New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi set a powerful example on India’s 76th Republic Day on Sunday by picking up waste on the Kartavya Path, promoting the concept of plogging and the goal of ‘Swacch Bharat’ (Clean India).

This gesture, witnessed by thousands, highlighted the importance of cleanliness and community involvement in maintaining public spaces.

PM Modi noticed waste on Kartavya Path and picked it up while receiving Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar. PM Modi has emphasised from time to time to be involved in cleanliness acts to ensure a ‘Swacch Bharat’

During the Republic Day event at Kartavya Path, PM Modi demonstrated the importance of cleanliness by picking up waste while receiving the Vice President. #RepublicDay2025… pic.twitter.com/LyTKvfamPM

– @narendramodi!

During the Republic Day event at Kartavya Path, PM Modi demonstrated the importance of cleanliness by picking up waste while receiving the Vice President. #RepublicDay2025… pic.twitter.com/LyTKvfamPM

— MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) January 26, 2025

This act was particularly significant, given PM Modi’s previous emphasis on plogging and community-led initiatives to achieve a cleaner India. In November of last year, he hailed a plogging group in ‘Mann Ki Baat’ who has been working to clean Ganga ghats in Kanpur.

In December of last year, the Ministry of Defence organised a massive plogging programme at more than 400 locations throughout the country as part of the activities of Swachhta Pakhwada.

Meanwhile, President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday unfurled the national flag at Kartavya Path, followed by the national anthem with a thunderous 21-gun salute using 105-mm Light Field Guns, an indigenous weapon system.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto joined the celebration as the chief guest of this year.

This year, Republic Day highlights the 75 years since the enactment of the Constitution and emphasizes “Jan Bhagidari” (people’s participation).

PM Modi Modi laid a wreath at the National War Memorial, situated at India Gate, and paid tribute to the brave hearts who laid down their lives for the country, following which President Murmu unfurled the national flag, assisted by Indian Navy officers Lieutenant Shubham Kumar and Lieutenant Yogita Saini.

Around 10,000 Special Guests were invited to witness the parade, in line with the government’s objective to increase ‘Jan Bhagidari’ in events of national importance. These Special Guests from different walks of life were the architects of ‘Swarnim Bharat’. They include the best performers in various fields and those who have made the best use of the schemes of the government.

Tableaux from 16 state government and Union Territories and 10 ministries and departments of the Central Government highlighting ‘Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas’, participated in the parade this year.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hailed the BJP-led alliance’s sweeping victory in Maharashtra as popular endorsement of its governance model and rejection of the Congress’ “lies and deceit”, as he accused the Gandhi family of spreading the “poison of casteism and divisiveness”.

Buoyed by the NDA’s unprecedented scale of win in the politically prized state, PM Modi flayed the Congress for “betraying” the Constitution’s secular principals and cited the Waqf Act, which his government is seeking to amend, as an example of its “appeasement politics”.

The Congress has tried to inflict capital punishment on true secularism, he claimed, asserting that the Waqf law has no place in the Constitution.

Reiterating his call for “ek hain to safe hain” (we are safe if united), he said this is the biggest message from Maharashtra after the Haryana polls and it has become the country’s “mahamantra”.

It is becoming increasingly difficult for the Congress to come to power on its own, he said, dubbing the opposition party as parasitic.

The Congress and its allies tried to divide people with lies and deceits, he said in an apparent reference to their claim of threat to the Constitution from the BJP, a plank which harmed the ruling party in the Lok Sabha polls in a few states, but were rejected.

The Congress’ priority is only family, he said in a swipe at the party’s Gandhi family and not people of the country. The royal family is now spreading the poison of casteism, he added.

A family’s hunger for power has gone up so much that it has eaten up the party, he said, claiming that fire of disaffection is surging with the Congress as many of its own leaders no longer identify with its existing values.

