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Sun, 28 May 2023
Religious leaders, priests invited, but...: TMC

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21:15   Religious leaders, priests invited, but...: TMC
TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee Sunday said that religious leaders and priests were invited to the grand inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but President of India Droupadi Murmu who is the constitutional head of the country, was not.
 
The TMC national general secretary questioned what was the role of religious leaders in the Parliament.
 
"You can surely invite them when you visit a temple, but what role do the religious leaders have in the Parliament, they are not members," the Trinamool Congress MP from Diamond Harbour constituency in West Bengal said.
 
Addressing an impromptu press conference at Keshpur in West Midnapore district following a roadshow in Garbeta as part of his 'Nabajowar' in TMC programme before the panchayat polls in West Bengal, Banerjee claimed that the BJP was trying to win the next elections on the basis of religion.
 
"He (Prime Minister Modi) gave a slight teaser today on how he wants to run the country in future, that he wants to turn it into an autocracy from a democracy, it is a shameful and sad state of affairs," Banerjee said.
 
The TMC MP claimed that when the prime minister was talking of women's empowerment, agitating women wrestlers were forcibly moved away from a protest they were holding about two kilometres away from the new Parliament building.
 
He claimed that the President of India was insulted by not being invited to the event.
 
Banerjee alleged that the Modi government was spending thousands of crores of Rupees on constructions like Central Vista and new Parliament building, which he claimed were avoidable expenses, while "not releasing funds" for over 11 lakh people in Bengal for their basic housing programmes under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
 
"No discussions are held in the Parliament and bills are passed without discussion," he said. -- PTI
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20:42   Never thought I'd sit in new Parliament: Ex-PM
Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, who on Sunday attended the inauguration of the new Parliament building in New Delhi said it is his good fortune that he witnessed a great moment in India's democratic history.

The 91-year-old expressed his joy, saying he never thought that he would sit in a new Parliament building in his lifetime.

"It is my good fortune that I witnessed a great moment in India's democratic history. I entered the Karnataka legislative Assembly in 1962 and have been a Member of Parliament since 1991. When I entered this great house of the people 32 years ago, I had never thought I will be Prime Minister, and I did not expect to last this long in public life," Gowda said.

"But the even bigger surprise is that I never thought I will be seated in a new Parliament building in my lifetime -- I did so at the age of 91," he said in a statement.

In the Indian tradition, and in the lifetime of an ordinary Indian, the construction of a new home and entering a new home is a very auspicious and rare moment, he said, adding that "In the life of a nation, it is an extraordinary moment."

Noting that when the old Parliament House was inaugurated, India was still under colonial rule and freedom was not on the horizon, the Janaat Dal-Secular patriarch, remembering the several prominent national personalities, said, "Our nation and Parliament is not stained by a bloody revolution".

"We became a nation through peaceful and non-violent means. This was a priceless achievement. That is our inheritance and that is the value system we have to preserve and pass on to our future generations," he said.

According to Gowda, since Independence our Parliament has seen highs and lows, and it has seen arrogance and humility, victories and defeats, but overall it has tried to keep a balance and fulfill the aspirations of the people of India. -- PTI
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19:56   Wrestlers' protest: Sengol has 'bent' very 1st day, says Stalin
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday reacted sharply to the police's detention of protesting wrestlers in Delhi and targeted the Centre over the issue, saying the 'Sengol' installed in the new Parliament building has "bent" the very first day.

Stalin's jibe at the PM Narendra Modi-led dispensation seemed to be targeted at the hype around the Sengol, as the sceptre is said to be symbolic of governance, upholding justice. It was installed in the new Parliament building on Sunday, after PM Modi inaugurated the structure in the national capital. 

Stalin was reacting to the Delhi Police detaining ace wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia for violation of law and order in the capital city after they breached the security cordon while trying to move towards the new Parliament building for a planned women's 'Mahapanchayat'. 

The champion wrestlers had resumed their agitation against former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on April 23, demanding his arrest for the alleged sexual harassment of several women grapplers, including a minor. 

Posting on Twitter, Stalin said months have passed since the women wrestlers raised the allegation against the BJP but the saffron party leadership has not acted against Singh. 

"Police detaining them after dragging them is condemnable. This shows the Sengol has bent the very first day. Is it fair that such atrocity should also happen on a day of (new Parliament building) inauguration that sidestepped the President and amid opposition boycott," Stalin, also chief of the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu, added. -- PTI 
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19:36   India sees 31% surge in malware attacks in 2022
India experienced a 31 per cent surge in malware attacks in 2022, which should prompt companies to intensify their efforts in safeguarding themselves against cyberattacks, said a SonicWall report.
 
The report also highlighted a 10 per cent increase in "intrusion attempts" and a staggering 53 per cent rise in "ransomware attacks" compared to the previous year.

