New Delhi, Sep 1 (IANS) The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transaction volumes went up 22 per cent (year-on-year) to 24.51 billion in the month of August, while UPI transaction value surged 20 per cent to Rs 29.82 lakh crore last month, according to data released by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) on Tuesday.

On an average basis, UPI processed around 791 million transactions daily in August, with average daily transaction value standing at about Rs 96,205 crore.

In July, the UPI transaction volumes stood at 23.66 billion, while UPI transaction value surged 19 per cent to Rs 29.88 lakh crore. UPI processed around 763 million transactions daily in July, with average daily transaction value standing at about Rs 96,383 crore.

Meanwhile, the IMPS instant fund transfer counts stood at 360 million in August, with 18 per cent growth in transaction amount at Rs 7.04 lakh crore. Average daily IMPS transaction counts were 11.61 million, with Rs 22,701 crore average daily transaction amount, the NPCI data showed.

Notably, UPI has seen unprecedented growth in both transaction volume and value over the past decade, with annual volumes rising nearly 12,000-fold from 2 crore transactions in FY 2016‑17 to over 24,162 crore in FY 2025‑26, an official factsheet said on Monday.

Annual transaction value grew from Rs 0.07 lakh crore to nearly Rs 314 lakh crore, recording more than 4,000-fold increase.

The UPI network comprised 741 live banks, processed 2,365.8 crore transactions and recorded total transaction value of Rs 29.87 lakh crore in July 2026, according to a latest official factsheet.

The UPI has emerged as a cornerstone of India’s digital payments revolution. UPI is currently accepted in 11 countries, with Greece and the Maldives being the latest to adopt India's real-time payment platform.

UPI is now operational in Bhutan, Nepal, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, France, Sri Lanka, Mauritius and Qatar, enabling seamless cross-border digital payments.

The NIPL, the international arm of the NPCI, just entered into a commercial agreement with the National Interbank Processing Centre JSC (NIPC), operator of Uzbekistan’s national payment system, HUMO, marking a significant step in expanding UPI’s international footprint.

The partnership enables Indian travellers to scan Uzbekistan’s national interoperable QR code UZQR using their familiar UPI-enabled applications to make instant merchant payments across the country.

—IANS

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Salem, Sep 1 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay will release water from the Mettur dam on Tuesday for irrigation in the Cauvery delta districts, after improved inflows pushed the reservoir’s water level beyond 90 feet.

The Mettur dam, considered the lifeline of delta farmers, provides irrigation to nearly 16 lakh acres of agricultural land across 13 districts, including Salem, Erode, Namakkal, Karur, Tiruchy, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Perambalur, Nagapattinam, Pudukottai, Cuddalore and Mayiladuthurai.

Water is normally released from the dam on June 12 every year to support cultivation in the delta region. However, inadequate rainfall in the Cauvery catchment areas prevented the authorities from opening the dam on the customary date this year.

The situation improved following heavy rainfall in Karnataka over the past two weeks. Inflows into the Kabini and Krishnaraja Sagar reservoirs increased substantially, prompting Karnataka authorities to discharge surplus water into the Cauvery. This led to a steady rise in the inflow into the Mettur reservoir and helped the storage level cross the 90-foot mark.

Responding to demands from farmers, the Tamil Nadu government announced that water would be released from September 1 for 45 days to facilitate irrigation in the delta districts.

CM Vijay will arrive at the Omalur Kamalapuram airport in Salem by a private aircraft from Chennai. He will then travel by road to Mettur to formally open the dam’s sluice gates. Initially, 3,000 cubic feet per second of water will be released into the Cauvery.

The discharge will subsequently be increased in phases, depending on irrigation requirements and inflows into the reservoir.

Extensive arrangements have been made for the Chief Minister’s visit. Party flags have been erected along the route from the airport to Mettur, while iron barricades have been installed on both sides of the roads leading from Omalur to Mecheri and Mettur.

Police have strengthened security across Salem district, anticipating that large crowds may gather along the route to receive the Chief Minister. Additional personnel have been deployed at the airport, Mettur dam and other important locations, besides the roads through which his convoy will pass.

--IANS

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Madurai, Sep 1 (IANS) Nearly 4,000 acres of sugarcane cultivation in Melur, Vadipatti and adjoining areas of Madurai district in Tamil Nadu are under severe threat due to inadequate irrigation, with farmers warning of widespread crop damage unless the region receives sufficient rainfall in the coming weeks.

