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Striking TN Forest College students get a feel of life in woods

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 30 Januari 2015 | 22.44

COIMBATORE: Their four-day-old strike demanding preference for them in the direct recruitment of forest rangers seems to be the best training opportunity for 213 students of the Forest College and Research Institute at Mettupalayam in Tamil Nadu.

The students pursuing their BSc forestry have been on strike since January 27 demanding repeal of a new state government order introduced last year reducing their preferential quota to 25% in recruitment of forest rangers.

The students, both boys and girls, have been sleeping in the open at the college gates, using the reserve forest to attend nature's call and getting drenched in rain. Is there any better training for a career as a forest ranger?

"Since we do not have access to the hostel, bathrooms and the mess, we are now using the reserve forest to attend nature's calls and use water from one drinking water pipe that is located outside the gate," said a student.

However, they haven't started to cook food themselves as most forest rangers do. They bought food from a nearby eatery. "We are spending Rs 15,000 to Rs 18,000 a day on food because the mess is closed," another student said.

On Friday morning, they got drenched due to a short spell of rain. "Some of us took shelter under trees in the forest," said a student.
The students said they would continue their strike till officials meet them and agree to ensure 100 percent preference for them in recruitment to the post of forest rangers.

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Infighting in Uttarakhand Congress; Bahuguna threatens to hold rally

DEHRADUN: In a sign of infighting in the ruling Congress in Uttarakhand, former chief minister Vijay Bahuguna has threatened to hold a rally against his own party's government in protest against non-implementation of decisions take during his tenure.

In a letter to his successor Harish Rawat on Thursday, Bahuguna raised the issue of regularisation of land under categories IV and 1 (A) in his constituency Sitarganj which has been hanging fire for a year now.

"A decision on regularisation of land under these categories had been taken during my tenure. It has also been brought to my notice that the set of rules by which the process is to be carried out has also been framed. I am told all it needs now is clearance of the state Cabinet," Bahuguna said in the letter.

Bahuguna also asked the chief minister to have the proposed amendments to sections of the Zamindari Abolition and Land Regularisation Act cleared by the state Cabinet which will bring relief to leaseholders of Sitarganj.

Accusing Rawat of not acting on these matters despite several reminders from him in the past, Bahuguna said he will be forced to hold a 'Janakrosh rally' in Udhamsinmgh Nagar district on February 15 if the state Cabinet does not resolve the issues soon.

Bahuguna and Harish Rawat are considered arch rivals in the politics of Uttarakhand.

It was after Bahuguna's resignation exactly a year ago that Harish Rawat had taken over the reigns of power on February one last year.

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Suspected terror link SIM card racket busted in Mumbai

MUMBAI: The city police have busted a major fake SIM card racket suspected to have international terror links with the arrest of three persons including two sales executives of two mobile service providers.

2,173 SIM cards, eight high end mobile phones, thousands of fake Adhar card, PAN cards and other government documents which 26 year old accused Sharif Khan procure to activate these cards have been seized from his house in Govandi in eastern suburbs. Two territory sales executive of the two service providers have been identified as Atin Vast alias Sharma (29) and Dharmandra Bangari (31).

Police have also recovered a personal diary of Khan in which there are 24 pages containing several code words against various foreign names of foreign countries viz Afghanistan-1, Indonesia-1, Mynmar-2, Pakistan-1, China-1 etc. Now our focus will be to decode these codes and his emails and his facebook through which he was coordinating with various people globally.'' Said Dhananjay Kamlakar, joint commissioner of police (law and order).

Looking into the sensitivity of the case Mumbai police commissioner Rakesh Maria has set up a Special Investigating Team (SIT) and have included officers from crime branch as well the Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Cyber cell to probe the terror angle.

The scam came to light after Ansar Pirzade, the senior inspector of Trombay police got a tip off that some people were selling sim cards to people without any verification of documents. Based on this tip off we send bogus customer and when we got confirmation, our team laid a trap and arrested him and during his interrogations we learnt the involvement of two sales officers of the service providers.'' Said Pirzade.

Though the private sources said that prima facie it appears to be a case of exaggerating sim cards sales and later porting the group from one service provider to another but police is not convince with it and want to explore the terror angle. Deputy commissioner of police Sangarmsingh Nishandar said that the modus operandi of the accused was to forged Adhar card, PAN card and other government documents to procure a SIM card.

In the mobile SIM card form he would stick somebody's photo with fake addresses, with fake adhar card and other documents and the same set documents was used with some other names etc. We will also be calling around 1,770 people to whom he had sold this active SIM cards without taking documentation. We only fear that it should not fall in the hands of anti social elements'' said Cherring Dorje, additional commissioner. He added that Khan was running the racket since last six months. During investigations it is learnt that Khan was earlier arrested by Navi Mumbai police and Bandra in theft and house breaking cases.

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'Secular' in constitution is non-negotiable and can't even be debated: Badal

PHAGWARA: Amid the controversy triggered by Union government advertisements featuring pictures of preamble of the constitution without words "secular" and "socialism" and Union telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad saying that there can be debate on it, BJP ally Shiromani Akali Dal has said that these two concepts are non-negotiable and there can't even be a debate on the issue.

"Secularism is very important for our country which is very diverse and the country can't run without this concept. It was very important that is why it was added in the preamble of the constitution and there can't be any tinkering with it," said Punjab CM and SAD patron Parkash Singh Badal Badal said while speaking to mediapersons here at a Sangat Darshan programme at nearby village Mehtan on Friday. "Secularism is so important that its presence in the preamble can't even be debated," added Badal. "Even newspapers should write very carefully about and should not fan the controversy," he advised.

Meanwhile the CM said that he would also meet union finance minister Arun Jaitley to get released Rs 400 crores which has been withheld by union finance minister and is part of the Rs 700 crores approved by the 13th Finance Commission for state special plans. "The amount approved by the Finance Commission can't be held back by the union finance ministry and I shall meet union finance minister over the issue," he said.

Asked about the SAD's stand on amendments in the Land Acquisition Bill Badal refrained from taking a clear stand on the issue and said that he would discuss it with the centre government.

Reacting the Congress MP Captain Amarinder Singh's statement regarding fiscal emergency in the state Badal said that Congress should first sets its own house in order which was plagued by infighting. He blamed Congress for all the financial problems of the state.

CM held Sangat Darshan at four places in the villages in which grants were catered to 42 villages. The grants were distributed in consultation with Chief Parliamentary Secretary Som Parkash and Markfed Chairman Jarnail Singh Wahid.

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Senior Navy officer to face court martial for fire in

NEW DELHI: The commanding Officer of INS Sindhuratna will face court martial while six other officers were issued letters of "severe displeasure" after being found guilty for the fire onboard the submarine last year, which led to the resignation of then Navy chief Admiral D K Joshi.

Navy sources said the recommendations of the Board of Inquiry has been accepted by the Naval Headquarters.

"The Commanding Officer of INS Sindhuratana has been recommended for General Court Martial. Six other officers have been awarded Letters of Severe Displeasure," the sources said.
READ ALSO: 7 naval officers found guilty in INS Sindhuratna accident

They said Commander Sandeep Sinha will face court martial proceedings by the Western Naval Command and will get an opportunity to defend himself.

Explaining what the 'Letter of Severe Displeasure' meant, the sources said the six officers will not get any promotion, study courses or foreign posting for the next two years.

On February 26 last year, a fire broke out onboard INS Sindhuratna when it was at sea off Mumbai for routine training and inspection.

The then Navy chief Joshi resigned the same day, taking "moral responsibility" over a spate of mishaps involving naval assets.

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Sushma Swaraj knew Jaishankar would replace Sujatha Singh

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 29 Januari 2015 | 22.44

NEW DELHI: External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday said that she was in the loop on the appointment of new foreign secretary as it was she who informed Sujatha Singh on the change.

"I told her (Sujatha Singh) that the government wanted to appoint Dr. Jaishankar as foreign secretary," Sushma Swaraj tweeted.

Since Jaishankar was retiring on 31st January, we had to issue orders of his appointment before that date," Swaraj said.

Swaraj was in office today, a day after the government abruptly announced "curtailment" of foreign secretary Sujatha Singh's tenure and appointed S Jaishankar in her place. After taking charge, Jaishanakar met Swaraj in her South Block office. Jaishankar, who was to have retired from the diplomatic service on Jan 31, said he was "honoured" to be given the responsibility. Sujatha Singh was not present at his takeover event.

The Modi government on Wednesday night appointed Jaishankar, an Indian Foreign Service officer of the 1977 batch, as the new foreign secretary. The Appointments committee of the Cabinet, in a decision taken Wednesday night, decided to "curtail the tenure" of the incumbent Sujatha Singh "with immediate effect". The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet is headed by Prime Minister Modi.

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Cong unhappy over Preamble issue, targets govt

NEW DELHI: Congress on Thursday took strong objection to the government's call for a debate on whether the words 'socialist' and 'secular' should be in the Preamble of the Constitution, saying it reflects a "concerted agenda" of the Modi government as BJP already has "doubtful integrity".

Deprecating the move, Congress said the Prime Minister himself should come forward and clarify his government's intent on "playing with" the Constitution spirit as also his own stand on the words 'secular' and 'socialist' in the Preamble.

