Arvind Kejriwal Issued Summons For Fifth Time In Delhi Liquor Policy Case

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate on Friday for questioning in connection with the liquor excise policy case. This is the fifth summon sent to Arvind Kejriwal; he was first summoned on November 2, followed by December 21, January 3, and January 13.

Should he not appear as summoned, the probe agency can move the court for an arrest warrant.

The Aam Aadmi Party boss had skipped the first four calls citing various prior commitments, including a 10-day meditation retreat, and allegations the agency's calls were "illegal" and designed to arrest him less than three months before a general election. Last month, after the third summons, he slammed the agency's actions as "politically motivated" and "illegal".

He skipped the first summons because he was campaigning for the Madhya Pradesh election.

Earlier this month, after getting his fourth call, Mr Kejriwal and the AAP asked the ED why the Chief Minister had been called if he has not, so far, been named as an accused in the case. "This is being done to stop him from campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls. ED has said Kejriwal is not an accused... then why were summons issued to him," the AAP had said.

READ | On Repeated Summons, Kejriwal Has Just 1 Question For Probe Agency

Mr Kejriwal was earlier questioned in this case - for nine hours - by the Central Bureau of Investigation; this was in April last year. He had not, however, been made an accused in the case. "CBI asked me total of 56 questions. Everything is fake. Case is fake. I am convinced they don't have anything on us, not a single piece of evidence," he said then.

Two senior members of his government, including his ex-deputy, Manish Sisodia have been arrested so far. Mr Sisodia was arrested in February last year and party MP Sanjay Singh in October. Both are currently in Delhi's Tihar Jail.

On Sunday Mr Sisodia moved the court seeking regular bail and time to meet his ailing wife every week.

The Delhi liquor case refers to allegations the AAP government's revamped alcohol sales policy of 2022 allowed it to receive crores in kickbacks from cartels, and that this money was channelled into funding election expenses in Goa and other states.

Specifically, both the ED and the CBI have alleged the policy allowed cartelisation and favoured certain dealers, who paid bribes for liquor sale licenses.

NDTV Explains | What Is Delhi Liquor Policy Case Linked To Kejriwal's AAP

The AAP has strongly refuted all charges. The Delhi government reported a 27 per cent increase in income from the policy and generated Rs 8,900 crore in revenue. The party has also accused rivals Bharatiya Janata Party - in power at the centre - of manipulating the central agency to target it.

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Mayank Records Statement, Report Says He Drank From Bottle Assuming...

Karnataka captain Mayank Agarwal, who was admitted to a private hospital in Agartala on Tuesday after he complained of unease, is "out of danger" and will be taken to Bengaluru, Karnataka Ranji team manager said on Wednesday. Mayank was admitted to hospital on Tuesday after he vomited and felt uneasy. While on a flight, he consumed liquid from a bottle that he believed contained drinking water. Karnataka State Cricket Association (KCA) Ranji team manager Ramesh told ANI that the Karnataka skipper's statement is being recorded by the police.

"Mayank Agarwal is out of danger now and his statement is being recorded by the police...we don't know in detail on this matter, we are taking him to Bengaluru today," Ramesh said.

Tripura Cricket Association (TCA) working secretary Basudeb Chakraborty had said earlier that during the flight Mayank drank from a bottle which led to his feeling sick.

"We sent TCA staff to the hospital and they conveyed that there was a bottle, Mayank drank it assuming that it was water and after drinking it he felt acidic and it gave a burning sensation," Basudeb told ANI.

The flight to Delhi returned to Agartala due to a medical emergency.

According to ESPNcricinfo, the Karnataka team manager, on behalf of Agarwal, has also requested the Tripura police to investigate the incident.

A written complaint has been given to K Kiran Kumar, Superintendent of Police (Tripura West) and a case has been registered under the jurisdiction of the New Capital Complex Police Station in Agartala.

Mayank has been a crucial figure for Karnataka in domestic cricket this season. In the ongoing Ranji Trophy, he has struck two hundreds and a half-century.

Karnataka are currently second in Group C with two wins, a draw and a defeat in four matches. Vice-captain Nikin Jose is likely to take over the captaincy in Mayank's absence.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Is Vladimir Putin Richer Than Elon Musk? Read What Tesla CEO Said

Shortly after Russia's election commission released details about President Vladimir Putin's income, an old comment made by world's richest man Elon Musk is gaining traction on the internet. The central election commission (CEC) of Russia said Mr Putin declared in financial documents that he made less than $1 million in the last six years as Russian President. The documents revealed that Mr Putin made 67.6 million rubles, which is approximately $753,000, between 2018 and 2024. But in 2022, speaking to German businessman and journalist Mathias Dopfner, Mr Musk made a startling claim.

"I do think that Putin is significantly richer than me," Mr Musk had said when asked about becoming the richest man in the world.

Mr Putin's wealth has remained a mystery. The Russian President has been linked to a $1.4 billion palace on the Black Sea and a $4 billion Monaco apartment.

But there have been reports that claimed that Mr Putin's personal wealth stood at a staggering $200 billion. But going by what Mr Musk said, the actual amount is much more than this.

Officially, Mr Musk's net worth is $204.7 billion, according to Forbes data. Though he is the CEO of six companies, reports say Mr Putin owns 20 houses, 700 cars, 58 aircraft and helicopters, and a $716 million plane humorously named "The Flying Kremlin".

Experts claim his real estate holdings are in the billions too, including a castle-like mansion on the outskirts of Moscow that's twice the size of Buckingham Palace.

The $200 billion claim was made by financier Bill Browder, who appeared before the US Senate Judiciary Committee in 2017 and spoke about Mr Putin amassing his wealth after the imprisonment of oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky in 2003 for fraud and tax evasion.

"After Khodorkovsky's conviction, the other oligarchs went to Putin and asked him what they needed to do to avoid sitting in the same cage as Khodorkovsky. From what followed, it appeared that Putin's answer was, "50%". He wasn't saying 50% for the Russian government or the presidential administration of Russia, but 50% for Vladimir Putin personally," Mr Browder was quoted as saying by Fortune.

On top of all this, the famous Panama Papers revealed a network of secret offshore deals and loans worth $2 billion pointing to Mr Putin in 2016.

Mr Putin has denied all these allegations, but admitted to different form of riches.