When it comes to good governance, people trust only the BJP, he said, noting that the party has also put up an impressive show in the bypolls held across the country. It is a historic stamp on the BJP’s governance model, he said.

“Development, good governance and true social justice have won. Lies, deceit, divisive forces, negative politics and nepotism have suffered a big defeat,” he said of the Maharashtra poll results. People have preferred stability and the state has broken all records in its support of the BJP-led alliance, he added.

In a swipe at the longtime BJP ally-turned-bitter rival Uddhav Thackeray, who heads a Shiv Sena faction, he said the leaders who resorted to betrayal and tried to create instability have been roundly rejected by people.

He said the Congress allied with Uddhav Thackeray but the party and its leaders could not speak in support of the policies of his father Bal Thackeray, a leading Hindtutva voice of his time.

With the Delhi Assembly polls round the corner, PM Modi highlighted the popular support for the BJP in major cities in many states and emphasised on his party’s agenda for making Indian cities among the best in the world.

His government has been working to boost urban infrastructure by launching new metro trains, highways and electric buses, he said, describing cities as engines of development that also strengthens villages.

The urban region’s support to the BJP is a message for modern India and a rejection of those putting obstacles in its development, said PM Modi. Urban India wants ease of living and it trusts the BJP, he added. The prime minister noted that Maharashtra has become the sixth state where people have elected the BJP to power for a third straight term, stressing that it underscores people’s truth in its good governance model.

The BJP-led alliance had won a majority in the 2019 assembly polls in Maharashtra but its then ally Thackeray joined hands with the opposition to form government, which fell in 2022, paving the way for the saffron party to power as it allied with the faction headed by Eknath Shinde, who became the chief minister.

“The Congress and its ecosystem had thought that by spreading lies in the name of the Constitution, they could divide the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) in small groups. This is a solid slap on their faces,” said PM Modi.

The Congress and its allies have failed to grasp the changed realities of the country’s mood, as voters do not want instability and believe in “nation first” and not in those preferring “kursi first”.

The voters in Maharashtra also evaluated the Congress on the basis of the false promises made in other states like Karnataka, Telangana and Himachal Pradesh, he added.

“Neither their false promises nor their dangerous agenda worked in Maharashtra,” PM Modi said.

The prime minister said the Maharashtra election also shows that only one Constitution will work in India and that was given to the people of the country by B R Ambedkar.

The Congress and its allies were again trying to create a wall of Article 370 of the Constitution in Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

“I want to say this to the Congress and its allies that no force in the world can bring back Article 370 and insult our Constitution,” PM Modi said.

His party has respected the country’s values and traditions, and India will now advance with the mantra of “vikas aur virasat” (development and heritage), PM Modi said.

The Congress, he said, has been stoking divides in the name of region and caste, and that its espousal of urban naxalism has become a challenge for the country. The remote control of this urban naxalism is outside the country, he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated Ursula von der Leyen on being re-elected as the President of the European Commission and said he looked forward to working together to strengthen the India-EU strategic partnership for global good.

The Ministry of External Affairs said this in a statement.

Prime Minister Modi earlier in the day posted on X: “Congratulations, @vonderleyen, on your re-election as the President of the European Commission. Look forward to working together to strengthen the India-EU Strategic Partnership for global good.”

Congratulations, @vonderleyen, on your re-election as the President of the European Commission. Look forward to working together to strengthen the - Strategic Partnership for global good.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 19, 2024

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Mumbai:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the media’s natural role is to create discourse by discussing serious issues.

Speaking after inaugurating INS Towers, the Indian Newspaper Society’s secretariat in Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex, PM Modi expressed confidence that India will soon become the third-largest economy and spoke about how the nation has become the leader in digital payments.

He also said the role of newspapers is crucial in the journey to Viksit Bharat in the next 25 years and appealed to Indian publications to enhance their global presence.

“Media makes people aware of their strength. Media’s natural role is to create discourse by discussing serious issues,” PM Modi said even as he emphasised the impact of government policies on the functioning of the media.

