LIVE! My Hindu faith guides me: PM Sunak at Ram Katha

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Tue, 15 August 2023

My Hindu faith guides me: PM Sunak at Ram Katha

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21:51 My Hindu faith guides me as PM: Rishi Sunak at Ram Katha

Rishi Sunak said on Tuesday that his Hindu faith guides him in every aspect of his life and gives him the courage to do the best as the prime minister of Britain.

During a visit to the ongoing 'Ram Katha' being conducted by spiritual leader Morari Bapu at Jesus College, University of Cambridge, Britain's first Indian-origin Prime Minister highlighted the significance of the event coinciding with India's Independence Day.

"Bapu, I am here today not as a prime minister, but as a Hindu, said Sunak, opening his address at the gathering.

"For me, faith is very personal. It guides me in every aspect of my life. Being prime minister is a great honour, but it is not an easy job. There are difficult decisions to make, hard choices to confront and our faith gives me courage, strength, and resilience to do the best that I can for our country," he said.

The 43-year-old leader shared the special moment when he first lit Diwali diyas outside No. 11 Downing Street as the first British Indian Chancellor in 2020.

Pointing to a large golden image of Lord Hanuman as the backdrop to Morari Bapu's Ram Katha, the British prime minister said it reminded him of how a golden Ganesha sits gleefully on my desk at 10 Downing Street.

"It is a constant reminder to me about listening and reflecting on issues before acting," he shared.

Sunak, just back from a family holiday in the US with his wife Akshata Murty and children Krishna and Anoushka, said he was proud to be British and Hindu as he reflected upon his childhood years in Southampton where he often visited his neighbourhood temple with family.

"Growing up, I have very fond memories of attending our local mandir in Southampton. My parents and family would organise havans, pujas, aartis; afterwards, I would help serve lunch and prasad with my brother and sister and cousins," said Sunak.

"Our values and what I see Bapu does each day of his life are the values of selfless service, devotion and keeping faith. But perhaps the greatest value is duty or sewa, as we know it. These Hindu values are very much shared British values," he noted.

Referencing his family's immigrant history, Sunak noted how many among the hundreds gathered at the Katha had parents and grandparents who came to the UK with very little from India and East Africa and worked their way up to give his generation the greatest opportunities ever.

"Today, I want to say thank you to the generation who worked day and night for our education and our today now is the time for our generation to give back," he said.

"I leave here today remembering the Ramayana that Bapu speaks on, but also the Bhagavad Gita' and the Hanuman Chalisa. And for me, Lord Ram will always be an inspirational figure to face life's challenges with courage, to govern with humility and to work selflessly," he added.

He concluded his address with the words Jai Siya Ram' and went on to participate in an aarti on stage, with Morari Bapu invoking the blessings of Lord Hanuman, seeking 'boundless strength' to facilitate his service to the people of Britain. -- PTI

India and China agreed to resolve the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh in an expeditious manner, a joint statement said on Tuesday, a day after the two sides concluded two-day military talks.

'The two sides had a positive, constructive and in-depth discussion on the resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in the Western Sector,' it said.

'In line with the guidance provided by the leadership, they exchanged views in an open and forward looking manner,' the statement added.

The 19th round of India-China Corps Commander-level meeting was held at Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Indian side on August 13-14, it said.

It was for the first time that the high-level military talks on the lingering border row spanned two days.

'They agreed to resolve the remaining issues in an expeditious manner and maintain the momentum of dialogue and negotiations through military and diplomatic channels,' the statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs said.

'In the interim, the two sides agreed to maintain the peace and tranquillity on the ground in the border areas,' it said.

The Indian and Chinese troops are locked in an over three-year confrontation in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh even as the two sides completed disengagement from several areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks. -- PTI

Image only for representation

20:33 Stones pelted at police team in Rajasthan village, 9 cops injured

Nine police personnel were injured on Tuesday when they came under attack in a village in Rajasthan's Salumbar district while taking into custody a man caught by local people for attempting to steal goats, officials said.

Assistant Sub-Inspector Bacchu Lal of the local Semari police station who was also injured said villagers pelted stones at the police team and vandalised its vehicles.

A case has been registered and the accused are being identified, he said, adding that the injured were taken to a hospital in Semari for treatment.

Police said the incident occurred in Intali village where residents spotted five people attempting to steal goats and gave them a chase.

Four of them managed to flee but the villagers caught hold of Kamlesh Meena, they added.

The officials said the villagers thrashed the man and locked him up in a room at the panchayat office.

A police team reached the spot after getting information about the episode to take the man into custody, they said.

Soon after the police team took the man in custody, villagers started pelting stones at it, the officials added. -- PTI

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said his government will take necessary steps to withdraw Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) from the entire state by the end of this year.

The AFSPA is now limited to only eight districts of the northeastern state, he said.

Hoisting the national flag on the occasion of the 77th Independence Day here, Sarma also said around 8,000 'revolutionaries' have returned to the mainstream in the last three years.

"I want to assure the people of Assam that by the end of this year, we will take fruitful steps to withdraw the AFSPA from every district of Assam. That will be an 'amritmoy' time for Assam's history and we are eagerly waiting for that day," he said.

Since the beginning of its application in the state more than three decades ago, the extension of the AFSPA was recommended 62 times, Sarma said.

"The northeast region is now free from terrorism. In the last three years, four peace accords have been signed with revolutionaries of Assam and around 8,000 revolutionaries have returned to the mainstream," he said.

The Assam government extended the 'disturbed area' notification under the AFSPA for another six months in eight districts with effect from April 1.

The 'disturbed area' tag was extended in Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao.

The AFSPA was first imposed in Assam in November 1990 and has been extended every six months since then after a review by the state government.

It empowers security forces to conduct operations anywhere and arrest anyone without any prior warrant.

The AFSPA also gives a certain level of immunity to the security forces in case of an operation going wrong.