Of the total cultivated area, about 1,500 acres are under green sugarcane, while purple sugarcane is grown on the remaining land. Irrigation wells in several villages have dried up, forcing cultivators to depend largely on borewells to keep their standing crops alive.

Farmers said groundwater levels had declined sharply, making it increasingly difficult to irrigate sugarcane fields. Those who have raised purple sugarcane said they were struggling to sustain the crop after their irrigation wells ran dry.

Many cultivators have only one or two borewells as an alternative source of irrigation. They fear that if the area does not receive adequate rainfall within the next three weeks, the standing crops could begin to wither.

The growth of newly planted sugarcane has already slowed considerably due to the shortage of water. Several farmers in the region have reportedly suffered crop losses because of inadequate water availability.

Sugarcane requires regular irrigation, particularly during its initial stages of growth, and a prolonged dry spell could substantially reduce both yield and quality of the produce.

Apart from the irrigation crisis, farmers are also concerned over the prolonged closure of the Alanganallur National Cooperative Sugar Mill. They said the mill had earlier provided a reliable procurement and marketing channel for sugarcane growers in the district.

Farmers’ organisations have adopted a resolution demanding the immediate reopening of the cooperative mill. They alleged that no concrete action had been taken despite repeated protests during the past eight years.

They urged the government to allocate the necessary funds to revive the mill and extend support to struggling sugarcane cultivators.

The prolonged closure, combined with recurring irrigation problems, had resulted in a substantial decline in the area under sugarcane cultivation around Alanganallur and neighbouring regions, they said.

As part of their agitation, farmers have decided to organise a walkathon from Alanganallur to the Madurai District Collectorate in the first week of September. The demonstration will press the government to take urgent measures to address the irrigation crisis and reopen the cooperative sugar mill.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 1 (IANS) As the Indian economy recorded real GDP growth of 7.8 per cent in the April-June quarter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed the figures, saying they reflected the country's strong economic fundamentals and the collective efforts of its people.

PM Modi shared a reel on Instagram with the caption, "7.8 per cent growth. Strong numbers. Even stronger confidence."

In his message, the Prime Minister congratulated the people of the country, saying the growth rate reflected their determination and hard work.

"I want to congratulate the countrymen. 7.8 per cent growth. The country is filled with happiness. But I want to congratulate the people of the country for their determination and efforts. It is a reflection of our collective strength," PM Modi said.

He noted that the global economy continues to face uncertainty, with conflicts, geopolitical tensions and disruptions in supply chains affecting countries across the world.

"The world is at war, and we are hearing about war-like situations everywhere. The world is surrounded by crises. Supply chains have been disrupted. After 2020, we have not seen any kind of stability," he said.

Despite these challenges, PM Modi said India was continuing to grow rapidly on the path of development.

He also urged people to counter what he described as attempts to spread hopelessness.

"The latest GDP growth numbers have exposed the echo of lies being spread all around," he said in the video.

PM Modi further said, "Overcoming all these challenges, the country has achieved a growth rate of 7.8 per cent. We will have to maintain this pace and move forward."

The Prime Minister stressed the importance of building an 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' and promoting the 'Swadeshi' movement and 'Vocal for Local' initiative.

He urged citizens to prefer Indian products, avoid unnecessary purchases of gold and reconsider travelling abroad for purposes such as weddings.

"If you are going to any foreign country, then stop. If you are getting married abroad, then you should stop it. We should live by the mantra of 'Made in India'. If it is not necessary, then we should not buy gold," he said.

PM Modi said greater reliance on domestic products would help India achieve the goal of becoming a developed nation by the centenary of its Independence.

"If we depend on Swadeshi products, I am sure that when our country completes 100 years of Independence, we will give 'Viksit Bharat' to our youth," he said.

India remains the world’s fastest-growing major economy with a 7.8 per cent growth in the April-June quarter of FY27, which places it ahead of every other large economy in the comparison.

Malaysia and Singapore grew 6.0 per cent and 5.9 per cent, respectively, Indonesia 5.29 per cent and China 4.3 per cent, while the United States posted 2.1 per cent growth. In most large European economies, the growth rate was about 1 per cent or less.

