Palestinians

Israel Is Not At War With Palestinians: Israeli PMO’s Spokesperson

Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, Tal Heinrich, Spokesperson for the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) outlined that Israel’s battle is against Hamas and not against the people of Palestine.

Heinrich emphasised the resilience of Israeli families and the importance of taking action against Hamas, saying, “Their resilience is our strength. The ones who are aching the most are the ones giving us the most strength.”

“Today it is important to highlight what the families told the PM of Israel and what they told the entire nation of Israel, to hold our heads high and to do what must be done against Hamas,” she said addressing a virtual press conference on Monday.

Heinrich also revealed that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has discovered evidence of a Hamas-produced kidnapper’s guide. “The IDF found evidence of Hamas-produced kidnapper’s guide. Now the guide explains in gruesome detail how Hamas terrorists should capture and torture kidnapped civilians,” added Heinrich.

Further speaking about the guide, she said unveiled “gruesome methods” that Hamas terrorists would employ to capture and torture kidnapped civilians. She further said that more than 1,500 Israelis have been killed and 3,900 injured in the war against Hamas.

Highlighting the critical distinction, Heinrich said, “Israel is at war with Hamas and not with the people of Palestine.”

And I urge you to ask your sources in Gaza why Hamas is exploiting innocent Palestinians and is using them as human shields.

She also expressed concerns about Hamas preventing Palestinians in Gaza from moving to safer areas while “using them as human shields with zero regard for their safety”.

Heinrich also addressed the situation in northern Gaza, where she noted that while patients and staffers from six hospitals evacuated the premises, 14 did not.

“I was asked yesterday specifically about the state of hospitals in northern Gaza. You see, there are 20 hospitals in that area. The IDF says that six hospitals in the northern Gaza Strip had decided to independently evacuate. However, 14 did not,” said Heinrich.

In addition, Heinrich cited a report by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency indicating that fuel and medical equipment had been removed or stolen by a group claiming to be from the Ministry of Health in Gaza.

Heinrich called upon the international community to encourage Palestinians to temporarily relocate to safer zones, underlining that this action “will save lives”. She highlighted Israel’s own evacuation efforts, with 28 communities in northern Israel and more than 80,000 Israeli civilians evacuated to protect their lives.

Speaking about the recent military actions, Heinrich said that the IDF had conducted numerous airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, targeting Hamas headquarters, mortar launch positions, and terrorists at a military compound. Notably, the command center of Ali Qadhi, a commander in the Hamas commando forces, was also struck.

“The targets included Hamas headquarters, mortar launching positions, and a number of terrorists at a military compound,” said Heinrich.

Heinrich expressed Israel’s appreciation for the unwavering support of its allies and mentioned Prime Minister Netanyahu’s invitation to US President Joe Biden to visit Israel soon.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu invited US President Joe Biden to Israel, and we hope to host the president soon.” She conveyed gratitude for the united front against the ongoing conflict. (ANI)

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Same Sex Marriage Review Petition

Judgement On Marriage Equality Rights For LGBTQIA+ Community Tomorrow

The Supreme Court will deliver its judgement on various petitions pertaining to marriage equality rights for the LGBTQIA+ community on Tuesday.

The five-judge Constitution bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, S Ravindra Bhat, Hima Kohli and PS Narasimha is dealing with a batch of petitions pertaining to marriage equality rights for LGBTQIA+ community.

The order was reserved on May 11 after counsel from all sides concluded their arguments.

Constitution bench began the hearing on the matter on April 18 and the hearing went on for nearly 10 days.

Supreme Court is handling various petitions seeking legal recognition of same-sex marriage. One of the petitions earlier raised the absence of a legal framework allowing members of the LGBTQIA+ community to marry any person of their choice.

The court has clarified that it will deal with the issue under the provisions of the Special Marriage Act and will not touch the personal laws on this aspect.

