<p dir="ltr"><span>US President Donald Trump said on Monday (Jan 27) that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the United States in February.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>&ldquo;He (PM Modi) will visit the US sometime in February,&rdquo; news agency Reuters quoted Donald Trump as saying.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>This comes after Trump on Monday had a "productive" phone call with PM Narendra Modi, where the two leaders discussed expanding and deepening bilateral cooperation and issues including security in the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, and Europe. </span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>This was the first telephonic conversation between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi since the Republican was sworn in for a second term on January 20.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Also read | </span><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-and-donald-trump-discuss-strengthening-india-us-partnership-over-call-8658886">PM Modi and Donald Trump discuss strengthening India-US partnership over call</a></strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The American leader noted he discussed the issue of immigration with the Indian Premier and said Prime Minister Modi "will do what's right" when it comes to taking back Indian immigrants who came to the US illegally.</span></p>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>PM Modi on call with Trump</strong></h2>
<p dir="ltr"><span>PM Modi on Monday posted on X that the two countries are committed to a mutually beneficial and trusted partnership.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"Delighted to speak with my dear friend President @realDonaldTrump @POTUS. Congratulated him on his historic second term. We are committed to a mutually beneficial and trusted partnership. We will work together for the welfare of our people and towards global peace, prosperity, and security," PM Modi said after the talks concluded.</span></p>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>White House on Trump-Modi call</strong></h2>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The White House released a statement on the talks held between the two leaders, saying that the two "discussed expanding and deepening cooperation."</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Also read | </span><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/prime-minister-modi-highlights-indias-growing-concert-economy-citing-coldplays-tour-8660890">Prime Minister Modi highlights India's growing concert economy, citing Coldplay's tour</a></strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"Today, President Donald J. Trump held a productive call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India. The two leaders discussed expanding and deepening cooperation. They also discussed a range of regional issues, including security in the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, and Europe," it said.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"The President emphasized the importance of India increasing its procurement of American-made security equipment and moving toward a fair bilateral trading relationship. The leaders discussed plans for Prime Minister Modi to visit the White House, underscoring the strength of the friendship and strategic ties between our nations. Both leaders emphasized their commitment to advance the U.S.-India strategic partnership and the Indo-Pacific Quad partnership, with India hosting Quad Leaders for the first time later this year," it added.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

World | India News: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit the United States in February as paer an announcement by US President Donald Trump on January 27.

US President Donald Trump said on Monday (Jan 27) that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the United States in February. “He (PM Modi) will visit the US sometime in February,” news agency Reuters quoted Donald Trump as saying. This comes after Trump on Monday had a "productive" phone call with PM Narendra Modi, where the two leaders discussed expanding and deepening bilateral cooperation and issues including security in the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, and Europe. This was the first telephonic conversation between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi since the Republican was sworn in for a second term on January 20. Also read | PM Modi and Donald Trump discuss strengthening India-US partnership over call The American leader noted he discussed the issue of immigration with the Indian Premier and said Prime Minister Modi "will do what's right" when it comes to taking back Indian immigrants who came to the US illegally. PM Modi on call with Trump PM Modi on Monday posted on X that the two countries are committed to a mutually beneficial and trusted partnership. "Delighted to speak with my dear friend President @realDonaldTrump @POTUS. Congratulated him on his historic second term. We are committed to a mutually beneficial and trusted partnership. We will work together for the welfare of our people and towards global peace, prosperity, and security," PM Modi said after the talks concluded. White House on Trump-Modi call The White House released a statement on the talks held between the two leaders, saying that the two "discussed expanding and deepening cooperation." Also read | Prime Minister Modi highlights India's growing concert economy, citing Coldplay's tour "Today, President Donald J. Trump held a productive call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India. The two leaders discussed expanding and deepening cooperation. They also discussed a range of regional issues, including security in the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, and Europe," it said. "The President emphasized the importance of India increasing its procurement of American-made security equipment and moving toward a fair bilateral trading relationship. The leaders discussed plans for Prime Minister Modi to visit the White House, underscoring the strength of the friendship and strategic ties between our nations. Both leaders emphasized their commitment to advance the U.S.-India strategic partnership and the Indo-Pacific Quad partnership, with India hosting Quad Leaders for the first time later this year," it added. (With inputs from agencies)

PM Modi to visit US in Feb, Trump says India ‘will do what's right’ on immigrants

<p>Republic Day 2025: Keeping up with the tradition of wearing bright and colourful turbans on the occasion of both Independence Day and Republic Day, Indian PM Narendra Modi came dressed in a vibrant red and yellow turban.</p>
<p>Modi dons a different turban (pagadi) every year as a mark of India&rsquo;s growth and a reference to India&rsquo;s diversity in culture and heritage.&nbsp;</p>
<h2 class="gh-featured-post__title"><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/republic-day-2025-live-us-extends-greetings-to-india-on-republic-day-8654335">Republic Day 2025 LIVE: Iconic parade at New Delhi's Kartavya Path begins</a></h2>
<h2><strong>What is a pagadi and its cultural significance?</strong></h2>
<p>Locally known as pagadi, the turban symbolises honour and respect in Indian culture. It&rsquo;s worn by both men and women in different parts of the country. There are multiple ways of tying a turban in India. It is also known as saafa in many parts of the country.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Last year, on India's 75th Republic Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi donned a multi-coloured turban with the predominant colour yellow, symbolising Lord Ram. It was the year when Modi had just presided over the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Shri Ram Lalla in the newly-built Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22, 2024.&nbsp;</p>
<h2><strong>Modi wishes citizens of India on Republic Day 2025</strong></h2>
<p>Wishing the nation on completing 75 years of being a Republic, PM Modi took to X and wrote, "Happy Republic Day. Today, we celebrate 75 glorious years of being a Republic. We bow to all the great women and men who made our Constitution and ensured that our journey is rooted in democracy, dignity and unity. May this occasion strengthen our efforts towards preserving the ideals of our Constitution and working towards a stronger and prosperous India.&rdquo;</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m6d6h046-hs3xve5i-bud1eg23">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Happy Republic Day. <br><br>Today, we celebrate 75 glorious years of being a Republic. We bow to all the great women and men who made our Constitution and ensured that our journey is rooted in democracy, dignity and unity. May this occasion strengthen our efforts towards preserving the&hellip;</p>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1883335095123153333?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
<h2 class="gh-archive-page-post-title"><a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/republic-day-2025-30-messages-whatsapp-facebook-status-to-share-8654391" aria-label="Republic Day 2025: 30+ messages, WhatsApp, Facebook status to share">Republic Day 2025: 30+ messages, WhatsApp, Facebook status to share</a></h2>
<h2 class="gh-archive-page-post-title"><a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/padma-awards-2025-ajith-kumar-pankaj-udhas-get-padma-bhushan-arijit-singh-padma-shri-see-full-list-8654537" aria-label="Padma Awards 2025: Ajith Kumar, Pankaj Udhas get Padma Bhushan, Arijit Singh Padma Shri; see full list">Padma Awards 2025: Ajith Kumar, Pankaj Udhas get Padma Bhushan, Arijit Singh Padma Shri; see full list</a></h2>
<p>India celebrates Republic Day on January 26 as its Constitution came into effect on the same day in 1950.</p>

India News Lifestyle Trending Republic Day 2025: Indian PM Narendra Modi kept up the tradition of donning bright turbans on the occasion of Independence Day and Republic Day.

Republic Day 2025: Keeping up with the tradition of wearing bright and colourful turbans on the occasion of both Independence Day and Republic Day, Indian PM Narendra Modi came dressed in a vibrant red and yellow turban. Modi dons a different turban (pagadi) every year as a mark of India’s growth and a reference to India’s diversity in culture and heritage. Republic Day 2025 LIVE: Iconic parade at New Delhi's Kartavya Path begins What is a pagadi and its cultural significance? Locally known as pagadi, the turban symbolises honour and respect in Indian culture. It’s worn by both men and women in different parts of the country. There are multiple ways of tying a turban in India. It is also known as saafa in many parts of the country. Last year, on India's 75th Republic Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi donned a multi-coloured turban with the predominant colour yellow, symbolising Lord Ram. It was the year when Modi had just presided over the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Shri Ram Lalla in the newly-built Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22, 2024. Modi wishes citizens of India on Republic Day 2025 Wishing the nation on completing 75 years of being a Republic, PM Modi took to X and wrote, "Happy Republic Day. Today, we celebrate 75 glorious years of being a Republic. We bow to all the great women and men who made our Constitution and ensured that our journey is rooted in democracy, dignity and unity. May this occasion strengthen our efforts towards preserving the ideals of our Constitution and working towards a stronger and prosperous India.” Happy Republic Day. Today, we celebrate 75 glorious years of being a Republic. We bow to all the great women and men who made our Constitution and ensured that our journey is rooted in democracy, dignity and unity. May this occasion strengthen our efforts towards preserving the… — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 26, 2025 Republic Day 2025: 30+ messages, WhatsApp, Facebook status to share Padma Awards 2025: Ajith Kumar, Pankaj Udhas get Padma Bhushan, Arijit Singh Padma Shri; see full list India celebrates Republic Day on January 26 as its Constitution came into effect on the same day in 1950.

Indian PM Modi dons yet another bright-coloured turban for Republic Day 2025

<p dir="ltr"><span>Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday distributed around 65 lakh Svamitva property cards and said it will bolster economic activities and help in poverty alleviation.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>He also interacted with some beneficiaries through video conferencing and said the scheme will help people get loans and benefits of government schemes.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>These property cards are being distributed to beneficiaries across more than 50,000 villages in 10 states -- Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and two Union Territories off Jammu &amp; Kashmir, and Ladakh.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Also read | </span><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rg-kar-case-verdict-main-accused-sanjoy-roy-found-guilty-of-raping-murdering-doctor-8632532">RG Kar case verdict: Main accused Sanjoy Roy found guilty of raping, murdering doctor</a></strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"Around 2.24 crore beneficiaries in villages will now have Svamitva property cards after 65 lakh cards are distributed today," the prime minister said.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"Property rights is a major challenge across the world. Years ago, the United Nations held a study that revealed people did not have legal documents for property rights in several countries. The UN has said property rights are important for poverty alleviation," he said.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The prime minister said an eminent economist had opined that property in villages is a "dead capital" because people cannot do anything with it, and it can't help increase their income.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"India was also impacted by this challenge. People in villages have property worth lakhs of crores, but they do not have papers for it. There were disputes, properties were snatched, and even banks did not provide loans over it," he said.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"Previous governments should have taken steps to do something about it, but nothing much was done," he said.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Modi said Dalits, backward classes, and tribals were the worst affected by this.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"After getting legal property rights, lakhs of people have taken loans. They have used this money to start their businesses. Many of these are farmers, for whom this property card is a guarantee of financial security," he said.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>He also said that Svamitva and Bhu-Adhaar will become the foundation of the development of villages.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Union Minister of Panchayati Raj, Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lalan', Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, S P Singh Baghel, and Ministry of Panchayati Raj Secretary Vivek Bharadwaj were also present at the event.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>It was attended virtually by several chief ministers, Union ministers and state ministers.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Events are also being organised in over 230 districts for the physical distribution of property cards. It is expected that around 13 Union ministers will physically join from designated locations from across the country to oversee regional distribution ceremonies of property cards.</span></p>
<p><em>Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.</em></p>

India News: Prime Minister Modi distributed around 65 lakh Svamitva property cards to boost economic activities and target poverty alleviation through rural property rights.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday distributed around 65 lakh Svamitva property cards and said it will bolster economic activities and help in poverty alleviation. He also interacted with some beneficiaries through video conferencing and said the scheme will help people get loans and benefits of government schemes. These property cards are being distributed to beneficiaries across more than 50,000 villages in 10 states -- Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and two Union Territories off Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh. Also read | RG Kar case verdict: Main accused Sanjoy Roy found guilty of raping, murdering doctor "Around 2.24 crore beneficiaries in villages will now have Svamitva property cards after 65 lakh cards are distributed today," the prime minister said. "Property rights is a major challenge across the world. Years ago, the United Nations held a study that revealed people did not have legal documents for property rights in several countries. The UN has said property rights are important for poverty alleviation," he said. The prime minister said an eminent economist had opined that property in villages is a "dead capital" because people cannot do anything with it, and it can't help increase their income. "India was also impacted by this challenge. People in villages have property worth lakhs of crores, but they do not have papers for it. There were disputes, properties were snatched, and even banks did not provide loans over it," he said. "Previous governments should have taken steps to do something about it, but nothing much was done," he said. Modi said Dalits, backward classes, and tribals were the worst affected by this. "After getting legal property rights, lakhs of people have taken loans. They have used this money to start their businesses. Many of these are farmers, for whom this property card is a guarantee of financial security," he said. He also said that Svamitva and Bhu-Adhaar will become the foundation of the development of villages. Union Minister of Panchayati Raj, Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lalan', Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, S P Singh Baghel, and Ministry of Panchayati Raj Secretary Vivek Bharadwaj were also present at the event. It was attended virtually by several chief ministers, Union ministers and state ministers. Events are also being organised in over 230 districts for the physical distribution of property cards. It is expected that around 13 Union ministers will physically join from designated locations from across the country to oversee regional distribution ceremonies of property cards. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

India: PM Modi distributes 65 lakh Svamitva property cards

<p>French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that Indian PM Modi will be traveling to France for a state visit and attending the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit. Addressing the French Ambassadors Conference, Macron said, 'France will be hosting on 11-12th February the AI Summit, summit for action. This summit will enable us to have an international discussion on Artificial intelligence. PM Modi will be there immediately after his state visit to our country, &amp; this enables us to have dialogue with all the powers on AI, US, China &amp; major nations like India which have a role to play, &amp; gulf states'.&nbsp;</p>
<p>India will be co-hosting the summit that will take place at the Grand Palais in Paris. This summit follows a series of international gatherings on AI, including the AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park in the UK (2023) and in Seoul, South Korea (2024). Indian govt itself has been engaging with global AI initiatives, something that was evident by hosted the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit 2023 in Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, inaugurating the summit, emphasised India's role in AI development and governance.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/singapore-prez-tharman-to-visit-india-from-14th-to-18th-january-8608590" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Singapore Prez Tharman to visit India from 14th to 18th January</a></strong></p>
<p>This is the 2nd visit of PM Modi to France in the last one and a half years. PM Modi was the Guest of Honour at France's Bastille Day parade in July 2023, and the visit came as India France marked the 25th anniversary of their strategic partnership. The visit was followed by a reciprocal visit of French President Macron who was the chief guest at India's Republic day in January of 2024.</p>
<p>The upcoming visit is expected to focus on finalizing two large defense deals between India and France. The deals worth billions of dollars involve the purchase of 26 Rafale-M fighter jets for the Indian Navy's aircraft carriers and Scorpene-class conventional submarines. India, France has a strong defence partnership. Other than buying Rafael fighter jets, both sides are co-developing a combat aircraft engine. France has committed to supporting 'Make in India' by transferring technology for various defense projects, enhancing India's defense industrial capabilities. The countries hold exercises in all domains like Shakti, Varuna and Garuda.</p>
<p>From Indo Pacific to counter terror, both countries have been working with each other. France played a key role in listing of Pakistani terrorists at the UN and has been a vocal support of India's presence at a reformed United Nations Security Council.</p>

India News World | PM Modi was the Guest of Honour at France's Bastille Day parade in July 2023, and the visit came as India France marked the 25th anniversary of their strategic partnership. 

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that Indian PM Modi will be traveling to France for a state visit and attending the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit. Addressing the French Ambassadors Conference, Macron said, 'France will be hosting on 11-12th February the AI Summit, summit for action. This summit will enable us to have an international discussion on Artificial intelligence. PM Modi will be there immediately after his state visit to our country, & this enables us to have dialogue with all the powers on AI, US, China & major nations like India which have a role to play, & gulf states'. India will be co-hosting the summit that will take place at the Grand Palais in Paris. This summit follows a series of international gatherings on AI, including the AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park in the UK (2023) and in Seoul, South Korea (2024). Indian govt itself has been engaging with global AI initiatives, something that was evident by hosted the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit 2023 in Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, inaugurating the summit, emphasised India's role in AI development and governance. Also Read: Singapore Prez Tharman to visit India from 14th to 18th January This is the 2nd visit of PM Modi to France in the last one and a half years. PM Modi was the Guest of Honour at France's Bastille Day parade in July 2023, and the visit came as India France marked the 25th anniversary of their strategic partnership. The visit was followed by a reciprocal visit of French President Macron who was the chief guest at India's Republic day in January of 2024. The upcoming visit is expected to focus on finalizing two large defense deals between India and France. The deals worth billions of dollars involve the purchase of 26 Rafale-M fighter jets for the Indian Navy's aircraft carriers and Scorpene-class conventional submarines. India, France has a strong defence partnership. Other than buying Rafael fighter jets, both sides are co-developing a combat aircraft engine. France has committed to supporting 'Make in India' by transferring technology for various defense projects, enhancing India's defense industrial capabilities. The countries hold exercises in all domains like Shakti, Varuna and Garuda. From Indo Pacific to counter terror, both countries have been working with each other. France played a key role in listing of Pakistani terrorists at the UN and has been a vocal support of India's presence at a reformed United Nations Security Council.

PM Modi to visit France, announces Macron

<p>Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has strongly criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his handling of the violence in Manipur. In a post on X, Kharge wrote, &ldquo;The BJP is the matchstick which burnt Manipur!&rdquo;</p>
<p>The violence, which has been ongoing since May 2023, involves clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities. Kharge further hit out at Modi saying that his last visit to Manipur was in January 2022, just to seek votes for the BJP. &ldquo;Narendra Modi ji, your last visit to Manipur was for seeking votes for the BJP, way back in January 2022. Violence erupted in the state on May 3, 2023,&rdquo; Kharge said.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> ji, <br><br>Your last visit to Manipur was for seeking votes for BJP, way back in January 2022. <br><br>Violence erupted in the state on 3rd May 2023. <br><br>More than 600 days have passed, and media reports through satellite images have now revealed that villages after villages&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/kVVLzb4Tw6">pic.twitter.com/kVVLzb4Tw6</a></p>
&mdash; Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) <a href="https://twitter.com/kharge/status/1875422975710695492?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p>
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<p><strong>Also read |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/india-dismisses-reports-of-new-delhi-link-to-a-failed-plot-to-impeach-maldivian-president-mohamed-muizzu-8589147">India dismisses reports of New Delhi link to a failed plot to impeach Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu</a></p>
<h2><strong>PM Modi&rsquo;s silence on Manipur under fire</strong></h2>
<p>The Congress has repeatedly criticised Modi for not visiting the state after the violence erupted. The party argues that the Prime Minister&rsquo;s absence and lack of leadership have made the situation worse. The violence in Manipur, which has claimed many lives and caused widespread displacement, remains unresolved.</p>
<p>Violence flared again on Friday in Kangpokpi district, where a mob attacked the office of the district&rsquo;s police chief. The attack followed protests over the continued presence of central security forces in Saibol village, near Imphal East. Several people, including police officers and protesters, were injured during the confrontation.</p>
<p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-uapa-tribunal-upholds-ban-on-khalistani-terrorist-pannuns-sikhs-for-justice-8591013">India: UAPA Tribunal upholds ban on Khalistani terrorist Pannun's Sikhs For Justice</a></p>
<h2><strong>Manipur CM apologises</strong></h2>
<p>In the midst of the violence, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh expressed regret over the bloodshed and large-scale displacement. He apologised for the hardships caused but also expressed hope that peace would return soon. &ldquo;Many people left their homes. I feel regret. I apologise. But now, I hope after seeing the last three to four months&rsquo; progress towards peace, I believe by 2025, normalcy will be restored in the state,&rdquo; Singh said.</p>
<p><em>(with inputs from agencies)</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

India | The Congress has repeatedly criticised Modi for not visiting the state after the violence began. The party argues that the Prime Minister’s absence and lack of leadership have made the situation worse. 

