PM Modi Arrives In Delhi After Concluding 2-Day Kuwait Visit

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan attends Athagarh Mahotsav 2024, in Odisha's Cuttack

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 74 projects worth Rs 188.07 crore, including four electric vehicle charging stations, two automated parking and one ground-floor parking.

Addressing the event here, the chief minister said the construction of two automated parking and one ground-floor parking at a cost of about Rs 11 crore will provide relief from traffic jams and also save time and resources.

The chief minister said four EV charging stations have been inaugurated in the city with the resolve to keep Dehradun free from air pollution.

He said the process of setting up electric vehicle charging stations is going on at seven other places as well. 

BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal says, "...The ECI is an independent and unbiased unit. It transparently conducts elections. The government under the leadership of PM Modi encourages democracy and makes efforts to make elections convenient for the people. The statements of Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge are completely baseless...Congress always loses the election then they blame the government. Such allegations are baseless and it is just an effort to weaken the democracy."

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar interacted with recipients of the Chaudhary Charan Singh Awards 2024 at the Vice-President's Enclave earlier today.

 India and Kuwait on Sunday elevated their ties to a strategic partnership, inked a key pact on boosting defence cooperation and vowed to soon finalise an ambitious investment treaty as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held extensive talks with Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and other top leaders of the Gulf nation to broad-base the bilateral relations.

The two sides also discussed ways to transform the existing 'buyer-seller' relationship in the energy sector to a comprehensive engagement with greater collaboration in upstream and downstream sectors and agreed to explore the participation of Kuwait in India's strategic petroleum reserve programme.

Besides the Emir, Modi held separate talks with Kuwaiti Prime Minister Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and Crown Prince Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah with a larger focus on imparting a new momentum to the overall ties.

"This visit was historic and will greatly enhance our bilateral relations," Modi said on 'X' at the end of his two-day trip. In a special gesture, the Kuwaiti prime minister came to see off Modi at the airport.

According to a joint statement, both sides directed each other's concerned authorities to "fast-track and complete the ongoing negotiations on the bilateral investment treaty".

To ramp up energy cooperation, the two sides expressed keenness to support companies of the two countries to increase cooperation in the fields of exploration and production of oil and gas, refining and engineering services and petrochemical industries, it added.

PM Modi arrives in New Delhi after concluding 2-day Kuwait Visit

Acting on a tip-off, a joint operation by Agartala GRP (Government Railway Police), RPF (Railway Protection Force), BSF (Border Security Force), and the intelligence department led to the arrest of three Bangladeshi nationals from Agartala Railway Station this afternoon.

They had reportedly arrived at the railway station intending to board a train to another state, with initial investigations revealing Kolkata as their destination. Following their arrest, the suspects were taken to Agartala GRP Police Station, where they are being interrogated. A case has been registered at the Agartala GRP Police Station, and the suspects are scheduled to be presented in court tomorrow

BJP MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat says, "Delhi government has not been able to understand the people of Delhi even in 10 years...When election time comes then you (Arvind Kejriwal)say to the people that come tell us everything. You have not even been able to clean the sewers of Rajinder Nagar. 3 aspirants of this nation died because of you...The city which should be proud of itself for being a capital has now become a question mark due to the issues of water, electricity, pollution..."
 

On PM Narendra Modi receiving Kuwait's highest civilian honour, the 'Order of Mubarak Al-Kabeer,'  Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia says, "The respect that PM Narendra Modi received from Kuwait is a matter of respect and pride for the entire country."

On the Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal Link Project, he says, "...The huge gift of Rs 42,000 crore (by central government) will increase irrigation facilities in 9 districts of UP and 8 districts of Madhya Pradesh..."

Tripura CM Manik Saha says, "Nobody understood Northeast's potential before... The PM has always said that till the Northeast is not developed, the country can not get developed... 12 accords have been signed here which rid the Northeast of terrorists... This will increase investments here in Tripura..."

On Bangladesh issue, he says, "Bangladesh's situation is a bit messy right now. But, it will eventually be solved. The rail line is almost complete in Akhaura. It will be good for Bangladesh and India as well."

Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma a meeting with the officials at the CM's residence regarding the implementation of the announcements made in the budget for the financial year 2024-25.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday wrote to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, seeking the cancellation of competitive exams conducted recently, under controversial circumstances, by the state's Public Service Commission. The former deputy chief minister, who had on late Saturday night visited the site in the state capital where candidates have been carrying out a round-the-clock protest, shared on X a screenshot of the two-page letter addressed to his ex-boss.

CPI(M) Politburo member A Vijayaraghavan's recent controversial remarks regarding the Lok Sabha victories of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from the Wayanad constituency have drawn sharp criticism from Congress and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leaders on Sunday.

During a party event in Wayanad on Saturday, Vijayaraghavan reportedly claimed that Rahul Gandhi secured victory in the high-range segment twice with the support of communal forces and that extremist elements were present at Priyanka Gandhi's campaign rallies.

