India

Belagavi (Karnataka), Jan 21 (IANS) Congress national President Mallikarjun Kharge, on Tuesday, unveiled a 25-ft statue of Mahatma Gandhi on the premises of the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Karnataka's Belagavi.

The event marked the centenary of the historic occasion when Mahatma Gandhi assumed the role of the Congress party Chairman and launched the Independence struggle against British rule.

Kharge inaugurated the statue in the presence of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader, Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti, National Organising Secretary K.C. Venugopal, Karnataka Congress In-Charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, and other dignitaries.

The statue, created by Arun Yogiraj, a renowned sculptor from Mysuru who also sculpted the Ram Lalla statue in Ayodhya, stands 37 ft high from the ground level and was made out of 20 tonnes of bronze.

Kharge praised the Congress-led Karnataka government, stating that the decision to install the statue brings honour to the state. “Mahatma Gandhiji brought Independence to the country. During the tenure of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Babasaheb B.R. Ambedkar, the Constitution came into existence,” he said.

“It is the responsibility of all of us to protect the Constitution. Without the Constitution, the country would face anarchy,” Kharge emphasized.

He added, “Recently, many leaders have been praising Mahatma Gandhi. His contributions, sacrifices, and work are commendable. In 1924, Mahatma Gandhi served as the National President of the Congress Party. It was the first and last time he held this position. He never accepted the role again after completing his tenure.”

Kharge highlighted the historical significance of Belagavi, stating, “Mahatma Gandhi gave slogans against untouchability and for nation-building. Belagavi has earned a place of respect in the country because it was here that Gandhi took charge as AICC President. This city is a source of national pride. I am grateful for the opportunity to inaugurate the statue.”

He also announced, “Priyanka Gandhi admired a portrait of Mahatma Gandhi standing with two children. I am planning to install a similar statue in Kalaburagi, my hometown.”

U.T. Khader, the Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, called the occasion historic. “This is an opportunity to remember the countless bravehearts who sacrificed their lives for the country. It is also a rare occasion to remind people of social justice, which is the cornerstone of our Constitution, and humanity. This day inspires us to build a harmonious and prosperous nation.”

He urged that the event should transform into a campaign to spread Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals. “It is impossible to build a strong India while sidelining Gandhi’s principles and ideologies. In this phase of our journey, central and state governments, as well as all citizens, must demonstrate their patriotism by abiding by the Constitution.”

He added, “Imbibing Gandhi’s ideologies is the truest form of patriotism. Embracing the most marginalised in society with love was his ideal. We cannot even win over our children with hatred. With love, we can conquer the world -- this is Gandhi’s message.”

Khader concluded by referencing the Ramayana, saying, “We need a son like Lord Ram, who renounces power; a wife like Sita, who stands by her husband; a brother like Lakshman, who supports his brother during difficult times; and people like Bharata, who await their brother’s return. This was Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of Ram Rajya.”

Finally, addressing Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, he said, “On behalf of the people of Karnataka, I wholeheartedly welcome you to this programme. You are a symbol of Nari Shakti, not only for Karnataka or India but for the entire globe. We wish you a bright and colourful future, madam.”

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 21 (IANS) The BJP on Tuesday launched a scathing attack at AAP national convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over his wrong depiction of the demonic character from Ramayana, labelling him as "Adharmi" (one who does not follow the rightful path) and an "election-driven Hindu."

This exchange comes just two weeks before the Delhi Assembly elections, with tensions rising between the ruling AAP and the BJP.

Speaking to IANS, BJP MP Yongender Chandoliya accused Kejriwal of lacking knowledge about Hindu traditions, stating, "Kejriwal is unaware of Lord Ram or Hanuman. He only knows how to offer prayers in mosque and which cap to wear there."

Chandoliya further alleged that Kejriwal disrespected Mata Sita, calling him "Adharmi" and accused him of repeatedly disrespecting Hindu beliefs.

