Category: NATIONAL NEWS

Marching contingents, strategic defence weaponry and colourful tableaux were on display as India celebrated its 69th Republic Day with a grand parade watched by thousands of people along with ten ASEAN leaders who attended the event as chief guests, in a historic first. Signifying India’s fast growing strategic ties with ASEAN, leaders of all the 10 countries of the powerful bloc attended the parade at the majestic Rajpath which showcased the country’s military might and cultural diversity. Cold weather conditions and dense fog failed to dampen the enthusiasm of thousands…

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Security has been stepped up across Tamil Nadu, particularly at vital installations, in view of the Republic Day celebrations tomorrow, the police said today. A multi-layer security ring has been put in place here around Kamarajar Salai where Governor Banwarilal Purohit will review the Republic Day parade and take the salute. Chief Minister K Palaniswami, state ministers and dignitaries are scheduled to participate in the celebrations on the arterial road facing the Marina Beach. “Commissioners of police in the cities and superintendents in the districts have been tasked with directly…

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An NRI fugitive, wanted in the USA to face trial in a drugs case, has been granted bail by a special extradition court here as the US authorities failed to respond to Indian requests seeking clarification over the quantity of contraband seized from him. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Gurmohina Kaur, who presides over the sole Special Extradition Court of India, granted the relief to Sekhon till the time “any response/ clarification” is received from the US authorities, noting that repeated reminders to them had not borne fruit. Terming “liberty and…

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Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today rejected opposition RJD’s allegation that he had done a political volte-face by walking out of the Grand Alliance and re-joined the BJP-led NDA. Without naming RJD or any of its leaders, Kumar, who is also the JD(U) national president, asserted that he had not turned his back on any of his government’s agenda but found it difficult to work with people who believed in using power for amassing wealth. “It is often said about me – ‘palat gaye’ (did a volte- face). I wish…

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Four police personnel, including two sub-inspectors, were killed and seven others injured in a gun-fight with Naxals in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district today, police said. The encounter took place in the forests of Irpanar village in Abhujmad area when a police team was out on anti- Naxal operation, Special Director General of Police (anti- Naxal operations) D M Awasthi told PTI. “Two sub-inspectors and as many constables, belonging to DRG (District Reserve Guard of Police) lost their lives and seven other personnel sustained injuries in the incident,” he said. The team,…

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Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu today said the expanding middle class will be the key driver of India’s economic growth, and the need of the hour is to take full advantage of our demography by creating jobs. He also said that while India must improve its tax-to-GDP ratio and curb tax evasion, there should be no needless harassment of tax-payers. “The expanding middle class will be the key driver of India’s economic growth in the coming years. With the large population of India, about 65 per cent under 35 years,…

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Narendra Modi became the first Indian prime minister to address the World Economic Forum (WEF) here today during which he talked about “serious” challenges and “grave concerns” facing the world, including terrorism. Climate change and terrorism are grave concerns before the world, Modi said, while asserting that terrorism is dangerous but what is equally dangerous is the “artificial distinction” made between ‘good terrorist’ and ‘bad terrorist’. He also said India’s position on the menace of terrorism is well known and he would not like to elaborate on that. The prime…

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Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today dedicated to the people of the state the Ideal Chief Minister award conferred on him by an institute in Maharastra. The award was conferred on him yesterday and Patnaik dedicated it to the people at the rousing welcome given to him on his return at the airport here. Patnaik’s party – the BJD had organised a special programme at the airport to welcome him. Thousands of people including ministers, MLAs and MPs of the ruling party participated in it. I am indebted to your…

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Cancer screening after a certain age should be made mandatory in the country, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said today, and asked researchers to make path-breaking advances in cancer prevention and treatment. Addressing a graduation ceremony at the Tata Memorial Centre here, he also called for greater emphasis on inventing strategies in the battle against cancer. “Two-thirds of advanced cancer cases are preventable. Therefore, early detection and treatment are the need of the hour. The government should make it mandatory after a particular age for cancer screening. A healthy nation can…

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CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury today accused the BJP of practising “double standards” and said the party that projects itself as a nationalist force across the country had joined hands with “extremist organisations” in poll-bound Tripura. The saffron party will face defeat at the hands of the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Front and the Assembly elections in Tripura will be BJP’s “Waterloo”, he claimed. The CPI(M) leader also said that the BJP was trying to unite anti-Left forces in the state to win the polls. “They (the BJP) are trying to…

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