A lethal explosion in a crackers factory operating illegally in the Burari area left four people seriously injured Sunday afternoon, an official of the Delhi Fire Services said. Three of them suffered severe burns, while a fire department official was wounded in his hand while trying to contain the blaze, DFS chief Atul Garg said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated various initiatives related to cooperation

Addressing the Mahanubhav Ashram Shatakpurti Samaroh, RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat says, "There have been atrocities in the world due to misunderstanding of religion. It is necessary to have a society that interprets the religion correctly. Religion is very important, it should be taught properly. Religion has to be understood, if it is not understood properly then half knowledge of religion will lead to 'Adharma'. Improper and incomplete knowledge of religion leads to 'Adharma'. All the oppression and atrocities happening in the world in the name of religion have happened due to misunderstandings about religion. That is why, it is required for the sects to work and explain their religion."

On the arrest of two suspected terrorists linked to Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh by Assam STF in Murshidabad, West Bengal, BJP leader Arjun Singh says, "You will find a Jamaat terrorist in every police station. 90% of the civic volunteers who check our passports are Jamaat supporters... It's unfortunate that the Assam police are capturing terrorists in West Bengal. They work for the country while the West Bengal police only work for the state and the party."
 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves for Delhi from Kuwait after completing his 2-day visit to Kuwait at the invitation of Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Amir of the State of Kuwait.

"A new terminal building will be constructed in three years to increase the passenger capacity and facilities at the Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport in Indore," says Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu after inaugurating new air traffic control tower at the Indore airport.  

Prime Minister Modi invited the Prime Minister of Kuwait to visit India: MEA

Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh says, "...Congress party used to protest there (at Makar Dwar) every day and we used to go from the side. When the NDA people were protesting that day, trying to enter from the same door showed their intention that they had gone there with the sole purpose of pushing and shoving... Since Pandit Nehru to date, Congress has disrespected BR Ambedkar, it's the BJP that gave due respect to Babasaheb..."

MEA Secretary (CPV & OIA) Arun Kumar Chatterjee says, "... PM Modi also expressed confidence that India-GCC relations will be further strengthened under the Presidency of Kuwait... PM Modi held delegation-level talks with Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait... They discussed the strategic partnership in areas including political, trade, investment, energy, defence, health, education, technology, cultural and people-to-people ties..."

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav says, "Digging everywhere will not get us to any solution. There is the Places of Worship Act in our country which prohibits such things but the BJP is raising such issues because they don't want to answer the farmers' issues... They have been in power in Delhi for 10 years and for 7 years in Uttar Pradesh and unemployment has reached a record level... Be it against the MP or the people (in Sambhal) against whom false cases are being filed - all those cases should be withdrawn..."

Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said, "I am very happy to be here. For a long time, I had a desire to come here and take Baba Mahakal's blessings. I am very happy with the way the entire corridor has been built. There is a possibility of more development here. The Chief Minister said that an airport facility should be built here... We will work on this possibility in collaboration with the state government."

Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini says, "...I have listened to the public grievances. Whatever pending works are here, it will be given some pace so that the people don't have to face any problem.."

He also says, "...Congress never want the country to develop as they have been in power for most of the time. Since PM Modi has assumed power, he is working to let the country forward... They (Congress) have it in their DNA to oppose everything. They have now understood that they are not coming in 2029 as well..."

Union Minister Piyush Goyal says, "Narendra Modi's LIC Bima Sakhi Yojana 2025 will help us empower women... We are committed to developing this country with the power of women."

EAM S Jaishankar exchanges MoUs with his Kuwaitian counterpart Abdullah Ali Al Yahya in the presence of PM Modi and Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah

At the inauguration of key cooperative initiatives in Agartala, Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, "...PM Modi established the Ministry of Cooperation in the centre which aimed to bring prosperity through cooperation. PM Modi has made us 5th largest economy. In 2027, we will become the third largest economy in the world...There should be the participation of the whole country in this process. Prosperity should reach every family, health facilities and education should be accessible to everyone..."

PM Modi tweets, "Excellent meeting with the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah. We discussed cooperation in key sectors like pharmaceuticals, IT, FinTech, Infrastructure and security. In line with the close ties between our nations, we have elevated our partnership to a strategic one and I am optimistic that our friendship will flourish even more in the times to come."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets the Crown Prince of Kuwait Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah

India and Kuwait hold delegation-level talks in Kuwait

On December 22, 2024, Kuwait bestowed its highest honor, the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Order, on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This prestigious award recognizes significant contributions to strengthening bilateral ties and fostering cooperation between Kuwait and India.

BJP MP Manoj Tiwari says, "Arvind Kejriwal is imitating what the BJP has already been doing in its states, and that too then when his government is about to go. He has been in power for the last 10 years and he did not even give Rs. 10 to any woman... He has been in power for 10 years and he has not given any benefit to any woman. He should have given Rs. 2100 earlier if he wanted, why is he announcing it now, while leaving?..."
 

