गुरदासपुर हमलाः देखें, आतंकवादी हमले की भयानक तस्वीरें. l शहीद एस.पी.डी. बलजीत सिंह के ये थे अंतिम बोल... l सामने आर्इ आतंकवादियों की तस्वीरें, जिन्होंने दहला दिया पूरा पंजाब l Pics: आतंकी हमलाः शहीद एस.पी. डी. का अधूरा ही रह गया ये सपना l पंजाब पुलिस को मिली बड़ी सफलता, 3 आतंकी किए ढेर l गुरदासपुर आतंकी हमलाः सेना ने आतंकवादियों को किया ढेर, ऑपरेशन समाप्त l

गुरदासपुर हमलाः देखें, आतंकवादी हमले की भयानक तस्वीरें. l शहीद एस.पी.डी. बलजीत सिंह के ये थे अंतिम बोल... l सामने आर्इ आतंकवादियों की तस्वीरें, जिन्होंने दहला दिया पूरा पंजाब  l Pics: आतंकी हमलाः शहीद एस.पी. डी. का अधूरा ही रह गया ये सपना  l पंजाब पुलिस को मिली बड़ी सफलता, 3 आतंकी किए ढेर  l गुरदासपुर आतंकी हमलाः सेना ने आतंकवादियों को किया ढेर, ऑपरेशन समाप्त  l 
28 JULY 2015

 

गुरदासपुर हमलाः देखें, आतंकवादी हमले की भयानक तस्वीरें

गुरदासपुरः पंजाब के गुरदासपुर में यात्री बस और पुलिस थाने में आज सुबह करीब साढ़े 5 बजे आतंकियों ने हमला कर दिया। 
सूत्रों से मिली जानकारी के अनुसार ये आतंकी सेना की वर्दी में हैं। सूत्रों के मुताबिक पहले कहा जा रहा था कि 4 आतंकी हो सकते हैं लेकिन अब आतंकियों की तादाद 10 से 15 बताई जा रही है। 
इन आतंकियों ने पहले यात्री बस पर हमला किया और फिर दीनानगर पुलिस थाने में घुसकर फायरिंग की। इस हमले में हमले में 8 की मौत हो गई है जबकि 7 के घायल होने की खबर है। दीनापुर पुलिस थाने में हमलावरों और पुलिस के बीच फिलहाल फायरिंग जारी है।

 

जानकारी के अनुसार इस फायरिंग में 2 आतंकवादी के मारे जाने की समाचार प्रापत हुआ है।

 

शहीद एस.पी.डी. बलजीत सिंह के ये थे अंतिम बोल...

दीनानगरः पंजाब के गुरदासपुर में सोमवार को हुए आतंकी हमले में शहीद हुए पुलिस अधीक्षक बलजीत सिंह की मौत ने उनके परिवार के साथ-साथ पूरे देश को गमगीन तो किया ही है साथ ही साथ इतिहास के पन्नों में अपनी अच्छार्इ की छाप भी छोड़ दी है। 

बताया जा रहा है कि आतंकियों के साथ मुठभेड़ के दौरान अदम्य साहस का परिचय देते हुए  पुलिस अधीक्षक बलजीत सिंह डटे रहे तथा अपनी आखिरी सांसों तक कहते रहे कि 'मैं तां इनां नूं मार के हटूंगा' (मैं तो इन सबको मार कर पीछे हटूंगा)। 

उधर, पुलिस अधिकारियों ने बताया कि पाकिस्तान की सीमा के नजदीक स्थित दीनानगर में एक पुलिस थाने में छिपे आतंकवादियों और सुरक्षाबलों के बीच मुठभेड़ के दौरान बलजीत सिंह गोली लगी, जिसमें वह बुरी तरह घायल हो गए। वहीं गुरदासपुर में पुलिस की खुफिया शाखा का नेतृत्व करने वाले सिंह ने अस्पताल में इलाज के दौरान दम तोड़ दिया।

सामने आर्इ आतंकवादियों की तस्वीरें, जिन्होंने दहला दिया पूरा पंजाब

गुरदासपुरः पंजाब के गुरदासपुर में सोमवार 12 घंटों तक आतंकवादियों के साथ चली मुठभेड में आखिरकार पंजाब पुलिस को जीत हासिल हुई और पुलिस ने सभी आतंकियों को ढेर कर दिया। 

 

 

 

 

अब इस मुठभेड़ में ढेर हुए आतंकवादियों की तस्वीरें सामने आईं हैं। इन तीनों आतंकवादियों ने दीनानगर में पहले एक यात्री बस को निशाना बनाया और फिर पुलिस थाने पर हमला कर दिया। इस हमले में एस. पी. सहित 3 होमगार्ड शहीद हो गए और 13 लोग भी मारे गए। 

 

सेना की वर्दी में दाखिल हुए यह आतंकवादी सोमवार सुबह 5 बजे पठानकोट से 26 किलोमीटर दूर दीनानगर इलाके में पहुंचे थे और फिर हर तरफ कोहराम मचा दिया था। 

Pics: आतंकी हमलाः शहीद एस.पी. डी. का अधूरा ही रह गया ये सपना

कपूरथलाः गुरदासपुर में कल हुए आतंकवादी हमले में वीरगति को प्राप्त होने वाले एस. पी. बलजीत सिंह को जहां देश का हर घर सलाम कर रहा है, वहीं उनके परिवार का रो-रोकर बूरा हाल है। 