"The government spokesperson's remarks after a Cabinet meeting about starting a debate (on Preamble) reflected a concerted agenda on the part of the Modi government to review the core ideology of the Constitution," party spokesman Randeep Surjewala said.

He was referring to comments by Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who said yesterday that there could be a debate on whether these two words should be in the Preamble.

"BJP has always had a doubtful integrity in its character role on the touchstone of socialism and secularism," he said.

This, he said, was evident from the advertisements issued by the I&B ministry on the Republic Day in which the two words were absent besides the "lame duck" explanation of the minister of state Raghvendra Singh Rathore and the subsequent demand for a debate on the issue.

The Congress spokesman said the philosophy of Constitution includes fundamental rights particularly the right to practice religion enshrined in Article 25.

The government jumped into the controversy created by the remarks of the Shiv Sena earlier that the words 'socialist' and 'secular should be dropped from the Preamble to the Constitution.

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Secularism has already been reduced to a show piece: Dal Khalsa

JALANDHAR: Radical Sikh organization Dal Khalsa has said that word "secular" in the Constitution had already been reduced to a mere show piece to hoodwink the international community and mislead minorities. This comment came as areaction to Shiv Sena's demand that words "secular" and "socialist" be removed from preamble of the Indian constitution on the grounds that India is a Hindu nation.

"Hours after Obama left the Indian soil, the Hindutva family sent Obama a message that they don't need his sermons on religious freedom and tolerance," said Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwarpal Singh.

"Like US president, the minorities especially the victims of politics of genocide and persecution fully know that they are now facing far more serious right-wing Hindutva dominance in the country. Hindutva chauvinism is not only a hindrance but a huge barrier to peace within India," he added.

Dal Khalsa spokesperson said that US president Barack Obama had rightly hinted towards the growing religious intolerance in India. He said the US president has shown a mirror to India. "It was our expectation that during his interactions with the Indian leadership, Obama would take up the issue of human rights violations and political aspirations of minorities. Anyway still his reminder to the India has put the things in perspective and Indian government could not even react to it," he said.

Dal Khalsa also held that the sea-change in US policy and perspective on present Indian leadership especially on present Prime Minister of India, who was a persona non-grata for the US few months back, was acutely worrisome for victims of human rights violations and minorities who had been facing state repression since long.

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TMC leader Mukul Roy to appear before CBI tomorrow

KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Roy on Thursday said he would "fully cooperate" with CBI in its probe into the Saradha chit fund scam and claimed he had not committed any "immoral activity".

"I will meet the investigating agency (CBI) tomorrow morning and fully cooperate in the investigation. But what I had said on the first day, I am repeating it today. I was never involved in any immoral activity individually or as the custodian of the party," he told reporters.

The former railway minister has been summoned by CBI to appear before it in connection with the Saradha scam.

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Jaishankar's appointment as foreign secy signals hardening of stance on China

BEIJING: Appointing S Jaishankar as foreign secretary, who was earlier Indian ambassador in Beijing, has given the government a better grip on the developing situation in China. He would also be useful in dealing with US president Barack Obama's pivot on Asia and China's apprehensions about it.

China experience has become an important litmus test in the choice of foreign secretaries in recent years. Two foreign secretaries between 2006 and 2011, Shiv Shankar Menon and Nirupama Rao, had worked as ambassador in Beijing.

"Jaishankar is a straight talker. It is easy to deal with him because he means what he says," Ma Jaili, a South Asia expert connected to the Communist Party and different government think-tanks, earlier told TNN. "He played a constructive role in addressing difficult issues," he said.

It is possible that this trait endeared him to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As Gujarat Chief Minister, Modi visited China thrice, and attracted Chinese investments during Jaishankar's term as ambassador. This included the $400 million agreement by Chinese energy company TBEA for a plant in Gujarat.

Jaishankar's appointment signals India's desire to take a tougher line with China. New Delhi has not been able to wean Beijng away from its obsessive engagement with Pakistan. The question is whether Beijing can be tackled by New Delhi's rising friendship with its territorial rivals, Japan and Vietnam or it is a dangerous exercise. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj is due in Beijing for a three-day visit on January 31. Among other things, she will discuss arrangements for the planned visit of the Prime Minister, which is likely in April. The timing of his appointment is significant.

Recent months has seen a slackening in India's efforts to present a firm and positive image of itself among the Chinese. In fact, the talk in China about India swaing to US fancies is in contrast with the BJP's approach. Jaishankar is expected to tackle this issue to tell China that India is more independent than what it thinks.

Jaishankar's cap includes the extra feather of experience in Tokyo, which is essential at a time when Japan is moving towards militarization. One of Beijing's fears is that India, Japan and the US will "join hands" to form a diplomatic brigade against China. He was the ambassador in Beijing during the sensitive period of the Depsang.

Chinese foreign ministry and think-tanks have expressed deep worry over decisions taken during the recent Barack Obama visit to New Delhi. They are also peeved over a Japanese minister saying that Arunachal Pradesh is part of India because China has laid claims to it.

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CM Fadnavis orders probe into invite delay

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 28 Januari 2015 | 22.44

MUMBAI: Upset over missing dinner with US President Barak Obama, Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said he had already directed the resident commissioner at Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi to probe the delay in communicating dinner invite to him and take action.

A bureaucratic red tape at Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi virtually dashed all hopes of the Chief Minister to dine with US President Barak Obama during latter's recently concluded high-profile visit.

"We will look into reasons behind the invite not reaching in time, though it was received at Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi over a week before the event. Had I received it, I would have made arrangements to reach Delhi from Davos to attend it," he said while talking to media.

According to sources an invite of Rashtrapati Bhavan that was delivered by the president's office in the name of Fadnavis at Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi, the state's office in Delhi, was neither handed over nor communicated to the CM in time. According to a few officials the invite was sent through the speed-post.

The sources in the state administration told TOI that Rashtrapati Bhavan sent an invite to Fadnavis on 17th January, almost a week before the dinner date of January 25. Interestingly, Fadnavis could have attended the dinner immediately after his arrival form Davos where he attended World Economic Forum (WEF) summit.

Sources said during this period Bipin Malik was the office of the Sadan and state's administrative in-charge in Delhi but was under transfer and the new incumbent Abha Shukla had not taken the charge after her appointment.

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Bar bribery case 'involving' law minister KM Mani: HC rules out CBI probe for now

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday held that it cannot order a CBI probe into the bar bribery case allegedly involving law minister KM Mani.

However, the court has not disposed the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by RSP (B) leader AV Thamarakshan but has only closed it. This means the petitioner can revive the PIL by filing an application to the court at a later stage, if required. The petitioner had alleged that the ongoing probe by Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau (VACB) is ineffective.

Ruling out a CBI probe now, the bench comprising of acting chief justice Ashok Bhushan and justice AM Shaffique said in the judgment, "Investigation is still in progress and there being no material to come to the conclusion that the VACB is not carrying on a free and impartial investigation due to any extraneous reasons and report of the investigating officer is yet to be filed. In this stage, no grounds have been made out to issue any direction to transfer investigation of the case to CBI as prayed for. We cannot also draw any conclusion that the investigation is unreasonably delayed. Thus, as on date, the prayer (demand) made in the writ petition cannot be granted."

It was alleged by the petitioner that due to the severe pressure on the investigating officers, there is no possibility of an effective probe in the bar bribery case. He had also alleged that the state government has decided to shift ADGP Jacob Thomas from the charge of VACB, which would affect the case as he has been personally monitoring the probe.

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Cong uses Obama remarks to hit out at Modi

NEW DELHI: Utilising the handle given by US President Barack Obama, Congress today targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, questioning if he will "look within" and do the course correction by checking the "lumpen elements" in the Sangh Parivar.

Party spokesman Randeep Surjewala also attacked the government over omission of the words 'secularism' and 'socialism' in the official advertisements of the Preamble of the Constitution, saying it raises doubts over its "integrity, intent and intention" and asked Modi to clarify his stance.

At a press conference here, Surjewala referred to Obama's comments here yesterday when he made a strong pitch for religious tolerance and said that India will succeed so long it is not "splintered" on religious lines.

Surjewala said he sincerely hoped that Modi "listened to the words of our guest and will do necessary course correction from unilateralisam to India's inherent pluralism."

Questioning whether Modi is "ready to look within, the Congress spokesperson wondered if the Prime Minister would "check lumpen elements within the Sangh Parivar who are tarnishing" the image of India as a land of peaceful cohabitation and co-existence of people of different faiths.

Lamenting that the BJP has been speaking in different voices on the issue of conversions, he said the truth is that RSS and its various outfits have been "attacking core fundamentals of India's Constitutional ethos."

Surjewala said the Congress is happy that the US President called upon young Indians yesterday to follow essential fundamentals of India's constitutional ethos and added that his party epitomises this idea of India.

The spokesperson also sought to dismiss the explanations given by the government on the deletion of referecnes to secularism and socialiam in the advertisements and said his party looked at the development with suspicion and felt that the government was "testing waters".

The Prime Minister should clarify his stance on his definition and understanding of the words secularism and socialism, he added.

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Tejas flies in -15ºC in Ladakh

BENGALURU: Soaked overnight in extreme cold (around -15oC) weather in Ladakh, light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas' engine required three consecutive start-ups of the engine, but the fighter fought the limitations and flew on Wednesday, achieving another milestone.