"I am the wealthiest man, not just in Europe but in the whole world: I collect emotions. I am wealthy in that the people of Russia have twice entrusted me with the leadership of a great nation such as Russia. I believe that is my greatest wealth," he was quoted as saying by New York Times reporter Steven Lee Myers in his book 'The New Tsar'.

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Box Office: Hrithik-Deepika's Fighter "Shocks India, Rocks Overseas"

The weekday business of Fighter, which released last week, is something of a "paradox," in trade analyst Taran Adarsh's words. Fighter, which stars Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone as air force officers, has seen a sharp drop in domestic box office numbers – "the dwindling numbers in India are a complete shocker," per Mr Adarsh. However, the film is doing well abroad; USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have posted strong weekday figures after an "excellent weekend" of business. "How does one explain this paradox," Taran Adarsh asked in his post on the numbers.

Fighter's domestic box office total after six days on screens is Rs 134 crore, as reported by Sacnilk. This week, daily collections fell to single digits – Rs 8 crore on Monday and Rs 7.5 crore yesterday – as compared to Sunday's total of Rs 29 crore.

"Fighter shocks India, rocks overseas. The underperformance of Fighter has sent shock waves within the industry. Imagine, the film ticks all the boxes - right from star names and director's credentials to tremendous critical acclaim and positive audience feedback. Yet, the dwindling numbers in India are a complete shocker. To face a setback at the very start of the year is indeed worrisome," posted Taran Adarsh.

He continued: "Having said that, while the numbers are witnessing a downward trend in India, the biz in key international markets continue to be strong, even on weekdays. Markets like USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are still holding fort, even after an excellent weekend. How does one explain this paradox?"

Read Taran Adarsh's post here:

‘FIGHTER' SHOCKS INDIA, ROCKS OVERSEAS… The underperformance of #Fighter has sent shock waves within the industry… Imagine, the film ticks all the boxes - right from star names and director's credentials to tremendous critical acclaim and positive audience feedback… Yet, the… pic.twitter.com/BCu41T80cv

— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) January 31, 2024

He's not the only expert taken aback by the unimpressive numbers of the year's first big film. "It's disappointing to see Fighter drop on Monday. This is a film that deserved to be a success. Surprised that audiences have not stepped in, even though Friday was particularly good," wrote trade analyst Joginder Tuteja – read his full post here:

It's disappointing to see #Fighter drop on Monday. This is a film that deserved to be a success. Surprised that audiences have not stepped in much, even though Friday was particularly good.

I thought word of mouth was positive and spreading well. Still trying to figure what…

— Joginder Tuteja (@Tutejajoginder) January 30, 2024

Fighter, directed by Siddharth Anand, also stars Anil Kapoor, Karan Singh Grover and Akshay Oberoi in pivotal roles.

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Bigg Boss 17 Done, It's "Party Time" For Ankita Lokhande, Vicky Jain

Ankita Lokhande, who was in the top 4 of the TV reality show Bigg Boss 17, hosted by Salman Khan, has been celebrating with her family and friends. Ankita's husband Vicky Jain was also a participant in the show and he was evicted just before the finals. Coming back to the celebrations, Ankita and Vicky partied with former Bigg Boss 17 contestants Manasvi Mamgai and Navid Sole. Sharing a picture from the party on her Instagram story, Manasvi wrote, "Party time."Ankita and Vicky also partied with actor Srishty Rode.

See the party photos here:

Srishty Rode, sharing pictures with Ankita Lokhande on her Instagram profile, wrote, "Baki kare shine tu kare glow. You were not there to show how perfect you're! Your imperfections make you who you are and you are beautiful my love! We are super proud of you! You're the winner for us baby. Well played Ankita Lokhande. Love you."

Take a look at the post here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Srishty Rode (@srishtyrode24)

Ankita Lokhande, looking back at her journey, shared a video and she wrote, "Of course there were ups and downs...few left, few stayed but you guys stood by! Thank you so much to each and every one of you for supporting and loving me. All the #AnkuHolics, thank you is a very short word for the efforts and love y'all poured in, but a virtual jhappi for you guys. Special thanks to Salman Khan for your sweet words. Thank you Endemol Shine, Jio Cinema app for giving me this special chance."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ankita Lokhande Jain (@lokhandeankita)

Ankita Lokhande stepped into Bollywood in 2019 with Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi. She also starred in Baaghi 3, which featured Tiger Shroff in the lead role. Ankita Lokhande was also a participant in TV reality shows like Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa and Comedy Circus. She became a household name after starring in Pavitra Rishta.

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Viral Video Of Rinku's Father Delivering LPG Cylinders Breaks The Internet

Since making his India debut last year, Rinku Singh has taken international cricket by storm. After enjoying a breakthrough season with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Rinku was rewarded with a India call-up last year. Across 15 games and 11 innings in T20Is for India, Rinku has scored 356 runs at an average of 89.00 and a strike rate of over 176 with two half-centuries. Rinku has become the talk of town once again after a viral video captured his father, Khanchand Singh, delivering LPG cylinders in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh.

In the video, Khanchand can be seen loading LPG cylinders in a small truck.

Rinku Singh's father is seen supplying gas cylinders, Even as Rinku plays for India, his father continues his work as a gas cylinder provider.

Hardworking family pic.twitter.com/pjOrXOwG1K

— Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952_) January 26, 2024

This comes after Rinku revealed that his father refused to give up his job, despite his success in cricket.

"I told my father to relax now as we have enough for him not to haul cylinders, but he still does it and loves his job," he was quoted by Free Press Journal as saying. 

The cricketer added, "If someone has worked all his life, it is difficult to tell him to stop unless he wants it."

Rinku, who was born in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, has been retained by KKR for Rs 55 lakh ahead of IPL 2024. He was first acquired by KKR in 2018 for INR 80 lakh. Even though the first season didn't turn out to be great, his potential was considered and he was retained for IPL 2019 as well.

Recently, former South Africa captain AB de Villiers hailed Rinku, saying that the batter is a match-winner and his consistency is needed to win the games.

Talking about Rinku on his Youtube Channel, AB said, "Rinku is a fantastic player, a match-winner, and it is good to see him become consistent as well. You need to be a consistent player who is always trying to win games for your team."
 

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Hero Cop Saves French Man Who Fell Unconscious At Delhi Airport

A 63-year-old French national, who fell unconscious at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, was saved by a CISF personnel, a force spokesperson said on Sunday. The personnel administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to revive the man, the official said.

