Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday said that India has emerged as a soft power and is a strong nation now.

Extending Chhath Puja greetings in his monthly radio broadcast Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said Chhath Puja is a great example of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat'.

New Delhi [India], August 14 (ANI): President Droupadi Murmu, who is the second woman President of the country, on Sunday said that India's new-found confidence stems from the spirit of its youth, its farmers, and above all, its women and further highlighted that gender inequalities are going down.

New Delhi Apr 21 PTI India has never posed a threat to any country or society and it thinks for the welfare of the entire world even today amid global conflicts Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday asserting the country is following the ideals of Sikh gurusAddressing an event from the Red Fort to celebrate the 400th birth anniversary of Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur Modi said the Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib near the Red Fort stands as a symbol of the sacrifice of Guru Tegh BahadurHe said India strives for peace with complete stability even amid global conflicts an apparent reference to the Russian offensive in UkraineHailing the Sikh gurus traditions he said Indias freedom from hundreds of years of slavery cannot be separated from its spiritual and cultural journeyCiting the efforts by his government for the community including its decision to observe Veer Bal Diwas on December 26 to commemorate the sacrifice of Guru Gobind Singhs sons Modi said the Citizenship Amendment Act has paved the way for granting citizenship to families of Sikhs and other minorities that have come to India from neighbouring countriesAll this was possible because the Gurus taught us to give primacy to humanity Love and harmony are part of our values said the PM who has been regularly engaging with the Sikh communityThe government has shown its commitment to guru seva by constructing the Kartarpur Sahib corridor for which people had been waiting for decades he saidOur government has also ensured modernisation of rail facilities for Patna Sahib and other places connected with Guru Govind Singh Modi saidWhen it comes to bringing the swaroop of the Guru Granth Sahib our government makes an all-out effort We not only bring the swaroop of the Guru Granth Sahib on our head with respect but we also save our Sikh brothers in danger he said referring to the evacuation exercise from Afghanistan after the Taliban takeoverThe government is making continuous efforts to connect various holy places of the Sikhs he saidThis gurudwara reminds us how great was the sacrifice of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji to protect our great culture At that time there was a storm of religious fanaticism in the countryIndia which considered religion as a matter of philosophy science and self-reflection was facing people who had committed violence and atrocities in the name of religion Modi saidAt that time there was great hope for India to save its identity in the form of Guru Tegh Bahadur he notedIn front of Aurangzebs tyrannical thinking Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji becoming Hind di Chadar stood like a rock Modi said adding the Red Fort is a witness that Aurangzeb and tyrants like him might have beheaded countless people but our faith could not be separated from usGuru Tegh Bahadurs sacrifice has inspired many generations of India to live and die for protecting the dignity of their culture and for honour and respect he saidBig powers have disappeared big storms have calmed down but India still stands immortal and is moving ahead Modi assertedIndia has never posed a threat to any country or society Even today we think for the welfare of the whole world When we talk about self-reliant India we keep the progress of the whole world at the forefrontTodays India strives for peace with complete stability even in the midst of global conflicts India is equally firm on its defence and security he saidThe PM also released a commemorative coin and postage stamp to mark the occasion The programme was focused on highlighting the teachings of the ninth Sikh Guru who sacrificed his life to protect religion human values ideals and principlesGuru Tegh Bahadurs death anniversary is commemorated as Shaheedi Divas every year on November 24 Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib is built at the spot where he was beheaded and Gurdwara Rakab Ganj is his cremation siteHis legacy serves as a great unifying force for the nation Modi saidThe fort was chosen as the venue for the event as it was from here that Aurangzeb had given orders for the execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur in 1675 Culture Ministry officials saidThe event saw performances by 400 Sikh musicians and langar was also heldNew thinking hard work and absolute dedication are the identity of Sikhs and this is also the countrys resolve in the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav the prime minister said adding the people have to be proud of their identityWe have to be proud of local products and build a self-reliant India We have to make an India whose strength is seen by the world and which takes the world to new heights he saidAsserting that Guru Granth Sahib the holy book of Sikhs is not only a guide to self-realisation but is also a symbol of Indias diversity and unity Modi said this is why the Indian government deployed its full strength to bring back the holy book from Afghanistan following the strife in the country after the Talibans takeoverAt Patna Sahib in Patna and Rakabganj Sahib in Delhi people see Ek Bharat in the form of the wisdom and blessings of Gurus he saidHe underlined the significance of the Red Fort saying it witnessed the martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur and has been a reflection of the history and aspiration of the nationIn this backdrop the programme at this venue assumes great significance Modi saidOur gurus always took the responsibility of society and culture along with knowledge and spirituality They made strength a medium of service he added PTI KRASK KR NSD