At an election rally, Kejriwal narrated an episode from the Ramayana about Sita's abduction by Raavan.

"Ramchandra ji went into the woods to arrange food after asking Laxman to look after Sita. Raavan, disguised as a golden deer, lured Sita. These BJP leaders are like that golden deer. Don't fall into their trap," he said.

Reacting sharply, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari accused Kejriwal of misrepresenting and misquoting Hindu scriptures for political gains.

"During elections, Kejriwal visits Hanuman temples to project himself as a Hindu. But his statements reflect ignorance of the Ramayana. If he had read the Ramcharitmanas, he wouldn't have made such comments," Tiwari told IANS.

Defending Kejriwal, senior AAP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia claimed the BJP was using Raavan to mislead voters.

"Their politics has stooped so low that they defend Raavan and twist statements to mislead people. I urge Delhi residents to see through their real agenda, which is to capture power at any cost," Sisodia said in a post on X.

Tiwari, however, demanded an apology from Manish Sisodia, accusing him of disrespecting Mata Sita.

"Sisodia should immediately apologise; otherwise, the entire Kshatriya community will not forgive him," he warned.

BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal slammed Kejriwal's remarks as "election-driven" and disrespectful.

"Kejriwal's statement is unfortunate and shows he has never studied ancient scriptures. Sanatan Dharma is the soul of our country, and such remarks are unacceptable," Khandelwal told IANS.

"He just sees everything with election-driven motives. This is why he creates such confusion by making wrong statements," Khandelwal added.

Echoing similar sentiments, BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Vijender Gupta, called Kejriwal an "election-driven Hindu" and questioned his understanding of the Ramayana.

"It is truly unfortunate that these election-driven Hindus are unaware of the Ramayana. Those who don't even know the spelling of Ramayana spread such confusion. If they are confusing the Ramayana, it shows how little knowledge they possess," Gupta stated.

The controversy revolves around the Ramayana episode in which Maricha, a demon who disguised as a golden deer, leading to Sita's abduction by Raavan.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 21 (IANS) Women officers from the armed forces, paramilitary forces and Delhi Police will join the inaugural event to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the government’s flagship 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' (BBBP) scheme on Wednesday, an official said on Tuesday.

The event will be launched by Union Minister of Health and Family Affairs J.P. Nadda along with Union Minister of Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi.

The scheme, aimed at protecting, educating, and empowering the girl child, was launched on January 22, 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Panipat, Haryana, as a response to the critical issue of gender imbalance and the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR).

Key achievements of the scheme include an improvement in the national Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) from 918 in 2014-15 to 930 in 2023-24, a rise in the gross enrolment ratio of girls at the secondary level from 75.51 per cent in 2014-15 to 78 per cent in 2023-24, an increase in institutional deliveries from 61 per cent to 97.3 per cent, and a significant improvement in first-trimester antenatal care registrations from 61 per cent to 80.5 per cent.

The anniversary event on Wednesday will also be attended by women officers of the level of Deputy Secretary and above from Central Ministries. Additionally, girl students (My Bharat volunteers), Anganwadi supervisors/workers and representatives of states and districts have been invited to participate in the event, said a statement.

The event will also be attended by representatives from international organisations such as UNICEF, UN Women, UNDP, UNFPA, World Bank and The German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), it said

The Ministry of Women and Child Development’s decision to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the BBBP scheme aligns with the vision of a Viksit Bharat 2047 and the global shift from women’s development to women-led development, a priority championed during India’s G20 Presidency, the statement said.

The inaugural event of the anniversary will be held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi and include an oath-taking ceremony and the launch of compendium of best practices. The event will also showcase the launch of Mission Vatsalya and Mission Shakti portals.

Similar events will be organised at state and district levels, with special programmes on January 22, January 26, and March 8.

--IANS

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Ranchi, Jan 21 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed the Jharkhand government's appeal challenging the quashing of an FIR against BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey and Manoj Tiwari in a case involving alleged security rule violations at Deoghar Airport.

