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Kamal Haasan Extends His Support To Congress Candidate Who Abused Musical Maestro Ilaiyaraaja

Full-time actor, Bigg Boss Tamil host and part-time politician Kamal Haasan has thrown his weight behind EVKS Elangovan, the Tamil Nadu Congress candidate contesting the Erode East bypoll to be held on 27 February 2023.

The head of Makkal Needhi Maiam which the actor-politician touted as an alternative to the Dravidian and National parties as a ‘centrist’ party has now joined hands with the DMK-Congress alliance.

Addressing reporters after his party’s meeting, Kamal Haasan said that his party has unanimously decided to extend “unconditional support” to “his friend” Elangovan.

The Congress leader is contesting the bypoll after the seat fell vacant due to the untimely death of his elder son Thirumahan Eeveraa.

Elangovan is a controversial Congress leader and is the grandson of rabid anti-Hindu bigot E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker (hailed as ‘Periyar’ by his followers).

Recently he was in the news for abusing musical maestro Ilaiyaraaja with casteist remarks.

Speaking at an event organized by Dravida Kazhagam in Erode, the Congress leader in an indirect reference to Mr. Ilaiyaraaja said “There are certain elements in Tamil Nadu today claiming themselves to be ‘king of music’. Everybody knows who is the king of music.  Not everyone who plays the tabla can become a music composer”

“Those who accepted the Communist ideology when they had no means to afford food and were living below the poverty line are today, after getting money and fame, are considering themselves to be upper castes. You know who I am referring to.”, the Congress leader said referring to Mr. Ilaiyaraaja.

“Raja and that too ‘Ilaya’ Raaja it seems! He must be inching over 80 years of age and they call him ‘Ilaya’ Raaja”, the senior Congress leader said making personal caustic remarks about the ace music composer.

The senior Congress leader objected to Mr. Ilaiyaraaja comparing Prime Minister Modi with Dr. Ambedkar in the foreword written by him for a book.

It is worth noting that Kamal Haasan who has now extended his support to Elangovan did not even register his condemnation for the Congress leader’s tirade against Ilaiyaraaja.

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Palam Kalyanasundaram: The Man Of The Millenium

Kalyanasundaram, a true humanitarian, was born in Melakarivelamkulam in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli district, lost his father when he was a child, and was raised by his mother, Thaayammal, who inspired him to help others.

A gold medalist in library science, he also holds a masters degree in literature and history. During his 35-year-long career at Kumarkurupara Arts College at Srivaikuntam, he diligently and willingly donated his salary month after month towards charity and did odd jobs to meet his daily needs.

Even after retirement, he worked as a waiter in a hotel in exchange for two meals a day and a meagre salary so that he could continue to donate to orphanages and to children’s educational funds.

At the age of 23, he donated 8.5 gold sovereigns to the National Security Fund in response to then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s call for people to support the country during the war with China.

During the May Day celebrations in 1963, then Chief Minister Kamarajar highlighted his contribution to the National Security Fund.

He was amply rewarded for his service to humanity. Along with the award he also received an amount of ₹30 crores, which he donated to charity.

There are many awards and accolades received by P. Kalyanasundaram. He was given the BAPASI award for best librarian in 2012 and Lifetime Service Award from Rotary International in 2011.

The Government of India awarded him the ‘Best Librarian in India’ in 1990. Similarly, the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi recognized him as ‘One of the top ten librarians of the world’. United Nations Organizations (UNO) honoured him as ‘One of the outstanding people of the 20th Century’.

An american association conferred him the title “Man of the Millennium”. The International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, honoured him as ‘one of the noblest of the world’.

‘Best Social Worker Award’ from Tamil Nadu Government, Punjab State government award for ‘Best Library Scholar’, ‘Best Educator’ from Manonmaniam Sundaranar University Tamil Nadu and ‘Being Human Being’ from Rotary International are some of the other honours that has been conferred on him. 

In recognition of his self-less service, the Government of India conferred the Padma Shri in 2023.