"This is a rare distinction. Starting the fighter aircraft under such extreme condition without any external assistance or heating is a technology challenge. The requirements become further stringent when the starting is to be done three times consecutively with a partially charged battery," Team Tejas said in an official press note.

The engine starter is developed indigenously by HAL Aero Engine Research and Design Centre (AERDC), Bengaluru.

"Prior to aircraft tests, the Jet Fuel Starter (JFS) was extensively tested on test rig to meet starting conditions across the operating altitudes including Leh (10,700 ft.) and Khardungla (18300 ft.)," the press note said.

The control software of JFS was fine tuned to work at all operating altitudes with no adjustments from cockpit. GE-F404-IN20 engine start up control schedule was also varied with several control patches to establish reliable start.

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Bengal to get World Bank aid to be ready for cyclone

KOLKATA: When supercyclone (05B) struck Odisha in 1999, nearly 10,000 people were killed. A decade and a half later, another supercyclone (Hudhud) hit Odisha in October 2013. This time, the death toll was was 36. A lot happened in the intervening years that helped Odisha, and indeed neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, develop capability to not only predict the landfall and path of a cyclone but also the capacity to evacuate lakhs of people to safety.

Now, West Bengal will get the opportunity to also enhance its capability and capacity to meet extreme events with a prepared response. The state will join the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) that is part funded by the World Bank.

"Odisha and Andhra Pradesh were prepared to deal with Phailin in 2013 and Hudhud last year, resulting in low casualties when compared to the 1999 cyclone that turned into a tragedy. When West Bengal joins NCRMP in the second phase later this year, it will also be prepared by putting in place non-structural measures for effective disaster management of cyclones," World Bank senior environment specialist Tapas Paul said on the sidelines of a three-day international workshop on risk management and adaptation to climate changes in delta regions with focus on the Sunderbans.

The project includes setting up early warning dissemination systems like wave rider buoys, management of coastal zones, awareness generation and disaster risk management and capacity building of all stakeholders involved.

"The key to disaster management is to take precaution in advance. While the Indian Meteorological Department has geared up with advanced instrumentation and climate models that allow more accurate predictions, there are local level interventions that can further enhance the accuracy. The project will help West Bengal put these in place. A cyclone will mean heavy rainfall. But how does one know what that rainfall will mean in a particular topography? Similarly, most cyclones strike at night or very early in the morning. How does one then carry out evacuation and rescue? NCRMP will help build capacity at appropriate levels," he said.

The disaster management department and Sunderbans Affairs department are also putting in place structural measures like cyclone shelters, cyclone resistant buildings, road links, culverts, bridges, canals, drains, saline embankments, surface water tanks and communication networks in Sunderbans that is extremely vulnerable to extreme events.

The state will also be part of the next phase of National Hydrology Project (NHP) that will begin in six months. This aims to establish effective and sound hydrological database and Hydrological Information System together with consistent and scientifically-based tools and design aids to assist in the effective water resources planning and management.

"I hope Sunderbans is included in the project proposal that West Bengal government has prepared for NHP," said Paul. Not only is fresh water scarce in Sunderbans, the archipelago faces the challenge of erosion and inundation by sea water. The sea level rise is almost double to global standards and around 210 sq km has been eroded in the last four decades.

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Full transcript of Obama-Modi 'Mann ki baat'

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 27 Januari 2015 | 22.44

Following is the complete transcript of special episode of 'Mann ki baat' featuring PM Modi and US President Obama:

(Hon'ble Shri Narendra Modi):

Today, Shri Barack Obama, President of the United States, joins us in a special programme of Mann Ki Baat. For the last few months, I have been sharing my "Mann Ki Baat" with you. But today, people from various parts of the country have asked questions.

But most of the questions are connected to politics, foreign policy, economic policy. However, some questions touch the heart. And I believe if we touch those questions today, we shall be able to reach out to the common man in different parts of the country. And therefore, the questions asked in press conferences, or discussed in meetings - instead of those - if we discuss what comes from the heart, and repeat it, hum it, we get a new energy. And therefore, in my opinion, those questions are more important. Some people wonder, what does "Barack" mean? I was searching for the meaning of Barack. In Swahili language, which is spoken in parts of Africa, Barack means, one who is blessed. I believe, along with a name, his family gave him a big gift.

African countries have lived by the ancient idea of 'Ubuntu', which alludes to the 'oneness in humanity'. They say - "I am, because we are". Despite the gap in centuries and borders, there is the same spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which speak of in India. This is the great shared heritage of humanity. This unites us. When we discuss Mahatma Gandhi, we remember Henry Thoreau, from whom Mahatma Gandhi learnt disobedience. When we talk about Martin Luther King or Obama, we hear from their lips, respect for Mahatma Gandhi. These are the things that unite the world.

Today, Barack Obama is with us. I will first request him to share his thoughts. Then, I and Barack will both answer the questions that have been addressed to us.

I request President Barack Obama to say a few words.

(Hon'ble Shri Barack Obama):

Namaste! Thank you Prime Minister Modi for your kind words and for the incredible hospitality you have shown me and my wife Michelle on this visit and let me say to the people of India how honoured I am to be the first American President to join you for Republic Day; and I'm told that this is also the first ever Radio address by an Indian Prime Minister and an American President together, so we're making a lot of history in a short time. Now to the people of India listening all across this great nation. It's wonderful to be able to speak you directly. We just come from discussions in which we affirmed that India and the United States are natural partners, because we have so much in common. We are two great democracies, two innovative economies, two diverse societies dedicated to empowering individuals. We are linked together by millions of proud Indian Americans who still have family and carry on traditions from India. And I want to say to the Prime Minister how much I appreciate your strong personal commitment to strengthening the relationship between these two countries.

People are very excited in the United States about the energy that Prime Minister Modi is bringing to efforts in this country to reduce extreme poverty and lift people up, to empower women, to provide access to electricity, and clean energy and invest in infrastructure, and the education system. And on all these issues, we want to be partners. Because many of the efforts that I am promoting inside the United States to make sure that the young people get the best education possible, to make sure that the ordinary people are properly compensated for their labour, and paid fair wages, and have job security and health care. These are the same kinds of issues that Prime Minister Modi, I know cares so deeply about here. And I think there's a common theme in these issues. It gives us a chance to reaffirm what Gandhi ji reminded us, should be a central aim of our lives. And that is, we should endeavour to seek God through service of humanity because God is in everyone. So these shared values, these convictions, are a large part of why I am so committed to this relationship. I believe that if the United States and India join together on the world stage around these values, then not only will our peoples be better off, but I think the world will be more prosperous and more peaceful and more secure for the future. So thank you so much Mr. Prime Minister, for giving me this opportunity to be with you here today.

(Hon'ble Shri Narendra Modi):

Barack the first question comes from Raj from Mumbai

His question is, the whole world knows about your love for your daughters. How will you tell your daughters about youre experience of India? Do you plan to do some shopping for them?

(Hon'ble Shri Barack Obama):

Well first of all they very much wanted to come. They are fascinated by India, Unfortunately each time that I have taken a trip here, they had school and they couldn't leave school. And in fact, Malia, my older daughter, had exams just recently. They are fascinated by the culture, and the history of India, in part because of my influence I think, they are deeply moved by India's movement to Independence, and the role that Gandhi played, in not only the non-violent strategies here in India, but how those ended up influencing the non-violent Civil Rights Movement in the United States. So when I go back I am going to tell them that India is as magnificent as they imagined. And I am quite sure that they are going to insist that I bring them back the next time I visit. It may not be during my Presidency, but afterwards they will definitely want to come and visit.

And I will definitely do some shopping for them. Although I can't go to the stores myself, so I have to have my team do the shopping for me. And I'll get some advice from Michelle, because she probably has a better sense of what they would like.

(Hon'ble Shri Narendra Modi):

Barack said he will come with his daughters. I extend an invitation to you. Whether you come as President, or thereafter, India looks forward to welcoming you and your daughters.

Sanika Diwan from Pune, Maharashtra has asked me a question. She asks me, whether I have sought assistance from President Obama for the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Mission

Sanika you have asked a good question. There is a lot of worry because of the sex ratio in India. For every 1000 boys, the number of girls is less. And the main reason for this is that, there is a defect in our attitudes towards boys and girls.

Whether or not I seek help from President Obama, his life is in itself an inspiration. The way he has brought up his two daughters, the way he is proud of his two daughters.

In our country too, I meet many families who have only daughters. And they bring up their daughters with such pride, give them such respect, that is the biggest inspiration. I believe that inspiration is our strength. And in response to your question, I would like to say, to save the girl child, to educate the girl child, this is our social duty, cultural duty, and humanitarian responsibility. We should honour it.

Barack, there is a question for you. The second question for President Obama comes through e-mail: Dr. Kamlesh Upadhyay, a Doctor based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat - Your wife is doing extensive work on tackling modern health challenges like obesity and diabetes. These are increasingly being faced in India as well. Would you and the First Lady like to return to India to work on these issues after your Presidency, just like Bill and Melinda Gates?