 

कपूरथला के संतपुरा मोहल्ला में रहने वाले बलजीत सिंह की मौत से चारों अौर पसरे सन्नाटे को उसकी पत्नी कुलवंत कौर की चीखें इस कदर चीर रही थी कि वहा मौजूद लोगों के दिल भी रो रहे थे। हमले से पहले बलजीत सिंह ने कुलवंत कौर को फोन पर कहा कि वह आतंकवादियों को पकडऩे के आप्रेशन पर है, बाद में बात करते हैं। इतना कह कर बलजीत सिंह ने फोन काट दिया।  

 

 

बताया जा रहा है कि एस.पी. बलजीत सिंह का सपना था कि वह अपनी बेटियों के विवाह धूम-धाम से करे लेकिन किस्मत को कुछ और ही मंजूर था। इस साल के अंत में बलजीत सिंह की बड़ी बेटी का विवाह होने वाला था लेकिन बेटी के कन्यादान से पहले ही वह देश के लिए अपना फ़र्ज़ निभाते हुए शहीद हो गए। 

 

बलजीत सिंह की 2 बेटियां परमिन्दर कौर (22) और रवीन्द्र कौर (20) हैं और एक बेटा मनिन्दर सिंह (24) है। इस साल नवंबर या दिसंबर में बलजीत सिंह की बड़ी बेटी परमिन्दर के विवाह की तैयारियां की जा रही थीं लेकिन एक पिता का फ़र्ज़ निभाने से पहले ही उन्होंने अपनी जान देश के लिए कुर्बान कर दी। एस. पी. बलजीत सिंह की इस शहादत को हमारा सलाम और उनके परिवार के लिए दिल से दुआएं।

 

पंजाब पुलिस को मिली बड़ी सफलता, 3 आतंकी किए ढेर

जालंधर: पंजाब के गुरदासपुर के दीनानगर थाने में सुबह हुए आतंकी हमले में अब तक 7 पुलिस वालों समेत 13 लोगों की मौत हो गई है। सुरक्षाबलों ने आतंकियों के खिलाफ ऑपरेशन तेज कर दिया है।सूत्रों के हवाले से इस मुठभेड़ में 3 आतंकियों को ढेर कर दिया गया। फिलहाल सेना और आतंकियों में मुठभेड़ खत्म हो गई है। 

सूत्रों के मुताबिक आतंकियों के निशाने पर अमरनाथ यात्रा थी, लेकिन जम्मू में सुरक्षा व्यवस्था चाकचौबंद होने की वजह से गुरदासपुर को अपना निशाना बनाया। सूत्रों के मुताबिक लश्कर के 10 आतंकियों का गुट 10 दिनों से सियालकोट में डेरा डाले हुए थे। पिछले दो दिनों से कठुआ के कोटपुन्नू इलाके से घुसपैठ की कोशिश कर रहे थे। ये सभी आतंकी ट्रेंड बता जा रहे हैं।

 

 

गुरदासपुर आतंकी हमलाः सेना ने आतंकवादियों को किया ढेर, ऑपरेशन समाप्त

नई दिल्ली: पंजाब में गुरदासपुर के दीनानगर पुलिस चौकी में घुसे आतंकवादियों के साथ दस घंटे से अधिक चली मुठभेड़ समाप्त हो गई है तथा इसमें तीन आतंकवादी मारे गए हैं। इस मुठभेड़ में पुलिस अधीक्षक सहित पांच पुलिसकर्मी तथा तीन नागरिक भी शहीद हो गए।

गृह मंत्रालय के अनुसार ये आतंकवादी सीमा पार से आए थे। इनके जैश-ए-मोहम्मद या लश्कर-ए-तैयबा से जुड़े होने की आशंका है। मंत्रालय ने बताया है कि सुरक्षा बलों ने इस इलाके को पूरी तरह घेरा हुआ है। वहां अब गोलीबारी पूरी तरह रुक गई है और तीन आतंकवादी मारे गए हैं। कार्रवाई में पांच पुलिसकर्मी भी शहीद हुए हैं। इनमें एक पुलिस अधीक्षक और होगगार्ड के दो जवान शामिल है। आतंकवादियों की गोलीबारी में तीन नागरिक भी मारे गए हैं। इनमें एक नागरिक वह है, जिसकी कार आतंकवादियों ने छीनी थी। 

कार में आए थे आतंकी
सूत्रों के मुताबिक, हमलावर मारुति कार से आए थे, वहीं अमृतसर-पठानकोट रेलवे ट्रैक पर पांच बम मिलने की भी खबर है। सूत्रों के मुताबिक गृह मंत्रालय ने आतंकी हमले की पुष्टि कर दी है। वहीं सीमा पर भी सेना ने अलर्ट जारी कर दिेया है। NSG को अलर्ट पर रखा गया है।
अमृतसर-पठानकोट रेलवे ट्रैक पर मिले बम
पंजाब के गुरदासपुर में यात्री बस और पुलिस थाने में फायरिंग के बाद अमृतसर-पठानकोट रेलवे ट्रैक पर पांच बम मिलने की खबर है। वहीं अमृतसर से जम्मू रेल रूट को बंद कर दिया गया है।

