New Delhi, Dec 31 (ANI): The newly appointed Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane spoke to ANI on terrorism and neighbouring countries. "Terrorism is a worldwide problem, India has been at the receiving end of terrorism for a long time. It is only now that the entire world and many countries affected with terrorism are coming to realise what a threat is," said Army Chief. "As far as our neighbour is concerned, they are trying to use terrorism as tool of state policy, as a way of carrying out proxy war against us. However, this state can't last long, as they say you can't fool all the people, all the time," Army Chief added. General Manoj Mukund Naravane took charge as 28th Chief of Indian Army on Dec 31.
Jammu, Dec 31 (ANI): The holy shrine of Vaishno Devi is witnessing heavy rush of pilgrims. Large numbers of devotees reached at Vaishno Devi to offer prayers ahead of New Year. Pilgrims were seen standing in long queues to get glimpse of Mata Vaishno Devi. Hill shrine witnesses heavy rush every year during December end despite cold weather.
New Delhi, December 31 (ANI): To felicitate the staff of PCR who had performed their duty with good faith, Joint Commissioner of Police, K Jegadesan distributed commendation certificates. 100 police personnel of various ranks were given commendation certificates in a ceremony organized at Ghalib auditorium. The rewards were distributed to PCR personnel who had performed excellent work in apprehending the criminals and also displayed their humane side. The staff of PCR was highly motivated and vouched in unison to continue and increase the action against criminals in days to come.
Puri (Odisha), Dec 31 (ANI): The Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan visited Shree Jagannath Temple on December 31. He will offer prayers to Lord Jagannath in Odisha's Puri. Preparations are underway at Lord Jagannath Temple ahead of expected footfall of devotees for New Year.
Goa, Dec 31 (ANI): Goa has always been on top of the list of tourists when it comes to New Year celebrations. India's famous vacation destination is jam-packed with tourists. Coastal serene union territory will host tourists on grand New Year evening of 2019. Casinos are lit up in attractive colours, expecting visitors to try their luck as the glorious decade comes to an end. While North India reels under cold wave, tourists can be seen sun basking on clean beaches of Goa. Tourism industry booms in Goa during this season as there is no dearth of vacationers, who lighten their wallets to enjoy the experience. Music and parties will be organised in every nook and corner of Goa to give tourists a hint of Goan culture.
Bundi (Rajasthan), Dec 31 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party's MLA from Rajasthan, Madan Dilawar sparked controversy while speaking on Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). "Those who are burning the country and killing police over Citizenship Amendment Act, and those who are supporting them, are enemies of the country, be it Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi," said MLA Dilawar "They do not have the right to live in this country. If they love Pakistan they should go there, if they love Bangladesh they should go there, and if both the countries don't want them, they can drown in the Indian Ocean," he added. He also hits out Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot and other Congress leaders for opposing the CAA.
New Delhi, Dec 31 (ANI): While speaking to ANI in the national capital on December 31, the Public Relation Officer (PRO) of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Vivek Pandey said, "There is unusual change in weather this year due to which we have put multiple rescue teams on standby to deal with any situation. In border areas the temperature is -35 degrees Celsius." "We have also made sufficient arrangements so that Jawans deployed in -35 degrees Celsius don't face any problem due to extreme weather conditions," he added.
Jammu, Dec 31 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir's Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh said on December 31, that number of youth joining terrorist organisations has gone down this year. "Number of youths joining terrorist organisations has gone down, 218 joined in 2018, this year it was 139," said DGP Dilbag Singh while addressing a press conference in Jammu. He further added, "As per our record around 130 people managed to infiltrate this year, compared to last year's figure of 143."
New Delhi, Dec 31 (ANI): While addressing a press conference in the national capital on December 31, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, "In line with announcement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day 2019 speech, to make infrastructure investment worth Rs 100 lakh crore for the next five years, a task force was formed to identify projects." "Today, the task force has identified Rs 102 lakh crore worth of projects, after conducting 70 stakeholder consultations in a short period of four months," she added.
Auckland (New Zealand), Dec 31 (ANI): New Zealand celebrated New Year 2020 in a grand way. Sky Tower in Auckland was lit up on the occasion of New Year. Fireworks display was observed in the sky.