The FIR, lodged in relation to a private flight on August 31, 2022, accused the MPs of putting pressure on the officials to allow the aircraft to fly in the evening, allegedly breaching security protocols. The complaint was filed by DSP Suman Aman, responsible for security at the airport, at the Kunda police station in Deoghar district.

In response, Nishikant Dubey and others moved the Jharkhand High Court, which, on March 13, 2023, quashed the FIR against nine individuals, including Dubey, Manoj Tiwari, and Kapil Mishra. The High Court ruled that the investigation lacked prior approval required under the Aircraft (Amendment) Act, 2020.

Nishikant Dubey and Manoj Tiwari argued that the Act provides for specialised authorities to investigate offences. They also challenged the invoking of IPC provisions when a specialised law covered the case.

The Jharkhand government subsequently moved the Supreme Court, arguing that no sanction was necessary to proceed with the investigation. However, the MPs' counsel countered that such approval was mandatory, a position upheld by the High Court.

A Supreme Court bench reviewed the case and upheld the High Court's decision, affirming the FIR's quashing on Tuesday.

The court asked, “Where is the question of endangering the lives of others in this case? Nor is it a case of forced entry. He was just asking for permission to fly. He did not even intend to commit any crime.”

The Court, however, granted liberty to the Jharkhand government to forward the materials collected by them during the investigation to the competent officer under the Aircraft Act, 1934 within four weeks.

--IANS

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Prayagraj, Jan 21 (IANS) Gautam Adani, the Chairman of the Adani Group along with his wife Priti Adani made a heartfelt visit to the Maha Kumbh Mela in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj on Tuesday, to participate in the 'Ganga Puja' and 'Mahaprasad Seva'.

Gautam Adani immersed himself in the sacred rituals of Maha Kumbh, the world's largest religious gathering and offered prayers.

The billionaire also participated in a host of rituals at the Mela ground, including preparation of the ‘Mahaprasad’ (sacred meal) and distributing it to the Kumbh pilgrims.

After offering prayers, Gautam Adani was also seen eating prasad along with his family members.

As Gautam Adani along with his wife reached the ISKCON tent in Sector 18 this morning, they were welcomed with garlands and greeted with the outpouring of warmth from hundreds of devotees.

Adani’s visit to Maha Kumbh underscores the deep connection between faith and service, as has been underlined in unique initiatives by the Adani Group like ‘Mahaprasad Seva’ and copies of ‘Aarti Sangrah’ to devotees.

An integral part of the Adani Group’s contribution to the Kumbh Mela is its collaboration with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) for distributing Mahaprasad to the millions of pilgrims. Devotees at Maha Kumbh are continuously praising Gautam Adani for his role in supporting this monumental event. The overwhelming response to the initiative reflects the spiritual and humanitarian impact of Adani Group's contribution.

The Mahaprasad will be offered for the entire duration of the fair i.e. till February 26. Adani Group has also collaborated with Gita Press for a free distribution of 1 crore copies of "Aarti Sangraha" among the devotees at Maha Kumbh.

Meanwhile, the spirit of devotion remained unshaken at the Mela ground despite the challenges posed by the chilly winter weather and dense fog.

On the ninth day of the Maha Kumbh, over 1.59 million devotees braved the freezing temperatures to bathe at the Triveni Sangam. According to the Uttar Pradesh government, by January 20, more than 88.1 million devotees had already visited the Sangam, making the Kumbh Mela one of the largest gatherings of humanity in the world.

The Maha Kumbh Mela, held once every 12 years at four rotating locations—Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain—continues to be a beacon of faith and devotion for millions of Hindus around the world. The event holds immense significance, offering an opportunity to cleanse one's sins and seek spiritual renewal.

--IANS

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Chennai, Jan 21 (IANS) The Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), led by actor-turned-politician Seeman, has launched an intensive campaign for the Erode East Assembly bye-election, which is scheduled for February 5.

