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Chennai, Nov 8 (IANS) Setting an example in wildlife conservation, residents of more than 10 villages surrounding the Vellode Birds Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu’s Erode district celebrated Deepavali without bursting firecrackers on Sunday, continuing a remarkable tradition for the 21st consecutive year. The villagers have voluntarily adopted the practice to protect thousands of resident and migratory birds from the deafening noise and air pollution associated with firecrackers. Their collective commitment has transformed the festival into an annual demonstration of environmental responsibility. Children have played a significant role in sustaining the initiative, willingly giving up noisy firecrackers and restricting their celebrations to sparklers. Families marked the festival by wearing new c...

New Delhi, Nov 8 (IANS) In the face of mounting criticism from the ruling alliance over senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's reported response to the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992, party leader Udit Raj said that she was emotional about the country's situation at that time.The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had questioned the Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson's reported emotional response to the events of December 6, 1992.Speaking to IANS, Udit Raj said that the issue is much bigger than the Babri Masjid."The demolition of the mosque was certainly a tragic incident. Her concern was about the country's social fabric, considering that there are 25–30 crore Muslims in this country," he said."If such a large population is viewed with hatred, excluded from the mainstream and targeted...

New Delhi, Nov 8 (IANS) Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Congress veteran leader Sonia Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, accusing them of practising vote-bank politics and selectively expressing concern over incidents involving religious communities.Speaking to IANS, Singh alleged that Sonia Gandhi had expressed grief over the Babri Masjid issue and the Batla House encounter but had remained silent when devotees of Lord Ram were allegedly shot dead."Yes, Sonia Gandhi shed tears over the Babri Masjid issue and the Batla House encounter. But when Ram devotees were shot dead, Sonia Gandhi did not shed any tears. Sonia Gandhi sheds tears and even travels to Azamgarh. Her son, meanwhile, visits JNU and addresses terrorists respectfully as 'ji'. ...

Bastar, Nov 8 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday visited the CoBRA Operations Base at Karanpur in Chhattisgarh's Bastar district to celebrate Diwali with security personnel and laud their courage and sacrifices in the fight against Naxalism (Maoism).The facility served as a training centre and launchpad for counter-Naxal operations in the Bastar region and Abujhmad, which were once considered major strongholds of Maoist insurgency.Addressing the personnel stationed at the base, PM Modi said that while millions of people across India and the world were celebrating the festival of lights with their families, he had chosen to spend the occasion with the security forces, whom he considers an integral part of his family."Today, millions of Indians are joyfully observing the revered...

Chandigarh, Nov 8 (IANS) In a major breakthrough, the Punjab Police, with support of Central agencies, have secured the deportation of noted gangster Gurwinder alias Afridi from Ethiopia ahead of Diwali, after a sustained one-year manhunt under Operation SHAHID.Gurwinder alias Afridi is a kingpin of the Doni Bal–Prabh Dassuwal gang and has been under the agencies’ radar for several organised criminal activities in Punjab, including extortion. The Punjab government had also announced a reward of ₹5 lakh for information leading to his arrest.The information about his deportation was shared by the Punjab DGP on Sunday."Anti-Gangster Task Force Punjab, in coordination with the Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell of Counter Intelligence, Punjab with the support of Central Agencies, ...

Raipur, Nov 8 (IANS) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Sunday extended a warm welcome to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of his visit to Bastar, where he will celebrate Diwali with security personnel deployed in the region, which was once severely affected by Maoist violence.Taking to X, CM Sai expressed gratitude for the Prime Minister's special affection towards the state and its people, saying, "Respected Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, a warm welcome and heartfelt greetings to you on the sacred soil of Bastar. Your special affection and heartfelt bond with the people of all of Chhattisgarh, including Bastar, have always been a source of inspiration for us all."He further said that under the Prime Minister's leadership and guidance, Bastar was steadily moving away...

New Delhi, Nov 8 (IANS) It is not uncommon for a mother to defend her child, whatever the circumstances. It is a deeply ingrained human instinct. So, when Sonia Gandhi says Congress and other Opposition parties have not had a level playing field since 2014, it appears to be little more than a mother coming to her son's defence.She says the BJP has a complete "stranglehold" over all institutions, particularly the Election Commission. The veteran leader also claims that the mainstream media has been controlled, and that the ruling party is using money power and exploiting religion. No doubt, this is a mother's explanation for her son's inability to gain power despite having been in politics and 'working so hard' since 2004, when Rahul Gandhi took the political plunge.A mother's defence of ...