INDIA THIS WEEK FRIDAY JULY 29, 2022 1 A W e e k l y N e w s p a p e r Fe a t u r i n g N e w s & Tr e n d s f r o m t h e I n d i a n S u b - C o n t i n e n t P u b l i s h e d f r o m t h e U S C a p i t a l Website: www.indiathisweek.online Vol. 30 No: 30 • WASHINGTON D.C • Phone: 301-917-4800; 301-445-0200 • e-mail: indiathisweekads@gmail.com • Friday • July 29, 2022 Droupadi Murmu takes oath as India’s 15th President New Delhi [India], July 25 (ANI): Droupadi Murmu on Monday took oath as the 15th President of India. Chief Justice of India NV Ramana administered the oath of office of the President to her in the Central Hall of Parliament. The 64-yearold defeated opposition presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha to become the first tribal and the second woman to hold the top constitutional post. Outgoing President Ram Nath Kovind and Murmu arrived in parliament in a ceremonial procession ahead of the oath ceremony. Murmu was escorted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, VicePresident and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha M Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to the Central Hall. Members of the Council of Ministers, Governors, Chief Ministers, heads of diplomatic missions, Members of Parliament and principal civil and military officers of the government were also present at the swearing-in ceremony. Ahead of the oath ceremony, Murmu visited the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, and paid her respects to the Father of the Nation. She then met outgoing President Ram Nath Kovind and first lady Savita Kovind. After the oath ceremony, the President will leave for Rashtrapati Bhavan, where an interservices guard of honour was given to her in the forecourt and courtesies will be extended to the outgoing President Kovind. The oath ceremony was followed by a 21-gun salute. On July 22, the NDA’s presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu was officially declared as the 15th President of the country after the conclusion of the counting of votes. Murmu received 2,824 votes with a value of 6,76,803 while her opponent Sinha secured 1,877 votes with a value of 3,80,177. A total of 4,809 MPs and MLAs cast their votes in the polling that took place on July 18. Secretary General of Rajya Sabha and the Returning Officer for Presidential Election 2022, PC Mody handed over the certificate to President-elect Droupadi Murmu at her residence in Delhi. Wishes poured in from the political fraternity across party lines on the victory of Murmu . The President of India is the head of state in India. He/She is considered the first citizen of the country, acting on the advice of the Council of Ministers. According to article 60 of the constitution, the primary duty of the President of India is to uphold, defend, and preserve the Indian constitution and the law. The president appoints the Chief Justice of India and other judges on the advice of the chief justice. The President of India is elected by the elected representatives of the parliament and the state legislature. The electoral college elects the President of India and PRESIDENT MURMU SEE PAGE 8 SALES EVENT ES F SPORT RX F SPORT NX F SPORT ENDS SEPTEMBER 6 AAP KO NAVIGATION NAHIN CHAHIYE TO KNOW YOU’VE ARRIVED. LEXUS.COM | #LEXUS The Lexus Golden Opportunity Sales Event hai ek sunehra mauka to find sensations you’ve spent all Summer chasing. ©2022 Lexus, a Division of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
July 29, 2022 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK Yashwant Sinha congratulates Droupadi Murmu on her victory in presidential polls New Delhi [India], July 21 (ANI): As the results of the presidential election were announced on Thursday, Opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha congratulated his rival Droupadi Murmu who is set to become the 15th President of India. In a statement, Sinha said, “I heartily congratulate Droupadi Murmu on her victory in the Presidential Election 2022. I hope — indeed, every Indian hopes — that as the 15th President of India she functions as the Custodian of the Constitution without fear or favour. I join my fellow countrymen in extending best wishes to her.” Sinha further thanked leaders of the Opposition political parties for choosing him as their consensus candidate in the presidential election. He also thank all members of the Electoral College who voted for him. “I accepted the offer of Opposition parties solely guided by the philosophy of Karma Yoga preached by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita — ‘Do your duty without expectation of the fruits thereof.’ I have performed my duty conscientiously out of my love for my country. The issues I had raised during my campaign remain pertinent,” said Sinha. Despite the outcome of the election, Sinha said he believes that the process has benefited Indian democracy in two important ways. “First, it brought most Opposition parties on a common platform. This is indeed the need of the hour, and I earnestly appeal to them to continue — indeed, further strengthen — Opposition unity beyond the presidential election. It must be equally evident in the election of the VicePresident,” he said. Secondly, he said in the course of the election campaign, he tried to highlight the views, concerns and commitments of the Opposition parties on major issues before the nation and the common people. “In particular, I voiced strong concern over the blatant and rampant weaponisation of ED, CBI, Income Tax department and even the office of Governor against Opposition parties and their leaders. These institutions are also being misused to engineer defections and topple Opposition-run state governments. India has never seen political corruption of such magnitude. This, coupled with the poisonous politics of polarisation, poses a grave danger to democracy and communal harmony in India,” said the veteran leader. BJP-led NDA candidate Droupadi Murmu is set to be elected as the 15th President of India, having already got 50 per cent of the total value of valid votes at the end of the third round of counting. Briefing the media, Rajya Sabha Secretary General PC Mody, who is returning officer for the election, said Droupadi Murmu has got 2161 votes whose electoral value is 5,77,777. The presidential contest is between Murmu and Opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha. “Up to this round, the cumulative total is – total valid votes is 3219 with a total value of 8,38,839 of which Droupadi Murmu gets 2161 votes of the value of 5,77,777. Yashwant Sinha get 1058 votes of the value of 2,61,062,” Mody said. He said the states covered in the third round are Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha and Punjab. “In this round, total valid votes 1,333. Total value of valid votes is 1,65,664. Droupadi Murmu got 812 votes, Yashwant Sinha got 521 votes,” Mody said. O d i s h a ’ s Rairangpur village, the native place of NDA’s presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu erupted in celebrations in anticipation of Droupadi Murmu’s victory. A large crowd gathered outside BJP Headquarters in Delhi in celebration earlier this evening. Murmu was also leading in the first two rounds of the counting of votes. According to the sources, 17 MPs have cross-voted in the Presidential elections, in favour of Droupadi Murmu. The counting began at Parliament House at 11 a.m. The Presidential election was held on July 18. (ANI)
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July 29, 2022 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK CAATSA waiver to India is in US national interest, need strong partnership: US lawmaker Ro Khanna Washington [US], July 27 (ANI): The United States seeks to enhance its defence partnership with India in the backdrop of China’s assertiveness and New Delhi’s reliance on Russian military exports for its national defence, said American Congressman Ro Khanna. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Khanna said a waiver to India of Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), which penalises countries that engage in significant defence transactions with Russia, is in the best national interest of the US and the US-India defence partnership. This comes after the United States (US) House of Representatives on July 14, approved an amendment with an overwhelming majority to the National Defence Authorization Act (NDAA) that proposes the deepening of India-US defence ties. This amendment was offered by Khanna, a progressive Democrat from California. Speaking about the waiver in the national security interests of the United States, Khanna divulged that it was the most significant vote to strengthen the US-India relationship since the civilian nuclear deal that was passed with overwhelmingly 300 bipartisan votes. “The reason it’s in the interests of the United States is we need a strong partnership with India. Defence partnership, a strategic partnership, especially because we are two democratic nations and with the rise of China and with the rise of Putin this alliance is critical for the United States,” said the Indian American Congressman. The IndoUS nuclear cooperation agreement was signed in 2008, which gave a fillip to the ties between the two nations, which since then have been on an upswing. A major aspect of the Indo-US nuclear deal was the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) gave a special waiver to India that enabled it to sign cooperation agreements with a dozen countries. It enabled India to separate its civilian and military programmes and placed its civilian nuclear facilities under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. The NDAA amendment is politically significant and the overwhelming 300plus bipartisan votes send a strong message to US President Joe Biden which will give him the political support for waiving the sanctions. Khanna has been in coordination and conversation with top officials at the White House. “The amendment would never have passed if the White House was not open to it passing,” said Khanna, adding, “This gives the President the political support for him to waive the sanctions. It makes it all but certain that he will waive the sanctions.” However, the amendment is not yet a part of the law. The NDAA amendment needs to clear the Senate and be signed by President Joe Biden, only then India will avoid US sanctions for its weapons systems relationship with Russia. Khanna told ANI that Congress has given a “very clear and resounding message” to the President of the United States, “What was relevant is you have 300 House members, the vast majority going on referencing that the USIndia relationship is critical. In saying that the sanctions should be