New Delhi, Aug 15 As Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his second Independence Day speech, IndiaSpend and FactChecker reviewed the implementation of key pronouncements he made in his first Independence Day speech on August 15, 2014: 1. Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana – More than 174 million bank accounts opened; 46 percent have no money […]
With the Indian tricolour fluttering everywhere from the Red Fort to the neighbourhood school to the bonnet of a swanky Mercedes to a hand-pulled rickshaw, patriotism seems to know no barrier. However, with vested interests trying to pit patriotism against religion and vice versa, the innate feeling of national pride will be under siege of […]
In an industry where women are mostly used for “decoration” but where “women power is coming at full force”, internationally-known Indian independent filmmaker Pan Nalin has explored “firebrand women” in his new “Angry Indian Goddesses” venture. Popular for his 2001 spiritual-love story “Samsara” and the 2006 film “Valley of Flowers”, Nalin’s “Angry Indian Goddesses” is […]
The Press Information Bureau (PIB) on Saturday launched its blog to mark India’s 69th Independence Day and ensure “qualitative flow of information”. The blog, https://pibindia.wordpress.com/, currently has articles by various union ministers such as Minister of Rural Development Birender Singh and Minister of State for Environment and Forest Prakash Javadekar. It also has posts from […]
There was no eye-catching bright colourful flowing turban this year, that had made as much an impact as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day speech last year. Modi, whose sartorial preferences have been much written about, chose a subdued creamish-yellow turban this year, matching with his simple cream coloured churidaar-kurta and jacket. Matching his dress […]
As the country celebrated Independence Day on Saturday, the historic Assam Accord, signed on this very day 30 years ago to detect and deport illegal immigrants in the northeastern state, has returned into focus. Though the accord was signed to end a six-year-long mass movement demanding detection and deportation of illegal immigrants, mostly from Bangladesh, […]
It set a trend of ‘bromance’, redefined the quintessential villain and introduced some epic live action in Bollywood. Top that with iconic dialogues and a memorable cast. Forty years since it hit the screens on August 15, 1975, “Sholay” continues to entertain due to its evergreen ‘victory of good over evil’ theme, says megastar Amitabh […]
Canada, which created history by electing the western world’s first turbaned Sikh – Gurbax Singh Malhi – as an MP in 1993, may create another record by electing a first white Sikh MP in the October 19 parliamentary elections. Martin Singh ‘Paaji’, 42, who converted to Sikhism in 1991 and got baptised in 1993, is […]
The sugary, soft, spongy balls of Indian cottage cheese, the rosogollas, have virtually unleashed a war of words between two Indian states. Both Odisha and West Bengal have entered the fray to stake their claim to this delectable dessert and to its legacy. It’s a sweet that is identifiable with the warmth and hospitality of […]
There was no exchange of sweets between the Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers at the international border here on the occasion of Pakistan’s Independence Day on Friday. With tensions between India and Pakistan over recent terror attacks in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, officials of BSF and Pakistan Rangers didn’t follow the tradition […]