Furthermore, the '2023 SonicWall Cyber Threat Report' revealed a noteworthy surge of 116 per cent in "crypto-jacking attacks" and an 84 per cent increase in "IoT attacks".

SonicWall is a cybersecurity solutions provider based in the United States.
According to Debasish Mukherjee, Vice President -- APJ at SonicWall, although malware attacks have decreased in other regions, they remain alarmingly high in India.

He said that in countries like India, threat actors are expanding their scope of attack, employing different methods and targeting various areas. These threat actors persistently search for opportunities and repeatedly strike upon achieving success.

"The increase in cyberattacks in India can be attributed to both the evolving strategies of threat actors and their exploration of new avenues for success, including IoT and crypto-jacking."

He stressed that it was essential for organisations to grasp the tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) employed by attackers.

By adopting threat-informed cybersecurity strategies, businesses can effectively defend against and recover from disruptive incidents, he said.
Mukherjee also highlighted SonicWall's enterprise work, stating that the proportion of business varies between countries. -- PTI
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19:33   PM to flag off NE's first Vande Bharat Express on Monday
The first Vande Bharat Express connecting North East region will be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. 

The train will be flagged off virtually by Modi at 12 noon when it commences its journey from Guwahati railway station, an official release said here on Sunday. 

Connecting Guwahati with New Jalpaiguri, the train will help save about an hour of journey time, when compared with the current fastest train connecting the two places. 

Vande Bharat Express will cover the journey in 5 hours 30 minutes, while the current fastest train takes 6 hours 30 minutes to cover the same journey. 

The state-of-the-art Vande Bharat Express will provide people of the region the means to travel with speed and comfort and also boost tourism in the region, the release said. 

The prime minister will also dedicate a 182 km route of newly electrified section. 

This will help provide pollution-free transportation with trains running at higher speeds and reduced running time of trains. 

It will also open the doors for trains running on electric traction to enter Meghalaya, the release said. 

Modi will also inaugurate a newly constructed DEMU/MEMU shed at Lumding in Assam. 

This new facility will be helpful for maintaining DEMU rakes operating in this region, leading to better operational feasibility, the release added. -- PTI 
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19:10   2 killed, 12 injured in firing, clashes in Manipur: police
UPDATE: Two persons were killed and 12 injured in different instances of firing upon civilians and clashes between militants and security forces, police officials said on Sunday. 
 
At Phayeng in Imphal West district, one person died and another sustained bullet injuries after being fired at by suspected Kuki militants, they said. 
The latest clashes began after the army commenced combing operations to de-arm communities in order to bring peace, officials said.

Talking to newspersons after the clashes broke out, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Sunday said nearly 40 armed militants involved in torching houses and firing at civilians have been killed by security forces since they began an operation to bring peace to the north eastern state beset by ethnic rioting.

The Chief Minister who was interacting with the media persons at the state secretariat, claimed the latest round of conflict is not between communities but between militants and security forces"

Singh also said that there had been cases of armed militants firing at civilians with AK-47s, M-16 and sniper rifles. These militants were targeted by security forces in counter-attacks.

The CM appealed to the public not to hinder the movement of security personnel and urged them to have "faith in the government and support the security forces."

"We have experienced hardship for so long and we will never allow the state to disintegrate," Singh said. -- PTI
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18:51   Ambati Rayudu announces retirement from IPL
Former India ODI specialist and Chennai Super Kings regular Ambati Rayudu on Sunday announced that the IPL final against Gujarat Titans here will be his last game in cash-rich league.
 
Rayudu, who had retired from international cricket after being overlooked for the 2019 World Cup in England, had a couple of years back announced his retirement from domestic cricket only to retract his decision later.
 
However, in a tweet on Sunday, the 38-year-old Hyderabadi said that there won't be any U-turn this time around after scoring 139 runs in 15 games.
 
"2 great teams mi nd csk, 204 matches, 14 seasons, 11 playoffs, 8 finals, 5 trophies. hopefully 6th tonight. It's been quite a journey. I have decided that tonight's final is going to be my last game in the Ipl. i truly hav enjoyed playing this great tournament. Thank u all. No u turn," Rayudu tweeted.
 
In 55 ODIs for India, Rayudu scored 1694 runs with three hundreds and 10 fifties at an average of 47-plus. 
 
It was in T20 cricket, however, where he made a big name having been a vital cog in the CSK set-up for close to a decade.
 
Before Sunday's final, he has played 203 IPL games, scoring 4329 runs at a strike-rate of 127 with 22 half-centuries and a single century. The 602 runs in the 2018 season for CSK was his best effort.
 
However, it is understood that once he retires from Indians domestic scene, Rayudu is free to ply his trade in various franchise leagues as well as veterans' T20 tournaments. -- PTI
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18:49   Modi holds meeting with CMs of BJP-ruled states
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday held a meeting with the chief ministers of the BJP-ruled states at the party headquarters in New Delhi.
 
