Modi beats Trump, Trudeau to become the most liked world leader on Facebook

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the most liked world leader and far ahead of others, including US President Donald Trump, when it comes to popularity on Facebook, according to a study which said 43.2 million people follow the Indian premier on the social media platform.

Trump, who rules the other social media platform Twitter, is in second place with 23.1 million followers, according to the study "World Leaders on Facebook" released today by Burson Cohn & Wolfe.

The study analyses the activity of 650 Facebook pages of heads of state and government and foreign ministers from January 1, 2017 using aggregate data from Facebook's Crowdtangle tool, it said in a statement.

Over the past 14 months, the Facebook page of Trump had by far the most interactions of any world leader on Facebook, with a total of 204.9 million interactions (defined as the total number of comments, likes and shares), almost twice as many as Modi with 113.6 million interactions, the study said.

Modi, 67, has always encouraged use of social media platforms to stay in touch with the public.

Govt worked hard for building developed, inclusive India: PM Narendra Modi

India is going through a period of change and the government in the last four years has worked towards building a developed and inclusive country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here tonight.

Addressing the Indian diaspora at the Stockholm University here, Modi said earlier removing poverty was limited to just words and slogans, but his government was committed to poverty alleviation and was using empowerment as a tool to achieve its goal.

"The country is going through a period of change. Presently, there is a government in India which for the country's prestige, self respect and taking it to new heights in the 21st century, is working day and night," Modi said amidst loud cheers from the audience.

"In the last four years, the government has worked for building a developed and inclusive India. It has worked for creating a New India by 2022," the prime minister said.

Modi slams Opposition, exhorts party workers on BJP's 38th foundation day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hit out at the Opposition parties, saying the strength of BJP is affecting them and they are unable to digest that a person born into a backward family is serving the nation.

Addressing the party workers on Bharatiya Janata Party's 38th foundation day, Modi gave a clarion call to party cadres to keep working for the nation and never get agitated by negativity of "vested interest groups".

His remarks came on a day the budget session of Parliament ended with acrimony between the BJP and the opposition led by Congress over various issues leading to washout of the second leg of budget session.

"We are living in a time when the Opposition to BJP is at its highest. Sometimes, it also takes a violent turn. This is not because we made a mistake. It is the strength of the BJP that is affecting our opponents", said Modi.

CAG raps MMRDA for non-recovery of Rs 7.7 bn dues from Reliance Industries

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has pulled up the MMRDA for non-recovery of Rs 7.7 billiion dues from Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), India's largest private sector company.

The CAG report, tabled in Maharashtra Legislature today, said Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority is yet to recover Rs 8.55 billion froms RIL and Starlight Systems Private Limited, as lease premium dues on additional built up area allowed to the lessees in Mumbai's Bandra-Kurla Complex.

The report said MMRDA also gave "undue favour" to RIL by not recovering additional premium and interest to the tune of Rs 4.28 billion for delay in construction in contravention to the terms and conditions of the lease deed and the premium.

It said MMRDA has been regularly recovering full additional premium, including interest, in respect of other allottees who had delayed construction of structures within the time specified in the lease deed. Therefore, the undue favour shown by the authority to Reliance industries in this regard is inexplicable, the CAG said.

Siddaramaiah doing 'disservice' to poet Kuvempu for petty gains: Amit Shah

Lauding leading Kannada poet Kuvempu for unifying people through poems, BJP President Amit Shah on Monday castigated Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for doing "disservice" to the great writer by dividing people for petty political gains.

"The kind of politics Siddaramaiah is playing is a disservice to Kuvempu's dream of building a great Karnataka. He is pitting one community against another, which is reprehensible and he will pay for this," asserted Shah at a party rally in the Malnad region.

Popularly known by his pen name Kuvempu, Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa (1904-94) was also a novelist, playwright, critic and thinker. He lived many years at Kuppali near Thirthahalli in this district.

"I visited Kuvempu's birth and resting place at Kuppali to pay my respects. He spoke of unifying people in the country in his poems," said Shah.