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Clashes Erupt Between Congress & Police During Assam Leg Of Bharat Jodo Yatra

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Clashes Erupt Between Congress & Police During Assam Leg Of Bharat Jodo Yatra

Clashes broke out between Congress workers and the police on Saturday amid Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra in Assam’s Guwahati, further intensifying the face-off between the party and the BJP government in the state.

Several Congress leaders accused Assam police of barricading the route and using force to disrupt the march at the behest of the state government. The vehicles in the Yatra convoy were also damaged in alleged stone pelting by “BJP goons,” they said.

Hitting out at the state administration, Rahul Gandhi told the police officers, “You remember one thing, there should be justice in Assam. Because the Chief Minister of Assam is stealing here 24 hours. He is the most corrupt Chief Minister.”

CM Himanta Biswa Sarma condemned Rahul’s remarks as “provocative” and said he has ordered the state DGP to file a case against the Congress leader for “instigating violence through inflammatory speech.” Sarma also blamed the yatra for traffic disruptions in Guwahati.

The Congress demanded a judicial probe into the “physical assault” on state party chief Bhupen Borah and other leaders. LoP Debabrata Saikia, in a memorandum submitted to the Governor, accused the BJP government of unleashing “lumens to sabotage the yatra by brute physical force and criminal attacks.”

As the political slugfest escalated, Assam Police assured full security to the Bharat Jodo march participants. But Congress alleged no protection was provided on the ground leading to repeated “sponsored attacks.”

The 4-month-old cross-country yatra by Rahul Gandhi aims to highlight issues like price rise and unemployment, while the BJP has termed it as a “turnaround march” driven by failure in electoral politics.

Elon Musk Calls For India To Get Permanent UN Security Council Seat

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Elon Musk Calls For India To Get Permanent UN Security Council Seat

Billionaire Elon Musk has backed calls for India to be given a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, stating “India not having a permanent seat despite being the most populous country is absurd.”

In a tweet on Friday, the Tesla and SpaceX chief weighed in on UN reforms, advocating for a reassessment of the current permanent members which include only the USA, Russia, China, UK, and France.

His remarks came after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed disappointment over the lack of African representation and said “How can we accept that Africa still lacks a single Permanent Member?”

Musk agreed, questioning the present structure by noting “The problem is that those with excess power don’t want to give it up.”

India’s exclusion has been highlighted before including by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar who termed the UNSC an “old club” resistant to new members and reforms to reflect contemporary realities.

There have been growing demands by India and nations like Germany, Japan, and Brazil to expand the UN high table to broaden global leadership. India has outlined its strong credentials and contributions to be a permanent member championing the interests of developing countries.

Achieving UNSC reforms and expansion of permanent members has always hit roadblocks as it requires charter amendment which needs the approval of all existing P-5 members, who have been accused of safeguarding their own dominant status.

With Musk adding his voice, it may build fresh momentum on the need for the UN to shed status quo approaches to regain credibility in resolving pressing global conflicts and challenges.

Bollywood And South Stars Join In Ayodhya’s Historic Celebration

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Bollywood And South Stars Join In Ayodhya's Historic Celebration

The holy town of Ayodhya turned into a star-studded venue as Bollywood and South film personalities joined the grand ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony for the Ram Lalla idol at the new Ram Temple site along with luminaries across various fields.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the presiding priest for the elaborately conducted Vedic rituals, warmly welcomed all the special invitees including Amitabh Bachchan and his son Abhishek, Rajinikanth, and Suniel Shetty among others. The megastars expressed their profound honor to be part of the historic occasion.

Dressed in traditional attire with a tilak on his forehead, Amitabh Bachchan shared a photo on Instagram posing in front of the Ram Lalla idol with folded hands. He wrote feeling “immersed in the divine spirit and glory of Lord Ram’s birthplace”. Rajinikanth equally felt “very blessed” and promised to visit Ayodhya every year.

The other key dignitaries present were RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, UP CM Yogi Adityanath, Governors, CMs, saints, seers, and thousands of devotees. Chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ reverberated as people rejoiced in the grand temple’s completion with the deity’s consecration.