The meeting is part of the BJP's good governance agenda in which chief ministers share their best practices in governance and implementation of various welfare schemes.

BJP national president J P Nadda was present at the meeting.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Haryana's Manohar Lal Khattar, Assam's Himanta Biswa Sarma, Madhya Pradesh's Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Uttarakhand's Pushkar Singh Dhami were among those who attended the meeting.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis as well as his Uttar Pradesh counterparts Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak were also present at the meeting. -- PTI 
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18:30   Fresh clashes break out in strife-torn Manipur
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Sunday said nearly 40 armed militants involved in torching houses and firing at civilians have been killed by security forces since they began an operation to bring peace to the north eastern state beset by ethnic rioting.
 
Singh's comments came in the backdrop of fresh clashes breaking out between armed groups and security forces at over half a dozen places across Manipur on Sunday.

The Chief Minister who was interacting with the media persons at the state secretariat, claimed the latest round of conflict is not between communities but between Kuki militants and security forces.

Singh also said that there had been cases of armed militants firing at civilians with AK-47s, M-16 and sniper rifles. These militants were targeted by security forces in counter-attacks.

The CM appealed to the public not to hinder the movement of security personnel and urged them to have "faith in the government and support the security forces."

We have experienced hardship for so long and we will never allow the state to disintegrate," Singh said.

He said many Kuki militants involved in killing civilians and destroying property and torching houses have been captured by the Jat regiment.
The latest clashes which erupted in the early hours of Sunday began after the army commenced combing operations to de-arm communities in order to bring peace, officials said.

The house of BJP MLA Khwairakpam Raghumani Singh at Uripok in Imphal West was vandalised and his two vehicles have been set on fire, a top security official told PTI.

He  said that clashes broke out in the early hours of the morning at several places in different districts surrounding the Imphal Valley both between militant groups and security forces as well as between rival ethnic militant groups.

"According to our information, firing has been reported from Sugnu in Kakching, Kangvi in Churachandpur, Kangchup in Imphal West, Sagolmang in Imphal East, Nungoipokpi in Bishenpur, Khurkhul in Imphal West and YKPI in Kangpokpi," the official said. 
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18:20   Former Maha CM Manohar Joshi's health stable, says son
The health of former Lok Sabha speaker and ex-Maharashtra chief minister Manohar Joshi continues to be stable, his son Unmesh Joshi said on Sunday.

Joshi (85) was admitted to the P D Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai on May 22 after suffering brain haemorrhage. 

"He is stable," Unmesh Joshi told PTI

In a statement on Friday night the hospital said Joshi was in the ICU, was stable and not on ventilator, and that his health was being closely monitored.  
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17:33   Happy I didn't go there: Pawar on new Parliament opening
Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday said that he was not happy to see the inauguration of the new Parliament building.
 
 "I saw the event in the morning. I am happy I didn't go there. I am worried after seeing whatever happened there. Are we taking the country backwards? Was this event for limited people only?," said Sharad Pawar on the inauguration of the new Parliament with havan, multi-faith prayers and 'Sengol'. 
 
 He said that whatever happened is the exact reverse of Former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's concept of society. 
 
 "What is happening there is exactly the reverse of what Pt Nehru who had a concept to make a society based on modern science. It's the government's responsibility to invite President and Vice president. Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla was present, but Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, the head of Rajya Sabha, wasn't there. Therefore the whole event looks like it was for a limited people," he said. 
 
 Pawar further added that people have a special connection with the old parliament and nothing was discussed about the new parliament with the opposition. 
 
 "We have a special connection with the old parliament and not just being the member of it. Nothing was discussed about this new building with us, Iit would have been better if everyone was involved in that," said Sharad Pawar. 
 
 Nationalist Congress Party leader Supriya Sule also termed the inauguration as an "incomplete event".
 
 "To open a new Parliament building without Opposition makes it an incomplete event. It means there is no democracy in the country," Sule said in Pune. -- ANI
Police detains wrestler Bajrang Punia
Police detains wrestler Bajrang Punia
17:13   Coronation over, arrogant king...: Rahul on wrestlers
The Congress on Sunday attacked the Centre over the detention of protesting wrestlers by the police as former party chief Rahul Gandhi said that with the "coronation" over, the "arrogant king is crushing the voice of the people" on the streets.
 
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also hit out at the government, saying that the "arrogance" of the BJP government has increased so much that it is "mercilessly trampling" upon the voices of our women sportspersons under its boots.
 
The strong attack by the opposition party leaders came after the Delhi Police detained ace wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia for violation of law and order after they breached the security cordon while trying to move towards the new Parliament building for a planned women's 'Mahapanchayat'.
 
The champion wrestlers had resumed their agitation against former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on April 23, demanding his arrest for alleged sexual harassment of several women grapplers, including a minor.
 