कॉलेज और स्कूल बंद
गुरदासपुर में आतंकी हमले के बाद सारे कॉलेज और स्कूल बंद करने का ऐलान कर दिया गया।
राजनाथ सिंह का ट्वीट
गृहमंत्री राजनाथ सिंह ने ट्वीट किया है कि वे पंजाब के मुख्यमंत्री से पंजाब के पल-पल के हाल की जानकारी ले रहे हैं।

थाने में पुलिसवालों के परिजनों को बनाया बंधक
आतंकियों ने दीनानगर थाने में पुलिसवालों के परिवारवालों को बंधक बना लिया है। फिलहाल सेना मौके पर पहुंच गई है और आतंकियों को खिलाफ ऑपरेशन शुरू कर दिया है।

 नरेंद्र मोदी खुद मॉनिटरिंग कर रहे
पंजाब में आतंकी हमले के बाद दिल्ली में भी हाई अर्ल्ट जारी कर दिया गया है। प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी खुद इस हमले पर मॉनिटरिंग कर रहे हैं।

देश के कई हिस्सों में हाई अलर्ट जारी
गुरदासपुर आतंकी हमले के दौरान जालंधर,अमृतसर,लुधियाना, मुंबई, महाराष्ट्र, हरियाणा, पुणे, नासिक और नागपुर में हाई अलर्ट जारी कर दिया गया है।

गोलाबारी में पंजाब SP शहीद
आतंकी हमले में पंजाब पुलिस के  SP बलजीत सिंह शदीह दो गए। SP बलजीत सिंह को गोली लगी थी जिससे वे घायल हो गए थे लेकिन अस्पताल में उन्होंने दम तोड़ दिया।
पंजाब हमले पर सीएम का बयान
पंजाब सीएम प्रकाश सिंह बादल ने गुरदासपुर में आतंकी हमले पर बयान देते हुए कहा कि यदि हमले की जानकारी थी तो बॉर्डर को सील क्यों नहीं किया गया। आतंकियों को सीमा पर ही क्यों वहीं रोका गया। बादल ने कहा कि ये एक अफसोसजनक घटना है, सीमा पर घुसपैठ रोकना केंद्र की जिम्मेदारी है।

Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam a man who failed to become a fighter pilot and then after some time he was a chief of all 3 forces as President of India.‪

#‎Motivation‬

Rest in Peace APJ Abdul Kalam :- पूर्व राष्ट्रपति अब्दुल कलाम नहीं रहे

पूर्व राष्ट्रपति अब्दुल कलाम नहीं रहे

• 27 july 2015

भारत के पूर्व राष्ट्रपति एपीजे अब्दुल कलाम का 83 साल की उम्र में निधन हो गया है.

उनकी मृत्यु शिलॉंग में हुई. गृह सचिव एलसी गोयल के अनुसार सात दिन के शोक की घोषणा की जा रही है.
शिलॉंग के एसपी सिटी विवेक स्याम ने बताया, "एक कार्यक्रम में भाषण देते हुए वे गिर गए और उन्हें गंभीर हालत में अस्पताल में भर्ती कराया गया था. वहां उनकी मृत्यु हो गई."
तमिलनाडु के रामेश्वरम में जन्मे अब्दुल कलाम भारत के जाने-माने मिसाइल वैज्ञानिक थे और वे 2002 से 2007 तक भारत के राष्ट्रपति रहे.

आख़िरी ट्वीट

मिसाइल मैन के नाम से जाने जाते डॉक्टर अब्दुल कलाम ने सोमवार सुबह 11.30 बजे आखिरी ट्वीट किया था, "शिलॉंग जा रहा हूं. लिवेबल प्लेनेट अर्थ पर आईआईएम में एक कार्यक्रम में भाग लेने."
संगीतकार एआर रहमान ने उनके निधन पर कहा, "डॉक्टर कलाम, जब आप राष्ट्रपति बने तो आपने भारतीयों को 'उम्मीद' शब्द के नए मायने दिए."
आरबीआई गवर्नर रघुराम राजन ने ट्वीट किया- 'महान लोगों के महान सपने हमेशा आगे पहुंचते हैं. एपीजे अब्दुल कलाम को श्रद्धांजली.'
मशहूर गायिका सुनिधि चौहान ने कहा है कि भारतीयों के लिए एक दुखद दिन.
गृह मंत्री राजनाथ सिंह ने दुख जताते हुए कहा, "उनके अचानक निधन से बहुत दुखी हूँ. वह एक पूरी पीढ़ी के लिए प्रेरणा स्रोत थे".
दिल्ली के मुख्यमंत्री अरविेंद केजरीवाल ने ट्वीट किया, "यह सुनकर बहुत दुख हुआ कि डॉक्टर एपीजे अब्दुल कलाम नहीं रहे. देश ने एक असली भारत रत्न खो दिया है".
विदेश मंत्री सुषमा स्वराज ने कहा, "डॉक्टर एपीजे अब्दुल कलाम आम लोगों के राष्ट्रपति थे. उस महान आत्मा को मेरी श्रद्धांजलि".
असम के मुख्यमंत्री तरुण गोगोई ने ट्वीट किया है - 'यह देश का बहुत बड़ा नुकसान है. वे आम आदमी के राष्ट्रपति थे और युवा पीढ़ी के आइकन थे.'
केन्द्रीय मंत्री मुख्तार अब्बास नकवी ने कहा कि 'श्रद्धंजलि देने के लिए शब्द नहीं हैं, वे राष्ट्रपुरुष थे. उनकी मृत्यु देश के लिए बड़ा नुकसान है.'