This comes a day after the party was allocated the ‘microphone’ symbol on January 20.

NTK is the only major political party opposing the ruling DMK in the bypolls.

The AIADMK, BJP, and DMDK have chosen not to contest.

Speaking about the campaign, NTK candidate K. Seethalakshmi told IANS, “The allocation of the ‘mike’ symbol has bolstered our efforts. This symbol has already reached people to some extent and will make our campaign more effective. Our aim is to secure victory in this election.”

Seethalakshmi also mentioned that special squads and party cadres have been mobilised to conduct door-to-door campaigns across the constituency.

A total of 46 candidates are contesting the Erode East bye-election.

Initially, 47 candidates filed nominations, but one independent candidate, Padmavathy, had her nomination rejected.

The rejection followed complaints from two other independent candidates, Azhwar and Noor Mohammed, who alleged that Padmavathy’s name appeared in the voters’ list of K.R. Puram in Karnataka.

Under election rules, only Tamil Nadu residents can contest Assembly elections in the state.

Returning Officer, N. Manish, confirmed the disqualification after verifying the claim with the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Tamil Nadu.

Among the 46 candidates, two are from recognised political parties, and 14 represent registered political parties.

The bye-election was necessitated by the passing away of veteran Congress leader EVKS Elangovan, who won the seat in 2023 after the death of his son, Thirumahan Everaa, due to a sudden heart attack on January 4, 2023.

In the 2023 bye-election, Elangovan defeated AIADMK candidate K.S. Thenarassu by a margin of 66,233 votes. This time, the AIADMK and BJP have opted out of the contest.

The DMK is fielding V.C. Chandhirakumar, the party’s propaganda committee state joint secretary, against NTK’s K. Seethalakshmi.

Despite the absence of strong opposition from the AIADMK and BJP, the DMK is making significant efforts to secure a decisive win.

Deputy Chief Minister and DMK Youth Wing leader Udhayanidhi Stalin will spearhead the DMK’s campaign in the constituency.

In the previous bye-election, NTK candidate Menaka Navaneethan managed to secure only 10,827 votes.

However, the party is optimistic about improving its performance this time, with the new symbol adding momentum to its campaign.

The bye-election will take place on February 5, and the counting of votes is scheduled for February 8.

--IANS

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Guwahati, Jan 21 (IANS) The Assam Police’s Special Task Force (STF) has arrested one more associate of the Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), a Bangladesh-based terror group affiliated with Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), officials said on Tuesday.

With the latest arrest, the STF so far arrested 14 associates of the ABT from Assam, West Bengal and Kerala.

An Assam Police spokesperson said that the STF as part of its 'Operation Praghat' operation against fundamentalists and Global Terrorist Organisations (GTO) arrested another wanted Jehadi/Islamic extremist identified as Ajibar Rahman (31) from Dhubri, an Assam district, which shares a border with Bangladesh and West Bengal.

He said that of the 14 detainees, including Bangladeshi nationals, they are working under the direction of Md Farhan Israk, a close associate of Jasimuddin Rahmani, the Chief of ABT.

The ABT sent one Bangladeshi national Md Sad Radi alias Shab Sheikh a resident of Rajshai, Bangladesh, to India to spread their nefarious ideology amongst like-minded people across India.

“As evidence suggests their activities were organised with the intent to equip and promote their operational capabilities of extremist groups aiming to destabilise the country's security and sovereignty. The investigation has been going on to unearth the whole nexus spreading across the country,” the spokesman said.

He said that under the direction of STF Chief Partha Sarathi Mahanta, Operation Praghat was conducted. On January 18, the STF in a successful operation arrested the most wanted Jihadi/Islamic extremist Jaheer Ali from Dhubri in western Assam.

On December 30 last year, ABT cadre and the absconding prime accused, Gazi Rahman (35) was arrested with the assistance of Kokrajhar Police. On December 27 last year, ABT associate Shahinur Islam (36) was arrested from Bandhabpara in Dhubri District while on December 24, the STF arrested Abdul Zaher Sheikh and Sabbir Mirdha from Namapara in Kokrajhar District and a huge cache of arms and ammunition and other war-like items were recovered from the hideout of one of the arrested accused persons.