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has strongly criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his handling of the violence in Manipur. In a post on X, Kharge wrote, “The BJP is the matchstick which burnt Manipur!” The violence, which has been ongoing since May 2023, involves clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities. Kharge further hit out at Modi saying that his last visit to Manipur was in January 2022, just to seek votes for the BJP. “Narendra Modi ji, your last visit to Manipur was for seeking votes for the BJP, way back in January 2022. Violence erupted in the state on May 3, 2023,” Kharge said. .@narendramodi ji, Your last visit to Manipur was for seeking votes for BJP, way back in January 2022. Violence erupted in the state on 3rd May 2023. More than 600 days have passed, and media reports through satellite images have now revealed that villages after villages… pic.twitter.com/kVVLzb4Tw6 — Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) January 4, 2025 Also read | India dismisses reports of New Delhi link to a failed plot to impeach Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu PM Modi’s silence on Manipur under fire The Congress has repeatedly criticised Modi for not visiting the state after the violence erupted. The party argues that the Prime Minister’s absence and lack of leadership have made the situation worse. The violence in Manipur, which has claimed many lives and caused widespread displacement, remains unresolved. Violence flared again on Friday in Kangpokpi district, where a mob attacked the office of the district’s police chief. The attack followed protests over the continued presence of central security forces in Saibol village, near Imphal East. Several people, including police officers and protesters, were injured during the confrontation. Also read | India: UAPA Tribunal upholds ban on Khalistani terrorist Pannun's Sikhs For Justice Manipur CM apologises In the midst of the violence, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh expressed regret over the bloodshed and large-scale displacement. He apologised for the hardships caused but also expressed hope that peace would return soon. “Many people left their homes. I feel regret. I apologise. But now, I hope after seeing the last three to four months’ progress towards peace, I believe by 2025, normalcy will be restored in the state,” Singh said. (with inputs from agencies)

'BJP is the matchstick which burnt Manipur,' Congress Prez Kharge slams PM Modi amid ongoing violence

<p>After wrapping up his Dil Luminati India Tour in Ludhiana on December 31, actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on January 1, 2025. The duo had a 'memorable meet' where they discussed music, culture, and India's vibrancy, including yoga.<br><br><strong>Diljit sings for PM Modi<br></strong><br>During the meeting, PM Modi praised Diljit for his achievements and said, &ldquo;When a boy from a small village in Hindustan shines on the global stage, it feels amazing. Your family named you Diljit, and you keep on winning people's hearts, just as your name suggests.&rdquo;&nbsp;<br><br>Diljit responded, &ldquo;We used to read that 'Mera Bharat Mahan' (My India is great), but when I travelled across India, I realised why people say this.&rdquo; PM Modi highlighted India's diversity: "India's vastness is its strength. We are a vibrant society."</p>
<p>"The greatest magic in India is yoga." PM Modi agreed, saying, "Those who have experienced yoga know its power," the singer added.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Diljit also praised PM Modi's personal journey and said, "I had watched your interview, sir. The position of Prime Minister is great, but behind it, there is a mother, a son, and a human being. Many times, this half-truth is much larger when you carry your mother and the sacred Ganga with you. That touches the heart."</p>
<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/diljit-dosanjhs-ludhiana-concert-lands-in-trouble-over-songs-mentioning-alcohol-8583632">Diljit Dosanjh's Ludhiana concert lands in trouble over songs mentioning alcohol</a></p>
<p>Diljit then sang a song on Guru Nanak, as PM Modi listened intently, beating the adjacent table, matching his beats with Diljit's.</p>
<p>Diljit Dosanjh took to social media to share photos of their meeting and called it a "fantastic" way to start the year.&nbsp;<br><br>He posted on X, &ldquo;A fantastic start to 2025. A very memorable meeting with PM @narendramodi Ji. We talked about many things, including music, of course!&rdquo;</p>
<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment-news/punjabi-aa-gaye-oye-beaming-with-desi-pride-2024-was-the-year-of-diljit-dosanjh-8579778">&lsquo;Punjabi Aa Gaye Oye': Beaming with Desi Pride, 2024 was year of Diljit Dosanjh</a><br><br>PM Modi responded to Dosanjh's post, describing their meeting as "a great interaction." He said, &ldquo;A great interaction with Diljit Dosanjh! He's truly multifaceted, blending talent and tradition. We connected over music, culture, and more.&rdquo;</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">A great interaction with Diljit Dosanjh! <br><br>He&rsquo;s truly multifaceted, blending talent and tradition. We connected over music, culture and more&hellip; <a href="https://twitter.com/diljitdosanjh?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@diljitdosanjh</a> <a href="https://t.co/X768l08CY1">https://t.co/X768l08CY1</a></p>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1874507862497771967?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<p><br><br><strong>Diljit Dosanjh's Dil Luminati Tour<br></strong><br>Diljit performed in various cities of India with his Dil-Luminati tour which had its grand performance in Ludhiana on December 31. &nbsp;Throughout his concerts at various venues, the singer aimed to address important social issues during his performances and gave reference to local artists and poets. The concert also faced controversy over on-ground mismanagement, only ticketing fraud. Several groups called for a ban on songs that mentioned alcohol.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/diljit-dosanjh-pays-warm-tribute-to-dr-manmohan-singh-at-his-guwahati-concert-watch-8578425">Diljit Dosanjh pays tribute to Manmohan Singh at Guwahati concert, watch</a>&nbsp;</p>

Entertainment | Diljit Dosanjh concluded his Dil Luminati India Tour in Ludhiana, marking New Year's Eve with a high-energy performance before meeting PM Modi in Delhi on Jan 1.

After wrapping up his Dil Luminati India Tour in Ludhiana on December 31, actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on January 1, 2025. The duo had a 'memorable meet' where they discussed music, culture, and India's vibrancy, including yoga. Diljit sings for PM Modi During the meeting, PM Modi praised Diljit for his achievements and said, “When a boy from a small village in Hindustan shines on the global stage, it feels amazing. Your family named you Diljit, and you keep on winning people's hearts, just as your name suggests.” Diljit responded, “We used to read that 'Mera Bharat Mahan' (My India is great), but when I travelled across India, I realised why people say this.” PM Modi highlighted India's diversity: "India's vastness is its strength. We are a vibrant society." "The greatest magic in India is yoga." PM Modi agreed, saying, "Those who have experienced yoga know its power," the singer added. Diljit also praised PM Modi's personal journey and said, "I had watched your interview, sir. The position of Prime Minister is great, but behind it, there is a mother, a son, and a human being. Many times, this half-truth is much larger when you carry your mother and the sacred Ganga with you. That touches the heart." Diljit Dosanjh's Ludhiana concert lands in trouble over songs mentioning alcohol Diljit then sang a song on Guru Nanak, as PM Modi listened intently, beating the adjacent table, matching his beats with Diljit's. Diljit Dosanjh took to social media to share photos of their meeting and called it a "fantastic" way to start the year. He posted on X, “A fantastic start to 2025. A very memorable meeting with PM @narendramodi Ji. We talked about many things, including music, of course!” ‘Punjabi Aa Gaye Oye': Beaming with Desi Pride, 2024 was year of Diljit Dosanjh PM Modi responded to Dosanjh's post, describing their meeting as "a great interaction." He said, “A great interaction with Diljit Dosanjh! He's truly multifaceted, blending talent and tradition. We connected over music, culture, and more.” A great interaction with Diljit Dosanjh! He’s truly multifaceted, blending talent and tradition. We connected over music, culture and more… @diljitdosanjh https://t.co/X768l08CY1 — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 1, 2025 Diljit Dosanjh's Dil Luminati Tour Diljit performed in various cities of India with his Dil-Luminati tour which had its grand performance in Ludhiana on December 31. Throughout his concerts at various venues, the singer aimed to address important social issues during his performances and gave reference to local artists and poets. The concert also faced controversy over on-ground mismanagement, only ticketing fraud. Several groups called for a ban on songs that mentioned alcohol. Diljit Dosanjh pays tribute to Manmohan Singh at Guwahati concert, watch

Diljit Dosanjh sings as PM Modi beats table during their meet in New Delhi

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<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday attended a Christmas celebration at the residence of Union Minister George Kurian in Delhi, where he received a warm welcome and interacted with prominent members of the Christian community.</p>

<p>"Attended the Christmas celebrations at the residence of Union Minister Shri George Kurian Ji. Also interacted with eminent members of the Christian community," PM Modi said in a post on X.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="da"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends Christmas celebration at the residence of Union Minister George Kurian, in Delhi <a href="https://t.co/VHIxEPEwxg">pic.twitter.com/VHIxEPEwxg</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1869769077574787131?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>PM Modi received a rousing welcome and was given a flower bouquet at the residence of the Kurian family. During the celebration, PM Modi also lighted candles and witnessed several programs.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the Santhome Cathedral Basilica in Chennai is lit up with colourful lighting ahead of the Christmas festival. Christmas is an annual festival celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed by billions of people worldwide on December 25 as a religious and cultural event.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kuwait-among-indias-top-trading-partners-says-indian-foreign-ministry-ahead-of-pm-modis-historic-visit-785570" target="_blank">Kuwait among India's 'top trading partners' says MEA ahead of PM Modi's visit</a></strong></p>

<p>On the occasion of Christmas, people across the country celebrate 'Christmas Eve' with midnight masses being held in several states. The churches get lit up and revellers burst firecrackers to ring in the festival of merriment.</p>

<p>Christmas is an annual festival which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas is marked and celebrated by billions worldwide on December 25 as a major religious and cultural event.</p>

<p>It is one of the most sacred days in Christianity and it is often spent with friends and family. People set up Christmas trees in their homes and decorate the house with lights and hanging wreaths.</p>

<p>The day is also marked by celebratory homecomings warm family gatherings and eatouts. Carol singing, dazzling Christmas lights, and richly decked-up Christmas trees entice folks to join in the celebrations on this day.</p>

<p><em>Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.</em></p>


Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday attended a Christmas celebration at the residence of Union Minister George Kurian in Delhi, where he received a warm welcome and interacted with prominent members of the Christian community.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday attended a Christmas celebration at the residence of Union Minister George Kurian in Delhi, where he received a warm welcome and interacted with prominent members of the Christian community. "Attended the Christmas celebrations at the residence of Union Minister Shri George Kurian Ji. Also interacted with eminent members of the Christian community," PM Modi said in a post on X. #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends Christmas celebration at the residence of Union Minister George Kurian, in Delhi pic.twitter.com/VHIxEPEwxg — ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2024 × PM Modi received a rousing welcome and was given a flower bouquet at the residence of the Kurian family. During the celebration, PM Modi also lighted candles and witnessed several programs. Meanwhile, the Santhome Cathedral Basilica in Chennai is lit up with colourful lighting ahead of the Christmas festival. Christmas is an annual festival celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed by billions of people worldwide on December 25 as a religious and cultural event. Also read: Kuwait among India's 'top trading partners' says MEA ahead of PM Modi's visit On the occasion of Christmas, people across the country celebrate 'Christmas Eve' with midnight masses being held in several states. The churches get lit up and revellers burst firecrackers to ring in the festival of merriment. Christmas is an annual festival which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas is marked and celebrated by billions worldwide on December 25 as a major religious and cultural event. It is one of the most sacred days in Christianity and it is often spent with friends and family. People set up Christmas trees in their homes and decorate the house with lights and hanging wreaths. The day is also marked by celebratory homecomings warm family gatherings and eatouts. Carol singing, dazzling Christmas lights, and richly decked-up Christmas trees entice folks to join in the celebrations on this day. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Watch: PM Modi joins Christmas celebrations at Union Minister George Kurian's home

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<p>The External Affairs Ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, dismissed a Canadian report claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was aware of a plot to kill Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, calling it a "smear campaign."</p>

<p>“We do not normally comment on media reports. However, such ludicrous statements made to a newspaper purportedly by a Canadian government source should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve. Smear campaigns like this only further damage our already strained ties,” Jaiswal said.</p>

<h2><strong>What did the report claim?</strong></h2>

<p>The Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail published a report claiming that Prime Minister Modi, National Security Advisor and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, had been informed about a plan to assassinate Nijjar. The newspaper cited an unnamed senior national security official.</p>

<p>“Canadian security agencies believe Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India knew about the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia and other violent plots, according to a senior national-security official who worked on the intelligence assessment of New Delhi’s foreign-interference operations in Canada,” the report said.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-feel-like-bin-laden-florida-man-arrested-by-fbi-for-planning-to-bomb-nyse-to-reboot-us-government-777883">‘I feel like Bin Laden,’ Florida man arrested by FBI for planning to bomb NYSE</a></strong></p>

<p>“The official said the [Canadian] assessment is that it would be unthinkable that three senior political figures in India would not have discussed the targeted killings with Mr Modi before proceeding,” the report claimed.</p>

<p>Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist and Canadian citizen was killed in Vancouver last June. His assassination led to a diplomatic crisis after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of being involved. He claimed "credible information" was shared with intelligence partners, including the US. India has repeatedly denied these accusations.</p>

<h2><strong>India Canada tensions</strong></h2>

<p>Tensions between India and Canada reached a breaking point on October 14 when the Canadian government labelled Indian diplomats, including the High Commissioner, as "persons of interest" in the investigation into Nijjar’s murder. In response, India withdrew its diplomats from Canada and expelled six Canadian envoys.</p>

<p>The Indian government has also accused Prime Minister Trudeau of using the situation for political gain, claiming that he is engaging in "vote-bank politics" with national elections approaching next year.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The External Affairs Ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, dismissed a Canadian report claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was aware of a plot to kill Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, calling it a "smear campaign.

The External Affairs Ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, dismissed a Canadian report claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was aware of a plot to kill Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, calling it a "smear campaign." “We do not normally comment on media reports. However, such ludicrous statements made to a newspaper purportedly by a Canadian government source should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve. Smear campaigns like this only further damage our already strained ties,” Jaiswal said. What did the report claim? The Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail published a report claiming that Prime Minister Modi, National Security Advisor and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, had been informed about a plan to assassinate Nijjar. The newspaper cited an unnamed senior national security official. “Canadian security agencies believe Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India knew about the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia and other violent plots, according to a senior national-security official who worked on the intelligence assessment of New Delhi’s foreign-interference operations in Canada,” the report said. Also read: ‘I feel like Bin Laden,’ Florida man arrested by FBI for planning to bomb NYSE “The official said the [Canadian] assessment is that it would be unthinkable that three senior political figures in India would not have discussed the targeted killings with Mr Modi before proceeding,” the report claimed. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist and Canadian citizen was killed in Vancouver last June. His assassination led to a diplomatic crisis after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of being involved. He claimed "credible information" was shared with intelligence partners, including the US. India has repeatedly denied these accusations. India Canada tensions Tensions between India and Canada reached a breaking point on October 14 when the Canadian government labelled Indian diplomats, including the High Commissioner, as "persons of interest" in the investigation into Nijjar’s murder. In response, India withdrew its diplomats from Canada and expelled six Canadian envoys. The Indian government has also accused Prime Minister Trudeau of using the situation for political gain, claiming that he is engaging in "vote-bank politics" with national elections approaching next year. (With inputs from agencies)

'Ludicrous,' India dismisses Canadian report claiming PM Modi knew of Nijjar death plot

<p>The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) in Gujarat's Lothal on Wednesday.</p>

<p>Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the museum at Lothal will be the largest maritime heritage complex in the world.</p>

<p>Briefing the media after the Union Cabinet meeting, Vaishnaw said, "Today, the Cabinet approved the development of a National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal in Gujarat. The proposal aims to showcase India's rich and diverse maritime heritage and create the largest maritime heritage complex in the world."</p>

<p>The maritime project at Lothal will be completed in two phases. The Union Cabinet has granted in-principle approval for Phases 1B and 2, based on the master plan. Funds will be raised through voluntary contributions, and construction will commence once the necessary resources are secured.</p>

<p>The construction of the Lighthouse Museum under Phase 1B will be funded by the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL).</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/narendra-modi-marks-23-years-in-public-office-key-achievements-and-future-vision-765336"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Narendra Modi marks 23 years in public office: Key achievements and future vision</strong></a></p>

<p>A separate society will be established for the development of future phases, governed by a Governing Council headed by the minister of ports, shipping and&nbsp;waterways, under the Societies Registration Act, of 1860. This body will oversee the implementation, development, management, and operation of the NMHC at Lothal, Gujarat.</p>

<p>Phase 1A of the project is currently underway, with over 60 per cent of the physical work completed. It is expected to be finished by 2025. Phases 1A and 1B will be developed in EPC mode, while Phase 2 will be developed through land subleasing or a public-private partnership (PPP) to establish NMHC as a world-class heritage museum.</p>

<p>The development of the NMHC project is expected to create around 22,000 jobs, with 15,000 direct and 7,000 indirect employment opportunities.</p>

<p>Furthermore, the implementation of NMHC aims to boost growth and significantly benefit local communities, tourists, researchers, scholars, government bodies, educational institutions, cultural organisations, environmental and conservation groups, and businesses.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;India: People performed 'Swastik Raas' in Gujarat's Jamnagar</strong></p>

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<p>Phase 1A will feature an NMHC museum with six galleries, including an Indian Navy and&nbsp;Coast Guard gallery, which is expected to be one of the largest in the country. It will showcase external naval artefacts, a replica model of Lothal township surrounded by an open aquatic gallery, and a jetty walkway.</p>

<p>Phase 1B will add eight more galleries, a Lighthouse Museum, which is planned to be the world's tallest, a Bagicha complex with parking for about 1,500 cars, a food hall, and a medical centre.</p>

<p>Phase 2 will include Coastal State Pavilions developed by respective coastal states and union territories, a hospitality zone featuring a maritime-themed eco-resort and "museotels," a recreation of the real-time Lothal city, a maritime institute and hostel, and four theme-based parks.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.</em></p>


The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) in Gujarat's Lothal on Wednesday.

