Jan 11 News Live: Iranian president vows to listen to protesters but warns against rioters

Priests played 'damrus' and 108 horses slowly trotted towards the Veer Hamirji Gohil Circle that faced the Somnath temple complex in Gujarat on Sunday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a ceremonial procession to the ancient shrine amid traditional dance performances.

The 'Shaurya Yatra', organised to honour the countless warriors who laid down their lives defending the Somnath Temple, began from the Shankh Circle, with the prime minister riding an open-top vehicle for the nearly one-km stretch. He also briefly played a 'damru' at the beginning of the procession.

A group of young priests -- 'rushi kumars' -- walked ahead of Modi's vehicle, playing 'damrus', an instrument associated with Lord Shiva, as a huge crowd lined the streets, showering flower petals and cheering the procession.

Elevated platforms were placed at regular intervals along the parade route where artistes performed different dance forms of India.

What stood out in the procession was the cavalcade of 108 horses and their riders sporting starch-white shirts paired with khaki trousers and saffron headgears.

"These horses and their riders have been drawn from different parts of Gujarat. We belong to the Gujarat Police and rehearsed for it in the last 10 days. I feel proud to be part of this Shaurya Yatra," Bharat Kumar Jatabhai, a police constable in Patan district, told PTI, patting his horse 'Garud'.

Around 10 horses were from Patan district, he said as he pointed to another horse, 'Harsha', standing nearby.

In a post in Hindi on X, PM Modi said, "I am deeply honoured to participate in the Shaurya Yatra of the Somnath Swabhiman Parv. On this occasion, I have the privilege of paying tribute to the countless brave sons of Mother India who sacrificed their lives to protect the temple. Their indomitable courage and valour will always inspire our countrymen." He offered prayers at the historic temple and then addressed a gathering -- Somnath Swabhiman Sabha -- at a ground near the shrine, before travelling to Rajkot.

Different troupes performed dance forms such as Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Kutchi, Gidha, Manipuri dance, along the Shaurya Yatra route, presenting an elegant sight as the parade marched on.

The main road leading to the temple was decked up with flowers and thematic decorations, complemented by Somnath Swabhiman Parv posters and flower-made 'shivalings' along the route.

Modi arrived here on Saturday evening on a two-day visit to the temple town. That evening, he witnessed a mega drone show, held as part of the Somnath Swabhiman Parv.

The Parv marks 1000 years since the Somnath temple's invasion by Mahmud of Ghazni, the Prime Minister's Office said on Friday.

The Al Falah University campus in Haryana's Faridabad, which came under the scanner of investigating agencies after the Red Fort area blast, could be attached by the Enforcement Directorate under the anti-money laundering law, official sources said on Sunday.

The ED is investigating if funds for the construction of the varsity were sourced from alleged proceeds of crime, the sources told PTI.

Al Falah Group chairman Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui was arrested by the ED in November on money laundering charges linked to cheating with students of the educational institutions run by his Al Falah Trust. The federal probe agency claimed that the educational institutes did not have the required valid accreditation for teaching.

According to the sources, a part of the "proceeds of crime" (illicit funds under the PMLA) identified in this case are suspected to have been pumped into the construction of various buildings of the university located in the Dhauj area of Faridabad.

The agency is undertaking a process to identify and value various movable and immovable assets of the Al Falah Trust which owns all its educational institutions and the university.

Once the probe ends, an order will be issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to provisionally attach the assets found to be derived or created from the proceeds of crime, the sources said.

It is understood that the students of the university may be allowed to study uninterrupted, even after the attachment, in the interest of their academics.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday appointed senior leader Valmiki Naik as the president of the party’s Goa unit.

The party had removed Amit Palekar from the state president's post following the party's dismal performance in the Zilla Panchayat (ZPs) elections last month.

AAP Goa in-charge Atishi announced the appointment of Naik, who earlier served as the working president of the North Goa unit.

The party has appointed Gerson Gomes as the state working president from his earlier post as South Goa working president.

Apart from this, Prashant Naik has been appointed as state organisation secretary and Sandesh Telekar Desai as state senior vice president.

AAP has two MLAs in the Goa legislative assembly and won one seat in the recently held Zilla Panchayat election.

India batting stalwart Virat Kohli on Sunday became the fastest player to reach 28,000 runs across formats in international cricket and the second most prolific scorer behind Sachin Tendulkar during the first ODI against New Zealand here.

Playing in his 624th innings, Kohli got to the milestone by hitting a four off New Zealand leg-spinner Adithya Ashok. Tendulkar had reached the landmark during his 644th innings, while Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara, only the third player in the 28000-run club, crossed the feat in his 666th innings.

The 37-year-old Kohli had come into the match with 27975 runs across formats in international cricket. Tendulkar scored 34357 runs from 782 innings, while Sangakkara made 28016 runs from 666 innings.

In February 2023, Kohli had become the fastest batter to reach 25,000 runs, achieving the mark in 549 innings, 28 innings quicker than Tendulkar.

In October 2023, Kohli went past 26,000 runs as the quickest to the landmark. A year later, in September 2024, he reached 27,000 runs in his 594th innings.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Sunday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to impress upon Sri Lanka to make sure that principles such as equality and devolution of power for the minority Tamil people are enshrined in the new Constitution of the island nation.

Writing to PM Modi, the chief minister said that the current government in Sri Lanka, led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is accelerating efforts to introduce a new constitution "under the guise of resolving ethnic issues." However, this proposed framework appears to again reinforce a unitary “Ekkiyarajya” (unitary state) model, which threatens to further marginalise the Tamils by ignoring their legitimate aspirations for political autonomy.

Recently, Stalin said he has received detailed representations highlighting the grave risks posed to the Sri Lankan Tamil community by the ongoing constitutional reforms in Sri Lanka.

The CM said: "The State of Tamil Nadu has been in the forefront of upholding the rights and aspirations of the Tamils in Sri Lanka due to deep historical, cultural, and emotional ties. As the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, it is my bounden duty to bring the issue regarding the proposed new constitution of Sri Lanka to your kind attention drawing from representations from respected Tamil leaders from India and Sri Lanka." In this context, the representations emphasize the enduring relevance of the Thimpu Principles, articulated by Tamil representatives during the 1985 peace talks facilitated by the Government of India in Bhutan. These principles call for recognition of the Tamils of Sri Lanka and acknowledgment of the Northern and Eastern Provinces as the traditional homeland of the Tamil people.

Affirmation of the right to self-determination for the Tamils and establishment of a federal system of governance that ensures equality and non-discrimination for all citizens, including full citizenship rights for hill-country Tamils.

"Without incorporating these elements, any new constitution risks perpetuating the cycle of injustice and instability, potentially leading to renewed conflict and humanitarian crises. India, as a regional power with a longstanding commitment to peace and justice in Sri Lanka—evidenced by our historical involvement, including the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord of 1987—has a moral and strategic imperative to act. The plight of Sri Lankan Tamils resonates deeply in Tamil Nadu, where millions view them as kin, and any deterioration in their situation could have broader implications for bilateral relations and regional stability," the chief minister underlined.

Further, the CM urged the Government of India to "engage diplomatically with the Sri Lankan authorities at the highest level to advocate for a constitutional process that genuinely addresses Tamil grievances." Specifically, India should press for the inclusion of federal arrangements that devolve power to the provinces, protect ethnic minority rights, and uphold the principles of pluralism and equality.

Such an approach would not only honour India’s role as a guarantor of regional peace but also align with our constitutional values of federalism and protection of linguistic and ethnic minorities.