Rahul Gandhi, in an apparent reference to the inauguration of the new Parliament building, said in a tweet in Hindi, "The coronation is over -- the arrogant king is crushing the voice of the public on the streets!"
 
Along with his tweet, he tagged a video montage of the police detaining the champion wresters.
 
Attacking the government in a tweet in Hindi, Priyanka Gandhi said the medals on the chest of the players are the "pride of our country".
 
"With those medals, due to the hard work of the sportspersons, the honour of the country increases. The arrogance of the BJP government has increased so much that the it is mercilessly trampling the voices of our women players under its boots. This is totally wrong," the Congress general secretary said.
 
The whole country is watching the "arrogance" of the government and its injustice, she said.
 
Slamming the Modi government, Congress general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh said, "Today, when the Prime Minister was inaugurating the new Parliament house and giving a discourse on democracy, the daughters who brought laurels to the country by winning medals were being detained just a short distance away from Parliament."
 
"This is shameful and shows the real face of Modi government," Ramesh said in a tweet in Hindi. -- PTI
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16:42   Twitterati rave about 'Akhand Bharat' mural in new Parl
A mural in the new Parliament building depicting the influence of ancient Indian thought in its immediate neighbourhood went viral on social media on Sunday with many claiming it represents the resolve for an Akhand Bharat, described as a "cultural concept" by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
   
The mural in the new Parliament building, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, marks important kingdoms and cities of the past, and shows the influence of ancient India in the then Taxila, in present-day Pakistan. 
 
"The resolve is clear -- Akhand Bharat," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Twitter.
 
The BJP's Karnataka unit shared photographs of the artworks inside the new Parliament House, including the murals of ancient India, Chanakya, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and B R Ambedkar and the cultural diversity of the country. 

"It is a symbol of the vitality of our proud great civilisation," the Karnataka BJP said on its Twitter handle.
 
"Akhand Bharat in New Parliament. It represents our powerful & self-reliant India," Manoj Kotak, Lok Sabha member from Mumbai North-East, said on Twitter.

A number of Twitter users welcomed the depiction of 'Akhand Bharat' in the new Parliament building and wondered whether it was the reason for the Opposition boycott of the function.
"Our idea was to depict the influence of Indian thought during the ancient ages. It extended from the present day Afghanistan in the northwestern region to south-eastern Asia," Adwaita Gadanayak, Director General, National Gallery of Modern Art said.
 
Gadanayak was involved in the selection of artworks displayed in the new Parliament building. 
 
According to the RSS, the Akhand Bharat concept refers to the undivided India whose geographical expanse was very wide in ancient times -- present-day Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand.
 
However, the RSS now maintains that the Akhand Bharat concept, in the present times, should be seen in the cultural context and not political given the partition of India on religious lines at the time of Independence. -- PTI 
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15:55   BJP won't call...: NCP on SRK's tweet on new Parliament
The Nationalist Congress Party on Sunday said Bharatiya Janata Party leaders in Maharashtra will not call for a ban on superstar Shah Rukh Khan's films now that the actor has expressed happiness over the inauguration of the new Parliament building. 
          
Earlier in the day, the actor posted a tweet with a video of his voice over expressing happiness over the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"What a magnificent new home for the people who uphold our Constitution, represent every citizen of this great Nation and protect the diversity of her one People @narendramodi ji. A new Parliament building for a New India but with the age-old dream of Glory for India. Jai Hind! #MyParliamentMyPride," Khan tweeted.
        
The parliament is to the nation what soul is to the body, the 57-year-old actor said in the clip.
        
Around 20 Opposition parties, including the NCP, decided to boycott the event over the prime minister and not the president inaugurating the building.
        
Reacting to Khan's comment on the inauguration, the NCP's national spokesperson Clyde Crasto tweeted, 'Now that Shah Rukh Khan has spoken in favour of the New Parliament building, we will soon see @BJP4Maharashtra leaders genuflecting in front of him and not calling for a ban on his films."
        
It may be recalled that Khan's last release "Pathan" saw widespread protests by the right-wing outfits, who called for a ban on the film. -- PTI 
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15:37   Rahul gets new passport, to travel to US tomorrow
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi received a new ordinary passport on Sunday, two days after a local court granted its no objection to the issuance of the same, sources said.

They said the passport office had assured Gandhi in the morning that the passport would be issued to him on Sunday and he got it in the afternoon.

The former Congress president is set to travel to San Francisco in the United States on Monday evening where he will start his three-city tour. He had applied for an ordinary passport after surrendering the old diplomatic passport issued to him when he was a member of parliament.

Rahul Gandhi was disqualified as an MP following his conviction and two-year sentence by a Gujarat court in a defamation case over his Modi surname remark.

Starting with San Francisco where he is scheduled to interact with students at the prestigious Stanford University, Gandhi will also address a press conference and have meetings with the lawmakers and think tanks in Washington DC.