The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) in Gujarat's Lothal on Wednesday. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the museum at Lothal will be the largest maritime heritage complex in the world. Briefing the media after the Union Cabinet meeting, Vaishnaw said, "Today, the Cabinet approved the development of a National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal in Gujarat. The proposal aims to showcase India's rich and diverse maritime heritage and create the largest maritime heritage complex in the world." The maritime project at Lothal will be completed in two phases. The Union Cabinet has granted in-principle approval for Phases 1B and 2, based on the master plan. Funds will be raised through voluntary contributions, and construction will commence once the necessary resources are secured. The construction of the Lighthouse Museum under Phase 1B will be funded by the Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL). Also read: Narendra Modi marks 23 years in public office: Key achievements and future vision A separate society will be established for the development of future phases, governed by a Governing Council headed by the minister of ports, shipping and waterways, under the Societies Registration Act, of 1860. This body will oversee the implementation, development, management, and operation of the NMHC at Lothal, Gujarat. Phase 1A of the project is currently underway, with over 60 per cent of the physical work completed. It is expected to be finished by 2025. Phases 1A and 1B will be developed in EPC mode, while Phase 2 will be developed through land subleasing or a public-private partnership (PPP) to establish NMHC as a world-class heritage museum. The development of the NMHC project is expected to create around 22,000 jobs, with 15,000 direct and 7,000 indirect employment opportunities. Furthermore, the implementation of NMHC aims to boost growth and significantly benefit local communities, tourists, researchers, scholars, government bodies, educational institutions, cultural organisations, environmental and conservation groups, and businesses. Watch | India: People performed 'Swastik Raas' in Gujarat's Jamnagar × Phase 1A will feature an NMHC museum with six galleries, including an Indian Navy and Coast Guard gallery, which is expected to be one of the largest in the country. It will showcase external naval artefacts, a replica model of Lothal township surrounded by an open aquatic gallery, and a jetty walkway. Phase 1B will add eight more galleries, a Lighthouse Museum, which is planned to be the world's tallest, a Bagicha complex with parking for about 1,500 cars, a food hall, and a medical centre. Phase 2 will include Coastal State Pavilions developed by respective coastal states and union territories, a hospitality zone featuring a maritime-themed eco-resort and "museotels," a recreation of the real-time Lothal city, a maritime institute and hostel, and four theme-based parks. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

India: Union Cabinet approves National Maritime Heritage Complex project in Gujarat

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become the most followed global leader on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), with over 100 million followers. This milestone places Prime Minister Modi far ahead of other world leaders, including the US President Joe Biden with 38.1 million followers, Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed with 11.2 million followers, and Pope Francis with 18.5 million followers.</p>

<p>"A hundred million on @X! Happy to be on this vibrant medium and cherish the discussion, debate, insights, people’s blessings, constructive criticism, and more. Looking forward to an equally engaging time in the future as well," Modi posted on X.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/melodi-vibe-sets-off-wave-of-congratulations-for-pm-modis-expected-third-term-728852">'Melodi' vibe sets off to-and-fro of congratulations for PM Modi's expected third term</a></strong></p>

<p>In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also leads by a significant margin over other Indian politicians. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has 26.4 million followers, while Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has 27.5 million followers. Modi is also ahead of other opposition leaders such as Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav with 19.9 million followers, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with 7.4 million followers, Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad, and NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar with 2.9 million followers.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Melodi | Indian PM Modi's selfie with Italian PM Meloni goes viral</strong></p>

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<p>Modi’s immense popularity on X has made him a focal point for world leaders who seek to engage with him to boost their own follower bases, engagements, views, and reposts. Most notably, Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's social media engagements with Prime Minister Narendra Modi have sparked memes and moments of remarkable traction on X.</p>

<p>Beyond politicians, Prime Minister Modi also surpasses global sporting icons such as Virat Kohli with 64.1 million followers, Brazilian football star Neymar Jr. with 63.6 million followers, and US basketball player LeBron James with 52.9 million followers. He is also more followed than celebrities like Taylor Swift with 95.3 million followers, Lady Gaga with 83.1 million followers, and Kim Kardashian with 75.2 million followers.</p>

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined X in 2009. He has used the platform for engagement. PM Modi follows numerous common citizens, interacts with them, replies to their messages, and has reportedly never blocked anyone.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become the most followed global leader on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), with over 100 million followers. This milestone places Prime Minister Modi far ahead of other world leaders, including the US President Joe Biden with 38.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become the most followed global leader on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), with over 100 million followers. This milestone places Prime Minister Modi far ahead of other world leaders, including the US President Joe Biden with 38.1 million followers, Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed with 11.2 million followers, and Pope Francis with 18.5 million followers. "A hundred million on @X! Happy to be on this vibrant medium and cherish the discussion, debate, insights, people’s blessings, constructive criticism, and more. Looking forward to an equally engaging time in the future as well," Modi posted on X. Also read | 'Melodi' vibe sets off to-and-fro of congratulations for PM Modi's expected third term In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also leads by a significant margin over other Indian politicians. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has 26.4 million followers, while Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has 27.5 million followers. Modi is also ahead of other opposition leaders such as Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav with 19.9 million followers, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with 7.4 million followers, Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad, and NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar with 2.9 million followers. Also watch | Melodi | Indian PM Modi's selfie with Italian PM Meloni goes viral × Modi’s immense popularity on X has made him a focal point for world leaders who seek to engage with him to boost their own follower bases, engagements, views, and reposts. Most notably, Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's social media engagements with Prime Minister Narendra Modi have sparked memes and moments of remarkable traction on X. Beyond politicians, Prime Minister Modi also surpasses global sporting icons such as Virat Kohli with 64.1 million followers, Brazilian football star Neymar Jr. with 63.6 million followers, and US basketball player LeBron James with 52.9 million followers. He is also more followed than celebrities like Taylor Swift with 95.3 million followers, Lady Gaga with 83.1 million followers, and Kim Kardashian with 75.2 million followers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined X in 2009. He has used the platform for engagement. PM Modi follows numerous common citizens, interacts with them, replies to their messages, and has reportedly never blocked anyone. (With inputs from agencies)

PM Modi becomes most followed global leader on X with 100 million followers

<p>Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Vienna on Tuesday (July 9), following Modi's significant visit to Russia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Upon arrival, PM Modi was welcomed by Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg at the airport. Modi will call on Austria President Alexander Van der Bellen and hold formal talks with Nehammer on Wednesday (July 10).</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/war-not-a-solution-murder-of-children-gives-pain-pm-modis-stern-message-to-putin-739308">‘War not a solution, death of children heart-wrenching,’ Modi tells Putin</a></p>

<p>Austrian Chancellor Nehammer hosted Modi for a private engagement, embracing him and taking a selfie as Modi became the first Indian leader to visit Austria in nearly 40 years.</p>

<p>Nehammer took to social media&nbsp;X and wrote, "Welcome to Vienna, PM @narendramodi ! It is a pleasure and honour to welcome you to Austria. Austria and India are friends and partners. I look forward to our political and economic discussions during your visit!”</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Welcome to Vienna, PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> ! It is a pleasure and honour to welcome you to Austria. Austria and India are friends and partners. I look forward to our political and economic discussions during your visit! 🇦🇹 🇮🇳 <a href="https://t.co/e2YJZR1PRs">pic.twitter.com/e2YJZR1PRs</a></p>
— Karl Nehammer (@karlnehammer) <a href="https://twitter.com/karlnehammer/status/1810769299696668774?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>Prime Minister Modi thanked the Chancellor for a warm welcome and replied to the post by saying, "Thank you, Chancellor&nbsp;Karl Nehammer, for the warm welcome. I look forward to our discussions tomorrow as well. Our nations will continue working together to further global good."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thank you, Chancellor <a href="https://twitter.com/karlnehammer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@karlnehammer</a>, for the warm welcome. I look forward to our discussions tomorrow as well. Our nations will continue working together to further global good. 🇮🇳 🇦🇹 <a href="https://t.co/QHDvxPt5pv">pic.twitter.com/QHDvxPt5pv</a></p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1810779657933074794?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>PM Modi's Austria visit marks the first by any Indian prime minister in the last 40 years. In 1983, the then PM Indira Gandhi visited the Central European nation.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>PM Modi concludes Russia visit</strong></p>

<p>Prime Minister Modi on Monday (July 8) began his state visit to Russia to hold the 22nd India-Russia annual summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjjspa59ZmHAxXfXGwGHUDRBSgQxfQBKAB6BAgIEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-to-release-indians-from-army-after-pm-modi-raises-issue-with-putin-739131" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-to-release-indians-from-army-after-pm-modi-raises-issue-with-putin-739131&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjjspa59ZmHAxXfXGwGHUDRBSgQxfQBKAB6BAgIEAE">Russia to release Indians from army after PM Modi raises issue with Putin</a></strong></p>

<p>During his visit, PM Modi and the Russian President discussed ways to further strengthen the bilateral cooperation in sectors including energy, trade, manufacturing and fertilisers.</p>

<p>PM Modi told Russian President Vladimir Putin that war is not a solution, in his first comment on the Ukraine crisis since his Moscow visit began. Modi also highlighted how it gave him "immense pain" when innocent children were killed.</p>

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<p>"I am happy that we could discuss about the war in Ukraine with an open mind, and we listened to each other's thoughts on the war with great respect," PM Modi said during bilateral talks with Putin.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Vienna on Tuesday (July 9), following Modi's significant visit to Russia. Upon arrival, PM Modi was welcomed by Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg at the airport.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Vienna on Tuesday (July 9), following Modi's significant visit to Russia. Upon arrival, PM Modi was welcomed by Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg at the airport. Modi will call on Austria President Alexander Van der Bellen and hold formal talks with Nehammer on Wednesday (July 10). Also read: ‘War not a solution, death of children heart-wrenching,’ Modi tells Putin Austrian Chancellor Nehammer hosted Modi for a private engagement, embracing him and taking a selfie as Modi became the first Indian leader to visit Austria in nearly 40 years. Nehammer took to social media X and wrote, "Welcome to Vienna, PM @narendramodi ! It is a pleasure and honour to welcome you to Austria. Austria and India are friends and partners. I look forward to our political and economic discussions during your visit!” Welcome to Vienna, PM @narendramodi ! It is a pleasure and honour to welcome you to Austria. Austria and India are friends and partners. I look forward to our political and economic discussions during your visit! 🇦🇹 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/e2YJZR1PRs — Karl Nehammer (@karlnehammer) July 9, 2024 × Prime Minister Modi thanked the Chancellor for a warm welcome and replied to the post by saying, "Thank you, Chancellor Karl Nehammer, for the warm welcome. I look forward to our discussions tomorrow as well. Our nations will continue working together to further global good." Thank you, Chancellor @karlnehammer, for the warm welcome. I look forward to our discussions tomorrow as well. Our nations will continue working together to further global good. 🇮🇳 🇦🇹 pic.twitter.com/QHDvxPt5pv — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 9, 2024 × PM Modi's Austria visit marks the first by any Indian prime minister in the last 40 years. In 1983, the then PM Indira Gandhi visited the Central European nation. PM Modi concludes Russia visit Prime Minister Modi on Monday (July 8) began his state visit to Russia to hold the 22nd India-Russia annual summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Also read: Russia to release Indians from army after PM Modi raises issue with Putin During his visit, PM Modi and the Russian President discussed ways to further strengthen the bilateral cooperation in sectors including energy, trade, manufacturing and fertilisers. PM Modi told Russian President Vladimir Putin that war is not a solution, in his first comment on the Ukraine crisis since his Moscow visit began. Modi also highlighted how it gave him "immense pain" when innocent children were killed. × "I am happy that we could discuss about the war in Ukraine with an open mind, and we listened to each other's thoughts on the war with great respect," PM Modi said during bilateral talks with Putin. (With inputs from agencies)

PM Modi arrives in Vienna; First visit by Indian PM in over 40 years

<p>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on World Environment Day launched 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign encouraging people to plant saplings as a tribute to their mothers.</p>

<p>PM Modi, who was accompanied by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, planted a peepal sapling at Buddha Jayanti Park in New Delhi on Wednesday (June 5).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Taking to his official X handle, he shared a post calling for people to put out a picture of themselves planting the sapling with the hashtag #Plant4Mother.</p>

<p>"Today, on World Environment Day, delighted to start a campaign," he posted on X.</p>

<p>"I call upon everyone, in India and around the world, to plant a tree in the coming days as a tribute to your mother. Do share a picture of you doing so using #Plant4Mother," PM said in a post on X.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">आज विश्व पर्यावरण दिवस पर मुझे <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E0%A4%8F%E0%A4%95_%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%BC_%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%81_%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%87_%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#एक_पेड़_माँ_के_नाम</a> अभियान शुरू कर अत्यंत प्रसन्नता हो रही है। मैं देशवासियों के साथ ही दुनियाभर के लोगों से आग्रह करता हूं कि वे अपनी माँ के साथ मिलकर या उनके नाम पर एक पेड़ जरूर लगाएं। ये आपकी तरफ से उन्हें एक अनमोल उपहार होगा। इससे जुड़ी तस्वीर… <a href="https://t.co/2XeT9ootUU">pic.twitter.com/2XeT9ootUU</a></p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1798259092533957081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>He further laid emphasis on how protecting the environment was the need of the hour, urging people to adopt sustainable lifestyle choices.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/narrow-election-victory-limits-scope-for-indian-fiscal-reforms-says-moodys-analyst-728961">Narrow election victory limits scope for Indian fiscal reforms, says Moody's analyst</a></p>

<p>"This morning, I planted a tree in line with our commitment to protecting Mother Nature and making sustainable lifestyle choices. I urge you all to also contribute to making our planet better," the PM said in another post.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">This morning, I planted a tree in line with our commitment to protecting Mother Nature and making sustainable lifestyle choices. I urge you all to also contribute to making our planet better. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Plant4Mother?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Plant4Mother</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E0%A4%8F%E0%A4%95_%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%BC_%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%81_%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%87_%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#एक_पेड़_माँ_के_नाम</a> <a href="https://t.co/3Ch9VnnFrI">pic.twitter.com/3Ch9VnnFrI</a></p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1798258014656557071?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>He then underlined how in the past decade the efforts by the country had helped increase India's forest cover.</p>

<p>"It would make you all very happy that in the last decade, India has undertaken numerous collective efforts which have led to increased forest cover across the nation. This is great for our quest towards sustainable development. It is also commendable how local communities have risen to the occasion and taken a lead in this," he wrote.</p>

<p>World Environment Day, which is observed on June 5 every year, marks the start of the 1972 Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. This year's theme is "Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience".</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on World Environment Day launched 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign encouraging people to plant saplings as a tribute to their mothers.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on World Environment Day launched 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign encouraging people to plant saplings as a tribute to their mothers. PM Modi, who was accompanied by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, planted a peepal sapling at Buddha Jayanti Park in New Delhi on Wednesday (June 5). Taking to his official X handle, he shared a post calling for people to put out a picture of themselves planting the sapling with the hashtag #Plant4Mother. "Today, on World Environment Day, delighted to start a campaign," he posted on X. "I call upon everyone, in India and around the world, to plant a tree in the coming days as a tribute to your mother. Do share a picture of you doing so using #Plant4Mother," PM said in a post on X. आज विश्व पर्यावरण दिवस पर मुझे #एक_पेड़_माँ_के_नाम अभियान शुरू कर अत्यंत प्रसन्नता हो रही है। मैं देशवासियों के साथ ही दुनियाभर के लोगों से आग्रह करता हूं कि वे अपनी माँ के साथ मिलकर या उनके नाम पर एक पेड़ जरूर लगाएं। ये आपकी तरफ से उन्हें एक अनमोल उपहार होगा। इससे जुड़ी तस्वीर… pic.twitter.com/2XeT9ootUU — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 5, 2024 × He further laid emphasis on how protecting the environment was the need of the hour, urging people to adopt sustainable lifestyle choices. Also read: Narrow election victory limits scope for Indian fiscal reforms, says Moody's analyst "This morning, I planted a tree in line with our commitment to protecting Mother Nature and making sustainable lifestyle choices. I urge you all to also contribute to making our planet better," the PM said in another post. This morning, I planted a tree in line with our commitment to protecting Mother Nature and making sustainable lifestyle choices. I urge you all to also contribute to making our planet better. #Plant4Mother #एक_पेड़_माँ_के_नाम pic.twitter.com/3Ch9VnnFrI — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 5, 2024 × He then underlined how in the past decade the efforts by the country had helped increase India's forest cover. "It would make you all very happy that in the last decade, India has undertaken numerous collective efforts which have led to increased forest cover across the nation. This is great for our quest towards sustainable development. It is also commendable how local communities have risen to the occasion and taken a lead in this," he wrote. World Environment Day, which is observed on June 5 every year, marks the start of the 1972 Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. This year's theme is "Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience". (With inputs from agencies)

India: PM Modi plants tree sapling, launches ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign on World Environment Day

<p>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (Jun 5) met President Droupadi Murmu and tendered his resignation along with the Council of Ministers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>President Murmu acepted the resignation and requested PM Modi and the Union Council of Ministers to continue in office till the new Government is formed.</p>

<p>This is a customary move that will pave way for the dissolution of the 17th Lok Sabha, which ran from the year 2019 to 2024.</p>

<p>The development came after the Cabinet meeting, chaired by PM Modi, was held in New Delhi on Wednesday (Jun 5).</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Prime Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Prime Minister tendered his resignation along with the Union Council of Ministers. The President accepted the resignation and requested the Prime Minister and the Union Council of Ministers… <a href="https://t.co/1ZeSwQFU1y">pic.twitter.com/1ZeSwQFU1y</a></p>
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) <a href="https://twitter.com/rashtrapatibhvn/status/1798276979189485935?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tdp-chief-chandrababu-naidu-extends-support-to-bjp-affirms-i-am-in-nda-728928">TDP Chief Chandrababu Naidu extends support to BJP, affirms 'I am in NDA'</a></p>

<h2><strong>PM Modi's swearing-in to take place on June 8</strong></h2>

<p>The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Janata Dal-United (JDU), the political parties that are also dubbed as the potential "kingmakers", have reportedly given a go-ahead to the formation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, as per news agency ANI.</p>

<p>Both parties are expected to submit the letters of formal support to the saffron party during a meeting of the alliance.</p>

<p>The meeting of the newly elected MPs of the BJP-led NDA is expected to be held on June 7 in the national capital, reported news agency ANI citing sources.</p>

<p>As per the sources, talks will be held around the government formation by the NDA.</p>

<p>The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) witnessed unexpected Lok Sabha election results on Tuesday (Jun 4) where the saffron party failed to get a full majority, lower than what it anticipated.</p>

<p>As per the data released by Election Commission of India, BJP emerged victorious in 240 Lok Sabha constituencies, while Congress won 99.</p>

<p>This pushes the BJP into a situation where it will have to rely on the support of other parties in its coalition as it falls 32 seats short of the 272 majority mark.</p>

<p>The tally for the saffron party was much lower this time than what was recorded in 2019.</p>

<p>In 2019 Lok Sabha elections, BJP won 303 seats, whereas in 2014, the party won 282 seats.</p>

<p>The Congress, on the other hand, demonstrated growth as it won 99 seats as compared to 52 that it won in 2019 and 44 seats in 2014.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (Jun 5) met President Droupadi Murmu and tendered his resignation along with the Council of Ministers. President Murmu acepted the resignation and requested PM Modi and the Union Council of Ministers to continue in office till the new Government is formed.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (Jun 5) met President Droupadi Murmu and tendered his resignation along with the Council of Ministers. President Murmu acepted the resignation and requested PM Modi and the Union Council of Ministers to continue in office till the new Government is formed. This is a customary move that will pave way for the dissolution of the 17th Lok Sabha, which ran from the year 2019 to 2024. The development came after the Cabinet meeting, chaired by PM Modi, was held in New Delhi on Wednesday (Jun 5). Prime Minister @narendramodi called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Prime Minister tendered his resignation along with the Union Council of Ministers. The President accepted the resignation and requested the Prime Minister and the Union Council of Ministers… pic.twitter.com/1ZeSwQFU1y — President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) June 5, 2024 × Also read: TDP Chief Chandrababu Naidu extends support to BJP, affirms 'I am in NDA' PM Modi's swearing-in to take place on June 8 The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Janata Dal-United (JDU), the political parties that are also dubbed as the potential "kingmakers", have reportedly given a go-ahead to the formation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, as per news agency ANI. Both parties are expected to submit the letters of formal support to the saffron party during a meeting of the alliance. The meeting of the newly elected MPs of the BJP-led NDA is expected to be held on June 7 in the national capital, reported news agency ANI citing sources. As per the sources, talks will be held around the government formation by the NDA. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) witnessed unexpected Lok Sabha election results on Tuesday (Jun 4) where the saffron party failed to get a full majority, lower than what it anticipated. As per the data released by Election Commission of India, BJP emerged victorious in 240 Lok Sabha constituencies, while Congress won 99. This pushes the BJP into a situation where it will have to rely on the support of other parties in its coalition as it falls 32 seats short of the 272 majority mark. The tally for the saffron party was much lower this time than what was recorded in 2019. In 2019 Lok Sabha elections, BJP won 303 seats, whereas in 2014, the party won 282 seats. The Congress, on the other hand, demonstrated growth as it won 99 seats as compared to 52 that it won in 2019 and 44 seats in 2014. (With inputs from agencies)

Lok Sabha Election Results 2024: PM Modi resigns ahead of oath-taking ceremony on June 8

<p>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Monday (Apr 29) that he had informed Pakistan about the 2019 Balakot airstrikes even before&nbsp;the Indian media was apprised&nbsp;of the attack. Citing the incident, Modi claimed&nbsp;that he&nbsp;doesn’t&nbsp;believe in attacking from the back and fights from the front. PM Modi said he himself postponed the announcement to the media as he wanted to inform Islamabad first.</p>

<p>"I&nbsp;had asked the forces to call the media and inform them, but I said before that I would inform Pakistan through telephone about airstrikes at night and the destruction caused, but Pakistan people did not come on the phone. So I asked forces to wait, and after informing them, we later disclosed to the world about airstrikes that happened during the night,"&nbsp;news agency PTI quoted the PM as saying.</p>

<p>PM Modi&nbsp;was speaking&nbsp;at a political rally in Bagalkot in the southern Indian state of Karnataka on Monday (Apr 29). He said he had dialled the neighbouring country&nbsp;but&nbsp; “they&nbsp;wouldn’t&nbsp;take calls”.</p>

<p>Modi further stated that India under his leadership has become&nbsp;‘Naya Bharat’&nbsp;or New India, which&nbsp;doesn’t&nbsp;shy away from killing inside the&nbsp;enemy’s&nbsp;own territory.</p>

<h2><strong>2019 Balakot airstrikes</strong></h2>

<p>India had carried out Balakot airstrikes in February 2019, demolishing training camps of the terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed in the vicinity of the town of Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjPmbOL-emFAxXhxjgGHcwLAD84ChDF9AEoAHoECAcQAQ" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-elections-2024-delhi-congress-chief-arvinder-singh-lovely-resigns-from-top-post-715860" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-elections-2024-delhi-congress-chief-arvinder-singh-lovely-resigns-from-top-post-715860&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjPmbOL-emFAxXhxjgGHcwLAD84ChDF9AEoAHoECAcQAQ">Lok Sabha elections 2024: Arvinder Singh Lovely resigns as Delhi Congress chief</a></strong></p>

