Salman and Other Bollywood Starts at Narendra Modi's Swearing in Ceremony

Salman and Other Bollywood Starts at Narendra Modi's Swearing in Ceremony May 26th 2014

Barack Obama Congratulated Narendra Modi

Gandhinagar, Gujarat: United States President Barack Obama on Friday called up Indian prime minister-designate Narendra Modi and congratulated him on his "emphatic election victory", officials said.

Mr Obama said that the largest democracy in the world has given a "decisive mandate" and that he wished that under Narendra Modi's leadership, India will contribute significantly at the global stage.

Both leaders discussed the India-US Strategic Partnership and the prevailing global economic situation.

This was the first high-level contact between Mr Modi and the US leadership ever since 2005 when the Gujarat chief minister had been denied a US visa due to his alleged complicity in the 2002 riots in the state.

Mr Obama joined a number of world leaders including British Prime Minister David Cameron, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who have congratulated the Bharatiya Janata Party leader on the overwhelming win in the general elections.

SC says no to new SIT probe against Modi

The petitioner, Advocate Fatima, had questioned the clean chit given to Chief Minister Narendra Modi by the apex court appointed SIT and wanted the SIT to be reconstituted with a retired Supreme Court judge as its member.

‘‘Reconstitution of SIT at this stage is not good,” the Bench observed, which prompted the petitioner to withdraw her petition.

The SIT headed by former CBI chief R K Raghavan was appointed by the Supreme Court to probe nine cases related to the 2002 riots. In its 541-page report, the SIT said no evidence was found to prosecute Modi in any of the nine cases. The Apex Court had earlier expressed satisfaction over the SIT’s probe.

At least 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were burned and hacked to death during the 2002 Gujarat riots, for which the Congress and some other parties have squarely blamed Modi in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

Human rights groups and political rivals have long alleged that Modi allowed or even actively encouraged the 2002 attacks. Modi has always vehemently denied the charge, insisting that he did all that he could to stop the violence.

Jashodaben, named by Narendra Modi as his wife, prays for him to become PM

She has been drawn in the political slugfest by Narendra Modi's rivals to target him, but decades of separation from Gujarat Chief Minister has not embittered Jashodaben, who fasts and prays for her husband to become the Prime Minister.

The reclusive 62-year-old retired school teacher has vowed not to eat rice and remain bare-footed till she sees her husband become the Prime Minister, says Jashodaben's brother Kamlesh.

"Jashodaben wishes from her heart that from being a Chief Minister, he (Modi) rises to become the Prime Minister of the country. She prays for that," he said.

Jashodaben has now proceeded on a 'char dhaam yatra' to Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri for fulfillment of the wish, he added.

Living in a small village Ishwarwada in Mehasana district of North Gujarat with her two brothers, Jashodaben, according to her family, is a devout person and leads a simple life.

"She wakes up early in the morning, prays and visits temple... after that she is busy with her daily routine. She also watches news and reads all newspaper reports about him," Kamlesh said.

"Also, if someone speaks ill of him (Modi), she does not tolerate it. Otherwise, she is very mild-natured and never raises her voice against anybody," he said.

Eldest of our four siblings, Jashodaben got married to Mr Modi in 1968 aged barely 17 years.

In an interview published in a Gujarati weekly magazine, Jashodaben had said their stay together was very brief.

Mr Modi, who soon after their marriage left his home to become a RSS pracharak, had inspired her to study further after which she pursued her Primary Teachers Training (PTC) course and got a job.

The Gujarat Chief Minister's elder brother Somabhai said on Thursday that Mr Modi's marriage to Jashodaben had "turned out" to be a "social formality". (Read: Rahul Gandhi targets Narendra Modi over admission of marriage)

"Our parents had not studied much and we were a poor family. To them, Narendra was like any other child. In such context, our parents conducted his marriage at a tender age with Jashodaben, but it turned out to be just a social formality for the sake of it," Somabhai had said. (Read: In poll affidavit, Modi says he is married, brother gives clarification)

Pawan Kalyan’s political party flag design explained

Party Emblem and Flag
The Party Emblem is a combination forces that define our nation’s life and struggle.