Krishna (Andhra Pradesh) [India], July 4 (ANI): Four Congress workers were arrested for releasing black balloons after PM Modi's chopper took off from Gannavaram Airport near Vijaywada in Andhra Pradesh. Police said there was no security breach on his arrival amid Congress protest and balloons were released five minutes after the Prime Minister's helicopter left and arrests have been made.

Bhimavaram (Andhra Pradesh) [India], July 4 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the new India should be an India of the dreams of fighters who gave their lives for the freedom of the country.

Howrah (West Bengal) [India], May 2 (ANI): The Belur math of Ramkrishna Mission, founded by Swami Vivekananda, celebrated the 125th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Ramakrishna Mission on Sunday.

Kolkata Apr 23 PTI Chandra Kumar Bose the grand nephew of Netaji has urged the Centre to bring back to the country the purported ashes of the nationalistic leader kept at Renkoji temple in Japan this year which is his 125th birth centenary year and order a DNA test if it is technically possible He urged that the ashes be brought back by August 18 the date in which Netaji reportedly died in an air crash at Taihoku in 1945 Netajis ambition was to return to an independent India as the head of a victorious revolutionary army Circumstances did not allow that to happen The best way to honour his wishes in this 125th Birth Centenary year is to bring his remains by 18th August 2022 to repose in Indian soil The Government of India can do that If technically possible a DNA test may be conducted to confirm Chandra Kumar Bose said in his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday He said if the ashes are brought back Netajis daughter Anita Bose Pfaff will be able to perform the last rites and bring the long-awaited closure for his family and the people of India Because of this procrastination in bringing back the ashes weird stories continue to circulate which demean the might and reputation of Netaji including in films This should not be allowed to continue Bose who is a member of the high level central committee to celebrate Netajis 125th birth anniversary and a BJP leader said The government is certain that the remains at Renkoji Temple are those of Netajis which is why the Government of India contributes to the costs of maintaining the urn containing the remains the veteran social activist said in his letter The West Bengal Government had in September 2015 declassified all files in its possession related to Netaji while the Centre did so with the remaining Netaji files from January 23 1916 till November 2016 the letter said Detailed study of these files reveal that the root cause of stories behind Netajis death mystery and resultant curiosity has been our ignorance of certain vital facts he wrote There are conflicting theories about the disappearance of Netaji as many surmise that he did not die in any air crash as reported by the British government and had been in hiding afterwards Bose in his letter said that in all 11 investigations were held in connection with the disappearance of Netaji and ten of them agreed that he had died in the crash Had there been the slightest trace of Netajis survival in their investigations the Anglo-American forces would not have stopped pursuing him The civil administrative wing of the Indian National Army and the Indian Independence League as a result of the investigation carried out by them too found that Netaji died in a plane crash he said in the letter to the prime minister The Indian National Army was an armed force formed by Indian freedom fighterscollaborators and Japan on 1 September 1942 in southeast Asia during World War II Its aim was to secure Indian independence from British rule The Indian Independence League was a political organisation founded by Indian nationalists to organise those living outside the country seeking the removal of British colonial rule It had functioned from the 1920s to the 1940s and its activities were conducted in various parts of Southeast Asia Bose who had joined BJP in 2016 but has not been active in recent times said the only exception was the Justice Mukherjee Commission of Inquiry which conducted the inquiry 55-60 years after the incident It said Netaji did not die in the crash but could not say when where and how the freedom fighter died Nor could the Commission provide any positive evidence to support its claim Bose also the Convenor of The Open Platform for Netaji said The reports of the investigations were kept hidden from the people until their declassification which revealed that the Government of India had always known that Netaji had died in the plane crash This came out in the open in its reply to an RTI in 2017 the letter said Director of Netaji Research Bureau and grand nephew of Netaji Sugata Bose could not be contacted about the demand to bring the purported remains The All India Forward Bloc a party founded by Netaji has never accepted the air crash theory and refused to accept the ashes kept in Renkoji temple are that of Netaji Leaders of the party had on several occasions demanded a full fledged inquiry into the mystery behind the disappearance of Netaji after August 18 1945 PTI SUS KK KK KK

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 16 (ANI/NewsVoir): Divine paintings of Shrila Prabhupada are displaced in Jehangir Art Gallery in his memory for 7 days starting from 15th March 2022 to 21st March 2022.