The incident took place around noon on January 26 when Bertrand Patrick queued up for security check to take an Air Vistara flight to Paris, he said.

However, Mr Patrick fell unconscious in the security-hold area and CISF Sub-Inspector Puneet Kumar Tiwari, who was working on the x-ray scanner nearby, rushed to him and administered CPR, following which the flier regained consciousness.

A doctor stationed at the IGI was called in and he administered the initial treatment to the passenger, the spokesperson said.

Mr Patrick soon showed signs of improvement and the doctor declared him fit to fly, he said.

"Due to alertness and prompt action by the CISF personnel, a precious life was saved," the official said.

CPR is an emergency life-saving procedure that is performed when the heart stops beating.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is tasked with providing counter-terrorist security cover to the IGI airport.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Supreme Court Turns 75, Chief Justice Explains What "Near Future" Holds

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud today said the Supreme Court will soon migrate its digital data to a cloud-based infrastructure, while addressing a gathering of judges and other legal luminaries as the court turned 75 years today. He said the ability of the Supreme Court to remain relevant as an institution needs recognising challenges and starting difficult conversations.

The digital Supreme Court reports will make judgments available to people for free in a digital format. All 519 volumes of Supreme Court reports since 1950, covering 36,308 cases, will be available in digital format, bookmarked, user-friendly and with open access.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the celebrations today. A new website of the Supreme Court was also launched.

"Today is a momentous occasion... It was through the Constitution that people gave it to themselves this court. The Constitution is about mutual respect towards fellow citizens," Chief Justice Chandrachud said in his address.

The Supreme Court held its inaugural sitting on January 28, 1950.

"What is the future... We are also on the verge of opening a war room equipped with technology enabling the Supreme Court to monitor real-time judicial data of the entire country," Chief Justice Chandrachud said.

"1.23 lakh passes have been generated digitally using Suswagatam. The Supreme Court will move all its files to a safe and sovereign cloud-based infrastructure," he said.

Suswagatam is an online app that allows users to register and request e-passes to attend court proceedings or meet lawyers, among other activity.

Chief Justice Chandrachud said more and more women professionals are seen in important posts across the nation now. "Earlier, the law profession was an elite men profession, but now woman constitutes 36 per cent of the district judiciary. Over 50 per cent of recent selected candidates were also women," he said, adding 41 per cent of law clerks who assist judges are women.

The Supreme Court last week designated 11 women lawyers as senior advocates.

"In the near future, we must address the structural issues affecting the judiciary, such as pendency of cases, archaic procedures, and the culture of adjournments. Our effort in our work as judges and administrators must be to ensure dignity to the district judiciary, which is the first point of contact for citizens. Our ability to remain relevant as an institution requires us to recognise challenges and begin difficult conversations," the Chief Justice of India said.

"First, we must emerge out of the adjournment culture to a culture of professionalism; second, we have to ensure that the length of oral arguments does not interminably delay judicial outcomes; third, the legal profession must provide a level playing field for first-generation lawyers - men, women, and others from marginalised segments who have the will to work and the potential to succeed, and fourth, let us begin the conversation on long vacations and whether alternatives such as flexitime for lawyers and judges is possible," Chief Justice Chandrachud said.

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M Kharge's Letter To Mamata Banerjee As Rahul Gandhi's Yatra Enters Bengal

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has urged West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to ensure the safety of all the people participating in the Rahul Gandhi-led 'Bhata Jodo Nyay Yatra'. The yatra, which started from Manipur and will end in Maharashtra, will enter Bengal next week.

"The yatra is passing through Bengal over the next few days. I have been made aware that some miscreants may foment trouble for the yatra. I am not sure if intention may be to show the state administration in bad light or disrupt the yatra," Mr Kharge wrote in a letter to Mamata Banerjee.

"I am writing to request you that you may kindly issue appropriate directions to ensure smooth passage of the yatra through Bengal and ensure safety of the yatris," he added.

Mr Kharge's letter to the Trinamool chief comes at a time when the Congress has been struggling to hold on to its allies within the INDIA bloc.

In Bihar, Nitish Kumar and his party Janata Dal (United) are likely to join hands with the BJP soon. JD(U) was one of the biggest parties within the Opposition alliance looking to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

BJP sources have told NDTV that the process of Nitish Kumar and his party JD(U) breaking away from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and officially aligning with the BJP is underway. Instead of Nitish Kumar stepping down, BJP eyes reshuffling the Bihar cabinet by replacing RJD ministers with its own MLAs.

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Aus Open Live: With Ebden In Company, Bopanna Eyes First-Ever Slam Glory

Aus Open Men's Doubles Final Live: India's Rohan Bopanna and Australia's Matthew Ebden take on the all-Italian pair of Simone Bolelli Andrea Vavassori in the Australia Open men's doubles final at the Rod Laver Arena. The second seeds, Bopanna and Ebden, defeated the pair of Thomas Machac and Zhang Zhishen in a thrilling 3-set semi-final. Bopanna has reached the US Open final twice (2013, 2023) but a Major trophy has eluded him in his career. Now at the fag end of his career at the age of 43, he will have the chance to tick that box with local guy Ebden in company.

Here are the LIVE Updates of Australian Open Men's Doubles final from Melbourne

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Shoaib Malik Had A 3-Year Affair With Sana Javed? Explosive Claim From PAK

Indian tennis superstar Sania Mirza has received strong support from people in Pakistan after ex-husband Shoaib Malik revealed last week that he was now married TV actor and model Sana Javed. People on social media have castigated Malik and Sana for breaking up their respective marriages, with many supporting Sania's decision to seek divorce from the Pakistani cricketer. To add fuel to fire, a podcast on news channel Samaa TV claimed that Malik and Sana had been having an affair and intimate relations since last three years despite being married. The podcast added that Sana had been divorced merely for three months from her former husband Umair Jaswal when she tied the knot with Malik.

Whenever Malik was invited for any shows on the channel, he would appear only on the condition that Sana should also be called, the podcast added.

“They were having an affair for the last three years and were intimately involved,” a producer of the podcast said.

“Umair didn't know about this, but Sania Mirza and her family and even Malik's family came to know about it last year. Efforts were made to resolve the situation but Malik didn't listen to anyone,” the producer added.