India’s economy continues to grow strongly with demand rising across the income spectrum, and July’s vehicle market provides the clearest window into that change. Domestic passenger-vehicle sales reached 4.58 lakh units, up 34.3 per cent from a year earlier and the strongest July on record, according to official figures.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 1 (IANS) As Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's Congress government completed 1,000 days in office, the BJP on Tuesday described the tenure as a failure, alleging that the ruling party has failed to fulfil any of the guarantees it made to the people.

Speaking to IANS, BJP leader Avinash Devda said, "I consider these 1,000 days of the Congress government a complete failure. A full 1,000 days of failure. Every single day of this Congress government has been a failure. Not a single guarantee of theirs has been fulfilled; all their guarantees have failed."

He further criticised the state government over civic issues, particularly mosquito control in Hyderabad.

"Look at what is happening today. A minor issue like mosquitoes is making headlines in the national media. A 'mosquito tornado' has hit Hyderabad. But in the last two years, no proper pest control has been carried out. Why? Because the government does not have money. They are not focusing on students, yet they are celebrating as if they have brought major development to the state," Devda said.

Another BJP leader, Manmeet Singh, alleged that the government had failed to deliver on several promises made to students, women and other sections of society.

"Revanth Reddy's government has completed 1,000 days, but during these 1,000 days, they haven't done any work for the people of the state. They promised students and women electric two-wheelers and one tola of gold for marriages in Telangana, but nothing has been implemented," Singh said.

He also targeted the government's Indiramma Illu housing scheme, alleging that the initiative had remained largely confined to announcements and signboards.

"Now, they have launched a scheme claiming to provide 'Indiramma Illu', but it only exists on signboards. Not a single person has been allotted a 2BHK house," Singh alleged.

He further accused Revanth Reddy of sending thousands of crores of rupees to the Congress leadership in Delhi, claiming that Rs 7,500 crore had been sent to the residences of Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. These allegations could not be independently verified.

Congress leader Zaheer Lalani defended the government's performance, saying the state had witnessed significant progress during the past 1,000 days.

"1,000 days under Telangana's Chief Minister's governance, and it is a rising Telangana. I would like to congratulate every citizen of Telangana," Lalani told IANS.

He accused the Opposition of making false allegations and highlighted the government's welfare initiatives, including the provision of fine rice to beneficiaries, free bus travel for women, the Mahalakshmi scheme, Indiramma Illu and free power.

While the Congress government is projecting its 1,000-day tenure as a period of economic expansion and social welfare, the Opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is preparing a statewide campaign to portray it as a period of "betrayal" and administrative failure.

The government's 1,000-day narrative focuses on agriculture, women's welfare, employment, infrastructure and investment.

Revanth Reddy has said Telangana's per-capita income reached Rs 4,18,931 in 2025-26, around 91 per cent above the national figure. He has also highlighted a farm loan waiver benefiting more than 25 lakh families, Rs 36,000 crore in Rythu Bharosa support and record paddy procurement.

Recent government claims have also cited Rs 1.29 lakh crore in investments secured through TG-iPASS and Rs 5.75 lakh crore in agreements signed at the Telangana Rising Global Summit.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Feb 13 (IANS) Maharashtra NCP(SP) President Shashikant Shinde has written a commemorative editorial in the party’s magazine, shedding light on the hidden dynamics of the split and the alleged merger plans between the two NCP factions.

Shinde claimed that late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was forced to exit the original NCP due to threats and conspiracies orchestrated by "invisible powers."

He further said that a final decision to merge the two parties was reached in the presence of Maratha strongman Sharad Pawar and was to be announced on February 12.

In a massive revelation, Shinde asserted that Sharad Pawar and other senior leaders had agreed to hand over the entire command of the unified party to Ajit Pawar following the merger.

“Fulfilling this merger and rebuilding the party with strength would be the only true tribute to Ajit Dada," Shinde wrote.

Shinde clarified, "It was our decision to hand over all party responsibilities to Ajit Dada once the merger process was complete. However, fate had other plans. We were all mentally prepared to accept Ajit Dada’s leadership.”

Shinde appealed to the party faithful, asserting that a merger is the only true tribute to the late leader. He noted, “Ajit Pawar’s dream remains unfulfilled, and it is now the party's responsibility to complete it. Unity: Reuniting and strengthening the NCP is the ultimate goal. Leaders and workers must set aside their differences and broaden their perspective to achieve this unity.”

Following the publication of the article, senior NCP(SP) leader and former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh remarked, "I am unaware of what our State President has said. Since he wrote the article, he likely has more information than I do. I personally have no knowledge of this matter."