The Congress leader is likely to address Indian Americans, meet lawmakers and interact with members of think tanks, Wall Street executives and university students during his week-long tour of the USA. 

He is slated to conclude his trip with a large public gathering in New York on June 4. The interaction would take place at the Javits Center in New York.

A Delhi court had on Friday granted a no-objection certificate to Rahul Gandhi for the issuance of an 'ordinary passport' for three years instead of 10, the period for which it is normally issued, following an objection raised by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy.

The court noted that the National Herald case was pending at the stage of cross-examination of the complainant in pre-charge evidence and Gandhi has been regularly appearing either in person or through his counsel and has not hampered or delayed the proceedings.

Rahul Gandhi is an accused in the case in which Swamy is the complainant. -- PTI
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15:35   I only love myself day: Derek O'Brien's dig at Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the new Parliament building was akin to "I only love myself day", Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien said on Sunday and accused the government of mocking and insulting the House in the past nine years.

Modi inaugurated the new Parliament building here and installed the historic Sengol in the Lok Sabha chamber.

The TMC was among the first parties to announce that it was staying away from Sunday's inauguration. 

Around 20 Opposition parties decided to boycott the event over the prime minister and not the president inaugurating the building.

"Now that PM Modi is done with his 'I Only Love Myself Day', let us remind him of how he and his government have mocked and insulted Parliament in the last nine years," O'Brien said in a tweet.

He alleged in his tweet that the prime minister has answered zero questions in Parliament and just one out of 10 bills was scrutinised by parliamentary committees, down from the earlier seven out of 10 bills.

He said the number of ordinances promulgated by the Modi government has more than doubled compared to earlier.

"Eight sessions of Parliament have been adjourned before the scheduled date. Members from the Opposition have been robbed of their right to vote on bills.

"It has been four years, but there is still no Deputy Speaker in Lok Sabha. Stop undermining our great Parliamentary democracy," he said. -- PTI 
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14:21   Kejriwal meets Satyendar Jain in hospital
Aam Aadmi Party convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met ailing party leader Satyendar Jain at a hospital here on Sunday and described him as a "brave man" and "hero".
 
Jain, who has been in Tihar Jail since his arrest by the ED in May last year in connection with a money laundering case, was on Friday last granted six-week interim bail by the Supreme Court, on medical grounds.

He was admitted to the hospital on Thursday last after he collapsed in prison due to dizziness, party sources had said.

Sharing pictures of his meeting with Jain on Twitter, Kejriwal said, "Met the brave man.......the hero".

The former health minister was first admitted to the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Hospital, and later, shifted to the the Lok Nayak Jayaprakash (LNJP) Hospital due to breathing problems.

The Supreme Court on Friday last allowed Jain to undergo treatment in a hospital of his choice. It also directed Jain to not talk to the media during his interim bail period that ends on July 11. -- PTI 
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13:43   New Parliament 'an important milestone in our democratic journey': Prez
President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday welcomed the inauguration of the new parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said it is a matter of pride and immense happiness for the entire country.
 
In her message at the inauguration, the president said the inauguration of the new Parliament building will be written in golden words in the country's history.

"Inauguration of the new parliament building is a matter of pride and joy for all the people of India," she said in her message.

Her message was read out by Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh.
Noting the parliament is a guiding light for the country, President Murmu said the new Parliament building "is an important milestone in our democratic journey".

"The occasion of the inauguration of the new parliament building will be written in golden words in the history of India," Murmu said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new parliament building on Sunday. -- PTI
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13:15   Some moments become immortal: Modi in new Parliament
Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins his address in the new Parliament.

Here are some of the highlights:

- The new Parliament isn't just a building, it is the symbol of the aspiration of the 140 crore people of India. It gives a message to the world about India's determination

- This new Parliament will become witness to the rise of a self-reliant India

- In the development journey of every country, some moments come which become immortal. 28th May is such a day: 

- The holy 'Sengol' was installed in Parliament today. In the Chola dynasty, the 'Sengol' symbolised justice, righteousness and good governance 

- When India moves forward, then the World moves forward. This new Parliament will also lead to the development of the world through the development of India 

- It is our good fortune that we have been able to restore the pride of the holy 'Sengol'. Whenever proceedings start in this House the 'Sengol' will inspire us 
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13:09   Modi releases Rs 75 coin to mark launch of new Parl
Prime Minister Narendra Modi releases a stamp and Rs 75 coin to mark the inauguration of new Parliament building.

As per a gazette notification by Department of Economic Affairs under the finance ministry, the weight of this coin could be 34.65- 35.35 gram.
 
One side of the coin will bear the image of Lion Capitol of Ashoka Pillar in the centre flanked by the word 'Bharat' in Devnagri script and 'INDIA' in English, it said. Rupee symbol '?' and denominational value '75' in international numeral will also be inscribed below the Lion Capitol.
 
