On 17 March 1972, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi shared the stage with 'Bangabandhu' Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at a public rally in Dhaka and expressed admiration for Bangladesh's struggle for independence and reaffirmed India's support.
On 10 October 1949, during the Constituent Assembly debate, Vallabhbhai Patel strongly defended the civil services and the guarantees provided to them during the transfer of power from British rule.
On 15 January 1962, JRD Tata delivered a speech at the inauguration of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Maharashtra, praising Dr Homi Bhabha for his role in the establishment and development of the institute.
On 24 July 1991, finance minister Manmohan Singh presented the Union Budget for 1991-92 that changed the course of Indian economy. In his Lok Sabha speech, he quoted Victor Hugo to say, 'no power on earth can stop an idea whose time has come.'
On 21 April 1975, Godhra MP and founding member of Swatantra Party spoke in the Lok Sabha during a debate on defence expenditure and purchase of arms. 'We have been, especially since the last war with Pakistan, shopping round the world.'
On 10 December 1998, then-Hajipur MP spoke in the Lok Sabha on a discussion on atrocities committed on minorities in various parts of the country. 'If we learn to interpret the word 'minorities' correctly, I believe we will develop a feeling that those we are fighting against are the same blood as us.'
‘The past holds us together; why should the present or the future divide us in spirit’, Jawaharlal Nehru said at his convocation address to Aligarh Muslim University students in 1948.
On 18 February 1956, 'Rajkumari' Amrit Kaur, India's first health minister, moved the Bill in Lok Sabha for the establishment of AIIMS in Delhi. She wanted it to have the powers and functions of a university because it will 'probably make revolutionary changes in curriculum as well as in modes of teaching'.
‘Gradually, opportunities to become Prime Minister in this Lok Sabha will increase for those who don't have any party’ said BJP’s Pramod Mahajan in Lok Sabha on 11 April 1997.
The last time this matter flared up was when Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, in a very similar directive in April, called for the relocation of stray dogs in the capital.
Finance ministry says the proposed revamp will focus on structural reforms, rate rationalisation & ease of living, & will be deliberated upon in the coming weeks.
The project is meant to be a ‘protective shield that will keep expanding’, the PM said. It is on the lines of the ‘Golden Dome’ announced by Trump, it is learnt.
Now that both IAF and PAF have made formal claims of having shot down the other’s aircraft in the 87-hour war in May, we can ask a larger question: do such numbers really matter?
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