Former Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam stated on 6 July 2000, “A life without self-luxury is one called as living life in a purest form. The Supreme power has graced one such life to Shri.Kalyanasundaram. Under his able shadow there are many who are divine and blessed to travel in a righteous way.” 

Former President of USA Bill Clinton said that Kalyanasundaram has introduced a new method for strengthening relationship between the countries of the world and named it as “Kalyanasundaram Plan.”

Nelson Mandela, former South African Prime Minister, stated about Kalyanasundaram that “The progress of the country depends upon the children and the students of the country. In deed it is very great Mr. Kalyanasundaram has been doing yeomen services to this section of the society for the past 50 years and without publicity.”

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru called Kalyanasundaram as “Light of India.”

He was one of the two persons former US President Bill Clinton wanted to meet personally on his visit to India and superstar Rajinikanth has adopted him as his father.

The Incident That Changed Kalyanasundaram

When Kalyanasundaram visited a slum in Triplicane, Chennai, during his graduation ceremony, he was deeply disturbed by the living conditions of the children and decided to establish the Triplicane Slum Children Welfare Organization. The organisation was responsible for the education, cleanliness, and hygiene of the children of the triplicane slum. Soon after, a large wave of assistance arrived for Kalyanasundaram to run the organisation, which grew to become a pan-India organisation known as the Indian Children’s Welfare Organization. Through his contacts at Chennai University, the Indian Children’s Welfare Organization began assisting children in common wealth nations, and the organization’s name was changed to World Children’s Welfare Organization.

Palam Kalyanasundaram worked for the upliftment of Arundhathiars, one of the most disadvantaged and the oppressed even amongst the oppressed communities. He also worked for the the upliftment of Scheduled Caste people of four villages in Padmanabamangalam in Srivaikundam, where he worked in Sri Kumara Gurupara Swamigal Arts College, through Padmanabamangalam Villages Development Sabha.

During 1970s, his life hit rock bottom when he took to the streets to live as a platform beggar and then as a hotel server, but this did not shake his determination to serve the children of the world.

The Man Of The Millenium

This retired librarian has given away all his earnings to the poor over the past 36 years. This man of no possession has, however, given away all his award money, salary, and pension for charity. The amount he has given away over the past four decades for the cause of humanity sums up to ₹30 crore. He gave away his share of the family property worth several lakhs of rupees to people in his village. Palam did not get married because he wanted to spend his income to help the poor instead of his own family. 

Palam Kalyanasundaram is truly a man of the millenium!

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Hindu Munnani Demands White Paper On DMK Min Sekarbabu’s Claims Of Recovery Of Temple Land

Hindu State President Munnani Kaadeshwara Subramaniam has demanded Tamil Nadu HR&CE Minister PK Sekarbabu to publish a white paper with supporting data for his assertion that the DMK government has recovered 1000 acres of encroached temple land worth ₹3943 crores.

While speaking at an event laying the foundation stone for reconstruction of the dilapidated Chozha era Mangala Lakshmi Azhaguraja Perumal temple at Thakkolam, next to Arakkonam in Ranipet district, Minister Sekarbabu said that 1000 acres of temple property worth ₹3943 crores have been recovered from the encroachers.

With regards to this claim, Hindu Munnani state president Kadeshwara Subramaniam has questioned the authenticity of the claim of the DMK minister.

In a press release dated 24 January 2023, the Hindu Munnani President stated,”DMK Minister Sekarbabu has developed a habit of stating that ‘so much land has been recovered’ each time he gives a press conference. People are sceptic of his claim of recovery since during a press conference with Chennai Mayor Priya, he instructed Mayor Priya to tell whatever number comes to her mind as data (‘Summa Adichu Vidu’). People in Tamil Nadu have suspicions that he is behaving similarly here.”

The press release added,”Therefore, the Hindu Munnani has been insisting that DMK minister Sekarbabu should issue a white paper on behalf of the HR&CE department regarding all the agricultural lands, buildings, shops, halls, water bodies and other immovable and movable properties that have been recovered from the occupation so far.”

