Politics

Nothing new in PM Modi's Independence Day speech: Congress

New Delhi, Aug 15 (ANI): Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's maiden Independence Day speech delivered from the ramparts of the Red Fort had nothing much or new to offer and lacked impact. Another Congress leader Salman Khurshid added that Modi’s speech was more of an election speech rather than a speech by a Prime Minister. Earlier the Prime Minister unfurled the flag from the ramparts of the Red Fort after inspecting the guard of honour. During his address, he touched upon issues related to poverty, women safety, female foeticide, the importance of the IT sector, the discontinuation of the planning commission, making India the global manufacturing hub of the future and the problem of farmer suicides.

Aug 15, 2014

NDA Government Will Not Break Ram Sethu, Has Alternatives: Gadkari

While implementing the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project, the Union government will not spoil or break the Ram Sethu, stated the Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari.

Aug 15, 2014

Pope holds mass in South Korea

Pope Francis holds mass for 45,000 people in Daejeon, South Korea on day two of the first papal trip to Asia in 15 years. Duration: 00:46

Aug 15, 2014

Militants attack Pakistani airbases, gunmen killed

Pakistani police say they have thwarted two separate attacks on military airbases killing a number of attackers in the insurgency-hit province of Baluchistan. Duration: 00:38

Aug 15, 2014

Kerala School Drops Vande Mataram from I-Day Programme as Radical Group Objects

The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) asked the school to drop the song, stating that it is against the religious beliefs of a community.

Aug 15, 2014

State Chief Ministers hoist national flag on Independence Day

Bihar/ Trivendrum/ Bhopal/ Ranchi/ Lucknow, Aug 15 (ANI): Chief Ministers of various states on Friday hoisted the National Flag on the occasion of 68th Independence Day. Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi hoisted the national flag in Patna and said that Bihar will move forward with an aim for development. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren while addressing the gathering at the Independence Day function held at the Morabadi ground Soren said that Mining had destroyed Jharkhand. Kerala CM Oommen Chandy also hoisted the flag in Trivendrum during a grand Independence Day event. Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan hoisted the flag in state capital Bhopal. Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav along with SP Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav also hoisted the National Flag at the Vidhan Sabha in Lucknow.

Aug 15, 2014

J&K CM Omar Abdullah unfurls National Flag, addresses people Part - 2

Srinagar, Aug 15 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday unfurled the national flag at the Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar. Abdullah said that his government has tried its level best to provide facilities to the people of his state. He added that with continuous efforts the government would be able to end AFSPA from the state.

Aug 15, 2014

Jharkhand Governor faints during Independence Day speech

Dumka, Aug 15 (ANI): Jharkhand Governor Syed Ahmed fainted on Friday while giving his Independence Day speech in Dumka after he hoisted the National Flag at a local ground. Ahmed was rushed to a nearby hospital where the doctors said he fainted due to fluctuation of blood pressure. He is out of danger now and is being accompanied by a doctor to Ranchi.

Aug 15, 2014

Sonia Gandhi hoists national flag at Congress Headquarters

New Delhi, Aug 15 (ANI): Congress President Sonia Gandhi hoisted National Flag at All India Congress Committee (AICC) office on the occasion of 68th Independence Day. Sonia unfurled the national flag in the presence of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Vice-President of party and scion of Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, Rahul Gandhi and the party workers. After hoisting the flag, Sonia greeted all party workers and also distributed sweets to the small children.

Aug 15, 2014

Building collapses in floodwater in Nalanda, four die

Nalanda, Aug 15 (ANI): Four died as huge flow of water causing floods made a three storey building collapse in Bihar on August 15 (Friday). Water released from a dam in the neighbouring state Jharkhand along with incessant heavy rains heightened the possibility of floods and led to the disaster in Nalanda district of Bihar. According to natives, huge waterflow hit the building at night, which caused the damage and made it fall.

Aug 15, 2014

Politicians highlight issues Modi missed in his Independence Day speech

New Delhi, Aug 15 (ANI): Indian political leaders on Friday underlined misses in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's maiden Independence Day speech, while also appreciating his effort to touch upon basic issues the country is facing. Modi, in his speech on the occasion of 68th Independence Day on Friday (August 15), highlighted various topics from digitalization of India to poverty. He urged global investors to make India a manufacturing hub, and pitched for manufacturing in the electronic sector, also calling for foreign investment in manufacturing chemicals, automobiles, agro-business and others. However, Politicos felt he did not mention the core struggles of India, such as inflation and corruption. Congress' Rashid Alvi said that Modi could have talked about major problems like militancy from Pakistan but refrained.

Aug 15, 2014

Kashmir observes complete shutdown on 68th Independence Day

Srinagar, Aug 15 (ANI): Kashmir observed a complete shutdown on Friday as India celebrated its 68th Independence Day in a flourish of patriotic zeal and national enthusiasm. Shops remained closed and the traffic was off the roads. People preferred to stay inside their homes due to the shutdown and restrictions in some of the areas in Kashmir valley. Both the separatist factions of Kashmir's Hurriyat conference and the Jihad council had called for a shutdown across the valley. The roads were empty and only security personnel were seen patrolling the areas in the summer capital of Srinagar. Tight security measures have been taken by the security forces to avoid any untoward incident on the Independence Day.

Aug 15, 2014

JandK CM Omar Abdullah unfurls National Flag, addresses people Part - 1

Aug 15, 2014

RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat hoist national flag on Independence Day

Nagpur, Aug 15 (ANI): Celebrating India's 67 years of independence from the British rule, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday hoisted the national flag in Nagpur city. While wishing the nation on its 68th Independence Day, Bhagwat said the foundation of India stands on the sacrifices made.

Aug 15, 2014

LK Advani unfurls national flag and distributes sweets at his residence

New Delhi, Aug 15 (ANI): Senior BJP leader LK Advani on Friday unfurled the National Flag and distributed sweets at his residence. Advani said that he was happy that PM Narendra Modi decided not to deliver a written speech but to speak extempore. He added that the impact of his speech was good.

Aug 15, 2014