<p>The Indian Air Force (IAF) deployed Mirage fighter jets and used five Israeli-origin Spice 2000 bombs to carry out the February 26 attacks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The bombing came in response to the February 14 suicide attack in Pulwama in India’s&nbsp; erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, in which 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel&nbsp;were killed.</p>

<h2><strong>‘Saffron terrorism’</strong></h2>

<p>While speaking at another rally in&nbsp;Maharashtra’s&nbsp;Pune, PM Modi accused&nbsp;India’s&nbsp;main opposition Congress party of coming out with&nbsp;a ‘saffron terrorism’&nbsp;theory,&nbsp;in a bid to paint Congress as an anti-Hindu party.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;India elections 2024: Senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh blames heatwave for low voter turnout in polls</strong></p>

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<p>Modi stated that Congress even had the plan ready to put the blame for the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks on&nbsp;‘holy saffron’.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Monday (Apr 29) that he had informed Pakistan about the 2019 Balakot airstrikes even before the Indian media was apprised of the attack.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Monday (Apr 29) that he had informed Pakistan about the 2019 Balakot airstrikes even before the Indian media was apprised of the attack. Citing the incident, Modi claimed that he doesn’t believe in attacking from the back and fights from the front. PM Modi said he himself postponed the announcement to the media as he wanted to inform Islamabad first. "I had asked the forces to call the media and inform them, but I said before that I would inform Pakistan through telephone about airstrikes at night and the destruction caused, but Pakistan people did not come on the phone. So I asked forces to wait, and after informing them, we later disclosed to the world about airstrikes that happened during the night," news agency PTI quoted the PM as saying. PM Modi was speaking at a political rally in Bagalkot in the southern Indian state of Karnataka on Monday (Apr 29). He said he had dialled the neighbouring country but “they wouldn’t take calls”. Modi further stated that India under his leadership has become ‘Naya Bharat’ or New India, which doesn’t shy away from killing inside the enemy’s own territory. 2019 Balakot airstrikes India had carried out Balakot airstrikes in February 2019, demolishing training camps of the terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed in the vicinity of the town of Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan. Also read: Lok Sabha elections 2024: Arvinder Singh Lovely resigns as Delhi Congress chief The Indian Air Force (IAF) deployed Mirage fighter jets and used five Israeli-origin Spice 2000 bombs to carry out the February 26 attacks. The bombing came in response to the February 14 suicide attack in Pulwama in India’s erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, in which 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed. ‘Saffron terrorism’ While speaking at another rally in Maharashtra’s Pune, PM Modi accused India’s main opposition Congress party of coming out with a ‘saffron terrorism’ theory, in a bid to paint Congress as an anti-Hindu party. Watch: India elections 2024: Senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh blames heatwave for low voter turnout in polls × Modi stated that Congress even had the plan ready to put the blame for the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks on ‘holy saffron’. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Informed Pak about Balakot strike before media’: PM Modi highlights his ‘fight from front’ policy

<p>Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday (Apr 7) took the internet by storm with his goof up during a rally where he expressed confidence that NDA would win "more than 4,000 seats" in the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections.</p>

<p>His prediction is almost ten times of the sanctioned strength of Lok Sabha, which is 543 and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's target for NDA is 400.</p>

<p>JD(U) supremo Kumar, who ditched the INDIA bloc and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) three months ago, made the gaffe at a rally in Nawada district where he spoke just before PM Modi.</p>

<p>One of the segments of his speech garnered traction online where he can be heard saying "four lakh" before correcting himself and saying, "char hazaar se bhi zyada (more than 4,000)".</p>

<p>He can be later seen touching PM Modi's feet while sitting next to him before greeting him with folded hands.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">पता नहीं <a href="https://twitter.com/NitishKumar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NitishKumar</a> बाबू 4000 सांसद कहां से लाएंगे? क्या पाकिस्तान,अफगानिस्तान और बांग्लादेश के भी जनप्रतिनिधि इकट्ठे करेंगे अखंड भारत के तहत?<br />
लेकिन अच्छा है सबको करो, क्या CAA के जरिए पड़ोसी देशों के जनप्रतिनिधियों को भी नागरिकता देने का कोई इरादा है या पूरा एक अखंड भारत… <a href="https://t.co/fG4KED25hu">pic.twitter.com/fG4KED25hu</a></p>
— Shadab Chauhan شاداب چوہان (@shadab_chouhan1) <a href="https://twitter.com/shadab_chouhan1/status/1777033133399183759?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-elections-congress-vows-to-conduct-wealth-redistribution-survey-if-voted-to-power-708718">Lok Sabha elections: Congress vows to conduct wealth redistribution survey if voted to power</a></p>

<h2><strong>'Aghast to see Kumar touching PM Modi's feet,' says RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav</strong></h2>

<p>Yadav, who served as Kumar's deputy when&nbsp;his party shared power with JD(U), slammed Kumar stating that he felt "anguish" over Bihar CM's conduct.</p>

<p>"I was aghast to see a photo in which Nitish Kumar can be seen touching the feet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He is such an elderly person. Has been a chief minister for so long. Few of his counterparts have had such a long tenure," said Yadav.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Patna: Former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav says, "Today I saw a picture of Nitish Kumar where he touched the feet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi...We felt very bad. What has happened? Nitish Kumar is our guardian...There is no other Chief… <a href="https://t.co/HhC641XtoO">pic.twitter.com/HhC641XtoO</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1776962355454419108?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>He then referred to Kumar's famous rivalry with PM Modi following which he snapped ties with BJP for the very first time.</p>

<p>"Was not Narendra Modi the same person whom Nitish ji often accused of deviating from the conciliatory path of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Lal Krishna Advani? Had he not cancelled a dinner to which the then Gujarat CM was invited and returned the financial aid offered by the western state?" he added.</p>

<p>RJD leader Sarika Paswan also took to her social media account X and took a swipe at Kumar sharing the video of his speech.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">हे भगवान,<br />
यह क्या हाल बना लिया है आपने माननीय मुख्यमंत्री जी<br />
यह वही नरेंद्र मोदी हैं,जब आप पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री स्वर्गीय अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी जी और मंत्री स्वर्गीय सुषमा स्वराज जी के साथ बैठे होते थे, उस वक्त नरेंद्र मोदी आपकी कुर्सियों के पीछे खड़ा हुआ करते थे,<br />
और आज आपको पैर छूकर… <a href="https://t.co/utsB48MgyC">pic.twitter.com/utsB48MgyC</a></p>
— Sarika Paswan (@SarikaPaswanRJD) <a href="https://twitter.com/SarikaPaswanRJD/status/1776953653422948539?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The chief minister wanted to wish more than four lakh MPs to the PM. Then he probably thought it would be too much and 4,000 would be sufficient," Paswan wrote on X in a post in Hindi.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday (Apr 7) took the internet by storm with his goof up during a rally where he expressed confidence that NDA would win "more than 4,000 seats" in the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday (Apr 7) took the internet by storm with his goof up during a rally where he expressed confidence that NDA would win "more than 4,000 seats" in the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections. His prediction is almost ten times of the sanctioned strength of Lok Sabha, which is 543 and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's target for NDA is 400. JD(U) supremo Kumar, who ditched the INDIA bloc and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) three months ago, made the gaffe at a rally in Nawada district where he spoke just before PM Modi. One of the segments of his speech garnered traction online where he can be heard saying "four lakh" before correcting himself and saying, "char hazaar se bhi zyada (more than 4,000)". He can be later seen touching PM Modi's feet while sitting next to him before greeting him with folded hands. पता नहीं @NitishKumar बाबू 4000 सांसद कहां से लाएंगे? क्या पाकिस्तान,अफगानिस्तान और बांग्लादेश के भी जनप्रतिनिधि इकट्ठे करेंगे अखंड भारत के तहत? लेकिन अच्छा है सबको करो, क्या CAA के जरिए पड़ोसी देशों के जनप्रतिनिधियों को भी नागरिकता देने का कोई इरादा है या पूरा एक अखंड भारत… pic.twitter.com/fG4KED25hu — Shadab Chauhan شاداب چوہان (@shadab_chouhan1) April 7, 2024 × Also read: Lok Sabha elections: Congress vows to conduct wealth redistribution survey if voted to power 'Aghast to see Kumar touching PM Modi's feet,' says RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav Yadav, who served as Kumar's deputy when his party shared power with JD(U), slammed Kumar stating that he felt "anguish" over Bihar CM's conduct. "I was aghast to see a photo in which Nitish Kumar can be seen touching the feet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He is such an elderly person. Has been a chief minister for so long. Few of his counterparts have had such a long tenure," said Yadav. #WATCH | Patna: Former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav says, "Today I saw a picture of Nitish Kumar where he touched the feet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi...We felt very bad. What has happened? Nitish Kumar is our guardian...There is no other Chief… pic.twitter.com/HhC641XtoO — ANI (@ANI) April 7, 2024 × He then referred to Kumar's famous rivalry with PM Modi following which he snapped ties with BJP for the very first time. "Was not Narendra Modi the same person whom Nitish ji often accused of deviating from the conciliatory path of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Lal Krishna Advani? Had he not cancelled a dinner to which the then Gujarat CM was invited and returned the financial aid offered by the western state?" he added. RJD leader Sarika Paswan also took to her social media account X and took a swipe at Kumar sharing the video of his speech. हे भगवान, यह क्या हाल बना लिया है आपने माननीय मुख्यमंत्री जी यह वही नरेंद्र मोदी हैं,जब आप पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री स्वर्गीय अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी जी और मंत्री स्वर्गीय सुषमा स्वराज जी के साथ बैठे होते थे, उस वक्त नरेंद्र मोदी आपकी कुर्सियों के पीछे खड़ा हुआ करते थे, और आज आपको पैर छूकर… pic.twitter.com/utsB48MgyC — Sarika Paswan (@SarikaPaswanRJD) April 7, 2024 × "The chief minister wanted to wish more than four lakh MPs to the PM. Then he probably thought it would be too much and 4,000 would be sufficient," Paswan wrote on X in a post in Hindi. (With inputs from agencies)

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar trolled for ‘will win more than 4,000 seats’ gaffe at PM Modi's rally

<p>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (Mar 29) took a dig at DMK stating that the public will vent out their anger against Tamil Nadu's ruling party in the Lok Sabha elections.</p>

<p>"All the political analysts are saying that the BJP is going to turn the tables in Tamil Nadu. The anger against the ruling party in Tamil Nadu will be vented out during the election," PM Modi said during his interaction with BJP workers in the state.</p>

<p>He then heaped praises on the party workers for their hard work and expressed gratitude for the support he received from the public.</p>

<p>"As the election campaign (for Lok Sabha) is moving forward, the candidates have been decided and issues are clear, I thought of talking with our Karyakartas. When I last visited Tamil Nadu for public events, I got the blessings of the people and it made me very happy. I could see the hard work of Karyakartas, and I felt proud to have such Karyakartas," the PM said.</p>

<p>The Indian prime minister then denounced MK Stalin's DMK alleging that the party occludes people from profiting from the welfare schemes launched by the Central government.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-accuses-income-tax-department-of-double-standards-after-receiving-notice-for-fresh-tax-demand-705637">Congress accuses IT department of double standards after receiving notice for fresh tax demand</a></p>

<p>"Political parties like the DMK fear the welfare schemes of the Modi government, and hence they do not let the benefits of these schemes reach the people. Besides, they paste the stickers of their schemes on all the schemes of the Modi government," PM Modi said while urging BJP Karyakartas "to make the people aware of the schemes and their benefits."</p>

<p>"This, in turn, will instill confidence in the people of Tamil Nadu," he added.</p>

<p>The southern state is set to go to the polls in the first phase i.e. on April 19. The results of the elections will be out on June 4.</p>

<p>The DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, during the 2019 general elections, secured 38 out of the 39 seats. The polls for 543 Lok Sabha seats in India will be conducted in seven phases starting from April 19.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (Mar 29) took a dig at DMK stating that the public will vent out their anger against Tamil Nadu's ruling party in the Lok Sabha elections.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (Mar 29) took a dig at DMK stating that the public will vent out their anger against Tamil Nadu's ruling party in the Lok Sabha elections. "All the political analysts are saying that the BJP is going to turn the tables in Tamil Nadu. The anger against the ruling party in Tamil Nadu will be vented out during the election," PM Modi said during his interaction with BJP workers in the state. He then heaped praises on the party workers for their hard work and expressed gratitude for the support he received from the public. "As the election campaign (for Lok Sabha) is moving forward, the candidates have been decided and issues are clear, I thought of talking with our Karyakartas. When I last visited Tamil Nadu for public events, I got the blessings of the people and it made me very happy. I could see the hard work of Karyakartas, and I felt proud to have such Karyakartas," the PM said. The Indian prime minister then denounced MK Stalin's DMK alleging that the party occludes people from profiting from the welfare schemes launched by the Central government. Also read: Congress accuses IT department of double standards after receiving notice for fresh tax demand "Political parties like the DMK fear the welfare schemes of the Modi government, and hence they do not let the benefits of these schemes reach the people. Besides, they paste the stickers of their schemes on all the schemes of the Modi government," PM Modi said while urging BJP Karyakartas "to make the people aware of the schemes and their benefits." "This, in turn, will instill confidence in the people of Tamil Nadu," he added. The southern state is set to go to the polls in the first phase i.e. on April 19. The results of the elections will be out on June 4. The DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, during the 2019 general elections, secured 38 out of the 39 seats. The polls for 543 Lok Sabha seats in India will be conducted in seven phases starting from April 19. (With inputs from agencies)

PM Modi hits out at DMK, says people will vent out anger in Lok Sabha polls

<p>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (Mar 18) slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his 'Shakti' remark stating that the grand old party and INDIA bloc were trying to challenge the concept of 'Nari Shakti'.</p>

<p>While addressing a public meeting in Shivamogga, PM Modi said, "Yesterday an announcement to destroy Shakti was made from Shivaji Park (in Mumbai). How much it must have hurt the soul of Balasaheb Thackeray. Nari Shakti ka yahi aashirvad mera sabse bada kawach hai (Blessings of Nari Shaki is my biggest security shield). No other government has given so much focus to Nari Shakti since Independence."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Shivamogga, Karnataka: PM Narendra Modi says, "Yesterday an announcement to destroy Shakti was made from Shivaji Park (in Mumbai). How much it must have hurt the soul of Balasaheb Thackeray... Nari Shakti ka yahi aashirvad mera sabse bada kawach hai...The people of the… <a href="https://t.co/BoFDzgeYW7">pic.twitter.com/BoFDzgeYW7</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1769675670572122208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Stating that every mother and daughter is a form of ‘shakti’ in India he said that Gandhi's&nbsp;remark was an attack on the women of the country and also accused the INDIA bloc of disliking the rise of 'Nari Shakti' or 'woman&nbsp;power'.</p>

<p>"The people of the INDI alliance want to destroy this Shakti. They hate the increasing shakti of Maa Bharti. An attack on Shakti means an attack on women, daughters, Maa Bharti. INDI alliance and Congress has challenged this Shakti, our daughters, and women of this country will give them a befitting reply on June 4," he said.</p>

<p>He also denounced former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Bal Thackeray's son Uddhav Thackeray, who was present along with Gandhi when he made the remark.</p>

<p>“And who were there on the dais? What would be happening to Bal Thackeray's soul?” PM Modi said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-elections-2024-modi-responds-to-rahuls-shakti-remark-jaan-ki-baazi-laga-dunga-701404">Lok Sabha elections 2024: Modi responds to Rahul’s ‘Shakti’ remark: ‘Jaan ki baazi laga dunga’</a></p>

<h2><strong>'Modi ji twisting 'Shakti' remark', alleged Gandhi</strong></h2>

<p>Gandhi, on Monday, issuing a clarification over his remarks after severe backlash, said that PM Modi was “twisting" his remarks.</p>

<p>“Modi ji does not like my words, he always tries to change their meaning by twisting them in some way or the other because he knows that I have spoken a deep truth. The Shakti that I mentioned, the Shakti that we are fighting, is the mask of that power, Modi ji," Rahul Gandhi said in a long post on X.</p>

<p>The Congress leader invited sharp criticism after he criticised the ruling BJP and Prime Minister Modi on multiple fronts, including allegations of tampering with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), during his address in Mumbai at the closing ceremony of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.</p>

<p>“There is a word 'Shakti' (might) in Hinduism. We are fighting against a Shakti (might of the state). The question is, what is that Shakti and what does it entail for us? The soul and integrity of EVMs have been traded to the King (Modi). This is a fact. Not just EVMs but every autonomous institution of the country, be it the ED, CBI or Income Tax department, have traded their spines to the Centre," Gandhi said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (Mar 18) slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his 'Shakti' remark stating that the grand old party and INDIA bloc were trying to challenge the concept of 'Nari Shakti'.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (Mar 18) slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his 'Shakti' remark stating that the grand old party and INDIA bloc were trying to challenge the concept of 'Nari Shakti'. While addressing a public meeting in Shivamogga, PM Modi said, "Yesterday an announcement to destroy Shakti was made from Shivaji Park (in Mumbai). How much it must have hurt the soul of Balasaheb Thackeray. Nari Shakti ka yahi aashirvad mera sabse bada kawach hai (Blessings of Nari Shaki is my biggest security shield). No other government has given so much focus to Nari Shakti since Independence." #WATCH | Shivamogga, Karnataka: PM Narendra Modi says, "Yesterday an announcement to destroy Shakti was made from Shivaji Park (in Mumbai). How much it must have hurt the soul of Balasaheb Thackeray... Nari Shakti ka yahi aashirvad mera sabse bada kawach hai...The people of the… pic.twitter.com/BoFDzgeYW7 — ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2024 × Stating that every mother and daughter is a form of ‘shakti’ in India he said that Gandhi's remark was an attack on the women of the country and also accused the INDIA bloc of disliking the rise of 'Nari Shakti' or 'woman power'. "The people of the INDI alliance want to destroy this Shakti. They hate the increasing shakti of Maa Bharti. An attack on Shakti means an attack on women, daughters, Maa Bharti. INDI alliance and Congress has challenged this Shakti, our daughters, and women of this country will give them a befitting reply on June 4," he said. He also denounced former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Bal Thackeray's son Uddhav Thackeray, who was present along with Gandhi when he made the remark. “And who were there on the dais? What would be happening to Bal Thackeray's soul?” PM Modi said. Also read: Lok Sabha elections 2024: Modi responds to Rahul’s ‘Shakti’ remark: ‘Jaan ki baazi laga dunga’ 'Modi ji twisting 'Shakti' remark', alleged Gandhi Gandhi, on Monday, issuing a clarification over his remarks after severe backlash, said that PM Modi was “twisting" his remarks. “Modi ji does not like my words, he always tries to change their meaning by twisting them in some way or the other because he knows that I have spoken a deep truth. The Shakti that I mentioned, the Shakti that we are fighting, is the mask of that power, Modi ji," Rahul Gandhi said in a long post on X. The Congress leader invited sharp criticism after he criticised the ruling BJP and Prime Minister Modi on multiple fronts, including allegations of tampering with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), during his address in Mumbai at the closing ceremony of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. “There is a word 'Shakti' (might) in Hinduism. We are fighting against a Shakti (might of the state). The question is, what is that Shakti and what does it entail for us? The soul and integrity of EVMs have been traded to the King (Modi). This is a fact. Not just EVMs but every autonomous institution of the country, be it the ED, CBI or Income Tax department, have traded their spines to the Centre," Gandhi said. (With inputs from agencies)

PM Modi says Congress seeking to destroy 'Nari Shakti'; Rahul Gandhi accuses Modi of twisting remark

<p>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (Mar 18) congratulated Vladimir Putin on his re-election as the President of the Russian Federation.</p>

<p>In his message to the Russian president, PM Modi said that he was looking forward to further strengthen strategic partnership ties between India and Russia.</p>

<p>The Indian prime minister took to his official social media account and wrote, "Warm congratulations to H.E. Mr. Vladimir Putin on his re-election as the President of the Russian Federation."</p>