Raipur (Chhattisgarh), Dec 31 (ANI): Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel slammed Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh (UP) Yogi Adityanath over latter's ongoing tussle with Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi. "Saffron colour is symbol of relinquishment, but casteism can be seen in at every designation in Uttar Pradesh," said Bhupesh Baghel, while speaking with mediapersons in Ranchi.
Mumbai, Dec 31 (ANI): While speaking to ANI in Mumbai on Kerala Assembly passed resolution demanding withdrawal of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the Congress leader Mohammad Arif Naseem Khan said, "We welcome this decision by Kerala government, all state governments, including the Thackeray government in Maharashtra should call a session of assembly, asking the central government to withdraw Citizenship Amendment Act."
New Delhi, Dec 31 (ANI): While addressing a press conference in the national capital on December 31, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, "National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) Coordination Mechanism to be launched, comprising the Centre, states and private sector, for detailed planning, information dissemination and monitoring implementation of the NIP framework."
New Delhi, Dec 31 (ANI): The Minister of State (MoS) in Rural Development Ministry Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti gave a controversial statement on December 31 where she said Congress General Secretary in Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra should change her name to 'Feroze Priyanka'. While speaking to media in the national capital, the veteran leader of Congress party Mallikarjun Kharge spoke on her controversial statement. He said, "By giving such kind of statements she is exposing herself and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is not doing agitation for her own. She is doing it for the problems and issues of common masses and also becoming the voice of voiceless people. She is speaking on behalf of all of them." "Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti is having stomach ache and also have no capital so by giving these kinds of statements she wants to be in news, while on the other side we are in news due to our work for the people," he added. "Don't take such people's name who always gives hate speech and statements. They
New Delhi, Dec 31 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have kickstarted their election campaign in Delhi. Posters have been put up claiming credit of providing possession letters to 40 lakh people residing in unauthorized colonies by BJP. The poster bears the face of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On the other hand, a huge poster was seen at ITO claiming that none of the colonies are being authorized. The poster also states that '40 lakh people have been duped'.
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), Dec 31 (ANI): Kerala Assembly passed resolution against Citizens (Amendment) Act. Assembly demanded repeal of the CAA. BJP MLA O Rajagopal opposed the resolution. The resolution was moved by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Chennai, Dec 31 (ANI): Mahila Congress supporters made 'rangoli' at state Congress office in Chennai to protest against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). They also raised slogans against new Citizenship Act. Later, scuffle broke out between police and Mahila Congress supporters.
Jaipur (Rajasthan), Dec 31 (ANI): Health Minister of Rajasthan, Raghu Sharma hit out at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for 'politicizing' the deaths of newborns in Kota's government hospital. Health Minister said that their government reduced the Infant Mortality Rate to 5.55% in 2019. "The Infant Mortality Rate in the state was 7.62% in 2014, 7.17% in 2015, 6.66% in 2016, 6% in 2017 and 6.11% in 2018. We have reduced it to 5.55% in 2019," said Health Minister in Jaipur. He also said, "Opposition leaders are spreading infection by visiting hospital."The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has issued a show-cause notice to the Chief Medical Officer of Kota District over infant deaths in the JK Lon Hospital in December.
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), Dec 31 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh's Director General of Police, (DGP) OP Singh has written a letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs, requesting to impose a ban on Popular Front of India (PFI). According to the police investigations, PFI's involvement was found in violent protests against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the state.
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), Dec 31 (ANI): Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Keshav Prasad Maurya said that the Popular Front of India (PFI) had fanned protests against Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in the state. "Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), the Popular Front of India (PFI) fanned protests in the state. Pursuant to the probe, the truth has come to the fore," Maurya told the mediapersons. Any anti-national in the state and country would not be tolerated, the deputy chief minister said, adding that if SIMI comes out in a different form, it will be crushed. The comments came in the backdrop of a letter written by Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) OP Singh to the Ministry of Home Affairs seeking a ban on PFI for its involvement in the violent protests against the CAA and National Register of Citizens (NRC) that took place on December 19.