Top Stories on 17th September in a capsule
PM Modi inaugurates Sardar Sarovar dam on his 67th birthday
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated India's largest and world's second largest - Sardar Sarovar dam built on river Narmada in Gujarat. Minutes post the inauguration Modi addressed a public rally in dhaboi, Gujarat where he revealed the challenges faced in completing the project including how the world bank had stopped funding the project following conspiracies citing environment issues. The foundation laying stone of the dam was laid by former PM Jawahar Lal Nehru almost 56 years back on April 5, 1961. "Many false allegations were hurled on us. Many people conspired to stop this project. But we were determined not to take make it a political battle," Modi added. Modi also revealed that temples in Gujarat made contributions to complete the project after the world bank funded it.
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P.V Sindhu beats Japan's Nozumi Okuhara to win the Korean Open Final
P.V Sindhu avenged her World Championship Final loss after she beat Nozomi Okuhara 22-20, 11-21, 21-18 in the Korean Open. Sindhu who came into the final in some fine form started off in the best fashion as she rescued 4 game points to take the 1st game. Okuhara showed great resilience and determination and came firing back to claim the 2nd game. The 3rd game came down to fine margins with both the athletes pushed to their complete limits but it was eventually Sindhu who held her nerve and became the 1st Indian to claim the Korean Open title.
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Pandya and Indian spinners ensure India a 26 run win over Australia in 1st ODI
India on Sunday beat Australia by 26 runs in the 1st ODI of the Paytm Series with Hardik Pandya and M.S Dhoni's heroics after the batting top order crumbled to the pace of Australian attack. Pandya and Dhoni’s 100 run partnership and Bhuvaneshwar Kumar’s late contribution helped India post a target of 281. Rain halted the start of the 2nd innings and the match was reduced to 21 overs with Australia needing 163 to win. Australia though could not handle the spin barrage of India as Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal ran riot with the ball. India now lead the 5 match ODI series, 1-0.
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Marshal of IAF Arjan Singh Passes Away at 98, funeral with full state honours today
Marshal of Indian Air Force Arjan Singh passed away on Saturday at the Research and Referral Hospital in New Delhi after suffering a severe cardiac arrest, media reports quoting hospital authorities said. His funeral will be held in Delhi on Monday with full state honours and a possible military flypast if the weather is suitable for the same. Flags will fly at half-mast at all government buildings in New Delhi, as a gun carriage carrying mortal remains of Arjan Singh will reach Brar Square, where he will be accorded a state funeral ceremony will take place. On Sunday Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind paid their due respects to the late military veteran who was a hero of the 1965 India-Pakistan war and one of the only three men to be elevated to a five-star rank.________________________
ISIS takes responsibility of London attack; Two detained
The Islamic State (ISIS) on Saturday, claimed responsibility for the London underground train blast that took place on Friday. Taking to their official website, the terror group published a post saying “The bombing of the IED (Improvised Explosive Device) in the London tube was carried out by a unit affiliated by the Islamic State.” Following the announcement, level of security around the city was tightened with UK Prime Minister Theresa May calling it a ‘critical’ level of threat. An 18-year-old was and another British man have been arrested in connection with the blast. As of now, 29 people have been injured, most of them who suffered facial burns.
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Main petitioner of Ayodhya case, Mahant Bhaskar Das passes away
The main petitioner in the Ramjanmbhoomi- Babri Masjid case, Mahant Bhaskar Das passed away on Saturday, suffering from a heart attack. The 89 year old chief priest of the Nirmohi Akhara sect, was the first one to claim the right of Ramjanmbhoomi on the much disputed region. Following days of being unwell, Bhaskar Das breathed his last at Harshan Heart Institute, Faziabad. In 1959, Bhaskar Das along with then chief Raghunath Das had filed a claim demanding Ramjanmbhoomi. 60 years later, he had again filed a petition in Supreme Court for claim to the entire structure. His discipline Ram Das will claim the case now._____________________
Venkaiah Naidu mocks at Rahul Gandhi’s ‘dynastic politics’ comment
In the latest criticism to come towards Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi over his speech at Berkeley, the Vice President Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday, brought back the topic of ‘dynasty’. Addressing an audience at a book launch in New Delhi, Naidu said “Dynasty is nasty but tasty to some people,” without taking the name of any individual or party. In spite of him withholding reasons, it can be safely assumed that the comment was targeted to Rahul Gandhi, who four days ago, at his address to UC Berkeley mentioned how dynastic politics was the norm in India. His statement came under much flak from opposition parties._____________________
Tourism minister defends fuel price hike, says “if you are not starving, you can afford”
Union Tourism Minister KJ Alphons on Saturday, defended the hike in fuel price rates, stating “if car owners are not starving, they can afford the prices”. He further went on to justify the move saying it is taxed from people who can afford to pay for the welfare of the poor. At a time when the common man is struggling against the highest price rates of fuel in three years, Alphons’ statement has come across as insensitive to many. The Congress, calling the statement ‘atrocious’, has sought a white paper report on the excise duty of petrol and diesel from the Central Government._____________________