It futher said,”Through this, people are likely to have confidence in the reports and publications issued by the HR&CE department. Therefore, the Hindu Munnani insists that the Tamil Nadu government should release the White Paper without any further delay.”

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11 Crore Rural Households In India Now Have Access To Tap Water Connection

jal jeevan mission

Over 11 Crore rural households of the country have access to tap water connection. 123 districts and more than 1.53 lakh villages of India have reported ‘Har Ghar Jal’ which means every household has access to clean drinking water through tap. Despite several disruptions in previous years, States/ UTs have worked relentlessly to ensure tap water inevery rural home. Jal Jeevan Mission was announced by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15 August 2019 to provide every rural household with tap water connection by 2024. At the time of the launch of the Mission in 2019, out of 19.35 Crore rural households, only 3.23 Crore (16.72%) had access to tap water. As on date, within a short span of about three years of the life changing mission, over 11 Crore (56.84%) rural households have tap water supply in their homes.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the achievement of 11 Crore Tap water connections under Jal Jeevan Mission.

The Union Minister for Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, tweeting about the achievement said “The vision of our PM Sh. Narendra Modiji, the relentless pursuit of the goals set out for Jal Jeevan Mission by the ministry and the effort of our team on ground has made this mega milestone possible”. The Union Minister further said “11 crore homes are now assured of health and well-being with this elixir of life reaching their doorsteps”.

Regular tap water supply relieves people, especially women and young girls,from carrying heavy bucket loads of water to meet their daily household needs thereby reducing age-old drudgery. The time saved from collecting water is used for income generation activities, learning new skills and supporting children’s education.In those villages where the Jal Jeevan Mission(JJM) has reached, the adolescent girls no longer drop-out of school to help their motherwalk long distance and get water to quench their thirst. It goes a long way in empowering and educating the girl child.

With focus on health and well-being of children, in 2020 on Gandhi Jayanti, a campaign was launched to provide tap water connectionin all schools, anganwadicentres and ashramshalas (tribal residential schools) for drinking, cooking mid-day meal, hand washing and use in toilets. As on date, tap water supply has been provided in 8.84 lakh (85.79%) schools and 9.14 lakh (81.75%) anganwadi centres.2 States (Goa andKerala) and 3 UTs (A&N Islands, D&NH and D&D, J&K, Puducherry)are now providing 100% tap water connectivity in its schools and anganwadicentres and16 States/ UTsare in the range of 90% or more, and moving fast to achieve saturation.

Following the bottom-up approach, JJM is being implemented as a decentralized, demand-driven community-managed programme with the aim to provide all rural households with adequate quantity (55 lpcd) water of prescribed quality in adequate pressure, on regular and long-term basis.So far over5.20 lakh PaniSamitis/ Village Water and Sanitation Committees(VWSC) formed under Jal Jeevan Mission to manage, operate and maintain in-village water supply infrastructure. On the front of Water Quality, more than 17 lakh women are trained for testing water samples using Field Test Kits (FTKs), which has led to the empowerment of women in rural areas.

(Published from PIB)

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Christian Pastor Accused Of Sexual Abuse Spits On Journalist Under Influence Of Ganja

A Christian Pastor from Chennai has been accused of sexual harassment of Christian women during night prayers while under the influence of marijuana.

Rajan is a Pentecostal Christians priest from Thiruvalluvar Street in Tirumullaivaayil next to Aavadi in Chennai. He has two children and a wife named Vennila.

He is known for being drunk and intoxicated at any time of day and verbally abusing passers-by on the road.He has been performing Christian prayers on the outskirts of Chennai and supports his family with the money he earns from it.

People who know him say that his only job is to go door to door praying in the name of Jesus in the morning and drinking alcohol from TASMAC shops in the evening with the money he earns. He is also said to be addicted to hans and ganja (Marijunana).

According to reports, he established a congregation while working in Trichy’s Perambalur area, where he allegedly raped some women during an all-night prayer and was later chased out of town.