Civil society groups and rights activists have been demanding the withdrawal of the 'draconian law' from the entire North East, claiming a violation of human rights by the armed forces.

The cry to repeal the Act gained renewed momentum following the death of 14 civilians in firing by security forces in a botched anti-insurgency operation and retaliatory violence in Mon district of Nagaland on December 4, 2021. -- PTI

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Tuesday said nothing much happened during his meeting with his uncle and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar in Pune last week.

Speaking to reporters in Kolhapur, he said there was no need to think too much about the meeting.

"Pawar Saheb (Sharad Pawar) has already clarified. The media is giving different kinds of publicity to a meeting that took place between family members, leading to confusion. There is no reason to think that anything unusual transpired at the meeting," he said.

On Saturday, political circles were abuzz after a 'secret' meeting took place between Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar at a businessman's residence in Pune.

Senior NCP leader Jayant Patil was also present.

Asked about him leaving the premises 'hiding' in a car, Ajit Pawar said he was not there in the car.

"I did not leave surreptitiously. I am someone who roams around openly. There was no reason for me to hide....I was not there in that car," he said.

Visuals aired by regional news channels showed Sharad Pawar arriving at the residence of businessman Atul Chordiya in the Koregaon Park area around 1 pm on August 12 and leaving around 5 pm.

Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar was purportedly seen leaving the premises in a car at 6:45 pm.

Ajit Pawar, who split the NCP in July this year and joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government in the state, said he accepted that he met Pawar senior.

The Pawar family had an association with businessman Atul Chordiya for two generations, he said.

"Chordiya had invited Pawar Saheb for lunch. He was supposed to go there after a program at the Vasantdada Sugar Institute and as Jayant Patil was with him, he also went along. I reached there after completing the Chandni Chowk bridge inauguration," Ajit Pawar said.

The deputy CM was in Kolhapur to attend Independence Day celebrations.

In his speech on the occasion, Ajit Pawar said Kolhapur is a progressive district which also boasts of signs of ancient traditions.

The state government is committed to the development of all sections of society including the farmers, women and youth in the state as well as in the district.

He was fortunate to get an opportunity to hoist the flag in the historical city which has the legacy of social reformist ruler Shahu Maharaj and Maharani Tarabai, he said.

India made a lot of progress in the last 76 years and is now among the first five economies in the world, Pawar said.

If the GDP growth continues at the same pace, India will surpass Germany and Japan and become the third largest economy in the world, he added. -- PTI

A woman constable of Madhya Pradesh police has been allowed to undergo sex change procedure by the state government, a senior official said on Tuesday.

Deepika Kothari, posted in Ratlam district, thus, became the second woman constable in the state to get permission for sex change, said Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Rajesh Rajora.

The state home department, in an order issued on Monday, stated that Kothari has the 'gender identity disorder' and was allowed to undergo sex change on the basis of medical reports.

There are no clear rules for allowing sex change for government employees at present, the order noted.

The permission was granted in this case after obtaining an opinion of the Legal Department and in view of a Supreme Court ruling, it added.

After sex change, the constable will not be able to avail of benefits meant exclusively for women employees, the order said.

In 2021, another woman constable named Arti Yadav had obtained similar permission, officials said. -- PTI

Trained scent dogs exhibit a remarkable ability to detect COVID-19 infections with higher accuracy and efficiency compared to conventional RT-PCR tests, according to a review of studies.

This innovative approach not only promises quicker results but also holds the potential to substantially reduce diagnostic costs, the researchers said

A growing number of studies over the last two years has highlighted the power of dogs in detecting the stealthy virus and its variants, even when they are obscured by other viruses, like those from common colds and flu.

"It went from four papers to 29 peer-reviewed studies that include more than 400 scientists from over 30 countries and 31,000 samples," said Tommy Dickey, Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of California (UC) Santa Barbara, US.

Dickey and collaborator Heather Junqueira from BioScent, Inc. noted that the collective research demonstrates that trained scent dogs are "as effective and often more effective" than the antigen tests we're keeping handy at home, as well as the gold-standard reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests deployed in clinics and hospitals.

According to the study, published in the Journal of Osteopathic Medicine, not only can dogs detect theS-CoV-2 virus faster, they can do so in a non-intrusive manner, without the environmental impact that comes with single-use plastics.

Dogs have hundreds of millions of olfactory receptors, compared to roughly five to six million for humans, and a full third of their brains is devoted to interpreting smells, compared to a scant 5 per cent in human brains, the researchers said.

All these enhancements mean that dogs can detect very low concentrations of odours associated with COVID infections, they said.

"They can detect the equivalent of one drop of an odorous substance in 10.5 Olympic-sized swimming pools. For perspective, this is about three orders of magnitude better than with scientific instrumentation," Dickey said.

The researchers found that in some cases, dogs were able to detect COVID in pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic patients whose viral load was too low for conventional tests to work.

Dogs can also distinguish COVID and its variants in the presence of other potentially confounding respiratory viruses, such as those of the common cold or flu, they said.

"They're much more effective. Infact one of the authors that we quoted in the paper commented that the RT-PCR test is not the gold standard anymore. It's the dog," Dickey said."And they're so quick. They can give you the yes or no within seconds if they're directly smelling you," he added.

In some scenarios a dog gave the person a quick sniff, sitting down to indicate the presence of COVID. In others, the dog was given a sweat sample to smell, a process that could take a few minutes.

The speed is especially important in situations like the earlier phase of the pandemic when a gap of days between test and result could mean an exponential rise in infections if the person was positive, or scenarios that involve a high volume of people, the researchers said. -- PTI

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday hit out at the Congress and said its president Mallikarjun Kharge skipping the Independence Day function at the Red Fort shows that the opposition party cannot think beyond "dynasty".

On Kharge citing "paucity of time" and traffic restrictions for not attending the function, the ruling party said the Congress could have tweaked the timing of its programme.

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of Independence Day, a chair reserved for Kharge, who is also the leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha, was seen empty.