The STF, as part of Operation Praghat on the intervening night of December 17-18, had apprehended eight ABT operatives across Assam, West Bengal and Kerala.

Among the eight, five were arrested in Assam's Kokrajhar and Dhubri districts, two in West Bengal, and one Bangladeshi national in Kerala. Of the eight arrests, Bangladeshi national Muhammad Sad Radi alias Md Shab Sheikh (32) was apprehended from Kerala.

After the questioning of the eight detainees, the remaining accused persons were arrested from Dhubri and Kokrajhar, bordering Bhutan and West Bengal.

"With these 14 arrests, the STF achieved a huge success in averting a possible major terror act by fundamentalist/jihadi elements of a Global Terrorist Organisation (GTO)," the spokesman said.

Assam Police Special Director General Harmeet Singh earlier said the eight arrested persons were handlers in Pakistan and Bangladesh. They were working to form 'sleeper cells' in different parts of India and there were plans to assassinate leaders belonging to the Hindu community and RSS, besides undertaking violent and subversive activities in India, Singh had said.

The Special DGP had said that Operation Praghat under the direct supervision of STF Chief P.S. Mahanta was launched in November 2024 after a detailed and prolonged examination of intelligence input regarding the clandestine anti-national activities being carried out by a group of individuals under the direction of Md Farhan Israk, a close associate of Jasimuddin Rahmani, the ABT Chief.

In December last year, the Assam Police STF also arrested five members of the Pakistan-linked terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) from Kokrajhar and Dhubri. Four JeM operatives have been arrested from Kokrajhar district, while one JeM linkman was arrested from Dhubri district, a police officer said.

--IANS

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Jaipur, Jan 21 (IANS) A total of 33 cranes have succumbed to bird flu in Rajasthan till January 20 evening, confirmed officials here on Tuesday.

On January 17, around 14 cranes died from bird flu in Jaisalmer, collapsing mid-flight in a field near Bankalsar village.

A report from the Bhopal-based National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases (NISHAD) confirmed the presence of bird flu in two of the cranes tested, establishing the cause of death.

Additionally, a cuckoo and a Eurasian vulture were reported dead; however, their deaths were attributed to natural causes, providing some relief to the administration.

Since January 11, bird flu-related deaths have been reported continuously in Jaisalmer, but the outbreak has been limited to Degrai Oran and Bankalsar. No cases of infected birds have been identified in other parts of the district.

Authorities have adhered to strict protocols, burying the carcasses of infected birds and spraying disinfectants at the affected sites to prevent the spread of the disease to other birds.

Dr Umesh Vargantiwar, Joint Director of the Animal Husbandry Department, explained that bird flu spreads more in winter due to reduced immunity in birds, similar to humans.

“Birds cannot be stopped from flying, so preventing the spread of this infectious disease is challenging,” he said.

To contain the outbreak, the government has mandated that dead birds be buried and disinfectant sprayed at the site to minimise further infections.

The situation is expected to improve as winter wanes and temperatures rise, reducing the disease's spread. "Like humans, immunity in birds also decreases in winter. Eventually, this infectious disease spreads more among birds. Birds cannot be stopped from flying. However, to prevent this disease, disinfectants are sprayed wherever dead birds are found, after burying them as per government instructions," he added.

The NISHAD report has confirmed H5N1 Avian Flu (Bird Flu) in the carcasses of Demoiselle Cranes found dead in Jaisalmer. The deaths of migratory birds commonly known as 'Kurjan' among the locals, have become a matter of concern in the district and teams of the Forest Department and Animal Husbandry Department are on alert.

The bodies of the dead birds have been buried with all precautionary measures, and the field officers of the Veterinary Hospital, Medical Department, Forest Department and Revenue Department have been put on high alert, said officers.

