The Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI) has strongly opposed the proposal to levy an 18 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) on Floor Space Index (FSI) and Additional FSI charges imposed by local authorities for real estate projects. In a letter addressed to the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, CREDAI urged the central government to reconsider the move, warning that it could lead to a significant increase in housing prices and adversely affect both supply and demand in the real estate sector. According to CREDAI, imposing GST on FSI charges—whether retrospectively or prospectively—would escalate project costs by as much as 10 per cent, pushing up housing prices across various regions of India. The industry body claims that the additional burden would make affordable housing projects economically unviable, exacerbating the housing affordability crisis and potentially affecting the purchasing power of middle-class homebuyers, who make up 70 per cent of the total market. The proposed tax on FSI charges, which are fees paid to local authorities for the additional space developers are allowed to build, could also create substantial financial pressures on developers. CREDAI had stated that the move would not only raise construction costs but also disrupt financial planning for ongoing and completed projects. The introduction of retrospective GST clarification, in particular, would create unforeseen liabilities for developers, putting their financial stability and ability to complete projects at risk, the real estate body said. CREDAI warned that such uncertainty could lead to stalled developments, ultimately harming the financial security of homebuyers already invested in these projects. Boman Irani, President of CREDAI, highlighted the severity of the potential consequences, stating, "FSI/Additional FSI charges constitute a significant part of the project cost, and the proposal to impose 18 per cent GST on such charges could prove to be counterproductive and act as a deterrent to housing supply and demand, owing to additional financial obligations and increasing housing prices as a direct consequence." The real estate sector is already grappling with rising raw material costs, making the proposed GST levy on FSI charges an added financial burden that could further hinder the construction of affordable homes. CREDAI estimates that this could lead to an increase in housing prices by approximately 7-10 per cent, worsening the already dire affordability challenges faced by middle-income families. Moreover, the industry body had also pointed out that developers are currently unable to claim Input Tax Credit (ITC) on GST paid for these charges, which means the imposition of tax on FSI would lead to a scenario of double taxation and it would only compound the financial strain on developers, ultimately driving up housing prices and impacting demand, the CREDAI stated. CREDAI also referenced existing legal provisions, including Notification no 14/2017 and 12/2017, which state that services provided by central or state governments, local authorities, or governmental authorities, related to functions entrusted to municipalities, are either exempt from GST or not considered a taxable supply.
20 December,2024 05:15 PM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentBharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Aparajita Sarangi on Friday gifted a bag with "1984" written on it in red to Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, reported news agency PTI. This comes days after Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra carried bags with messages on Palestine and Bangladesh written on it to the Parliament. Sarangi, the BJP MP from Bhubaneswar, gave the bag to Vadra in the corridor of Parliament. She handed the bag to the Congress MP while she was walking in the Parliament corridor. Vadra took the bag from Sarangi and walked on, reported PTI. The BJP leader said that this is also an issue that the Wayanad MP should raise through her tote bags. The bag had “1984 riots” written on it, as per PTI. In a show of support for the people of Palestine, the Congress leader had carried a bag to Parliament on Monday that had "Palestine" emblazoned on it. The Congress MP was later on Tuesday seen carrying a cream-coloured handbag to Parliament on which it was written "Bangladesh Ke Hindu Aur Isaiyon Ke Saath Khade Ho" (stand with the Hindus and Christians of Bangladesh), reported PTI. Priyanka Gandhi likely to be in parliament panel for 'One Nation, One Election' bill Members of Parliament (MPs) Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Manish Tewari are set to be among the Congress representatives in the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on 'One Nation, One Election' bill, reported news agency PTI. Kalyan Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress and P Wilson of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) are also expected to be its members, PTI stated. The committee is expected to have 21 MPs from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha. The panel will see a majority of representatives from BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and its allies owing to their numerical superiority in Parliament. MPs Ravi Shankar Prasad, Anurag Thakur and PP Chaudhary are being considered for the panel from the party. Shrikant Shinde of the Shiv Sena and Sanjay Jha of the Janata Dal (United), both allies of BJP, may also be included as members. Other representatives from the Congress for the joint committee of Parliament are Sukhdeo Bhagat and Randeep Surjewala. TMC leader Saket Gokhale and TM Selvaganapathi of DMK are also expected to be part of the panel, as per PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