The other side of the coin shall bear the image of Parliament Complex, and the year '2023' in international numeral below the image. 
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12:59   PM treating launch of new Parl as coronation: Rahul
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said Parliament is the voice of the people but the prime minister is treating the inauguration of the new Parliament building like "coronation".
   
The attack came soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Parliament building. 
"Parliament is the voice of the people! The Prime Minister is treating the inauguration of the Parliament House as coronation," Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.

AICC general secretary, Organisation, K C Venugopal also tweeted, saying, "At the foundation stone laying ceremony of the new Parliament building, then Hon'ble President Sh. Ramnath Kovind was kept away from the ceremony. At its inauguration, President Droupadi Murmu has been sidelined." 

"It is the upper caste, anti-backward mindset of the RSS because of which they are denied the respect that their high constitutional office deserves. Their deliberate exclusion shows PM Modi will use them as tokens for his electoral politics, but will not allow them to be part of such significant and historic occasions," Venugopal said. -- PTI 
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12:37   New Parliament to nurture dreams into reality: Modi
Following the inauguration of the new Parliament building, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the new edifice will fill the people of the country with pride and hope.
 
He said that the magnificent building will not only empower the people but also give new momentum and strength to the prosperity and strength of the nation.
 
Taking to Twitter Modi said, "As the new building of India's Parliament is inaugurated, our hearts and minds are filled with pride, hope and promise. May this iconic building be a cradle of empowerment, igniting dreams and nurturing them into reality. May it propel our great nation to new heights of progress.
 
Earlier today, Modi dedicated the new Parliament building to the nation by unveiling a plaque and installing the 'Sengol' in the Lok Sabha chamber.
 
Modi felicitated some of the workers involved in the construction of the new building. He handed over mementoes to them.
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12:33   Goan writer Damodar Mauzo gets Jnanpith Award
Goan writer Damodar Mauzo has received the prestigious Jnanpith Award, the country's highest literary honour, from state Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai.
          
Addressing a gathering after presenting the award on Saturday, the governor said Mauzo is the "epitome of the Konkani literary culture."
        
Renowned poet Gulzar was present during the function held at the Raj Bhavan near Goa capital Panaji.
        
Mauzo's 25 books have been published in Konkani and one in English. Many of his books have also been translated in different languages.

Pillai said Konkani is qualitatively rich in its literature though it is spoken by a few lakh people. 
       
The governor drew parallels between Charles Dickens and Damodar Mauzo who, he said, chose to portray orphaned children as main characters in their writings.  
        
Both these great writers have bravely "shown the mirror to the society", he said.
        
"I feel proud and happy to bestow this great award on the great Goan writer Damodarji," the governor said.
        
Mauzo's famous novel Karmelin received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1983.
        
The novel, published in 1981, has been translated in Hindi, Marathi, English, Punjabi, Sindhi, Tamil, Odia and Maithili languages.
        
Mauzo is the second Goan to receive the Jnanpith Award. Earlier, Ravindra Kelekar from the coastal state got the award in 2008.  
        
While Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who was in Delhi, joined the function online, state Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude and Bharatiya Jnanpith president Justice Virendra Jain were present at the Raj Bhavan during the event.
         
Gulzar and Gaude also spoke on the occasion. -- PTI 
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12:26   Wrestlers' march to new Parliament stopped
Top Indian wrestlers were stopped and detained as they tried to stage a protest outside the newly inaugurated Parliament building.

The athletes have been demanding the arrest of the Wrestling Federation of India president, Brij Bhushan Singh, over allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation.

Wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar, about 2 kilometres from the Parliament building, had said they will go ahead with their "Mahila Mahapanchayat" near the new building at any cost. 
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11:54   Mild tremors felt in parts of Punjab, Haryana
Mild tremors were felt in parts of Punjab and Haryana, including Chandigarh, on Sunday. 

The tremors, which lasted for a few seconds, occurred around 11.23 am, seismologists said.
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11:32   SP leader slams BJP for inviting only Brahmin gurus for sengol installation
Samajwadi Party leader Swami Prasad Maurya on Sunday targeted the Narendra Modi government by claiming that only "fundamentalist Brahmin gurus" were invited for the installation of the sengol, a ceremonial sceptre, in the new parliament building.
 
He said if the BJP dispensation had faith in India's secularism and sovereign character, then priests of all religions practised in the country would have been invited to the inauguration ceremony.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Parliament building here on Sunday morning and installed the historic Sengol in the Lok Sabha chamber.

Amid Vedic chants by priests from Karnataka's Shringeri Math, the prime minister performed "Ganapati Homam" to invoke Gods to bless the inauguration of the new Parliament building. Modi prostrated before the Sengol and sought blessings from high priests of various adheenams in Tamil Nadu with the holy sceptre in hand. 