(Hon'ble Barack Obama):

Well, we very much look forward to partnering with organizations, and the government and non-governmental organizations here in India, around broader Public Health issues including the issue of obesity. I am very proud of the work that Michelle has done on this issue. We're seeing a world-wide epidemic of obesity, in many cases starting at a very young age. And a part of it has to do with increase in processed foods, not naturally prepared. Part of it is a lack of activity for too many children. And once they are on this path, it can lead to a life time of health challenges. This is an issue that we would like to work on internationally, including here in India. And it is a part of a broader set of issues around global health that we need to address. The Prime Minister and I have discussed, for example, how we can do a better job in dealing with issues like pandemic. And making sure that we have good alert systems so that if a disease like Ebola, or a deadly flu virus, or Polio appears, it is detected quickly and then treated quickly so that it doesn't spread. The public health infrastructure around the world needs to be improved. I think the Prime Minister is doing a great job in focusing on these issues here in India. And India has a lot to teach many other countries who may not be advancing as rapidly in improving this public health sector. But it has an impact on everything, because if children are sick they can't concentrate in school and they fall behind. It has a huge economic impact on the countries involved and so we think that there is a lot of progress to be made here and I am very excited about the possibilities of considering this work even after I leave office.

(Hon'ble Shri Narendra Modi):

Mr. Arjun asks me a question. An interesting question. He says he has seen an old photo of me as a tourist outside the White House. He asks me what touched me when I went there last September.

It is true that when I first went to America, I was not lucky enough to visit the White House. There is an iron fence far from the White House. We stood outside the fence and took a photograph. White House is visible in the background. Now that I have become Prime Minister, that photo too has become popular. But at that time, I had never thought that sometime in my life, I would get a chance to visit the White House. But when I visited the White House, one thing touched my heart. I can never forget that. Barack gave me a book, a book that he had located after considerable effort. That book had become famous in 1894. Swami Vivekananda, the inspiration of my life, had gone to Chicago to participate in the World Religions Conference. And this book was a compilation of the speeches delivered at the World Religions Conference. That touched my heart. And not just this. He turned the pages of the book, and showed me what was written there. He had gone through the entire book! And he told me with pride, I come from the Chicago where Swami Vivekananda had come. These words touched my heart a lot. And I will treasure this throughout my life. So once, standing far from the White House and taking a photo, and then, to visit the White House, and to receive a book on someone whom I respect. You can imagine, how it would have touched my heart.

Barack there is a question for you. Himani from Ludhiana, Punjab. Question is for you ......:

(Hon'ble Shri Barack Obama):

Well the question is "Did you both imagine you would reach the positions that you've reached today?"

And it is interesting, Mr. Prime Minister, your talking about the first time you visited White House and being outside that iron fence. The same is true for me. When I first went to the White House, I stood outside that same fence, and looked in, and I certainly did not imagine that I would ever be visiting there, much less living there. You know, I think both of us have been blessed with an extraordinary opportunity, coming from relatively humble beginnings. And when I think about what's best in America and what's best in India, the notion that a tea seller or somebody who's born to a single mother like me, could end up leading our countries, is an extraordinary example of the opportunities that exist within our countries. Now I think, a part of what motivates both you and I, is the belief that there are millions of children out there who have the same potential but may not have the same education, may not be getting exposed to opportunities in the same way, and so a part of our job, a part of government's job is that young people who have talent, and who have drive and are willing to work for, are able to succeed. And that's why we are emphasizing school, higher education. Making sure that children are healthy and making sure those opportunities are available to children of all backgrounds, girls and boys, people of all religious faiths and of all races in the United States is so important. Because you never know who might be the next Prime Minister of India, or who might be the next President of United States. They might not always look the part right off the bat. And they might just surprise you if you give them the chance.

(Hon'ble Shri Narendra Modi):

Thank you Barack.

Himani from Ludhiana has also asked me this question - did I ever imagine I would reach this high office?

No. I never imagined it. Because, as Barack said, I come from a very ordinary family. But for a long time, I have been telling everyone, never dream of becoming something. If you wish to dream, dream of doing something. When we do something, we get satisfaction, and also get inspiration to do something new. If we only dream of becoming something, and cannot fulfil the dream, then we only get disappointed. And therefore, I never dreamt of becoming something. Even today, I have no dream of becoming something. But I do dream of doing something. Serving Mother India, serving 125 crore Indians, there can be no greater dream than this. That is what I have to do. I am thankful to Himani.

There is a question for Barack from Omprakash. Omprakash is studying Sanskrit at JNU. He belongs to Jhunjunu, Rajasthan. Om Prakash is convener of special centre for Sanskrit Studies in JNU.

(Hon'ble Shri Barack Obama):

Well this is a very interesting question. His question is, the youth of the new generation is a global citizen. He is not limited by time or boundaries. In such a situation what should be the approach by our leadership, governments as well as societies at large.

I think this is a very important question. When I look at this generation that is coming up, they are exposed to the world in ways that you and I could hardly imagine. They have the world at their fingertips, literally. They can, using their mobile phone, get information and images from all around the world and that's extraordinarily powerful. And what that means, I think is that, governments and leaders cannot simply try to govern, or rule, by a top-down strategy. But rather have to reach out to people in an inclusive way, and an open way, and a transparent way. And engage in a dialogue with citizens, about the direction of their country. And one of the great things about India and the United States is that we are both open societies. And we have confidence and faith that when citizens have information, and there is a vigorous debate, that over time even though sometimes democracy is frustrating, the best decisions and the most stable societies emerge and the most prosperous societies emerge. And new ideas are constantly being exchanged. And technology today I think facilitates that, not just within countries, but across countries. And so, I have much greater faith in India and the United States, countries that are open information societies, in being able to succeed and thrive in this New Information Age; than closed societies that try to control the information that citizens receive. Because ultimately that's no longer possible. Information will flow inevitably, one way or the other, and we want to make sure we are fostering a healthy debate and a good conversation between all peoples.

(Hon'ble Shri Narendra Modi):

Omprakash wants me too, to answer the question that has been asked to Barack.

Barack has given a very good answer. It is inspiring. I will only say, that once upon a time, there were people inspired primarily by the Communist ideology. They gave a call: Workers of the world, Unite. This slogan lasted for several decades. I believe, looking at the strength and reach of today's youth, I would say, Youth, Unite the world. I believe they have the strength and they can do it.

The next question is from CA Pikashoo Mutha from Mumbai, and he asks me, which American leader has inspired you

When I was young, I used to see Kennedy's pictures in Indian newspapers. His personality was very impressive. But your question is, who has inspired me. I liked reading as a child. And I got an opportunity to read the biography of Benjamin Franklin. He lived in the eighteenth century. And he was not an American President. But his biography is so inspiring - how a person can intelligently try to change his life.

If we feel excessively sleepy, how can we reduce that?

If we feel like eating too much, how can we work towards eating less?

If people get upset with you that cannot meet them, because of the pressure of work, then how to solve this problem?

He has addressed such issues in his biography. And I tell everyone, we should read Benjamin Franklin's biography. Even today, it inspires me. And Benjamin Franklin had a multi-dimensional personality. He was a politician, he was a political scientist, he was a social worker, he was a diplomat. And he came from an ordinary family. He could not even complete his education. But till today, his thoughts have an impact on American life. I find his life truly inspiring. And I tell you too, if you read his biography, you will find ways to transform your life too. And he has talked about simple things. So I feel you will be inspired as much as I have been.

There is a question for Barack, from Monika Bhatia.

(Hon'ble Shri Barack Obama):

Well the question is "As leaders of two major economies, what inspires you and makes you smile at the end of a bad day at work?"

And that is a very good question. I say sometimes, that the only problems that come to my desk are the ones that nobody else solves. If they were easy questions, then somebody else would have solved them before they reached me. So there are days when it's tough and frustrating. And that's true in Foreign Affairs. That is true in Domestic Affairs. But I tell you what inspires me, and I don't know Mr. Prime Minister if you share this view - almost every day I meet somebody who tells me, "You made a difference in my life."

So they'll say, "The Health-Care law that you passed, saved my child who didn't have health insurance." And they were able to get an examination from a Physician, and they caught an early tumour, and now he is doing fine.

Or they will say "You helped me save my home during the economic crisis."

Or they'll say, "I couldn't afford college, and the program you set up has allowed me to go to the university."

And sometimes they are thanking you for things that you did four or five years ago. Sometimes they are thanking you for things you don't even remember, or you're not thinking about that day. But it is a reminder of what you said earlier, which is, if you focus on getting things done as opposed to just occupying an office or maintaining power, then the satisfaction that you get is unmatched. And the good thing about service is that anybody can do it. If you are helping somebody else, the satisfaction that you can get from that, I think, exceeds anything else that you can do. And that's usually what makes me inspired to do more, and helps get through the challenges and difficulties that we all have. Because obviously we are not the only people with bad days at work. I think everybody knows what it is like to have a bad day at work. You just have to keep on working through it. Eventually you make a difference.