20 December,2024 03:49 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe uncle of the 28-year old Congress worker who died during the party's protest in Lucknow said that his "unconscious" nephew should have been rushed to a doctor, and that if everyone in the party office had paid attention, his nephew's life could have been saved, PTI reported. Prabhat Pandey, a Gorakhpur resident, died during the Congress protest near the Uttar Pradesh Assembly in Lucknow on Wednesday. Speaking to PTI reporters on Thursday, Manish Pandey said that he received a call from the Congress office on Wednesday informing him that his nephew was unconscious and not moving. The caller asked him to come to the office. Manish Pandey then sent an acquaintance to the Congress office in order to investigate. "Congress workers took him to a hospital, where he was declared dead. Had people there paid attention, his life could have been saved. According to the post-mortem examination report, both of his (Prabhat Pandey) lungs had become blocked. Due to suffocation, he was unable to breathe, and he died as a result," Manish Pandey said. Pandey also claimed that Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge had called him to express his condolences. "However, condolences will not suffice. My child (nephew) has gone," he said. Prabhat, who served as the secretary of the Youth Congress, was living with his uncle in Lucknow while pursuing a computer course, PTI reported. According to PTI, his funeral had turned chaotic on Thursday after Uttar Pradesh Congress Chief Ajay Rai arrived to pay his respects. Locals reacted angrily, condemning Rai for exploiting the tragedy for political gain. While Rai has claimed that Prabhat died due to "police brutality," the police said he was brought dead to the hospital from the Congress office. "Prabhat Pandey was brought to the Civil Hospital in Hazratganj in an unconscious condition from the Congress office. The doctors declared him dead on arrival," DCP (Central Lucknow) Raveena Tyagi said. "According to doctors, there were no visible injury marks on his body," he added. Police have registered an FIR in the matter and stated that further legal proceedings will follow. They have also requested the people to refrain from spreading rumors. Congress leaders have criticised the police's use of force against the party workers during the protest in Uttar Pradesh and Assam on Wednesday, which led to the deaths of two Congress members, PTI reported. (With inputs from PTI)
20 December,2024 03:23 PM IST | Lucknow | mid-day online correspondentCongress MP Shashi Tharoor on Friday expressed his dismay over repeated disruption of the Parliament proceedings saying that the Parliament failed to fulfil its responsibilities and let the people of the country down, reported news agency ANI. Tharoor said it was unfortunate that discussion on major issues such as unemployment, price rise, Manipur, Sambhal violence could not take place due to repeated disruption. "I am a very disappointed MP. Most of our MPs are disappointed. I think that there are a lot of major issues to be discussed in our country, including unemployment, price rise, Manipur, Sambhal violence broke out just as Parliament was starting. Sadly, most of this time has been wasted in disruption. For many of us, the only constructive work was done in the Parliamentary committees. But the main Parliament did not fulfil its duty to the nation. I think we have let the people of India down. Very unfortunate," the Congress MP told ANI. In the first week of the session, the government and the opposition reached an agreement that the opposition could protest outside but inside work would continue, Tharoor said. Tharoor also expressed hope that the BJP-led central government would reach out to the opposition and find a solution so that the Parliament can function without disruption, stated ANI. "To my mind, Parliament is a forum for debate, discussion, and disagreements certainly but not for disruption. There was an agreement reached between the Government and the Opposition in the first week that the Opposition could protest outside but inside work would continue. It went on for 2-3 days. But thereafter, we ended up once again with a complete breakdown. I think that was very unfortunate. I really hope that the Govt reaches out to the Opposition and finds a solution. So that in an objective way, we can all get on with the work of the House," he said, stated ANI. "Budget session is coming now and we should not see a repetition of this in February-March," he stated. The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned on Friday amid protests over Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks on BR Ambedkar. The Winter Session 2024 of Parliament began on November 25, and concluded on December 20. (With inputs from ANI)