waived. And that gives a very clear, resounding message to the President of the United States to waive the sanctions. Of late the two democracies have made significant strides in defence cooperation and the NDAA amendment will give a big push to make a robust IndiaUS defence partnership. Speaking about it to ANI, Khanna said, “Remember, it goes beyond waving sanctions. It talks about the importance of strengthening the defence partnership that we have with India. The challenge is that right now; Russian weapons are cheaper. But Russian weapons are also inferior as we’re seeing in the war in Ukraine, the SU 57 in my view, just simply can’t compete with the F 22 or the F 35, or the US military equipment. It is in America’s interest to get the talent from the brilliant engineers and scientists in India so that we can make sure that we continue to lead the highest technology and ultimately, it’s India’s interest to an American technology which is superior to Russian technology.” He said that the US is figuring out ways to have an appropriate price point that incentivizes India to transition that will protect the American sensitive technology and it will be negotiated through bilateral communication. Talking about the threat posed by China that was underscored in the amendment, Khanna said to ANI, “You look at India as the threats that they face at the border. And you know the biggest guarantor of the security has been the United States. A few years ago, the United States assisted India with those border skirmishes. So the US-India alliance in my view is not just in the United States interest but also the security interests of India and that the United States will be a much more reliable and stronger partner.” Khanna for the last two years has been pitching for the prospects of India joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Plus. “NATO allies get expedited approval on defence agreements and we have that same agreement with Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Israel and South Korea, and I have worked on trying to add India as the sixth country to that and that would facilitate and make it easier to have this growing defence partnership. I had introduced that two years ago. I’m going to continue to work on it. Hopefully we can get that amendment passed in subsequent congresses.” (ANI)
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July 29, 2022 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK National Herald case: ED asks Sonia Gandhi to appear again New Delhi [India], July 27 (ANI): A day after the Enforcement Directorate questioned Congress President Sonia Gandhi for over six hours on the second day of her appearance in connection with a money laundering case linked to the National Herald newspaper, the 75-year-old has been asked to appear again on Wednesday, officials said. She left the agency’s office in central Delhi just before 7 pm on Tuesday after recording her statement. Sonia Gandhi reached the ED office on Tuesday morning with her armed security cover, accompanied by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. As Rahul Gandhi left for the protest, Priyanka Gandhi stayed back at the agency’s office. Officials said that on Tuesday, Sonia Gandhi’s response was sought to around 30 questions regarding her involvement with the National Herald newspaper and Young Indian Pvt Ltd, the company under investigation. Her questioning at the ED office in central Delhi went on for nearly 2.5 hours beginning at 11 am and continuing after a 90-minute lunch break until 7 pm. Her questioning was conducted by a team led by additional director Monika Sharma. During her questioning on Tuesday, the Lok Sabha MP from Rae Bareli was asked about the functioning and running of the newspaper, the role of its various office bearers, and her and Rahul Gandhi‘s involvement in the affairs of the National Herald and Young Indian. Officials said the agency would also confirm her statement with that of Rahul Gandhi, as both are majority stakeholders in Young Indian Pvt Ltd. Condemning the agency’s action, Congress called it a “political vendetta”. The Delhi Police made a massive deployment and cordoned off the lane from Sonia Gandhi’s residence to the ED office to prevent a law and order situation. Restrictions were imposed on the movement of traffic in the area. Rahul Gandhi and Congress MPs gathered at the Vijay Chowk to march to the Rashtrapati Bhavan to draw the President’s attention to the alleged misuse of central agencies by the government when they were stopped by the police. “I am not going anywhere. We wanted to go towards the President’s house. But the police are not allowing us,” Rahul Gandhi had said. The Delhi Police and personnel of the security forces were caught on camera, manhandling Congress workers and leaders. Srinivas BV, the national president of the Youth Congress, was seen being pulled out of his car by the Delhi Police, who tugged at his hair in gruesome visuals from the Congress’s protest in the national capital. The police were seen pushing and shoving the leader inside their car as he tried to speak to the media gathered there. “Mujhe maar kyun rahe ho (Why are you hitting me?),” the leader is seen screaming at the police, who later try to calm him, saying, “Koi nahi marega (no one will hit you).” The video also showed a few Rapid Action Force personnel pressing the