--IANS

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Hyderabad, Jan 21 (IANS) The Income Tax Department on Tuesday conducted searches at the properties of prominent film-maker and Telangana State Film Development Corporation (TSFDC) Chairman Dil Raju, his relatives and some other Tollywood personalities.

Several teams of IT officials began simultaneous searches early on Tuesday at different places in Hyderabad.

The searches were conducted at Dil Raju’s residence in Ujas Villas, Jubilee Hills and on the offices and other properties of production house Mythri Movie Makers.

The IT officials were believed to be looking into financial transactions of Dil Raju and others for production of movies.

They were also checking the bank lockers as part of the investigation.

Dil Raju’s wife was taken to a bank where lockers were opened in her presence.

Dil Raju, whose real name is V. Venkata Ramana, is one of the top producers of Tollywood with diverse business interests in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, including film production, distribution, and real estate.

The Telangana government last month appointed him as the chairman of State Film Development Corporation.

The IT searches are believed to be related to Dil Raju’s recent movies ‘Gama Changer’ and ‘Sankranthiki Vasthunam’ under the banner of Sri Venkateswara Creations.

‘Gama Changer’ starring Ram Charan and Kiara Advani was released on January 10 this year, while ‘Sankranthiki Vasthunam’ was released on the occasion of Sankranthi last week.

The film, starring Venkatesh, Aishwarya Rajesh, and Meenakshi Chaudhary, has become one of the highest-grossing films of Dil Raju.

The IT searches were also conducted at the properties of Dil Raju’s family members including daughter Hansita Reddy, producer Sireesh, who is co-owner of Sri Venkateswara Creations and director Anil Ravipudi.

Searches were also on at the properties of Mythri Movie Makers, the makers of ‘Pushpa 2’.

The searches targeted houses of Mythri Movie Makers’ founder Naveen Yemeni, and other key people associated with the leading production house.

--IANS

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Guwahati, Jan 21 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma held a discussion with top official of leading semiconductor in the world in Seoul on Tuesday.

Taking to X, CM Sarma wrote, "Began today's engagements in Seoul with a productive meeting with Dr Joon Choi, Vice President of @SKhynix, one of the world's largest semiconductor vendors. I shared my vision of establishing Assam as a global semiconductor hub and emphasised that enabling a corresponding semiconductor ecosystem is one the major priorities of our government."

CM Sarma is in the South Korean capital Seoul to showcase Assam's strength as a potential destination for investments. The state government will host an investment summit 'Advantage Assam' in Guwahati in February.

Addressing top industry players in Seoul, the Assam CM earlier said: "I am of the firm belief that if Assam can house an automobile manufacturing ecosystem, we could transform the socio-economic landscape of the North East."

"Today, during my meeting with CEOs and Leaders from South Korea's automobile ancillary firms, I offered them the unstinted support of our State, should they choose to build a base in Assam. With easy access to India’s $100 billion auto industry and that of South East Asia, Assam offers them unparalleled advantages," he said.

CM Sarma also met a delegation of the Korean International Trade Association (KITA) and discussed investment prospects in Assam.

He said: "Had a great meeting with the delegation of the Korean International Trade Association (KITA). It is the country's largest business organisation representing over 73,000 companies. We are especially exploring how Assam can leverage KITA's vast network to ensure newer markets for Assam's tea, silk and agri products among others."

The Assam Chief Minster also said: "I had an excellent discussion with Kyungsung Kang, the President of Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) and his team in Seoul today. We discussed a shared strategy to explore avenues of partnership for growth and development in fields of trade, commerce, industry and skilling for mutual benefits of Assam and Korean businesses."

The Advantage Assam summit will highlight attracting investors across the globe to invest in the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will kickstart the summit.

According to Chief Minister Sarma, the event, scheduled for February 25 and 26, would also highlight the traditional Jhumur dance of the tea tribe communities.

--IANS

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