20 December,2024 02:47 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentPresident Droupadi Murmu on Friday said the news of the loss of lives in the Jaipur gas tanker accident was very painful and offered her condolences to the families of the deceased, reported news agency PTI. The President also prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the gas tanker crash. A deadly collision involving a gas tanker and multiple vehicles turned a stretch of the Jaipur-Ajmer highway into an inferno on Friday morning, killing seven people, injuring more than 35 and engulfing over 30 vehicles in flames, reported PTI. जयपुर में हुई सड़क दुर्घटना के कारण अनेक लोगों की मृत्यु का समाचार अत्यंत पीड़ादायक है। मैं ईश्वर से दिवंगत आत्माओं की शांति हेतु प्रार्थना करती हूं। उनके परिवारजनों के प्रति मेरी गहरी शोक संवेदनाएं! मेरी प्रार्थना है कि घायल हुए लोग शीघ्र ही स्वस्थ हों। — President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) December 20, 2024 "The news of the death of many people due to a road accident in Jaipur is very painful. I pray to God for peace to the departed souls. My deepest condolences to their families! I pray that the injured get well soon," Murmu said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) in Hindi. Seven people died, 40 vehicles were destroyed in a fire on the Jaipur-Ajmer road accident A horrific accident and subsequent fire occurred early today in Jaipur's Bhankrota area on the main Ajmer Road, claiming the lives of at least seven individuals and leaving around 40 vehicles, including trucks and trolleys, completely burnt. The incident unfolded near a petrol pump, where a series of vehicle collisions caused a massive fire that spread rapidly. Authorities have mobilised multiple teams, including police, fire services, and civil defence personnel, to control the situation and prevent further damage. According to Amit Kumar, Superintendent of Police (SP), the accident took place early in the morning on the Jaipur-Ajmer Road. "The accident was caused by several vehicles colliding one after another, leading to a fire. The flames quickly engulfed nearly two dozen vehicles, including trucks and trolleys. The situation worsened when it is suspected that a gas tanker was involved, which may have fuelled the fire even further," SP Kumar explained in a statement to ANI. The fire spread rapidly, with several vehicles set ablaze, causing extensive damage to property. Police and emergency teams are working tirelessly to extinguish the flames, while medical personnel are attending to the injured. Jaipur District Collector Jitendra Soni confirmed the tragic loss of at least four lives so far, with many others injured. "The fire involved nearly 40 vehicles, and we are still assessing the full extent of the casualties. Rescue operations are ongoing," Soni said. Jaipur Tanker Blast: Major Accident and fire incident kills atleast Four in Jaipur, watch video: Eyewitness accounts have described the chaos as the fire took hold. Moti Singh, an employee at the petrol pump, shared his account of the terrifying incident. "I was working in the office at around 5 am when I heard the noise. I saw the trucks catching fire, and the nearby Naira pump also caught flames. We managed to control the fire using a cylinder, but the situation was chaotic. Many vehicles arrived already on fire, and the flames were spreading fast," Singh recalled. जयपुर-अजमेर नेशनल हाईवे पर पेट्रोल पंप एवं केमिकल टैंकर में आग लगने की घटना बेहद चिंतजानक है। इस हादसे में कई लोगों के हताहत होने की खबर आ रही है। मैं ईश्वर से सभी घायलों के जल्द स्वास्थ्य लाभ की प्रार्थना करता हूं। — Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) December 20, 2024 Rajasthan’s former Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot, took to social media to express his concern about the devastating accident. "The incident involving a fire at a petrol pump and chemical tanker on the Jaipur-Ajmer National Highway is deeply worrying. Reports suggest many injuries, and I pray for the quick recovery of all those affected," Gehlot posted on X. (With inputs from PTI, ANI)