Post the ceremony, Ayodhya glowed with dazzling lights as over 17 lakh diyas lit up during Deepotsav celebrations across all ghats and temples. The feverish festivities reflected the auspiciousness of the occasion that heralded a new era for the temple town.

Thousands Throng Ayodhya Temple To See Ram Lalla Idol Day After ‘Pran Pratishtha’

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Thousands Throng Ayodhya Temple To See Ram Lalla Idol Day After 'Pran Pratishtha'

A massive rush of devotees was witnessed at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on Tuesday, a day after the idol of Ram Lalla was consecrated with an elaborate ritual ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries.

Thousands of excited devotees started queuing up outside the temple as early as 3 am to get a glimpse and seek blessings of the idol of infant Lord Ram after the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ event on Monday. Chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ resonated through the temple premises.

The consecration ceremony, coinciding with Makar Sankranti, was attended by PM Modi, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, and UP CM Yogi Adityanath among a host of VIPs, saints, and seers. It marked the completion of the Ram Temple construction.

Addressing the gathering, PM Modi hailed the temple construction as a historic day while CM Yogi noted “The temple has been built where we had resolved to build it.”

Elaborate security arrangements have been made in Ayodhya for crowd management and surveillance. The temple trust has appealed to devotees to follow all protocols.

The Ram Janmabhoomi site has been transformed to accommodate more than 1 lakh devotees at a time when the temple opens for full public view later this year after the ‘garbhagriha’ sanctum is ready. Tuesday’s massive turnout underscored the divine significance Lord Ram holds for millions of Hindus globally.

Indian Stocks Open Higher; Zee Entertainment Tanks 10%

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Sensex Soars Over 1,200 Points; Nifty Tops 21,700 As Reliance Fuels Rally

The Indian stocks opened higher on Tuesday, with the benchmark Sensex gaining over 400 points and the Nifty topping 21,650 in early trade. However, Zee Entertainment saw its shares plunge over concerns regarding its failed merger deal with Sony.

The BSE Sensex rose 404 points or 0.6% to 71,828, while the NSE Nifty 50 index climbed 117 points or 0.5% to 21,689. The gains were broad-based, with heavyweight stocks like Bharti Airtel, Sun Pharma, ICICI Bank, PowerGrid, TCS, and Tech Mahindra rising between 1-2.5%.

On the flip side, Asian Paints, HDFC Bank, Hindustan Unilever, Maruti, and IndusInd Bank came under selling pressure. State Bank of India also traded lower.

Zee Entertainment shares crashed 10%, emerging as the top loser on Sensex and Nifty. This came after Sony Pictures Networks announced it had issued a notice to call off its merger deal with Zee due to breaches of a non-compete agreement. Sony is also seeking a termination fee of $90 million from Zee.

Among sectoral indices, the Nifty Pharma Index rallied 1.6% and the Nifty Bank advanced 0.75%. In contrast, the Nifty Media Index dropped over 3% due to the sharp fall in Zee.

The midcap and smallcap shares also joined the rally, rising around 0.8% each. Market experts said the ongoing quarterly earnings and global cues will dictate market trends this week, even as the focus remains on the Union Budget scheduled on 1st February.

First Glimpse Of Ram Lalla Idol’s Face Unveiled Ahead Of January 22nd Temple Consecration

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“लोकाभिरामं रणरंगधीरं राजीवनेत्रं रघुवंशनाथम्।कारुण्यरूपं करुणाकरं तं श्रीरामचन्द्रं शरणं प्रपद्ये॥”प्रभु श्रीराम की यह सुंदर छवि, मन को प्रफुल्लित और हृदय को आह्लादित करने वाला है।॥ जय जय श्री राम ॥ pic.twitter.com/2Mze3HMCTT— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) January 19, 2024

A recent social media post has offered the earliest sneak peek at the unveiled face of the Ram Lalla idol scheduled for consecration at the Ayodhya Ram Temple on January 22nd. The images are allegedly from the workshop of sculptor Arun Yogiraj, the artisan behind the statue’s unique design.

The photographs depict a serene child version of Lord Ram, around 5 years of age, holding a bow and arrow. However, the idol’s eyes remain covered by rituals mandating the removal of the veil only during the ‘Prana Pratishtha’ ceremony.