He is currently employed as a van driver in a private school in the Tirumullaivaayil area and has been performing night prayers at Aavadi, Thirumullaivaayil, Ambathur, Kattur Arikambaedu, and Pallavaram Thambaram. Even now, he speaks obscenely to women who are alone at home, promising to pray for them over the phone.

Staff at that school say he not only speaks obscene words to the female teachers and children in the van, but he also watches obscene videos on his cell phones. According to the Tasmac shop employees in Kattur village in the Arikambedu area, Christian pastor Rajan will be mostly drunk and smoking ganja.

Workers in TASMAC shop say that when the fake priest Rajan got drunk, he scolded everyone like Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP leaders Annamalai and H.Raja in vulgar words standing in the middle of the road.

On 23 January 2023, under the influence of Ganja and alcohol, the Christian pastor Rajan spat on the face of a journalist from the Thirumullaivayil area. Despite the journalist’s complaint to the police, no action was taken against the alleged Christian pastor.

(With inputs from Chennai Reporters)

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DMK Minister Nasar Hurls Stones At DMK Cadre For Delay In Bringing Chair

DMK Minister for Milk and Dairy Development SM Nasar was caught on camera on Tuesday losing his cool and throwing a stone at a party worker, allegedly over a delay in bringing chairs for him at a event in Tiruvallur.

Nasar became enraged at the worker for allegedly taking the time to get him a chair. The minister can be heard yelling at the worker in the video. In the background, a couple of DMK functionaries who were with the minister can be heard laughing.

The DMK minister was in charge of preparations at a venue in Tiruvallur where Chief Minister M K Stalin is scheduled to speak at a public meeting on Wednesday as part of the DMK’s ‘Veera Vanakkam Naal’ event. The event will be held to remember those who died during the anti-Hindi agitation.

It is worth mentioning this was not the first time when the minister landed in controversy for his actions or for his statement. Earlier in November last year, he made false claims that the Central Government had imposed a Goods and Services Tax (GST) on milk, causing milk prices to rise in Tamil Nadu. But it was the state government led by MK Stalin which raised the milk price.

“The Union Government has also imposed GST on milk. It is an unprecedented occurrence. As a consequence of levying GST for milk, the selling price of milk has gone up,” he stated at a press conference last year.

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“What Is Tamil Equivalent For ‘Model’ In Dravidian Model?”: Madurai Bench Of Madras HC Asks DMK Govt

During the trial of a case seeking an order to the Tamil Nadu government to make it mandatory to write names in pure Tamil on the name plates of companies in Tamil Nadu, the judges have questioned equivalent Tamil word for the word ‘model’ mentioned in the ‘Dravidian Model’ that is peddled by the DMK government.

Thirumurugan, a lawyer from Ramanathapuram, had filed a petition in the Madurai branch of the High Court seeking a direction to Tamil Nadu government to make it mandatory to write names in pure Tamil on the name boards of companies in Tamil Nadu.

The judges hearing the case inquired, “What action has been taken against the companies that violated the Tamil Nadu government order mandating Tamil text in company name boards?”.

They also directed the Labour Welfare Secretary to submit a detailed report on the matter and postponed the hearing until February 16.

Following that, Jusdges stated, “Currently, the term ‘Dravidian Model’ is being used frequently. In the Dravidian Model, what is the Tamil equivalent of the English word ‘model’?”

Judges also questioned, “Why should they use an English word model when a complete Tamil word can be used for Dravida Model?”

(with inputs from News18 Tamil)

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Grandson Of EVR Who Abused Musical Genius Ilaiyaraaja Is Congress’ Candidate For Erode East Bypoll

Tamil Nadu Congress leader E.V.K.S. Elangovan has been declared as the candidate for the to be held in Erode East constituency on 27 February 2023.

The Congress leader is contesting the bypoll after the seat fell vacant due to the untimely death of his elder son Thirumahan Eeveraa.

Though Erode South Congress District President Makkal Rajan too had sought to contest, the ticket was given to Elangovan immediately after the DMK announced that it is allotting the seat to its ally Congress.