Kolkata Jan 26 PTI West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday greeted the people of the country on the 73rd Republic Day and urged them to take a pledge to protect the basic structure of the Constitution including and particularly its federal character She saluted the freedom fighters and jawans who have sacrificed their lives to protect the country and ensure the safety and security of the citizens The Trinamool Congress supremo also called on the country whom she described as pillars of the Indian democracy to protect preserve and follow the ideals of justice liberty equality and fraternity Heartiest greetings to all on the Republic Day On this day let us once again take pledge to protect the basic structure of the Indian Constitution including and particularly its federal character she tweeted Let us strive to protect preserve and follow the ideals of Justice Liberty Equality and Fraternity as enshrined in our Constitution which among other things gives us our inalienable rights Banerjee said in another Twitter post I salute all our freedom fighters and jawans whose valiant sacrifice and their selfless duty protect our country and ensure our safety and security My heartiest congratulations to all the countrymen who are the pillars of our democracy Jai Hind she added A short programme was held on the Red Road in the heart of Kolkata to celebrate the day with strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols amid the presence of Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar the chief minister and Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee Dhankhar exchanged pleasantries with the chief minister and the speaker A tableau each on the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Kolkata Polices road safety awareness programme Safe Drive Save Life were taken out Contingents of army air force and navy besides that of the state police took part in the parade People attending the programme wore masks and maintained physical distancing The day was also celebrated in a restricted manner in other parts of the state PTI SCH ACD ACD