Malik and Sania were married amidst great fanfare in 2010 at Hyderabad (India) while Sana and Jaswal tied the knot in 2020 in a private ceremony.

That Malik and Sania are now separated came to light only after the former cricketer and Sana shared a photograph from their marriage.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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What Chirag Paswan Is Saying, Doing Amid Talks Of Nitish Kumar-BJP Uniting

Amid political uncertainty in Bihar, former Lok Janshakti Party president Chirag Paswan today disclosed that he was "in constant touch with the top BJP leadership" but termed as "hypothetical" the question whether Chief Minister Nitish Kumar would be acceptable to him as a new NDA partner.

Chirag Paswan, who had come to the Bihar capital on Thursday evening, spoke to journalists at the airport, saying he has "cancelled" engagements in the state to hold deliberations over the "crucial next few days" in Delhi.

"I have been in constant touch with the top BJP leadership. I spoke to them before coming here last evening when I held a meeting of party workers. I am going back to Delhi. I have cancelled my trip to late Karpoori Thakur's village in Samastipur and to Sitamarhi, which I had been wanting to visit after having paid obeisance at Ayodhya", he said.

Chirag Paswan, who now heads Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), said his party is a "committed NDA ally in Bihar".

"Therefore, we are keeping a watch on the situation in the state where the next two or three days may be crucial. The BJP, which is the largest constituent of the alliance, is keeping me in the loop. We will be holding more talks in Delhi," he said.

The young Jamui MP, who is known to have no love lost for Nitish Kumar and whose rebellion during the 2020 assembly polls has been blamed by the ruling JD(U) for its debacle, was also asked whether he would now be comfortable with the Bihar chief minister as an alliance partner.

"These are hypothetical questions which I would not like to answer. There can be no end to such speculations", said Mr Paswan.

He also scoffed at reports in a section of the media speculating that if Nitish Kumar made a return to the NDA, Chirag Paswan could switch sides and seek an alliance with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, the current Deputy Chief Minister.

"These are baseless reports which erode the credibility of the fourth estate," fumed Mr Paswan.

Chirag Paswan's comments came amidst a strong buzz that Kumar, a key figure in the opposition bloc INDIA, was now done with the anti-BJP coalition and exploring possibilities with his old ally which he had dumped less than two years ago.

However, neither Nitish Kumar's JD(U) nor the BJP has dropped a clear hint in this direction.

JD(U)'s political advisor and spokesperson KC Tyagi has been asserting that his party saw itself as "the architect of INDIA" and wanted to remain a part of the coalition though developments in West Bengal and Punjab were a cause for concern.

State BJP president Samrat Choudhary, who met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the party's principal strategist, in Delhi on Thursday, asserted that the talks centred around Lok Sabha polls.

"Our top leaders like Amit Shah and national president JP Nadda have said, in public, that the doors of BJP were closed. As a party worker, I abide by the stand. Nitish Kumar, to us, is a politician who changes his allies like clothes", said Mr Choudhary.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Maxwell Hospitalised After Getting Drunk, Australia Coach Reacts Strongly

Glenn Maxwell is a vital cog in Australia's white-ball set up but he must "hold up his end of the bargain" after his "less than ideal" incident in Adelaide, said head coach Andrew McDonald. Last week Maxwell was hospitalised in Adelaide after he got too drunk after attending a concert by 'Six and Out', the band featuring former Australian pacer Brett Lee and passed out. He wasn't kept in the hospital for long and was discharged soon after and is now back in training.

"I've spoken to Glenn, had a good chat with him yesterday around the incident. Him looking after himself needs to be a consideration moving forward," McDonald was quoted as saying to Sydney Evening News.

"We've given him the opportunity to rest and rehab in that period of time and I suppose the lessons for him around that would be to take up his end of the bargain in that space and take care of himself." Maxwell was rested for next month's three-match ODI series against the West Indies at home and he took the opportunity to attend a golf event in Adelaide before the incident took place.

"We want to see Glenn Maxwell playing cricket for the next three to four years for Australia. Can he get to the next World Cup in 2027 in South Africa? Who knows. But, he's a key player in our white-ball formats," McDonald said.

"When he is out there we're a far better team, and on the back of that horrific injury that he did have, there's going to be some management things that are put in place around him.

"But, we want Glenn Maxwell playing for Australia for as long as he can. We're going to have to do our end, and Glenn is no doubt going to have to hold up his end of the bargain." This is not the first time that Maxwell has been in trouble. In 2022 after the T20 World Cup, Maxwell had fractured his leg badly while partying at a friend's house.

This kept Maxwell out of the Australian team for months. He had also hurt his head and got bruises after falling from the back of a golf cart in a freak accident last November.

"All the information he's given, he's had a few drinks, and clearly the night has ended the way that it did, and that's less than ideal from his perspective and our perspective. It's an honest mistake," said McDonald.

"He needs to obviously have a look at what he's doing at his end and is that the right thing to be doing at that time? Thankfully, there's no harm out of it. He's well now." Maxwell is yet to play limited-overs cricket for Australia following his side's return from India last November.

Having finished as the third-highest run-scorer for the Australians in the ODI World Cup in India, which they won for the record-extending sixth time, Maxwell participated in a three-match T20I series in India, followed by the Big Bash League.

He finished as the second-highest run-scorer for the Stars and is expected to continue his formidable form during the West Indies T20Is from February 9.

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"Thank You, Mann Sahab": Punjab Congress Leader To NDTV On AAP's Solo Plan

A day after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann revealed Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) plans to go solo in Punjab in the Lok Sabha polls, one of the state's top Congress leaders has 'thanked' the Chief Minister and said this is "exactly what we wanted".

"This is what the Congress cadre in Punjab wanted from the beginning. There is a difference between Punjab and other states. Here, they (AAP) are in the government and we are the principal opposition. How can both of us get together," Partap Singh Bajwa, Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly, told NDTV in an exclusive interview.

"If we get together, the anti-incumbency vote is going to shift, either to the BJP or to the Akali Dal. How can we relinquish our position? Congress is on the comeback train. This way, we will finish our existence. We have to preserve our vote bank, and build on it. This is much better for both (Congress and AAP)," he said.

