Month: March 2021

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted about the Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden and requested people to visit the place and “witness the scenic Tulip festival”, the Tulip Garden received an overwhelming response from the tourists on the first day of its opening in Srinagar on Thursday.

PM Modi had on March 24, tweeted, “Tomorrow, 25th March is special for Jammu and Kashmir. A majestic tulip garden on the foothills of the Zabarwan Mountains will open for visitors. The Garden will see over 15 lakh flowers of more than 64 varieties in bloom.”

“Whenever you get the opportunity, do visit Jammu and Kashmir and witness the scenic Tulip festival. In addition to the tulips, you will experience the warm hospitality of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he wrote in another tweet.

Speaking to ANI, Farooq Ahamd Rather, Director, Floriculture, Kashmir, said, “This Tulip garden has become one of the major tourist spots in the Kashmir valley. In 2015, this garden was awarded the title of ‘Best Tulip Garden’ which means it is already present on the tourist map of India.

“You might also know that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had tweeted about this Tulip Garden yesterday which signifies how important the garden is,” said Rather.

He further stated, “Today is the first day of the opening of this garden and despite the rainy weather, we received an overwhelming response from the tourists on the first day itself.”

“Before the pandemic, in 2019, the garden was visited by around two to 2.5 lakh tourists. I am confident that this year too the garden will report a record-breaking number of visitors which will boost the tourism industry of Jammu and Kashmir, he added.

Vikas Sharma, a tourist said, “I was about to leave yesterday but I extended my stay just to visit this place. It’s a lifetime experience and I will surely plan for next year too. Kashmir is more beautiful than I had heard of. I came to know that this is the largest Tulip garden in Asia which is why I came to visit it.”

Kanak Sharma, another tourist said that visiting the garden gave her a mesmerising experience. “It is like heaven on earth,” she said.

Another tourist said that she feels blessed to have visited the place on the first day of the opening of the garden. “I would like to request all the people coming to Kashmir to definitely visit this place for sure,” she added. (ANI)

Bangladesh has historical, social and cultural ties with India and New Delhi has become one of the best development partners, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said on Friday.

Addressing the National Day programme to mark the 50 years of the country’s independence, the Bangladesh Prime Minister said people of her country always remember India’s contribution to the country’s liberation in the 1971 war.
She thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for attending the National Day programme.

“India is not only our next-door neighbour, we have historical, social, cultural ties. The people and Government of India were immensely involved in the evolution process of Bangladesh during our liberation war in 1971,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said India sheltered about 10 million people who fled from Bangladesh in the face of persecution by Pakistani soldiers, in the face of killing, genocide and rape.

“India gave them shelter, food and medication. They helped our freedom fighters with all types of cooperation,” she said.

She recalled sacrifice by Indian soldiers for the liberation of Bangladesh.

“By the joint operation of India-Bangladesh allied forces, the final victory was achieved on 16th Dec 1971. A notable number of Indian soldiers sacrificed their lives along with our freedom fighters and attained martyrdom. I remember their sacrifice with great honour,” she said.

The Bangladesh PM also recalled Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s call for independence.

“Fifty years ago, the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, declared independence,” she said.

Referring to his “historic speech” on March 7, 1971, she said he called on the masses to fight for independence and the people of the country followed his words.

“When Pakistani military started committing genocide on the people of Bangladesh from March 25, Bangabandhu declared independence just before he was arrested by the Pakistani military and he was taken to a prison in West Pakistan and imprisoned there,” she said.

“I pay my deep homage to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. I remember the four national leaders of our Liberation War, three million martyrs, 200,000 dishonoured, tortured mothers and sisters. I express my deep gratitude to the valiant freedom fighters, she added

She also referred to the assassination of her father in 1975.

“I remember with great anguish, August 15, 1975 – a dark night for Bangladesh when Father of Nation was assassinated. My mother, three brothers, two sisters-in-law, uncle were brutally assassinated and all martyrs who attained martyrdom that night,” she said.

“In our independence war, we always remember the contribution of India. PM Narendra Modi has graced this occasion, being physically present here as a Guest of Honour. We are honoured to have him here. I extend my heartiest thanks to PM Narendra Modi who has consented to grace this occasion even amidst this pandemic. India has now become one of our best development partners,” she said.

She said the celebrations had started on March 17, 2020, but were impacted by the pandemic.