New Delhi Jan 25 PTI Asking people to celebrate Indian-ness this Republic Day President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday said the country has shown an unmatched resolve in the face of the extraordinary challenge to humankind posed by the coronavirus pandemic and that a strong and sensitive India is now emerging In his address to the nation on the eve of 73rd Republic Day President Kovind noted that democracy justice liberty equality and fraternity form the bedrock of India and stressed that the observance of Fundamental Duties mentioned in the Constitution creates the proper environment for the enjoyment of Fundamental Rights The diversity and vibrancy of our democracy is appreciated world-wide It is this spirit of unity and of being one nation which is celebrated every year as Republic Day he said This years celebrations may be muted due to the pandemic but the spirit is as strong as ever Kovind said The President said the pandemic management was bound to be more difficult in India due to its high population and other factors But it is only in such difficult times that the resilience of a nation shines forth I am proud to say that we have shown an unmatched resolve against the coronavirus Kovind said Doctors nurses and paramedics have risen to the challenge working long hours in difficult conditions even at the risk of their lives to attend to patients Others have kept the nation moving managing supply chains and utilities he said Hailing the timely interventions by the leadership policy-makers administrators and others at the central and state levels during coronavirus pandemic Kovind said it is a testimony to Indias spirit in the face of adversity that the economy is on the move again and is projected to grow at an impressive rate in this fiscal after going through contraction last year The impressive economic performance is made possible due to improvement in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors I am happy to note that our farmers especially young farmers with small holdings are enthusiastically adopting natural farming the President said As the supreme commander of the Armed Forces Kovind said he was glad to note that it has been a watershed year for women empowerment in the armed forces Our daughters have broken a glass ceiling and the permanent commission has now been allowed for women officers in new areas he said adding that consequently our armed forces will benefit from better gender balance Also the talent pipeline for the forces will be strengthened with women coming through Sainik Schools and the prestigious National Defence Academy the President said He said the diversity and vibrancy of the countrys democracy is appreciated worldwide and it is this spirit of unity and of being one nation which is celebrated every year as Republic Day India is an ancient civilisation but a young republic For us nation-building is a constant endeavour the President said I am confident that India is better placed today to meet the challenges of the future Kovind said adding that new opportunities await the next generation Invoking Mahatma Gandhi President Kovind said he would have liked us to celebrate Republic Day by striving to become better human beings and contributing towards the making of a better India and a better world My heartiest greetings to all of you in India and abroad on the eve of the 73rd Republic Day It is an occasion to celebrate what is common to us all our Indian-ness he said Two days ago on 23rd January all of us observed the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose who had adopted the energising salutation of Jai-Hind His quest for independence and his ambition to make India proud inspire all of us the President said Kovind said while the text of the Constitution dealing with the details of the workings of the State is quite long the preamble sums up its guiding principles democracy justice liberty equality and fraternity They form the bedrock on which our Republic stands These are the values that form our collective inheritance he said These values have been accorded primacy in our Constitution in the form of fundamental rights and fundamental duties of the citizens the President said By fulfilling the fundamental duty of rendering national service when called upon to do so crores of our people have transformed the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and the COVID vaccination drive into mass movements he said A great deal of credit for the success of such campaigns goes to our dutiful citizens I am sure that our people will continue to strengthen the campaigns of national interest with their active participation and will demonstrate the same dedication Kovind said Referring to a visit to his village in Kanpur he also urged the people to remember their roots and work for the development of their native village city and country A new India is emerging a strong India and a sensitive India - Sashakt Bharat Samvedan-sheel Bharat he said Kovind thanked the constant vigil of the armed forces securing the borders and the police personnel maintaining internal security within the country that let their fellow citizens enjoy a peaceful life He said it is our soldiers and security personnel who carry on the legacy of national pride In the unbearable cold of the Himalayas and in the excruciating heat of the desert far away from their families they continue to guard the motherland It is thanks to the constant vigil of the armed forces securing our borders and the police personnel maintaining internal security within the country that their fellow citizens enjoy a peaceful life the President said He said when a brave soldier dies on duty the entire country feels sad Last month in an unfortunate accident we lost one of the bravest commanders of the country - General Bipin Rawat - his wife and many brave soldiers The entire country was deeply saddened by the tragic loss Kovind said The President said patriotism strengthens the sense of duty among citizens Whether you are a doctor or a lawyer a shopkeeper or office-worker a sanitation employee or a labourer doing ones duty well and efficiently is the first and foremost contribution you make to the nation he said Kovind said the world has never been in so much need of help as now It has been over two years now and humankind is still battling with the coronavirus Hundreds of thousands of lives have been lost and the world economy has been reeling under the impact The world has suffered from unprecedented misery and surge after surge of new variants have been posing new crises It has been an extraordinary challenge to humankind the President said Citing difficulties in pandemic management he said we have high population density and as a developing economy we did not have the level of resources and infrastructure needed to battle this invisible enemy He said there have been setbacks unfortunately as the virus makes a comeback with new mutations Countless families have gone through a harrowing time There are no words to express our collective trauma The only saving grace is that many lives could be saved As the pandemic is still widespread we must remain alert and not let our guard down The precautions we have taken till now have to be continued Kovind suggested Wearing masks and maintaining social distancing have been essential parts of COVID appropriate behaviour he said In the fight against the COVID pandemic it has now become a sacred national duty of every citizen to follow the precautions suggested by our scientists and experts Kovind said adding that we have to discharge this duty till the crisis is behind us The President said the 21st century is turning out to be the age of climate change and India has taken a leadership position on the world stage in showing the way especially with its bold and ambitious push for renewable energy I am sure that with this energy confidence and entrepreneurship our country will continue to march ahead on the path of progress and will definitely secure its rightful place befitting its potential in the global community the President added PTI AKV RT RT

New Delhi [India], January 25 (ANI): President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday said that the diversity and vibrancy of India's democracy is appreciated all over the world and this spirit of unity and "of being one nation" is celebrated every year as Republic Day.

