India turns 60 with nostalgia and resolve In his 35-minute speech, his fourth since becoming Prime Minister in 2004, Manmohan Singh touched on the essence of duality that is India when he vowed to focus in the coming years on crisis-hit agriculture but insisted that industrialisation was critical to progress and employment.
The lyric and melody of freedom song So mesmerised was the audience of politicians, bureaucrats, diplomats and other distinguished personalities that the almost two-hour-long function seemed to pass in a flash and left everyone in the packed chamber thirsting for more.
Capital resembles fortress on I-Day A no-fly zone was declared around the 17th century Red Fort where Prime Minister unfurled the tricolour and addressed the nation. During the entire function, Indian Air Force helicopters patrolled the skies to prevent any aerial threat from militants.
Celebrations peaceful in Kashmir Chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad appealed to militants to shun the path of violence and join the dialogue process with the government of India.
A partition story: Death aborts siblings' reunion The doleful tale of 73-year-old Mid Singh, who lived near Bathinda and his sister, Wazira who was recently found to be living in a village near Lahore, stood out in irony even as Indian and Pakistan were celebrating with aplomb the 60th anniversary of their independence.
This Ministry of Defence handout picture taken on Wednesday shows a general view of the Red Fort in New Delhi as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh delivers a speech on the occasion of India's 60th anniversary of Independence. AFP
Rahul Dravid has drawn much flak for not enforcing follow on in the Oval test. But some ex-cricketers have also supported him. Was his decision justified?
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