पंजाब: मुठभेड़ में 10 मरे, चीनी ग्रेनेड मिले

27 july 2015

पंजाब के गुरदासपुर में कई घंटों तक चली मुठभेड़ के बाद तीनों हमलावर मारे गए हैं.

पंजाब पुलिस के मुताबिक तीन चरमपंथियों ने गुरदासपुर के दीनानगर में तड़के हमले किया था और दीनानगर थाने में हमलावरों और पंजाब पुलिस के बीच घंटों तक मुठभेड़ चलती रही.
पंजाब पुलिस प्रमुख सुमेध सिंह सैनी के अनुसार, "तीनों चरमपंथी आर्मी की यूनिफ़ॉर्म में थे, सोफ़िस्टिकेटिड हथियारों, चीनी मेक के ग्रेनेड और जीपीएस सिस्टम से लैस थे. उनके साज़ो-सामान की जांच हो रही है ताकि उनकी पहचान सही से पता चल सके."
पुलिस के अनुसार इस हमले में तीनों हमलावरों के आलावा, पंजाब पुलिस के एसपी (डिटेक्टिव) समेत चार पुलिसकर्मी और तीन नागरिक मारे गए. कई लोग घायल भी हुए हैं.

ये पूरा घटनाक्रम सोमवार तड़के शुरू तब हुआ जब हमलावरों ने पहले बस और फिर एक कार पर गोलियां चलाईं. इसके बाद उन्होंने कार छीनी और गुरदासपुर स्थित दीनानगर के पुलिस थाने में घुसे और वहाँ हमला किया.

बैठकों का दौर, बादल का सुर अलग

गृह मंत्री राजनाथ सिंह इस मसले पर मंगलवार को बयान देंगे.
गृह राज्यमंत्री किरेन रिजिजू ने कहा था, "किसी को बंधक नहीं बनाया गया. चरमपंथी कौन हैं इस बारे में अभी कुछ नहीं कहा जा सकता है. केंद्रीय सैन्य बल ऑपरेशन में शामिल रहे."

पंजाब के मुख्यमंत्री प्रकाश सिंह बादल ने सोमवार दोपहर को कहा, "कई सालों के बाद इस तरह की ये पहली घटना है. चरमपंथी पंजाब से आ नहीं रहे, ये तो बॉर्डर से ही आ रहे हैं. ये एक राष्ट्रीय समस्या है. इसलिए इसको राष्ट्रीय नीति से ही निबटने की ज़रूरत है. ये हमला अचानक हुआ है, जवान बहादुरी से लड़ रहे हैं. पंजाब पुलिस के डीजीपी भी चंडीगढ़ से गुरदासपुर पहुंच चुके हैं."
ख़तरे के बारे में ख़ुफ़िया जानकारी के सवाल पर उन्होंने कहा, "इनपुट कहाँ दिया था? अगर इनपुट दिया था तो सीमा को सील कर देना चाहिए था."

प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी ने दिल्ली में वरिष्ठ मंत्रियों के साथ बैठक की है. रक्षा मंत्री मनोहर पर्रिकर और वित्त मंत्री अरुण जेटली भी बैठक में शामिल हुए.
सोमवार शाम को अब गृह मंत्री राजनाथ सिंह, रक्षा मंत्री मनोहर पर्रिकर और राष्ट्रीय सुरक्षा सलाहकार अजीत डोभाल की बैठक होगी.

सीमा पर चौकसी बढ़ाई

पंजाब में मुख्यमंत्री प्रकाश सिंह बादल ने आपात बैठक बुलाई. पूरे पंजाब में अलर्ट जारी कर दिया गया है.
हमले के बाद गृहमंत्री राजनाथ सिंह ने बीसीएफ़ के महानिदेशक डीके पाठक से बात की है और भारत-पाकिस्तान सीमा पर चौकसी बढ़ाने के निर्देश दिए हैं.

गृहमंत्री ने ट्वीट किया, "मैंने इस विषय में राष्ट्रीय सुरक्षा सलाहकार से भी बात की है."

लोग सहमे, बस पर हमला

पंजाब का गुरदासपुर ज़िला भारत प्रशासित जम्मू-कश्मीर के जम्मू से सटा हुआ है.
गुरदासपुर शहर अमृतसर से लगभग 80 किलोमीटर दूर है जबकि दीनानगर गुरदासपुर से 20 किलोमीटर आगे है.

एक प्रत्यक्षदर्शी राम स्वरूप ने स्थानीय संवाददाता रविंदर सिंह रॉबिन को बताया, "जम्मू का पड़ोसी इलाक़ा होने के बावजूद पिछले कई सालों से यहाँ स्थिति शांतिपूर्ण है. इस तरह की घटना मैंने तो नहीं देखी है जहाँ हमलावरों ने इस तरह से थाने पर हमला किया हो."
स्थानीय संवाददाता रॉबिन के मुताबिक घटनास्थल के आसपास के कई गावों में लोग सहमे हुए थे और कई लोग घरों से बाहर नहीं निकल रहे थे.
प्रशासन ने मंगलवार तक के लिए गुरदासपुर में स्कूल और कॉलेज बंद कर दिए हैं.