According to one of the petitions, the couple sought to enforce the fundamental rights of LGBTQ+ individuals to marry any person of their choice. It said that “the exercise of which ought to be insulated from the disdain of legislative and popular majorities.” The petitioners, further, asserted their fundamental right to marry each other and prayed for appropriate directions from this Court allowing and enabling them to do so.

The petition was represented by senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi and Saurabh Kirpal.

Centre has opposed the plea and said that Parliament and not the court should consider the issue.

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has told the Supreme Court that the entire architecture of laws is from the perspective of the welfare of the child being paramount and adoption is not an alternative to biological birth in families of heterosexual couples.

Centre on April 18 issued a letter to states, asking them to give their opinion on the issues relating to same-sex marriage.

States of Assam, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan have opposed the legal recognition of same-sex marriages in the country. (ANI)

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Brij Bhushan

Checking Pulse Rate Is Not An Offence: Brij Bhushan

The counsel for Bharatiya Janata Party MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Monday argued that there is no basis for allegations levelled against the accused.

The counsel for the WFI chief also argued that Singh, an accused in the sexual harassment of women wrestlers case, only checked the pulse rate. “Without sexual intent checking pulse rate is not an offence,” he argued.

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Vinod Tomar have been charge-sheeted in a case of sexual harassment, lodged on the basis of complaints by six women wrestlers.

The Oversight Committee was not formed on the basis of any complaint. It was formed on the basis of tweets posted tagging the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and Ministry of Home Affairs, the counsel argued.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate after hearing the part arguments listed the matter for further arguments on charge on October 19.

Advocate Rajiv Mohan appeared for the BJP MP and argued that on January 18, 2023, the first protest was started at Jantar Mantar and on January 19, one of the wrestlers Babita Phogat met the Union Sports Minister.

He further argued that on January 20, 2023, the Sports Ministry and Home Ministry were tagged. “Till this time no complaint was filed,” Advocate Rajiv Mohan said on behalf of Singh.

It was stated that on January 23 oversight committee was formed. “On the basis of the Government of India letter. The report was forwarded to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) New Delhi,” he said.

The defence counsel further argued that the Oversight Committee’s report is a part of the charge sheet and relies on documents.

Meaning thereby it is a relied-upon document. It was supplied to police in pursuance of notice by police, the counsel argued.

” Till its (oversight committee) formation, there were no written or oral allegations,” the counsel argued.

On the point of period of limitation advocate Rajiv Mohan submitted that there is a difference between offence molestation and sexual harassment.

He argued that the wrestlers were well aware of what is sexual harassment and that the offence of sexual harassment is punishable by a period of three years, which is time-barred after three years.

Therefore to suit their case, the allegations of molestation were added to the complaints. The offence of sexual harassment is punishable with imprisonment of five years, he added.

He also pointed out that the Oversight Committee exonerated the coaches against whom allegations were levelled.

Advocate Mohan further argued that the letter is on record, which shows that the Oversight Committee was formed by the GOI.

If I am not exonerated, then I am also not implicated in the report of the oversight committee, Advocate Rajiv Mohan pointed out.

He submitted that the foundation of the allegations is not based on any complaint.

“Since there was no complaint to the ministry or Sports Authority of India (SAI), therefore the committee proceeded on the basis of tweets,” he said.

Even after the formation of the committee no complaint was filed, he added.

It was also submitted that the complainants were summoned their statements were recorded and the proceedings were video recorded. Only two affidavits out of six complainants were filed before the committee.

On the point of breathing pattern checking, the accused’s counsel referred to the statement of one of the witnesses who stated she never saw him (accused) touching any girl in an inappropriate manner. “He used to check the pulse rate,” the accused’s counsel submitted.

“Pulse checking without sexual intent is not an offence,” he added.

On the point of alleged incidents at the WFI Office, the BJP MP submitted, “I never called anyone at my WFI office. The complainant came herself to confront me.”

As the complainant was not focusing on her game but more on tweets, he added.