car door shut as Srinivas attempted to climb out. Earlier, Sonia Gandhi could not appear for questioning on June 8 after testing positive and being hospitalized for COVID19. The Congress leader had developed a mild fever on June 1 evening and was found COVID-19 positive upon testing the next morning. For Advertisements Call: 301-445-0200; 301-917-4800 indiathisweekads@gmail.com www. Indiathisweek.online After her discharge from the hospital, she had asked for more time to appear before the agency. Last month the ED also questioned Rahul Gandhi for five days in the National Herald case. The case to investigate alleged financial irregularities under the PMLA was registered about nine months ago after a trial court took cognizance of an Income Tax department probe carried out on the basis of a private criminal complaint filed by former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Subramanian Swamy in 2013. The petitioner had approached the court alleging that the assets of Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which published the National Herald newspaper, were fraudulently acquired and transferred to Young From The Poet’s Pen INDIA THIS WEEK- July 29, 2022 Be Thankful by Anonymous Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire. If you did, what would there be to look forward to? Be thankful when you don’t know something, for it gives you the opportunity to learn. Be thankful for the difficult times. During those times you grow. Be thankful for your limitations, because they give you opportunities for improvement. Be thankful for each new challenge, because it will build your strength and character. Be thankful for your mistakes. They will teach you valuable lessons. Be thankful when you’re tired and weary, because it means you’ve made a difference. It’s easy to be thankful for the good things. A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks. Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive. Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your blessings. Indian Pvt Limited (YIL), in which Sonia Gandhi and her son owned 38 per cent shares each. The YIL promoters include Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Swamy had alleged that the Gandhis cheated and misappropriated funds, with YIL paying only Rs 50 lakh to obtain the right to recover Rs 90.25 crore that AJL owed to Congress. Congress argued that YIL is a not-for-profit company under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 that can neither accumulate profits nor pay dividends to its shareholders. Calling it a case of political vendetta, senior Supreme Court advocate and Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi had said, “This is truly a very weird case — an alleged money laundering case on which summons are issued with no money involved.” The federal agency’s move followed the questioning of senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress Treasurer Pawan Bansal in April this year. The agency then recorded the statements of both the Congress leaders then under the PMLA. The National Herald is published by AJL and owned by YIL. While Kharge is the CEO of YIL, Bansal is the Managing Director of AJL. The ED is investigating the shareholding pattern and financial transactions as well as role of party functionaries in the functioning of AJL and YIL. (ANI) INDIA THIS WEEK Address: P.O. Box 352Bryans Road, MD 20616 Phone: 301-917-4800; 301-445-0200 301-445-3543; 301-685-1800 www.indiathisweek.online India This Week is published every Friday by ADV Solutions Inc, Views expressed in this paper are solely those of the individual writers and not necessarily of India This Week. India This Week accepts no liability for the errors in advertisements or in any of its reports. For remedial actions any errors should be brought to the attention of the editor either by mail to the above address or by e-mail provided below. Publisher: Chief Editor: Contributing Editors: Asst. Editors: Special Business Correspondent Business Coordinators Special Correspondent: Community Coordinator: India Office Columnists: World Religions Photo Journalist: System Admn. & Maintenance: Layout & Graphics: Business Affairs: Dr. Babu Stephen Rajan George Saju Mathew Isaac George Manu Jacob Sherena Panjikkaran Elisha B. Pulivarti Rajan C. 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July 29, 2022 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK “This is achievement of every poor in India”: Draupadi Murmu becomes India’s 15th President, first tribal leader to hold office New Delhi [India], July 25 (ANI): President Droupadi Murmu addressing the nation after being sworn in as the 15 th President of India stated that she was the first President to be born in independant India and was honoured to take charge at a time when the country is completing 75 years if Independence. In her first address to the country as President, Murmu, the first tribal and second woman to hold the country’s highest constitutional office said her elevation to the post is not only her own achievement but that of every poor of the country and is a reflection of the confidence of crores of Indians. “Johar! Namaskar! I humbly greet all my fellow citizens from this sacred Parliament, a symbol of the hopes, aspirations and rights of all the citizens of India. Your affection, trust and support will be my greatest strength in