Indian Sub-continent

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).

Agartala, Jan 26 (PTI) Tripura Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki today stressed on the need for cordial relations with the neighbouring Bangladesh for development of transport routes that would benefit the state as well as the entire north eastern region.

Addressing the 70th Republic Day function at the Assam Rifles Ground here after unfurling the Tri-colour, Solanki said a new waterway is being set up between Bangladesh and Tripura to make the state a trade hub.

KANPUR: As many as 1.10 Lakh voters have been included in all the ten assembly seats of recently published voter’s revised list.

Women have shown interest in registration and Kidwai Nagar assembly constituency has seen a marked increase of 7,479 female voters followed by Kalyanpur (7,364), Cantonment (7,244) and Govindnagar (6,973).

KANPUR: One youth lost his precious life in a 10-feet deep cave on Panki-Kalyanpur road here on Thursday late night. Jalkal had dug up a pothole in order to repair the water pipeline. But it was not filled up properly after completion of repairing work. Even barricading was not done suitably. The bike entangled into the wooden log and fell into the deep opening. The rider was battling between life and death inside the ditch.

25 Jan 2019; AFP: Indian dairy traders have lodged a police complaint after cinema fans stole huge amounts of milk to pour on film posters for an upcoming movie to bring it good luck.

"Paal abhishekam" is a Hindu religious practice involving pouring milk on the idols of deities.

But film buffs often perform the same ritual on huge cut-outs and posters of actors, particularly in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu where temples dedicated to film stars are not uncommon.

Amethi (UP), Jan 24; PTI: Congress president Rahul Gandhi Thursday said he has given his sister Priyanka Gandhi, newly entrusted with eastern Uttar Pradesh, the target of ensuring that the party forms the next government in the state.

The Congress will also fight the coming Lok Sabha polls with “full strength”, he said at a public meeting in his constituency.

His two-day visit to Amethi had coincided Wednesday with the formal entry of Priyanka Gandhi in politics, after years of speculation on whether she would take the plunge.

Amaravati (AP), Jan 25 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu Friday said the time has come for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to go home as the BJP's defeat in the ensuing the general elections was certain.

"Save India, save democracy slogan is reverberating across the country. The United India rallies (of opposition parties) are creating a buzz in the country. The country will not tolerate anti-people rule," the TDP president told party leaders during his daily teleconference.