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2:09 AM

Biden, Harris send greetings on Guru Nanak's 551st birth anniversary

Sending their warmest wishes on the 551st birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, President-elect Joe Biden and his deputy Kamala Harris on Monday said the founder of Sikhism's timeless and universal message of compassion and unity can inspire and help Americans heal as people and as a nation. "On this day, let us all remind ourselves that Guru Nanak's timeless and universal message of compassion and unity can inspire and help us heal as people and as a nation," Biden and Harris said in a joint statement. They sent extended their warmest greetings to Sikhs in the US and around the world as they observe the 551st birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.

The President-elect and the Vice President-elect said that for more than five centuries, Guru Nanak's teachings on spiritual enlightenment, service to humanity, and moral integrity have endured and are embodied each day by Sikhs in America and around the world, as was seen during this challenging year. "We are grateful to all of the Sikh Americans who continue to stand by their neighbours as essential workers of the pandemic, and who open their hearts and community kitchens in their gurdwaras to prepare, serve, and deliver countless meals for people most in need," they said. "And during the summer of protest, we saw Sikhs of all ages marching peacefully for racial and gender equality, religious pluralism, and fidelity to truth and justice core tenets of the Sikh faith and central to who we all are as Americans," Biden and Harris said in the statement.

In a separate statement issue in Ottawa, Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau said the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev was an important day for Sikh Canadians.

10:58 PM

Hardeep Singh Puri among 10 newly elected and re-elected members of Rajya Sabha

Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri among 10 newly elected and re-elected members of Rajya Sabha from UP, Uttarakhand and Karnataka who were administered oath in Chamber of the Upper House on Monday

9:45 PM

Bringing law to curb forced religion conversions that happen under the garb of law: MP CM

8:58 PM

Four-month respite from penalty on GST invoices without QR code: ANI

8:44 PM

Misinformation campaign underway against historic reforms in agriculture: PM Modi

8:21 PM

Annapurna idol stolen a century ago on its way back to Varanasi: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the statuette of the Annapurna deity that was stolen over a century ago is on its way back to its original home in Varanasi. While addressing the public during Dev Deepawali Mahotsav in Varanasi, PM Modi said, "The statuette of the Annapurna deity which was stolen over 100 years ago is now on its way back here. It is a matter of great fortune that Mata Annapurna will come back to her original home."

 

Prime Minister said that the statues of deities are part of "our priceless legacy."

 

"It is true that if so much effort was made earlier, the country would have got back many such idols. But some people have different thinking. For us, heritage means the country's heritage but for some people, heritage means their name and their family's name. For us, heritage means our culture, our faith. For them, heritage means their own statues, their family photos," he added.

 

Prime Minister also paid tributes to all those who have laid their lives for the nation.

7:44 PM

LIVE: PM Narendra Modi at Dev Deepawali Mahotsav in Varanasi

7:38 PM

PM Modi celebrates 'Dev Deepawali' in Varanasi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lit the first 'diya' on 'Dev Deepawali' and set off celebrations for the festival that is marked by lighting lakhs of earthen lamps on the banks of the Ganga. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that 'Dev Deepawali' is special this year because it marks the return of 'Maa Annapurna'.

 

"The statue of Maa Annapurna which was stolen from India over 100 years ago is coming back to the country. This is a fortunate moment for Kashi. If this effort was made earlier, many such statues would have been brought back to India. However, some people's thinking is different. For us, inheritance means heritage. For some, inheritance means their own family," he said.

 

The Pime Minister said that the power of Kashi did not allow it to change even when a lot changed elsewhere amid the Corona pandemic. Modi began his speech with a smattering of Bhojpuri and wished people 'Kartik Purnima' and 'Gurpurab'. He said, "People of Kashi are live Shiva and Devi. Today, these lamps are also lit for those who have surrendered their life for the country. I salute our security forces."

7:02 PM

Statues of deities part of our priceless legacy: PM Modi in Varanasi

6:58 PM

LIVE: PM Narendra Modi at Dev Deepawali Mahotsav in Varanasi

6:50 PM

Modi govt authoritarian; wont go to Burari: Farmers

The agitating farmers on Monday accused the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre of being communal, fascist and authoritarian, and rejected the government's demand to assemble at the Sant Nirankari ground in Burari to stage their protest. Addressing a press conference here at the Delhi-Haryana border in Singhu, Darshan Pal, President of the Krantikari Kisan Union's Punjab chapter, said, "The Modi government speaks something else on face but has a dagger on its side. The BJP is a communal, fascist and authoritarian."

 

Pal said that the farmers will hold another meeting to strengthen the movement.

 

"We reject the proposal. We have come here to tell our story and we won't step back," he said, rejecting the offer of the government to move to the Burari ground for the protest.

 

Activist Yogendra Yadav also addressed the press conference and described the farmers' protest as a "historic" moment. Yadav said, "This is happening after 31 years. Previously, Mahendra Singh Tikait had brought the farmers together."

6:38 PM

LIVE: Guru Nanak Jayanti celebrations at the Golden Temple in Amritsar

6:34 PM

LIVE: PM Narendra Modi at Dev Deepawali Mahotsav in Varanasi

6:23 PM

PM Modi, CM Adityanath offers prayers at Kashi Vishwanath Temple on Dev Deepawali

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath offered prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple on the occasion of Dev Deepawali on Monday. They travelled from Domari Ghat to Lalita Ghat on a boat to reach the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. During the tour, the Prime Minister is expected to attend Dev Deepawali celebrations, undertake a site visit of Kashi Vishwanath Temple corridor project and also visit the Sarnath archaeological site.