20 December,2024 02:47 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentAam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday released its fifth list of candidates list for Delhi Assembly elections 2025 and fielded Mahender Chaudhary from Mehrauli. Here is our fifth list for upcoming Delhi Elections ‼️Congratulations to the candidate🎉फिर लायेंगे केजरीवाल 🔥 pic.twitter.com/OHUdZQjQ27 — AAP (@AamAadmiParty) December 20, 2024 On December 15, AAP released its fourth list of 38 candidates for the Delhi Elections 2025. As per the list, the party's national convener and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will contest from New Delhi, CM Atishi from Kalkaji, Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj from Greater Kailash and Minister Gopal Rai from Babarpur. Additionally, Satyendra Kumar Jain will contest from Shakur Basti, Durgesh Pathak from Rajinder Nagar, Ramesh Pehalwan from Kasturba Naga, Raghuvinder Shokeen from Nangloi Jat, Som Dutt from Sadar Bazar, Imran Hussain from Ballimaran, Jarnail Singh from Tilak Nagar. As per the list Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj will contest from Greater Kailash and Minister Gopal Rai will contest from Babarpur. Additionally, Satyendra Kumar Jain will contest from Shakur Basti, Durgesh Pathak from Rajinder Nagar, Raghuvinder Shokeen from Nangloi Jat, Som Dutt from Sadar Bazar, Imran Hussain from Ballimaran, Jarnail Singh from Tilak Nagar. There are two new names in the list of 38 candidates released today, all the remaining 36 MLAs have been repeated. AAP has fielded Ramesh Pehalwan from Kasturba Nagar. Naresh Balyan's wife Pooja Naresh Balyan has been fielded from Uttam Nagar. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ramesh Pehalwan and his wife Kusumlata Ramesh joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on December 15. The couple joined the party in the presence of Arvind Kejriwal, the party's national convenor. On December 13, AAP released its third candidates' list for Delhi Assembly elections 2025 and fielded Tarun Yadav from Delhi's Najafgarh Assembly. On December 9, the party released its second list. In its second list of candidates, the Aam Aadmi Party has dropped 17 sitting MLAs, opting to replace them with new faces. However, three familiar names have been re-nominated: Manish Sisodia and Rakhi Birla, both current MLAs, along with Deepu Chaudhary, a former candidate who lost in the previous election. AAP won 62 out of the 70 seats in the 2020 assembly elections and BJP secured eighth seats. (With inputs from ANI)
20 December,2024 02:45 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentA horrific accident and subsequent fire occurred early today in Jaipur's Bhankrota area on the main Ajmer Road, claiming the lives of at least eight individuals, 35 injured and leaving around 40 vehicles burned, including trucks and trolleys, completely burnt. The incident unfolded near a petrol pump, where a series of vehicle collisions caused a massive fire that spread rapidly. Authorities have mobilised multiple teams, including police, fire services, and civil defence personnel, to control the situation and prevent further damage. According to Amit Kumar, Superintendent of Police (SP), the accident took place early in the morning on the Jaipur-Ajmer Road. "The accident was caused by several vehicles colliding one after another, leading to a fire. The flames quickly engulfed nearly two dozen vehicles, including trucks and trolleys. The situation worsened when it is suspected that a gas tanker was involved, which may have fuelled the fire even further," SP Kumar explained in a statement to ANI. The fire spread rapidly, with several vehicles set ablaze, causing extensive damage to property. Police and emergency teams are working tirelessly to extinguish the flames, while medical personnel are attending to the injured. Jaipur District Collector Jitendra Soni confirmed the tragic loss of eight lives so far, with many others injured. "The fire involved nearly 40 vehicles, and we are still assessing the full extent of the casualties. Rescue operations are ongoing," Soni said. Eyewitness accounts have described the chaos as the fire took hold. Moti Singh, an employee at the petrol pump, shared his account of the terrifying incident. "I was working in the office at around 5 am when I heard the noise. I saw the trucks catching fire, and the nearby Naira pump also caught flames. We managed to control the fire using a cylinder, but the situation was chaotic. Many vehicles arrived already on fire, and the flames were spreading fast," Singh recalled. Rajasthan’s former Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot, took to social media to express his concern about the devastating accident. "The incident involving a fire at a petrol pump and chemical tanker on the Jaipur-Ajmer National Highway is deeply worrying. Reports suggest many injuries, and I pray for the quick recovery of all those affected," Gehlot posted on X. (With inputs from ANI)