BJP leader Sambit Patra was among the many who shared the pictures online, feeling elated to witness the beautiful early glimpse of Shri Ram Lalla. Several commentators admired the peaceful aura and vibrant expression sculpted into the statue.

The black stone idol was transported to Ayodhya and placed ceremoniously in the Garbhagriha on 19th January after wrapping rituals. But the public unveiling will occur as scheduled on the 22nd once purification ceremonies conclude the same morning.

As explained by trust member Acharya Govind Dev Giri, priests will apply a gold rod dipped in honey to adorn Ram Lalla’s eyes with a kajal-like natural pigment during the ‘Netronmelan’ ritual. This officially completes the statue’s consecration, allowing devotees the first sight of their beloved deity.

Weighing around 150-200 kgs, the statue has been meticulously etched out of ancient black stone nearly 3 billion years old by sculptor Arun Yogiraj from Mysuru. His 6-month long ascetic-like penance while sculpting involved observing fasting and satvik diet restrictions.

The unique child avatar holding a bow and arrow is already generating tremendous devotional buzz in the country as the Magnificent Ayodhya Ram Mandir finally transitions from dream to reality for billions of adherents globally. The unveiling promises to be an emotional and spiritual spectacle.

Ram Temple Trust Issues QR Code Entry Passes For Jan 22nd Consecration Ceremony

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Ram Temple Trust Issues QR Coded Entry Passes For Jan 22nd Consecration Ceremony

The Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has released a formal entry pass for invitees to the prestigious Ram Temple consecration ceremony on January 22nd in Ayodhya. As per the trust, merely possessing the invitation card will not guarantee entry to the event. Attendees would need to mandatorily produce the QR code-enabled entry pass for access.

In a social media post, the trust shared an image of the pass featuring event details and a unique QR code alongside customary guest information. It stated that dignitaries can only enter the inner sanctum area after on-site scanning of these QR codes by security authorities.

Over 7,000 special invites have gone out for the high-profile temple inauguration, including 3000 VIP guests like priests, donors, and public figures. Extensive security arrangements are also in place for the ceremony.

The pran pratishtha rituals to ceremonially install Lord Ram Lalla’s idol in the new Ram Janmabhoomi temple commenced on January 17th. The consecration ceremony will be held on the 22nd, officiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

On Thursday, the magnificent 51-inch idol carved from a special stone was placed in the garbha griha by priests. Elaborate purification rituals were also conducted, followed by prayers seeking blessings of Lords Ganesha and Varuna.

Carved by renowned sculptor Arun Yogiraj, the stunning child idol of Ram Lalla sits on a lotus seat. The sprawling temple premises have been lavishly decorated with flowers and lights as activities gather momentum ahead of the formal inauguration.

Post the January 22 pomp, the temple will officially open for public visitations from January 23rd. Devotees are eagerly awaiting their first chance for Lord Ram’s auspicious ‘darshan’ at his new janmabhoomi sanctuary.

Iran Slams Pakistan’s ‘Unacceptable’ Retaliatory Strikes After Cross-Border Attacks

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Iran Slams Pakistan's 'Unacceptable' Retaliatory Strikes After Cross-Border Attacks

Diplomatic tensions escalated between Iran and Pakistan after Islamabad conducted drone strikes on Iranian soil on Thursday, killing 9 civilians in retaliation for Tehran’s attack on militant bases inside Pakistan two days prior.

Iran’s foreign ministry issued a strongly worded statement condemning Pakistan’s “unbalanced and unacceptable” strikes that resulted in the deaths of four children among other civilians. While committed to maintaining brotherly bilateral relations, Tehran asserted that Islamabad had violated its obligation to prevent terrorist groups from establishing bases across the border.

Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi confirmed to state TV that the strikes killed 3 women, 2 men, and 4 children – all foreign nationals. Pakistan, however, insisted its ‘precision military strikes’ solely targeted terrorist hideouts, calling them critical for national security interests.

Nonetheless, a furious Iran summoned Pakistan’s most senior diplomat, the charge d’affaires, demanding an explanation for the egregious attacks on its soil. Tehran also doubled down on its red lines, emphasizing that the security of Iranian lives and territorial sovereignty were non-negotiable.

