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PM Modi In Lok Sabha

New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today praised the unity of citizens for making Maha Kumbh, the grand month-long gathering of Hindu pilgrims, a successful event. At least 66 crore devotees – almost 10 times the population of France – attended the mega congregation that ended last month in Prayagraj.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing Budget session, the Prime Minister thanked the people of India, especially Uttar Pradesh, and Prayagraj, the city where the Maha Kumbh was organised.
“I bow to the countrymen whose efforts led to the successful organisation of the Maha Kumbh. The success of the Maha Kumbh is a result of countless contributions. I thank the people of India, Uttar Pradesh, and Prayagraj,” said PM Modi.
He said the Maha Kumbh offered an experience of “unity in diversity”, which is a specialty of the country. “In the Maha Kumbh, all differences faded away. This is India’s great strength, showing that the spirit of unity is deeply rooted within us,” said the Prime Minister.
He said the Maha Kumbh was led by the people, driven by their resolve and inspired by their unwavering devotion.
“The entire world saw India’s grandeur in the form of Maha Kumbh. We witnessed a national awakening in the Maha Kumbh, which would inspire new achievements. This also gave a befitting reply to those who doubt our strength,” the PM added.
PM Modi said the strength of India’s unity is such that it shatters all attempts to disturb it. “India’s new generation connected with Maha Kumbh, it is embracing traditions and faith with pride. Prayagraj Maha Kumbh reflects the spirit of rising India,” he added.
In his speech, PM Modi also shared that he immersed sacred water from Sangam at the Ganga Talao in Mauritius.
The Congress, meanwhile, criticized the Prime Minister for not mentioning the stampede deaths during Maha Kumbh in his speech. At least 30 people died in a stampede at the fair venue in Prayagraj while another 18 stampede deaths were reported due to a Kumbh-bound rush at a railway station in Delhi.
The Maha Kumbh was held between January 13 and February 26, during which at least 40 crore devotees and Naga seers from across the country took a dip in the Sangam, the confluence of the sacred rivers, Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati.
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US Vice President JD Vance Arrives In Delhi, Will Meet PM Modi

New Delhi:
US Vice President JD Vance arrived in New Delhi this morning for his four-day visit to India. The US Vice President is in India with his wife, Usha Vance, the Indian-American Second Lady. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw welcomed the US Vice President at the Palam airport, where Mr Vance was given a tri-services guard of honour.
The US Vice President’s plane landed at the Palam Technical Area in New Delhi. He will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi later in the day, with talks likely to focus on an early finalisation of the proposed bilateral trade pact and ways to bolster India-US ties. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar are expected to join the discussions.
#WATCH | Delhi: Vice President of the United States, JD Vance receives ceremonial Guard of Honour as he arrives at Palam airport for his first official visit to India.
He will meet PM Modi later today. pic.twitter.com/Xzx8P85lvz
— ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2025
This is Mr Vance’s first visit to India after taking over as the Vice President of the United States. He is accompanied by a five-member delegation, including representatives from the Pentagon and the State Department.
Live Updates: JD Vance Arrives In Delhi, To Meet PM Modi Today In 1st India Visit
The Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement, “The visit will provide an opportunity for both sides to review the progress in bilateral relations and the implementation of the outcomes of the India-US Joint Statement issued on February 13 during the visit of the Prime Minister to the US. The two sides will also exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest.”
After he meets with Prime Minister Modi, Mr Vance and his family will visit Jaipur and Agra. On Tuesday, the US Vice-President will visit the iconic Amer Palace. Later that day, he will deliver a keynote address at the US-India Business Summit at the Rajasthan International Centre. The summit will see participation from top Indian and American officials, with Mr Vance expected to talk about bilateral trade and investment between the two countries.
On Wednesday, the US Vice President will travel to Agra for a visit to the Taj Mahal. After spending nearly three hours at the monument, he will return to Jaipur the same afternoon and visit the Jaipur City Palace.
He is scheduled to meet the Rajasthan Chief Minister, Bhajan Lal Sharma, and Governor Haribhau Bagade on April 22. He will leave for Washington on Thursday.
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Tripura Sends Team To India-Bangladesh Border Amid Concerns Over Embankments

Guwahati:
A high-level delegation on Sunday visited the border town of Belonia and conducted an on the spot study, and possible effects on the Indian side due to an embankment being constructed by the Bangladesh government along the Muhuri River, which divides the two countries.
The delegation led by Tripura Public Works Department Secretary Kiran Gitte, after visiting the India-Bangladesh bordering areas, met villagers and held meetings with elected representatives, including the chairman of the Belonia Municipal Council.
Later, Mr Gitte said that to protect the South Tripura district headquarter Belonia, adjoining villages and habitations, embankments are being constructed and other measures have been taken up and the ongoing works would be intensified.
“By June this year, all the repairing and related works would be completed. Work would be done round-the-clock. As the volume of work is very big in South Tripura district, five additional engineers would be posted in the district,” Mr Gitte said.
During catastrophic floods and landslides in August 2024, many river embankments along the India-Bangladesh border and other infrastructure were damaged. The government identified 43 such locations in different districts, including South Tripura district, the IAS officer said.
He said the works to repair infrastructure will be started soon. Senior Border Security Force (BSF) officers were also present.
The Bangladesh government has been constructing another big embankment along Southern Tripura, opposite Belonia town, triggering tension among Indian residents as the embankment may endanger border villages during monsoon floods.
Residents under Belonia Municipal Council areas and those living in Ballamukh, Ishan Chandranagar and adjoining villages in South Tripura district have expressed serious concerns over the construction of the giant embankment by Bangladesh.
Earlier, similar embankments were built by the Bangladesh government along northern Tripura’s Unakoti district. That may also put the district town of Kailashahar and border villages during monsoon floods in danger.
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Vehicles In Delhi That Don’t Display Colour-Coded Fuel Stickers To Be Penalised

New Delhi:
The Delhi transport department is set to crack down on vehicles that do not display colour-coded stickers indicating their fuel type, officials said on Sunday.
According to a public notice, non-compliance will attract penalties under the Motor Vehicle Act. The stickers are part of the High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) mandate, introduced in 2012-13 and made compulsory for all vehicles by 2019.
“The Motor Vehicles (High Security Registration Plates) order, 2018 for displaying colour-coded stickers/third registration mark on the windshield of the vehicle. Non-compliance with the above order will also attract the provisions of Section 192(1) of the Motor Vehicle Act 1988,” said the public notice issued by the department on Sunday.
Section 192(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act states the punishment for those who drive or cause or allow a motor vehicle to be driven in contravention of Section 39 (which relates to registration).
“The vehicle owners are advised to ensure strict compliance with the aforesaid order,” the notice said further.
In 2020, the transport department decided to launch a special drive against violations of the High-Security Number Plates (HSRP), under which there was a provision of a fine of Rs 5000 on any vehicle found plying without HSRP and stickers pasted on number plates.
According to officials, the HSRP number plate was introduced in the year 2012-13 and was made mandatory for all new vehicles in April 2019. The government made it compulsory for all old vehicles in Delhi to get the HSRP affixed.
According to rules, colour-coded stickers for diesel vehicles are orange, for petrol and CNG vehicles it is light blue and grey for all other vehicles.
Vehicle owners who do not comply with the order will not get Pollution Under Control ( PUC) Certificates.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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