to Damodar Das Mulchand Modi (1915–1989) and Hira ben Modi (1923–2022).
Modi had infrequently worked as a child in his father's tea business on the Vadnagar railway station platform, according to Modi and his Neighbours.
Modi completed his higher secondary education in Vadnagar in 1967; his teachers described him as an average student and a keen, gifted debater with an interest in theatre. He preferred playing larger-than-life characters in theatrical productions, which has influenced his political image.
When Modi was eight years old, he was introduced to the Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and began attending its local shikhas (training sessions). There, he met Lakshmanarao Inamdar, who inducted Modi as a Bal Swayamsevak (junior cadet) in the RSS and became his political mentor. While Modi was training with the RSS, he also met Vasant Gajendragadkar and Nathalal Jaghda, Bhartiya Jana Sangh leaders who in 1980 helped found the BJP's Gujarat unit. As a teenager, he was enrolled in the National Cade Corps.
In a custom traditional to Narendra Modi's caste, his family arranged a betrothal to Jashod Aben Chamanlal Modi, leading to their marriage when she was 17 and he was 18. Soon afterwards, he abandoned his wife and left home. The couple never divorced but the marriage was not in his public pronouncements for many decades. In April 2014, shortly before the national election in which he gained power, Modi publicly affirmed he was married and that his spouse was Jashod Aben.
A Modi biographer wrote that Modi kept the marriage a secret because he would not have been able to become a Prach arak in the RSS, for which celibacy had once been a requirement.
Modi spent the following two years travelling across northern and north-eastern India. In interviews, he has described visiting Hindu ashrams founded by Swami Vivekanand: the Belur Math near Kolkata, the Advaita Ashrama in Almora and the Ramakrishna Mission in Rajkot. His stays at each ashram were brief because he lacked because he lacked the required college education. Vivekananda has had a large influence in Modi's life.
In mid 1968, Modi reached Belur Math but was turned away, after which he visited Calcutta, West Bengal and Assam, stopping in Siliguri and Guwahati. He then went to the Ramakrishna Ashram in Almora, where he was again rejected, before returning to Gujarat via Delhi and Rajasthan in 1968 to 1969. In either late 1969 or early 1970, he returned to Vadnagar for a brief visit before leaving again for Ahmedabad, where he lived with his uncle and worked in his uncle's canteen at Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation.
In Ahmedabad, Modi renewed his acquaintance with Inamdar, who was based at the Hedgewar Bhavan (RSS headquarters) in the city. Modi's first-known political activity as an adult was in 1971 when he joined a Jana Sangh Satyagraha in Delhi led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee to enlist to fight in the Bangladesh Liberation War.
The Indira Gandhi -led central government prohibited open support for the Mukti Bahini; according to Modi, he was briefly held in Tihar Jail. After the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971, Modi left his uncle's employment and became a full-time paracharak campaigner) for the RSS, working under Inamdar. Shortly before the war, Modi took part in a non-violent protest in New Delhi against the Indian government, for which he was arrested; because of this arrest, Inamdar decided to mentor Modi. According to Modi, he was part of a Satyagraha that led to a political war.
In 1978, Modi received a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in political science from the School of Open Learnign at the Delhi UniversityIn 1983, he received a Master of Arts (MA) degree in political science from Gujarat University, graduating with a first class as an external distance learning student. There is a controversy surrounding the authenticity of his BA and MA degrees.
Early political career
In June 1975, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency in India that lasted until 1977. During this period, known as "the Emergency", many of her political opponents were jailed and opposition groups were banned. Modi was appointed general secretary of the "Gujarat Lok Sangharsh Samiti", an RSS committee coordinating opposition to the Emergency in Gujarat. Shortly
afterwards, the RSS was banned. Modi was forced to go underground in Gujarat and frequently travelled in disguise to avoid arrest, once dressing as a monk and once as a He became involved in the printing of pamphlets opposing the government, sending them to Delhi and organizing demonstrations.
He was also involved with creating a network of safe houses for individuals who were wanted by the government, and in raising funds for political refugees and activists. During this period, Modi wrote a Gujarati language book titled Sangharsh Ma Gujarat (In the Struggles of Gujarat), which describes events during the Emergency.
While in this role, Modi met trade unionist and socialist activist and several other national political figures.
Modi became an RSS sambhag pracharak (regional organizer) in 1978, overseeing activities in Surat and Vadodara, and in 1979, he went to work for the RSS in Delhi, where he researched and wrote the RSS's history of the Emergency. Shortly after, he returned to Gujarat and in 1985, the RSS assigned him to the BJP. In 1987, Modi helped organize the BJP's campaign in the Ahmedabad municipal election, which the party won comfortably; according to biographers, Modi's planning was responsible for the win.
