Aim to have flag hoisted 200 million households: Official

The Union government wants at least 200 million households to hoist or display the national flag between August 13 and 15 as part of the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' movement to commemorate 75 years of independence, a senior official in culture ministry said. “Hoisting of the Indian national flag by more than 200 million households between August 13 and 15 (is the aim),” the official said, wishing not to be named.

Daily brief: Jaishankar, UK counterpart discuss bilateral ties; and all the latest news

Here are today's top news, analysis, and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. UK counterpart James, Jaishankar Cleverly discuss bilateral ties External affairs minister S Jaishankar and his UK counterpart James Cleverly reviewed bilateral relations and India's G20 presidency during a phone conversation on Tuesday. Cleverly called Jaishankar ahead of his expected visit to India to attend a meeting of G20 foreign ministers during March 1-2.

'TMC only party who can provide alternative to BJP': Mamata Banerjee in Tripura

West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday asserted that Mamata Banerjee's is the only party that can oust the double engine government of the BJP, and provide the people of the country with an alternative to the saffron camp. Two years ago, our party leaders and activists were attacked, their vehicles vandalized. Some of them were illegally put behind the bars.

‘PM Modi should get gold medal’: Rahul Gandhi on foreign policy, Adani interests

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that India's foreign policy under the BJP-led ruling dispensation has aligned with the interests of billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani. Gandhi cited the example of Australia, saying Prime Minister Modi's visited that country and with "magic" USD 1 billion was given to Adani by the State Bank of India.

Jaishankar, UK counterpart James Cleverly discuss bilateral ties

NEW?DELHI:?External affairs minister S Jaishankar and his UK counterpart James Cleverly reviewed bilateral relations and India's G20 presidency during a phone conversation on Tuesday. Cleverly called Jaishankar ahead of his expected visit to India to attend a meeting of G20 foreign ministers during March 1-2. This was the first contact between Jaishankar and Cleverly since a two-part BBC documentary on the 2002 sectarian violence in Gujarat triggered a controversy in India.

Rahul Gandhi's allegations against PM Modi baseless, shameless, says BJP

Accusing Rahul Gandhi of making baseless, shameless and reckless allegations against BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Congress itself was involved in "big scams" which "tarnished" the image of the country. Prasad also referred to the National Herald case and the AgustaWestland scam case to attack the Gandhi family. "Corruption and giving protection to the corrupt have been the history of Rahul Gandhi and his family," Prasad said.

Rahul Gandhi shows PM Modi's poster with Adani in LS, Speaker reacts - WATCH

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi attacked prime minister Narendra Modi and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Parliament Wednesday on multiple issues, including the controversy surrounding industrialist Gautam Adani. During his fiery speech Gandhi claimed close links between the prime minister and Adani, and showed a photograph of the two together, prompting Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla to warn the Congress leader 'BJP will retaliate... will show poster of Rajasthan CM'.

India sends search and rescue teams to Turkey, relief material to Syria

NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday sent specialist search and rescue teams with dog squads, an army mobile hospital team and relief materials in two military heavy lift aircraft to Turkey, where the death toll continued to rise following Monday's massive earthquake. More than 50 search and rescue personnel from the National Disaster Response Force, specially trained dog squads, drilling machines, relief material, medicines and other equipment were despatched on a C-17 Globemaster aircraft early on Monday.

‘Of course, I can’: Rahul Gandhi as BJP opposes naming top official in Lok Sabha

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday questioned the Agniveer scheme for recruiting defence personnel claiming that youths aspiring to be in the army were not on the same page as the government. He alleged that Agniveer Yojana didn't come from the Army but was "coerced" by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Union home ministry and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

Greatest responsibility: Justice Victoria Gowri on becoming Madras HC judge

Advocate Lekshmana Chandra Victoria Gowri took oath on Tuesday as an additional judge of the Madras high court while the Supreme Court was also hearing a case against her elevation citing her alleged hate speeches against minorities. The Supreme Court however, dismissed the petition. Why? She thanked the Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, the former and present chief justices of the Madras high court, the legal fraternity of the Madurai benches and her husband.

'China's aggression to be met with…': Army commander

The Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh is being dominated by physical patrolling and technical means, said Northern army commander lieutenant general Upendra Dwivedi on Tuesday, adding any aggressive attempts by the Chinese will be met with an appropriate response. The Northern army commander said that the forces faced newer challenges after the abrogation of Article 370 in the Jammu and Kashmir and Galwan conflict.

Rahul Gandhi's 4 questions to PM Modi on Adani, foreign trips, electoral bond

Senior Congress Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday asked four questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi while linking the meteoric rise in the business fortunes of billionaire Gautam Adani to the BJP government coming to power in 2014. Amid objection from the treasury benches for levelling ?wild allegations?, Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on the government over the Adani issue as he spoke on the motion of thanks to the President's address.

Data on income distribution not compiled centrally, govt tells Parliament

Data on class distribution of income is not compiled centrally, the government told Parliament on Tuesday in response to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge's questions about the rising inequality between the top 1% and the bottom half of the population. Chaudhary cited schemes such as National Rural Livelihoods Mission and National Social Assistance Programme and said they have been introduced to bring about overall improvement in the quality of lives in rural areas.

LIC holds under 1% stake in equity, debt in Adani Group: Govt tells Parliament

State-owned Life Insurance Corporation of India holds less than 1% stake in both equity and debt in the Adani Group, the government told Parliament on Tuesday. Opposition parties have cornered the government over the exposure of the State Bank of India and LIC to the Adani Group. Opposition parties have disrupted parliamentary proceedings demanding a probe into allegations.

Rahul Gandhi addresses Lok Sabha; hits out at govt on Adani row, Agniveer scheme| Top quotes

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressed the Lok Sabha during a Motion of Thanks on the President's address on Tuesday. He also spoke about the Bharat Jodo Yatra, and agniveer scheme. Here are Rahul Gandhi's top quotes from his address in Parliament: 1. When we first started walking, we wanted to play the opposition and tell people about their problems. Read: 'Power behind billionaire…': Rahul Gandhi's dig at PPrime Minister Narendra Modiover Adani issue 4.

'Could very well relate...': PM Modi gets emotional over Turkey quake

Prime minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday became emotional over the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, and recalled the 2001 Bhuj earthquake that claimed over 20,000 lives and left over 1,50,000 people injured in Gujarat, reported news agency ANI. Narendra Modi was the chief minister of the state in 2001. The PM said that he could very well relate to what Turkey is going through right now. In 2001, a massive earthquake jolted Gujarat's Bhuj.