The role of newspapers is very important in the journey to Viksit Bharat in the next 25 years. The citizens of a country who gain confidence in their capabilities start achieving new heights of success. The same is happening in India today, PM Modi said.

He said the INS has not only witnessed the ups and downs of India’s journey but also lived it and communicated it to the people.

“A country’s global image directly affects its economy. Indian publications should enhance their global presence,” the prime minister said.

He said the media is not a mute spectator of the condition of the nations but it plays a major role in changing them.

Underlining the role of newspapers and magazines in the next 25-year journey to Viksit Bharat, PM Modi highlighted the media’s role in creating awareness about rights and the potential of the citizenry He also spoke on how India has become the leader in digital payments.

“There was a time when some politicians used to say that digital transactions were not for India. They had a preconceived notion that modern technology can’t work in this country,” he said.

PM Modi further said the world is witnessing the capabilities of Indians and today, the country is creating new records in digital transactions.

“Due to India’s UPI and modern digital public infrastructure, the ease of living of people has improved, and it has become easier for them to send money across countries,” PM Modi said.

The country will benefit from the effective work done by the Indian Newspaper Society, he added.

The PM said before 2014, most people were unaware of the word startup, but the media made it reach every home.

He also highlighted the success of digital transactions in India as an example of how confident citizens achieve great success.

The Prime Minister stated the example of financial inclusion and opening of bank accounts through the movement of Jan Dhan Yojna and the integration of about 50 crore people with the banking system and added that major nations are interested in India’s digital public infrastructure.

“This project was the biggest help in Digital India and initiatives to curb corruption,” he said.

PM Modi highlighted the government’s focus on environmental protection, which he said is a humanitarian issue rather than a political one.

He said the recently launched ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign is being discussed around the world and global leaders showed a keen interest in this program during the G7 Summit.

PM Modi lauded the media for making movements like Swachh Bharat or Startup India a part of national discourse, saying these initiatives were not impacted by vote bank politics.

He underlined the important role of the media in heightening the sense of duty and awareness of the citizens towards the Constitution considering the 75th-year celebrations of the Constitution of India.

The Prime Minister reiterated India’s march to become the third largest economy in the near future.

“It is the responsibility of the media to take India’s success to every corner of the globe. A country’s global image directly affects its economy”, he said.

PM Modi also spoke about the growing importance of the Indian expatriates with the rise in the stature of India and its growing ability to contribute to global progress.

The prime Minister wished for the expansion of Indian publications in all UN languages and said that websites, micro-sites or social media accounts of these publications could be in those languages.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Mumbai:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday emphasised that creation of eight crore new jobs in the last three to four years has “silenced” those spreading fake narratives about unemployment.

Quoting a recent report of Reserve Bank of India on the employment figure, the Prime Minister asserted the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government continues to prioritise stability and growth and added that small and big investors have welcomed the NDA’s third term with enthusiasm.

During the event launching projects costing Rs 29,000 crore in road, railway, and port sectors, PM Modi took a swipe at opposition parties for spreading misinformation on job creation, labelling them as hindrances to progress.

“This figure has silenced those spreading fake narrative on jobs,” PM Modi said in a veiled attack on the opposition that had made unemployment a key issue in the recent Lok Sabha polls.

“Those who spread fake narratives are enemies of investment, infrastructure development and enemies of the country’s growth. Their every policy is about betraying youth and stall employment. Now they are getting exposed as people are rejecting their lies,” the PM said.

PM Modi said skill development and employment are needed in the country and his government is working in this direction.

He said Maharashtra has a glorious history, a capable present and the dream of a prosperous future.

It is the state that has a critical role to play in Viksit Bharat as it has power of industry, agriculture and finance sector.

“My aim is to make Maharashtra the world’s big financial powerhouse and to make Mumbai a global fintech capital,” he said.