<p>"Look forward to working together to further strengthen the time-tested Special &amp; Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia in the years to come. @KremlinRussia," PM Modi said.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Warm congratulations to H.E. Mr. Vladimir Putin on his re-election as the President of the Russian Federation. Look forward to working together to further strengthen the time-tested Special &amp; Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia in the years to come.…</p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1769695046268309797?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>Putin wins elections</strong></h2>

<p>Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed a landslide victory in the country's presidential elections extending his rule till 2030.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Vladimir Putin won 87.28% of the votes in the presidential election based on the results of processing 100% of the protocols, according to the CEC data.<br />
<br />
Putin's closest opponent, the Communist Party's Nikolay Kharitonov secured the second spot with 4.31% of the votes polled whereas New People Party candidate Vladislav Davankov stood third with 3.85% votes and Leonid Slutsky (LDPR) got&nbsp;3.20%.<br />
<br />
The CEC will announce the official election results at a special meeting on Thursday.</p>

<p>The voter turnout across Russia topped 74 per cent, the country's Central Election Commission said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a speech at his campaign headquarters on Sunday evening, Putin attempted to denounce the Western criticism of the elections and told his supporters that the West's reaction was on "expected" lines.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"What did you want, for them to applaud us? They’re fighting with us in an armed conflict … their goal is to contain our development. Of course, they are ready to say anything," he said.</p>

<h2><strong>Putin clinches landslide victory in 'new' territories&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Putin gained 94.12 per cent of the votes in Luhansk and over 95 per cent in the Donetsk region, sometimes collectively referred to as the Donbas region that Russia now claims as its own in the wake of the war in Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Russian state media reported that the results from the Republics of Tyva, Khakassia, and Yakutia, the regions of Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Khabarovsk, and from Chukotka Autonomous Region also show Putin leading with roughly 90 per cent of the vote.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (Mar 18) congratulated Vladimir Putin on his re-election as the President of the Russian Federation. In his message to the Russian president, PM Modi said that he was looking forward to further strengthen strategic partnership ties between India and Russia.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (Mar 18) congratulated Vladimir Putin on his re-election as the President of the Russian Federation. In his message to the Russian president, PM Modi said that he was looking forward to further strengthen strategic partnership ties between India and Russia. The Indian prime minister took to his official social media account and wrote, "Warm congratulations to H.E. Mr. Vladimir Putin on his re-election as the President of the Russian Federation." "Look forward to working together to further strengthen the time-tested Special & Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia in the years to come. @KremlinRussia," PM Modi said. Warm congratulations to H.E. Mr. Vladimir Putin on his re-election as the President of the Russian Federation. Look forward to working together to further strengthen the time-tested Special & Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia in the years to come.… — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 18, 2024 × Putin wins elections Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed a landslide victory in the country's presidential elections extending his rule till 2030. Vladimir Putin won 87.28% of the votes in the presidential election based on the results of processing 100% of the protocols, according to the CEC data. Putin's closest opponent, the Communist Party's Nikolay Kharitonov secured the second spot with 4.31% of the votes polled whereas New People Party candidate Vladislav Davankov stood third with 3.85% votes and Leonid Slutsky (LDPR) got 3.20%. The CEC will announce the official election results at a special meeting on Thursday. The voter turnout across Russia topped 74 per cent, the country's Central Election Commission said. In a speech at his campaign headquarters on Sunday evening, Putin attempted to denounce the Western criticism of the elections and told his supporters that the West's reaction was on "expected" lines. "What did you want, for them to applaud us? They’re fighting with us in an armed conflict … their goal is to contain our development. Of course, they are ready to say anything," he said. Putin clinches landslide victory in 'new' territories Putin gained 94.12 per cent of the votes in Luhansk and over 95 per cent in the Donetsk region, sometimes collectively referred to as the Donbas region that Russia now claims as its own in the wake of the war in Ukraine. The Russian state media reported that the results from the Republics of Tyva, Khakassia, and Yakutia, the regions of Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Khabarovsk, and from Chukotka Autonomous Region also show Putin leading with roughly 90 per cent of the vote. (With inputs from agencies)

PM Modi congratulates Russian President Vladimir Putin on his re-election

<p>India has replaced its first batch of military soldiers in Maldives with technical personnel, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday (March 15).</p>

<p>"The turnaround of the first team of personnel who were operating the ALH helicopter has been completed. So, the first batch that had to be replaced has been completed. The turnaround has happened," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a weekly briefing.</p>

<p>President Muizzu, who is largely perceived as a pro-China leader, set March 10 as the deadline for the withdrawal of the first group of Indian military troops from Maldives.</p>

<p>His government had formally requested that India withdraw its troops from Male.</p>

<p>Earlier, the external affairs ministry had informed that both India and the Maldives had mutually agreed on setting up workable solutions in order to enable the ongoing operation of Indian aviation platforms that provide medical as well as humanitarian evacuation services to the people of the Maldives.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-are-concerned-us-criticises-indias-caa-that-offers-citizenship-to-persecuted-minorities-700312">'Misplaced, misinformed, &amp; unwarranted,' India rejects USA's criticism of CAA</a></p>

<p>India had confirmed late in February that its first civilian team of technical experts had reached the Maldives.</p>

<p>"The first team of technical personnel to operate the advanced light helicopter has reached the Maldives. It will replace the existing personnel who were operating this platform," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said in New Delhi at his weekly media briefing on February 29.</p>

<p>Both countries have held two high-level core group meetings on the issue, with the third one expected to take place soon.</p>

<p>Muizzu, who came to power in September 2023, had implemented the phased evacuation and it was his election promise that the Indian troops would be removed from the island nation. &nbsp;</p>

<p>At present, there are approximately 70 Indian troops, along with Dornier 228 maritime patrol aircraft as well as two HAL Dhruv helicopters, stationed in the Maldives.</p>

<p>The Indian security personnel were deployed in the Maldives to patrol its vast maritime border. India has stated that military troops are stationed in the Maldives to maintain and operate two rescue and reconnaissance helicopters, as well as a small aircraft that it provided years ago.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Muizzu had recently reiterated that "no Indian military personnel" will remain in the country after May 10, "be it in uniform or civilian clothing," Maldives-based The Edition reported.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


India has replaced its first batch of military soldiers in Maldives with technical personnel, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday (March 15). "The turnaround of the first team of personnel who were operating the ALH helicopter has been completed.

India has replaced its first batch of military soldiers in Maldives with technical personnel, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday (March 15). "The turnaround of the first team of personnel who were operating the ALH helicopter has been completed. So, the first batch that had to be replaced has been completed. The turnaround has happened," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a weekly briefing. President Muizzu, who is largely perceived as a pro-China leader, set March 10 as the deadline for the withdrawal of the first group of Indian military troops from Maldives. His government had formally requested that India withdraw its troops from Male. Earlier, the external affairs ministry had informed that both India and the Maldives had mutually agreed on setting up workable solutions in order to enable the ongoing operation of Indian aviation platforms that provide medical as well as humanitarian evacuation services to the people of the Maldives. Also read: 'Misplaced, misinformed, & unwarranted,' India rejects USA's criticism of CAA India had confirmed late in February that its first civilian team of technical experts had reached the Maldives. "The first team of technical personnel to operate the advanced light helicopter has reached the Maldives. It will replace the existing personnel who were operating this platform," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said in New Delhi at his weekly media briefing on February 29. Both countries have held two high-level core group meetings on the issue, with the third one expected to take place soon. Muizzu, who came to power in September 2023, had implemented the phased evacuation and it was his election promise that the Indian troops would be removed from the island nation. At present, there are approximately 70 Indian troops, along with Dornier 228 maritime patrol aircraft as well as two HAL Dhruv helicopters, stationed in the Maldives. The Indian security personnel were deployed in the Maldives to patrol its vast maritime border. India has stated that military troops are stationed in the Maldives to maintain and operate two rescue and reconnaissance helicopters, as well as a small aircraft that it provided years ago. Muizzu had recently reiterated that "no Indian military personnel" will remain in the country after May 10, "be it in uniform or civilian clothing," Maldives-based The Edition reported. (With inputs from agencies)

India replaces first batch of military in Maldives with technical personnel, says MEA

<p>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend the war game ‘Bharat Shakti’ in Rajasthan’s Pokhran on March 12 which is likely to coincide with the Election Commission of India's announcement of the Lok Sabha election schedule.</p>

<p>The top brass of the tri-services, including Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan, are also scheduled to attend the warfare event.</p>

<p>The exercises in the war game will comprise an exhibition, and display of the weapons platforms and systems that have been designed in an indigenous manner.</p>

<p>The event, which is due to take place in Pokhran, is set around PM Modi's concept of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat' and will push India-centric tactics-led revolution in military affairs which is distinctive to the Indian geography and threats related to security when it comes to Bharat, as per a report by the Hindustan Times.</p>

<p>The ‘Bharat Shakti’ war game is aimed at testing the effectiveness of Indian-made platforms and network-centric systems and also to display the country's progress in the defence manufacturing sector.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-elections-2024-pm-modi-to-chair-key-ministerial-meet-ahead-of-polls-whats-on-agenda-696119">Lok Sabha Elections 2024: PM Modi to chair key ministerial meet ahead of polls. What’s on agenda?</a></p>

<p>Apart from this, the exercise will also examine the integrity and resilience of indigenous communication systems and networks to ensure that they cannot be hacked especially during hostile conditions.</p>

<p>The exercise will also exhibit the alliance among the three defence services which often tend to operate within their silos.</p>

<p>The weapons set to be put on display are Tejas fighter aircraft, K-9 artillery guns, indigenous drones, Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers and short-range missiles.</p>

<p>Prior to this, PM Modi attended the Indian Air Forces’ Vayushakti-2024 at Pokhran Range near Jaisalmer last month, where a range of the country's enviable air assets, including Rafale fighters, LCH Prachand Chinook and Apache demonstrated their capabilities for the first time.</p>

<p>The theme of the Vayushakti was, 'Lightning Strike from the Sky', as 120 aircraft displayed the lAF's offensive capabilities by day as well as by night.</p>

<p>Fighters of the Indian Air Force that took part in the exercise included the Rafale, Su-30 MKI, MiG-29, Mirage-2000, Tejas and Hawk. The fighters from the IAF fleet bombarded and destroyed simulated enemy targets on the ground and in the air with fatal precision.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend the war game ‘Bharat Shakti’ in Rajasthan’s Pokhran on March 12 which is likely to coincide with the Election Commission of India's announcement of the Lok Sabha election schedule.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend the war game ‘Bharat Shakti’ in Rajasthan’s Pokhran on March 12 which is likely to coincide with the Election Commission of India's announcement of the Lok Sabha election schedule. The top brass of the tri-services, including Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan, are also scheduled to attend the warfare event. The exercises in the war game will comprise an exhibition, and display of the weapons platforms and systems that have been designed in an indigenous manner. The event, which is due to take place in Pokhran, is set around PM Modi's concept of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat' and will push India-centric tactics-led revolution in military affairs which is distinctive to the Indian geography and threats related to security when it comes to Bharat, as per a report by the Hindustan Times. The ‘Bharat Shakti’ war game is aimed at testing the effectiveness of Indian-made platforms and network-centric systems and also to display the country's progress in the defence manufacturing sector. Also read: Lok Sabha Elections 2024: PM Modi to chair key ministerial meet ahead of polls. What’s on agenda? Apart from this, the exercise will also examine the integrity and resilience of indigenous communication systems and networks to ensure that they cannot be hacked especially during hostile conditions. The exercise will also exhibit the alliance among the three defence services which often tend to operate within their silos. The weapons set to be put on display are Tejas fighter aircraft, K-9 artillery guns, indigenous drones, Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers and short-range missiles. Prior to this, PM Modi attended the Indian Air Forces’ Vayushakti-2024 at Pokhran Range near Jaisalmer last month, where a range of the country's enviable air assets, including Rafale fighters, LCH Prachand Chinook and Apache demonstrated their capabilities for the first time. The theme of the Vayushakti was, 'Lightning Strike from the Sky', as 120 aircraft displayed the lAF's offensive capabilities by day as well as by night. Fighters of the Indian Air Force that took part in the exercise included the Rafale, Su-30 MKI, MiG-29, Mirage-2000, Tejas and Hawk. The fighters from the IAF fleet bombarded and destroyed simulated enemy targets on the ground and in the air with fatal precision. (With inputs from agencies)

India: PM Modi set to attend ‘Bharat Shakti’ war game in Pokhran exhibiting indigenous capabilities

<p>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha on Thursday (Feb 15) after landing in the Middle East country last evening.&nbsp;During the meeting, the two leaders are expected to hold talks on regional and global issues.</p>

<p>PM Modi last visited Qatar in June 2016. The trip comes against the backdrop of Qatar releasing eight Indian sailors after commuting their death sentences&nbsp;following New Delhi's request.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds a bilateral meeting with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha. <a href="https://t.co/xxFfViNjPc">pic.twitter.com/xxFfViNjPc</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1758048728248635570?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>The act of deft diplomacy between India and Qatar suggested relations were heading in the right way. PM Modi's meeting with the Emir is expected to solidify the relations further and set the foundation for the coming years.</p>

<p>Prior to his meeting with the Emir, PM Modi on Wednesday (Feb 13)&nbsp;met his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, shortly after concluding his two-day trip to the UAE.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Taking to his social media accounts, PM Modi said he looked forward to the 'fruitful Qatar visit' that would deepen ties between the two nations while also posting a snapshot of the meeting.</p>

<p>"Had a wonderful meeting with PM @MBA_AIThani. Our discussions revolved around ways to boost India-Qatar friendship," PM Modi wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Had a wonderful meeting with PM <a href="https://twitter.com/MBA_AlThani_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MBA_AlThani_</a>. Our discussions revolved around ways to boost India-Qatar friendship. <a href="https://t.co/5PMlbr8nBQ">pic.twitter.com/5PMlbr8nBQ</a></p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1757865109228068908?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-how-india-saved-its-veterans-from-death-sentence-in-qatar-689659"><strong>Watch | 'We waited 18 Gravitas: How India saved its veterans from death sentence in Qatar</strong></a></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Indian sailors released</strong></h2>

<p>On Monday (Feb 12), seven of the&nbsp;eight former Indian Navy sailors, who had been jailed in Qatar for months,&nbsp;returned to India.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a statement, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) welcomed the release of eight Indian nationals and thanked the Qatari Emir.</p>

<p>"The Government of India welcomes the release of eight Indian nationals working for the Dahra Global company who were detained in Qatar. Seven out of the eight of them have returned to India,"&nbsp;said the MEA&nbsp;in a brief statement.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/qatar-releases-eight-indian-nationals-detained-seven-returned-to-india-mea-689312"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;'We waited 18 months': Seven jailed ex-sailors freed by Qatar return to India, thank PM Modi</strong></a></p>

<p>One of the freed people who returned to India said: "It wouldn't have been possible for us to stand here without the intervention of PM Modi. And it also happened due to the continuous efforts of the Government of India."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha on Thursday (Feb 15) after landing in the Middle East country last evening.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha on Thursday (Feb 15) after landing in the Middle East country last evening. During the meeting, the two leaders are expected to hold talks on regional and global issues. PM Modi last visited Qatar in June 2016. The trip comes against the backdrop of Qatar releasing eight Indian sailors after commuting their death sentences following New Delhi's request. #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds a bilateral meeting with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha. pic.twitter.com/xxFfViNjPc — ANI (@ANI) February 15, 2024 × The act of deft diplomacy between India and Qatar suggested relations were heading in the right way. PM Modi's meeting with the Emir is expected to solidify the relations further and set the foundation for the coming years. Prior to his meeting with the Emir, PM Modi on Wednesday (Feb 13) met his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, shortly after concluding his two-day trip to the UAE. Taking to his social media accounts, PM Modi said he looked forward to the 'fruitful Qatar visit' that would deepen ties between the two nations while also posting a snapshot of the meeting. "Had a wonderful meeting with PM @MBA_AIThani. Our discussions revolved around ways to boost India-Qatar friendship," PM Modi wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter). Had a wonderful meeting with PM @MBA_AlThani_. Our discussions revolved around ways to boost India-Qatar friendship. pic.twitter.com/5PMlbr8nBQ — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 14, 2024 × Watch | 'We waited 18 Gravitas: How India saved its veterans from death sentence in Qatar × Indian sailors released On Monday (Feb 12), seven of the eight former Indian Navy sailors, who had been jailed in Qatar for months, returned to India. In a statement, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) welcomed the release of eight Indian nationals and thanked the Qatari Emir. "The Government of India welcomes the release of eight Indian nationals working for the Dahra Global company who were detained in Qatar. Seven out of the eight of them have returned to India," said the MEA in a brief statement. Also read | 'We waited 18 months': Seven jailed ex-sailors freed by Qatar return to India, thank PM Modi One of the freed people who returned to India said: "It wouldn't have been possible for us to stand here without the intervention of PM Modi. And it also happened due to the continuous efforts of the Government of India." (With inputs from agencies)

PM Modi meets Emir of Qatar, days after release of Indian sailors

<p>India Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (Feb14) inaugurated Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Mandir in Abu Dhabi. This is the first Hindu temple in United Arab Emirates (UAE) capital. PM Modi arrived in UAE on Tuesday, in a first leg of his two-nation visit. After UAE, PM Modi will head to Qatar.</p>

<p>PM Modi arrived at the Abu Dhabi temple in the evening on Wednesday and was welcomed by BAPS' Ishwarcharandas Swami. In addition to the inauguration, PM Modi also offered prayers at the temple. Wednesday marked Basant Panchmi,&nbsp;an auspicious day, according to the Hindu calendar.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Abu Dhabi temple is sure to draw devotees from various corners of the world following the inauguration.</p>

<p>The sentiment was echoed by PM Modi.</p>

<p>&nbsp;"...UAE, which till now was known for Burj Khalifa, Future Museum, Sheikh Zayed Mosque and other hi-tech buildings, has now added another cultural chapter to its identity. I am confident that a large number of devotees will come here in the coming times...," he said in his speech after inauguration of the temple.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/land-from-muslim-king-architecture-by-christian-abu-dhabis-hindu-temple-is-an-icon-of-communal-harmony-690134">Christian architect, land given by Muslim king: Abu Dhabi's BAPS Hindu temple is an icon of communal harmony</a></strong></p>

<p>"UAE has written a golden chapter. The inauguration of the temple has years of hard work and dreams of many are connected with the temple. Swaminarayan's blessings are also connected..," said PM Modi. UAE Tolerance Minister Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan was also in attendance.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | UAE BAPS temple: PM Modi inaugurates UAE's first Hindu temple</strong></p>

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<p>During his speech, the PM thanked UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his support for the temple and even asked those present to give a standing ovation to the president.</p>

<h2><strong>PM Modi's UAE visit</strong></h2>

<p>India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) released a joint statement from President al-Nayhan and PM Modi on Wednesday evening.</p>

<p>The ministry listed mutual agreements signed during the visit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>These included,</p>

<ol>
	<li>Bilateral Investment Treaty</li>
	<li>Inter-Governmental Framework Agreement on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC)</li>
	<li>Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation on Digital Infrastructure Projects</li>
	<li>Memorandum of Understanding in the field of Electricity Interconnection and Trade.</li>
	<li>Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation with the National Maritime Heritage Complex, Lothal at Gujarat.</li>
	<li>Cooperation Protocol between the National Library and Archives of the UAE and the National Archives of India.</li>
	<li>Agreement on interlinking of the instant payment platforms – UPI (India) and AANI (UAE).</li>
	<li>Agreement on inter-linking domestic debit/credit cards - RuPay (India) with JAYWAN (UAE).</li>
</ol>

<p>"The two leaders endorsed the efforts from both sides to strengthen the strong economic and commercial cooperation and explore new areas of collaboration. They welcomed the strong growth witnessed in the UAE-India trade relations since the entry into force of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on May 1, 2022," said the joint statement.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


India Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (Feb14) inaugurated Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Mandir in Abu Dhabi. This is the first Hindu temple in United Arab Emirates (UAE) capital.

India Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (Feb14) inaugurated Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Mandir in Abu Dhabi. This is the first Hindu temple in United Arab Emirates (UAE) capital. PM Modi arrived in UAE on Tuesday, in a first leg of his two-nation visit. After UAE, PM Modi will head to Qatar. PM Modi arrived at the Abu Dhabi temple in the evening on Wednesday and was welcomed by BAPS' Ishwarcharandas Swami. In addition to the inauguration, PM Modi also offered prayers at the temple. Wednesday marked Basant Panchmi, an auspicious day, according to the Hindu calendar. The Abu Dhabi temple is sure to draw devotees from various corners of the world following the inauguration. The sentiment was echoed by PM Modi. "...UAE, which till now was known for Burj Khalifa, Future Museum, Sheikh Zayed Mosque and other hi-tech buildings, has now added another cultural chapter to its identity. I am confident that a large number of devotees will come here in the coming times...," he said in his speech after inauguration of the temple. Also Read | Christian architect, land given by Muslim king: Abu Dhabi's BAPS Hindu temple is an icon of communal harmony "UAE has written a golden chapter. The inauguration of the temple has years of hard work and dreams of many are connected with the temple. Swaminarayan's blessings are also connected..," said PM Modi. UAE Tolerance Minister Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan was also in attendance. Watch | UAE BAPS temple: PM Modi inaugurates UAE's first Hindu temple × During his speech, the PM thanked UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his support for the temple and even asked those present to give a standing ovation to the president. PM Modi's UAE visit India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) released a joint statement from President al-Nayhan and PM Modi on Wednesday evening. The ministry listed mutual agreements signed during the visit. These included, Bilateral Investment Treaty Inter-Governmental Framework Agreement on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation on Digital Infrastructure Projects Memorandum of Understanding in the field of Electricity Interconnection and Trade. Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation with the National Maritime Heritage Complex, Lothal at Gujarat. Cooperation Protocol between the National Library and Archives of the UAE and the National Archives of India. Agreement on interlinking of the instant payment platforms – UPI (India) and AANI (UAE). Agreement on inter-linking domestic debit/credit cards - RuPay (India) with JAYWAN (UAE). "The two leaders endorsed the efforts from both sides to strengthen the strong economic and commercial cooperation and explore new areas of collaboration. They welcomed the strong growth witnessed in the UAE-India trade relations since the entry into force of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on May 1, 2022," said the joint statement. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Golden chapter’ for UAE: PM Modi inaugurates BAPS Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi

<p>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) temple in Abu Dhabi, UAE. This is the first such Hindu temple in the Gulf country. In other news,&nbsp;Indonesian defence minister Prabowo Subianto claimed victory in the first round of Indonesia’s presidential election on Wednesday (Feb 14).&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Click on the headlines to read more:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/baps-abu-dhabi-hindu-temple-inauguration-live-pm-modi-uae-visit-uae-president-latest-news-images-videos-690223">BAPS Abu Dhabi Temple Live: 'Golden chapter' for UAE, says PM Modi<br />
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<p>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) temple in Abu Dhabi, UAE. This is the first such Hindu temple in the Gulf country.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-election-defence-minister-prabowo-subianto-claims-victory-in-first-round-690277">Indonesia election: Defence minister Prabowo Subianto claims victory in first round<br />
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<img alt="2" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5124fdac-4207-47ab-aebb-58688e94c985" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/WION%20IMAGES%21%20-%202024-02-14T214731.737.png" /></a></p>

<p>Indonesian defence minister Prabowo Subianto claimed victory in the first round of Indonesia’s presidential election on Wednesday (Feb 14) after preliminary results indicated he was leading the polls.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-war-kyiv-claims-it-destroyed-russian-warship-in-black-sea-690162">VIDEO: Ukraine claims it destroyed another Russian warship in Black Sea<br />
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<p>Ukraine on Wednesday (Feb 14) claimed it had destroyed another Russian warship in the Black Sea as the war intensified between the two countries, approaching its second anniversary, according to a report by news agency&nbsp;<em>AFP</em>.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/unraveling-the-life-of-anand-sujith-henry-techie-found-deceased-in-us-with-wife-kids-690296">Unravelling the life of Anand Sujith Henry: Techie found deceased in US with wife, kids<br />
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<img alt="4" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5fdf1413-ae8b-4427-9140-0859e9237bf7" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/WION%20IMAGES%21%20-%202024-02-14T214804.607.png" /></a></p>

<p>Anand Sujith Henry and Alice Priyanka, an Indian couple, along with their twins, Noah and Neithan, four years old, were found dead in a $2.1 million California mansion.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-delhi-tightens-security-as-farmers-continue-march-towards-national-capital-for-second-day-690082">Farmers' Protest 2.0: Tear gas shells fired, water sprayed as protests resume at Shambu border<br />
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<p>The farmers from Punjab resumed their "Chalo Dilli" march on the second day.&nbsp;On Wednesday (Feb 14), tear gas shells were fired and water sprayed from tankers on the protesting farmers who tried to cross the Shambu border.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iranian-pipelines-hit-in-act-of-terrorism-and-sabotage-gas-supply-disrupted-690236">Iranian pipelines hit in act of ‘terrorism and sabotage’, gas supply disrupted<br />
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<p>Iranian state media reported that two explosions struck gas pipelines early Wednesday (Feb 14), claiming it to be an act of "terrorism and sabotage".</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nato-chief-says-18-countries-are-expected-to-hit-their-defence-spending-target-after-trumps-remarks-690265">NATO chief says 18 countries are expected to hit their defence spending target after Trump’s remarks<br />
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<p>NATO chief, on Wednesday (Feb 14) said Europe had increased its spending on defence with 18 out of the alliance’s 31 countries expected to hit their target this year.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-begins-series-of-strikes-in-lebanon-amid-concerns-over-cross-border-escalation-690319">Israel 'begins series of strikes' in Lebanon amid concerns over cross-border escalation<br />
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<p>The Israeli military said on Wednesday (Feb 14) that its fighter jets "began a series of strikes in Lebanon". Meanwhile, a Lebanese security source said that Israeli strikes in south Lebanon killed four civilians, including two children, and wounded several others.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-chief-slams-record-spending-on-arms-over-climate-report-suggests-world-faces-a-dangerous-decade-690309">UN chief slams record spending on arms over climate; report suggests world faces a ‘dangerous decade’<br />
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<p>United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres blasted countries and accused them of buying weapons at the cost of policies to tackle global warming and hunger. Meanwhile, global defence spending increased by nine per cent last year, hitting a record high of $2.2 trillion.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/this-guys-a-joke-englands-ollie-robinson-on-jasprit-bumrahs-nine-wicket-haul-in-second-test-690287">This guy's a joke: England's Ollie Robinson on Jasprit Bumrah's nine-wicket haul in second Test<br />
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<p>England bowler Ollie Robinson has termed India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah as 'crazy good' for his exploits in the second Test in Vizag during the ongoing five-Test series. Bumrah was named player of the match in the Vizag Test, the second of the series, which India won by 106 runs.&nbsp;</p>


Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) temple in Abu Dhabi, UAE. This is the first such Hindu temple in the Gulf country.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) temple in Abu Dhabi, UAE. This is the first such Hindu temple in the Gulf country. In other news, Indonesian defence minister Prabowo Subianto claimed victory in the first round of Indonesia’s presidential election on Wednesday (Feb 14). Click on the headlines to read more: BAPS Abu Dhabi Temple Live: 'Golden chapter' for UAE, says PM Modi Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) temple in Abu Dhabi, UAE. This is the first such Hindu temple in the Gulf country. Indonesia election: Defence minister Prabowo Subianto claims victory in first round Indonesian defence minister Prabowo Subianto claimed victory in the first round of Indonesia’s presidential election on Wednesday (Feb 14) after preliminary results indicated he was leading the polls. VIDEO: Ukraine claims it destroyed another Russian warship in Black Sea Ukraine on Wednesday (Feb 14) claimed it had destroyed another Russian warship in the Black Sea as the war intensified between the two countries, approaching its second anniversary, according to a report by news agency AFP. Unravelling the life of Anand Sujith Henry: Techie found deceased in US with wife, kids Anand Sujith Henry and Alice Priyanka, an Indian couple, along with their twins, Noah and Neithan, four years old, were found dead in a $2.1 million California mansion. Farmers' Protest 2.0: Tear gas shells fired, water sprayed as protests resume at Shambu border The farmers from Punjab resumed their "Chalo Dilli" march on the second day. On Wednesday (Feb 14), tear gas shells were fired and water sprayed from tankers on the protesting farmers who tried to cross the Shambu border. Iranian pipelines hit in act of ‘terrorism and sabotage’, gas supply disrupted Iranian state media reported that two explosions struck gas pipelines early Wednesday (Feb 14), claiming it to be an act of "terrorism and sabotage". NATO chief says 18 countries are expected to hit their defence spending target after Trump’s remarks NATO chief, on Wednesday (Feb 14) said Europe had increased its spending on defence with 18 out of the alliance’s 31 countries expected to hit their target this year. Israel 'begins series of strikes' in Lebanon amid concerns over cross-border escalation The Israeli military said on Wednesday (Feb 14) that its fighter jets "began a series of strikes in Lebanon". Meanwhile, a Lebanese security source said that Israeli strikes in south Lebanon killed four civilians, including two children, and wounded several others. UN chief slams record spending on arms over climate; report suggests world faces a ‘dangerous decade’ United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres blasted countries and accused them of buying weapons at the cost of policies to tackle global warming and hunger. Meanwhile, global defence spending increased by nine per cent last year, hitting a record high of $2.2 trillion. This guy's a joke: England's Ollie Robinson on Jasprit Bumrah's nine-wicket haul in second Test England bowler Ollie Robinson has termed India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah as 'crazy good' for his exploits in the second Test in Vizag during the ongoing five-Test series. Bumrah was named player of the match in the Vizag Test, the second of the series, which India won by 106 runs.

Top 10 world news: PM Modi inaugurates Hindu temple in UAE; Prabowo 'wins' Indonesia presidential race & more

<p>On this day, India marks the 5th&nbsp;anniversary of one of the deadliest terror attacks carried out on its security forces, which took place in the Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir where at least 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel lost their lives. India also considers February 14 as ‘Black Day’ due to the attack which brought the country to a standstill after a suicide bomber from Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) rammed a vehicle full of explosives into a CRPF convoy. After a few days, the Indian Air Force bombed the JeM camps in Pakistan’s Balakot sector, and as per reports, hundreds of&nbsp;terrorists were said to have been killed during the attack.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What happened that day in Pulwama?</strong></h2>

<p>On February 14, 2019, a suicide bomber attacked a convoy which comprised a total of 78 buses in which around 2,500 paramilitary personnel were travelling from Jammu to Srinagar. The&nbsp;explosive-laden vehicle rammed into a bus killing 40 members of the CRPF. The attack&nbsp;took place on Jammu-Kashmir National Highway (NH) 44 at around 3:15 pm (local time).&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pulwama-attack-4th-anniversary-when-india-raided-birthplace-of-jihad-in-south-asia-explained-561852">Pulwama attack 4th anniversary: When India raided birthplace of jihad in South Asia | Explained</a></strong></p>

<p>Subsequently, the JeM released a video and claimed responsibility for the attack and the suicide bomber was later identified as 22-year-old, Adil Ahmad Dar who was reportedly a resident of the Pulwama district of south Kashmir.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>India’s reaction to the attack</strong></h2>

<p>The attack evoked a sharp reaction from across the nation and the next day the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) while condemning the incident accused Pakistan of giving “full freedom” to Masood Azhar, leader of the JeM to operate in its country. At the time, the MEA, in a statement said, “JeM is led by global terrorist Masood Azhar, who is given full freedom by Pakistan to operate and expand his terror infrastructure.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>It added, “India condemns Pulwama terror attack; heinous, despicable act perpetrated by Pak-based Jaish-e-Mohammed. We demand Pakistan should stop supporting terrorists and terror groups operating from its territory and dismantle terror infrastructure.” However, Pakistan had once again&nbsp;denied these claims. Subsequently, political parties in India unanimously passed a resolution to support the security forces and the government.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/over-200-kg-of-explosives-was-used-in-pulwamas-terror-attack-197469/#pulwama-attack-197454">Over 100 kg explosive used in Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 CRPF jawans</a></strong></p>

<p>After the attack, customs duty on all Pakistani goods was increased to 200 per cent and India also stripped Pakistan’s status as the Most Favoured Nation (MFN). Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also said that security forces have been given “full freedom” to choose a “time and place” for the “future course of action”. He also said that terrorists have “made a big mistake” and “will have to pay a very heavy price” for their actions.</p>

<h2><strong>Balakot airstrike</strong></h2>

<p>Indian security forces launched a counter-attack named ‘Operation Bandar’ and carried out airstrikes on February 26, 2019, in the Balakot region at JeM camps in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The province in question is some 50 km from the Line of Control (LoC) where the Indian Air Force (IAF) sent Israel-made “smart bombs” and 12 Mirage 2000 fighter jets and reportedly killed hundreds of terrorists. The targeted terror camp in the region was said to be an important training centre for the JeM and other terror organisations. Notably, this was the first aerial assault carried out by India in Pakistan since the war between the two nations in 1971.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Pakistan retaliates</strong></h2>

<p>A day after the Balakot airstrikes by India, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and several F-16s entered Indian airspace on February 27, 2019, and were said to have attempted to target Indian military installations in Jammu and Kashmir, but the attack&nbsp;was foiled by the IAF. According to reports, one F-16 aircraft and two Indian MiG-21 Bisons were destroyed.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/iafs-balakot-airstrikes-how-operation-bandar-surprised-pakistan-366360/#operation-bandar-366351">IAF's Balakot airstrikes: How 'Operation Bandar' surprised Pakistan</a></strong></p>

<p>Additionally, Pakistan claimed to have taken two IAF pilots and later changed its statement to say only one IAF pilot was in custody which was later confirmed by the MEA. The next day, the now-former PM Imran Khan announced that he would release the captured IAF Wing&nbsp;Commander Abhinandan Varthaman on March 1. The MIG-21 fighter jet pilot had shot down PAF’s F-16 but lost his aircraft also and landed in Pakistani territory, as per reports he was detained and interrogated. The IAF commander was later conferred with India’s third-highest wartime gallantry medal, the Vir Chakra.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>PM Modi pays homage to brave heroes&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>PM Modi took to X, earlier on Wednesday (Feb 14), and paid tribute to the 40 CRPF personnel killed in the Pulwama terror attack and wrote, “I pay homage to the brave heroes who were martyred in Pulwama. Their service and sacrifice for our nation will always be remembered”.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I pay homage to the brave heroes who were martyred in Pulwama. Their service and sacrifice for our nation will always be remembered.</p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1757602109132767534?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>This year, India's&nbsp;security forces, including the CRPF,&nbsp;have planned&nbsp;events&nbsp;to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the attack. Additionally,&nbsp;various institutes and&nbsp;organisations across India&nbsp;have also planned events to pay&nbsp;tribute to the&nbsp;CRPF personnel killed in the Pulwama terror attack.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


On this day, India marks the 5th anniversary of one of the deadliest terror attacks carried out on its security forces, which took place in the Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir where at least 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel lost their lives.

On this day, India marks the 5th anniversary of one of the deadliest terror attacks carried out on its security forces, which took place in the Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir where at least 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel lost their lives. India also considers February 14 as ‘Black Day’ due to the attack which brought the country to a standstill after a suicide bomber from Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) rammed a vehicle full of explosives into a CRPF convoy. After a few days, the Indian Air Force bombed the JeM camps in Pakistan’s Balakot sector, and as per reports, hundreds of terrorists were said to have been killed during the attack. What happened that day in Pulwama? On February 14, 2019, a suicide bomber attacked a convoy which comprised a total of 78 buses in which around 2,500 paramilitary personnel were travelling from Jammu to Srinagar. The explosive-laden vehicle rammed into a bus killing 40 members of the CRPF. The attack took place on Jammu-Kashmir National Highway (NH) 44 at around 3:15 pm (local time). Also Read | Pulwama attack 4th anniversary: When India raided birthplace of jihad in South Asia | Explained Subsequently, the JeM released a video and claimed responsibility for the attack and the suicide bomber was later identified as 22-year-old, Adil Ahmad Dar who was reportedly a resident of the Pulwama district of south Kashmir. India’s reaction to the attack The attack evoked a sharp reaction from across the nation and the next day the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) while condemning the incident accused Pakistan of giving “full freedom” to Masood Azhar, leader of the JeM to operate in its country. At the time, the MEA, in a statement said, “JeM is led by global terrorist Masood Azhar, who is given full freedom by Pakistan to operate and expand his terror infrastructure.” It added, “India condemns Pulwama terror attack; heinous, despicable act perpetrated by Pak-based Jaish-e-Mohammed. We demand Pakistan should stop supporting terrorists and terror groups operating from its territory and dismantle terror infrastructure.” However, Pakistan had once again denied these claims. Subsequently, political parties in India unanimously passed a resolution to support the security forces and the government. ALSO READ | Over 100 kg explosive used in Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 CRPF jawans After the attack, customs duty on all Pakistani goods was increased to 200 per cent and India also stripped Pakistan’s status as the Most Favoured Nation (MFN). Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also said that security forces have been given “full freedom” to choose a “time and place” for the “future course of action”. He also said that terrorists have “made a big mistake” and “will have to pay a very heavy price” for their actions. Balakot airstrike Indian security forces launched a counter-attack named ‘Operation Bandar’ and carried out airstrikes on February 26, 2019, in the Balakot region at JeM camps in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The province in question is some 50 km from the Line of Control (LoC) where the Indian Air Force (IAF) sent Israel-made “smart bombs” and 12 Mirage 2000 fighter jets and reportedly killed hundreds of terrorists. The targeted terror camp in the region was said to be an important training centre for the JeM and other terror organisations. Notably, this was the first aerial assault carried out by India in Pakistan since the war between the two nations in 1971. Pakistan retaliates A day after the Balakot airstrikes by India, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and several F-16s entered Indian airspace on February 27, 2019, and were said to have attempted to target Indian military installations in Jammu and Kashmir, but the attack was foiled by the IAF. According to reports, one F-16 aircraft and two Indian MiG-21 Bisons were destroyed. ALSO READ | IAF's Balakot airstrikes: How 'Operation Bandar' surprised Pakistan Additionally, Pakistan claimed to have taken two IAF pilots and later changed its statement to say only one IAF pilot was in custody which was later confirmed by the MEA. The next day, the now-former PM Imran Khan announced that he would release the captured IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman on March 1. The MIG-21 fighter jet pilot had shot down PAF’s F-16 but lost his aircraft also and landed in Pakistani territory, as per reports he was detained and interrogated. The IAF commander was later conferred with India’s third-highest wartime gallantry medal, the Vir Chakra. PM Modi pays homage to brave heroes PM Modi took to X, earlier on Wednesday (Feb 14), and paid tribute to the 40 CRPF personnel killed in the Pulwama terror attack and wrote, “I pay homage to the brave heroes who were martyred in Pulwama. Their service and sacrifice for our nation will always be remembered”. I pay homage to the brave heroes who were martyred in Pulwama. Their service and sacrifice for our nation will always be remembered. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 14, 2024 × This year, India's security forces, including the CRPF, have planned events to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the attack. Additionally, various institutes and organisations across India have also planned events to pay tribute to the CRPF personnel killed in the Pulwama terror attack. (With inputs from agencies)

Explained | 5th anniversary of Pulwama attack: What happened on that day, and since?

