
June 20, 1985, Forty Years Ago: $4 bn aid for India
The Aid-India consortium pledged total assistance of four billion dollars to India during the fiscal year 1985-86, which represents an increase of over five per cent in real terms. India will get 3.9 billion dollars in terms of Special Drawing Rights (SDR) as against 3.7 billion dollars last year. This is an increase of 200 million dollars or 5.5 per cent in real terms. In pledging four billion dollars, the World-Bank led consortium has maintained its assistance to India at approximately last year's level.
Pak criticises India
India expressed 'regret' at the statement of Pakistan's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zain Noorani, about the human rights of Indian Muslims. An official spokesperson said, 'we regret that the minister should have spoken in such terms about India's internal affairs.' Noorani had made the statement while referring to the anti-reservation agitation in Gujarat. He alleged that the state government has instigated a communal riot to divert attention from the agitation.
Cong chief killed
The city Congress (I) president, Neta Hakimuddin, was shot dead by unidentified assailants on the Prahlad Nagar road in Meerut. The DIG, police, Nathu Lal told PTI that the Congress (I) leader, who was riding on a rickshaw, was shot from point-blank range by some persons. The bullets hit him on the temple and he died on the spot, he said. The assailants managed to escape.
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Hindustan Times
16 minutes ago
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The Hindu
23 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Congress, RJD responsible for making Bihar deplorable: PM Modi in Siwan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (June 20, 2025) slammed both the Opposition parties the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress for making Bihar deplorable. 'The Nitish Kumar-led NDA government has brought Bihar back to track,' he said. This is Mr. Modi's fourth visit since January to the poll-bound Bihar, with the Assembly election due in October-November. The Prime Minister invoked the legacy of first President of India Dr. Rajendra Prasad who was born in Siwan and his contribution in making the Indian Constitution. Siwan is the place which gives power to the country, the PM said. 'Of late, I had got opportunity to meet some important leaders of the country and all leaders are impressed with fast progress of India,' he said. But I want to do more for Bihar, for every village, for every household, for every youth, he said. Mr. Modi also listed works done by the NDA government in Bihar in the last 10 years . Mr. Modi also launched 28 development projects worth more than ₹5,900 crore in Bihar's Siwan district. Mr. Modi inaugurated the new Vaishali–Deoria railway line project, built at a cost of over ₹400 crore, and flagged off a new train service on this route. Additionally, in a major boost to connectivity in north Bihar, Mr. Modi also flagged off the Vande Bharat Express between Patliputra (Patna) and Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh) via Muzaffarpur and Bettiah. Further promoting the 'Make in India – Make for the World' initiative, Mr. Modi flagged off a state-of-the-art locomotive built at Marhowra plant for export to the Republic of Guinea. In line with his commitment to conservation and rejuvenation of the Ganga, the PM inaugurated six Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) under the Namami Gange project, worth over ₹1,800 crore. He also laid the foundation stone for additional water supply, sanitation and STP projects across Bihar, totaling ₹3,000 crore. In a major thrust to the energy sector, the PM laid the foundation stone for a 500 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) across 15 grid substations in the state, including those in Muzaffarpur, Motihari, Bettiah, and Siwan. Mr, Modi also handed over the first instalment to more than 53,600 beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Urban (PMAY-U) and marked the Grih Pravesh ceremony for over 6,600 completed houses by handing over keys to select beneficiaries. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, two Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, Governor Arif Mohammad Khan and other senior NDA leaders were also present.


New Indian Express
37 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
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