While Sharad Pawar has avoided commenting publicly on the matter, Shinde’s article has brought these behind-the-scenes developments to light. However, Shinde’s revelations have sparked a new controversy and the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) has reacted with sharp skepticism.

Party spokesperson Suraj Chavan questioned the timing of these claims. Chavan alleged that discussing a merger while the leader’s mortal remains were still at Vidya Pratishthan suggests a "lust for power" rather than genuine respect. He clarified that Sunetra Pawar is now the ultimate authority of their party and any dialogue must happen through her.

Further, the party legislator Amol Mitkari stated that no such merger discussions have occurred within their internal party meetings, attributing the rumours to the rival camp's leaders.

While the Pawar family continues to demonstrate a unique balance of political rivalry and familial bond — recently seen at family weddings — the political future remains clouded.

All eyes are now on Sunetra Pawar. Whether she will pursue the "unfulfilled dream" of a unified NCP or maintain a separate identity, remains a question that will define the next chapter of Maharashtra politics.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 13 (IANS) India’s share in global electronics demand has expanded at a rapid compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.2 per cent, significantly outpacing global growth of 4.4 per cent between 2015 and 2024, driven primarily by the sharp rise in mobile phone exports, according to NITI Aayog's Trade Watch Quarterly report for July-September 2025-26, launched on Friday.

Between 2016 and 2024, electronics exports increased nearly five-fold, reaching USD 42.1 billion. With global electronics trade valued at USD 4.6 trillion, the sector represents one of the largest and fastest-evolving segments of the world economy. India has demonstrated particular strength in products such as mobile phones, consumer electronics, and communication equipment, with exports increasingly directed towards major final-consumption markets including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the UAE, the report states.

Electronics, the thematic focus of this quarter's edition, has emerged as a cornerstone of India's manufacturing and export transformation. Now the second-largest item in India's export basket, the sector is both technology-led and deeply interconnected with industries such as automotive, renewable energy, telecom, defence, and digital services, making it a powerful multiplier for industrial growth.

The report states that having established a strong foothold in assembly and system integration, India is now entering the next phase of its electronics journey, moving decisively toward component manufacturing and higher value addition. This transition is supported by targeted policy measures, including the Union Budget's Rs 40,000 crore allocation under the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme, aimed at strengthening domestic capabilities.

The analysis underscores that sustained competitiveness will be driven by deeper integration into global electronics value chains, encompassing printed circuit board design, semiconductor assembly and testing, power electronics, and embedded systems. Complemented by continued improvements in logistics efficiency, tariff rationalisation, and industry-aligned skill development, these shifts position electronics as a key engine of India's export growth and technological advancement in the coming decade.

NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Suman Bery said, "Electronics, as the organising core of modern manufacturing value chains, with semiconductors and components, plays a key role in determining trade balances and technological sovereignty. While India has achieved scale in final assembly, sustained competitiveness will depend on correcting structural cost disabilities, deepening domestic component ecosystems, and leveraging anchor investments in components to embed Indian firms more firmly within global production networks."

The publication also provides a comprehensive assessment of global and domestic trade trends at a time when global trade growth has moderated but remains positive, with services continuing to outperform goods and developing regions emerging as key drivers.

The analysis highlights that India's trade performance in Q2 FY26 was driven by export-led momentum sustaining the overall trade expansion amid heightened global uncertainty. Services and merchandise exports recorded robust growth of around 8.5 per cent, outpacing import growth in both merchandise and services.

At a structural level, the edition underscores the deepening of trade among developing economies, which has expanded nearly four-fold since 2005 and now accounts for a rising share of global exports, with India’s trade trajectory increasingly aligned with this Global South rebalancing through regional value chains and new trade corridors.

Further, this edition highlights the growing role of e-commerce as a key enabler of future export growth. India is now among the world’s top six e-commerce markets, with electronics accounting for nearly half of online retail.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 13 (IANS) In a farmer-centric step to stabilise domestic markets and ensure remunerative returns to producers, the Centre on Friday approved the export of 25 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of wheat, along with an additional 5 LMT of wheat products.

According to a Consumer Affairs Ministry statement, wheat stock availability with private entities during 2025–26 stands at approximately 75 LMT, which is nearly 32 LMT higher compared to the corresponding period last year.