20 December,2024 02:31 PM IST | Jaipur | mid-day online correspondentShiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Friday claimed Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's allegation made in the context of the Congress's Bharat Jodo Yatra showed the Centre's failure in not knowing about terrorists operating in the country, reported news agency PTI. Fadnavis had on Thursday alleged that some organisations, which were declared as the frontal organisations of urban Naxals by the Congress-NCP government in Maharashtra and the Manmohan Singh government at the Centre, participated in the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Talking to reporters on the Vidhan Bhavan premises, Thackeray said the attack on the Congress's office in Mumbai came about after Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remark on Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. Bharatiya Janata Party Yuva Morcha (BJYM) workers on Thursday vandalised a Congress office in Mumbai, claiming the grand old party had always insulted Ambedkar. A massive political row erupted on Wednesday after the Congress and other opposition parties launched an all-out attack on Shah for his remarks on Ambedkar and demanded his sacking, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top BJP leaders rallied to his defence and said he has exposed Congress' "anti-Ambedkar" stand. "I don't think the offices should have been attacked. The Home Minister should accept that what was in his heart came out of his mouth and apologise," the Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA said, reported PTI. He said the first information report against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the scuffle at the Parliament was a "diversionary tactic". "These are all diversionary tactics, but I don't think Rahul ji or any one of us is afraid. You can file FIRs against us we are not afraid. We demand that he (Shah) should resign as Home Minister because he insulted Dr Ambedkar," Thackeray said, reported PTI. He further said Fadnavis's claim about the Bharat Jodo Yatra only showed the Union Home Ministry's failure to have knowledge about terrorists in the country. "I want to make it clear that he (Fadnavis) was not levelling allegations against the Congress, NCP (SP), or any other outfit or Bharat Jodo Yatra. He only wanted to say that the Union Home Ministry has failed in the last 10 years or two and half years. Because, if he has this information about so many terrorists operating in our country or outside the country and the Home Minister does not know it, then his (Fadnavis) allegations are directly against the Home Minister and not the Yatra," Thackeray said, reported PTI. The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said an attack on a Marathi-speaking family in Kalyan of Thane district was agonising. He claimed that issues of Marathi and non-Marathi-speaking people have come up in housing societies since the Mahayuti government came to power in the state. Thackeray demanded the cancellation of occupational certificates (OC) to builders who deny homes to Marathi-speaking people in their housing societies. (With inputs from PTI)
20 December,2024 02:21 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday announced judicial probes into the Parbhani violence and the murder of village head Santosh Deshmukh in Beed district. He also assured the House that those responsible for "unleashing" anarchy in Beed district would be punished irrespective of their political links. Fadnavis said the murder of Deshmukh, sarpanch of Massajog village, is already being probed by a special investigation team (SIT) under an IG-rank officer. In addition to that, a judicial probe will be done within a time frame of three to six months, he said. Announcing the transfer of Beed Superintendent of Police, the CM said the police were found to be lax. The chief minister said another judicial probe has been ordered into the death of Somnath Suryawanshi who died after his arrest in connection with the violence in Parbhani over the desecration of a replica of the Constitution. Largescale protests had degenerated into violence after a glass-enclosed replica of the Constitution near Babasaheb Ambedkar's statue outside Parbhani railway station was vandalised on the evening of December 10. "The judicial inquiry into the Parbhani violence will be done to clear all doubts. Ambedkar is not limited to any caste. He belongs to all," said Fadnavis. The chief minister also announced financial aid of Rs 10 each to the kin of Deshmukh and Suryawanshi. Congress members put Ambedkar's photos on their desks in Maharashtra assembly Congress leaders on Friday placed photographs of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on their desks in the Maharashtra assembly amid the party's allegations that Union Home Minister Amit Shah insulted the Dalit icon. This prompted Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to urge Speaker Rahul Narwekar to allow him to put a similar photo on his desk. Pawar said Ambedkar belongs to everyone and even the treasury benches should be allowed to display his photographs. The Speaker said he had not allowed any member to put such photographs on their desks. Narwekar also asked the Congress leaders, including Vijay Wadettiwar, Nitin Raut and Nana Patole, to remove the pictures. Congress' Vijay Wadettiwar raised the vandalism of their party office in Mumbai. How political parties can resort to hooliganism, he asked. Shiv Sena (UBT) legislators had also placed photos of Ambedkar on their desks but removed them after the Speaker's objection. With the Congress leaders not removing the photos in defiance of the Speaker's message, the members of the ruling Mahayuti also placed Ambedkar's pictures on their desks. This prompted the Speaker to adjourn the House proceedings for 10 minutes. Lawmakers of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising Congress, Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP), also held a protest on the steps of the Vidhan Bhavan against the attack on the Congress office in Mumbai and Shah's alleged remarks against Ambedkar. (With inputs from PTI)
