Anand (Gujarat) [India], June 12 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that India cannot become self-reliant unless rural development is made a contributor to the country's economy.

New Delhi [India], March 21 (ANI): After being conferred the Padma Bhushan award in the field of public affairs, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said he hoped to eradicate religion- and caste-based politics which were widespread in the country.

New Delhi Mar 20 PTI The ancient gurukul system of education has played a remarkable role in the holistic and well-rounded development of individuals Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said on Sunday Naidu wrote this in a Facebook post referring to his visit to Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya in Haridwar on Saturday The university inspired by the vision of a spiritual leader and social reformer of modern India Shriram Sharma Acharya is a non-conventional centre of higher learning he noted With around 1500 full-time residential students and researchers the university is adopting a gurukul-type system of community living The institution is devoted to holistic education by combining practical knowledge shiksha with spiritual education vidya and seeks to provide a comprehensive learning experience to every student he posted on Facebook The Vice President said he was reminded of the remarkable role played by the ancient gurukul system in the holistic and well-rounded development of individuals Naidu said he was also delighted to learn that the university and Gayatri Parivar have been using music and folk songs to fight against social evils such as casteism and gender discrimination and promote nationalism among the masses The university also has its own gaushala cow shelter with over 300 cows of indigenous breeds he observed The Swavalamban Kendra produces various cow products using modern and scientific techniques Naidu said adding that he is convinced that such initiatives in line with the Gramodyog concept propagated by Gandhi ji can provide an alternative source of income to the farmers PTI NAB CK

New Delhi Jan 30 PTI Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary urging people to come together to free the country from poverty hunger social evils illiteracy and discriminationGandhi was assassinated on this day 74 years agoAn apostle of peace and non-violence Gandhi Ji played a colossal role in Indias freedom struggle and in shaping the destiny of India the Vice President Secretariat tweeted quoting NaiduDescribing Gandhi as a visionary leader social emancipator messiah for farmers crusader of the downtrodden and the voice of rural India the vice president said he was an epitome of kindness compassion and selfless service His glorious life noble ideas and selflessness continue to inspire humanity Let us come together to free our country from poverty hunger social evils illiteracy and discrimination he said PTI NAB DV DV

New Delhi Jan 23 PTI Prime Minister Narendra Modis Mann Ki Baat address this month will be broadcast from 1130 am instead of usual 11 am after observing the remembrances to Mahatma Gandhi the PMO said on Sunday January 30 the months last Sunday is Gandhis death anniversary This months Mann Ki Baat which will take place on the 30th will begin at 1130 AM after observing the remembrances to Gandhi Ji on his Punya Tithi the PMO said PTI KR DV DV

Guwahati (Assam) [India], January 1 (ANI): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma paid a visit to Kasturba Gandhi Ashram at Sarania Hills in Guwahati where Mahatma Gandhi had stayed during his visit to Assam in 1946.

Raipur Dec 27 PTI A food department officer was suspended on Monday for allegedly making derogatory comments against Mahatma Gandhi on social media in Chhattisgarhs Raipur district a government official saidThe development comes a day after Hindu religious leader Kalicharan Maharaj used abusive language against the Father of the Nation at an event here for which an FIR was registered against himSanjay Dubey posted as Assistant Food Officer here was suspended after it was reported that he had made insulting and derogatory remarks against Mahatma Gandhi on a social media platform Facebook his suspension order saidThe officer denied the charge and said he has immense respect for the independence movement iconHis act amounts to violation of the Chhattisgarh Civil Services Conduct Rules 1965 and therefore he has been placed under suspension with immediate effect the order addedDuring the suspension period he will be posted at the office of his department in Kabirdham district headquarters it addedA screenshot of comments purportedly made by Dubey and circulated on social media read Neither Gandhi was a nation nor a majority of people of this country consider him as father of the nation Even the father of nation is not a constitutional post The person who used to say that India could be partitioned only over his dead body had himself divided the country in two parts The person was responsible for killings of lakhs of countrymen The remarks were in reply to a comment on the social networking siteHowever Dubey claimed his Facebook account was hacked and he did not write the controversial remarksMy phone was hacked by someone who made such derogatory remarks against Mahatma Gandhi ji I have immense faith in Gandhi ji He was the foremost person in nation-building He is an honourable person for me the officer addedThe Chhattisgarh Police on Sunday registered an FIR against Kalicharan Maharaj on the charge of promoting enmity between classes after he used derogatory words against Mahatma Gandhi and hailed his assassin Nathuram GodseDuring the conclusion of the two-day dharma sansad religious parliament at Ravan Bhata ground in Raipur on Sunday evening Kalicharan Maharaj had used abusive words against the Father of the Nation and asked people to elect a staunch Hindu leader as the head of the government in order to protect the religionHis statements drew flak from leaders of the ruling Congress in the stateChief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Monday slammed the seer for his remarks and said strict action will be taken in the matter PTI COR TKP RSY RSY

Mumbai Nov 17 PTI The Congress is seeking legal opinion on Kangana Ranauts recent comments on Indias independence and a party leader has already requested the police to register a complaint against her the partys Maharashtra unit chief Nana Patole said on Wednesday and dubbed the actors remarks anti-nationalSpeaking to reporters here Patole said the Congress will take a firm stand against such coordinated attacksCongress general secretary and chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said BJPs attempt to murder the ideology of Gandhi ji through its puppets was neither successful in the past nor will it succeed in the future Gandhi is the past as well as the future Days after her Indias independence in 1947 was bheek remarks triggered a row Ranaut on Tuesday claimed Subhas Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh got no support from Mahatma Gandhi and went on to mock his mantra of ahimsa by saying that offering another cheek gets you bheek not freedomShe had described Indias Independence as bheek or alms and declared that freedom came in 2014 when the Narendra Modi-led government came to powerIn a series of posts on Instagram Ranaut this time targeted Gandhi and said choose your heroes wiselyThere are some Hindi film actors who are given some awards and being used to distort the historical facts We are seeking a legal opinion on the matter Once we arrive at a decision the party will take its next firm stand regarding such coordinated attacks Patole said when asked about comments made by RanautHe said Congress leader Naseem Khan a former minister has already requested the police to file a complaint against RanautPatole said such distortion of facts is an anti-national act but the ruling dispensation is encouraging such commentsSpeaking on the violence that had erupted in Amaravati Malegaon and Nanded cities in Maharashtra last week Patole alleged the BJP is playing a communal card in Maharashtra to polarise voters ahead of Uttar Pradesh Assembly pollsThe police investigation will bring out the truth behind such incidents he saidThe Congress is one of the constituents in the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government in MaharashtraOn Friday stone-pelting was witnessed in Amravati Malegaon and some other cities during rallies taken out by Muslim organisations protesting against alleged communal violence in TripuraOn Saturday a mob hurled stones at shops in Amravatis Rajkamal Chowk area during a bandh shut-down called by the BJP prompting the police to impose a curfew for four days PTI ND SKC ZMN

New Delhi [India], October 13 (ANI): Communist Party of India (Marxist) politburo member Brinda Karat on Wednesday alleged that Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is lying over his comment that "on Mahatma Gandhi's request, Savarkar wrote mercy petitions to the British".