<p>India's revolutionary Unified Payment Interface (UPI) services were officially rolled out in Sri Lanka and Mauritius during a virtual ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterparts&nbsp;Mauritian PM Pravind Jugnauth and Sri Lankan&nbsp;President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday (Feb 12) afternoon.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The launch of the&nbsp;digital payment network ensures that both countries can access the ease of using UPI to settle real-time transactions. Additionally, Indian nationals travelling to the two countries will not have to rely on other means of payment which are often cumbersome.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Today is a special day for three friendly countries in the Indian Ocean region. Today we are connecting our historical relations in a modern digital way. This is proof of our commitment to the development of our people,"&nbsp;said PM Modi during the ceremony.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | First UPI transaction conducted by an Indian national in Mauritius. <a href="https://t.co/AUoxvEvqqG">pic.twitter.com/AUoxvEvqqG</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1756946742237344155?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>"Through Fintech connectivity, not only cross-border transactions but also cross-border connections will be strengthened. India's Unified Payments Interface i.e. UPI is now performing a new responsibility - Uniting Partners with India," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Apart from UPI, the expansion of RuPay card services in Mauritius would allow Mauritian banks to issue cards using the RuPay system. The Indian government introduced RuPay cards in 2012&nbsp;to break the duopoly of Visa and Mastercard.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The launch of UPI in the two Indian Ocean nations comes days after the service became officially available at the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indias-unified-payments-interface-available-in-sri-lanka-from-february-12-689328"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;India's Unified Payments Interface available in Sri Lanka from February 12</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>UPI's introduction and rise</strong></h2>

<p>It was in 2016 that the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) introduced the revolutionary UPI system.&nbsp;The interface facilitates inter-bank peer-to-peer (P2P) and person-to-merchant (P2M) transactions. It is used on mobile devices to instantly transfer funds between two bank accounts.</p>

<p>PhonePe and PayTM were some of the first platforms to integrate UPI into its system. A year later, several competitors followed suit and since then, UPI has transformed into a behemoth that even foreign nations are looking to get their hands on.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a data-jsarwt="1" data-usg="AOvVaw1WaG0v1yrZd3vEbQR_FRWH" data-ved="2ahUKEwjOroTXpaOEAxXLZmwGHbayBVgQxfQBKAB6BAgUEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/india-rbi-hiking-upi-transaction-limits-gets-an-industry-thumbs-up-668097" jsname="YKoRaf">India: RBI hiking UPI transaction limits gets an industry thumbs up</a></strong></p>

<p>One of the biggest selling points of UPI is its open architecture which allows seamless integration. Users can link their bank accounts directly and initiate transactions effortlessly.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


India's revolutionary Unified Payment Interface (UPI) services were officially rolled out in Sri Lanka and Mauritius during a virtual ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterparts Mauritian PM Pravind Jugnauth and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday (Feb 12) afternoon.

India's revolutionary Unified Payment Interface (UPI) services were officially rolled out in Sri Lanka and Mauritius during a virtual ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterparts Mauritian PM Pravind Jugnauth and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday (Feb 12) afternoon. The launch of the digital payment network ensures that both countries can access the ease of using UPI to settle real-time transactions. Additionally, Indian nationals travelling to the two countries will not have to rely on other means of payment which are often cumbersome. "Today is a special day for three friendly countries in the Indian Ocean region. Today we are connecting our historical relations in a modern digital way. This is proof of our commitment to the development of our people," said PM Modi during the ceremony. #WATCH | First UPI transaction conducted by an Indian national in Mauritius. pic.twitter.com/AUoxvEvqqG — ANI (@ANI) February 12, 2024 × "Through Fintech connectivity, not only cross-border transactions but also cross-border connections will be strengthened. India's Unified Payments Interface i.e. UPI is now performing a new responsibility - Uniting Partners with India," he added. Apart from UPI, the expansion of RuPay card services in Mauritius would allow Mauritian banks to issue cards using the RuPay system. The Indian government introduced RuPay cards in 2012 to break the duopoly of Visa and Mastercard. The launch of UPI in the two Indian Ocean nations comes days after the service became officially available at the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. Watch | India's Unified Payments Interface available in Sri Lanka from February 12 × UPI's introduction and rise It was in 2016 that the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) introduced the revolutionary UPI system. The interface facilitates inter-bank peer-to-peer (P2P) and person-to-merchant (P2M) transactions. It is used on mobile devices to instantly transfer funds between two bank accounts. PhonePe and PayTM were some of the first platforms to integrate UPI into its system. A year later, several competitors followed suit and since then, UPI has transformed into a behemoth that even foreign nations are looking to get their hands on. Also read: India: RBI hiking UPI transaction limits gets an industry thumbs up One of the biggest selling points of UPI is its open architecture which allows seamless integration. Users can link their bank accounts directly and initiate transactions effortlessly. (With inputs from agencies)

India's UPI services formally launched in Sri Lanka and Mauritius; PM Modi attends virtual ceremony

<p><strong>Ram Mandir:</strong> Lord Ram devotees in India and around the world celebrate the occasion of Ayodhya Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha or consecration ceremony much like the festival of Diwali.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The mega religious and spiritual ceremony started on January 22 at around 12:30 pm IST when Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the sanctum sanctorum that housed the divine sculpture of Lord Ram Lalla.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Before the ceremony on January 22, PM Modi visited a number of temples in different parts of India, majorly in southern India. All these temples hold significance in the Ramayana and connecting PM Modi’s visit to these religious venues tells us a story about Lord Ram’s years in exile.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/what-indias-bid-for-the-2036-olympics-means-for-its-economy-682485">What India's bid for the 2036 Olympics means for its economy</a></p>

<h2><strong>Significance of PM Modi’s visits to various temples before Ayodhya Ram Temple ceremony</strong></h2>

<p>PM Modi started his special ritual of 11 days on January 12 ahead of the Pran Prathistha (consecration) ceremony. During these 11 days of ritual called ‘yama niyama’ he visited various temples that are connected to Lord Ram.</p>

<h2><strong>Kalaram Temple, Ramkund, Nashik, Maharashtra</strong></h2>

<p>Modi visited Ramkund on January 12, which is located in Maharashtra’s Nashik. Ramkund is located along the banks of the Godavari River and is the holiest place in Nashik. It is believed that this was the place where Lord Ram&nbsp;used to bathe when he was living there in exile.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ayodhyas-over-10bn-revamp-could-generate-around-3bn-in-tax-revenue-for-up-682522">Ayodhya's over $10bn revamp could generate around $3bn in tax revenue for UP</a></p>

<p>On the other hand, the Kalaram Temple that PM visited is another site situated in the Panchvati area of Nashik. According to the epic Ramayana, Lord Ram came along with Lakshman and Sita to live here for almost two and a half years.</p>

<p>While it is not exactly known how the temple got its name, it is believed that Lord Ram killed 14,000 demons in just 1.5 minutes and, therefore, it is called 'Kalaram' as he invoked his 'kala roop' or 'dark side' to slay them.</p>

<h2><strong>Lepakshi Veerabhadra Temple, Andhra Pradesh</strong></h2>

<p>From Nashik, PM Modi headed southwards, over 1,000 km away on January 16 to Lepakshi in Andhra Pradesh. Lepakshi, which means 'Rise, oh bird' in Telugu.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">For all those who are devotees of Prabhu Shri Ram, Lepakshi holds great significance. Today, I had the honour of praying at the Veerbhadra Temple. I prayed that the people of India be happy, healthy and scale new heights of prosperity. <a href="https://t.co/VDTSdrMpCS">pic.twitter.com/VDTSdrMpCS</a></p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1747242661915025638?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>As per the epic Ramayana, after Ravan kidnapped Sita and boarded the Puspak Viman to take her to Lanka, a giant vulture-like mythical bird, Jatayu, valiantly fought the demon king to stop him in his tracks. However, Ravan slashed one of Jatayu’s wings and the bird fell down, badly injured. This wing is said to have fallen in Lepakshi.</p>

<p>It is here that Lord Ram and Laxman, in search of Sita, are said to have met Jatayu and learnt about Sita's kidnapping by Ravan.</p>

<h2><strong>Sri Ramaswami Temple, Kerala</strong></h2>

<p>From Andhra, PM Modi went to Sri Ramaswami Temple, Thriprayar, in Kerala's Thrissur district on January 17. There are no clear details available about this temple but it&nbsp;is known for a unique kind of worship called ‘vedi vazhipadu’ which means bursting of crackers. It is performed at the temple to commemorate the return of Hanuman from Lanka after she met Sita.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/us-cm-yogi-adityanath-says-ayodhya-wont-echo-with-gunshots-or-witness-curfew-now-682510">UP CM Yogi Adityanath says Ayodhya ‘won’t echo with gunshots’ now, nor ‘witness curfew’</a></p>

<p>PM Modi’s visit fits perfectly in the epic’s sequence, as after meeting Jatayu, Lord Ram lands in the monkey kingdom of Kishkinda, where he meets Hanuman and the rest of the story progresses.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Tamil Nadu</strong></h2>

<p>The next spiritual stop for PM Modi was Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Tamil Nadu’s Trichy. He reached there on January 20. As per legends, Lord Ram gave Ravan’s brother Vibhishan his own dynasty’s Vishnu sculpture as a sign of gratitude for helping him during the Lanka war.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Honoured to have got the opportunity to pray at the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. Prabhu Sri Ram’s connection with this Temple is long-standing. I feel blessed to have been blessed by the God whom Prabhu Sri Ram also worshipped. <a href="https://t.co/0dLqTW3FeR">pic.twitter.com/0dLqTW3FeR</a></p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1748696445388255645?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>It was here that Vibhishan handed over the sculpture to a local boy, which was later discovered years later by a king of the Chola dynasty, who established the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple.</p>

<h2><strong>Arichal Munai Point, Tamil Nadu</strong></h2>

<p>Arichal Munai Point is located at the Dhanushkodi beach on Rameswaram island of Tamil Nadu. The point is the merging location of the Bay of Bengal and the Gulf of Mannar Sea of the Indian Ocean.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Had the opportunity to be at Arichal Munai, which holds a special significance in Prabhu Shri Ram’s life. It is the starting point of the Ram Setu. <a href="https://t.co/d2HvbMnmV5">pic.twitter.com/d2HvbMnmV5</a></p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1748988407513051289?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>It is believed that this was the starting point of the Ram Setu, a bridge made by Lord Ram’s ‘vanara sena’ to reach Lanka to rescue Sita.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Kothandaramaswamy Temple, Tamil Nadu</strong></h2>

<p>The Kothandaramaswamy Temple at Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu is dedicated to Lord Rama. The temple has the idols of Ram, Lakshman, Sita, Hanuman and Ravan’s brother Vibhishan.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Prayed at the iconic Kothandaramaswamy Temple. Felt extremely blessed. <a href="https://t.co/0rs58qqwex">pic.twitter.com/0rs58qqwex</a></p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1749008376586199197?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>The temple is believed to be the place where Vibhishan, asked Ram and his vanar&nbsp;(ape men) army for refuge. It is because he advised his brother Ravan to return Sita, however, Ravan did not listen to his advice. After this, Vibhishan fled from Lanka and joined Lord Ram’s army.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The spiritual trail from Maharashtra’s Panchavati to Dhanushkodi in Tamil Nadu was hence significant for the January 22 consecration ceremony.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Ram Mandir: Lord Ram devotees in India and around the world celebrate the occasion of Ayodhya Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha or consecration ceremony much like the festival of Diwali.

Ram Mandir: Lord Ram devotees in India and around the world celebrate the occasion of Ayodhya Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha or consecration ceremony much like the festival of Diwali. The mega religious and spiritual ceremony started on January 22 at around 12:30 pm IST when Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the sanctum sanctorum that housed the divine sculpture of Lord Ram Lalla. Before the ceremony on January 22, PM Modi visited a number of temples in different parts of India, majorly in southern India. All these temples hold significance in the Ramayana and connecting PM Modi’s visit to these religious venues tells us a story about Lord Ram’s years in exile. Also Read | What India's bid for the 2036 Olympics means for its economy Significance of PM Modi’s visits to various temples before Ayodhya Ram Temple ceremony PM Modi started his special ritual of 11 days on January 12 ahead of the Pran Prathistha (consecration) ceremony. During these 11 days of ritual called ‘yama niyama’ he visited various temples that are connected to Lord Ram. Kalaram Temple, Ramkund, Nashik, Maharashtra Modi visited Ramkund on January 12, which is located in Maharashtra’s Nashik. Ramkund is located along the banks of the Godavari River and is the holiest place in Nashik. It is believed that this was the place where Lord Ram used to bathe when he was living there in exile. Also Read | Ayodhya's over $10bn revamp could generate around $3bn in tax revenue for UP On the other hand, the Kalaram Temple that PM visited is another site situated in the Panchvati area of Nashik. According to the epic Ramayana, Lord Ram came along with Lakshman and Sita to live here for almost two and a half years. While it is not exactly known how the temple got its name, it is believed that Lord Ram killed 14,000 demons in just 1.5 minutes and, therefore, it is called 'Kalaram' as he invoked his 'kala roop' or 'dark side' to slay them. Lepakshi Veerabhadra Temple, Andhra Pradesh From Nashik, PM Modi headed southwards, over 1,000 km away on January 16 to Lepakshi in Andhra Pradesh. Lepakshi, which means 'Rise, oh bird' in Telugu. For all those who are devotees of Prabhu Shri Ram, Lepakshi holds great significance. Today, I had the honour of praying at the Veerbhadra Temple. I prayed that the people of India be happy, healthy and scale new heights of prosperity. pic.twitter.com/VDTSdrMpCS — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 16, 2024 × As per the epic Ramayana, after Ravan kidnapped Sita and boarded the Puspak Viman to take her to Lanka, a giant vulture-like mythical bird, Jatayu, valiantly fought the demon king to stop him in his tracks. However, Ravan slashed one of Jatayu’s wings and the bird fell down, badly injured. This wing is said to have fallen in Lepakshi. It is here that Lord Ram and Laxman, in search of Sita, are said to have met Jatayu and learnt about Sita's kidnapping by Ravan. Sri Ramaswami Temple, Kerala From Andhra, PM Modi went to Sri Ramaswami Temple, Thriprayar, in Kerala's Thrissur district on January 17. There are no clear details available about this temple but it is known for a unique kind of worship called ‘vedi vazhipadu’ which means bursting of crackers. It is performed at the temple to commemorate the return of Hanuman from Lanka after she met Sita. Also Read | UP CM Yogi Adityanath says Ayodhya ‘won’t echo with gunshots’ now, nor ‘witness curfew’ PM Modi’s visit fits perfectly in the epic’s sequence, as after meeting Jatayu, Lord Ram lands in the monkey kingdom of Kishkinda, where he meets Hanuman and the rest of the story progresses. Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Tamil Nadu The next spiritual stop for PM Modi was Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Tamil Nadu’s Trichy. He reached there on January 20. As per legends, Lord Ram gave Ravan’s brother Vibhishan his own dynasty’s Vishnu sculpture as a sign of gratitude for helping him during the Lanka war. Honoured to have got the opportunity to pray at the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. Prabhu Sri Ram’s connection with this Temple is long-standing. I feel blessed to have been blessed by the God whom Prabhu Sri Ram also worshipped. pic.twitter.com/0dLqTW3FeR — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 20, 2024 × It was here that Vibhishan handed over the sculpture to a local boy, which was later discovered years later by a king of the Chola dynasty, who established the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. Arichal Munai Point, Tamil Nadu Arichal Munai Point is located at the Dhanushkodi beach on Rameswaram island of Tamil Nadu. The point is the merging location of the Bay of Bengal and the Gulf of Mannar Sea of the Indian Ocean. Had the opportunity to be at Arichal Munai, which holds a special significance in Prabhu Shri Ram’s life. It is the starting point of the Ram Setu. pic.twitter.com/d2HvbMnmV5 — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 21, 2024 × It is believed that this was the starting point of the Ram Setu, a bridge made by Lord Ram’s ‘vanara sena’ to reach Lanka to rescue Sita. Kothandaramaswamy Temple, Tamil Nadu The Kothandaramaswamy Temple at Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu is dedicated to Lord Rama. The temple has the idols of Ram, Lakshman, Sita, Hanuman and Ravan’s brother Vibhishan. Prayed at the iconic Kothandaramaswamy Temple. Felt extremely blessed. pic.twitter.com/0rs58qqwex — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 21, 2024 × The temple is believed to be the place where Vibhishan, asked Ram and his vanar (ape men) army for refuge. It is because he advised his brother Ravan to return Sita, however, Ravan did not listen to his advice. After this, Vibhishan fled from Lanka and joined Lord Ram’s army. The spiritual trail from Maharashtra’s Panchavati to Dhanushkodi in Tamil Nadu was hence significant for the January 22 consecration ceremony. (With inputs from agencies)

Ram Mandir: All temples PM Modi visited before consecration have a significant Ramayana connect

<p>India will not have to wait too long for a&nbsp;Boeing&nbsp;aircraft that is designed and manufactured in the subcontinent, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the inauguration of the planemaker's engineering centre in Bengaluru on Friday.</p>

<p>The&nbsp;Boeing&nbsp;India Engineering &amp; Technology Center (BIETC) in the capital city of the southern Indian state of Karnataka is the company's largest facility outside of the United States and will focus on research and development.</p>

<p>The company said it had invested $200 million in the campus, which is spread across 43 acres, but did not provide details on the number of people the facility will employ.&nbsp; Boeing&nbsp;currently employs more than 6,000 people in India across its various centres.</p>

<p>At the event, which was also attended by senior&nbsp;Boeing&nbsp;executives including Chief Operating Officer Stephanie Pope, PM Modi stressed the need to build an aircraft manufacturing ecosystem in India.</p>

<p>"Given that there is so much potential in India, we need to rapidly build an aircraft manufacturing ecosystem in the country," Modi said.</p>

<p>Boeing&nbsp;has witnessed a surge in interest for its jets in India, currently the world's fastest-growing aviation market, with travel demand outstripping the supply of planes.</p>

<p>On Thursday, the aircraft manufacturer received orders for 150 737 MAX narrowbody jets from Akasa Air, India's youngest carrier.</p>

<p>In an exclusive interview with Reuters last year, India's civil aviation minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, said it was time for&nbsp;Boeing&nbsp;and rival Airbus to consider setting up jetliner assembly in the country.</p>

<p>Boeing&nbsp;has an alliance with India's Tata Group to produce AH-64 Apache helicopter fuselages and 737 aircraft vertical fin structures.</p>


India will not have to wait too long for a Boeing aircraft that is designed and manufactured in the subcontinent, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the inauguration of the planemaker's engineering centre in Bengaluru on Friday.

India will not have to wait too long for a Boeing aircraft that is designed and manufactured in the subcontinent, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the inauguration of the planemaker's engineering centre in Bengaluru on Friday. The Boeing India Engineering & Technology Center (BIETC) in the capital city of the southern Indian state of Karnataka is the company's largest facility outside of the United States and will focus on research and development. The company said it had invested $200 million in the campus, which is spread across 43 acres, but did not provide details on the number of people the facility will employ. Boeing currently employs more than 6,000 people in India across its various centres. At the event, which was also attended by senior Boeing executives including Chief Operating Officer Stephanie Pope, PM Modi stressed the need to build an aircraft manufacturing ecosystem in India. "Given that there is so much potential in India, we need to rapidly build an aircraft manufacturing ecosystem in the country," Modi said. Boeing has witnessed a surge in interest for its jets in India, currently the world's fastest-growing aviation market, with travel demand outstripping the supply of planes. On Thursday, the aircraft manufacturer received orders for 150 737 MAX narrowbody jets from Akasa Air, India's youngest carrier. In an exclusive interview with Reuters last year, India's civil aviation minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, said it was time for Boeing and rival Airbus to consider setting up jetliner assembly in the country. Boeing has an alliance with India's Tata Group to produce AH-64 Apache helicopter fuselages and 737 aircraft vertical fin structures.

