Farmers standing resolutely in face of Modi govt's 'cruelty': Rahul Gandhi

BJP hits back at Rahul Gandhi, slams Congress over Chinese aggression

Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Arunachal Pradesh Tapir Gao on Tuesday claimed that it was during Congress' regime China occupied Sumdorong Chu Valley in Tawang and added that the then Army Chief planned an operation but former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi denied him permission to push back People's Liberation Army troops. "Since the 80s till today, they (China) are occupying this area, and construction of villages is not a new thing. They have already constructed military base between Bisa and Maza which is inside McMahon Line, under Indian territory," Gao added. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue of national security after reports that China has built a village in Arunachal Pradesh, and said China needs to be given a clear message. He termed the situation with China as "very dangerous" and said India under Modi does not have any clear cut strategy on China, which is testing the country and will not sit silent. Watch the full video for more details.

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.

Centre trying to exhaust farmers: Sachin Pilot on govt-farmers meeting

Congress leader and MLA from Tonk Sachin Pilot on January 20 reacted on farm laws and farmers' protest at Delhi borders. He slammed Centre by meeting with farmers' leaders by saying that the government is trying to exhaust farmers. He emphasized that Congress is standing with farmers in their protest. Farmers of different states are protesting at Delhi borders against Centre's newly enacted farm laws.

North India wakes up to chilly morning

People living in Uttar Pradesh woke up to a chilly morning on Thursday. People lit up fire to keep themselves warm as temperature dropped in the city. In Punjab's Amritsar, the situation was no different. The city witnessed a dense fog this morning. Minimum temperature was recorded at 4.4 degrees Celsius.

Farmers assemble in Punjab's Tarn Taran ahead of tractor rally on R-Day

Farmers on January 20 assembled at Harike Pattan in Tarn Taran district to head to Delhi, ahead of their proposed tractor rally on Republic Day. Protesting farmers and their leaders have said that they will take out a massive tractor rally in Delhi on January 26 in protest of the three farm laws. Farmers have been protesting on different borders of the national capital since November 26 against the three newly enacted farm laws - Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

Punjab artist paints Joe Biden & Kamala Harris portraits ahead of oath taking

A Punjab artist painted portraits of US President-elect Joe Biden and VP-elect Kamala Harris on the eve of their inauguration. Jagjot Singh Rubal painted the portraits as a gift to the leaders on their swearing-in. The artist also expressed his wish to display his work in the White House. Rubal took 20 days to complete the portraits painted on joint canvas using acrylic colours. He had earlier received a letter of appreciation from PM Modi for his portrait. The artist from Amritsar currently holds as many as 10 world records. Biden-Harris' inauguration ceremony is scheduled to take place on January 20 at the US Capitol. The event is set to be a star-studded one with celebs like Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, others.

Centre ready to pause farm laws for one and half years: Union Leader

The tenth round of talks between farmer unions and Central government over the three farm laws concluded at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi on January 20. General secretary of All India Kisan Sabha Hannan Mollah, said, "Government said that it is ready to file an affidavit in the court to the effect that it would put the implementation of the laws on hold for one and half a year. They also said that a committee would be formed on MSP and the laws and they would implement the recommendations of the committee. We'll hold a meeting tomorrow and take a decision on the proposal." He also said, "We asked government to withdraw the fake cases registered by NIA against farmers. In response, government said they are looking into the matter and asked us to provide the names of leaders against whom new cases, if any, have been registered." The next round of the meeting will take place on January 22. The farmers are protesting against new farm laws since November 26, 2020 at Delhi borders.

Watch: 'BJP' supporters chant 'desh ke gaddaron ko' slogan Bengal roadshow

BJP supporters raised "desh ke gaddaron ko, goli maaro saalo ko" slogan during a party rally in Chandannagar area in West Bengal's Hooghly on January 20. The same slogan was raised by Union Minister Anurag Thakur during campaigning for Delhi assembly elections last year. Bengal is going for polls in the mid of 2021.

Over dozen farmers booked for blocking CM Khattar's convoy: Ambala DSP

Haryana Police has booked around 13 farmers who allegedly blocked state Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar's convoy in Ambala on December 23 during their protest against the new farm laws. "We have registered cases against 13 farmers under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. We are investigating the incident," said Madan Lal, DSP, Ambala. CM Khattar was going to Ambala to campaign for BJP candidates in the election to the municipal corporation.

United Sikhs NGO sets up medical camp for farmers at Singhu Border

United Sikhs, a non-government organisation (NGO), has joined the series of efforts to support the protesting farmers who are camped at border areas of Delhi to demonstrate against three new agriculture laws. The NGO has set up a medical camp at the Singhu border (Delhi-Haryana) to provide medical aid to the protesting farmers who suffered injuries on their way from Punjab and other neighbouring states. Six doctors are camped at the protest site to provide necessary treatment to the farmers and around 2500 of them who suffered minor injuries during clash with Haryana Police, said NGO's Director.

Youth Congress workers face water cannons after gheraoing Haryana CM's residence

Punjab Youth Congress workers faced water cannons from Police in Chandigarh after they gheraoed the residence of Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar on December 02. The protest by the Youth Congress workers was against Haryana administration's tackling of protesting farmers last month when the disgruntled community from Punjab decided to march towards the national capital for their 'Delhi Chalo' protest against the new agricultural laws. Protesting farmers who were marching towards Delhi faced water cannon and tear gas shells from Haryana Police. The alleged use of force against farmers drew ire of opposition, mainly from Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh who criticised the handling, and later said he will not pick up the calls of his Haryana counterpart. Thousands of farmers have camped in and around the national capital for seven days now to intensify their protest against the new farm reforms which they have termed as "black laws".