Further, the foreign ministry statement articulated an expectation for Pakistan’s government to actively uphold commitments that disallow armed militias from entrenching bases on its territory. It remains to be seen if the latest escalation irreversibly strains ties or leads to intensive diplomatic efforts to restore normalcy.

The cross-border raids followed Iran’s attack on Tuesday against alleged camps of the Jaish al Adl (JAA) militant group located inside Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province. Pakistan holds that strike responsible for killing 7 of its soldiers.

As conflicting accounts and versions emerge from both sides post the retaliatory action, the priority for regional stability involves immediate de-escalation and resolution through political channels before the situation deteriorates. However, the rhetoric employed thus far signals that mediation may prove challenging.

Hyundai Completes Talegaon Plant Buyout, Commits ₹6,000 Crore Investment In Maharashtra

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Hyundai Completes Talegaon Plant Buyout, Commits ₹6,000 Crore Investment In Maharashtra

Indian subsidiary Hyundai Motor India (HMIL) announced the successful completion of its acquisition of General Motors’ Talegaon manufacturing facility in Maharashtra. The company also plans to pump in ₹6,000 crore investment in the state as per a recent agreement with the government.

The takeover concluded after Hyundai secured the necessary regulatory approvals and fulfilled specific conditions set for the transfer. The move bolsters the automaker’s production capacity in a strategic growth market like India.

HMIL MD & CEO Un Soo Kim stressed the importance of the Indian market for Hyundai’s global operations. He said the Talegaon plant will be pivotal in unlocking their target of 1 million annual vehicle production in India. While operations are slated to commence only in 2025, Hyundai wants to upgrade infrastructure and equipment at the site in phases.

The existing Talegaon facility has an annual output of 1.3 lakh units. Hyundai is keen to further expand its capacity to meet its long-term objectives in the thriving Indian automobile sector. The acquisition also ties in with the company’s commitment to the government’s self-reliance vision by elevating India as a manufacturing and R&D hub.

The Maharashtra government partnership will facilitate Hyundai’s growth plans, including the proposed investments. The investments, signed by both parties at the recent World Economic Forum summit in Davos, underscore Hyundai’s strategic emphasis on India during a seminal year for the firm globally.

With India set to become the world’s third-largest car market soon, the timely capacity expansion and investments exhibit Hyundai’s proactive efforts to consolidate its position as the second-largest automaker in the country.

iPhone 15 Now Starts Under Rs 45,000 In Flipkart Republic Day Bonanza

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iPhone 15 Now Starts Under Rs 45,000 In Flipkart Republic Day Bonanza

Apple fans can finally get their hands on the latest iPhone 15 for an incredibly low price this Republic Day season. E-commerce giant Flipkart has slashed the phone’s cost to under Rs 45,000 as part of its holiday sale offerings.

The iPhone 15, originally launched at Rs 79,900 in September 2022, is now retailing for Rs 66,999 on Flipkart after a 16% price cut. Additionally, customers can avail of bank discounts to further sweeten the deal to Rs 63,999. An exchange offer also allows buyers to trade in their old iPhones and grab the iPhone 15 for as low as Rs 41,000.

Depending on the device’s condition, Flipkart is providing exchange discounts ranging from Rs 26,000 for an iPhone 13 to Rs 30,000 for an iPhone 14. Effectively, this makes the starting price of the iPhone 15 less than Rs 45,000 for those willing to exchange their previous-generation iPhones.

The iPhone 15 brings some marquee upgrades like the new 48MP main camera, crash detection capabilities, and satellite connectivity for emergency SOS. It also comes with the powerful A16 Bionic chip seen on iPhone 14 Pro models and the Dynamic Island multimedia multitasking feature.

With colors like pink, yellow, green, and blue, the design receives a vibrant new overhaul as well. The phone is available in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage variants on Flipkart.

Given the limited-period nature of the Republic Day price cuts and exchange bonanza, Apple fans looking for an upgrade should not miss this chance to purchase the latest iPhone at nearly half its original launch price. The Flipkart deals to make the iPhone 15 incredibly affordable before prices climb back to normal levels.