“Our aim is to improve everyone’s standard of living and make quality of life the best. This is why efforts are being made to better the connectivity of areas close to Mumbai,” the PM added.

The ground breaking of infrastructure works come months ahead of the state assembly polls.

The upcoming infrastructure projects in and around Mumbai will boost connectivity of the city with nearby areas, which ensures better facilities as well as safety for women, PM Modi pointed out.

The expansion of the metro rail network in the metropolis was going on at a rapid pace, rising from just 8 kilometres ten years ago to 80 kilometres now, while work on 200 kilometres is underway, the PM said.

In Maharashtra, the length of national highways has trebled, adding the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road, which will act as a major east-west connector in the northern part of the city, was a fine example of balance between conserving nature and development.

The twin tunnels connecting Thane and Borivali will ensure the distance between the two areas will be covered in minutes, the PM said.

The Coastal Road and Atal Setu are now complete, the PM said, and recalled efforts by some to stall the sea bridge.

But now everyone realises how beneficial it is, the PM said about the Atal Setu, the country’s longest sea bridge connecting Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.

Some 20,000 vehicles use it everyday and it is estimated that Rs 20-25 lakh worth of fuel is saved and people take less time to reach Panvel, the PM pointed out.

The transformation of railways is benefitting Mumbai and Maharashtra, he said.

The redevelopment works of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Ajni-Nagpur were happening at a rapid pace.

The new platforms at CSMT and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (two of the main junctions of Central Railway in Mumbai), have been inaugurated and will enable the railways to run 24-coach trains, the PM said.

The Centre has also approved the Rs 76000 crore Vadhavan port in Dahanu in Palghar, which will generate 10 lakh jobs, the PM said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Mumbai:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday emphasised that creation of eight crore new jobs in the last three to four years has “silenced” those spreading fake narratives about unemployment.

Quoting a recent report of Reserve Bank of India on the employment figure, the Prime Minister asserted the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government continues to prioritise stability and growth and added that small and big investors have welcomed the NDA’s third term with enthusiasm.

During the event launching projects costing Rs 29,000 crore in road, railway, and port sectors, PM Modi took a swipe at opposition parties for spreading misinformation on job creation, labelling them as hindrances to progress.

“This figure has silenced those spreading fake narrative on jobs,” PM Modi said in a veiled attack on the opposition that had made unemployment a key issue in the recent Lok Sabha polls.

“Those who spread fake narratives are enemies of investment, infrastructure development and enemies of the country’s growth. Their every policy is about betraying youth and stall employment. Now they are getting exposed as people are rejecting their lies,” the PM said.

PM Modi said skill development and employment are needed in the country and his government is working in this direction.

He said Maharashtra has a glorious history, a capable present and the dream of a prosperous future.

It is the state that has a critical role to play in Viksit Bharat as it has power of industry, agriculture and finance sector.

“My aim is to make Maharashtra the world’s big financial powerhouse and to make Mumbai a global fintech capital,” he said.

“Our aim is to improve everyone’s standard of living and make quality of life the best. This is why efforts are being made to better the connectivity of areas close to Mumbai,” the PM added.

The ground breaking of infrastructure works come months ahead of the state assembly polls.

The upcoming infrastructure projects in and around Mumbai will boost connectivity of the city with nearby areas, which ensures better facilities as well as safety for women, PM Modi pointed out.

The expansion of the metro rail network in the metropolis was going on at a rapid pace, rising from just 8 kilometres ten years ago to 80 kilometres now, while work on 200 kilometres is underway, the PM said.

In Maharashtra, the length of national highways has trebled, adding the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road, which will act as a major east-west connector in the northern part of the city, was a fine example of balance between conserving nature and development.

The twin tunnels connecting Thane and Borivali will ensure the distance between the two areas will be covered in minutes, the PM said.

The Coastal Road and Atal Setu are now complete, the PM said, and recalled efforts by some to stall the sea bridge.