“That’s why in 2021, we’ve extended celebrations of the birth centenary (of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman) up to Dec 16, 2021,” she said.

She said India has always stood beside Bangladesh in times of need.

Sheikh Hasina referred to India handing over 109 ambulances and also mentioned the country’s assistance of COVID-19 vaccines to help Bangladesh fight the pandemic.

She also thanked India for awarding the Gandhi Peace Prize 2020 to Bangabandhu. (ANI)

Back in her desi glory, Bollywood star Kajol Devgan on Friday treated fans to a fun boomerang, dressed in traditional dancing attire.

The ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ star hopped on to Instagram to share a quirky boomerang clip. The video sees Kajol dressed in traditional Kuchipudi attire, as she donned diamond jewellery along with it. The short clip sees the ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ actor dancing enthusiastically as she is all cheered up to be back to home.

Taking to the caption, the ‘Ishq’ star wrote, : I’M BAAAAAAAAAACKKK! In all my desi glory *(with raising hands emoji) and added the hashtags #lovemycountry #home #noplacelikehome.”

The post on the photo-sharing platform garnered more than 6 lakh views, while scores of fans chimed into the comments section leaving red heart and heart-shaped eyes emoticons.

The ‘My Name Is Khan’ star is quite active on the photo-sharing application and keeps on treating fans with pictures and videos.

Earlier, Kajol sent heart-warming birthday wishes to sister Tanishaa Mukerji along with a video composed of throwback pictures.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Kajol has become selective with her projects and her last big-screen appearance was in ‘Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior’, co-starring Ajay Devgn and Saif Ali Khan.

She recently made her digital debut with the 2021 Netflix film titled ‘Tribhanga – Tedhi Medhi Crazy’, which also stars Mithila Palkar and Tanvi Azmi. (ANI)

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday said that the Citizenship Amendment Act, (CAA) was brought to divide the people of the country and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had openly protested against it.

Addressing the Left election rally in Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayan said, “CAA was brought to divide people. These are part of attempts to create fear. Those who are living for many years in the country are now being told they don’t have the right to live here. When CAA was brought LDF the government did not have any doubt to declare that it will not be implemented in Kerala.”

Alleging that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh cannot tolerate anyone whose religious beliefs are different from Hindutva, he said the attack of nuns on a train in Uttar Pradesh is a case in point.

“First, the problem was food and after that clothes. In Uttar Pradesh, those people who wore a particular dress were targeted. Nuns were harassed on a train. These kind of incidents should never happen in a country like ours. We have religious freedom. But the Sangh Parivar cannot tolerate those who have other religious beliefs.”

“This election in Kerala has national importance. The reason is that due to the situation that the country is going through. There are attempts to weaken the democratic process and weaken secular values in the country. Those who want to uphold the secular fabric of the country are looking at Kerala,” said Vijayan.

“Whenever there were attempts to create a communal divide in the country or divide people Kerala LDF government has stood against this,’ he added.

Alleging the central government was protecting those attacking the secular value of the country Vijayan said, “There are forces that try to attack the secular values of the country. But the Central Government is trying to protect those.”

Attacking Congress, Vijayan said the leadership of congress led to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s growth in the country.

“In India, with the ease of changing shirts, Congress leaders are joining BJP. After winning elections, Congress MLAs are joining BJP. In Kerala too the situation is that some of Congress have joined BJP. It was Congress leadership that created a situation for the BJP to grow in the country. By loosening the secular values Congress presented a chance for the BJP to grow in the country,” said Vijayan.

Vijayan also asserted that only the LDF can stop BJP in the state.

“Only LDF can stop BJP. This person who is happy with the LDF government knows. LDF will come back to power,” said Vijayan. (ANI)

Union Health Ministry in its daily vaccination update on Friday said the cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 5.5 crore with over 23 lakh inoculated in the last 24-hours.

“A total of 5,55,04,440 vaccine doses have been given, as per the provisional report till 7 am today. These include 80,34,547 HCWs (health care workers) who have taken the 1st dose and 51,04,398 HCWs who have taken the 2nd dose, 85,99,981 frontline workers (FLWs) 1st dose, 33,98,570 FLWs (2nd dose), 2,47,67,172 beneficiaries more than 60 years old and 55,99,772 beneficiaries aged 45 and above with specific co-morbidities,” according to the Health Ministry said on Friday.
Total 23,58,731 vaccine doses were given in the last 24-hours, which marks the 69th day of vaccination.