"It is extremely unfortunate that only fundamentalist Brahmin gurus of the south were called for the installation of the sengol. If the BJP government had faith in India as a secular sovereign nation, then all religious leaders of the country, such as Buddhist dharmacharyas (monks), Jain acharyas (sages), Guru Granthis, Muslim religious leaders (maulanas), Christian religious leaders (pastor) etc. would have been invited," Maurya said in a tweet in Hindi. 

"By not doing so, the BJP has shown its vile mentality and despicable mentality. The BJP government is walking on the path of autocracy by establishing the sengol and also trying to establish Brahminism by calling the Brahmin religious leaders of the South," he said. 

Maurya was a cabinet minister in the Yogi Adityanath government but joined Samajwadi Party ahead of the 2022 assembly election. 

He contested from the Fazilnagar seat in Kushinagar district on Samajwadi Party ticket but lost. Maurya was later made MLC by the party. -- PTI 
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11:11   Parl opening greatest tribute to Savarkar: Shinde
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday said the inauguration of the new Parliament building in Delhi was the greatest tribute to Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar and all Maharashtrians.

Shinde also said the political parties which boycotted the event have shown 'deep disrespect' to India's democracy and Savarkar, whose 140th birth anniversary is being observed on Sunday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Parliament building in the national capital on Sunday morning and installed the historic Sengol in the Lok Sabha chamber.

Amid Vedic chants by priests from Karnataka's Shringeri Math, the prime minister performed 'Ganapati Homam' to invoke Gods to bless the inauguration of the new Parliament building.

A multi-faith prayer was also held to mark the occasion.

The new Parliament building, constructed by Tata Projects Ltd, will have a grand constitution hall to showcase India's democratic heritage, a lounge for MPs, a library, multiple committee rooms, dining areas and ample parking space.

The triangular-shaped four-storey building has a built-up area of 64,500 square metres.

Several Opposition parties boycotted the event while insisting that President Droupadi Murmu as head of the state should do the honours.

Shinde in a tweet said, 'Political parties not participating in the inauguration today have shown deep disrespect towards India's democracy and Savarkar ji. Today's democracy has crossed the Lakshman Rekha laid by political dynasties.'

'Those who don't take pride in our culture heritage, those who despise thinkers like Veer Savarkar have preferred to boycott a national celebration,' he added.

Shinde said a son of mother India was born on this day in 1883.

'140 years later, on the same day, a free and confident India witnesses dedication of a new Parliament building. This is the greatest tribute to Savarkar ji and honour to all Maharashtrians!' he tweeted.

Paying tributes to Savarkar on his birth anniversary, Shinde described him as a great patriot, the father of Hindutva and pride of Maharashtra.

'On this auspicious occasion, precious son of mother India, Hon Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji will be inaugurating the new Parliament building,' he said.

The new Parliament building 'stands as a symbol of our modern democracy and is deeply rooted in our civilisational ethos', the CM said.   -- PTI
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10:48   RJD's 'coffin' dig at new Parliament infuriates BJP
The Rashtriya Janata Dal on Sunday likened the architecture of the new Parliament building to a coffin, drawing a sharp response from the Bharatiya Janata Party which said people will bury the Bihar party in such a coffin in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

As the new building was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the ruling party in Bihar put out a tweet that showed a coffin and the new legislature building side by side and asked, 'What is this?'

Hitting back, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said, 'People of the country will bury you in the same coffin in 2024 and will not give you the opportunity to enter the new temple of democracy. It is decided that the parliament building belongs to the country and the coffin to you.'

Bhatia said the inauguration marked a historic moment and parties such as the RJD will keep crying hoarse.   -- PTI
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10:18   Stalin travels in Bullet train in Japan; bats for 'equivalent' service in India
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, who is on an official trip of Japan, on Sunday undertook a 500-km bullet train journey to its capital city Tokyo and said such a service could benefit the Indian citizens as well.

In a tweet, he said: 'Traveling from Osaka to Tokyo on #BulletTrain; will cover a distance of about 500 km in less than two and a half hours,' and shared some pictures of his journey.

'A railway service equivalent to #BulletTrain not only in design but also in speed and quality should come for use in our India as well. The poor and middle class people should benefit and their journey should become easier! #FutureIndia,' he added.

The CM had earlier embarked on a two-nation official trip of Singapore and Japan to attract more investments to Tamil Nadu.  -- PTI
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09:48   'Self-glorifying authoritarian' PM inaugurates new Parliament: Cong
The Congress on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he inaugurated the new Parliament building, saying that a 'self-glorifying authoritarian PM with utter disdain for parliamentary procedures' has opened the new complex.

Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the new Parliament building on Sunday morning.

Attacking the PM, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, 'On this day, May 28th: Nehru, the person who did the most to nurture Parliamentary democracy in India, was cremated in 1964. Savarkar, the person whose ideological ecosystem led to the killing of Mahatma Gandhi, was born in 1883.'