discharging my functions and responsibilities,” she said. “I express my heartfelt gratitude to all the MPs and all the members of the Legislative Assembly for being elected to the highest constitutional post of India. Your vote is an expression of the faith of crores of citizens of the country,” Murmu said. The 64-year-old former Jharkhand Governor was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice of India NV Ramanna in the Central Hall of Parliament today. She succeeds Ram Nath Kovind, whose fiveyear-term ended on July 24. “Reaching the post of President is not my personal achievement, it is the achievement of every poor in India,” Murmu stated in her address. “It is the power of our democracy that a daughter born in a poor house, a daughter born in a remote tribal area, can reach the highest constitutional post of India,” she added. She also said that the country needs to speed up the efforts to meet the expectations that our freedom fighters had with the citizens of independent India. Murmu said that the country has elected her as the President at a crucial time when India is celebrating the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. “A few days from today, the country will complete 75 years of its independence. It is also a coincidence that my political career started when the country was celebrating its 50th year of independence and today in the 75th year of independence, I have got this new responsibility. It is my great privilege to be given this responsibility at a historic time when India is gearing up to achieve the vision of the next 25 years,” said the President. She further said, “I am the first President of the country who was born in independent India. We have to work at a fast pace in this Amritkal to fulfil the expectations that our freedom fighters had made from us citizens of independent India. In these 25 years, the path to the accomplishment of Amritkal will proceed on two tracks – everyone’s effort and everyone’s duty.” The president further extended wishes to the Indian Army of the country to all the citizens of the country on Kargil Vijay Diwas in advance. “Tomorrow i.e. 26th July is also Kargil Vijay Diwas. This day is a symbol of both the bravery and restraint of the Indian armies. Today, I extend my best wishes to the Army of the country and to all the citizens of the country on Kargil Vijay Diwas in advance,” she said. Emphasizing on her journey from a small village to the top position in the country, she said, “I started my life journey from a small tribal village in Odisha. From the background I come from, it was like a dream for me to get elementary education. But despite many obstacles, my resolve remained strong and I became the first daughter of my village to go to college. I belong to the tribal society, and I have got the opportunity to become the President of India from the Ward Councilor. This is the greatness of India, the mother of democracy.” She further said that is the power of our democracy that a daughter born in a poor house, a daughter born in a remote tribal area, can reach the highest constitutional post of India. “Reaching the post of President is not my personal achievement, it is the achievement of every poor in India. My election is proof that the poor in India can dream and make them come true. It is a matter of great satisfaction for me that those who have been deprived for centuries, who have been away from the benefits of development, those poor, downtrodden, backward and tribals are seeing their reflection in me,” she said. Murmu assured all the countrymen, especially the youth of India and the women of India, that while working in this position, their interests will be paramount to her. “From the first President of the country Dr Rajendra Prasad to Ram Nath Kovind ji, many personalities have adorned this post. Along with this post, the country has also entrusted me with the responsibility of representing this great tradition. In the light of the Constitution, I will discharge my duties with utmost sincerity. For me the democratic-cultural ideals of India and all the countrymen will always be my source of energy,” she added. Earlier Murmu was greeted with thunderous applause as she arrived at the Central Hall of the Parliament accompanied by outgoing President Ram Nath Kovind. She was welcomed by Vice President Venakaiah Naidu, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and CJI NV Ramana. (ANI) PRESIDENT MURMU FROM PAGE 1 the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). She was first elected as the councillor of the Rairangpur Nagar Panchayat and then went on to become the chairperson of the same panchayat in 2000. Later, she also served as the national vice president of the BJP Scheduled Tribe Morcha. Murmu became a member of the council of ministers in the BJP and Biju Janata Dal coalition government in Odisha, first becoming the minister of state with independent charge for commerce and transportation from March 2000 to August 2002 and then minister for fisheries and animal resources development from August 2002 to May 2004. A legislator from the Rairangpur assembly constituency in the years 2000 and 2004, she was conferred Nilkhantha Award for the best MLA by the Odisha assembly in 2007. In 2015, Murmu became the first woman governor of Jharkhand. She also became the first woman tribal leader from Odisha to be appointed as the governor of a state. Reports earlier claimed that Murmu was shortlisted for the top position in 2017 as well. She herself acknowledged it when the BJP leadership announced her candidature this time. However, during her political journey, she faced several lows in her life. Her husband Shyam Charan Murmu, passed away in 2014. She also lost both of her sons all in a span of just four years. 