Politics

Mixed reactions pour in after PM Modi lauches 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan'

New Delhi/Bhopal/Mumbai, Oct 2 (ANI): Political leaders poured in mixed reactions on Thursday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan'. BJP President Amit Shah said that after a long time a social issue has been raised through such a big campaign. Congress leader Rajiv Shukla said that he hopes BJP is not using the campaign to get footage and is really working towards cleaning India. NCP leader Tariq Anwar said that he hopes to see a clean India in the near future. However JD (U) Chief Sharad Yadav said that nothing much is going to come out of this campaign.

Oct 2, 2014

PM Modi and Vice President Hamid Ansari pay homage to Lal Bahadur Shastri on his 103rd birth anniver

New Delhi, Oct 02 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid homage to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri at Vijay Ghat, whose 103rd birth anniversary coincides with Mahatma Gandhi. Later, Vice President Hamid Ansari also paid tribute to Lal Bahadur Shastri at Vijay Ghat. Meanwhile, Congress Presidnet Sonia Gandhi and Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also visited Vijay Ghat and paid floral tribute to Shastri. Modi also paid respect to Shastri via twitter. He described Shastri as a man "with strong determination" and "a symbol of simplicity" and "a person who gave India the slogan Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan". Senior Congress leader Anil Shastri, son of Lal Bahadir Shastri, was also present earlier at Vijay Ghat to offer his tribute to his father.

Oct 2, 2014

'Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah' team accepts PM Modi's 'Clean India' challenge

Mumbai, Oct 02 (ANI): 'Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah' team on Thursday accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's challenge of 'Clean India'. Producer of the Soap opera, Asit Kumar Modi said that this is a great opportunity and a subject of honour. He said that the whole team will work on the same. Meanwhile, Actor Disha Vakani playing the role of 'Daya' and Shailesh Lodha in the role of 'Tarak Mehta' also accepted the challenged and thanked PM Modi for such an honour. Modi launched the campaign on Thursday and aims to make India clean by 2019.

Oct 2, 2014

German World War II bomber found in Croatia's Adriatic

A rare, well-preserved German World War II bomber has been found in Croatia's central Adriatic more than seven decades after it was shot down, the national conservation institute said on Wednesday. Duration: 00:40

Oct 2, 2014

Dolphins and turtles under threat in Pakistan

The turtles and Dolphins of Pakistan's Indus river - both protected by law - are in a fight for their survival as man's activities threatens their futures. Duration: 02:29

Oct 2, 2014

After Modi launches 'Swachh Bharat' campaign, BJP leaders wield broom across India

New Delhi/ Mumbai/ Nagpur/ Bangalore, Oct 02 (ANI): After Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched 'Sawachh Bharat' campaign, BJP leaders wielded broom on the streets to mark the launch of the campaign across India. Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Ananth Kumar wielded the broom at the railway station in Bangalore. Health and Family welfare minister Dr Harsh Vardhan along with Railways Minister DV Sadananda Gowda participated in the cleanliness drive which was held at the New Delhi railway station. Later Dr Harsh Vardhan also wiped the floors in Lady Hardinge Hospital. Meanwhile, BJP President Amit Shah wielded broom in Mumbai, Maharashtra BJP Chief Devendra Fadnavis started the 'Clean India Campaign' in Nagpur and Navy Chief Robin K Dhowan picked up the broom in New Delhi. MoS in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh also wielded broom on the streets of Jammu.

Oct 2, 2014

PM Modi makes surprise visit to Delhi police Station

New Delhi, Oct 02 (AN): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday wielded the broom during a surprise visit to the Mandir Marg police station in Delhi, under the 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan'. There were no officers present at the Mandir Marg police station in New Delhi as all of them had been deputed for the PM's visit to the area. Later, The police officials immediately scrambled to clean the area as the prime minister pointed out the unhygienic conditions and trash out in open, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Clean India' campaign has been appreciated by actor Aamir Khan along with social activist and former IPS officer Kiran Bedi. Prime Minister Modi has officially launched the 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' from Rajpath today where he administered Swachh Bharat pledge and flagged-off Swachh Bharat walkathon.