इससे पहले सोमवार सुबह ही सरकारी टीवी दूरदर्शन के अनुसार पठानकोट-अमृतसर रेलवे ट्रैक पर पांच ज़िंदा बम बरामद किए थे जिसके बाद सभी रेलवे ट्रैक और मुख्य मार्गों पर तलाशी अभियान चलाया गया.

Terror attack in Punjab: What we know till now.Gurdaspur terrorists sneaked in from Pakistan to launch attack

Jul 27, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Punjab Roadways driver Nanak Chand.    

 

NEW DELHI: Terrorists attacked a police station and a bus in Punjab's Gurdaspur on Monday morning killing at least 9 people and leaving many others injured.

Here's what we know till now.

* Terrorists, three to four in number, hijacked a white Maruti Alto car.

* They first attacked a state roadways bus going to Jammu. One person has been reportedly killed in this attack.

* The terrorists then attacked Dina Nagar police station, killing a cop on duty.

* The terrorists are holed up in police station and an encounter is under way.

* According to TV reports, the terrorists entered from Pathankot.

* Five live bombs were found on railway track near Gurdaspur

* Army has reached the Gurdaspur encounter site.

* NSG commandos have also been rushed to the site.

* Schools and colleges in Gurdaspur have been closed.

* Army helicopters are at the attack site to assist in counter operations.

* According to TV reports, not 4 but 15 terrorists are involved in attack on police station. However, there is still no official confirmation on this.

* Emergency home ministry meet at 10am. NSA along with IB, RAW chief to attend meet: TV reports

* 6 civilians, 3 police home guards killed & 4 injured in Gurdaspur terror attack; no reports of hostage

* Police say possibility of it being a pro Khalistan attack cannot be ruled out

* Terrorists are occupying an abandoned house: Kiren Rijiju

* IB claims the terrorists came from Narowal from Pakistan

* J&K on high alert. The national highway at Pathankot is closed.

* Alert sounded in Parliament, security heightened in Punjab, J&K, Maharashtra.

* 3 columns of Army, a bomb disposal squad and commandos of special forces have engaged terrorists.

* Branch line between Pathankot and Amritsar affected. 4 passenger trains halted after recovery of bombs: Northern Railway.
* Punjab Police SP (Detective) Baljeet Singh killed in the attack

* Army says the state police wants to handle the operation on its own

* One terrorist neutralised, another injured. Home ministry assessment is that there may be no more than 4 terrorists in attack team

* 6 dead in Punjab terror attack so far: 3 civilians & 3 cops, including Punjab police SP who got hit in crossfire: Home secy L C Goyal to TOI

* ​Gurdaspur operation ends, all 3 terrorists killed.

 

 

Gurdaspur terrorists sneaked in from Pakistan to launch attack

NEW DELHI: The perpetrators of Monday's terror strike in Punjab are suspected to have sneaked into India from Pakistan through the unfenced border between Jammu and Pathankot or Chak Hira in Jammu district to launch the brazen assault about which central agencies had intelligence inputs.

Union home ministry sources said the terrorists, the name of whose outfit was still unclear, may have entered the Indian territory around last midnight and hit the highway using Paharpur road, nearly 15km from the international border, to unleash mayhem that left at least six dead, including an SP rank officer of Punjab police.

The last attack in Jammu was carried out by terrorists belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammed whose fidayeen combatants, clad in Army fatigues, stormed a police station in Jammu & Kashmir's Kathua district on March 20 this year, killing at least six people, including three security force personnel. Both the militants had been killed in retaliatory action.

The terrorists involved in Monday's attacks, also wearing Army uniforms, reached Parmanand village on Jammu & Kashmir's border with Punjab where they attempted to hijack a tempo at 5.30am. The tempo driver, however, managed to flee.

Later they hijacked a Maruti 800 car after injuring its driver who is hospitalized, before killing a roadside vendor near Dinanagar bypass and spraying a Punjab roadways bus with bullets.

They then storm Dinanagar police station and shot dead a sentry. Showing guts, an alert head constable picked up the rifle of the deceased sentry and fired at the terrorists, numbering three to four.

The militants have since then holed up in vacant flats in the area and are engaged in intermittent exchange of fire with Punjab police personnel, who have cordoned off the area with the help of paramilitary forces.

The heavily-armed terrorists have also Gurudaspur SP (detective) Baljeet Singh, a Punjab provincial police service officer. Several civilians have been injured. One militant was killed and another seriously wounded in the gunbattle.

Sources said militants, who could be from Lashkar-e-Taiba terror outfit, may have entered Punjab because of heightened security on the Jammu side for the ongoing Amarnath Yatra.

Home minister Rajnath Singh, who is away in Madhya Pradesh for CRPF's raising day function, has spoken to BSF chief DK Pathak and directed him to enhance security along the international border.

Punjab and neighbouring Himachal Pradesh had been warned of a possible terror strike following intelligence inputs generated by central agencies and the matter had come up during Union home secretary LC Goyal's visit to Jammu & Kashmir in the last week of June.

The intelligence inputs spoke about the possibility of Pakistan-based militants targeting locations in the two states due to enhanced security in the Jammu region.