Kharge, who unfurled the national flag at his residence and later at the Congress headquarters, later said he could not have reached his party office in time from the Red Fort.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur told reporters that Kharge not attending the Independence Day functions at the Red Fort shows the Congress' mindset.

"By calling people of the country 'rakshas' (demon)... the Congress showed how it looks at the people in democracy. Now, when our country's main opposition party leader, who is also the leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha, does not come on the 77th Independence Day, you can imagine what is the mindset of the Congress," he said.

"Their thoughts were different when they were in power. Today, when they are sitting in the opposition, they are yearning for power like fish out of water," he said.

Replying to a post on X, formerly Twitter, by Congress leader Pawan Khera in which he defended Kharge, BJP IT Department head Amit Malviya said the timing of party programmes can always be tweaked.

"Thank you for saying what we always knew -- Congress puts party before the Nation.

"The programme at Red Fort is a collective celebration when the entire nation comes together. Timing of the party program(s) can always be tweaked," Malviya said. -- PTI

From village heads to construction workers employed for the Central Vista project, around 1,800 'special guests' on Tuesday attended the 77th Independence Day celebrations at Red Fort here.

In his address to the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also hailed the contribution of workers, labourers and grocery vendors in nation-building.

"Today we have demography, democracy, diversity, and this 'Triveni' (three factors) has the potential to make every dream of India come true," he said.

These special guests included over 400 sarpanches of more than 660 vibrant villages; 250 from the farmer-producer organisations scheme; 50 participants each of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme and the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana.

Fifty 'shram yogis (construction workers)' of the Central Vista project, including the new Parliament building; 50 khadi workers, those involved in the construction of border roads, making of Amrit Sarovars and Har Ghar Jal Yojana each, as well as 50 primary school teachers, nurses and fisherfolk each.

Rahul Sofat, a lecturer of maths at Air Force Golden Jubilee Institute, Subroto Park in Delhi, was among the special invitees.

"I thank the CBSE, MoE (Ministry of Education), PMO, who gave us this opportunity to come here as special invitees for the Independence Day celebrations. We were able to see the PM so close that we almost shook hands with him. This is my first time at Red Fort celebrations... About 25 teachers have come from CBSE," he told PTI soon after the ceremony ended.

"It will be enriched in our memory forever," an elated Sofat said.

His wife, Nishi, accompanied him and expressed delight at being a part of the august event.

"Being a teacher's wife is an honour. First time, I am seeing such an honour being given to teachers. It was a very good experience," she said.

Later, the group of teachers along with their spouses in matching saree, also gathered for a group picture.

PM Modi in his address also urged fellow citizens not to lose the opportunity to realise the country's potential as the decisions and sacrifices made in this period will impact the country for the next 1,000 years.

The invitation to the about 1,800 special guests was extended in line with the government's vision of 'Jan Bhagidari', the defence ministry has said.

Sarita Rawat, a sarpanch from Uttarakhand said, "I was happy when my village was included among the vibrant villages. I have worked hard for four years to achieve this feat. It was a proud moment for me to be invited to the event as a special guest".

Sulabh International founder and social activist Bindeshwar Pathak, a pioneer in building public toilets, died on Tuesday at AIIMS Delhi due to a cardiac arrest, according to a close aide.

The 80-year-old was the founder of Sulabh International, an India-based social service organisation which works to promote human rights, environmental sanitation, waste management and reforms through education.

The aide said that Pathak hoisted the national flag in the morning on the occasion of Independence Day and collapsed soon after that.

He was rushed to AIIMS Delhi.

A source at the hospital said Pathak was declared brought dead at 1.42 pm.

The cause of the death was cardiac arrest, he said. -- PTI

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Tuesday that if India has to become "vishwaguru", people will have to live in harmony and should be assured of good education, health facilities and uninterrupted power supply.

Speaking at the Delhi government's Independence Day event at Chhatrasal Stadium in north Delhi, he greeted the people of Delhi and the country on the occasion and paid tribute to freedom fighters, soldiers and achievers in different fields.

Referring to the recent flooding in Delhi, he said that the people together with the city government faced the natural calamity with help from the Centre.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener expressed sadness at the events that have unfolded in Manipur.

"I am a bit sad today. Manipur is burning, people of one community are killing those from another and vice-versa. In Haryana also, people from one community fighting with the other. How will we become vishwaguru if we keep fighting amongst ourselves? If we have to become vishwaguru and become the number one country we will have to live like a family," he said.

Referring to power cuts in other parts of the country, he said that India cannot become "vishwaguru" if there are such long outages.

"We have enough power plants to generate 4.25 lakh MW power, our peak demand is 2 lakh MW, yet there are power cuts. Power cuts are due to mismanagement and lack of vision. Delhi has no power cuts and there is 24x7 supply here. There can be 24x7 supply in the country in three to four years if there is an end to corruption and mismanagement," he said.

Lamenting the dilapidated condition of government schools in the country, he stressed that unless every child gets good education, the country cannot become "vishwaguru".

"I have calculated that Rs 6 lakh crore would be needed to improve 10 lakh government schools in the country. An expenditure of Rs 1.25 lakh per year is nothing for a country like India," he said.

He said every poor person can become rich through educating their children.

"India will not become vishwaguru merely through speeches. India will not become vishwaguru unless good healthcare is available to all the people in the country," he said. -- PTI

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar asserted that the state government has provided the "best available land" for the construction of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Darbhanga and it is "well connected".

He also wondered whether the Centre wants to delay the project.

The chief minister's statement came a couple of days after Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya alleged that the land provided by the state government is not suitable for the construction of the premier hospital.

"When the Centre decided to construct AIIMS in Darbhanga in 2015, the state government provided land near Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH). We proposed that the DMCH be converted into AIIMS. Initially, they accepted it, but later raised some objections.

"The land which the state government provided later for AIIMS is the best available land and well connected," Kumar told reporters on Monday.