20 December,2024 02:13 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentTwo people, including an Australia-based NRI, died and one sustained serious injuries when the taxi they were travelling in collided with a tractor-trolley loaded with sugarcane at the Sugar Mill flyover on National Highway 44 in Punjab's Phagwara, police said on Friday, PTI reported. As per PTI, The incident occurred on Wednesday night, resulting in the death of NRI Dilpreet Singh (28) and the taxi driver, Yugraj Masih (38), they said. Gurinder Kaur, who is Singh's mother, sustained serious injuries, Jarinder Patil, the Investigating Officer (IO) and Assistant Sub-Inspector of City Police Station Phagwara, said. Kaur had travelled to Australia in November to meet her son who was living in Melbourne, he added. Singh had recently obtained permanent residency in Australia and was returning back with his mother to their home in Model Town Extension in Ludhiana's Durgi road when the accident occurred, the officer said, PTI reported. Singh's father, Harpreet Singh said to the police that his wife had called him around 9:15 pm on Wednesday informing him that they had just left the airport in Amritsar and were in a taxi. He received another call from his wife at 11:33 pm that same night, informing him about the accident, the ASI said. Kaur sustained serious injuries and was initially hospitalised at Phagwara's Civil Hospital but was later shifted to DMC, Ludhiana, as her condition became critical. She had a broken jaw and multiple serious injuries from the accident, said the ASI, who visited her at the hospital in Ludhiana on Thursday, PTI cited. A case was registered on Harpreet Singh's complaint under relevant provisions of the law against the absconding tractor driver, the ASI said. The tractor-trolley was seized and the driver is to be arrested, he added, PTI cited. Mumbai: Pay and park staff killed in car collision in Bandra Kurla Complex A tragic incident occurred in the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) area on Thursday, where a staff member at a "Pay and Park" facility was killed in a car collision. The accident took place around 7:45 PM when the employee, Vijay Shukla, and his colleague Rahul Singh were collecting parking fees at a counter at the Ignisia building in Bandra East, which is leased by the municipal corporation. A speeding red car suddenly crashed into Shukla, causing severe injuries to his left abdomen and arm. Local residents who witnessed the incident quickly apprehended the driver, Prabodhan Belekher (34), a resident of Worli. Shukla was rushed to Guru Nanak Hospital in Kherwadi by his colleagues, but doctors declared him dead before admission, around 10 PM. Following the incident, the BKC police registered a case against Belekher under the relevant sections of the BNS Act, including Sections 106 (1), 281, and 125, in connection with the fatal accident. (With inputs from PTI)
20 December,2024 01:12 PM IST | Phagwara | mid-day online correspondentPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday attended a Christmas celebration at the residence of Union Minister George Kurian in Delhi, where he received a warm welcome and interacted with prominent members of the Christian community. "Attended the Christmas celebrations at the residence of Union Minister Shri George Kurian Ji. Also interacted with eminent members of the Christian community," PM Modi said in a post on X. PM Modi received a rousing welcome and was given a flower bouquet at the residence of the Kurian family. During the celebration, PM Modi also lighted candles and witnessed several programs. Meanwhile, the Santhome Cathedral Basilica in Chennai is lit up with colourful lighting ahead of the Christmas festival. Christmas is an annual festival celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed by billions of people worldwide on December 25 as a religious and cultural event. On the occasion of Christmas, people across the country celebrate 'Christmas Eve' with midnight masses being held in several states. The churches get lit up and revellers burst firecrackers to ring in the festival of merriment. Christmas is an annual festival which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas is marked and celebrated by billions worldwide on December 25 as a major religious and cultural event. It is one of the most sacred days in Christianity and it is often spent with friends and family. People set up Christmas trees in their homes and decorate the house with lights and hanging wreaths. The day is also marked by celebratory homecomings warm family gatherings and eatouts. Carol singing, dazzling Christmas lights, and richly decked-up Christmas trees entice folks to join in the celebrations on this day. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
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