(Hon'ble Shri Narendra Modi):

Indeed Barack has spoken words from the heart (Mann Ki Baat). Whatever position we may hold, we are human too. Simple things can inspire us. I also wish to narrate an experience. For many years, I was like an ascetic. I got food at other people's homes. Whoever invited me, used to feed me as well. Once a family invited me over for a meal, repeatedly. I would not go, because I felt they are too poor, and if I go to eat at their place, I will become a burden on them. But eventually, I had to bow to their request and love. And I went to eat a meal at their home. It was a small hut, where we sat down to eat. They offered me roti made of bajra (millet), and mik. Their young child was looking at the milk. I felt, the child has never even seen milk. So I gave that small bowl of milk to the child. And he drank it within seconds. His family members were angry with him. And I felt that perhaps that child has never had any milk, apart from his mother's milk. And maybe, they had bought milk so that I could have a good meal. This incident inspired me a lot. A poor person living in a hut could think so much about my well-being. So I should devote my life to their service. So these are the things that serve as inspiration. And Barack has also spoken about what can touch the heart.

I am thankful to Barack, he has given so much time. And I am thankful to my countrymen for listening to Mann Ki Baat. I know radio reaches every home and every lane of India. And this Mann Ki Baat, this special Mann Ki Baat will echo forever.

I have an idea. I share it with you. There should be an e-book made of the talk between Barack and me today. I hope the organizers of Mann Ki Baat will release this e-book. And to you all, who have listened to Mann Ki Baat, I also say, do participate in this. And the best hundred thoughts that emerge out of this, will also be added to this e-book. And I want you to write to us on Twitter, on Facebook, or online, using the hashtag #YesWeCan.

Eliminate Poverty - #YesWeCan Quality Healthcare to All - #YesWeCan Youth empowered with Education - #YesWeCan Jobs for All - #YesWeCan End to Terrorism - #YesWeCan Global Peace and Progress - #YesWeCan

I want you to send your thoughts, experiences and feelings after listening to Mann Ki Baat. From them, we will select the best hundred, and we will add them to the book containing the talk that Barack and I have had. And I believe, this will truly become, the Mann Ki Baat of us all.

Once again, a big thank you to Barack. And to all of you. Barack's visit to India on this pious occasion of 26th January, is a matter of pride for me and for the country.

Thank you very much.

Source: http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=114987

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Cold wave continues to sweep across north India

NEW DELHI: Cold wave continued to sweep across north India as the minimum temperature plunged in several places and fog affected movement of trains in some parts of the region.

Icy winds swept through Delhi even as the sun shone bright during the day offering brief relief to the people.

Foggy conditions were observed early in the morning as visibility dropped to 400 metres. As the day progressed, it improved to 1,000 and 1,500 metres.

According to Met department officials, the day temperature settled three notches below the season's average at 18.3 degrees celsius while the minimum was recorded a notch above normal at 10 degrees celsius.

Humidity levels oscillated between 57 and 95 per cent. Cold conditions returned in Kashmir division as the night temperature plunged further below the freezing point in most places, including Leh.

The night temperature fell by five degrees in Leh town to settle at minus 12.9 degrees celsius, making it the coldest recorded place in Jammu & Kashmir, a Met department spokesperson here said.

In Kargil town, the minimum temperature settled at minus 8 degrees celsius, while in it was minus 8.4 in Gulmarg, which experienced moderate snowfall last week, minus 4.4 in Pahalgam, minus 1.4 in Kupwara, 0.2 degrees celsius in Qazigund, the spokesperson said.

The maximum temperature recorded yesterday in Srinagar was 12.7 degrees celsius — seven degrees above normal during this part of the winter.

Cold wave conditions continued unabated in several parts of Punjab and Haryana on Tuesday even as poor visibility due to fog affected movement of trains.

Unchahar Express train between Allahabad and Chandigarh was running late by over two hours, while Ludhiana-Chandigarh train was behind schedule by about an hour.

Hisar in Haryana was the coldest place in the region with mercury at 2.8 degrees celsius, four notches below normal, a Met department report said.

The minimum temperatures at Ambala, Narnaul and Bhiwani were recorded at 5.3, 8.6 and 6 degrees celsius respectively, while Chandigarh's low settled at 8.6 degrees celsius, three notches above normal.

In Punjab, Amritsar's low was recorded at 5.2 degrees celsius, while at Ludhiana and Patiala they were at 4 and 5.4 degrees celsius respectively.

Temperature dipped in many parts of Rajasthan as cold wave swept through the state and icy winds keeping people indoors.

Hill station Mount Abu recorded a minimum of 1.8 degrees celsius, followed by Churu at 2, Sriganganagar 3, Bikaner 4.5, Pilani 5.5, Jaisalmer 6.3, Ajmer 7.8, Jodhpur 8, Barmer 8.5 and Jaipur 8.7 degrees celsius respectively, according to a Met department official.

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Tamil daily threatened of 'Charlie Hebdo style' attack

CHENNAI: A Tamil newspaper has received a letter threatening an attack similar to the one on the office of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, police said.

"We have received the letter from the newspaper and a probe is on," a senior police official said.

The letter, typed in English, says "Yesterday-Paris Charlie Hebdo, Tomorrow — Dinamalar." The words appear against the background of India's map.

The letter was sent through post by unidentified elements claiming to belong to an outfit called "The Base Moment," and said to be based at "3/10, Ukkadam, Kovai, Tamil Nadu, India."

Below the map is a picture of Osama Bin Laden and the words "By al-Qaida," and some Arabic words appearing like a signature, the police official said.

"It can be a fictitious outfit or someone may be trying to play mischief or it may have some other motive ... we do not know ... only after the probe's completion we will be able to comment," the official said, declining to elaborate.

Security personnel have been deployed at the office of the newspaper.

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EC directs Kejriwal not to ask voters to take bribe

NEW DELHI: Taking "serious note" of AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal's repeated remarks asking voters to accept bribe from Congress and BJP but vote for his party, Election Commission on Tuesday directed him to desist from making such comments in future and warned of stern action in case of any violation.

"...The Commission has taken serious note of the fact that you have been indulging in the violations of the Model Code of Conduct repeatedly despite the repeated notices to you... In view of the above statement and undertaking...and aforesaid violations of the Model Code of Conduct by you, the Commission hereby directs you to desist from making these utterances in all forms of election campaign," EC said in its order.

The poll watchdog "warned" him that it will be "constrained to take stern action against you in the event of any further violation".

While issuing the order, EC took note of Kejriwal's undertaking that he respects the poll body and the law and he would stop making such appeals if the Commission thinks his statements were inappropriate.

EC was responding to separate complaints made by BJP and Congress against the Aam Aadmi Party convener.

The Commission said the model code envisages that parties and candidates participating in the electoral process shall "avoid scrupulously all activities which are corrupt practices and offences under the election law, such as bribing of voters ..."

The public speech made by Kejriwal that invited EC's ire was — "It's election time. When people both from BJP and Congress come offering money, don't refuse, accept ... some have looted money from 2G, some have looted money from coal scam ... Take money from both the parties but vote for AAP.

"We will fool them this time. They have been deceiving us for the last 65 years. Now it's our turn," he had said.

On January 23, EC had expressed "displeasure" and had censured Kejriwal for his reported remarks that BJP was inciting communal riots in parts of Delhi.

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PM Modi, Obama share 'Mann ki baat', talk of their humble beginnings

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama together on Tuesday scripted another history as they addressed the nation together in a special edition of 'Mann ki baat'.

The two leaders shared several personal moments as they took questions from people across the country, selected by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Striking a personal rapport with the US president, Modi addressed him as Barack throughout the programme.

Full transcript of Obama-Modi 'Mann ki baat'

"What does "Barack" mean? I was searching for the meaning of Barack. In Swahili language, which is spoken in parts of Africa, Barack means, one who is blessed. I believe, along with a name, his family gave him a big gift," PM Modi said as he started the programme.

Obama who started the programme with a 'Namaste', thanked Prime Minister Modi for his kind words and for the incredible hospitality during his visit.

"I'm told that this is also the first ever radio address by an Indian Prime Minister and an American President together, so we're making a lot of history in a short time. Now to the people of India listening all across this great nation. It's wonderful to be able to speak you directly," Obama said.

As it happened: Mann ki baat with Modi, Obama

"If US and India join together, around shared values then world will be more prosperous, peaceful and secure," Obama said on the show as he showered praise on the largest democracy of the world.

"People are very excited in the United States about the energy that Prime Minister Modi is bringing to efforts in this country to reduce extreme poverty and lift people up, to empower women, to provide access to electricity, and clean energy and invest in infrastructure, and the education system. And on all these issues, we want to be partners. Because many of the efforts that I am promoting inside the United States to make sure that the young people get the best education possible, to make sure that the ordinary people are properly compensated for their labour, and paid fair wages, and have job security and health care. These are the same kinds of issues that Prime Minister Modi, I know cares so deeply about here," Obama said.

To a question, the two leaders candidly admitted that they had never thought that they would become world leaders one day.

On a lighter note, US president shared how he countered a bad day in office saying, " The satisfaction one gets with the focus on getting things done is unmatched. That inspires me to do more and helps me get over the challenges and difficulties."

Stating that his daughters are fascinated by India, Barack Obama said he may have to come again to India with his daughters, maybe after his presidency.

PM Modi heaped praise on Obama for the way he showered love on his daughters and said "It is an inspiration for me."

