Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi met and interacted with Uttarakhand flood affected families and children on R-Day. 

Gandhi assured them that his party is committed to taking all necessary measures to bring relief to those affected by the devastating natural disaster.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today said that the Republic Day speech of President Pranab Mukherjee, who made a veiled attack on him for his two-day dharna, had generated a debate whether staging a protest by a chief minister was constitutional or unconstitutional.

"I am happy that this is being debated now," said Kejriwal who was cornered by journalists and other invitees in Mughal Garden where he was attending his first 'At Home' function after taking over as the chief minister.

He was asked about his reaction on the President's Republic Day eve speech where he had made a veiled attack on Kejriwal's street protests, saying the government is not a "charity shop" and "populist anarchy" cannot be a substitute for governance.

Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam breaks his fast after Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan assures a decision on power tariff in Mumbai in two days. 

Motilal Vora and Ranjib Biswal are among the seven Congress candidates for Rajya Sabha elections: AICC's Viplove Thakur from Himachal Pradesh, Murli Deora and Hussain Dalwai from Maharashtra, Haji Abdul Salam from Manipur and Wansuk Syiem from Meghalaya are in the Congress list for the Rajya Sabha S.

According to eyewitnesses, there was an explosion before the boat capsized.    

Tourist boat Aqua Marine capsized between Ross Island and North Bay after 2.45 pm. Of the 43 tourists onboard 21 are feared dead and 13 have been rescued. The rest of the tourists are missing, reports CNN-IBN. 

Those rescued tourists have been taken to GB Pant Hospital, said the Deputy Commissioner of Nicobar. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the incident.

The local toll free number is: 1070. 

Militants attacked Assam Rifles post in Manipur on Sunday. Two personnel seriously injured, according to officials.

The family members of the gang-rape victim in West Bengal's Birbhum district has been provided police protection, a senior police official said today.

"Yes, we have provided police protection to all family members of the victim. The victim, who is now in a hospital, has also been provided protection. We are looking after all security concerns regarding the investigation of the case," additional SP Prasanta Chowdhury told PTI.

The 20-year-old girl was gang-raped on the order of a kangaroo court when she expressed her inability to pay the Rs 50,000 fine demanded of her for falling in love with a man from outside the community.

More inputs from the mishap at Andaman: At least 20 passengers are feared dead. Rescue operations are on.

A boat carrying tourists has capsized near Port Blair in Andaman. Seeveral casualties are feared, reports CNN-IBN.

There were 43 tourists aboard. The boat -- Aqua Marine -- has reportedly sunk between Ross Island and North Bay.

More details are awaited.

Image: Representation picture   

P B Chandra reports: Veteran actor Judy Dench was shooting in Jaipur for the sequel to John Madden's film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel when she learnt about her nomination as the lead actress for the Oscar's for her role in Philomena.

The message came from one of her secretary in Hollywood and she was delighted. "This is just the loveliest news. I was proud to be part of Philomena and all those who were involved with it. Its good to hear that. Now I am looking for the next stride," said Dench.

The news came when the crew was shooting in Jaipur at a heritage property for the upcoming British comedy-drama written by Ol Parker.

The The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was shot entirely in Jaipur and Udaipur. The film stars Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith, Richard Gere and Penelope Wilton.

Judy took a day off and went sightseeing and shopping in Jaipur in the company of the other cast.In the sequel, Judy again plays the role of a British retiree.

" I love to be in Rajasthan and am doubly happy that I have been able to come so soon after doing the The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 's first version. I would like to go to Udaipur again and see how the lakes are there now."

Pakistan will give Non-Discriminatory Market Access to India next month if New Delhi gives access to specific Pakistani products, Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir Khan was quoted as saying in a media report today.

Khan, a top leader of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-N, told the Dawn newspaper: "Yes, we have agreed to give Non-Discriminatory Market Access to India next month."

NDMA has been suggested as a new name for the Most Favoured Nation regime in an attempt to reduce political fallout. But Khan said this can happen only if India gives market access to products identified by Pakistan.

These products are included in the sensitive list of the South Asia Free Trade Area. Textiles and chemicals, which form the bulk of the products, are subject to higher duties by India. Pakistan has handed over a list of the items to the Indian side, the report said.

Pakistan today indicated trade cannot be delinked from other contentious issues in the composite dialogue with India as it sought an "uninterrupted and uninterruptible" process to make peace more sustainable.

"You cannot deal with the situation in isolation. Even if there is a strong desire on both sides to move faster on one track, (like the) trade track...we have seen if something happens, if there is a snag or some incident happens, everything comes to a standstill," Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam told PTI.

She was responding to a question on whether trade could be delinked from other issues that have hit bilateral ties since independence.

Scotching reports that he may be nominated for Rajya Sabha, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader L K Advani today made it clear that he will contest the next Lok Sabha elections, saying this is "in my mind".   

"I have not said anything (about going to the RS) and if somebody offers me this suggestion I will think about it. But it is natural, I think, that if I had to consider it I would have done it earlier," Advani told reporters after unfurling the national flag at his residence in New Delhi.

Badminton ace Saina Nehwal wins India Grand Prix Gold in Lucknow.