Rest in Peace APJ Abdul Kalam: Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, former President of India, passes away in Shillong

Rest in Peace APJ Abdul Kalam:

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, former President of India, passes away in Shillong

NEW DELHI/GUWAHATI: Former President of India and rocket scientist Dr APJ Abdul Kalam has died on Monday following a cardiac arrest at a function in IIM-Shillong.

Earlier, he was was hospitalized in a very critical condition.

Kalam, 84, was the 11th President of India who held the post from July 25, 2002 to July 25, 2007.

He was a renowned scientist and is considered to be the main brain behind India's space and missile programme.

"There's a reason why my name's Barack Hussein Obama," @POTUS tells Kenyan business summit.Full transcript of interview with President Barack Obama

"There's a reason why my name's Barack Hussein Obama," @POTUS tells Kenyan business summit.Full transcript of interview with President Barack Obama

• 25 July 2015

Barack Obama spoke , ahead of his trip to East Africa. Here is the full transcript of North America Editor Jon Sopel's conversation with the US president.

Going to Kenya

JON SOPEL: Mr President, you're about to fly to Kenya, to your ancestral home. Given the al-Shabaab attacks on the West Gate mall and Garissa University, I'm sure your secret service could've suggested other countries for you to visit. But you wanted to go to Kenya.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: Well, I think it is important first of all that the president of the United States underscores our commitment to partnering with countries around the world, even though we're not intimidated by terrorist organisations. Second, the counterterrorism co-operation between the United States and Kenya - and Uganda and other countries - in East Africa - is very strong.
And part of the subject of the visit is to continue to strengthen those ties to make them more effective. Third, as I wind down my presidency, I've already had a number of visits to Africa. But this gives me an opportunity to focus on a region that I have not been visiting as president, and I'm also going to have the opportunity to talk to the African Union.
So I'll be the first US president to not only visit Kenya and Ethiopia, but also to address the continent as a whole, building off the African summit that we did here which was historic and has, I think, deepened the kinds of already strong relationships that we have across the continent.

SOPEL: And you're going to talk about entrepreneurship at this summit in Nairobi.

OBAMA: Uh-huh.

SOPEL: Is there any link between security and entrepreneurship?

OBAMA: I think there is. I believe that when people see opportunity, when they have a sense of control of their own destiny, then they're less vulnerable to the propaganda and twisted ideologies that have been attracting young people - particularly now being turbocharged through social media.

Photo by Amanda Lucidon/White House

And a while back, when we started looking at strategies to reach out to the Muslim world - to reach out to - developed countries, a common theme emerged, which was people are not interested in - just being patrons- or - or being patronised. And being given aid. They're interested in building capacity.
The more we can encourage entrepreneurship, particularly for young people, the more they have hope. Now that requires some reforms in these governments that we continue to emphasise. Rooting out corruption, increased transparency and how government operates, making sure that regulations are not designed just to advantage elites, but are allowing people who have a good idea to get out there and get things done.

SOPEL: And I suppose the - you know, you famously said when you went to Africa, I think when you first became president, you know, "What we need is strong institutions and- "

OBAMA: Yes.
SOPEL: " - not strong men". You're going to Ethiopia, where there is effectively no opposition in Parliament.

OBAMA: Right.

SOPEL: You're going to Kenya, where the International Criminal Court is still investigating certain members of the government, which seems kind of hardly ideal institutions.

OBAMA: Well, they're not ideal institutions. But what we found is, is that when we combined blunt talk with engagement, that gives us the best opportunity to influence and open up space for civil society. And the human rights agenda that we think is so important. And, you know, a good example of this is Burma. Where I was the first US president to visit there.
At a time when we saw some possibility of transition, by the time I landed in Burma - it is not a liberal democracy by any means. And there were still significant human rights violations taking place. But my visit then solidified and validated the work of dissenters and human rights activists.
And that has continued to allow them to move in the direction of a democracy. So, so our view is, in the same way that I visited Russia, and in the same way that I visited China, even when we know that there are significant human rights violations taking place, we want to make sure that we're there so that we can have this conversation and point them in a better direction.

SOPEL: Well, haven't the Chinese got there first in Africa? You're going to go to the African Union Building, which was built with Chinese money, you're going to travel along Chinese-built roads, you're going to go past endless Chinese traders on those roads.

OBAMA: Well, the - what is true is that China has - over the last several years, because of the surplus that they've accumulated in global trade and the fact that they're not accountable to their constituencies, have been able to funnel an awful lot of money into Africa, basically in exchange for raw materials that are being extracted from Africa.
And what is certainly true is that the United States has to have a presence to promote the values that we care about. We welcome Chinese aid into Africa. I think we think that's a good thing. We don't want to discourage it. As I've said before, what I also want to make sure though is that trade is benefiting the ordinary Kenyan and the ordinary Ethiopian and the ordinary Guinean and not just a few elites. And the Chinese, who then get the resources that they need. And I think that we can help to shape an agenda where China, Europe, and the United States are all working together in order to address some of these issues.

SOPEL: I'm going to suggest there may be one other difficult issue when you're there. And that's the issue of homosexuality, gay marriage, after the Supreme Court ruling. I mean, the deputy president in Kenya, who you're going to meet, Mr Ruto, he said - "We have heard that in the US they have allowed gay relations and other dirty things."