 

The 73 km stretch of the newly widened and six-laned NH-19, made with a total outlay of Rs 2,447 crore, reduced the travel time between Prayagraj and Varanasi by one hour.

 

Ghats of Varanasi have been decorated ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit on the occasion of Dev Deepawali. The stairs of the ghats are decorated with flowers and a red carpet, while artists created rangolis and painted pots. As per the officials, arrangements have been made up to light 11 lakh diyas on the banks of the river.

6:09 PM

LIVE: PM Modi offers prayers at Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi

6:01 PM

LIVE: PM Narendra Modi at Dev Deepawali Mahotsav in Varanasi

5:44 PM

PM Modi defends farm reforms, attacks 'misinformation, propaganda'

A misinformation campaign is underway against recently enacted laws that give farmers the freedom to sell crops for better prices, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday as he again defended the reforms that have drawn protests.

 

“There’s a new trend now—earlier decisions of the government were opposed but now rumours have become the basis for opposition. Propaganda is spread even though a decision is right. It can lead to other consequences, about things that haven’t happened or will never happen. The same is with farm laws,” said Modi in Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency.

 

“A misinformation campaign is underway against historic reforms in agriculture. It’s being done by the same people who acted against farmers’ interests,” he said.

 

"Earlier, any transactions outside a mandi were considered illegal. This was against small farmers who could not even reach mandis. Now even the smallest of farmers can legally operate outside mandis . So farmers have got new options and also got legal safeguards to stop them from getting fleeced." READ ON...

5:27 PM

PM Modi attacks opposition, says they play tricks on farmers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday tore into the opposition over the protests against the new agri-marketing laws, accusing them of playing tricks against the farmers. The attack comes when thousands of farmers are gathered at the entry points of the national capital, seeking the repeal of the three laws, which Modi called historic.

 

"The farmers are being misled on these historic agriculture reform laws by the same people who for decades have misled them," he said, referring to the opposition parties but not directly naming them.

 

The prime minister was addressing a public meeting in his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi, where he was scheduled to spend several hours. Modi said apprehensions and protests are being whipped up by those opposing the Acts. They are misleading society, he said.

5:01 PM

LIVE: PM Modi and CM Adityanath at Lalita Ghat to visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple

4:36 PM

Farm laws bring new options to farmers: PM Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that the new farm laws have brought new options and opportunities for farmers and also provides legal protection against to them. Speaking at function in Varanasi, the Prime Minister began his speech with 'Har Har Mahadev' and said that while everyone can raise questions in a democracy but there is a new trend in which some people are spreading misinformation and canards against the decisions taken by the government.

 

"These forces have spread misinformation to such an extent that it is unbelievable. They did not even allow welfare schemes to be implemented in states where they are in power," he said

 

He said that the old system option was still open for farmers.

 

"These are the same people who have been duping farmers for decades. The MSP was always announced but never implemented. Their mega schemes never reached the beneficiaries," he said. The Prime Minister listed the various schemes announced by his government for farmers including mobile cold storage, micro irrigation and access to a global market. "Black rice from this region now has a market in Australia," he said.

4:28 PM

Opposition using tricks to oppose historic agriculture reforms laws, farmers being misled: PM Modi in Varanasi

4:28 PM

PM Modi visits Varanasi, dedicates to the nation six-laning of 73-km highway to Allahabad

4:17 PM

2020 will be known as year of internal discovery: PM Modi

The year just ending may be called by some as one of external disruptions due to the coronavirus pandemic but for India, it will be known as a year of internal discovery, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said, affirming that "reforms and resolve, resilience and responsibility will power our journey in the coming year".

 

"Some may call the year 2020 as a year of external disruptions due to the pandemic. But I firmly believe that 2020 will be known, not as a year of external disruption, but as a year of internal discovery, for our citizens, for our society and for our nation," Modi writes in a special article in the "Manorama Yearbook 2021".

 

Noting that adversity not only builds strength "but also brings out our true innate character", he writes that the pandemic "has brought to the fore India's national character for the entire world to behold, as a resilient and united nation. Across the world, people have expressed wonder at the way in which Indians, whether poor or rich, young or old, rural or urban, have shown the ability to be responsible, disciplined, focused, law-abiding, patient and composed during a crisis of unprecedented proportions".

4:01 PM

LIVE: New agricultural laws brought in for benefit of farmers, says PM Modi

3:52 PM

Efforts on to double farmers' incomes, new options being offered to them to sell their crops: PM in Varanasi

3:52 PM

UP now getting recogntion as 'Express Pradesh', PM says in Varanasi while referring to expressway projects

3:47 PM

LIVE: Work underway on 12 airports' development in UP, says PM Modi in Varanasi

3:46 PM

LIVE: Misinformation campaign underway against historic reforms in agriculture, PM Modi in Varanasi

Misinformation campaign underway against historic reforms in agriculture. It’s being done by the same people who acted against farmers' interests: PM Narendra Modi in Varanasi

3:34 PM

LIVE: Produce of Varanasi farmers being exported to foreign countries, says PM Modi

3:27 PM

We can now witness benefit of work done on connectivity here: PM Modi in Varanasi