The Shiv Sena on Friday targeted the Centre by questioning the "efficacy" of the 2016 surgical strike and said the perception that it would demoralise Pakistani terrorists remained an "illusion" as Indian soldiers continue to get killed in terror attacks in Kashmir. Accusing the Modi government of boasting about how Pakistan was straightened out after the surgical strike, the Sena sought to know whether it has really happened. It also observed that troubled borders were not good for the country's well-being.
The measures include maintaining social distancing, wearing of masks, proper sanitisation, avoiding large congregations, protecting vulnerable persons and follow all COVID-19 guidelines issued by the ministries of health and home, it said.
'Let us see the tricolour flutter and soar as we park our vehicles, as we play cricket in the gullies, as we surf the Internet, as we enter our places of worship,' says Ankita Athawale.
Just like on Day 1, the Bharat Army came to the ground along with their tricolours and cheers, but they played it a little different on Day 2.
The 61-year-old saffron clad BJP leader is the 19th accused to depose before the court in the over 27-year-old case. 13 other alleged accused, including former deputy prime minister LK Advani and senior BJP leaders MM Joshi and Kalyan Singh are yet to be examined at this stage.
Republic day was celebrated in the United States, the United Kingdom and South Africa, with unfurling of the tricolour and peace prayers held by the Indian community in these countries.Indian Ambassador to the US Ronen Sen unfurled the tricolour at a function held at the Indian Embassy in Washington, with a large number of community members from in and around the capital attending the event, at which President Pratibha Patil's message was read out.
Dhankhar has often crossed swords with the Trinamool Congress government over a host of issues in the past one year.
Wearing garlands, the farmer leaders, who had called for observing 'Sadbhavana Diwas' (Harmony Day) on Saturday after the immense outrage over violence by protesters during their Republic Day tractor rally, sat on the dais during the fast, as crowds of supporters swelled, especially in Gazipur where the Bharatiya Kisan Union is leading the protest.
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) supporters stayed put on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway on Friday as the crowd swelled there, notwithstanding the Ghaziabad administration's ultimatum to vacate the UP Gate protest site where security force in large numbers was re-deployed.
The Delhi police's Special Cell has lodged an FIR under sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and sections of the IPC dealing with sedition to investigate the violence at Red Fort in Delhi on January 26.
'The Modi government must tell us what this person's connection with the BJP is.'
His mother is, however, undeterred and determined to participate in the protests, saying it is 'for the future of my children'.
Glimpses of I-Day celebrations across India.
Radhika Vemula, Rohith's mother, who was accompanied by the 'dadis' and former JNU student Umar Khalid unfurled the national flag. They sang the national anthem along with thousands of people, including women and children who had gathered at Shaheen Bagh to celebrate the occasion.
All eyes were as India as it celebrated its 69h Republic Day on Friday with the 10 ASEAN leaders as chief guests. The mood was upbeat across the country. Rediff.com brings you glimpses of the celebrations.
"People in India are showing their angst, their concerns, their worries about the future of India. Everybody wants development, what has Modi done? He has done his own development rather than development of the country," he added.
A pall of gloom descended on the Harmain area of Shopian as people bid final adieu to Lieutenant Umer Fayaz, the army soldier who found killed on Wednesday. Fayaz was abducted by five to six terrorists from his relative's house in south Kashmir's Shopian on Tuesday night. His bullet riddled body was found on Wednesday morning, a police official said. The officer, who was commissioned in the army in December last year, had come to Kulgam district on leave for attending a wedding in his family.
"Our neighbouring country thinks such terror attacks can weaken us, but their plans will not materialise," he said at a function to flag off a new semi-high speed train from Delhi to Varanasi.
A pall of gloom descended on Mira Road, a township in Maharashtra as people joined the last rites of martyred Indian soldier Major Kaustabh Rane, who was martyred in Jammu-Kashmir. He was among the four army personnel killed in a gunfight with terrorists near the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora district on Tuesday. His family, friends and residents showered flowers, raised slogans "Major Kaustubh Rane, Amar Rahe", "Vande Mataram" and "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" as a flower-laden army truck took him to the crematorium.
The university said it followed procedure and believed that the motorcycle procession was meant to polarise students on the campus.
In her message on the occasion of the 73rd Independence Day, she appealed to all to reinvigorate the principles of compassion, coexistence and inclusive development as the indelible features of polity, society and economy.
According to Owaisi, the CAA was only made towards making India a Hindu Rashtra.
Last rites of CRPF jawanas killed in the Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh's Sukma, were conducted with full state honours.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered the customary Independence Day address to the nation after unfurling the Tricolour at the Red Fort. India is marking its 74th Independence Day under the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic.
A look at the inside pictures.
Protesting farmers owing allegiance to different farmers' bodies blocked state and national highways at several places on Saturday, causing inconvenience to commuters.
The PM said that a lie is being spread that this govt had brought the law to snatch people's rights. He dared rivals to find anything discriminatory in his work.
In an embarrassment, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Aksai Chin were not shown as India's territory in a map by the Pentagon website ahead of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's press conference jointly with his American counterpart.
"What sort of nationalism was displayed while backing 1993 blasts accused actor Sanjay Dutt," BJP Mumbai unit president Ashish Shelar said, alluding to late Bal Thackeray's support to the actor.
The mortal remains of the Central Reserve Police Force jawans killed in the audacious attack in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir were brought to New Delhi on Friday evening in an Indian Air Force plane, officials said.
Sachin Tendulkar was among the many who paid their last respects to the cricketer, coach-manager and administrator.
The state government has also issued orders on celebration of Independence Day at state madrassas.
Bharatiya Janata Party's Junagadh unit's website was allegedly hacked by unknown persons who uploaded "morphed" photographs of party's PM nominee Narendra Modi and posted comments against Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, a party functionary said on Sunday.
Indians in countries like the United States, China, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Egypt, Israel and South Africa celebrated the day with hoisting of the national flag and singing of patriotic songs.
One only wishes RAW: Romeo Akbar Walter was cooked better, says Urvi Parikh.
Here's what your favourite Bollywood celebs are tweeting.
T S Sudhir, who was present at the occasion, reports
'Not afraid to look Muslim, not shy of flaunting her nationalism.' 'With a willingness to fight carrying the Constitution, the Flag, the Anthem, Ambedkar, Gandhi and the chant of 'Hindustan Zindabad',' notes Shekhar Gupta.
President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday strongly defended the three new agri laws saying their benefits have begun reaching 10 crore small farmers instantly, and condemned as 'very unfortunate' the Republic Day violence and 'dishonour' to the tricolour during the tractor parade by the protesting farm unions in New Delhi.
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