Elangovan had sought the seat for his younger son Sanjay Sampath but the Tamil Nadu Congress announced its decision to field Elangovan himself following a meeting with AICC Tamil Nadu in-charge Dinesh Gundu Rao.

Elangovan is a controversial Congress leader and is the grandson of rabid anti-Hindu bigot E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker (hailed as ‘Periyar’ by his followers).

Recently he was in the news for abusing musical maestro Ilaiyaraaja with casteist remarks.

Speaking at an event organized by Dravida Kazhagam in Erode, the Congress leader in an indirect reference to Mr. Ilaiyaraaja said “There are certain elements in Tamil Nadu today claiming themselves to be ‘king of music’. Everybody knows who is the king of music.  Not everyone who plays the tabla can become a music composer”

“Those who accepted the Communist ideology when they had no means to afford food and were living below the poverty line are today, after getting money and fame, are considering themselves to be upper castes. You know who I am referring to.”, the Congress leader said referring to Mr. Ilaiyaraaja.

“Raja and that too ‘Ilaya’ Raaja it seems! He must be inching over 80 years of age and they call him ‘Ilaya’ Raaja”, the senior Congress leader said making personal caustic remarks about the ace music composer.

The senior Congress leader objected to Mr. Ilaiyaraaja comparing Prime Minister Modi with Dr. Ambedkar in the foreword written by him for a book.

The Congress leader also said that if such persons (referring to Ilaiyaraaja) had to be eradicated, hands of people like K. Veeramani, the head of Dravida Kazhagam and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin had to be strengthened.

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Sri Lankan Tamil Arrested In Madurai While Smuggling Gutka, Had Got Indian Passport Using Fake Docs

On Saturday, two individuals were detained in Madurai for smuggling 16.5 kg gutka, including a Sri Lankan Tamil national with an Indian Aadhaar card. The suspects have been identified as S Kasi Visavanthan (41) of Thirumangalam and S Rajesh (31) of Sri Lanka, who claims to be from Krishnapuram in Madurai on his Aadhaar card.

Anbudhasan, Sub-Inspector of Police from Madurai Subramaniapuram, was conducting a routine vehicle check near the VOC Bridge in Palanganatham. He attempted to stop two people in a speeding vehicle, who attempted to flee on seeing the police. However, They were apprehended and interrogated by police, who discovered that they were smuggled 16.5 kg Gutka from Bengaluru. The accused were identified as Kashi Viswanathan from Harvipatti and Shivraj from Sri Lanka.

Further investigation revealed that Sivaraj was from Mullaitheevu, Sri Lanka, and had illegally arrived in Rameswaram by boat from Sri Lanka. The investigation also revealed that Sivaraj obtained a driving license and Aadhar card in the name of Rajesh at a fake address in Chennai and traveled to Dubai by getting an Indian passport through Tirupathur agent Selvam.

Later, Sivaraj traveled to Sri Lanka from Dubai before returning to India to obtain a new passport after losing his previous Indian passport. He also admitted to smuggling Gutka from Bengaluru to Madurai with Kasi Vishwanathan, whom he met through an acquaintance in Dubai.

After recording their confession before a magistrate, both Kasi Viswanathan and Sivaraj were arrested and remanded in prison.

Police said,”Though Rajesh claimed he is an Indian, he was talking in Sri Lankan Tamil. His address on the Aadhaar card led us to a lawyer, who has a history of helping Lankan refugees get into the country illegally. However, the lawyer claimed he is not aware of how the Lankan national got the Aadhaar card.”

They added,”Though he later obtained a passport, he had lost it. He had approached Kasi, who also has a history of helping Lankan refugees enter the country.”

It should be noted that this is not the first time that legitimate Indian passports have been obtained using forged documents; especially Madurai has become a hub for Passport scams.

Tamil Nadu BJP President Annamalai had earlier submitted a memorandum to Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi alleging the involvement of ADGP (Intelligence), Davidson Devasirvatham, in the fake passport scam and complained that the state government has not initiated any action against him. Political commentator Savukku Shankar also laid similar charges on Davison Devasirvatham, however, no action was taken against him.

