India

Bhubaneswar, Jan 25 (PTI) Congress president Rahul Gandhi Friday said his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's entry into politics was not sudden as she had decided to play a role in the party after her children grew up.

The decision on the timing of Priyanka's political plunge was taken some years ago. She was delaying it because of the children, he said, replying to a question at an interactive session here.

"Now her children are grown-ups. While one of them has entered university, another too has grown up. Therefore, she decided to join politics," he said.

Jaipur, Jan 25 (PTI) The popular "Jai Ho" song would not have won the prestigious Oscar without the contribution of music maestro A R Rahman who changed the face and form of Indian film songs, veteran poet-lyricist Gulzar said Friday.

Composed by Rahman for the 2009 film "Slumdog Millionaire", "Jai Ho" is the first Hindi song to win an Academy Award in the Best Original Score and Best Original Song categories.

Gulzar penned the lyrics and singer Sukhwinder Singh lent his voice to the track.

Ahmedabad, Jan 25 (PTI) Former Gujarat Chief Minister Shankarsinh Vaghela Friday confirmed he will soon join the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), starting a new political innings after stints in the Congress and the BJP.

Vaghela said he took the decision after discussion with NCP president Sharad Pawar and a formal announcement of him joining the party can be expected by Sunday from Mumbai.

Raipur, Jan 25 (PTI) A woman naxal was gunned down Friday in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, police said.

The gun-battle took place at around 4 pm in the forests under Puspal police station area when a team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) was returning after carrying out an anti-Maoist operation, Deputy Inspector General (anti-naxal operations) Sundarraj P told PTI.

The DRG is a locally raised force vested with the task to tackle Maoists.

Thrissur (Ker), Jan 25 (PTI) National award-winning Malayalam film director Priyanandanan was allegedly attacked with cow dung water near here Friday, days after he courted controversy over an objectionable Facbook post on Sabarimala women's entry issue, police said.

In a swift action on a complaint lodged by the director, police registered a case and arrested an RSS worker within hours of the attack.

Jind, Jan 25 (PTI) The BJP and the Congress put up shows of strength Friday as the Jind by-poll neared, with the ruling party accusing the Congress candidate Randeep Singh Surjewala of not taking his role as an MLA seriously.

At a rally, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar suggested that Surjewala, the Congress' chief spokesperson, hardly attended the state assembly to which he was elected from Kaithal.

"Congress is such a buffalo who eats fodder of Haryana but gives milk in Delhi," Khattar said.

New Delhi, Jan 25 (PTI) Pranab Mukherjee left a strong imprint on the nation's growth trajectory with his selfless work, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Friday expressing delight at the former president being awarded the Bharat Ratna.

Bharatiya Jana Sangh leader late Nanaji Deshmukh, singer Bhupen Hazarika and former president Mukherjee were on Friday conferred the country's highest civilian award Bharat Ratna.

New Delhi, Jan 25 (PTI) Amid a row over Rahul Gandhi's Kailash Mansarovar visit last year after the Congress chief on Friday said he had also met Chinese ministers during his trip, the Beijing's envoy here said all Indian pilgrims were welcome to the country.

"The Chinese government, the Chinese side will welcome all pilgrims from India," Chinese envoy Luo Zhaohui said in response to a question on Gandhi's meeting with his country's ministers.

Srinagar, Jan 26, 2019; Two Kashmiri sepratists were killed in an encounter with security forces on Saturday in Khunmoh area on the outskirts of Srinagar city in Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation following information about presence of separatists in the area, a police official said, as Republic Day events were being held in parts of the city.

He said the search turned into a gun battle after separatists opened firing on security forces.

New Delhi, Jan 26 (PTI) Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu Saturday greeted people on the 70th Republic Day and urged citizens to renew their solemn pledge to build a strong, confident, peaceful and economically prosperous nation.

In his message, Naidu asked fellow countrymen to do their best to contribute in building a peaceful, prosperous and compassionate world and realise the ideal of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (the world is one family).