OBAMA: Yeah. Well, I disagree with him on that, don't I? And I've had this experience before when we've visited Senegal in my last trip to Africa. I think that the president there President Sall, is doing a wonderful job in moving the country forward - a strong democrat. But in a press conference, I was very blunt about my belief that everybody deserves fair treatment, equal treatment in the eyes of the law and the state.
And that includes gays, lesbians, transgender persons. I am not a fan of discrimination and bullying of anybody on the basis of race, on the basis of religion, on the basis of sexual orientation or gender. And I think that this is actually part and parcel of the agenda that's also going to be front and centre, and that is how are we treating women and girls.
And as somebody who has family in Kenya and knows the history of how the country so often is held back because women and girls are not treated fairly, I think those same values apply when it comes to different sexual orientations.

The next step of the Iran nuclear deal

SOPEL: Can we just move from difficult conversations that you're about to have in Kenya and the excruciatingly difficult conversations that you had in getting the Iran nuclear deal? I'm sure some people would say that yes, you've set out the case where there is no pathway to a nuclear bomb now for Iran - 

OBAMA: Yes.

SOPEL: But, the net effect of lifting sanctions is that billions more will go to groups like Hezbollah, the Assad regime, and that is going to destabilise the region even more.

OBAMA: Well, keep in mind, first of all, we've shut off the pathways for Iran getting a nuclear weapon, which was priority number one. Because if Iran obtained a nuclear weapon, then they could cause all those same problems that you just listed with the protection of a nuclear bomb. And create much greater strategic challenges for the United States, for Israel, for our Gulf allies, for our European allies.
Second, it is true that by definition, in a negotiation and a deal like this, Iran gets something out of it. The sanctions regime that we put in place with the hope of the Brits, but also the Chinese and the Russians and others meant that they had funds that were frozen. They get those funds back. A large portion of those funds are going to have to be used for them to rebuild their economy.

That was the mandate that elected Rouhani. And the supreme leader is feeling pressure there. Does the IRGC [Revolutionary Guard] or the Quds Force have more resources? Probably, as the economy in Iran improves. But the challenge that we've had, when it comes to Hezbollah, for example, aiming rockets into Israel is not a shortage of resources.
Iran has shown itself to be willing, even in the midst of real hardship, to fund what they consider to be strategy priorities. The challenge is us making sure that we've got the interdiction capacity, the intelligence, that we are building a much stronger defence against some of these proxy wars and asymmetric efforts. And we've sent a clear message to the Iranians. We are settling the Iran deal, but we still have a big account that we're going to have to work. Hopefully some of it diplomatically, if necessary some of it militarily.

SOPEL: And you've had an intense campaign to settle the argument, which you've set out with great confidence.

OBAMA: Yes.

SOPEL: Have you managed to change anyone's mind yet of the Gulf states or in Congress?
OBAMA: Well, in Congress I'm confident that we're going to be able to make sure that the deal sticks. With respect to the Gulf states we had the leaders up to Camp David. And I described for them our interest in making sure that they built their capacity to defend themselves and their territory and to make sure that destabilising activities that Iran may be engaging in are checked. But keep in mind, our Gulf partners, for example, their combined defense budget is ten times Iran's defense budget.

SOPEL: But have they got the willingness to fight in the - 

OBAMA: Well, and - and - and that's the issue. And that's the challenge as - so the point that I made to them consistently is, you have a strong, reliable partner in the United States. But ultimately, how issues get resolved in the Middle East is going to depend on both strengthening military capacity, but also addressing the underlying social and political issues that may lead not only to Iran being able to stir up problems among Shia populations, but also addressing some of the issues that are leading to the enormous and significant threat that they face from ISIL.

The UK and IS air strikes

SOPEL: Nowhere is facing greater instability, and you mention ISIL, than in Syria. It looks like the British may be about to start flying alongside America and launching airstrikes. Would you welcome that?

OBAMA: Let me first of all say that Prime Minister David Cameron's been an outstanding partner of ours on not just the anti-ISIL coalition, but on a whole host of security issues. And I want to congratulate his government for meeting the commitment of the 2% defence budget. Because we don't have a more important partner than Great Britain.
And for him to make that commitment, when he has a budget agenda that is, you know confined, a budget envelope that is confined, is really significant. And it is important for British leadership, but it's important for US stability. Now, with respect to Syria, we consult closely, Britain's one of the leading members of the 60-nation coalition that's addressing ISIL.
In combination with the Turks and the Jordanians and others, what we are trying to do is not only shrink the environment in which ISIL can operate, but also to create an environment in which we stop the border flows of foreign fighters into Syria, we've made progress there, we need to make more, and that's where Great Britain's participation can help.

Photo by Amanda Lucidon/White House

But the second part of this is pushing Assad, the Russians, the Iranians, into recognising there's got to be a political transition before Syria pulls the entire region into what could be an even longer and more bloody conflict.

SOPEL: You talk about the 2% defence spending in Britain. I'm right in thinking that there was quite a bit of pressure put on from here, saying it would be very bad if you didn't.

OBAMA: I wouldn't say pressure. I think I had an honest conversation with David that Great Britain has always been our best partner. Well, you know, I guess you could go back to 1812 and that would (LAUGH) you know, that -
SOPEL: When we tried to burn this place down?

OBAMA: Yeah, right, right. But that's ancient history -
SOPEL: History.