List Of Incidents Where Original Indian Passports Were Obtained With Forged Documents By Sri Lankan Tamils

In June 2019, a 41-year-old Sri Lankan named Muthuraman was apprehended at the Madurai International Airport when he tried to go to his country using an Indian passport obtained by submitting fake documents. Investigations revealed that Muthuraman had come to India 10 years ago using a Sri Lankan passport married one Vasuki in 2011 and got his name included in Vasuki’s ration card which he used to get other identity proofs and the passport.

In the same month that year, a 48-year-old Sri Lankan national named S Jeyakanthan was arrested at the Madurai International Airport after it was found that he obtained an Indian passport by forging documents to show him as an Indian. He too followed the same modus operandi of marrying an Indian woman and obtained Aadhaar card, driving license, etc which he used it for getting the Indian passport.

In March 2019, a 53-year-old Sri Lankan woman was arrested at the Trichy airport while she was boarding a plane to the island nation. She had obtained an Indian passport using fake documents. She had travelled to Sri Lanka multiple times without getting caught.

In January 2020, a 61-year-old man from Sivagangai district was arrested at the Madurai International Airport when he was trying to go to Dubai. He too had received a passport by submitting forged documents and false information.

A family of five Sri Lankan nationals were arrested in March 2022 after it was revealed that they obtained Indian passports by submitting forged documents. This family had been living in a suburb of Chennai since 2007 and had obtained Indian passport by submitting Aadhar and PAN of Indian citizens.

Kulasingham Dhileepan is a Sri Lankan Member of Parliament (MP) from Vanni belonging to the Eelam People’s Democratic Party. He is said to have fled India through a fake Indian passport issued in Madurai and a probe by Indian security agencies regarding the matter is on.

These are just a few of the many instances that shows how illegal immigrants are obtaining Indian passports by submitting fake documents which has serious implications on national security.

Most of them are Sri Lankan nationals who had come to India as refugees or on a visit visa. They use the modus operandi of marrying an Indian national to get documents and furnish them as address proof. In some cases, they go through brokers who help them in getting their address proofs through other questionable ways.

(With inputs from Hindu Tamil and NewIndianExp)

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Ministry of Ayush Sign MoU With ITDC For Promotion Of Medical Value Travel In India

Ministry of Ayush has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), Ministry of Tourism, Government of India to work together for the promotion of Medical Value Travel in Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine.

Dr. Shashi Ranjan Vidyarthi, Director, Ministry of Ayush and Shri Piyush Tiwari, Director (Commercial and Marketing), ITDC signed the MoU in presence of Shri Pramod Kumar Pathak, special secretary, MoA and other senior officials of Ministry of Ayush and ITDC.

According to the MoU, Ministry of Ayush will provide training to the officials of ITDC to sensitize them about the Medical value travel in Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine. It will identify tourist circuits, where there is immense scope to promote Medical value travel in Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine and provide all the technical knowhow from time to time to ITDC.

ITDC on suggestion of Ministry of Ayush will include historical heritage sites of Indian systems of medicine in tourist destinations under “Knowledge Tourism and may develop films/literature useful to tourists. It will explore establishing Ayurveda and Yoga centre in the Hotels run by ITDC and will organize sensitization workshops in collaboration.

The implementation and progress of the MoU will be monitored by a Joint Working Group (JWG) co-chaired by representatives from MoA and ITDC. The JWG will also identify the best practices adopted by Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand etc. to promote themselves as a preferred destination for Medical value travel.

In the recently concluded First Health Working Group meeting of G20 India presidency at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala G20 delegates deliberated on opportunities and challenges to promote MVT in India.

Medical Value Travel has seen significant growth in India in recent years. According to the report ‘The Global Wellness Economy: Looking beyond COVID’ by the Global Wellness Institute (GWI), the Global Wellness economy will grow at 9.9% annually. Ayush based healthcare & Wellness economy is estimated to grow to $70 billion by 2025.

(Published from PIB)

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