After L. K. Advani became president of the BJP in 1986, the RSS decided to place its members in important positions within the party; Modi's work during the Ahmedabad election led to his selection for this role. Modi was elected organizing secretary of the BJP's Gujarat unit later in 1987.
Modi rose within the party and was named a member of its National Election Committee in 1990, helping organize Advani's Ram Rath Yatra in 1990 and Murli Manohar Joshi's 1991–1992 Ekta Yatra (Journey for Unity). Modi took a brief break from politics in 1992 to establish a school in Ahmedabad, and due to friction
with Shanker Sinh Vaghela, a BJP MP from Gujarat. Modi returned to electoral politics in 1994, partly at the insistence of Advani; as party secretary, Modi's electoral strategy was considered central to the BJP victory in the 1995 state assembly election In November of that year, Modi was appointed BJP national secretary and transferred to New Delhi, where he assumed responsibility for party activities in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
The following year, Shanker Sinh Vaghela, a prominent BJP leader from Gujarat, defected to the Indian National Congress after losing his parliamentary seat in the Lok Sabha election. Modi, who was on the selection committee for the 1998 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election, favored supporters of BJP leader Keshu bhai Patel over those supporting Vaghela to end factional division in the party. His strategy was credited as central to the BJP winning an overall majority in the 1998 election, and Modi was promoted to BJP general secretary (organization) in May of that year.
Chief Minister of Gujarat (2001–2014)
Taking office
In 2001, Keshu Bhai Patel's health was failing, and the BJP lost a few state assembly seats in by-elections. Allegations of abuse of power, corruption and poor administration were made, and Patel's standing had been damaged by his administration's handling of the earthquake in Bhuj in 2001.
The BJP national leadership sought a new candidate for the chief minister ship, and Modi, who had expressed misgivings about Patel's administration, was chosen as a replacement. Advani did not want to ostracize Patel and was concerned about Modi's lack of experience in government.
Modi declined an offer to become Patel's deputy chief minister, telling Advani and Atal Bihari Vajpayee he was "going to be fully responsible for Gujarat or not at all". On 3 October 2001, Modi replaced Patel as Chief Minister of Gujarat with the responsibility of preparing the BJP for the upcoming December 2002 election. On 7 October, Modi was sworn in, and he entered the Gujarat state legislature on 24 February 2002 after winning a by-election in Rajkot II constituency, defeating Ashwin Mehta of the INC.
2002 Gujarat riots
On 27 February 2002, a train with several hundred passengers burned near Godhra, killing approximately 60 people. The train carried a large number of Hindu pilgrims who were returning from Ayodhya after a religious ceremony at the site of the demolished Babri Masjid In a public statement, Modi said local Muslims were responsible for the incident. The next day, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad called for a bandh (general strike) across the state. Riots began during the bandh and anti - Muslim violence spread through Gujarat.
The government's decision to move the bodies of the train victims from Godhra to Ahmedabad further inflamed the violence. The state government later stated 790 Muslims, and 254 Hindus were killed during the riots; independent sources put the death toll at over 2,000, the vast majority of them Muslims. Approximately 150,000 people were driven to refugee camps. Numerous women and children were among the victims; the violence included mass rapes and mutilation of women.
Scholars consider the Government of Gujarat to have been complicit in the riots, and it has received much criticism for its handling of the situation; some scholars explicitly blame Modi. The Modi government imposed a curfew in 26 major cities, issued shoot-at-sight orders and called for the army to patrol the streets; these measures failed to prevent the violence from escalating the president
of the state unit of the BJP expressed support for the bandh despite such actions being illegal at the time. State officials later prevented riot victims from leaving the refugee camps, which were often unable to meet the needs of those living there. Muslim victims of the riots were subjected to further discrimination when the state government
announced their compensation would be half that offered to Hindu victims; this decision was later reversed after the issue was taken to court. During the riots, police officers often did not intervene in situations where they were able. Several scholars have described the violence as a program and others have called it an example of state terrorism According to Martha Nussbaum
"There is by now a broad consensus that the Gujarat violence was a form of ethnic cleansing, that in many ways it was premeditated, and that it was carried out with the complicity of the state government and officers of the law"
Modi's personal involvement in the 2002 events has continued to be debated. During the riots, he said, "What is happening is a chain of action and reaction". Later in 2002, Modi said the way in which he had handled the media was his only regret regarding the episode. In March 2008, the Supreme Court of India reopened several cases related to the riots, including that of the
Gulbarg Society massacre and established a special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the issue. In response to a petition from Zakia Jafri, the widow of Ehsan Jafri, who was killed in the Gulbarg Society massacre, in April 2009, the court also asked the SIT to investigate Modi's complicity in the killings. The SIT questioned Modi in March 2010; in May, it presented to the court a report finding no evidence against him. In July 2011, the court-appointed
amicus curiae Raju Ramachandran submitted his final report to the court. Contrary to the SIT's position, Ramachandran said Modi could be prosecuted based on the available evidence. The Supreme Court sent the matter to the magistrate's court. The SIT examined Ramachandran's report, and in March 2012 submitted its final report, asking for the case to be closed. Zakia Jafri filed a protest petition in response. In December 2013, the magistrate's court rejected the
protest petition, accepting the SIT's finding there was no evidence against Modi. In 2022, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition by Zakia Jafri in which she challenged the clean chit given to Modi in the riots by the SIT, and upheld previous rulings that no evidence against him was found.