Why should I have checked the breathing pattern without occasion? It was not an occasion at my office to check it. If I was intended to molest, then why should I have checked the breathing pattern by touching the stomach,” he added.

“There is no mention of a breath test in the affidavit given by a complainant, he added. However, it was mentioned in the complaints,” the counsel argued. (ANI)

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Israeli Min Thank India

Israeli Min Thank India For Standing With Them

Israel’s Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli has thanked the Indian leadership, and the people of India for standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel in its fight against Hamas.

“I want to thank the leadership of India, the people of India for being with us shoulder-to-shoulder in this fight against brutal jihadist barbaric Islamist. This is not just our war, this is your war too and we will win it together with your support,” he said.

He further said: “I want to tell the people of India – we share the same values, we cherish life, we cherish good…We believe in human values.”

He said that there are more than 120 confirmed hostages. “We will make every effort to bring them back home. It won’t be simple. As you know, Hamas has absolutely zero mercy, zero human values…So, we have no expectations from Hamas. Still, we believe we might, with intelligence, with efforts, maybe we can rescue some of them,” he said.

“My recommendation for Hamas militants – lay down your weapon, raise up your hands, come from your tunnel and maybe there will be mercy,” he added.

One of the towns that bore the brunt of the Hamas’ attack is Sderot in the South of Israel. Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi says Hamas must be destroyed.

“I have six children. All of them live in this situation. More than 50,000 people live in this situation. All of this time, I have asked the government to destroy Hamas” said the Sderot Mayor while speaking to ANI.

“We now see that the Hamas is the new ISIS of the world. Now, it’s not just Israel’s but everybody’s role to destroy the Hamas. It is like the Hezbollah, the ISIS,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Coordinator for the Captives and Missing Brigadier-General (Ret.) Gal Hirsch in his Second Meeting with Deputy US Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Steven Gillen, said: “I thank you for standing alongside Israel and greatly appreciate the assistance.”

US State Secretary Antony Blinken has said the US stands with Israel as it defends itself. “The United States is also actively working to ensure the people of Gaza can get out of harm’s way and the assistance they need — food, water, medicine — can get in. Hamas does not care if Palestinians suffer,” he said.

Blinken arrived in Israel on Monday, the second time within a few days, to pledge support for the country as it prepares a major military offensive in Gaza, the Washington Post reported.

Blinken who was in Israel on Thursday returned to the country after a tour in which he met with Egyptian President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and King Abdullah II of Jordan.

The visit comes amid reports in Israeli media that during a phone call on Saturday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invited Biden to Israel, the US daily reported.

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) meanwhile continues to attack the Gaza Strip.

In the last few hours, dozens of operational headquarters and mortar bomb launching positions were destroyed. In addition, the military headquarters of Ali Kachi, one of the commanders in the Najaba force of the terrorist organization Hamas, who was eliminated a few days ago, was destroyed.

Earlier, Israel President Isaac Herzog revealed a disturbing Hamas booklet found on the body of a Palestinian terrorist killed in one of the Gaza-area communities on Sunday.

“This booklet is an operating manual, how to enter citizens’ yards, kibbutz, city, moshav, how to break in there. And first – and what do you do when you find the citizens? You torture them. This is the booklet that says exactly how to torture them, how to kidnap them,” Herzog told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer.

In a copy of the guide provided for the press, the manual — titled “The Warrior’s Guide: Jihadi Version” — outlines tactics, which include creating chaos, intimidating captives, and using tactics such as electric shocks and even live executions.

The eight-page guide instructs the kidnappers to utilize captives as human shields if attacked, regardless of their religion, race, or gender. The hostages should be “killed when necessary,” especially if there is any sign of revolt among them, it said, while instructed terrorists to document their actions live.