Mr Bajwa said that the seats the AAP and Congress win will remain with the anti-BJP Opposition bloc anyway. "We are fighting (AAP) in the Vidhan Sabha and outside it. Every day, the main opposition is coming from the Congress. We are on the streets of Punjab against them. How do you think we can sit on the same stage with them," he said.

The Congress leader said this is not his stand alone. "Every single Congress worker (feels the same). Our general secretary has been holding meetings with Congress workers, block president, district president, MLAs and former MLAs, MPs and former MPs, state party presidents. 99.9 per cent of people with folded hands have suggested that we would have nothing to do with AAP. "I would like to thank Mr Mann, he has made our job a little easier. This is exactly what we wanted," he said.

He denied that such statements were part of bargaining tactics. "If our votes shift to another party, they won't come back during the 2027 Assembly polls. We have already seen such experiments in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. In Delhi, we helped these AAP guys to form their government in 2014. Since then, we are nowhere to be seen. We don't want a similar situation in Punjab," he said.

Mr Mann yesterday sparked a buzz by announcing that AAP is working on finalising candidates for all 13 Punjab seats. Soon after, MP and Punjab co-incharge Sandeep Pathak played down the remarks and said the final decision was yet to be taken. "This is not new. Punjab unit had been saying from the beginning that they are capable of contesting alone. If you look at the local unit of Congress, they too say that they don't want to forge an alliance. So, local units have their own aspirations. The final decision will be taken by the coordination committee, seat-sharing committee and the High Command. Let's wait for it. The sooner it is done, the better," he said.

Mr Mann's remarks had come shortly after the INDIA bloc suffered another setback in Bengal, with Trinamool Congress supremo ruling out any alliance with the Congress in the state. In Bengal, too, state Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has been opposed to an alliance with the ruling Trinamool in Bengal. The Congress leadership, however, has said it cannot imagine INDIA bloc without Ms Banerjee. 

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"Isi Life Partner Ke Saath...": On Shoaib's 3rd Marriage, Afridi Says This

Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik has garnered all the attention over his personal life, with his divorce from Indian tennis star Sania Mirza becoming public soon after the announcement of his third wedding with actress Sana Javed. While the rumours of Sania and Shoaib's separations had been floating on social media for a while, the former India tennis star's father revealed that the couple had separated a few months back. Reacting to Shoaib's third marriage, his former teammate and Pakistan great Shahid Afridi has made a rather cheeky remark.

While Afridi wished Shoaib and Sana a happy married life, he hoped that the cricketer and the actor can stay together for the rest of their lives.

"Many congratulations to Shoaib Malik. I hope god keeps him happy with this wife for the rest of his life (Shoaib Malik ko bohut bohut mubaraq baat. Allah usi isi life partner ke saath saari zindagi khush rakhe," Afridi told Samaa TV during an event.

Recently, a report by Samaa TV claimed that Shoaib and Sana had been in a relationship for three years after first meeting each other on the sets of a TV show.

"Sana Javed and Shoaib Malik have been meeting for the last three years. At that time, Sana Javed was already married to Umair Jaswal. She met Shoaib Malik in Jeeto Pakistan. Shoaib Malik and Sana Javed started meeting consecutively in the show. Also, let me tell you, Shoaib Malik used to put conditions before appearing in the shows that he will only come in the shows if Sana Javed will be invited as guest, no actor noticed this thing because Sana Javed was already married to Umair Jaswal. People were curious about Ayesha Omar, but the real reason was something else," the Pakistani TV channel's journalist revealed.

The report also claimed that Sana only informed her husband Umar Jaswal, singer and songwriter, about her willingness to seek divorce a few months ago, leaving the latter stunned.

As far as the divorce of Sania and Shoaib is concerned, the entire matter was handled very carefully and sitlently.

"Itni khamosi se ye talaq hui, itni khamoshi se ki jaise kisi mulk me aatmee mansooba jo hai wo paya tak pahuchaya jata hai, chup karke khamoshi se (it all happened so quietely that no one came to know about the separation, it was all very silent)," the journalist revealed.

It was also revealed that the entire Malik family sided with Sania on the matter. In fact, none of Shoaib's family memebrs said to have attended his wedding with Sana Javed.

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Denied NOCs For Foreign Leagues Pak Stars Could Quit National Team: Report

Some of the top cricketers are contemplating terminating their central contracts with the Pakistan Cricket Board after some were refused NOCs to go and play in foreign T20 leagues. According to sources in the team management, most of the centrally contracted players are upset with the board for not allowing them to play in foreign leagues despite being free from national commitments.

"The matter has come to a head because recently the board refused NOCs to some players including Zaman Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Muhammad Haris (all centrally contracted) to play in the Bangladesh Premier League on the grounds that they had already played two leagues besides the Pakistan Super League," a source said.

He said under the current PCB policy finalised during the tenure of Zaka Ashraf, centrally contracted players would be allowed to play in two foreign T20 leagues besides the PSL.

"But for the players who are not centrally contracted there is no such binding unless they are required on national duty." But most of the contracted players believe the board is following a dual policy based on whims and fancies when it comes to issuing NOCs.

"The players feel that when there is no Pakistan assignment before the PSL why should the board stop them from playing in other leagues where they have good contracts," another source said.

"The players' grouse is that the PCB does not even pay them anything to cover the losses of contracts not accepted because of PCB policies." With the mushrooming of lucrative T20 leagues around the cricket world at present three leagues are being simultaneously held including the BPL, International Emirates League in UAE and the South Africa 20 league, meaning, potentially more earning opportunities for players.

A board official confided that the players need to understand that they are being compensated if they follow the cap on leagues as they are paid a hefty monthly salary by the board under their central contracts regardless of whether they are playing or not.

"The top category players are getting paid around 6 million rupees salary, those in category B get around 4.8 million so why are they complaining," the source questioned.

But an agent for one of the players said that one the board deducted heavy taxes from those salaries and top players were getting offers of earning between USD 100,000 to USD 300,000 for playing five to six matches or more in a league.

"Do you know the contract value of Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi for the BPL and ILT. Suffice to say one of them has a contract for USD 300,000 which is around 75 to 80 million rupees." He also noted that the leagues were a major revenue source for players who didn't have contracts with the PCB. He said that some players had even discussed terminating their contracts with the board and becoming free agents.

"I think when the new Chairman takes over there will be proper discussions between the players and board to resolve this NOCs issue."

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Did Kohli Attend Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha Ceremony? The Truth Is...