Oct 2, 2014

Nation pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 145th birth anniversary

New Delhi, Oct 02 (ANI): The nation pays homage to Father of the Nation-Mahatma Gandhi on his 145th birth anniversary on Thursday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu paid floral tribute to 'Bapu' at the Rajghat in Delhi. Meanwhile, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, accompanied by former Kerala Governor Shiela Dikshit also paid their homage to Father of the Nation at Rajghat. Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan along with Minister of Development of North Eastern Region, VK Singh and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also visited Rajghat. The leaders paid floral tributes at Rajghat - the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi on the banks of the River Yamuna.

Oct 2, 2014

Cleanliness is the responsibility of every citizen, not just government: Advani

Ahmedabad, Oct 02 (ANI): Participating in the 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan', veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader LK Advani on Thursday said that people should understand that cleanliness is the responsibility of every citizen and not just the government. He also said that one of the main focuses of the 'Swachh Bharat' campaign is to provide toilets for everyone so that people stop defecating in the open. Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Modi officially launched the 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' from Rajpath, he also administered Swachh Bharat pledge and flagged-off Swachh Bharat walkathon. The 'Swachh Bharat' campaign that has been launched nationwide focuses on sanitation, hygiene and waste management.

Oct 2, 2014

Kiran Bedi, Amir Khan laud PM Modi's 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' initiative

New Delhi, Oct 2 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Clean India' campaign has been appreciated by Actor Aamir Khan along with social activist and former IPS officer Kiran Bedi. Social activist and former IPS officer Kiran Bedi on Thursday said that 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' is a very positive campaign and that any movement that is started by the leadership by setting an example is going to have an impact on the people. Meanwhile, speaking out in support of 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' Bollywood actor Aamir Khan said, that clean India movement is the right kind of gift that we can give Mahatma Gandhi on his birthday.

Oct 2, 2014

South Asia Newsline - Oct 02, 2014

Oct 2, 2014

Kejriwal cleans drains in New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 02 (ANI): Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Clean India Mission, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, went on a separate cleanliness spree in 280 areas of New Delhi by cleaning drains and demanded an improvement in the quality of the lives of sweepers. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan which was launched by Modi on Thursday aims to create a clean India by 2019 by eliminating the unhealthy practice of open defecation. Arvind Kejriwal, along with other party workers and sweepers started his drive by cleaning the BR Camp area in the capital. Kejriwal said that to ensure a clean India, problems of the cleaning staff of the country needed to be resolved.

Oct 2, 2014

Tens of thousands of protesters block the main street to the financial Central district (at background) outside the government headquarters in Hong Kong September 28, 2014.

As Hong Kong Protestors Threaten 'Occupy Central', China Warns of 'Chaos'

Protestors have demanded the current leader step down from office by Thursday, failing which they have threatened to occupy government buildings.

Oct 2, 2014

Brazil's Rousseff: tortured guerrilla to first woman president

Dilma Rousseff is leading in the polls for Brazil's first electoral round on October 5. But a weak economy and a corruption scandal have hit her campaign, and ecologist Marina Silva has emerged as a serious challenger. Duration: 02:34

Oct 2, 2014

Clean India campaign: Modi ropes in 9 people including Salman, Sachin, Ramdev

New Delhi, Oct 1 (ANI): While launching the 'Swachh Bharat' campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday invited nine people on the social media to join him in the movement. Modi said that he has invited Governor Mridula Sinha, Actor Priyanka Chopra, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, Actor Salman Khan, Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, Reliance Group Chairman Anil Ambani, Actor Kamal Haasan, Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev and the team of TV soap opera Tarak Mehta Ka Oolta Chashma to come to the public places and work towards a Clean India. Modi said that he has even requested each one of them to draw nine more into the initiative to take it viral.

Oct 2, 2014