Many of the terrorists wore GoPro cameras and their footage was uploaded to social media. (ANI)

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WFI Suspension

No Objections To Elections: United World Wrestling Chief On WFI’s Suspension

United World Wrestling (UWW) president Nenad Lalovic said on Monday that the Wrestling Federation of India’s suspension will be lifted if elections are held democratically and there are no complaints from stakeholders.

Lalovic, who is attending the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Mumbai, said if the problem is solved, the matter will not remain pending.

“If the elections are democratically performed then we will have no objections…After the elections, if there are no complaints from the stakeholders, we will lift the suspension almost immediately. We will not need to take it longer if the problem is solved..,” Lalovic, a member of IOC’s Executive Board, told ANI.

United World Wrestling suspended the Wrestling Federation of India in August this year due to the delay in holding elections.

UWW took the decision as WFI “failed to conduct elections” in the specified duration.

The WFI elections were originally slated to be held on August 12. The Punjab and Haryana High Court, which is hearing a petition, in August extended the stay on Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections till September 25

The stay order came in the wake of a petition filed by the Haryana Wrestling Association (HWA) which challenged the move to allow the Haryana Amateur Wrestling Association to cast votes in the WFI polls.

The WFI’s elections have also been delayed due to controversies surrounding WFI.

Elections for the federation, which oversees wrestling in India, were initially planned for June this year. However, protests by Indian wrestlers over sexual harassment allegations against the then WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and cases pertaining to state units led to the postponement of polls.

An ad hoc committee set up by the Indian Olympic Association is running the affairs of WFI at present. (ANI)

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Nithari

Nithari Case: Court Acquits Surender In 12 Cases, Moninder In two

The Allahabad High Court on Monday acquitted the prime accused Surender Koli in 12 cases related to the 2005-2006 Nithari serial killing cases in Noida. The court also acquitted Moninder Singh Pandher, his employer, in two cases.

The trial court had awarded the death sentence to the accused in these cases. The CBI had registered 16 cases against Koli and Pandher over “the rape and killing” of girls that had shocked the nation.

The Nithari killing case came to light in December 2006 when skeletons were found in a drain near a house in Nithari village, Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

The lawyer of Pandher, Manisha Bhandari, said that there were six cases against him in which Allahabad HC acquitted him in the two appeals.

“Allahabad High Court has acquitted Moninder Singh Pandher in the two appeals against him. There were six cases against him. Koli has been acquitted in all appeals against him here,” she said.

Pandher was the co-accused in the cases.

The Supreme Court had in February 2011 upheld Surender Koli’s death sentence for murdering 14-year-old Rimpa Haldar. She was one of his first victims in the serial rape-cum-killing episode.

Subsequently, in July 2014, the apex court refused to stay the execution of the death sentence awarded to Koli and dismissed his plea seeking review of the verdict that upheld his sentence.

The CBI, in its chargesheet, had said that Koli raped and murdered the woman when she went to Pandher’s house on November 12, 2006, for household work.

After the investigations, the CBI filed a chargesheet on June 22, 2007. Charges were framed on August 16, 2007.

The family members of the victims said that the accused should be given the death penalty.

“The accused must get the death penalty. I urge the central and state governments… If they are set free, it means that there’s no law and order,” a member of the victim’s family told ANI.

The two-judge bench of the Allahabad High Court, comprising Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice SHA Rizvi, allowed the appeals filed by Koli and Pandher challenging the death sentence given by the CBI court in Ghaziabad.

The High Court said the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt in these specific cases.

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Cricket Olympics

Cricket’s Inclusion In 2028 Olympics Will Take It To Newer Geographies: Nita

International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Nita Ambani said that the inclusion of cricket in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics Games was a welcome addition as the sports discipline had the potential to attract a lot of new interest and opportunities for the Olympic movement across newer geographies.

Soon after cricket was officially confirmed as an Olympic sport at the ongoing 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session being held in Mumbai, Nita Ambani said, “As an IOC member, a proud Indian, and an ardent cricket fan, I am delighted that IOC members have voted to include Cricket as an Olympic Sport in the LA Summer Olympics 2028!”