Indian cricket team stalwart Virat Kohli was expected to visit Ayodhya for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Temple on Monday. Kohli did get the invite for the same and was expected to attend the ceremony but only the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble, Ravindra Jadeja, and a few other cricketers were spotted. The same day, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also revealed that Virat had to pull out of the first two Tests against England, owing to a personal concern. But, there are those claiming that Virat did attend the Consecration of the Ram temple.

A picture of Kohli has been extensively shared on social media, with claims that he was at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya for the ceremony.

Kohli attended Ram Mandir but the media didn't give coverage. Shame on those Kohli fans who abused him yesterday. pic.twitter.com/TxuzcwPaR6

— CHADitya (@CHADitya_18) January 23, 2024

Guys, this is the video, Virat Kohli attended Ram Mandir Pran Prathishtha ceremony yesterday. It's exclusive video pic.twitter.com/dAcLrpjH1j

— r4hul (@flickshott18) January 23, 2024

The picture being shared, however, isn't from the occasion. It belongs to another religious occasion in the past that the cricketing icon had visited. Kohli is said to have visited his friend Rahul Kanal for Ganesh Chaturthi a few months ago. The picture, being shared as his Ayodhya visit, is from that event in reality.

Fake https://t.co/1UTA2LXVpC

— Akash Yadav (@Akash_Yadav_18) January 23, 2024

A few social media accounts, however, also suggested that Kohli had reached Ayodhya to attend the Pran Pratishtha ceremony but had to leave because of a personal situation. What exactly is the personal emergency, however, hasn't been revealed yet.

Virat Kohli's convoy in Ayodhya.

- The has reached Ram Janmabhoomi. pic.twitter.com/HwkmAA2388

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 21, 2024

In the absence of Kohli, the video of his doppelganger did go viral. Kohli's look-alike came to Ayodhya on the occasion and was surrounded by fans requesting selfies. The video spread like wildfire on social media.

Virat Kohli's doppelganger in Ayodhya.pic.twitter.com/DoQteQhoS7

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 22, 2024

The BCCI, in a statement on Monday, didn't reveal the exact reason behind Virat's absence but the board did say that the player has its and the skipper Rohit Sharma's full support on the matter. The BCCI hasn't yet revealed the squad for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Test against England. Kohli could make a comeback for the last three Tests, depending on the personal situation he is in.

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Fireworks, A Sea Of Diyas: How India Celebrated Ayodhya Ram Temple

After the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony for Ram Lalla in Ayodhya on Monday, January 22, devotees gathered outside the temple premises on Tuesday as it opened to the public. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a select group of priests performed the main rituals on Monday. Ayodhya gained global attention with illuminated earthen lamps and fireworks and drone shows lighting up the city. 

Here's a glimpse of how various states across the country celebrated the Ram Temple event:

Gujarat

People visited temples and joined processions across the state to mark this special occasion. The SGVP Gurukul in Ahmedabad was illuminated with 10,000 diyas in honour of the Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha ceremony.

#WATCH | Ahmedabad, Gujarat: SGVP (Swaminarayan Gurukul Vishwavidya Pratishthanam) Gurukul was illuminated with 10,000 diyas on the occasion of Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya. (22.01) pic.twitter.com/E1T0BNGlEs

— ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2024

Kerala

Kerala temples celebrated the unveiling of Ram Lalla's idol in Ayodhya with special ceremonies. The Shri Rama Temple in Thrissur prepared 'Chirat' as part of the Ram Temple ceremony on January 22. 

#WATCH | Thrissur, Kerala: 'Chirat' prepared at Shri Rama Temple on the occasion of Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha Ceremony. (22.01) pic.twitter.com/3IK6hy7OEo

— ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2024

Goa

Goa lit up with celebrations as people gathered for rallies, illuminated temples, and lit diyas to mark the consecration of Ram Lalla's idol. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant participated in the festivities, visiting the Shri Kelbai Devi Prasanna temple in the state.

#WATCH | Sanquelim: Goa CM Pramod Sawant visited Shri Kelbai Devi Prasanna, Nagnath and other temples on the occasion of Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha. (22.01) pic.twitter.com/sGVvs0pyZT

— ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2024

Telangana

Temples in Hyderabad were adorned with flowers and lights. The Bhagyalakshmi Temple near Charminar saw devotees offering prayers.

#WATCH | Hyderabad, Telangana: Devotees offered prayers at Bhagyalakshmi Temple in Charminar on the occasion of Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha in Ayodhya. (22.01) pic.twitter.com/XQoiMJTKAW

— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2024

Odisha

Devotees in Sambalpur, Odisha, celebrated the historic Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya by lighting up Sarovar Ghat with 1,11,111 earthen lamps.

#WATCH | Sambalpur, Odisha: Devotees lighted 1,11,111 earthen lamps at Sarovar Ghat on the occasion of Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha ceremony. (22.01) pic.twitter.com/Mqw3cOPES0

— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2024

In a spectacular celebration, the students of Vikash Residential School in Bhubaneswar illuminated 1,00,000 diyas in the school premises creating a record of sorts.

Karnataka

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inaugurated a Ram temple in Bengaluru's Mahadevapura area on Monday. He also unveiled a 33-foot-long Hanuman idol at the temple. In Hubballi, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi participated in Deepotsav at Gavali Galli.

#WATCH | Hubballi, Karnataka: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi participated in Deepotsav at Gavali Galli on the occasion Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha at Ayodhya pic.twitter.com/lkNEVplho7

— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2024

Assam

The Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati marked the Pran Pratishtha ceremony by lighting 1 lakh diyas on January 22. The Basistha Temple in the southeast corner of Guwahati also witnesses the lighting of 1 lakh diyas.

Assam: Kamakhya Temple lights up with 1 lakh earthen lamps in Guwahati

Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/PNZpGsh3pP#RamMandirPranPrathistha #Assam #KamakhyaTemple #LordRam pic.twitter.com/uJRlcw2BCZ

— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) January 22, 2024

Madhya Pradesh

People across Madhya Pradesh celebrated the consecration of the new Ram Lalla idol with chants of 'Jai Shri Ram', devotional songs and prayers.