The state government has decided to expand the DMCH on the lines of Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH).

"The land provided by the state government for AIIMS is close to the Darbhanga airport also. God knows why they (the central government) refused the land. It seems they want to delay it. Their intention is doubtful," said the chief minister.

If the Centre wants to construct an AIIMS in Darbhanga, it will have to be constructed on the same land given by the state, he asserted.

"Otherwise, they are free to do whatever they want. We are building medical colleges everywhere in the state. The AIIMS first came to Patna and the next AIIMS should be in Darbhanga, this is what we want," said the CM.

Whatever development is coming up in Bihar, it is being done by the state government without any contribution by the Centre, Kumar asserted. -- PTI

Vinesh Phogat, who was given direct entry to the Asian Games, on Tuesday announced that she won't be able to compete at the quadrennial extravaganza in Hangzhou because of a knee injury that will require a surgery.

The exemption from the Asian Games trials given to Vinesh and Bajrang Punia had created a huge controversy as the wrestling fraternity criticised the decision made by the ad-hoc panel.

However, as luck would have it, Vinesh would not be part of the sporting action in Hangzhou, starting September 23.

Vinesh revealed her injury in a statement issued on X, formerly twitter.

"I wanted to share an extremely sad piece of news. A couple of days ago on 13th August 2023, I injured my left knee in training. After doing the scans and examinations, the doctor has said that unfortunately, surgery is the only option for me to recover," she wrote.

"I will be undergoing surgery on 17th August in Mumbai. It was my dream to retain my Asian Games gold medal for India which I won in 2018 in Jakarta. But unfortunately, this injury has ruled out my participation now."

She also said that she has informed all concerned authorities so that the reserve player can be sent to the Asian Games.

It clears the way for Antim Panghal's inclusion in the squad. The U-20 world champion Panghal had won the trials and was put on standby.

"I would like to request all the fans to continue supporting me so that I can make a strong comeback on the mat soon and prepare for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Your support gives me a slot of strength," Vinesh wrote. -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is speaking out of his "arrogance" by claiming that he will unfurl the national flag at Red Fort next year too, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said on Tuesday, asserting that he would do so but at his residence.

Kharge also hit out at the prime minister for criticising the opposition in his Independence Day address.

"What he is saying is talk of arrogance. Now it is 2023 and to say that he will again unfurl the national flag in 2024 (at the Red Fort) is speaking out of 'durankaar, ahankaar' (arrogance)," the Congress chief told reporters when asked about the prime minister's remarks.

"He (PM) also keeps on criticising the opposition and if he keeps doing so even on Independence Day, then what kind of India will he make," he said.

"He (the PM) will again unfurl the flag, but at his own house," Kharge said.

The Congress president had skipped the Independence Day function at the Red Fort.

Congress leader Rajiv Shukla said, "It is the power of the people to decide who will deliver the speech at Red Fort next year. We should leave it to them."

Another Congress leader Ajoy Kumar alleged that Prime Minister Modi is unable to control the corruption in his government which is being exposed in the CAG reports.

"This is Modi ji's state during Amritkaal and Kartavaya kaal. The student who fails keeps speaking about passing," he said on PM's remarks at the Red Fort.

"He is scared. Modi ji is scared," Kumar said.

The Congress on Tuesday termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day speech as a "crass election speech filled with distortions, lies, exaggerations and vague promises".

The opposition party said instead of bringing the country together on Independence Day, he made it all about himself and his image and not accepting the challenges ahead and celebrating the country's journey so far.

On Prime Minister Modi's assertion that he will unfurl the national flag again at Red Fort next year and give a report of his achievements, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said Modi will unfurl the national flag next year but at his residence.

Modi's remark stems out of the "arrogance that he displays", Kharge said.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "On 15 August 2023, rather than reporting to the people what his government had achieved in the past nine years, Prime Minister Modi gave a crass election speech filled with distortions, lies, exaggerations and vague promises. Instead of bringing the country together, to celebrate our journey so far, acknowledge the pain and anguish of those suffering, and accept the challenges ahead, he made it all about himself and his image".

"To summarise, PM Modi's failures in the last nine years can be categorised under 'durniti' (bad policies), 'anyay' (injustice) and - perhaps most importantly - 'badniyat' (ill intention). Rhetoric and bluster can no longer cover up this truth which is now evident to the entire country," Ramesh said in a statement

He said the prime minister addressed the devastation caused by the violence in Manipur, casually comparing it with incidents in other parts of the country.

He showed no sorrow or acknowledgment of the abject failures which have led to Manipur turning into a war zone. He brazenly claimed that 'Bharat Mata' is being rejuvenated in 'Amrit Kaal' - when the whole nation has witnessed her fate in Manipur where women are being brutally violated, he claimed.

The prime minister claimed that a new world order has been ushered in as the world saw India's capability during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Congress leader said, adding that he deliberately failed to mention that as a direct result of inadequate oxygen supplies and the PM's "failure" to order adequate vaccines in a timely manner, India ended up with 40 lakh Covid deaths the world's "highest" death toll according to the WHO.

He said the world has not forgotten the bodies piled up outside hospitals and flowing down the Ganga during the devastating second wave of the pandemic.

Ramesh said the prime minister played a cruel joke on Anganwadi and ASHA workers by thanking them for delivering 200 crore vaccines, especially when the families of many of these essential workers were denied compensation after they had died fighting the pandemic, and those living were not even paid their wages. -- PTI

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday called for rising above divisions, casting aside differences, for a better and brighter INDIA.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Trinamool Congress supremo laid stress on the word INDIA, the name of the opposition bloc forged to take on the BJP in next year's Lok Sabha elections.

"The chapters of our history are written in courage and resilience. As we hoist the tricolour, let's remember the sacrifices of our freedom fighters and pledge to uphold the values they fought for," she said.

"Let their sacrifices inspire us to forge ahead with purpose and dedication. Let us rise beyond divisions, casting aside our differences, and stand united in our journey towards a brighter, better INDIA," she added.