Participating in Rudrabhishek programme organised in Village Jarrapur, Tehsil Budhni, MP CM Mohan Yadav says, "... We don't have to give the Taj Mahal (replica) to foreign guests anymore, we gift them the Geeta, Ramayan, Mahabharat, the holy texts of Sanatan dharma..."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday held extensive talks with Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah with a focus on imparting new momentum to India-Kuwait relations, especially in areas of trade, investment and energy.

Modi arrived here on Saturday on a two-day trip, the first to this Gulf nation by an Indian prime minister in 43 years.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday held a 'Janta Darbar in Sankhali of North Goa.
A large gathering of people was seen at the venue to present their grievances and queries to the Chief Minister.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a ceremonial welcome and Guard of Honour at the Bayan Palace here ahead of his talks with Kuwait's top leadership on Sunday.

Modi reached Kuwait on Saturday for a two-day visit. He is visiting Kuwait at the invitation of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. His visit is the first by an Indian Prime Minister to the Gulf nation in 43 years.

Assam's forest cover has decreased by over 83 sq km between 2021 and 2023, with the total area under forest and tree cover in the state now at 30,415.01 sq km, according to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023.

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupendra Yadav, had launched the report at the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun on Saturday, with a nationwide increase of 1,445 sq km in total forest and tree cover recorded since 2021.

Delhi Police claimed to have identified 175 people during their verification drive against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in the national capital, officials said on Sunday.

The 12-hour verification drive began at 6 pm on Saturday in outer Delhi area, the officials said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will distribute more than 71,000 appointment letters to newly appointed recruits on December 23 through video conferencing, the Prime Minister's Office stated in a release on Sunday.
According to the PMO, Prime Miinister Modi will also address the gathering on the occasion.

Over 37,500 Bru tribals, who were affected by the ethnic violence in Mizoram in the late 1990s and 2009, have been rehabilitated in Tripura at a cost of Rs 821 crore provided by the Union Home Ministry, officials said here.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday visited some of these refugees in Tripura.

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday visited the Gulf Spic Labour Camp in Kuwait on Friday, where he interacted with Indian workers and highlighted their contribution to the country's development.
PM Modi spoke about the aspirations of Indian workers, linking them to his vision for a "Viksit Bharat 2047" (Developed India 2047).

Cold wave conditions prevailed in parts of Rajasthan on Sunday with Karauli recording the lowest minimum temperature at 4.5 degrees Celsius, the meteorological department said.

The weather in the state was mainly dry and some places witnessed fog, it said.

As the 2024 Uttar Pradesh Combined State/Upper Subordinate Services (Preliminary) Examination-2024 exams began, aspirants arrived at different exam centres across Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.
Visuals showed aspirants being qued up to enter exam centres in several places in Uttar Pradesh including Varanasi, Prayagraj and Agra.

The death toll in the Mohali building collapse incident has risen to two following the recovery of another body from the site on Sunday.

Almost four hundred and sixteen people have been arrested in the third phase of crackdown against child marriage in Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Said on Saturday.  

The crackdown was launched on the night of December 21-22, he said.
The police have registered 335 cases and the arrested will be produced in court on Sunday.

Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Sunday along with Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) participated in the first event of the 'Fit India Sunday on Cycle' initiative.

Mandaviya expressed his happiness that people across 1100 locations in the country joining the initiative.

 Rescue operations by the personnel of the Indian Army and NDRF continued on Sunday a day after a multi-storey under-construction building collapsed in Punjab's Mohali.

 Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday held a 'Janta Darshan' on the premises of Gorakhnath Temple in UP's Gorakhpur.
During the program, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met children during his visit to Gorakhnath temple on Sunday morning and distributed chocolates to them.
Furthermore, CM Yogi listened to the grievances of the people and also gave instructions to the officials to resolve their problems.

An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 jolted the Badakhshan region of Afghanistan in the early hours of Sunday, the National Centre of Seismology (NCS) reported.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said India can never permit others to have a veto on its choices and will do whatever is right in the national interest and for the global good without being intimidated to “conform”.

In a video message for a function in Mumbai, he said when India is etched more deeply in global consciousness, its repercussions are truly profound.

 Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar has responded to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's remarks on the 'One Nation, One Election' Bill, asserting that the proposed reforms would benefit the country by saving money. However, Majumdar claimed that Banerjee would oppose the initiative simply because it would be advantageous for the nation.

Thirty-eight people are confirmed dead, and over 100 remain missing in Congro after an overloaded ferry -- full of people returning home for Christmas -- capsized in the river Burisa late on Friday night, according to local officials and eyewitnesses.

 Portfolios were announced for the new Mahayuti government in Maharashtra on Saturday with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis keeping Home and Law and Judiciary departments and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde getting Urban Development and Housing and Public Work.

NCP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has got Finance and Planning and Excise departments.

 Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday held a meeting with a delegation of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) to discuss the issues of the indigenous people of the state, Chief Minister Manik Saha said.

India has condemned the car attack at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, which claimed five lives and injured dozens, with numbers showing more than 200 injured.