Mamata urges PM Modi to visit Cyclone Amphan-affected areas in Bengal, says 'never seen such destruction in my life'

VP Naidu, PM Modi congratulate US President Joe Biden, VP Kamala Harris

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated United States of America's new President Joe Biden. Biden took oath as the 46th President of the United States of America on January 20. PM Modi also congratulated Kamala Harris on becoming the Vice President of USA. Harris took oath as the first female VP of the United States of America. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu also wished and congratulated to Biden and Harris on being sworn in as the President and VP of USA.

Watch: Joe Biden takes oath as 46th US President, PM Modi congratulates

Democrat Joe Biden was sworn-in as the 46th President of the United States on Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated Joe Biden for being sworn in as the President of the United States and said he was committed to working with him to take the India-US partnership to even greater heights. The 78-year-old veteran Democrat leader was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice John Roberts at the West Front of the US Capitol in Washington -- the traditional location for presidential inaugural ceremonies. "My warmest congratulations to Joe Biden on his assumption of office as President of the United States of America. I look forward to working with him to strengthen India-US strategic partnership," Modi said. PM Modi extended wishes to Kamala Harris. Harris was sworn-in as the Vice President of USA on Wednesday. Watch the full video for more details.

Vendors in Ahmedabad support renaming of dragon fruit to 'Kamalam'

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on January 19 said that the government has decided to rename the dragon fruit as 'Kamalam' since it resembles to lotus. According to the CM, the word dragon fruit sounded inappropriate and so the Gujarat government has decided the fruit be called Kamalam. "Farmers say it looks like lotus and that is the reason we have renamed it 'Kamalam. So, the Gujarat government has decided to call the fruit Kamalam," said Chief Minister Rupani. Appreciating the government's decision, a shopkeeper in Ahmedabad said, "It's good that the government has decided to rename the fruit as Kamalam. India and China keep fighting. So, it's better to name it as Indian fruit." Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his monthly radio program Mann Ki Baat in July 2019 had praised the farmers of Kutch for the cultivation of dragon fruit so that India can be self-reliant.

Don't need her certificate: Vijayvargiya on Mamata's 'BJP more dangerous than Naxalites' remark

BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya reacted on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's statement calling the party "more dangerous than Naxals". He said that BJP doesn't need CM Banerjee's certificate that it is dangerous or not. "People of the country have made Narendra Modi Prime Minister second time so we don't need Mamata Banerjee's certificate,' he said. He added that BJP will only choose those TMC leaders who are not indulged in anti-national activities.

Mamata Vs who in Nandigram?’: Suvendu Adhikari responds; guarantees BJP win

Days after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that she would contest the upcoming state assembly election from Nandigram, now her former aide turned BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has hit back. While Adhikari refused to confirm his candidature from Nandigram, he said that he would guarantee the victory of the candidate the BJP fields in Nandigram. ‘Mamata Banerjee has announced to contest from there, relying on 62,000 votes but I have 2.13 lakh people who chant 'Jai Shri Ram,’ Adhikari said. Meanwhile, in a fresh setback to the Trinamool Congress, Arindam Bhattacharya joined the Bharatiya Janata Party and said that he wants to join PM Modi’s mission of making an Atmanirbhar Bengal. Watch the full video for all the details.

Aditya Birla Group's Vice President joins BJP ahead of Bengal polls

Ranjan Banerjee, senior vice-president of Aditya Birla Group, joined the BJP in Kolkata on January 20. He joined the party in the presence of BJP's national vice president Mukul Roy. Meanwhile, Arindam Bhattacharya, a former Congress MLA who later switched to TMC joined BJP. He joined BJP in the presence of party leader Kailash Vijayvargiya in New Delhi. Speaking to ANI, Ranjan Banerjee said, "I thank BJP for giving me this opportunity to serve the people of the state. We need to bring industries here so that people can get employment." Bengal is going for polls in the mid of 2021.