Following the violence, calls for Modi to resign as chief minister were made from politicians within and outside the state, including leaders of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Telugu Desam Party—partners in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance coalition—and opposition parties stalled Parliament over the issue. Modi submitted his resignation at the April 2002 BJP national executive meeting in Goa, but it was not accepted. Despite opposition from the election commissioner, who said a number of voters were still displaced, Modi succeeded in advancing the election to December 2002. In the election, the BJP won 127 seats in the 182-member assembly. Modi made significant use of anti - Muslim rhetoric during his campaign, and the BJP profited from religious polarization among voters. Modi framed the criticism of his government for human rights violations as an attack upon Gujarati pride, a strategy that led to the BJP winning 127 of the 182 seats—a two-thirds majority—in the state assembly. He won Manin agar constituency, defeating Congress candidate Yatin Oza. On 22 December 2002, Modi was sworn in for a second term.
During Modi's second term, the government's rhetoric shifted from Hindutva to Gujarat's economic development. He curtailed the influence of Sangh Parivar organizations such as Bhartiya Kisan Sangh (KBS) and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP). When the BKS staged a farmers' demonstration, Modi ordered the BKS's eviction from state-provided houses, and his decision to demolish 200 illegal temples in Gandhinagar deepened the rift with the VHP. Modi retained connections with some Hindu nationalists. He wrote a foreword to a 2014 textbook by Dinanath Batra, which made the unscientific claim that ancient India possessed technologies including
Modi's relationship with Muslims continued to attract criticism. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee distanced himself, reaching out to North Indian Muslims before the 2004 Indian general election, following which, Vajpayee called the violence in Gujarat a reason for the BJP's electoral defeat and said it had been a mistake to leave Modi in office after the riots. Western nations also raised questions about Modi's relationship with Muslims: the US State Department barred him from entering the United States in accordance with the recommendations of that country's Commission on International Religious Freedom the only person to be denied a US visa under this law. The UK and the European Union (EU) refused to admit Modi because of what they saw as his role in the riots. As Modi rose to prominence in India, the UK and the EU lifted their bans in October 2012 and March 2013, respectively, and after his election as prime minister in 2014, the US lifted its ban and invited him to Washington, D.C.
Modi meeting with then-Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh in 2004During the run-up to the 2007 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election and the 2009 Indian general election, the BJP intensified its rhetoric on terrorism. Modi criticized Prime Minister Manmohan Singh "for his reluctance to revive anti-terror legislation" such as the 2002 Prevention of Terrorism Act. In 2007, Modi wrote Karma Yog, a 101-page booklet discussing manual scavenging. In it, he said scavenging is a "spiritual experience" for Valmik's, a sub-caste of Dalits. The book was not circulated at that time because of the eleecton code of conduct. After the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, the Gujarat government authorised the deployment of 30 high-speed boats for coastal surveillance. In July 2007, Modi completed 2,063 consecutive days as chief minister of Gujarat, making him the longest-serving holder of that post.The BJP won 122 of 182 state-assembly seats in that year's election.
Despite the BJP's shift away from explicit Hindutva, Modi's campaigns in 2007 and 2012 Gujarat Legislative Assembly elections contained elements of Hindu nationalism. He attended only Hindu religious ceremonies and had prominent associations with Hindu religious leaders. During his 2012 campaign, Modi twice refused to wear skullcap gifted by Muslim leaders He did, however, maintain relations with Dawoodi Bohra. Modi's 2012 campaign included references to issues known to cause religious polarization, including Afzal Guru and the death of Sohrab Uddin Sheikh. The BJP did not nominate any Muslim candidates for the 2012 assembly election. During the 2012 campaign, Modi attempted to identify himself with the state of Gujarat, a strategy similar to that used by Indira Gandhi during the Emergency and projected himself as protecting Gujarat against persecution by the rest of India. While campaigning for the 2012 Gujarat Legislative Assembly election, Modi made extensive use of holograms and other technologies, allowing him to reach a large number of people, something he repeated in the 2014 general election. Modi won the constituency of Manin agar, defeating Shweta Bhatt of the INC. The BJP won 115 of the 182 seats, continuing its majority during his tenure. After his election as Prime Minister of India, Modi resigned as the Gujarat chief minister and as MLA for Manin agar. Anandiben Patel succeeded Modi as chief minister.