She also quoted two lines from Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore's poem "Where the mind is without fear..."

"Happy 77th Independence Day to all my mothers, brothers and sisters," she added.

Later in the day, she hoisted the national flag and attended a colourful event at Red Road in the heart of Kolkata, with tableaux showcasing the achievements of various state departments.

Banerjee, who was accompanied by her cabinet colleagues and top officials, inspected the march past and viewed the choreographed dance performances of students of several schools with the accompaniment of patriotic songs during the programme.

The tableaux included social welfare projects such as Kanyashree, students' credit card scheme and Krishakbandhu, among others.

In a TMC programme on the eve of Independence Day on Monday, Banerjee had asserted that Narendra Modi's speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort in Delhi will be his last as the prime minister as the INDIA (Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance) will emerge victorious in next year's Lok Sabha polls. -- PTI

14:32 Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare meet Nawab Malik

Nationalist Congress Party leaders Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare, who support the faction led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, on Tuesday met party MLA Nawab Malik who was recently granted interim bail by the Supreme Court on medical grounds in a money laundering case.

Patel later told reporters that they did not discuss any political issue.

Asked about a possible meeting between former state minister Malik and Ajit Pawar, Patel said, "Ajit Pawar will definitely meet Nawab Malik."

On Monday, Malik was discharged from a private hospital here, after the Supreme Court last week granted him interim bail for two months on medical grounds in a money laundering case.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Malik in February 2022 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in a case allegedly linked to fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his associates.

The 64-year-old politician has been undergoing treatment at the private hospital since May 2022 for a kidney-related ailment.

On Tuesday, Patel and Tatkare went to Malik's residence here to meet him and were seen offering sweets to the NCP legislator.

Speaking to reporters, Rajya Sabha member Patel said, It was a courtesy meeting with Nawab Malik. We enquired about his health and offered him our support. He has spent nearly 16 months in jail.

"It is our duty to go and meet him as we have been together for the last 25-30 years. We did not discuss any political issue. Going by his health condition, I would urge everybody to give Malik some time to recover. He has some kidney-related issues," he said.

To a query on NCP leaders facing ED or I-T probes supporting the Ajit Pawar faction, Patel said, The political stand we have taken is open and clear to all. There will be no comment from our side over it."

Malik's daughter and brother met Ajit Pawar a few days back. -- PTI

Russian President Vladimir Putin, his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken underlined their "special", "privileged" and "strategic" partnership with New Delhi as they wished India on its 77th Independence Day on Tuesday.

In a message of greetings to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of Independence Day, President Putin said he is confident that the two nations will continue to boost fruitful bilateral cooperation in all areas through joint efforts, as well as constructive partnership in resolving pressing issues on the regional and global agenda.

We attach great importance to our relations of special and privileged strategic partnership with New Delhi," he said.

Putin emphasised that the achievements that India has made in the economic, scientific, technological and social fields are universally recognised.

"India enjoys well-deserved authority on the international stage, playing an important and constructive role in international affairs, he stressed, and wished happiness and prosperity to all Indians.

Congratulating the Indian people on their Independence Day, French President Emmanuel Macron in a post on X, formerly Twitter, said a month ago in Paris, "my friend @narendramodi and I set new Indo-French ambitions all the way to 2047, the centenary year of India's Independence".

"India can count on France as a trusted friend and partner, always," he tweeted in both English and Hindi, accompanied by a video of Prime Minister Modi's visit to France last month.

Extending best wishes to the people of India on behalf of the American people on Independence Day, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said as the world's oldest and largest democracies, America and India have created a strong bond that grows ever closer as the two countries work together for a world that is open, prosperous, secure, stable and resilient.

Rashtriya Janata Dal president Lalu Prasad on Tuesday asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi got to unfurl the tricolour at the Red Fort in Delhi for the last time.

Prasad was talking to reporters after celebrating Independence Day at the residence of his wife Rabri Devi in Patna, which was marked by the two former Bihar chief ministers unfurling the national flag.

"I extend my greetings to the people of the country on the occasion and pay my tributes to great men like Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Chandra Bose, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar whose contributions the nation can never forget," Prasad told reporters.

The ailing septuagenarian, who has been steadfast in his opposition to the BJP in his political career spanning over several decades, was asked by some journalists in a lighter vein whether PM Modi would be able to unfurl the tricolour next year, when the Independence Day would fall well after the Lok Sabha polls.

"Nahin, na (no, not at all)" was the curt reply of the RJD chief, who is out on bail after having been convicted in fodder scam cases and blames the BJP for his legal wrangles.

Pressed further, the once chatty politician, who now seems weathered by old age and ill health, said, "This is his last time".

Some of the journalists asked what, according to him, will be the scenario next year, hoping to get some juicy bite which could indicate whom he favoured as a prime ministerial candidate.

The astute politician, who is disqualified from contesting polls but has been a key player in the formation of the opposition bloc INDIA, remarked, "agli baar hum log aayenge (Next time, it will be our turn)." -- PTI

Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga on Tuesday announced his retirement from Test cricket as he seeks to prolong his career in limited-over format of the game.

The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said it has accepted the decision of the 26-year-old Hasaranga.

"We will accept his decision and are confident that Hasaranga will be a vital part of our white-ball programme going forward," said SLC CEO Ashley De Silva.

Hasaranga made his Test debut against South Africa at Centurion in 2020, and played three more Tests thereafter.

From four Tests, he took four wickets with his leg-spin. His last Test was against Bangladesh in Pallekele in 2021.

However, Hasaranga continues to be a prominent figure for Sri Lanka in white ball formats as the spin spearhead and a handy lower-order batsman.

From 48 ODIs, Hasaranga grabbed 67 wickets and made 832 runs with four fifties.

Hasaranga has 91 wickets from 58 T20Is and amassed 533 runs with a fifty.

The Lankan is also a much sought-after player in various T20 leagues across the world.