#WATCH | Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh: Devotees celebrate 'Pran Pratishtha' of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya Karunadham Aashram. (22.01) pic.twitter.com/JoBFT4JskX

— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2024

Maharashtra

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Union Minister Piyush Goyal offered prayers at Wadala Ram Temple. "The whole of Mumbai has become 'Ram-may'. Diwali was celebrated in every house. The people of India were waiting for the success of this 500-year-old struggle. PM Modi generated a new enthusiasm today. This is a golden day which will motivate the country for the next 1000 years. 140 crore Indians will make a developed India with unity," Piyush Goyal said.

#WATCH | Mumbai: Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde & Union Minister Piyush Goyal offer prayers at Wadala Ram Temple. (22.01) pic.twitter.com/IgjgBseIuq

— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2024

#WATCH | Mumbai, Maharashtra: Union Minister Piyush Goyal says, "The whole of Mumbai has become 'Ram-may'... Diwali was celebrated in every house... The people of India were waiting for the success of this 500-year-old struggle... PM Modi generated a new enthusiasm today... This… https://t.co/iYal59XR7s pic.twitter.com/9tWQuWs58E

— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2024

Jharkhand

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey attended Deepotsav at Baba Baidyanath temple in Deoghar. He said, "I am fortunate to be the MP from Deoghar... PM Modi is also a Shiva devotee. If PM Modi has been able to do this (Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha), then I think it was the power of Lord Shiva that Ram Lalla is finally 'Virajmaan' in Ayodhya."

#WATCH | Jharkhand: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey attends Deepotsav at Baba Baidyanath temple in Deoghar, to mark Ayodhya Ram Temple 'Pran Pratishtha'. pic.twitter.com/W77yQ63MtM

— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2024

#WATCH | Jharkhand: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey says, "I am fortunate to be the MP from Deoghar... PM Modi is also a Shiva devotee. If PM Modi has been able to do this (Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha), then I think it was the power of Lord Shiva that Ram Lalla is finally 'Virajmaan' in… https://t.co/DcgO2Ib1lk pic.twitter.com/FW0pEiGV4T

— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2024

Rajashthan

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma participated in a drone show at Ramniwas Bagh to commemorate the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of the Ayodhya Ram temple.

#WATCH | Jaipur: Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma attends drone show at Ramniwas Bagh, to mark Ayodhya Ram temple 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony pic.twitter.com/1EKVGpHhB4

— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2024

Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that Lord Ram is an integral part of our country's culture. He mentioned that they celebrated by lighting diyas.

#WATCH | Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu says, "Lord Ram is the culture of our country. We did not get the invitation for Ram Temple's 'pranpratishtha'...We have expressed our faith by lighting diyas..." pic.twitter.com/MJxoeNLv5N

— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2024

West Bengal

West Bengal leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari said "you can hear 'Jai Shree Ram' in every locality of Kolkata.”

#WATCH | Kolkata: On Ram Temple's 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony, West Bengal Legislative Assembly LoP and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari says, "...After almost 500 years, Ram Temple's 'pranpratishtha' has happened...You can hear 'Jai Shree Ram' in every locality of Kolkata..." pic.twitter.com/6ytIH0Nxom

— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2024

Tamil Nadu

People in Chennai celebrated 'Deepotsav' by lighting diyas to mark the Ayodhya Ram Temple 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony.

#WATCH | Tamil Nadu: Visuals of 'Deepotsav' celebrations in Chennai to mark the Ayodhya Ram Temple 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony. pic.twitter.com/KdPuHPhES0

— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2024

Punjab

Devotees sang 'Ram ayenge, mere ghar Ram ayenge' and other 'bhajans' during shobha yatras. The sky over Chandigarh lit up with firecrackers as locals celebrated the Ayodhya Ram Temple ceremony.

#WATCH | Firecrackers adorn the sky over Chandigarh as locals celebrate Ayodhya Ram temple 'Pran Pratishtha' pic.twitter.com/mJ9eZas75Z

— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2024

Delhi

In Delhi, people celebrated the Ram Temple event by responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to light 'Ram Jyoti.' In the evening, people illuminated diyas at their homes and burst firecrackers to mark the consecration ceremony..

#WATCH | Delhi: Diyas lit up outside All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to mark Ayodhya Ram temple 'Pran Pratishtha'. pic.twitter.com/eJTTh15tnG

— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2024

The historic ceremony was celebrated not only in India but also resonated across the globe. The Hindu community in the US, Australia, Canada and the UK, joined in commemorating the significant event.

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Watch: Sachin, Kumble, Jadeja, Others Reach Shri Ram Temple In Ayodhya

Indian cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar, Mithali Raj and Anil Kumble reached Ayodhya for the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of Ram Lalla in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya. Kumble, nicknamed Jumbo, said on the occasion: "It is a wonderful occasion, a very divine occasion. Blessed to be a part of this. It's very historic. Looking forward to seeking blessings from Ram Lalla...". Ravindra Jadeja, part of the current Indian team, also reached Ayodhya on the occasion, as did shuttler Saina Nehwal.

While speaking to ANI, Nehwal couldn't express her happiness and asked people to visit the temple in the future. "It is a big day for us. I am lucky that I was given a chance to attend the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony. I can't express how happy I am. I want to tell people to come here and visit the temple in the near future," Nehwal told ANI.

#WATCH | Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh | Ace shuttler Saina Nehwal says, "I think this is a big day for all of us. I am fortunate to have received the opportunity to be here today. We will have the darshan of Lord Ram here. So, we are waiting for that moment...I can't express my joy in… pic.twitter.com/HObcVGTJ9D

— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2024

Meanwhile, former India skipper Mithali Raj said that all the people wanted this big occasion for a very long time. Mithali added that she was happy to be a part of the "celebration."

#WATCH | Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh | Former cricketer Mithali Raj says, "I feel what one feels when they are at a very religious place...We all wanted this for a very long time and I feel it is a calling to be here on this big occasion. It's a celebration and we are all happy to be… pic.twitter.com/59akVMllBG

— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2024

"We all wanted this for a very long time. It's just a calling to be here on this big occasion and it's a celebration and we are just happy to be a part of this celebration," Mithali told ANI.