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Life and time of RK Laxman

Written By Unknown on Senin, 26 Januari 2015 | 22.44

NEW DELHI: RK Laxman was born in Mysore. His father was a headmaster and Laxman was the youngest of six sons. His older brother is the famous novelist R K Narayan.

Laxman was engrossed by the illustrations in magazines such as The Strand Magazine, Punch, Bystander, Wide World and Tit-Bits, even before he could read. Soon he was drawing on his own, on the floors, walls and doors of his house and doodling caricatures of his teachers at school. Praised by a teacher for his drawing of a peepal leaf, he began to think of himself as an artist in the making.

Another early influence on Laxman were the cartoons of the world-renowned British cartoonist, Sir David Low (whose signature he misread as "cow" for a long time) that appeared now and then in The Hindu. Laxman notes in his autobiography, The Tunnel of Time, "I drew objects that caught my eye outside the window of my room - the dry twigs, leaves and lizard-like creatures crawling about, the servant chopping firewood and, of course, and number of crows in various postures on the rooftops of the buildings opposite."

After high school, Laxman applied to the JJ School of Art, Bombay hoping to concentrate on his lifelong interests of drawing and painting, but the dean of the school wrote to him that his drawings lacked, "the kind of talent to qualify for enrollment in our institution as a student", and refused admission. He finally graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Mysore. In the meantime he continued his freelance artistic activities and contributed cartoons to Swarajya and an animated film based on the mythological character, Narada.

Laxman's earliest work was for newspapers and magazines such as Swarajya and Blitz. While still at the Maharaja College of Mysore, he began to illustrate his elder brother RK Narayan's stories in The Hindu, and he drew political cartoons for the local newspapers and for the Swatantra. Laxman also drew cartoons, for the Kannada humour magazine, Koravanji.

Incidentally, Koravanji was founded in 1942 by Dr M Shivaram who was an allopath and had a clinic around Majestic area in Bangalore. He started this monthly magazine, dedicating it to hilarious/satirical articles and cartoons. Dr Shivaram himself was an eminent humourist in Kannada. He encouraged Laxman quite a lot. He held a summer job at the Gemini Studios, Madras. His first full-time job was as a political cartoonist for the The Free Press Journal in Mumbai, Bal Thackeray, was his colleague. Laxman later joined The Times of India, beginning a career that has spanned for over fifty years. His "common man" character, featured in his pocket cartoons,is portrayed as a witness to the making of democracy. Anthropologist Ritu G Khanduri notes, "R K Laxman structures his cartoon-news through a plot about corruption and a set of characters. This news is visualized and circulates through the recurring figures of the mantri (Minister), the Common Man and the trope of modernity symbolized by the airplane."

He also created a popular mascot for the Asian Paints group called Gattu in 1954. Laxman has also penned a few novels. His cartoons have appeared in Hindi films such as Mr & Mrs '55 and a Tamil film Kamaraj. His creations also include the sketches drawn for the television adaptation of Malgudi Days which was written by his elder brother RK Narayan and directed by Shankar Nag. Laxman also drew caricatures of friends for private purposes.

There is a chair named after RK Laxman at Symbiosis International University.

R K Laxman was first married to the Bharatanatyam dancer and film actress Kumari Kamala Laxman, who began her film career as a child actress named "Baby Kamala," and graduated into adult roles under the name "Kumari Kamala" ("Miss Kamala"). They were divorced, and Laxman later married a lady whose first name was again Kamala. This was the authoress and children's book writer Kamala Laxman. In a cartoon series named "The star I never met" in film magazine Filmfare he painted a cartoon of Kamala Laxman, with the title "The star I only met!". The couple had no children and divided their time between Mumbai and Pune.

In September 2003, Laxman was affected by a stroke which left him paralyzed on his left side. He has partly recovered from its effects. On the evening of June 20, 2010, Laxman was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai after being transported by an air ambulance from Pune. His condition was said to be stable.

In October 2012 Laxman celebrated his 91st birthday in Pune. During a private gathering at his residence, Laxman cut the cake and was presented a DVD of a documentary titled The Brainy Crow by his fan Rajvardhan Patil, depicting the life and survival of the favourite bird of the cartoonist. Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, who had a past association with Laxman as a cartoonist, sent birthday greetings to him, family sources said. Scientist Jayant Narlikar and Symbiosis University chancellor S B Mujumdar also came to greet him on the occasion.

He was conferred with Padma Vibhushan in the year 2005. Besides, he was also honoured with Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature and Creative Communication Arts in 1984. He was given Lifetime Achievement Award for Journalism by CNN IBN TV18 January 29, 2008.

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Obama assures Modi on concerns over H-1B visa issue

NEW DELHI: President Barack Obama has assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he will look into India's concerns on the H-1B visa issue as part of his comprehensive immigration reform, US officials said on Monday.

Obama told Prime Minister Modi that his administration would be in touch with the Indian government on issues related to H-1B visas, popular among Indian techies.

"I think what the President indicated is this is the type of issue (H-1B) that we have approached through the context of comprehensive immigration reform and so, given his ongoing efforts to work with Congress in pursuit of comprehensive immigration reform, we would be incorporating these types of issues in that process and would be in touch with the Indian government as that moved forward," Deputy national security advisor Ben Rhodes told US reporters travelling with Obama.

Responding to a question on the bilateral talks held between the two leaders on Monday, Rhodes acknowledged that India's concerns over certain aspects of the immigration reform were raised at the highest level.

"They (Modi and Obama) discussed the ongoing discussions around immigration reform in the United States where there are so many Indian-American and Indian immigrants," he said.

US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"The Indian government raised the issue, as they regularly do. It usually does include the H-1B visa issue. Indians are working in the high-tech sector in the United States, as well as broader India presence in the United States, people who are there on a temporary basis working," Rhodes said.

In November last year, President Obama had bypassed the Congress to announce the most sweeping reform to fix America's "broken" immigration system to protect millions of illegal workers from deportation.

The plan would let parents of US citizens and legal permanent residents remain in the country temporarily, without the threat of deportation. The measure would apply to those who have been in the US for last five years.

The executive action, said to be one of the largest measure by a US President on immigration, is expected to help a significant number of Indian techies who currently have to undergo a painful and agonising process of H-1B visas to get legal permanent status (LPR), popularly known as Green Card.

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Laxman immortalized passive, hapless common man

PUNE: Capturing the entire gamut of idiosyncrasies of Indian politicians in an innocuous newspaper box with his cartoons, R K Laxman immortalized the passive, hapless common man with an uncanny perception and sarcasm in a daily commentary on his life that brought smiles to millions.

Every morning for over five decades, his fans waited for the 'common man' who, with his signature checked jacket, dhoti, Gandhi-glasses and twin tufts of gravity-defying hair, watched life and politics in India.

READ ALSO: Eminent cartoonist RK Laxman dies at 94

With his masterful strokes using the space of couple of inches, he exposed the hypocrisy in politics, leaving many a politician red-faced.

The iconic cartoonist died in Pune on Monday after prolonged illness at the age of 94.

The son of a school teacher, Rasipuram Krishnaswamy Laxman, who rose to become India's best known political cartoonist, was born in Mysore on October 24, 1921. He was one of the seven siblings that included his elder brother eminent novelist R K Narayan.

With a penchant for drawing since his school days, Laxman was engrossed by the illustrations in magazines such as "Punch", " Tit-Bits", " Strand" and " Bystander" and came under an early influence of world renowned British cartoonist Sir David Low.

A creative genius, Laxman was known to have started doodling even before he could read, using floors, walls and doors of his house.

His artistic bent of mind was appreciated by a school teacher who noticed a drawing by him on a peepal leaf.

In his autobiography "The Tunnel of Time", the legendary cartoonist recalls, "I drew objects that caught my eye outside the widow of my room--- the dry twigs, leaves and lizard like creatures crawling about, the servant chopping firewood and of course, the number of crows in various postures on the rooftops of the buildings opposite?".

The crow was also a common figure in his cartoons later on.


Overcoming the setback in the death of his father, the young Laxman completed high school education and sought admission to Mumbai's J J School of Arts.
Ironically his application was rejected by the dean who remarked that his drawings "lacked the kind of talent required to qualify for enrolment in our institution as a student".

Laxman subsequently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from University of Mysore even as he continued with freelancing and contributed cartoons to " Blitz", " Swarajya" and an animated film based on the mythological character of "Narada".

While at the Maharaja's College of Mysore, Laxman started illustrating R K Narayan's short stories in 'The Hindu' and also drawing political cartoons for local newspapers and a Kannada magazine devoted to humour titled " Koravanji", founded in 1942 by Dr M.Shivaram who encouraged the budding cartoonist.

When he took up his first full time job as a political cartoonist at Mumbai's Free Press Journal, Laxman incidentally found himself in the company of Bal Thackeray who too worked in the same paper as a cartoonist for a brief period.

But his legendary spell on the Indian newspaper reader was cast after joining the Times Of India (TOI).

The comic strip "You said it" started in 1951, unleashing his iconic "common man", a silent witness to the shenanigans of politicians who were supposed to realise his dreams, hopes and aspirations but betrayed him on most occasions.

His association with TOI continued through the six decades even as he got back to work after recovering from a paralytic stroke in 2003 that incapacitated his left side.