1Murmu devoted her life to serving society, empowering poor, downtrodden and marginalized sections of society. She has rich administrative experience and an outstanding gubernatorial tenure in Jharkhand. Murmu has made a special identity in public life by spreading awareness about education in tribal society and serving the public for a long time as a public representative. O u t g o i n g President Ram Nath Kovind on July 24 hosted dinner for President-elect Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union council of ministers at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi. President Kovind was sworn in as the 14th President of India on July 25, 2017, for a five-year term. (ANI) Droupadi Murmu takes oath as India’s 15th President the representation of its members is proportionate. The term of the President of India is of 5 years and no law can be implemented in India without the President’s signature. Born in a Santali tribal family on June 30, 1958, in Uparbeda village coming under Mayurbhanj district in Odisha, she had her education from Bhubanes war and went on to work first as a junior assistant in the State Irrigation and Power Department from 1979 to 1983. After this short stint as a clerk, she became a teacher at Sri Aurobindo Integral Education Centre at Rairangpur till 1997. Murmu commenced her journey in the field of politics in 1997 by joining
FRIDAY JULY 29, 2022 9 Sale Ends 7-31-2022 Kerala: Visually challenged girl beats Govt banned 747 all odds, tops Class 12 with 496 marks websites, 94 YouTube channels in 2021-22: Anurag Thakur Kochi (Kerala) [India], July 25(ANI): Displaying that disability is not an impediment to success, Kochi girl, Hannah Alice Simon added another feather to her accolades as she secured the first rank in class 12 Board examinations in the disabled category. She is a motivational speaker, a singer, and a Youtuber and now by scoring 496 out of 500 in CBSE class XII, Hannah is now a topper despite her underlying condition of ‘Microphthalmia’, a condition that resulted in blindness for her. A girl of many talents Hannah is not only excelling in her academics but also has launched a book on July 15 which consists of six short stories of six young girls named ‘Welcome Home’. Highlighting her parent’s decision of allowing her to attend a normal school, Hannah said,” Instead of giving me an education in a school for disabled students, my parents thought of admitting me in a normal school so that I don’t face any difficulty for my further studies in college.” She also stressed that she was bullied at school but moved on as she had more and more accomplishments to achieve. ” I was bullied, I was young and I was kept at a distance even when I grew older. But I know that even as I move on in my life, I will face these kinds of challenges. So facing them from at early childhood itself has made me stronger to face bigger challenges in life,” she said.She also noted that her parents treated her no different when it came to studies or opportunities. ” For my parents, I am not special. All three of us are special equally. I am just one among three children. They never told me that I am different. They always said you are just like the other children, I can do anything that the other children can. When my friends were running races, I also wanted to run. My parents used to take me to the school ground and ran with me as they held my hands,” she added. Hannah’s father, Simon Mathews credited her mother Lija Simon for Hannah’s confidence and attitude. “When Hannah was a child, she faced bullying in school. Friends kept her out of friendship. Hannah’s mother is the main person behind her to pull her up, she supported her all the way. She supported her in such a way that boosted her confidence. All those difficulties made Hannah stronger. Hannah also understood everything pretty well. She accepted the challenges, ” said Simon Mathews. The 19-year-old Humanities student became a topper in the category of students with disabilities in the country. A resident of Kochi, Hannah studied at Rajagiri Christu Jayanthi Public School in Kakkanad here. (ANI) N e w Delhi [India], July 21 (ANI): The government of India banned 747 websites, 94 YouTube channels, and 19 social media accounts during the year 202122 for working against the interests of the country, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur said on Thursday. Responding to a question in Rajya Sabha, Thakur said the ministry has acted against 94 YouTube channels, 19 social media accounts and 747 URLs and got them blocked. These actions have been taken under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act 2000, the minister said. The minister further said that the government has strongly acted against agencies working against the sovereignty of the country who spread fake news and propaganda on the Internet, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. (ANI)
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