#WATCH | Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar arrives at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya to attend the Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha ceremony#RamMandirPranPrathistha pic.twitter.com/72BLcxUnmp

— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2024

Ravindra Jadeja in Ayodhya ahead of the Pran Pratishtha of Lord Rama. pic.twitter.com/VwJOxJ3rl2

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 22, 2024

#WATCH | Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh | Veteran cricketer Anil Kumble says, "It is a wonderful occasion, a very divine occasion. Blessed to be a part of this. It's very historic. Looking forward to seeking blessings from Ram Lalla..." pic.twitter.com/zKodiqk1bG

— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2024

The Pran Prathistha of Ram Lalla at Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya will be held on Monday afternoon in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, saints, and a host of distinguished guests.

Sports personalities like MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Mithali Raj, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Ravichandran Ashwin have also been invited to the event.

The 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony will begin at 12:30 p.m. amid tight security.

Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust announced on Sunday that the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony will be marked by a dazzling musical event titled 'Mangal Dhwani'.

The temple is constructed in the traditional Nagara style. Its length (east-west) is 380 feet, its width is 250 feet and its height is 161 feet. It is supported by a total of 392 pillars and 44 doors.

The pillars and walls of the temple showcase intricately sculpted depictions of Hindu deities, gods, and goddesses. In the main sanctum sanctorum on the ground floor, the childhood form of Bhagwan Shri Ram (the idol of Shri Ramlalla) has been placed.

The main entrance to the temple is situated on the eastern side, which can be approached by ascending 32 stairs through the Singh Dwar. There are a total of five Mandaps (halls) in the mandir: Nritya Mandap, Rang Mandap, Sabha Mandap, Prathana Mandap and Kirtan Mandap.

Near the temple is a historic well (Sita koop), dating back to the ancient era. In the southwestern part of the temple's complex, at Kuber Tila, the ancient temple of Bhagwan Shiv has been restored, along with the installation of a statue of Jatayu.

The foundation of the temple has been constructed with a 14-meter-thick layer of roller-compacted concrete (RCC), giving it the appearance of artificial rock. No iron is used anywhere in the temple. For protection against ground moisture, a 21-foot-high plinth has been constructed using granite.

With ANI inputs

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Video: Actor Kangana Ranaut Cleans Ayodhya's Hanuman Garhi Temple

Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to clean temples across the country ahead of the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony in Ayodhya, actor Kangana Ranaut swept the floor of Ayodhya's Hanuman Garhi Temple on Sunday.

Kangana arrived in Ayodhya earlier to attend the 'Pran Pratishtha' on Monday.

Speaking to ANI, the actor said, "I wish to motivate people to pick up the broom by participating in this cleanliness drive. The city has been beautified and has a festive look about it going into the inauguration day."

Several images and video clips of the actor picking up the broom to cleaning the temple floor went viral on social media.

Kangana wore a red saree, tied her hair in a bun as she participated in the cleanliness drive. She accessorised her look with heavy gold jewellery and a pair of black shades.

#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: Actress Kangana Ranaut participates in cleanliness drive at Hanuman Garhi Temple in Ayodhya.

She is in Ayodhya to attend the Pran Pratishtha ceremony tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/LpElT3ROdf

— ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2024

The actor also offered prayers at the temple.

#WATCH | Ayodhya: Actress Kangana Ranaut says "Ayodhya has been decorated like a bride. Bhajans and Yagya are being organised at several places. It feels like we have reached 'Dev Lok'...We cannot say anything about those who do not want to come...It feels really good to be in… pic.twitter.com/3CgfCw3owJ

— ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2024

The nationwide initiative of cleanliness drives at temples was launched by the BJP earlier this month and will continue until Monday, the day of the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony at the Ayodhya Ram temple.

Recently, actor Jackie Shroff also took part in the cleanliness drive.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi cleaned the premises of the Kalaram Temple in Maharashtra's Nashik, taking the lead in the Swachchata Abhiyan.

Visuals showed Prime Minister Modi with a mop and bucket, mopping the floor of the temple.

The drive gathered momentum after Prime Minister Modi exhorted fellow citizens to cleanse temples going into the 'Pran Pratishtha' event.

The campaign has since been carried forward by several Union ministers and BJP leaders across states.

Prime Minister Modi will perform the rituals around the Pran Pratishtha ceremony, which are to be officiated by a select complement of seers on Monday.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"It Was A Dream To Work With Him": Ananya On Working With Vikramaditya

Ananya Panday is currently basking in the success of her film Kho Gaye Hum Kahan. The Netflix movie was released on December 26. Fans and critics loved Ananya's character in the film. In a recent interview with the Galatta Plus, the actress opened up about her upcoming crime-thriller with Vikramaditya Motwane. Ananya said she has watched his Udaan “countless times” and “it was a dream to work with him.” She also added that Udaan is her mother Bhavana Pandey's favourite film. Ananya said, “With Vikram sir, it was actually a dream to work with him because I've watched Udaan countless times. It's my mum's favourite movie. I think I was in shock when he wanted to meet me. To begin with, when my team said Vikram sir wants to meet you, I said, ‘For what? He wants to work with me?' And when I met him, I asked him, ‘Are you sure you're directing this film?' He said, ‘Ya, I'm sure.' So it took me some time to register that I'm working with Vikram sir.” 

Ananya Panday added that she is a “validation-seeking sort of person”. She said, “The self-belief is very low in me. I'm a validation-seeking sort of person. So even when I'm on set, I need my directors to confirm like 10 times that the shot was okay. I'm always like, ‘Was it okay? Should I do one more?' Even when someone praises my work or compliments me, my first reaction is, ‘Really? Are you sure? Me?' So I have that, which I'm trying to get better at. I don't know where it comes from. I think it's always been in my personality.”

At the time of announcing her collaboration with Vikramaditya Motwane, last year, Ananya Panday said, “Dreams really do come true! Fills my heart with so much gratitude and joy to be working with Vikram sir on a film!!! ‘Udaan' has been my mum and my favourite film to watch together - so this moment feels surreal Super duper excited to be collaborating with the amazing Nikhil Dwivedi on this one. Let's gooooo team!!!!!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ananya ???????? (@ananyapanday)

The untitled film went on the floor last year. It is backed by Nikhil Dwivedi. 

Speaking about the film and the storyline, Vikramaditya Motwane, in a statement, had said, “The film is a 'screenlifer', and will be completely told via the screens we consume - computers, phones and televisions. It's something that neither I nor Ananya has ever attempted before and I'm super excited to collaborate with her on this journey,” reported PTI.

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