Chennai Jan 25 PTI Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi on Tuesday paid glowing tributes to Tamil language batting for its wider spread in the country and also stressed the need for students in the state to learn other Indian languages In his message to the people of the state on the eve of the 73rd Republic Day the Governor credited the state governments affirmative action of providing 75 per cent quota in enabling more government school students enrol in medical admissions in the state post introduction of NEET Tamil is the oldest living language in the world It is enormously rich in literary cultural and spiritual contents It has enriched several Bharatiya languages Its spread in the rest of the country must be encouraged he said At the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi a Mahakavi Subramania Bharati Chair named after the national poet has been created in the Banaras Hindu University a Central varsity to advance spread and research in Tamil language literature and philosophy he said Similar initiative should be encouraged in the Universities of other States and the country must have the full benefit of the richness of Tamil Ravi added While it is important that Tamil language is given wider spread in the rest of the country it is also important that our school students learn other Indian languages like students in other States Depriving our students of knowledge of other Indian languages is unfair to all Besides fostering brotherliness and better mutual appreciation a linguistic intellectual and cultural cross-pollination will enrich all of us and also open several opportunities for our harmonious growth the governor said On the education front he said improving the quality of education in government schools was the crying need of the time He said the negative differential in the educational outputs between the Government and private schools was worrisome The poor cannot afford expensive private schools Government schools are their only hope Before introduction of NEET the share of students from Government schools to the seats in Government Medical Colleges was hardly 1 per cent in TN Thanks to the affirmative action of 75 per cent reservation for Government school students that number has improved significantly he said The previous AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu had provided the 75 per cent reservation for government school students in medical admissions even as the state has been opposed to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test NEET However there was an urgent need to improve the quality of education also in the Government schools Ravi said Referring to the 125th birth anniversary celebrations of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose he said there were thousands of heroes and martyrs of the national freedom movement from Tamil Nadu Many of them fought battles under the leadership of Netaji against the British to root out their colonial rule in our country A good number of brave Tamil warriors of the Indian National Army and their thousands of descendants are in several parts of the State We must identify and honour all the heroes and martyrs whose blood sweat and sacrifices gave us the Amrit of freedom We owe them an apology indeed for ignoring them and their contributions for so long Ravi noted He paid tributes to freedom fighters from Tamil Nadu--Veeramangai Velu Nachiyar Veerapandia Kattabomman V O Chidambaram Pillai Mahakavi Subramania Bharathi and Muthuramalinga Thevar among others On the covid pandemic Ravi said under the leadership of the PM and the selfless services of stakeholders including the scientific community the country has been able to deal with this unprecedented global crisis and its adverse consequences in innovative ways which have become an enviable case study even for the advanced countries Hailing Tamil Nadu as a progressive state he said we have done very well as regards covid management Further he described Tamil Nadu as the spiritual capital of the country and said the state has the highest density of temples in the country PTI SA BN BN

Kolkata Jan 24 PTI West Bengal government will recommend to the syllabus committee to include in the school curriculum Netaji Subhas Chandra Boses initiative to realise the dream of an independent India when he went to Singapore state Education Minister Bratya Basu said on Monday According to available record the iconic leader had gone to Singapore in July 1943 to realise his dream of an independent India free from foreign rule and strengthened his Indian National Army This year is the 125th birth anniversary of the nationalistic leader Basu when asked to comment on TMC spokesman Kunal Ghoshs statement that the new generation in Bengal should know in detail the chronology of events related to Netajis visit to Singapore in 1943 said Yes the government will recommend to the syllabus committee for incorporating the events revolving around Netaji in 1943 He however did not give any detail Ghosh tweeted Monday We welcome the statement of honble Bratya Basu recommending to the syllabus committee the inclusion of the details regarding Netaji and his government in Singapore This he said will be the first step towards acknowledging Netajis mission in Singapore as an integral part of the Indian freedom movement Basu said the Paray Sikshalay learning centre in your locality project of the state government will roll out in every block from February 7 and benefit 60 lakh students at pre-primary and primary levels In the COVID situation we realise a large number of students of many schools especially in rural areas are being deprived of class room teaching which is impeding their growth Our initiative will enable students to attend classes in the open space in their own locality It has been hailed by UNESCO He said 50159 schools will be involved in the project in which classes will be held in the open grounds adjacent to school buildings Over two lakh teachers and 21000 para teachers contractual teachers at pre-primary and primary schools will impart lessons to the children To another question on the reopening of schools closed for about two years now due to the pandemic Basu said We are concerned about the education of children but at the same time the government is alive to the COVID-19 situation and cannot take any risk Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in consultation with health experts will take the call about opening campuses in phases at the appropriate time he added PTI SUS KK KK KK