But now everyone realises how beneficial it is, the PM said about the Atal Setu, the country’s longest sea bridge connecting Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.

Some 20,000 vehicles use it everyday and it is estimated that Rs 20-25 lakh worth of fuel is saved and people take less time to reach Panvel, the PM pointed out.

The transformation of railways is benefitting Mumbai and Maharashtra, he said.

The redevelopment works of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Ajni-Nagpur were happening at a rapid pace.

The new platforms at CSMT and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (two of the main junctions of Central Railway in Mumbai), have been inaugurated and will enable the railways to run 24-coach trains, the PM said.

The Centre has also approved the Rs 76000 crore Vadhavan port in Dahanu in Palghar, which will generate 10 lakh jobs, the PM said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

PM Modi received a warm welcome as he addressed the Indian community in Austria’s Vienna following his visit to Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin. PM Modi arrived in Vienna after receiving an invite from Chancellor Karl Nehammer.

During the visit, PM Modi shook hands with the Indian community members and waved to the crowd, clearly moved by their reception.

#WATCH | Austria: Members of the Indian diaspora chant ‘Modi, Modi’ as Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets them at Sofiensäle in Vienna pic.twitter.com/mRUMskriNU

— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2024

“For thousands of years, we have been sharing our knowledge and expertise. We didn’t give ‘Yuddha’ (war), we gave the world ‘Buddha’. India always gave peace and prosperity, and therefore India is going to strengthen its role in the 21st century,” PM Modi said in Austria.

“India and Austria are geographically on two different ends, but we have many similarities. Democracy connects both countries. Our shared values are liberty, equality, pluralism, and respect for the rule of law. Our societies are multicultural and multilingual. Both countries celebrate diversity, and a big medium to reflect these values are elections,” PM Modi further said as the crowd chanted “Modi, Modi” enthusiastically.

Mirzapur:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that he grew up washing cup plates and serving tea, adding that the relationship between Modi and tea is very deep.

“I grew up washing cups and plates as a child. I have grown up serving tea. The relationship between Modi and tea is also very deep,” PM Modi said while addressing a rally in Mirzapur today.

“No one wants to waste their vote on Samajwadi Party. No one will vote for someone who is drowning. The common man will vote only for the one whose government is certain to be formed. The country has come to know the people of the INDI alliance very well. These people are deeply communal. These people are extreme casteists. These people are extreme familyists. Whenever their government is formed, these people take decisions on this basis,” he added.

Slamming the SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, the Prime Minister said that there are so many promising people in the Yadav community but he (Akhilesh) gave tickets only to his family members.

“These SP people used to release even those terrorists who were caught. The SP government used to suspend any police officer who was reluctant in this. They had made the entire UP and Purvanchal a haven for the mafia. Be it life or land, no one knew when it would be snatched away and in the SP government, the mafia was also seen as a vote bank,” PM Modi said.

He further asserted that CM Yogi is carrying forward the ‘Swachhta Abhiyan’ very bravely. The public was at the mercy of the SP government but now the mafia is trembling in the BJP government.

“The sacred Constitution of our country is also on their (INDI alliance) target. They want to loot the reservation of SC-ST-OBC. Our Constitution clearly says that there cannot be reservation based on religion. Samajwadi Party had released its manifesto during the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in 2012. Then SP had said in its manifesto, just as Dalits and backward classes have got the reservation, similarly, Muslims will also be given reservation,” he added.

“SP had said that it would even change the Constitution for this. SP had announced that 15 per cent reservation will be given to Muslims in police and PAC also. How these people were bent on snatching away the rights of SC-ST-OBC to please their vote bank,” the Prime Minister said in Mirzapur.

PM Modi also emphasized that he is dedicated to the poor, Dalits and backward people.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Dhaurahra:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that he will not allow anyone to play with the Constitution, especially when it comes to the issue of reservation based on religion.