"This substantial year-on-year increase indicates a comfortable supply position in the country. Furthermore, as on April 1, 2026, total wheat availability in the central pool with FCI is projected at around 182 LMT, thus ensuring that export permissions will not impact domestic food security requirements," it said.

Moreover, wheat acreage in Rabi 2026 has also increased to about 334.17 lakh hectares compared to 328.04 lakh hectares last year.

This reflects strong farmer confidence in wheat cultivation supported by assured MSP and procurement mechanisms, and signals the likelihood of another robust harvest, the official statement further added.

The decision to permit export of 25 LMT of wheat and 5 LMT wheat products will help stabilise domestic prices, improve market liquidity, ensure efficient stock rotation, and further strengthen farmers’ income while ensuring national food security.

Meanwhile, to facilitate sugar exports, the government decided to allow export of an additional 5 LMT of sugar to willing sugar mills during the current Sugar Season 2025–26.

Earlier, the government had permitted the export of 15 LMT of sugar during the current Sugar Season 2025–26. This decision is expected to facilitate higher sugar exports and help in managing surplus sugar availability in the country.

As per data, only about 1.97 LMT of sugar has been exported up to January 31, 2026.

In addition, approximately 2.72 LMT of sugar has been contracted for export by sugar mills to date.

The ministry said that the additional export quantity of 5 LMT shall be made available to willing sugar mills, subject to the condition that at least 70 per cent of their allocated quantity is exported by June 30, 2026.

--IANS

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Mumbai, September 1 (IANS) Bollywood superstar Aishwarya Rai Bachchan celebrated Raksha Bandhan with her brother Aditya Rai and her family, offering fans a rare glimpse of the actress away from the spotlight.

The picture, shared by her sister-in-law Shrima Rai, features Aishwarya, Aditya, Shrima, herself with Aishwarya's daughter Aaradhya Bachchan, their mother Vrinda Rai and the family's younger members.

In the picture, Aishwarya can be seen dressed in a white ethnic outfit with her hair left open and sunglasses resting on her head.

She is seen posing alongside her brother Aditya, while Shrima stands beside them. Aaradhya and her maternal cousins are seen hugging their grandmother.

The picture has particularly caught the attention of Aishwarya's fans amid years of speculation surrounding her equation with her brother and his family.

Rumours of an alleged distance between Aishwarya and Aditya's family have on and off surfaced on social media.

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Shrima's social media activity has previously been scrutinised by Aishwarya's fans. In November 2024, she faced trolling after sharing a picture of flowers she had received from Shweta Bachchan Nanda and her husband Nikhil Nanda on her birthday.

The post came amid intense online speculation about Aishwarya and Abhishek Bachchan's relationship. Netizens has accused both Shrima and Shweta for deliberately trying to make Aishwarya feel left out.

The incident also saw Aishwarya's fans questioning why Shrima rarely shared pictures with Aishwarya or Aaradhya.

Aishwarya, meanwhile, has largely maintained a low profile on the professional front. She was last seen on the big screen in Mani Ratnam's Ponniyin Selvan II in 2023, where she played the dual roles of Nandini and Mandakini.

She made her appearance yet again at the Cannes Film Festival this year where she was lauded for her choice of dresses and styling.

–IANS

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Mumbai, Sept 1 (IANS) Rapper Badshah and Punjabi actress Isha Rikhi have parted ways 5 months after tying the knot. On Monday, Badshah and Isha announced their separation in a joint social media statement thereby putting an end to weeks of speculation surrounding their relationship.

The former couple took to the Stories section of their Instagram, and shared the statement confirming their separation 5 months after reportedly getting married in an intimate ceremony in March.

Badshah wrote, “I and Isha Rikhi have mutually decided to part ways and move forward on our separate paths. This decision has been made with mutual respect, and we request everyone to kindly respect our privacy during this time (sic)”.

"This will be our only statement on the matter. We sincerely request that there be no further speculation or assumptions regarding our relationship (sic)”, he added.

Their separation announcement also comes amid reports that Isha could be among the contestants on ‘Bigg Boss 20’, which is set to be hosted by Salman Khan.

Badshah married Isha Rikhi in an intimate ceremony in March 2026, after reportedly dating for around four years. The wedding was kept largely private, with pictures later surfacing on social media through Isha’s mother, Poonam Rikhi. The couple were seen dressed in traditional wedding attire and participating in customary rituals.