Cricket has only featured in one previous edition of the Olympics in 1900 when only two teams took part.

“Cricket is one of the most loved sports globally, and the second most watched. For 1.4 billion Indians, cricket is not just a sport, it’s a religion!” Nita Ambani said. Nita Ambani is the first Indian woman to become an IOC member

The IOC session is being held in India for only the 2nd time in history, returning to the country after 40 years.

“I’m delighted that this historic resolution was passed at the one hundred and forty-first IOC Session taking place right here in our country in Mumbai,” Nita Ambani added.

Nita Ambani hoped that the sport’s appeal around the globe would increase significantly with this announcement. “The inclusion of cricket in the Olympics will create deeper engagement for the Olympic Movement in newer geographies. And at the same time, provides a boost to cricket’s growing international popularity.”

“I thank and congratulate the IOC and the LA Organizing Committee for their support of this landmark decision. It’s truly a day of great joy and jubilation!” she concluded.

Meanwhile, apart from cricket, the 2028 Olympics event will also include sports like baseball/softball, lacrosse, squash and flag football. The proposal from the Organising Committee of the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 to include these games in the programme was accepted at the ongoing 141st IOC session being held in Mumbai, just two IOC members opposed the proposal and one abstained from voting.

Cricket made its sole appearance at the 1900 Paris Olympics in which Great Britain defeated France in the final. But it is played in Commonwealth Games and Asian Games as well. (ANI)

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Gaganyaan Flight Test

Gaganyaan: Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission Scheduled For Saturday

ISRO is all set for the Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission a key part of its ambitious human space mission Gaganyaan, between 7 am and 9 am this Saturday, the space agency confirmed on Monday through a post on X.

The Test Vehicle is a single-stage liquid rocket developed for this abort mission. The payloads consist of the crew module (CM) and crew escape systems (CES), along with others.

This flight will simulate the abort condition during the ascent trajectory. Crew escape systems with crude modules will be separated from the test vehicle at an altitude of about 17 km. Subsequently, the abort sequence will be executed autonomously commencing with the separation of crew escape systems and deployment of the series of parachutes, finally culminating in the safe touchdown of crew module in the sea, about 10 km from the coast of Sriharikota.

The crew module after its integration progress underwent various electrical testing, at ISRO’s facility in Bengaluru, and has been dispatched to Sriharikota on August 13.

This test will be a significant milestone for the overall Gaganyaan programme as a near-complete system is integrated for a flight test. The success of this test flight will set the stage for the remaining qualification tests and unmanned missions, leading to the first Gaganyaan mission with Indian astronauts.

ISRO Chief S Somanath had on Saturday said there would be at least three more tests of the same nature in the coming days.

Gaganyaan project envisages a demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of 3 members to an orbit of 400 km for a 3-day mission and bringing them back safely to earth, by landing in Indian sea waters.

This program will make India the fourth nation to launch a manned spaceflight mission after the US, Russia, and China.

The Gaganyaan mission entails the safe transportation of astronauts to space and back. A crucial component of this mission is the deployment of drogue parachutes, which play a pivotal role in stabilizing the crew module and reducing its velocity to a safe level during re-entry.

On August 23, India took a giant leap as the Chandrayaan-3 lander module successfully landed on the moon’s South Pole, making it the first country to have achieved the historic feat and bringing to an end the disappointment over the crash landing of the Chandrayaan-2, four years ago. India became the fourth country – after the US, China, and Russia – to have successfully landed on the moon’s surface.

After having landed, the Vikram lander and the Pragyan rover performed different sets of tasks on the lunar surface, including finding the presence of sulphur and other minor elements, recording relative temperature, and listening to movements around it.