Ramesh also said that on this day President Droupadi Murmu the first Adivasi to become President is not allowed to fulfil her constitutional duties and inaugurate the new Parliament building.

'A self-glorifying authoritarian Prime Minister with utter disdain for Parliamentary procedures, who rarely attends Parliament or engages in it, inaugurates the New Parliament building in 2023,' he said.

Ramesh said that fabrication of facts by 'distorians' and the drum-beating of the media hits new lows in 2023.

The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party have been engaged in a war of words over the history of the Sengol that was installed in the new Parliament building on Sunday and the inauguration of the new Parliament being done by the prime minister.

Several Opposition patties have boycotted the event contending that the President and not the the PM should inaugurate the new Parliament building.  -- PTI
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09:43   New parliament inauguration: Entry, exit gates of 2 metro stations closed
All entry and exit gates at Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhawan stations of the Delhi Metro have been closed because of the inauguration of the new Parliament building, officials said on Sunday.

The new structure is located near the Central Secretariat station which is an interchange facility between Yellow Line and Violet Line.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the new Parliament building in the presence of a large number of dignitaries and priests.

'As per directions received from the Delhi Metro Rail Police, all entry and exit gates of Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhawan stations have been closed for passenger movement,' the Delhi Metro Railway Corporation tweeted around 8.30 am.

A senior official said the gates of these two stations were closed since the start of metro services on Sunday.

However, interchange facilities are available at Central Secretariat. Announcements were being made regularly at these two stations since morning, the official said.   -- PTI
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09:25   A new Parliament for a new India, says SRK
Superstar Shah Rukh Khan has put out a celebratory tweet on the occasion of the inauguration of the new Parliament. 

 'What a magnificent new home for the people who uphold our Constitution, represent every citizen of this great Nation and protect the diversity of her one People @narendramodiji. 

'A new Parliament building for a New India but with the age old dream of Glory for India. Jai Hind! #MyParliamentMyPride,' he has tweeted, along with a video of the new Parliament with his voiceover, with the background music from his film Swades.
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09:01   1st leg of Parliament opening ceremony concludes
Multi-faith prayer meeting concludes at the new Parliament building.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets various people as the morning phase of the inauguration ceremony draws to a close.

Now, the dignitaries will examine the premises of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha chambers in the new building.

The second phase of the inauguration ceremony will begin at 12 noon, with the singing of the national anthem in the Lok Sabha chamber in the presence of all the dignitaries, including Modi.   -- Agencies
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08:15   Multi-faith ceremony begins at new Parliament
PM Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Cabinet ministers attend a 'sarv-dharma' prayer ceremony being held at the new Parliament building. 

Prior to this Modi unveiled the plaque to mark the inauguration of the new Parliament building and felicitated the workers who helped in the building and development of the new Parliament House.
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08:04   PM Modi installs Sengol near LS Speaker's chair
Prime Minister Modi installs the historic 'Sengol' near the Lok Sabha Speaker's chair in the new Parliament building, after it was handed over to him by the Adheenam seers, post the puja ceremony.
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07:57   Modi prostrates before Sengol
PM Modi was handed over the historic 'Sengol' by the Tamil Nadu Adheenams before it is installed in the new Parliament building later in the day. 

The prime minister prostrates as a mark of respect before the 'Sengol' during the ceremony to mark the beginning of the inauguration of the new Parliament building.
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07:41   PM Modi, Birla start puja for new Parliament
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla begin the puja for inauguration of the new Parliament building.

The puja ceremony will continue for about an hour. 

After the puja, the PM will receive the 'Sengol' from the adheenams and install it in the new Parliament.
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07:37   Modi, Birla pay tribute at Gandhi statue
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla pay floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at the Parliament House, ahead of the inauguration of the new building.
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07:32   PM Modi arrives at Parliament for inauguration
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived at the new Parliament building for the inauguration ceremony.

The ceremony will begin shortly with a puja which will continue for about an hour.
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07:26   Adheenams from TN leave for Parliament inauguration
Adheenams from different mutts across Tamil Nadu leave for the new Parliament building to attend the inauguration ceremony which is scheduled to begin shortly.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the new Parliament building, during which the adheenams will hand over the Sengol to him, which will be ensconced at the new Parliament near the Lok Sabha Speaker's table. 
VIP movement at Vijay Chowk, New Delhi
VIP movement at Vijay Chowk, New Delhi
07:22   Parliament inauguration to begin with puja
With Prime Minister PM Narendra Modi schedule to inaugurate the new Parliament building soon, the VIPs have started arriving at the new Parliament House ahead of the ceremony. 

PM Modi is expected to arrive shortly, and the ceremony will begin with a puja which will continue for about an hour. After the puja, the PM will receive the 'Sengol' and install it in the new Parliament.

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