A versatile artist, Laxman also wrote novels - Hotel Riviera and the Messenger, published by Penguin and contributed distinctive illustrations to many works including the "Malgudi Days" stories penned by his brother R K Narayan.

His autobiography in English "The Tunnel of Time' is translated into Marathi under title "Laxmanrekha". In a fitting tribute to the "Common Man" who attained a cult status, a commemorative postal stamp was issued featuring it in 1988 on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of TOI.

Among the honours bestowed on the cartoonist are B D Goenka award-Indian Express, Durga Ratan Gold medal - Hindustan Times, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and the Magsaysay award in 1984 for Journalism, Literature and creative communication arts.

Laxman, married to author Kamala, later settled down at his Pune residence from where he continued his work. A 16 ft. bronze statue of the 'Common Man", sculpted by Vivek Khatavkar, was unveiled in the premises of the Symbiosis Institute here on December 19, 2001 in the presence of its creator.

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R K Laxman, nation's uncrowned conscience keeper

NEW DELHI: R K Laxman, considered by many as one of the world's greatest cartoonists, was an institution unto himself, indisputably the uncrowned conscience keeper of the nation. No politician or minister, however high or mighty, escaped his pointed satire, conveyed through a few deft strokes of his brush, especially if they committed an act of impropriety or indiscretion.

Laxman's 'common man', who graced the front pages of The Times of India for more than five decades, under "You Said It" acquired an iconic stature of its own. These pocket cartoons not only conveyed the pulse of a nation, but also unfailingly delivered powerful messages. At the same time they mirrored the hopes and aspirations, follies and foibles of a society in transition.

The cartoons of Laxman, who died on Monday, became the defining moments in nation's history, as for instance, the one on Aryabhatta, India's first satellite. A couple of middle-aged office-goers are waiting at a bus stop. One of them wants to know the time. As soon as the other looks at his watch and answers, the questioner looks skywards, exclaims: "Aryabhatta must have completed one orbit by now."

His huge canvas spanned local, national and global personalities and issues, born out of his deep understanding of the cross currents shaping the world. His take on Angolan crisis in which both the super powers fought through proxies, at the height of the Cold War, shall remain among his many unforgettable cartoons.

The three-column illustration depicts Leonid Brezhnev and Jimmy Carter, presidents of erstwhile USSR and US, who are stealthily stepping across the coast of Angola, both armed and in the guise of burglars. Carter cries "thief-thief" as soon as he spots his burly opposite number. It exposes their double-speak and evokes laughter at the irony. These cartoons speak volumes about Laxman's capacity to convey complex geopolitical realities in his characteristic style.


Laxman's cartoons, undoubtedly the outcome of a brilliant mind, also entailed sheer hard work. It meant isolating himself for six hour daily, neither speaking nor listening to anyone during the period. "Searching for new ideas is an endless process. You have to come up with new and innovative idea each day," he said.

Some of the tomes showcasing Laxman's perspective also include the one which appeared just after the 1971 India-Pakistan war, in three columns, in his inimitable style. General Yayha Khan, pointing to the stack of destroyed Pakistani tanks and planes in the background, tells Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, with a smile: "Have I not made it seem like a thousand-year war," (which only lasted 14 days). Bhutto often boasted about waging a millennial war against India.

Laxman, the youngest of six siblings, was born Oct 24, 1921, in Mysore. He showed promise very early in life. The illustrations in The Strand, Punch, Bystander and Tit-Bits, reputed British magazines, spurred his innate talent which found an outlet in his own house. He drew on its floor, walls and doors, sketched caricatures of his school teachers. Sir David Low, the world-famous cartoonist whose sketches also appeared in the Hindu, also influenced him.


Laxman lost his father, a headmaster, in childhood to the after-affects of a paralytic stroke, which he suffered a year earlier. The family elders stepped in and took responsibility for his children's upbringing and schooling.

Refused admission to the J J School of Art in Mumbai, on the grounds that he lacked requisite talent, Laxman joined the Maharaja's College in Mysore. While doing his graduation in arts, he began to illustrate the stories of elder sibling R.K. Narayan, which appeared in The Hindu. He contributed cartoons to Swatantra, a local daily. Later, he worked for Swarajya and Blitz. Laxman also drew cartoons for Koravanji, the Kannada humour magazine.


But his stint with the Free Press Journal, where he worked with Bal Thackeray, happened to be his first full-time job. In 1951 Laxman joined The Times of India, Mumbai, which he served for more than 50 years, until a stroke in September 2003 left him partially paralyzed.
While receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award in Bangalore in February 2002, Laxman observed. "The 'Common Man' has not changed in the last five decades, and will not change. If he does, then he will become a terrorist... He represents the silent majority of India, who have no voice."

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Obama's 'Beast' a big hit among kids, grown-ups

NEW DELHI: Six-year-old Siya Singh may not know the first name of the US president but she knows for sure that he rides in 'The Beast'. So, when Barack Obama arrived at the Rajpath on Monday in his bulletproof vehicle, her mother held her aloft so that she could see the armoured limousine.

Such was the craze the vehicle" aroused along with that for the visiting American president.

There inquisitive looks and a silence when the 'The Beast' (also known as 'Cadillac One') arrived near the ceremonial dais until someone in the crowd shouted, "There it is, the Beast".

READ ALSO: Obama arrives in own vehicle for R-Day parade

Shield of steel: Obama's armoured Cadillac One

Siya's mother Sonia Singh says she came to the parade along with her daughter and friends and their children also because they "wanted to see Obama, and his Beast".

"And, it's a pretty impressive one, I must say, brought all the way from America," she said.

Obama came in the Beast (TOI photo by Anindya Chattopadhyay)
10-year-old Ojas Dabas from Gurgaon, who also came to the see the Republic Day parade along with his family, says, "his entire class at the school were jumping about ever since they heard about his (Obama's) visit."

"When I came for the parade, I knew I had to get the best seat to get the best view of the Beast. And I saw it. It was awesome," Ojas said.

His sister Anjali, a student of Class 10, said the media played a great role in making people know about the vehicle by "talking so much about it".

"I had no idea about what a Beast was but I have read so much about it that I wanted to see it. And I think it's a good thing that the media talked about it," she said.

'The Beast', based on a Cadillac DTS, is the first presidential limousine not to have a specific model name.

Obama on Monday became the first US president to be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade and the only American president to visit India twice while in office.

Obama arriving in his own highly-secured bomb-proof vehicle at the Rajpath marked a departure from tradition for the chief guest at the Republic Day parade.

'The Beast' among its stunning features, has an eight-inch thick body armour plating and five-inch thick bullet-proof windows which insulates the President from all sorts of threats including chemical attacks.

Its doors weigh similar to those on a Boeing-757 aircraft. The eight-tonner runs on shred and puncture resistant Kevlar-reinforced tyres with steel rims underneath which ensure that the vehicle does not come to a halt even if its tyres get damaged.

The fuel tank is covered with a special foam that negates any possibility of an explosion.

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US wants to trade even more with India: Obama

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 25 Januari 2015 | 22.44

NEW DELHI: "We want to trade even more," US President Barack Obama said on Sunday as the two-way commerce between America and India touched a record USD 100 billion.

"In the last few years, trade between our two countries increased by some 60 per cent, total record of USD 100 billion. We want to trade even more," he said at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi here.

Obama, who is on a three-day visit, also welcomed the economic reforms being pursued by the government.

READ ALSO: Obama's India visit aimed at containing China: Report

"...(we) welcome the reforms that the Prime Minister is pursuing to make it easier to do business here in India," he said, adding the trade and economic partnership must focus on improving the daily lives of "our people".

"Prime Minister Modi describes for me his ambitious efforts to empower more Indians with bank accounts and to ensure clean water, clean air for Indian people and we want to be partners in these efforts," Obama said.

He also said the two sides have agreed to resume discussions on the Bilateral Investment Treaty.

READ ALSO: Obama refers to Modi's 'chai pe charcha'

The proposed pact is aimed at protecting investments between the two nations.

The Modi-government, which assumed power in May 2014, has taken a slew of measures to attract foreign investments, including further liberalisation of FDI norms in the defence and insurance sectors.

The government is also taking steps toward making in easier to do business in India.

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Religion cannot be made cause of conflict: President

NEW DELHI: Asserting that religion cannot be made a cause of conflict, President Pranab Mukherjee today said "tolerance" and promotion of goodwill between diverse communities needs to be preserved with "utmost care and vigilance".

In his address to the nation on the eve of 66th Republic Day, the President quoted Mahatma Gandhi, "religion is a force for unity" and said, "we cannot make it a cause of conflict" as wisdom of India always teaches "unity is strength,dominance is weakness."

He said the Constitution is the holy book of democracy and a "lodestar" for the socio-economic transformation of an India whose civilization has celebrated pluralism, advocated tolerance and promoted goodwill between diverse communities.

"These values, however, need to be preserved with utmost care and vigilance," he said.

The comments of the President came at a time when some right wing parties have been sparking one controversy after another by raising issues like 'ghar wapsi', eulogiusing Nathuram Godse, pressing for having 10 kids for increasing Hindu population and some ministers making inappropriate comments about minorities.
The freedom inherent in democracy sometimes generates an unhappy by-product when political discourse becomes a "competition in hysteria that is abhorrent to our traditional ethos. The violence of the tongue cuts and wounds people's hearts," Mukherjee said.