Soon after the soft landing of Chandrayaan-3, India launched its maiden solar mission Aditya-L1 on September 2. So far in its journey, the spacecraft has undergone four earth-bound manoeuvres and a Trans-Lagrangean Point 1 Insertion (TL1I) manoeuvres, all successfully. In the process, the spacecraft successfully escaped the sphere of Earth’s influence.

In latest, the Aditya-L1 spacecraft performed a trajectory correction manoeuvre (TCM), for about 16 seconds, which was needed to correct the trajectory evaluated after tracking to keep it in its intended path. (ANI)

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Rahul In Mizoram

Rahul Arrives In Mizoram On Two Day Visit

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday arrived on a two-day visit to Mizoram on Monday.

Upon his arrival, Rahul Gandhi also took part in a Padyatra from Chanmari (Aizawl) to Raj Bhawan.

Speaking to ANI, Congress spokesperson Mathew Antony said,” It was a long-awaited visit of Rahul Gandhi to Mizoram. Mizoram has fond memories of the visit of his father Rajiv Gandhi in 1986. People are sharing their excitement over his (Rahul Gandhi) visit. Another significance of this visit is he is carrying out a Bharat Jodo Yatra at a time when there is polarization and the country is divided on ethnic issues.”

On the election preparations for the upcoming Assembly polls in Mizoram, Antony said, “We are hopeful that we will form the government. Tomorrow he (Rahul Gandhi) will meet the party leaders and will address a public gathering. The announcement for the party candidates can be expected anytime from now.”

On Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Mizoram visit, Mizoram CM Zoramthanga said, “Rahul Gandhi’s visit may be good for the party’s (Congress) people. But that will not have much influence on Mizoram’s population as a whole. So, I don’t think it will have much meaning.”

In a 40-member Mizoram assembly, Mizo National Front bagged 26 seats with a vote share of 37.8 per cent to emerge victorious in the 2018 polls. Congress secured five seats and BJP won one seat.

Polls will be held in Mizoram on November 7, Chhattisgarh on November 7 and November 17, Madhya Pradesh on November 17, Rajasthan on November 23 and Telangana on November 30. The counting of votes will take place on December 3 in all the states. Of the five states, polling in Chhattisgarh will be held in two phases.

The Model Code of Conduct has come into force with the announcement of poll dates. The elections to five states are crucial as they are being held months before the Lok Sabha elections in April-May next year. (ANI)

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Garba Gandhinagar

Shah Joins ‘Kesariya Garba’ Festivities In Gandhinagar

Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended the ‘Kesariya Garba’ event in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar on the first day of the Navratri festival on Sunday.

The program was organised by the Sahay Foundation in Gandhinagar.

Meanwhile, the foundation also presented the Union Home Minister with a wooden model of the under-construction Ram Temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya.

Amit Shah was in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar as part of his three-day tour to the state that began on Friday.

On Saturday, he joined the spectators at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad to witness the World Cup clash between India and Pakistan and cheered the Indian team as it scored a magnificent victory.

He also interacted with the children of ‘Anganwadi’ centres in his Lok Sabha constituency.

Taking to ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), Shah wrote, “Today I went to a gaming zone with the children of Anganwadi centres of my Lok Sabha constituency. Here, the children enjoyed playing their favourite games. As an MP, it is my endeavour to ensure that the children of Anganwadi centres in my Lok Sabha constituency get all the possible facilities and happiness that children from affluent families get”.

On Sunday, the Union Home Minister addressed a gathering in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar district after inaugurating the “Samau Shaheed Memorial” built at a cost of Rs 2 crore as a tribute to 12 revolutionaries from Mansa who were hanged by the Britishers during the revolt of 1857.

He also inaugurated a library.

The Shaheed Memorial in Samau village will be a sacred place for promoting patriotism, he said.

The Gandhinagar MP said that he is a bibliophile and that books have played a crucial role in building his personality.

“Books have played a special role in building my personality. The future of a country is formed in a library and it gives an opportunity to know one’s language and culture,” the Union Home Minister said. (ANI)

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