Of these, 21,54,934 beneficiaries were vaccinated across 40,595 sessions for 1st dose and 2,03,797 HCWs and FLWs received 2nd dose of the vaccine.

“Ten States account for nearly 70 per cent of the vaccine doses were given during the last 24 hours,” the ministry said.

Meanwhile, India continues to witness a surge in new COVID-19 cases as 59,118 fresh infections and 257 deaths were reported in the country in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry informed on Friday.

With fresh 32,987 recoveries, a total of 1,12,64,637 people have recovered from the diseases so far.

The cumulative number of cases reached 1,18,46,652 including 4,21,066 active cases and 1,60,949 deaths.

Five States, Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat have reported a surge in daily new cases. (ANI)

From Sri Ram to Duryodhana and choppers to wheelchair, the poll campaign in the first phase of Assembly elections in West Bengal has been vibrant and vivacious.

The game of power is all set to begin when the first phase of the assembly polls will be held on Saturday. In the first phase, 30 seats covering all assembly constituencies from the districts of Purulia and Jhargram and a segment of Bankura, Purba Medinipur and Paschim Medinipur will go for polls.
However, the power-packed campaigns involving stormy rallies and mega roadshows were mostly dominated by the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The third front i.e. the coalition of the Congress, Left Front and Indian Secular Force has been observed in the back foot when it comes to fierce campaigning.

The ambitious BJP has done intense campaigning with the goal to topple the incumbent TMC government in the state. To continue its stride in Bengal especially after an overwhelming result in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in the state, the party has brought Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, party president JP Nadda and many others in the campaign fray.

It will not be wrong to say that West Bengal has become the second home for Shah and Nadda who have been holding roadshows and rallies every other day.

When the ‘Jai Sri Ram’ slogan became synonymous with the BJP, another slogan that has been dominating this election season is ‘Khela hobe’ (game is on). Though the slogan was raised by TMC, it has now crossed the barrier of party lines.

Even PM Modi in his public meetings in Kharagpur, Kanthi, Bankura or Purulia took a jab at TMC saying, “Khela sesh, vikas shuru (game is over, now development will start).”

“Didi bole khela hobe, BJP bole chaakri hobe. Didi bole khela hobe, BJP bole vikas hobe. Didi bole khela hobe, BJP bole shiksha hobe. Khela shesh hobe, vikas aarambh hobe,” he had said.

“Didi, if you want you can put your foot on my head and kick me. But Didi, I will not let you kick Bengal’s development and dreams of its people,” PM Modi had said while hitting out at Mamata Banerjee.

On the other hand, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee did not miss any stage to launch scathing attacks on the top BJP leadership. “We do not want to see Modi’s face. We do not want rioters and looters. We do not want Duryodhana and Dushasana,” said Mamata while mounting veiled attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Sitting on a wheelchair, Mamata exerted her best efforts in the campaigns to testify her statement that a “wounded tigress becomes more aggressive.”

Going a step further, the Chief Minister said, “I will play such a shot with my one good leg that it will completely bowl out BJP.”

Earlier this month, the TMC supremo sustained “severe bone injuries” on her left foot and ankle as well as bruises and injuries on her shoulder, forearm and neck, according to the report of her initial medical examination. She was later discharged from the hospital on March 12 introducing the new dimension of her poll campaign with a ‘wheelchair’.

Meanwhile, the BJP has called it tactics of gaining the sympathy of voters.

Mamata reckoned the ‘Mir Zafar’ title to TMC defector Suvendu Adhikari, who joined the BJP in December last year.

Suvendu Adhikari, who is at a head-to-head contest against Mamata in the Nandigram seat in the second phase, has been playing a significant role in carrying BJP’s flambeau in Bengal.

Now just days before the first phase, along with Suvendu, his father Sisal Adhikari have thrown their weight behind the BJP in the ongoing electoral process, giving a big jolt to the incumbent TMC. The TMC MP from Kanthi shared the stage with Prime Minister Modi and Shah in their rallies in his home turf Purba Medinipur.

Another, political character that has gained much importance in this poll season is Mamata’s nephew and TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee. The BJP leaders in their public meetings attack Abhishek with the nickname “Tolabaaz Bhaipo” (extortionist nephew).

For the first phase of polling, a total of 191 candidates are in the fray, out of which 21 candidates are women and 170 are men.