Fighter Nadal wins the third set against Wawrinka in the finals of the Australian Open.

Nadal fights back. He is leading 4-2 in the third set of the Australian Open finals against  Wawrinka. 

Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka leads 2-0 against Spain's Rafael Nadal in the finals of the Australian Open.  

Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control in Kashmir on the morning of the 65th Republic Day today by resorting to unprovokedfiring for three hours, army said.   

"Today morning at 6:15 am, when it was dark, there wasunprovoked firing from Pakistani side. They fired about three RPG rounds and small arms on to the Kaman post (in Uri sector)on the Indian side," General Officer Commanding of 19 InfantryDivision Major General Anil Chauhan told reporters.

Bharatiya Janata Party President Rajnath Singh on Sunday welcomed President Pranab Mukherjee's remarks on the need for a stable government at the Centre post the 2014 general elections and agreed with his views that populist anarchy cannot be a substitute for governance.

Unfurling the national flag at the BJP headquarters on the occasion of the Republic Day, Singh said, "The President's speech was good. I support his view that the country needs a stable government.I also welcome the President's remarks on the issue of anarchist politics."

The reference was to Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party Convenor Arvind Kejriwal's recent street agitation to get some cops suspended.Reflecting on the journey of the republic over the past 65 years, the BJP president said the country was far from achieving the goals it had set for itself.

Wawrinka breaks Nadal in the second set, leads 2-0. 

Wawrinka wins the first set against Nadal in the finals of the Australian Open. He beat Nadal 6-3. 

In the first set of the Australian Open final, Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka leads 5-2 against Spain's Rafael Nadal.  

CNN-IBN reports: A civil services aspirant has accused a senior India Administrative Service officer of raping her last year.

In her complaint, the woman alleged that the officer, BB Mohanty, had called her to a place in Swej farm and raped her repeatedly on February 17 and 19 last year.

"We have received a complaint from a local court in which the woman, aged around 23 years, had alleged that IAS officer BB Mohanty had raped her on different locations in February last year," Mahesh Nagar police station SHO Ramavtar Singh said.

Read the full report here

 

  Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti, who has recently found himself in controversies, today said his intentions were good but he was projected in "wrong way" and had he been "aware" of procedures, he could have avoided the wrangles.

Bharti, an Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Malviya Nagar, is facing cases and criticism from political opponents for a midnight raid against some African women in south Delhi, where he had alleged a drug and prostitution racket was taking place.

"I am not aware of procedures. If I would have known them, I would not have made these alleged mistakes," Bharti said while addressing lawyers on the eve of Republic Day at Saket district courts premises in New Delhi.

The sixth-seeded pair of India's Sania Mirza and Romania's Horia Tecau lost 3-6, 3-6 to the pair of Daniel Nestor and Kristina Mladenovic in the final of the mixed doubles event at the Australian Open on Sunday.

School children from across the at the Republic Day parade in New Delhi. 

In a hard hitting address to the nation on the eve of Republic Day, President Pranab Mukherjie said on Saturday that popular anarchy cannot be a substitute for governance.

Without naming of the Aam Aadmi Party, he was critical of it.

After the address AAP leader Yogendra Yadav told NDTV that Mukherjee's address to the nation is being misinterpreted and that he must have bigger issue in mind.

"I am sure the President meant the larger situation in the country. The country faces challenges of authoratism and dynasty politics. To say that President's address targets AAP is an attempt to insult the dignity of President's office," Yadav said.

Read the full report here

The Chadigarh tableau displays the Rock Garden.

The Assam tableau arrives at the parade. It pays tribute to legendary artist Dr Bhupen Hazarika. He passed away on November 5, 2011.    

The Karnataka tableau pays tribute to the great warrior king Tipu Sultan.   

After the Uttarakhand tableau, come the one from Maharashtra. And it is followed by a colorful float from Jammu and Kashmir.   

Tableau representating states begin to arrive at the Republic Day parade.

Take a quiz on the tableau here

Now arrives the Boys National Cadet Corps band. 

The RPF band consisting of 76 personnel marches during the parade in New Delhi. Followed by the Delhi police band. 

The CISF band plays 'Sare Jahan Se Achcha' at the Republic Day parade.

The DRDO Corps Column arrives. And then comes the CRPF marching contingent.
   

The naval tableau arrives. It is led by Deepika Chaudhary.   

In a rare case, the Andhra Pradesh inspector Prasad Babu was awarded the Ashok Chakra for fighting fellow Indians -- Maoists.  

The 9 Gorkha rifles regiment approaches. It is followed by the Rajput Regimental Centre and Maratha Light Regimental Centre.  

The army showcases T-90 Bheeshma tank column led by Captain Akash Majumdar.

Now, approaching is the combined band playing of Para and Punjab regiments.  

Andra Pradesh inspector Prasad Babu has been conferred Ashok Chakra.

The army showcases its military might at the Republic Day parade in New Delhi. Advanced TK T-2 mine plough is be being showcased. The mine plough is used to clear areas of enemy mines.     

Grand Republic Day celebrations have begun at Rajpath. India is celebrating its  65th Republic Day.

Japanese PM Shinzo Abe is the chief guest at the parade.

President Pranab Mukherjee is now awarding the Ashok Chakra.