Apart from plying his trade with the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, Hasaranga has also played for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots (CPL), Quetta Gladiators (PSL), Kandy Falcons and Jaffna Kings (LPL), Desert Vipers (IL T20) and Washington Freedom (MLC). -- PTI

12:56 Akshay Kumar gets Indian citizenship on I-Day

Actor Akshay Kumar on Tuesday announced that he has once again become an Indian citizen, a news that he shared with his fans on Independence Day.

Kumar, who has often faced criticism over his Canadian citizenship, shared a photo of his Indian citizenship certificate on X, formerly Twitter.

"Dil aur citizenship, dono Hindustani (Heart and citizenship, both Indian). Happy Independence Day! Jai Hind!" the 55-year-old actor said.

Kumar had previously said that he went through a lean phase in his career in the 1990s when he delivered over 15 consecutive flops and it pushed him to apply for the Canadian citizenship.

His citizenship status had come under intense scrutiny after he did not vote during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The matter also became a topic of debate after he conducted a non-political interview of Prime Minister Narendra Modi before the elections.

During an event in 2019, the actor had revealed that he had applied for an Indian passport.

12:40 No govt jobs for rape accused in Chh'garh

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday said the accused in cases of rape, molestation and other crimes against women and girls will be barred from government jobs in the state.

Ahead of the state assembly elections due this year-end, Baghel made several announcements in his address during an Independence Day function at the Police Parade ground in Raipur.

He announced the inclusion of information on artificial intelligence and machine learning in school curriculum and free bus pick up and drop facilities to government college students in the state.

"It is our top priority to ensure the safety of women, their respect and protect their dignity. We have decided that those accused of molesting girls and women, raping them and other (offences against women) will be banned from government jobs," Baghel said.

Keeping in view the role of modern technology in building Nava (new) Chhattisgarh, the government will include information about state-of-the-art technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, Internet of Things in the school curriculum from the next academic session, so that children can prepare themselves for future technology, he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke for nearly 90 minutes in his 10th Independence Day address on Tuesday where he highlighted his government's achievements as well as various challenges and opportunities before the nation.

He had delivered his longest speech of 96 minutes from the ramparts of Red Fort in 2016 and spoke for 92 minutes in 2019. He gave his shortest Independence Day address in 2017 which lasted 56 minutes.

Addressing the nation on the 77th Independence Day, the prime minister urged fellow citizens not to lose the opportunity to realise the country's potential as the decisions and sacrifices made in this period will impact the country for the next 1000 years.

He started his speech at 7:34 am and concluded it at 9:03 am.

While it was his last Independence Day speech ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Prime Minister Modi exuded confidence that he will address the nation from the Red Fort next year to list out the progress on the promises he had made to the people.

Modi said that he sees India as a developed nation by 2047. -- PTI

In an incident of security lapse, a man, sharing the name with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, tried to enter a high-security area with a poster in his hand during the state-level Independence Day function at the historic Gandhi Maidan in Patna.

The man, identified as 26-year-old Nitish Kumar, was demanding a government job on compassionate grounds as his father, a Bihar Military Police (BMP) personnel, had died on duty a few years ago.

Holding a poster detailing his demand, Kumar tried to enter a high-security area where his namesake CM was addressing a gathering after hoisting the national flag but was quickly overpowered by security personnel present there and removed from the venue.

The Patna district administration had ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident.

"The man has been identified as Nitish Kumar (26), son of late Rajeshwar Paswan, a resident of Munger district. He is being questioned by the security officials. Preliminary investigation revealed his father was a BMP personnel who died on duty a few years ago," Patna District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh told PTI.

"He claims he is eligible to get a government job on compassionate grounds as his father had died on duty. He wanted to meet the CM for this reason. We have ordered an inquiry and further investigation is underway," he added.

For the first time in more than two decades, a Hindi film will be screened in ethnic strife-hit Manipur on Independence Day.

Tribal organisation Hmar Students' Association (HSA) has planned to screen a Hindi film at Rengkai (Lamka) in Churachandpur district on Tuesday evening. However, it did not disclose the name of the movie.

On Monday, the HSA in a statement said, "This is to show our defiance and opposition to terror groups which have subjugated the tribals for decades."

"Join us in taking a pledge to continue our fight for freedom and justice," it added.

The HSA said the last Hindi film that was publicly screened in Manipur was Kuch Kuch Hota Hai in 1998.

"We will be declaring our freedom from the anti-national terror groups who have announced a boycott of Independence Day," the statement added.

The ban on screening of Hindi films was imposed in September 2000 by rebel outfit Revolutionary Peoples' Front.

Officials said that within a week of imposing the ban on September 12, rebels had burnt 6,000 to 8,000 video and audio cassettes and compact discs in Hindi collected from outlets in the state.

Though the RPF gave no reason for the ban in the northeastern state, cable operators said the militant group feared negative impact of Bollywood on the state's language and culture. -- PTI

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge was not present at the Independence Day event at Red Fort where Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the country on the occasion of the 77th Independence Day.

The chair marked for Kharge with his name written on it remained vacant.

The Congress president, however, issued a video address in which, without naming Modi, said some people think India has been developing only in the past few years.

On Independence Day, he saluted the sacrifices of innumerable Indians who gave up their lives during the freedom struggle, and said they not only made contribution to the national movement but also laid a strong foundation of India.

He also lauded the contribution of former prime ministers, including Atal Bihari Vajpayee who, he said, always worked for the country and took many steps for progress and development.

"It pains me to say that today, democracy, Constitution and autonomous institutions - all three are in great danger," he lamented.

Noting that democracy and the Constitution are the soul of the country, he said on the occasion of this Independence Day, "we take a pledge that we will uphold the freedom of democracy and Constitution for the unity and integrity of the country, for love and brotherhood, for harmony and fraternity".

"With this determination, once again I extend my warmest wishes to all of you on Independence Day. 'Bharat Judega, INDIA Jeetega'," he said, referring to the tagline of the opposition alliance.