READ ALSO: Rape, murders, harassment have made women fearful, says President

On the issue of India being termed as a "soft power", he said, "the most powerful example of India's soft power, in an international environment where so many countries are sinking into the morass of theocratic violence, lies in our definition of the relationship between faith and polity.


President Pranab Mukherjee addressing the nation on the eve of 66th Republic Day Celebration at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. ( PTI Photo)

"We have always reposed our trust in faith-equality where every faith is equal before the law and every culture blends into another to create a positive dynamic," the President said.

READ ALSO: Ordinance route 'breaches' trust of people, says President

Speaking about the menace of terrorism, Mukherjee made a veiled reference about Pakistan saying that the country's "adversaries" will stop at nothing to disrupt India's progress.

The multi-nation conflict has converted boundaries into "bloodlines, and turned terrorism into an industry of evil.

"Terrorism and violence are seeping across our borders. While peace, non-violence and good neighbourly intentions should remain the fundamentals of our foreign policy, we cannot afford to be complacent about adversaries who will stop at nothing to disrupt our progress towards a prosperous and equitable India," he said.

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Let certain things be under wraps: Modi, Obama

NEW DELHI: What transpired between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Barack Obama over tea on Sunday at the Hyderabad House is likely to remain in the realm of speculation with the two leaders refusing to share details of their tete-a-tete with the media.

"As far as talks are concerned, let them remain behind the curtains," Modi said, when asked at a joint media interation with Obama what the two leaders shared during their tea session as well as during their stroll in the well-manicured lawns.

Obama also agreed with Modi on this saying, "He is right...we can't tell you everything that we talked about."

READ ALSO: 7 reasons why Obama's second visit to India is important

The US President, however, said what they did share during their personal interactions was how much sleep each of them received and it came out that Modi was getting an hour's sleep less than him.

"I will share one thing, and that is we compared how much sleep each of us is getting and it turns out that Modi is getting even less sleep than me. But, of course that's because he is still new. After he's been doing this for about six years may be he will be able to get an extra hour," Obama said as mediamen chuckled over the joke.

READ ALSO: India, US moving towards civil nuclear deal: Obama

Modi earlier said the relationship between two nations do not depend on the commas and fullstops on paper but between what relationship and chemistry the leaders shared between them.

"When away from cameras, we talk with each other informally, we know each other closely. Barack and I have developed a friendship, and due to this openness, we can talk easily over phone, we can share a joke and laugh," Modi said.

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India, US to set up hotline between top leaders

NEW DELHI: In a first, India and the US on Sunday agreed to set up a hotline between their top leaders - Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama.

"We will establish hotlines between myself and Barack and our National Security Advisors," Modi said in his opening statement during the two leaders' joint interaction with the media.

READ ALSO: Obama greets the news conference in Hindi

The Ministry of External Affairs later said this is the first time that India and the US will have a hotline at the level of top leadership.

Modi said the effort was part of their exercise to give the critical partnership between two countries "a new thrust and sustained attention"

"We have decided to give this critical partnership a new thrust and sustained attention. For this, we have agreed that India and the United States must have regular Summits at greater frequency," he said.

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Ordinance route 'breaches' trust of people: President

NEW DELHI: After cautioning the Government against taking the ordinance route, President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday did some plain speaking, saying enacting laws without discussions "breaches the trust" reposed by people and is not good for democracy.

In his address on the eve of 66th Republic Day, Mukherjee spoke about the importance of legislature and said that after three decades, people have voted a single party to majority for having a stable government.

"The voter has played her part; it is now up to those who have been elected to honour this trust. It was a vote for clean, efficient, effective, gender-sensitive, transparent, accountable and citizen-friendly governance," he said.

Dwelling upon the role of legislature, the President said it is a "platform where progressive legislations using civilised dialogue" which must create delivery mechanism for realizing the aspirations of the people and also reconciling the differences among all the stakeholders before enacting laws.

"Enacting laws without discussion impacts the law-making role of the Parliament. It breaches the trust reposed in it by the people. This is neither good for the democracy nor for the policies relating to those laws," he said.

Mukherjee had earlier stated that ordinances are meant for specific purposes, that is "to meet an extraordinary situation under extraordinary circumstances".

The remarks had come against the backdrop of the Modi government having issued nine ordinances including those for raising the FDI limit in the insurance sector and e-auctioning of coal mines.

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India,US hoping for progress in nuclear,defence,tech transfer

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 24 Januari 2015 | 22.44

NEW DELHI: Moving forward on issues of civil nuclear deal, technology transfer and joint ventures in defence will be among the key areas where India and the US will like to have "concrete deliverables" during the three-day high-voltage trip of US President Barack Obama from tomorrow.

However, the US president's schedule, which earlier included a visit to iconic Taj, had to be readjusted due to his last minute plans to travel to Riyadh on January 27 to pay respects to King Salman bin Abdulaziz and the family of the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz. President Obama "regrets" not being able to visit the Taj, White House said in a statement.

Both countries are working hard to have "excellent" outcomes during the visit of Obama, who will have a tight schedule including talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, attending Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest, meeting with business leaders, and an address on 'India and America: The Future We Can Build Together'.

Describing the presidential visit as "one of our most important diplomatic engagements in recent times", Spokesperson in the external affairs ministry Syed Akbaruddin had said cooperation in key areas of defence, security, counter-terrorism and the situation in India's extended neighbourhood would be among the issues to be discussed between Obama and Prime Minister Modi.

Asked about the differences between the two sides on the nuclear deal, he said that "progress has been made" during the previous negotiations and India was looking forward to "effectively" work with the US in the "extremely important" nuclear field.

The Indian liability law holds the suppliers directly liable in case of a nuclear accident while countries like France and the US have asked India to follow global norms under which the primary liability is with the operator.

Since all the nuclear power plants in the country are run by the government-owned Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd, following international norms will mean the government would have to pay the damages in case of an accident.

Another contentious clause in the liability law was unlimited liability for which international companies will find it difficult to get insurers.

According to the sources, progress was made during the two-day meeting of Indo-US Contact Group in London, but some lingering issues may require resolution at the political level.

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Obama greets Pranab Mukherjee ahead of Republic Day

NEW DELHI: US President Barack Obama has greeted President Pranab Mukherjee ahead of Republic Day, appreciating India's rich and diverse cultural heritage and promising to advance the relationship between the two countries.

In a special message to Mukherjee, Obama said: "The Republic of India has nurtured the world's largest democracy since adopting its Constitution 65 years ago, while honouring the country's rich and diverse cultural heritage.

"As we work to deepen the ties between our great democracies and advance our partnership for the 21st century, we will continue to do so on the basis of the democratic ideals contained in our constitutions."

The US president said it was a great honour to serve as the chief guest during the Republic Day celebrations, a Rashtrapati Bhawan release said.

"Michelle and I very much look forward to returning to India, and once again enjoying the generosity, hospitality, and beauty that marked our last visit in 2010," he said.

"On behalf of the American people, I extend best wishes as you and the people of India celebrate India's Republic Day Jan 26," the message said.

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Manjhi refutes differences with Nitish

PATNA: With JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav holding a closed door meeting with Bihar chief minister and state party chief to stem the deepening crisis in the party, Jitan Ram Manjhi on Saturday denied speculations about 'differences' with senior party leader Nitish Kumar.

"Doubts are being spread about differences between me and Nitish Kumar which is not true ... Some people in a bid to serve their own vested interests are spreading such rumours," Manjhi said at a party function to mark the birth anniversary of socialist leader Karpoori Thakur.

Nitish Kumar and Sharad Yadav were on the dais with him. Praising Kumar, Manjhi said he showed the "highest level of political ethics" by resigning from the chief minister's post owing moral responsibility for JD(U)'s debacle in the general election.

"He could have easily nominated somebody from his caste or people who are always around him to succeed him. But, he reposed faith in a mahadalit like me ... I will not betray his trust.

"Those trying to serve their own vested interest by creating rift between us would not be allowed to succeed. We are one and will remain one," he said.

Earlier, during the day Yadav concerned over the deepening crisis in JD(U) in the wake of war of words between supporters of Nitish Kumar and Manjhi held a closed door meeting to douse the fire.

Manjhi and state party chief Basistha Narayan Singh were with Yadav in the closed door meeting at the state guest house for more than half an hour.

When asked, Manjhi told reporters after the meeting that there was no problem in the party.

"Ask Sharad Yadav," he said, when pressed further. Asked about BJP firing salvos at Kumar and JD(U), Manjhi said "Go and ask Nitish Kumar on this."

Singh, who had come to the state guest house from the residence of senior leader Nitish Kumar admitted, the situation was becoming 'serious' due to repeated statements of leaders.

"The party is suffering a serious loss due to statements coming from party leaders," the JD(U) state chief told reporters.

Crisis in JD(U) appears to be deepening since the 'dinner diplomacy' attended by over 20 state ministers owing allegiance to Kumar at the residence of food minister Shyam Rajak on Wednesday.

Manjhi adopted a defiant pose and claimed at a function at Banka the very next day that he had performed better than previous regimes including that of Nitish Kumar.

He has been making assertions subsequently also which reflected his defiant approach.

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