“The Constitution does not allow reservation on the basis of religion but the INDIA bloc, as part of its appeasement policy, is planning to give the share of reservation of SC/ST, OBC to Muslims. They also have an eye on your ‘mangalsutra‘, your field, your property because even former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that Muslims have the first right on resources. The Congress wants to implement the Karnataka model of reservation in the country,” PM Modi said while addressing a rally in Dhaurahra.

PM Modi also slammed the Congress and the INDIA bloc, accusing them of planning to redistribute the country’s wealth to their vote bank.

“I will stand like a wall against them if they attempt to do this. They also say that they will bring back Article 370 in Kashmir but I will not allow that to happen,” PM Modi added.

The Prime Minister also said that the opposition bloc is also claiming to end the free ration scheme, stop free healthcare schemes for the poor, and remove Vande Bharat trains, if they come to power.

“Will they also convert Ram Mandir into a hospital or try to bulldoze the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor? To stop this, you will have to vote for BJP. Each vote that you cast for BJP will come to me. I have come to seek your blessings because I have much more work to do,” PM Modi said.

He said that the erstwhile Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh has added bitterness to the lives of sugarcane farmers while the current Yogi Adityanath-led government has removed all the shortcomings.

“Yogi Adityanath has given the same amount of money to sugarcane farmers in seven years that Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party did not give in 10 years of their rule,” said PM Modi, adding that the state government is also working on making the Dhaurahra area a hub for banana farming.

Referring to Nighasan-Dhaurahara and Gola-Shahjahanpur roads, PM Modi said that the people of Sitapur and Lakhimpur can be proud of the development that is taking place in their area.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Palamu:

Underscoring of providing corruption-free governance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that not a single Rupee of corruption charges have been levelled against him during his tenure of 15 years when he was chief minister of Gujarat as well as during 10 years of his regime at the Centre

“I have been serving the country as CM and PM for nearly 25 years. In 25 years, Modi par ek paise ke ghotale ka aarop nhi laga. With your blessings, there is no allegation of corruption against me. The prayers of my mother and sisters are enough for me. I am still far from power, prestige, and comfort. Modi was born not for pleasure but for a mission,” PM Modi said stressing the importance of the trust placed in him by the people in Jharkhand’s Palamu on Saturday.

The Prime Minister underscored the remarkable progress India has witnessed under his leadership, citing the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya after 500 years and the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir as significant milestones.

“Today, India’s trumpet is sounding loud across the world. Whether it’s Naxalism or terrorism, now they are taking their last breaths,” PM Modi said, emphasizing the decisive action taken against these threats.

PM Modi also condemned the corrupt practices of the JMM-Congress alliance leaders and contrasted their self-serving motives with his vision for a developed India.

The Prime Minister also alleged that JMM and Congress leaders amassed vast wealth through corruption.

“Modi is born for a purpose. JMM-Congress leaders gathered enormous wealth through corruption. I don’t even own a bicycle. They are amassing everything for their children to inherit. But my heirs are all of you. Your children and grandchildren are my heirs. I want to give a ‘Viksit Bharat’ to your children. So that you don’t have to endure what my family and crores of such families have experienced,” the PM said.

The Prime Minister outlined the transformative impact of his government’s schemes on the lives of the poor and marginalized.

“In the last 10 years, Modi has given you a house, electricity, gas, water,” PM Modi said, urging the people to continue their support in the upcoming elections.

PM Modi reiterated his commitment to the welfare of every Indian and called upon the people of Palamu to vote for development and progress on May 13.

Elections in Jharkhand will be held in four phases: May 13, 20, 25, and June 1.

In 2019, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 12 seats in Jharkhand, with the BJP securing 11. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress each secured one seat.

The general elections are being conducted in seven phases over six weeks from April 19 to June 1.

Polling for the first phase and the second phase was conducted on April 19 and April 26, respectively. The next round of voting will take place on May 7. The results will be announced on June 4

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)