Pongal now a global festival: PM Modi
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said Pongal has become a global festival and Tamil culture is a shared heritage of the entire nation.
Modi also said that Pongal teaches people that gratitude towards nature should not be limited to words, but should become part of daily lives.
"Today, Pongal has become a global festival. Last year, I had the chance to attend several programmes related to Tamil culture, which is shared heritage of not just India but the entire world," he said at a Pongal celebration at the residence of Union Minister L Murugan here.
The prime minister said that in Tamil culture, the farmer is regarded as the foundation of life.
"The Thirukkural speaks in detail about agriculture and the importance of farmers," he said.
Modi said Pongal inspires people to make respect for nature a way of life.
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UP: Girl raped by two youths, juvenile at Banda hotel, all accused held
Banda (UP) (PTI): A 15-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly abducted and gang-raped at a hotel here by two youths and a minor, who then abandoned her under a bridge, police said on Thursday.
The two youths involved in the crime were arrested, and the juvenile was apprehended on Wednesday, they said.
According to Atarra Circle Officer Praveen Yadav, the arrested have been identified as Mahesh Kushwaha (18), Shakti Singh (19), and a 15-year-old boy, all residents of Girwan.
He said the incident took place around 8.30 pm on Tuesday.
The complaint filed by the girl's father stated that his daughter had gone to the market in Atarra town with a friend, when the three accused on a motorcycle made her inhale some intoxicant. They took the semi-conscious teenager to a hotel on Station Road, committed the crime and then abandoned her under the Ken Canal bridge before fleeing, CO Yadav said.
A case was registered on Wednesday, and all the accused were held, the CO said.
He added that one of the arrested accused was a former acquaintance of the victim. RUK