"New tactics are being adopted to suppress the voice of the opposition. Raids by CBI, ED, Income Tax are happening, Election Commission is being weakened. Efforts are being made to suppress the voice of opposition MPs in Parliament by suspending them. Someone's mic is going off or someone's words are getting expunged. Privilege motions are being brought," the Congress chief said.

In the coming times, people may not believe that there was a time when people from the ruling party used to block proceedings of Parliament, he noted, targeting the current dispensation.

"Great people don't erase old history to write new history. They draw their line big, they don't make the already drawn line smaller by cutting or erasing it," Kharge said.

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10:16 Maha: Music band member booked for disrespecting tiranga

Police have registered a case against a music band member and an event organiser in Maharashtra's Pune city for allegedly disrespecting the national flag, an official said.

The incident took place at a musical event organised in a restaurant-bar in Mundhwa area on the eve of the Independence Day on Monday, he said.

"The main artiste flung the tricolour into the crowd during the performance. He and the event organiser have been booked under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act and the Maharashtra Police Act," the official from Mundhwa police station said. -- PTI

Two jawans of the Jharkhand Jaguar Force of the state police were killed in a gunfight with Maoists in West Singhbhum district, a senior police officer said.

The incident took place in Tonto area late on Monday night.

"The two jawans, identified as Amit Tiwari and Gautam Kumar, were killed in a Maoist ambush," West Singhbhum Superintendent of Police Ashutosh Shekhar told PTI.

Further details are awaited, he said.

The incident took place a few days after a Central Reserve Police Force jawan was killed and another was injured in an encounter with Maoists in the same area.

A combing operation was underway in the area.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday extended his wish on the 77th Independence Day to the people of the country and called Bharat Mata as the voice of every Indian.

Taking to social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, the Congress leader said, "Bharat Mata is the voice of every Indian! Happy Independence Day to all the countrymen."

The Congress leader also shared his experience of 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' and said that he started the hundred and forty-five days walk at the edge of the sea and reached the soft snow of Kashmir.

"Last year I spent a hundred and forty-five days walking across the land I call home. I started at the edge of the sea and walked through heat, dust and rain. Through forests, towns and hills, until I reached the soft snow of my beloved Kashmir," he said.

He also mentioned the pain he faced while continuing his yatra and the motivation that helped him in continuing the yatra.

"Within a few days, the pain arrived. My old knee injury, one that hours of physiotherapy had banished, was back. A few days into the walk, my physio joined us, he came and gave me sage advice. The pain remained. And then I started to notice something. Every time I would think about stopping, every time I considered giving up, someone would come and gift me the energy to continue," he said.

"The Yatra progressed. But soon the numbers of people became so large, the pain so persistent that I started to observe and listen," he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi concludes his Independence Day address by taking a resolution to make India developed by 2047.

During his address from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Modi said, "We have to live with mantra of 'Shreshtha Bharat' to make India developed by 2047, when India marks 100 years of its independence."

"In next 25 years we have to move forward with message of unity, there would be efforts to strengthen country's unity," he said.

Modi further said, "India has emerged as 'vishva mitra' (friend of world); country laying strong foundation of 'vishva mangal' (global welfare)."

"We have to address regional aspirations; India will not be developed if even one part is lagging behind," he added.

When poverty decreases, the strength of the middle class increases. In the coming five years, this is Modi guarantee -- the country will be among the top the economies in the world. The 13.5 crore people who have come out of poverty, they become the strength of the middle class," Modi said at Red Fort.

Addressing the nation on Independence Day, Modi said that the government will launch 'vishvakarma yojana' with outlay of Rs 13,000-15,000 crore to help our workers.

He also said the government is working to increase the number of 'Jan Aushadhi Kendras' (subsidised medicine shops) from 10,000 to 25,000.

"If someone is diagnosed with diabetes, then a monthly bill of Rs 3,000 gets accrued. Through Jan Aushadhi Kendras, the medicines that cost Rs 100, we are giving it at Rs 10 to Rs 15," he said.

Now the government has plans to increase the number of 'Jan Aushadhi Kendras' from 10,000 to 25,000, he said.

'Jan Aushadhi Kendras' have been set up for making affordable generic medicines available for all.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation as his "family members" while speaking from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 77th Independence Day.

Addressing the nation on Independence Day for the 10th consecutive time as prime minister, Modi said global experts are saying that India will not stop now.

"All rating agencies lauding country," he said.

"Ball in our court and we should not let go of opportunity. There are no ifs and buts on anyone's mind about India's capabilities," he said.

Celebrating the rich and diverse textile legacy of India, search giant Google has come up with a special doodle depicting a digital tapestry of interwoven fabrics to mark the country's 77th Independence Day.

Illustrated by New Delhi-based artist Namrata Kumar, the artwork has drawn inspiration from a range of textiles that India offers, weaving the varied "swatches" into a vibrant story of India.

In a post on the Google doodle portal, the internet behemoth shared the vision and inspiration of the artist in coming up with the commemorative artwork.

The doodle depicts 'swatches' of weaves drawn from Kutch embroidery of Gujarat to fine 'ikat' work of Odisha and 'Pashmina kani' woven textile of Jammu and Kashmir to 'Kasavu' weave of Kerala, covering regions across the country, placed next to each other in a textile grid of sorts, with 'GOOGLE' depicted in the centre with embroidered letters.

Artist Kumar on Google's portal said she "researched and identified the diverse textile craft forms present in India".

"I sought to cover a broad spectrum of techniques, encompassing embroidery, different weaving styles, printing techniques, resist-dyeing techniques, hand-painted textiles, and more. Additionally, I wanted to ensure that I represented different geographical regions of the country in a balanced manner," she said.

Today's doodle celebrates India's Independence Day. On this day in 1947, a new era dawned as India became independent from the British rule, Google said. -- PTI

PM Modi speaks of 'demon of corruption', scams of lakhs of crores of rupees before his government took charge.