Going back to the 2016 assembly polls, the ruling TMC won 27 out of these 30 seats, whereas Congress managed to garner two seats and Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) won a single seat.

Some notable names for the first phase of polling include Srikanto Mahato, Rajib Lochan Saren, June Malia and Uttam Barik from TMC, and Rabindranath Maity, Chandana Bauri and Rajib Kundu from BJP.

Congress has fielded five candidates for the first phase such as Nepal Mahato from Baghmundi, Shiu Maiti from Bhagabanpur, Uttam Banerjee from Balarampur, Manas Kumar Karmahapatra from Egra and Partha Pratim Banerjee from Purulia.

Elections to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in eight phases starting from March 27 with the final round of voting taking place on April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.

The state is likely to witness a triangular contest this time with TMC, Congress-Left alliance and the BJP in the fray. (ANI)

Suspended Mumbai Police API Sachin Waze has claimed that he had planted the explosives outside Mukesh Ambani’s residence ‘Antilia’ as he wanted to become a super cop by solving the case as its investigation officer, NIA sources said on Thursday.

However, the National Investigation Agency is verifying Waze’s claim and the motive of the crime. “Reports that one of the crime intelligence unit (CIU) colleagues of Sachin Waze has been made an approver in the Antilia bomb scare case is not true. The decision of making someone an approver can only be taken at later stages after the chargesheet,” said NIA sources.

NIA has been analysing the 112 TB data of CCTV footage accessed for the investigation till now.

Meanwhile, a special NIA court on Thursday sent Waze to further custody of the agency till April 3 in connection with the Antilia bomb scare case.

Waze claimed in the court that he was made a scapegoat in the case. “I have cooperated in the investigation till now and I just only pray that I should not be sent to police custody remand.”

Waze further told the court that he was investigating officer only for one and a half-day and investigated this case as it should be investigated. He also said that it was not only he who investigated this case, Crime Branch and Mumbai Police team also investigated this case.

The court intervened and asked Waze to submit in writing whatever he had to say.

Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, appearing for the NIA, said, “There was gelatin-laden car on a public road. Was that gelatin kept for any function by the accused? The motive was surely to terrorise people.”

Singh further readout one of the two threat letters found inside the car that allegedly threatened the Ambani family. However, he gave the second letter to the judge considering its sensitivity.

NIA invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against Waze in connection with the case.

Under UAPA, the maximum police custody can be of 30 days. The investigating agency can get an extension of 90 days to file a charge sheet (additional to the usual 90 days).

Waze, Assistant Police Inspector in the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU), was arrested in connection with the investigation into the recovery of explosives from a car parked near Ambani’s house in Mumbai on February 25.

Mansukh Hiran, the owner of the vehicle that was found containing explosives outside Ambani’s house, was found dead in a creek on March 5 in Thane. (ANI)

Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra Jonas relived her ‘bikini and bindis’ moment and treated fans to a stunning never seen before ‘Throwback Thursday’ picture.

The ‘Baywatch’ star took to Instagram and shared a major throwback picture from her younger days.

In the picture, the ‘Isn’t It Romantic’ star looks fierce as she strikes a pose for the lens. Donning a bikini top and loosely fitted pants, the actor exuded elegance with style as she left her black luscious locks open in the air and flaunted her perfectly toned figure. Sporting a tiny white bindi on her forehead and a dark lip shade, the actor looks drop-dead gorgeous. In the picture, the actor is seen striking a pose just like a model in her home.

Taking to the caption, Chopra shared that she has never been shy, and wrote, “Shy? Never heard of her (laughing with teary eyes emoticon) and added #TBT and #BindisAndBikinis.”

Celebrity followers including filmmaker Mukesh Chhabra and more than 4 lakh followers liked the post within 36 minutes of being posted.

Meanwhile, scores of fans flooded the post with heart eyes and fire emoticons as they adored the picture.

Priyanka is currently shooting for the spy series ‘Citadel’. It also stars Richard Madden. The project is backed by Amazon and helmed by the Russo Brothers of ‘Avengers’ fame.

The actor has finished shooting for ‘Text for You’ with Sam Heughan, Celine Dion, Russell Tovey, and Omid Djalili. Priyanka will also be seen in an Indian wedding comedy with Mindy Kaling, which she will co-produce and feature in.

She also has ‘Matrix 4’ and a film based on the life of Maa Anand Sheela in the pipeline. (ANI)