India PM Modi says won’t be long before Boeing makes aircraft in India

<p>With Ram Mandir consecration ceremony in Ayodhya just five days away, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (January 16) prayed at Veerabhadra temple located in Lepakshi in southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The temple and the town hold significance in Ramayana, the ancient Hindu epic that describes life and struggles of Lord Ram, his wife Goddess Sita and his brother Laxman.</p>

<p>PM Modi offered prayers at the temple. He was dressed in traditional attire and prayed to Lord Veerbhadra, who is the fiery form of Lord Shiva. During his visit to the temple, PM Modi also heard verses from the Ranganatha Ramayan in southern Indian language Telugu.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">PM Modi offers prayers at Veerabhadra temple in Andhra Pradesh<br />
<br />
Read <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ANI</a> Story | <a href="https://t.co/847tjwwGUU">https://t.co/847tjwwGUU</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PMModi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PMModi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AndhraPadesh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AndhraPadesh</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VeerabhadraTemple?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VeerabhadraTemple</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ramayan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ramayan</a> <a href="https://t.co/SnieGJ6rJf">pic.twitter.com/SnieGJ6rJf</a></p>
— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) <a href="https://twitter.com/ani_digital/status/1747182767379456150?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>According to Ramayan, the warrior bird Jatayu fell in Lepakshi after its valiant effort to stop Raavan, the demon king, who was abducting Goddess Sita. Lord Ram met Jatayu while the latter was taking his last breath. It was Jatayu who told Lord Ram that Sita was abducted by Raavan. Lord Ram was moved by the valiant effort of Jatayu who faced the powerful demon king alone.</p>

<p>Just three days ago, PM Narendra Modi visited Shree Kala Ram Mandir in Nashik, Maharashtra.</p>

<p>The PM offered prayers in the Kala Ram Mandir and heard verses from Marathi Ramayan about Lord Ram's arrival in Ayodhya.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Ram Mandir: Preparations in full swing for Ram Temple, 13.5 lakh laddoos being made for devotees</strong></p>

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<p>On Tuesday, PM Modi will also travel to Kerala, another southern Indian state and hold a road show in the city of Kochi. On Wednesday (January 17, he will visit the Guruvayur Temple and offer prayers.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ram-mandir-who-are-the-shankaracharyas-how-are-they-related-to-adi-shankara-heres-all-you-need-to-know-680519">Ram Mandir: Who are the shankaracharyas? How are they related to Adi Shankara? Here's all you need to know</a></strong></p>

<p>Before that, in Andhra Pradesh, PM Modi was slated to inaugurate the National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes &amp; Narcotics. He will also take a tour of the academy and deliver an address.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ram-mandir-inauguration-modis-function-congress-leader-rahul-gandhi-takes-a-dig-at-indian-pm-680512">Ram Mandir inauguration 'Modi's function': Congress leader Rahul Gandhi takes a dig at Indian PM</a></strong></p>

<p>An interaction with Indian Revenue Service (IRS) Officer Trainees is also on the PM's schedule. PM Modi will meet Officer Trainees of the 74th and 75th batch. He will also interact with officer trainees of the Royal Civil Service of Bhutan.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


With Ram Mandir consecration ceremony in Ayodhya just five days away, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (January 16) prayed at Veerabhadra temple located in Lepakshi in southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

With Ram Mandir consecration ceremony in Ayodhya just five days away, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (January 16) prayed at Veerabhadra temple located in Lepakshi in southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The temple and the town hold significance in Ramayana, the ancient Hindu epic that describes life and struggles of Lord Ram, his wife Goddess Sita and his brother Laxman. PM Modi offered prayers at the temple. He was dressed in traditional attire and prayed to Lord Veerbhadra, who is the fiery form of Lord Shiva. During his visit to the temple, PM Modi also heard verses from the Ranganatha Ramayan in southern Indian language Telugu. PM Modi offers prayers at Veerabhadra temple in Andhra Pradesh Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/847tjwwGUU#PMModi #AndhraPadesh #VeerabhadraTemple #Ramayan pic.twitter.com/SnieGJ6rJf — ANI Digital (@ani_digital) January 16, 2024 × According to Ramayan, the warrior bird Jatayu fell in Lepakshi after its valiant effort to stop Raavan, the demon king, who was abducting Goddess Sita. Lord Ram met Jatayu while the latter was taking his last breath. It was Jatayu who told Lord Ram that Sita was abducted by Raavan. Lord Ram was moved by the valiant effort of Jatayu who faced the powerful demon king alone. Just three days ago, PM Narendra Modi visited Shree Kala Ram Mandir in Nashik, Maharashtra. The PM offered prayers in the Kala Ram Mandir and heard verses from Marathi Ramayan about Lord Ram's arrival in Ayodhya. Watch | Ram Mandir: Preparations in full swing for Ram Temple, 13.5 lakh laddoos being made for devotees × On Tuesday, PM Modi will also travel to Kerala, another southern Indian state and hold a road show in the city of Kochi. On Wednesday (January 17, he will visit the Guruvayur Temple and offer prayers. Also Read | Ram Mandir: Who are the shankaracharyas? How are they related to Adi Shankara? Here's all you need to know Before that, in Andhra Pradesh, PM Modi was slated to inaugurate the National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes & Narcotics. He will also take a tour of the academy and deliver an address. Also Read | Ram Mandir inauguration 'Modi's function': Congress leader Rahul Gandhi takes a dig at Indian PM An interaction with Indian Revenue Service (IRS) Officer Trainees is also on the PM's schedule. PM Modi will meet Officer Trainees of the 74th and 75th batch. He will also interact with officer trainees of the Royal Civil Service of Bhutan. (With inputs from agencies)

With Ram Mandir consecration few days ahead, PM Modi visits temples in southern India

<p>The global search interest for India's Lakshadweep is at an all-time high in the last two decades after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to the tropical archipelago.</p>

<p>Indian government's MyGov platform informed about the Union Territory's soaring popularity on its social media platform.</p>

<p>"PM Modi's visit to Lakshadweep caused a significant surge in online searches about the islands. This worldwide search interest is currently at its highest in the last 20 years, indicating a renewed fascination with its natural beauty and cultural richness," MyGov platform said in a posting.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a>'s visit to Lakshadweep caused a significant surge in online searches about the islands. This worldwide search interest is currently at its highest in the last 20 years, indicating a renewed fascination with its natural beauty and cultural richness<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Lakshadweep?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Lakshadweep</a> <a href="https://t.co/z1Cqx5HzOL">pic.twitter.com/z1Cqx5HzOL</a></p>
— MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) <a href="https://twitter.com/mygovindia/status/1744257984354812068?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The surge in the number of searches worldwide has also been linked to the diplomatic row between India and Maldives that got triggered after the sitting Maldivian deputy minister, along with other cabinet members and government officials, made disparaging references to PM Modi's Lakshadweep visit and passed some derogatory remarks against Indians.</p>

<p>Following this, film celebrities, cricketers, and some notable personalities have openly endorsed tourist destinations in India and have voiced support for PM Modi's call to promote local beach destinations including tourism in Lakshadweep.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/exclusive-ex-vice-president-calls-current-india-maldives-row-very-sad-incident-677877">Exclusive: Ex-vice president calls current India-Maldives row ‘very sad’ issue</a></p>

<h2><strong>Make My Trip sees record surge in searches for Lakshadweep</strong></h2>

<p>Make My Trip on Monday (Jan 8) released a statement saying that it had witnessed a record surge in the number of searches for beach destination Lakshadweep ever since PM Modi's visit to the Union Territory.</p>

<p>The company highlighted a whopping 3,400 per cent increase observed in on-platform searches for the archipelago.</p>

<p>The travel portal also initiated a campaign called 'Beaches of India' on its platform with discounts and offers to encourage travellers to explore the country's coastlines.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | On the row over Maldives MP's post on PM Modi's visit to Lakshadweep, Raj Rishi Singh, Chief Marketing and Business Officer, MakeMyTrip says "Lakshadweep has seen a remarkable 3400% increase in on-platform searches ever since PM's visit. This inspired us to build a… <a href="https://t.co/xFYSBUsitc">pic.twitter.com/xFYSBUsitc</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1744282123950068207?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>"With over 450 beaches in India, India is any beach lover's paradise. Our 'Beaches of India' campaign is an ode to our love for our country's stunning coastlines. Keep watching this space to catch great discounts for your favourite beach destinations," Make My Trip wrote on its Instagram timeline.</p>

<p>Raj Rishi Singh, Chief Marketing and Business Officer at MakeMyTrip said, "We are launching 'Beaches of India' campaign. Under this campaign, our consumers can get knowledge about the great and stunning beaches of India. How to fly, which state, how to book. We are also providing consumers with remarkable deals and discounts."</p>

<p>PM Modi visited the Union Territory on Jan 2 and shared several pictures from his visit.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">And those early morning walks along the pristine beaches were also moments of pure bliss. <a href="https://t.co/soQEIHBRKj">pic.twitter.com/soQEIHBRKj</a></p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1742831501740544264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Calling it an "exhilarating experience", the Indian prime minister also tried his hands at snorkelling.</p>

<p>Sharing pictures of the white beaches, and the pristine blue skies, PM Modi said, "For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The global search interest for India's Lakshadweep is at an all-time high in the last two decades after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to the tropical archipelago.

The global search interest for India's Lakshadweep is at an all-time high in the last two decades after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to the tropical archipelago. Indian government's MyGov platform informed about the Union Territory's soaring popularity on its social media platform. "PM Modi's visit to Lakshadweep caused a significant surge in online searches about the islands. This worldwide search interest is currently at its highest in the last 20 years, indicating a renewed fascination with its natural beauty and cultural richness," MyGov platform said in a posting. PM @narendramodi's visit to Lakshadweep caused a significant surge in online searches about the islands. This worldwide search interest is currently at its highest in the last 20 years, indicating a renewed fascination with its natural beauty and cultural richness#Lakshadweep pic.twitter.com/z1Cqx5HzOL — MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) January 8, 2024 × The surge in the number of searches worldwide has also been linked to the diplomatic row between India and Maldives that got triggered after the sitting Maldivian deputy minister, along with other cabinet members and government officials, made disparaging references to PM Modi's Lakshadweep visit and passed some derogatory remarks against Indians. Following this, film celebrities, cricketers, and some notable personalities have openly endorsed tourist destinations in India and have voiced support for PM Modi's call to promote local beach destinations including tourism in Lakshadweep. Also read: Exclusive: Ex-vice president calls current India-Maldives row ‘very sad’ issue Make My Trip sees record surge in searches for Lakshadweep Make My Trip on Monday (Jan 8) released a statement saying that it had witnessed a record surge in the number of searches for beach destination Lakshadweep ever since PM Modi's visit to the Union Territory. The company highlighted a whopping 3,400 per cent increase observed in on-platform searches for the archipelago. The travel portal also initiated a campaign called 'Beaches of India' on its platform with discounts and offers to encourage travellers to explore the country's coastlines. #WATCH | On the row over Maldives MP's post on PM Modi's visit to Lakshadweep, Raj Rishi Singh, Chief Marketing and Business Officer, MakeMyTrip says "Lakshadweep has seen a remarkable 3400% increase in on-platform searches ever since PM's visit. This inspired us to build a… pic.twitter.com/xFYSBUsitc — ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2024 × "With over 450 beaches in India, India is any beach lover's paradise. Our 'Beaches of India' campaign is an ode to our love for our country's stunning coastlines. Keep watching this space to catch great discounts for your favourite beach destinations," Make My Trip wrote on its Instagram timeline. Raj Rishi Singh, Chief Marketing and Business Officer at MakeMyTrip said, "We are launching 'Beaches of India' campaign. Under this campaign, our consumers can get knowledge about the great and stunning beaches of India. How to fly, which state, how to book. We are also providing consumers with remarkable deals and discounts." PM Modi visited the Union Territory on Jan 2 and shared several pictures from his visit. And those early morning walks along the pristine beaches were also moments of pure bliss. pic.twitter.com/soQEIHBRKj — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 4, 2024 × Calling it an "exhilarating experience", the Indian prime minister also tried his hands at snorkelling. Sharing pictures of the white beaches, and the pristine blue skies, PM Modi said, "For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list." (With inputs from agencies)

Global search interest for India’s Lakshadweep witnesses record surge after PM Modi’s visit

<p>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday (Dec 19) that the Opposition has been giving a "political spin" to the Parliament security breach — an event which should have been unequivocally condemned by everyone.&nbsp;</p>

<p>PM Modi's remarks came in the aftermath of unprecedented scenes of protests and bulk suspensions in Parliament over the security breach incident.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On December 13, two men disrupted the Indian Parliament when they set off a smoke canister inside the legislature in a major security breach after jumping onto the floor of the Lower House of the Parliament from an overhead visitors' gallery. They were carrying canisters which started emitting yellow smoke, which led to chaos in the House.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/suspension-spree-continues-another-50-mps-booted-out-from-indian-parliament-671231">Indian Parliament suspension spree continues: 49 more MPs ejected, total rises to 141</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Quoting party sources, news agency ANI reported that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership said while addressing the Parliamentary Party meeting on Tuesday that the ongoing protests both inside and outside the Parliament were the Opposition's way of venting out its frustration&nbsp;after being routed in three of the five states that went to polls last month.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At the last BJP's Parliamentary Party meeting, PM Modi said: "Whatever happened in Parliament recently, those who believe in democracy will not accept such an act. This act should have been condemned."&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added, "However, unfortunately, what I have been witnessing is that the Opposition is letting out its frustration of losing in the election and giving a political spin to the entire act."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;India's opposition bloc key meet underway amidst the mass suspension of MPs from Parliament&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p>BJP's Parliamentary Party includes all its Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members, and usually meets every week during sessions. The one that happened on Tuesday was probably the last of the year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>PM Modi said the act of the Opposition of giving "muted and indirect support" to the Parliament security breach is worrisome.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-bjp-veterans-lk-advani-mm-joshi-requested-not-to-come-for-ram-temple-event-671185">BJP veterans LK Advani, MM Joshi ‘requested not to come’ for Ram Temple event</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>The Opposition lawmakers have been disrupting the proceedings in both Houses demanding a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the incident.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the aftermath, a total of 141 Members of Parliament, 95 from Lok Sabha and 46 from Rajya Sabha, were suspended since December 14.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The Opposition members coming out in defence of the accused in the Parliament breach incident and making statements such as 'what else could they have done' is worrisome and condemnable," the sources quoted PM Modi as saying.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday (Dec 19) that the Opposition has been giving a "political spin" to the Parliament security breach — an event which should have been unequivocally condemned by everyone.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday (Dec 19) that the Opposition has been giving a "political spin" to the Parliament security breach — an event which should have been unequivocally condemned by everyone. PM Modi's remarks came in the aftermath of unprecedented scenes of protests and bulk suspensions in Parliament over the security breach incident. On December 13, two men disrupted the Indian Parliament when they set off a smoke canister inside the legislature in a major security breach after jumping onto the floor of the Lower House of the Parliament from an overhead visitors' gallery. They were carrying canisters which started emitting yellow smoke, which led to chaos in the House. Also read: Indian Parliament suspension spree continues: 49 more MPs ejected, total rises to 141 Quoting party sources, news agency ANI reported that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership said while addressing the Parliamentary Party meeting on Tuesday that the ongoing protests both inside and outside the Parliament were the Opposition's way of venting out its frustration after being routed in three of the five states that went to polls last month. At the last BJP's Parliamentary Party meeting, PM Modi said: "Whatever happened in Parliament recently, those who believe in democracy will not accept such an act. This act should have been condemned." He added, "However, unfortunately, what I have been witnessing is that the Opposition is letting out its frustration of losing in the election and giving a political spin to the entire act." Watch: India's opposition bloc key meet underway amidst the mass suspension of MPs from Parliament × BJP's Parliamentary Party includes all its Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members, and usually meets every week during sessions. The one that happened on Tuesday was probably the last of the year. PM Modi said the act of the Opposition of giving "muted and indirect support" to the Parliament security breach is worrisome. Also read: BJP veterans LK Advani, MM Joshi ‘requested not to come’ for Ram Temple event The Opposition lawmakers have been disrupting the proceedings in both Houses demanding a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the incident. In the aftermath, a total of 141 Members of Parliament, 95 from Lok Sabha and 46 from Rajya Sabha, were suspended since December 14. "The Opposition members coming out in defence of the accused in the Parliament breach incident and making statements such as 'what else could they have done' is worrisome and condemnable," the sources quoted PM Modi as saying. (With inputs from agencies)

PM Modi says Oppn frustrated after polls rout, hence giving ‘political spin’ to parliament security breach

<p>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (Dec 17) inaugurated the world’s largest office building, Surat Diamond Bourse, in Gujarat.</p>

<p>The Surat Diamond Bourse (SDB) building is located at Khajod village near Gujarat’s Surat city. It is the world’s largest and modern centre for international diamond and jewellery business and will cater as the global centre for trading both rough and polished diamonds as well as jewellery.</p>

<p>The bourse comprises the state-of-the-art ‘Customs Clearance House’ for import and export, a jewellery mall for retail jewellery business and a facility for international banking and safe vaults.</p>

<p>The whole complex is built on a plot of 35.54 acres, and costs around Rs 35 billion. The building spans 67 lakh square feet of floor space and has the capacity to house nearly 4,500 diamond trading offices.</p>

<h2><strong>‘Symbol of new India's strength, resolve’</strong></h2>

<p>Addressing the public after the inauguration, Modi said, "Today the people of Surat and the traders and businessmen here are getting two more gifts. Today itself the new terminal of Surat Airport has been inaugurated and the second big thing that has happened is that now Surat Airport has got the status of International Airport. I congratulate the people of Surat and the people of Gujarat for this wonderful terminal and international airport."</p>

<p>"The Surat Diamond Bourse exhibits the capabilities of Indian designers, Indian designers, Indian materials and Indian concepts. This building is the symbol of New India's new strength and new resolve," he added.</p>

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<h2><strong>India to be among top three world economies&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Confident in returning to power for the third time, Modi said that India will be among the top three economies in the next 25 years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Surat Diamond Bourse is an example of Modi's guarantee...I have given this guarantee to the nation that India will be among the top three economies in the world in my third term. The government has fixed the target for the coming 25 years..."</p>

<p>The megastructure has nine ground towers plus 15 floors, with office spaces ranging from 300 sqft to 1 lakh sqft. The nine rectangular towers are connected by a central spine. The building has a platinum ranking from the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-breaks-silence-says-do-not-underestimate-seriousness-of-indian-parliament-security-breach-670459">Don’t ‘underestimate’ seriousness of parliament security breach, says PM Modi</a></p>

<p>The building, which is part of the Diamond Research and Mercantile (DREAM) City, was recognised by the Guinness World Records as the largest office building in the world in August this year.</p>

<p><strong>Also read </strong>|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/israel-hamas-conflict-trade-pact-energy-dominate-pm-modi-oman-sultan-talks-670369">Israel-Hamas conflict, trade pact, energy dominate PM Modi, Oman Sultan talks</a></p>

<p>Several diamond traders, including those based in Mumbai earlier, have already taken possession of their offices, which were allotted by the management after auction, SDB’s media convener Dinesh Navadiya said in a statement recently. The SDB is part of the Diamond Research and Mercantile (DREAM) City.</p>

<p><em><strong>This is a developing story. More updates will be added soon</strong></em></p>


Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (Dec 17) inaugurated the world’s largest office building, Surat Diamond Bourse, in Gujarat. The Surat Diamond Bourse (SDB) building is located at Khajod village near Gujarat’s Surat city.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (Dec 17) inaugurated the world’s largest office building, Surat Diamond Bourse, in Gujarat. The Surat Diamond Bourse (SDB) building is located at Khajod village near Gujarat’s Surat city. It is the world’s largest and modern centre for international diamond and jewellery business and will cater as the global centre for trading both rough and polished diamonds as well as jewellery. The bourse comprises the state-of-the-art ‘Customs Clearance House’ for import and export, a jewellery mall for retail jewellery business and a facility for international banking and safe vaults. The whole complex is built on a plot of 35.54 acres, and costs around Rs 35 billion. The building spans 67 lakh square feet of floor space and has the capacity to house nearly 4,500 diamond trading offices. ‘Symbol of new India's strength, resolve’ Addressing the public after the inauguration, Modi said, "Today the people of Surat and the traders and businessmen here are getting two more gifts. Today itself the new terminal of Surat Airport has been inaugurated and the second big thing that has happened is that now Surat Airport has got the status of International Airport. I congratulate the people of Surat and the people of Gujarat for this wonderful terminal and international airport." "The Surat Diamond Bourse exhibits the capabilities of Indian designers, Indian designers, Indian materials and Indian concepts. This building is the symbol of New India's new strength and new resolve," he added. India to be among top three world economies Confident in returning to power for the third time, Modi said that India will be among the top three economies in the next 25 years. "Surat Diamond Bourse is an example of Modi's guarantee...I have given this guarantee to the nation that India will be among the top three economies in the world in my third term. The government has fixed the target for the coming 25 years..." The megastructure has nine ground towers plus 15 floors, with office spaces ranging from 300 sqft to 1 lakh sqft. The nine rectangular towers are connected by a central spine. The building has a platinum ranking from the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC). Also read | Don’t ‘underestimate’ seriousness of parliament security breach, says PM Modi The building, which is part of the Diamond Research and Mercantile (DREAM) City, was recognised by the Guinness World Records as the largest office building in the world in August this year. Also read | Israel-Hamas conflict, trade pact, energy dominate PM Modi, Oman Sultan talks Several diamond traders, including those based in Mumbai earlier, have already taken possession of their offices, which were allotted by the management after auction, SDB’s media convener Dinesh Navadiya said in a statement recently. The SDB is part of the Diamond Research and Mercantile (DREAM) City. This is a developing story. More updates will be added soon

Indian PM Modi inaugurates Surat Diamond Bourse, world’s largest office building, in Gujarat

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