Isha is known for her work in Punjabi cinema, including films such as ‘Jatt Boys Putt Jattan De’, ‘Ardaas’ and ‘Happy Go Lucky’, besides her Bollywood debut in ‘Nawabzaade’. The marriage marked Badshah’s second wedding after his divorce from Jasmine in 2020. However, the marriage was short-lived: in September 2026, Badshah and Isha jointly announced that they had mutually decided to part ways after five months.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Sept 1 (IANS) Actor Abhay Verma, who essays the role of Wing Commander Rajpal Singh Dhaliwal in the streaming series 'Operation Safed Sagar', has shared that knowing about the eponymous operation by the Indian Air Force has humbled him, and has led to germination of a sense of gratitude in his personality.

‘Operation Safed Sagar’ was a combined arms operation by the Indian Air Force, supporting elements of the Indian Army during the 1999 Kargil war that was aimed at flushing out regular and irregular troops of the Pakistani Army from vacated Indian Positions in the Kargil sector along the Line of Control. It was the first large-scale use of airpower in the Jammu and Kashmir region since the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.

The actor spoke with IANS following the release of the show, and shared that he was barely a year old when India comprehensively won the Kargil war against its arch-nemesis Pakistan on July 26, 1999.

He told IANS, “I was one year, one day old when we won the Kargil war on July 26, 1999. So I don't have any memory as such but we were taught in schools about the Kargil war. I was really fascinated with what must have happened. Little did I know that I would do ‘Operation Safed Sagar’, and I would play one of the courageous soldiers in our Indian Air Force to depict the story”.

He further mentioned, “I would also like to say that after knowing Operation Safed Sagar as a story and whatever happened I would like to say that I failed as a citizen. Understanding what our heroes and soldiers have put in line, their life, and their family for us. Now I feel really extremely grateful for 2 reasons. First, I'm a part of a country like India. Second, everything around me, I'm very grateful for. I'm grateful for the glass of water. We're sitting in air conditio.n It's all no less than a blessing which we take for granted every now and then. So those two things are really close to me”.

‘Operation Safed Sagar’ is available to stream on Netflix.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Sept 1 (IANS) Bollywood superstar Ajay Devgn has echoed the thoughts of RSS supremo, Mohan Bhagwat. On Monday, the actor took to his X, formerly Twitter, and shared a picture from the ‘Universal Oneness Celebration’ event by RSS.

Mumbai, Sept 1 (IANS) Bollywood superstar Ajay Devgn has echoed the thoughts of RSS supremo, Mohan Bhagwat. On Monday, the actor took to his X, formerly Twitter, and shared a picture from the ‘Universal Oneness Celebration’ event by RSS.

He also penned a long note, as he wrote, “Dr. Mohan Bhagwat, on what the Hindu tradition asks of a Hindu, ‘If you want to call yourself Hindu, you must believe that all paths are leading to the same goal and that every human has dignity’”.

The ‘Universal Oneness Celebration’ was held in New York on August 29, and brought together several members of the Hindu-American community under the banner of unity, shared heritage and global harmony. It was organised by the American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue Forum, the event featured RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat as its keynote speaker and was supported by more than 250 Hindu-American organisations.

The event was attended by around 6,000 delegates from across the United States and several other countries. Mohan Bhagwat’s address focused on the idea of “unity in diversity”, arguing that diversity is a natural expression of a deeper oneness. The event also featured cultural programmes, interfaith participation and a five-point ‘One World, One Humanity’ call for action involving religious leaders.

Meanwhile, Ajay Devgn is set to host the iconic crime franchise ‘Crime Patrol’ for its latest edition, ‘Crime Patrol - Crime Ka Current Season’.

Talking about his association with the show, the superstar said what intrigues him most is the fact that its stories are inspired by crime cases and can offer viewers an insight into incidents that may happen around them.

He said, “What I find most intriguing about the show is that the stories are inspired by crime cases. Some of them are shocking because they show you the kind of things that can happen in the world around us, sometimes involving people you would never expect”.

The actor added that the show also highlights the effort and persistence involved in solving such cases.

“At the same time, you also see the effort and persistence that goes into solving these cases. For me, the show is not just about telling compelling stories; it can also be an eye-opener for the audience. It makes you more aware, more cautious, and reminds you not to trust anyone blindly. That awareness is important for everyone, youngsters, families and older audiences alike”, he added.

--IANS

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