A 22-year-old youth and a person with disability died, while at least 11 were injured, in separate rain-related incidents in the national capital on Wednesday evening. The incidents occurred amid sudden changes in weather in Delhi, as a rainy storm marked by hail wrecked havoc across the city, throwing traffic out of gear as far as Delhi-Noida, Delhi-Ghaziabad, and Delhi-Gurugram roads and uprooting several trees.
India as a sovereign democratic republic completed 75 years of its eventful journey on Sunday, with the stage set at the Kartavya Path in New Delhi for the ceremonial parade during which the country will showcase its military prowess and rich cultural heritage.
Addressing a joint press conference of opposition leaders at the Constitution Club after a 'Tiranga March' from Parliament House to Vijay Chowk, he said the government's intention was to get the Budget Session washed out.
Ahead of Republic Day, the Indian Army announced on Thursday the addition of two new features to this year's parade: battlefield surveillance systems and a Defebce Research and Development Organisation tableau showcasing Pralay, short-range ballistic missiles.
The Kerala Police are investigating the mysterious deaths of an IRS officer, his sister, and their mother in Kochi. The officer, Maneesh Vijay, and his sister, Shalini Vijay, were found hanging inside their house, while their mother, Shakuntala Agarwal, was discovered dead on her bed. Police have not yet established a direct link between the deaths and a CBI case in which Shalini was summoned as an accused. Preliminary findings suggest the siblings died by suicide, but the cause of their mother's death is still under investigation. The family had been residing in the quarters for the past year and a half but reportedly kept to themselves, maintaining limited interaction with neighbours, police added.
Three young officers, grandsons of war veterans, will lead contingents at the 76th Republic Day parade in New Delhi, continuing a family tradition of military service. Lt Ahaan Kumar will lead the 61 Cavalry, Lt Cdr Saahil Ahluwalia will lead the naval contingent, and Capt Ritika Khareta will lead a contingent of the Corps of Signals. The parade will also feature new stunts, including a "Bullet wheelie" by Capt Ashish Rana and a salute by Capt Dimple Singh Bhati on a 12-ft ladder mounted on a moving motorcycle.
"Rahul Gandhi along with opposition leaders met President and submitted the memorandum to resolve farmers' issue. But there was no action from the President and the government. Rahul Gandhi will lead demonstration tomorrow at 10:45 am from Vijay Chowk to Rashtrapati Bhavan with Congress MPs," Suresh said.
Shinde's remarks come in the middle of the election season in JK.
Rains failed to dampen the spirit of Beating Retreat ceremony held at the historic Vijay Chowk in New Delhi on Sunday as Indian classical tunes played by bands of the armed forces filled the air, marking the end of Republic Day celebrations.
In a letter to the President, he said that he mistakenly used an incorrect word for her and it was a slip of tongue.
The redevelopment project of the Central Vista -- the nation's power corridor -- envisages a new triangular Parliament building, a common central secretariat, revamping the three-km Rajpath, a new prime minister's residence and office, and a new vice-president's enclave.
Tunes by Indian musicians, foot-tapping drumbeats and calming chimes reverberated the air as the imposing Rashtrapati Bhavan lit up at sunset marking the end of the 66th Republic Day celebrations with 'Beating Retreat' ceremony at Vijay Chowk in New Delhi on Thursday.
Republic Day celebrations culminated on Friday with the Beating Retreat ceremony that featured 26 soulful band performances, including special composition 'Swarnim Vijay' to commemorate 50 years of India's victory in the 1971 war against Pakistan.
Foot-tapping music and soulful classical renditions reverberated at Vijay Chowk on Wednesday as the Republic Day celebrations culminated with the Beating Retreat ceremony in New Delhi.
The ceremony traces its origins to the early 1950s when Major Roberts of the Indian Army developed the unique ceremony of display by the massed bands.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the 'Run for Unity' in New Delhi on Friday on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, which is being commemorated as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas.
The Indian government has announced staggered working hours for its employees in Delhi due to the severe air pollution in the city. The move comes after a week of 'severe' pollution levels, which have slightly improved but are still in the 'very poor' zone. The order also encourages employees to pool vehicles and use public transport to minimize vehicular pollution.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday asserted that Marathi is the language of Mumbai and Maharashtra and anyone who lives here should learn and speak it. Fadnavis was speaking in the state assembly after Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Bhaskar Jadhav said the government should clarify its stand on senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi's comments that a person coming to Mumbai may not necessarily learn Marathi.
The Medal for Gallantry recipients also included Humayun Bhat, a deputy superintendent of police who was one of four officers to lay down their lives during an encounter with terrorists in south Kashmir's Kokernag in September 2023.
Gandhi, who appeared to lose his cool, responded after reporters asked him about the BJP's attack on his tweet.
Parliament proceedings were adjourned amid ruckus and sloganeering by the Opposition members over the Adani issue.
The function at India Gate will begin at 9 am, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Alok Kumar, said.
If the prime minister can say all kinds of things against India, why is it a crime if Rahul Gandhi does so, Kharge said.
Marking the culmination of the four-day-long Republic Day celebrations, the beating the retreat ceremony will be held on Friday evening at the Vijay Chowk in New Delhi.
This year, 15 military bands, 15 pipes and drum bands from Regimental Centres and Battalions are participating in the ceremony to be held on January 29 at the historic Vijay Chowk.
Approximately 80 leaders from more than 26 political parties are expected to attend the third meeting of the INDIA alliance in the country's financial capital, they said.
Beating Retreat ceremony, which marks the culmination of the four-day-long Republic Day celebrations, is underway at Vijay Chowk in New Delhi.
The overall strength of the Delhi Police is over 80,000.
She left the agency's office in central Delhi just before 7 pm on Tuesday after recording her statement.
The drones took to air in phases and made eight different formations.
Referring to President Droupadi Murmu as 'rashtrapatni' was a 'slip of the tongue', Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said on Thursday and accused the BJP of making a 'mountain out of a molehill' over the issue.
Major roads in and around Delhi including on the DND flyover and Ghazipur border were affected from the morning rush hours till around 2 pm.
Around 2,500 personnel from police and paramilitary have been deployed in the district this year a day before the yatra, police said.
Beating the Retreat ceremony, which marks the culmination of the four-day-long Republic Day celebrations, is underway at Vijay Chowk in New Delhi.
Chowdhury also tendered a written apology to Murmu on Friday for his "rashtrapatni" remark.
Foot-tapping music and soulful classical renditions rent the air as Republic Day celebrations culminated with the Beating Retreat ceremony in New Delhi where President Pranab Mukherjee rode the ceremonial buggy down the Raisina Hill on Sunday for the last time during his tenure.
The police action a day after Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde expressed strong displeasure over police "failure" to prevent anti-Sikh riots protesters from marching to high-security Vijay chowk and sought a report on the incident.
Over 200 Sikhs on Monday staged a protest near Parliament House blocking traffic for about an hour against the acquittal of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in a 1984 riots case and demanding capital punishment for him.
Union Home Secretary R K Singh and Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar will face tough questions on Thursday from the members of the Standing Committee on Union Ministry of Home Affairs headed by Bharatiya Janata Party leader M Venkaiah Naidu.
