Indian home minister Amit Shah on Wednesday (30) visited the BAPS Yogiji Maharaj Hospital in Ahmedabad in the western state of Gujarat to receive the blessings of Param Pujya Mahant Swami Maharaj.
Shah, who arrived around 5.10 pm local time, was garlanded and welcomed by Swami Maharaj in the presence of Pujya Ishwarcharan Swami, Atmaswarup Swami and Brahmavihari Swami.
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Following their meeting, prayers for national peace and harmony were offered by the recital of the Vedic Shanti Path.
Shah, who is currently in Gujarat where a two-phase election began on Thursday (1), performed a pujan of Shri Aksharpurshottam Maharaj and Param Pujya Mahant Swami Maharaj.
Swamishri blessed Shah by applying a chandan chandlo to his forehead, and prayed for peace, progress and welfare of the nation and its people -- for a Strong India and One India.
Brahmavihari Swami updated the minister about the upcoming month-long Pramukh Swami Maharaj Shatabdi Mahotsav in Ahmedabad, and gave him a special invitation.
Shah was particularly pleased to know that the festival is being organised on 600 acres in Ahmedabad, set up by over 80,000 volunteers.
FILE PHOTO: A general view shows British Steel's Scunthorpe plant, in Scunthorpe, northern England, Britain, March 31, 2025. REUTERS/Dominic Lipinski
The FBU is planning to introduce new internal policies and wants the TUC to take action as well. (Representational image: iStock)
FBU chief raises concern over rise in racist online posts by union members
THE FIRE Brigades Union (FBU) and other trade unions are increasingly concerned about a rise in racist and bigoted online comments by their own members and officials, according to Steve Wright, the FBU’s new general secretary, speaking to the Guardian.
Wright said internal inquiries have revealed dozens of cases involving members using racist slurs or stereotypes, often aimed at asylum seekers.
He said similar issues were reported in other unions, prompting a joint campaign to counter false narratives around immigration and race promoted by far-right groups online.
“People with far-right views are becoming more brazen in what they do on social media, and I’ve witnessed it with my own union around disciplinary cases and the rhetoric of some of our own members,” Wright said to the newspaper.
He added, “Some of our members and sometimes our reps have openly made comments which are racist and bigoted. In my time in the fire service, that has gone up.”
The FBU is planning to introduce new internal policies and wants the TUC to take action as well. A formal statement addressing far-right narratives will be launched at the union’s annual conference in Blackpool next month.
Wright cited the influence of social media and figures like Donald Trump and Nigel Farage as factors contributing to these incidents. “It feels like an itch that we’ve got to scratch,” he said.
The FBU barred a former official last year for allegedly endorsing racist content on X, including posts from Britain First and Tommy Robinson.
Wright also warned that the union could strike if the government moves to cut frontline fire services.