New Delhi Apr 21 PTI India has never posed a threat to any country or society and it thinks for the welfare of the entire world even today amid global conflicts Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday asserting the country is following the ideals of Sikh gurusAddressing an event from the Red Fort to celebrate the 400th birth anniversary of Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur Modi said the Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib near the Red Fort stands as a symbol of the sacrifice of Guru Tegh BahadurCiting other efforts made by his government for the community including its decision to observe Veer Bal Diwas on December 20 to commemorate the sacrifice of Guru Gobind Singhs sons Modi said the Citizenship Amendment Act has paved the way for granting citizenship to families of Sikhs and other minorities that have come to India from neighbouring countriesAll this was possible because the Gurus have taught us to give primacy to humanity Love and harmony are part of our values said the prime minister who has been regularly engaging with the Sikh communityThe government has shown its commitment to guru seva by constructing the Kartarpur Sahib corridor for which people had been waiting for decades he saidOur government has also ensured modernisation of rail facilities for Patna Sahib and other places connected with Guru Govind Singh Modi saidWhen it comes to bringing the swaroop of the Guru Granth Sahib our government makes an all-out effort We not only bring the swaroop of the Guru Granth Sahib on our head with respect but we also save our Sikh brothers in danger he said referring to the evacuation exercise from Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover of that countryThe government is also making continuous efforts to connect various holy places of the Sikhs he saidThis holy gurudwara reminds us how great was the sacrifice of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji to protect our great culture At that time there was a storm of religious fanaticism in the country India which considered religion as a matter of philosophy science and self-reflection was facing people who had committed violence and atrocities in the name of religion Modi saidAt that time there was great hope for India to save its identity in the form of Guru Tegh Bahadur he notedIn front of Aurangzebs tyrannical thinking Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji becoming Hind di Chadar stood like a rock Modi saidThe Red Fort is a witness that Aurangzeb and tyrants like him might have beheaded countless people but our faith could not be separated from us the prime minister saidThe sacrifice of Guru Tegh Bahadur has inspired many generations of India to live and die for protecting the dignity of their culture and for honour and respect he saidBig powers have disappeared big storms have calmed down but India still stands immortal and is moving ahead Modi assertedIndia has never posed a threat to any country or society Even today we think for the welfare of the whole world amid global conflicts When we talk about a self-reliant India we keep the progress of the whole world in front he saidThe prime minister also released a commemorative coin and postage stamp to mark the occasionThe programme was focused on highlighting the teachings of the ninth Sikh Guru who sacrificed his life to protect religion human values ideals and principlesGuru Tegh Bahadurs death anniversary is commemorated as Shaheedi Divas every year on November 24Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib built at the spot where he was beheaded and Gurdwara Rakab Ganj the site of his cremation in Delhi are associated with his sacrifice His legacy serves as a great unifying force for the nationThe fort was chosen as the venue for the event as it was from here that Aurangzeb had given orders for the execution of Guru Tegh Bahadur in 1675 according to Ministry of Culture officialsThe event also saw performances by 400 Sikh musicians and langar was also heldNew thinking hard work and absolute dedication are the identity of Sikhs and this is also the countrys resolve in the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav the prime minister said adding the people have to be proud of their identityWe have to be proud of local products and build a self-reliant India We have to make an India whose strength is seen by the world and which takes the world to new heights he saidAsserting that Guru Granth Sahib the holy book of Sikhs is not only a guide to self-realisation but is also a symbol of Indias diversity and unity Modi said this is why the Indian government deployed its full strength to bring back the holy book from Afghanistan following the strife in the country after the Talibans takeoverPatna Sahib in Patna and Rakabganj Sahib in Delhi everywhere people see Ek Bharat in the form of the wisdom and blessings of Gurus the prime minister said PTI KRASK KR NSD

Porbandar (Gujarat) [India], April 16 (ANI/PNN): The four-day Madhavpur Ghed Fair at Madhavpur Ghed in Porbandar, Gujarat, which is organised every year to celebrate the sacred union of Lord Krishna and Rukmini, culminated on Wednesday.

New Delhi [India], October 31 (ANI): 'Rashtriya Ekta Diwas' is being celebrated across the country on Sunday on the occasion of the 146th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.