'Nation First' is the bedrock of our policies and people formed such government in 2014 and 2019 that gave me strength to pull off reforms, Modi said from the Red Fort on the 77th Independence Day.

"In 2014, people decided that to take country forward, stable and strong government is needed. India was freed from era of instability," he said.

Giving account of 10 years of his government. Modi said," We built strong economy, stopped leakages. In five years, over 13.5 crore poor people came out of poverty to become part of neo-middle, middle classes."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi sported a multicolour Rajasthani bandhani print turban with an off-white kurta and churidar for the 77th Independence Day celebrations at the historic Red Fort.

For his 10th Independence Day speech as prime minister, Modi also wore a black V-neck jacket with the turban which was a mix of yellow, green and red colour with a long tail.

It was in keeping with the tradition of PM Modi wearing colourful turbans on every Independence Day since 2014.

PM Narendra Modi expresses sympathy on natural calamities in India.

"This time, natural calamity has created unimaginable crises in several parts of the country. I express my sympathies to all families who faced this," Modi said.

Referring to 3D's PM Modi said, "Today, we have demography, democracy and diversity - these three together have the ability to realise the dreams of the nation."

"Our decisions, sacrifices in this period will impact next 1000 years, India marching ahead with new confidence, resolve," he said from the Red Fort.

The PM further said, "India's biggest capability is trust - people's trust in government, in country's bright future and world's trust in India."

In a message to youth on 77th Independence Day, PM Modi said, "There is no dearth of opportunities in the country. The country has the ability to provide endless opportunities."

Modi also lauded the contribution of youth and said those from tier 2, tier 3 cities also making lot of impact in various fields, including start-ups

"India's rise and development resulting in renewed global confidence in country," Modi said from the ramparts of the Red Fort

07:53 India stands with Manipur: Modi from Red Fort

Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeals for peace in Manipur from the ramparts of the Red Fort on 77th Independence Day.

"The country stands with the people of Manipur. Resolution can be found through peace only. The Centre and the State government is making all efforts to find resolution."

Delivers his 10th consecutive Independence Day address, Modi speaks of cycle of violence, incidents of atrocities against women in Manipur.

IAF helicopter showers flower petals after flag hoisting by PM Modi at Red Fort on the 77th Independence Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoists the National Flag at the Red Fort in Delhi on 77th Independence Day.

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01:11 Amrit Udyan to reopen for public from August 16: Rashtrapati Bhavan

Amrit Udyan will reopen for the general public for a month from August 16, the Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a statement on Monday.

This is the first time that the iconic gardens at Rashtrapati Bhavan will open for the second time in a year.

"Bookings can be made online on the Rashtrapati Bhavan website (https://visit.rashtrapatibhavan.gov.in/). Walk-in visitors can get passes from self-service kiosks placed near gate no. 35. Entry to the Amrit Udyan is free of cost," it said.

President Droupadi Murmu visited Amrit Udyan on Monday.

"The Amrit Udyan will open for public from August 16, 2023 to September 17, 2023 (except on Mondays) under the Udyan Utsav-II. On September 5, it will be exclusively open for teachers to mark Teachers' Day," it said.

The Udyan Utsav-II aims to showcase the blossom of summer annuals to visitors, the statement said.

Visitors can visit the gardens from 10 am to 5 pm (last entry at 4 pm). Entry will be from gate no. 35 of Rashtrapati Bhavan, near North Avenue, it said.

Amrit Udyan was opened from January 29 to March 31 under Udyan Utsav-I, which saw more than 10 lakh visitors. -- PTI

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday visited the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalwa in Thane where 18 patients had died in a 24-hour period on Saturday and Sunday.

He said the deaths were painful and asked all parties to desist from indulging in politics on the issue.

Shinde, who was accompanied by Thane civic chief Abhijit Bangar and district collector Ashok Shingare, met patients and kin and admitted the load at the hospital was increasing manifold as people from far away were arriving there for treatment.

He told reporters patients and kin were satisfied with the treatment at the hospital, which was at times was administering injections worth Rs 1 lakh, and that is why it was so popular.

"The bed capacity of the civil hospital was 366 and it will be increased by 100 soon. The bed capacity of the Kalwa hospital would also be increased. A committee set up to probe the deaths will submit its report by August 25. In case there is negligence as alleged by kin, then they may be given assistance," the CM said.

"Despite 18 deaths, on Monday 91 patients were admitted and 22 operations were carried out. The OPD footfall was 2,500. It shows people's faith in this hospital. Doctors and nurses working so hard here must not be demoralised through allegations," he said.

Free ambulance services will be provided between Kalwa hospital and the civil hospital, he added.

He alleged that some opposition parties were spreading rumours and creating confusion among people regarding the hospital, adding that a sum of Rs 71 crore has been sanctioned to improve infrastructure at the facility. -- PTI

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00:31 Mother of two elopes to Kuwait, converts to Islam

A 35-year-old mother-of-two from Rajasthan's Dungarpur district 'eloped' to Kuwait with another man, the police said on Monday.

Deepika Patidar fled with her friend Irfan Haidar. Her family came to know about it after photos of the woman wearing a burqa were shared on social media, the police said.

As news of her eloping became public, Patidar Samaj and other Hindu organisations demanded action and handed over a memorandum to the collector and the superintendent of police.

The woman's husband Mukesh Patidar, who works in Mumbai, lodged a missing person's complaint at Chitri police station on July 15.

Mukesh Patidar, who shared a son and a daughter with Deepika Patidar, told reporters on Monday that Haidar brainwashed his wife and converted her to Islam.

Haidar is a resident of Himmat Nagar in Gujarat, the police said.

The woman often visited Khed Brahma in Gujarat's Sabar Kantha to meet Haidar.

It was later found that he took her to Kuwait, Chitri SHO Govind Singh said.

The matter is being investigated to ascertain how she met Haidar and secured a visa. -- PTI

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