OBAMA: In modern times there's no country where we have closer affinity in terms of values, and on the international stage a nation with greater capacity. And so I think David understands that part of the greatness of Great Britain, of the United Kingdom is that it is willing, as we are, to project power beyond our immediate self-interests to make this a more orderly, safer world.
SOPEL: And pe--

OBAMA: And we're glad we have that partner.

Leaving the EU

SOPEL: And people have talked about strategic shrinkage. That Britain is no longer playing its place on the world stage in the way that it used to. There's going to be a referendum on whether we stay in the European Union or not. And David Miliband, the former foreign secretary, he said, "It's almost like Britain would be resigning from the world and no US government would be impressed by that."
OBAMA: Well, I - you know, obviously the - the whole debate that's been taking place about the European Union, the eurozone, Greece that's a complicated piece of business. I will say this, that having the United Kingdom in the European Union gives us much greater confidence about the strength of the transatlantic union and is part of the cornerstone of institutions built after World War II that has made the world safer and more prosperous.
And we want to make sure that United Kingdom continues to have that influence. Because we believe that the values that we share are the right ones, not just for ourselves, but for Europe as a whole and the world as a whole.

Obama's legacy

SOPEL: Can we just talk about, because you mentioned a moment ago about that you're in the tail end of your presidency. After the midterm elections, I read every commentator say, "Well, this administration is effectively over now. The president is a dead man walking. And nothing is going to happen until 2016."
OBAMA: Right.
SOPEL: Except that you've kind of got this deal, you've got Cuba, diplomatic relations, healthcare reform embedded, major trade deal with Asia. It's not a question of journalist--
OBAMA: Climate change agenda with China.
SOPEL: Okay, so it's not -
OBAMA: I've got a pretty long list.
SOPEL: Okay, so it's not a question that a journalist often asks, what's gone right?
OBAMA: (LAUGH) You know the - it's interesting - that one of my - every president, every leader has strengths and weaknesses. One of my strengths is I have a pretty even temperament. I don't get too high when it's high and I don't get too low when it's low. And what I found during the course of the presidency, and I suppose this is true in life, is that investments and work that you make back here sometimes take a little longer than the 24-hour news cycle to bear fruit.
So some of this is just some serendipity and convergence of a lot of things that we had been working on for a very long time coming together. But some of it is I also believe a recognition that the kind of gridlock and obstruction that that Congress and the Republicans in Congress too often have engaged in is something that we just can't afford at a time when the world is moving so fast and there are so many challenges. And the robust exertion of executive authority within the the lawful constraints that we operate under is something that we've been spending a lot of time thinking about.
SOPEL: Let me just ask you this - finally, because- I'm sure you would like it to be written that President Obama turned "Yes we can" into -
OBAMA: "Yes we did."
SOPEL: "Yes we did."
OBAMA: Yeah.

Unfinished business
SOPEL: But is there an issue that there are be going to be unfinished business? Perhaps most notably on race and on guns by the time you leave the White House?
OBAMA: There will be. Look there was never a promise that race relations in America would be entirely resolved during my presidency or anybody's presidency. I mean, this has been a running thread - and - and fault line in American life and American politics since its founding.
And so some of the most recent concerns around policing and mass incarcerations are legitimate and deserve intense attention. And I feel that we are moving the ball forward on those issues. What I will say is that - eight years - well, after eight years of my presidency, that children growing up during these eight years will have a different view of race relations in this country and what's possible.
Black children, white children, Latino children. America is becoming more diverse, it's becoming more tolerant as a consequence there's more interactions between groups. There are going be tensions that arise. But if you look at my daughters' generation, they have an attitude about race that's entirely different than even my generation.
And that's all for the good. You mentioned the issue of guns, that is an area where if you ask me where has been the one area where I feel that I've been most frustrated and most stymied it is the fact that the United States of America is the one advanced nation on earth in which we do not have sufficient common-sense, gun-safety laws. Even in the face of repeated mass killings.
And you know, if you look at the number of Americans killed since 9/11 by terrorism, it's less than 100. If you look at the number that have been killed by gun violence, it's in the tens of thousands. And for us not to be able to resolve that issue has been something that is distressing. But it is not something that I intend to stop working on in the remaining 18 months.
SOPEL: Mr President, thank you very much.
OBAMA: Thank you so much. I enjoyed it.

सरकार बनाम आरबीआई: आरबीआई गवर्नर की पावर पर लगाम का नुस्ख़ा तैयार.रिज़र्व बैंक गवर्नर से जुड़ा ब्याज दरें तय करने का एक अहम अधिकार छिन सकता है.

सरकार बनाम आरबीआई: आरबीआई गवर्नर की पावर पर लगाम का नुस्ख़ा तैयार.रिज़र्व बैंक गवर्नर से जुड़ा ब्याज दरें तय करने का एक अहम अधिकार छिन सकता है.

25 July 2015

मोदी सरकार ने भारतीय वित्तीय कोड का जो नया मसौदा जारी किया है उसके अनुसार रिज़र्व बैंक गवर्नर से जुड़ा एक अहम अधिकार छिन सकता है.

भारत में आरबीआई गवर्नर के पास ब्याज दरें तय करने का पूर्ण अधिकार रहा है यानि मौद्रिक नीति तय करने की अहम भूमिका इसी पद से जुड़ी रही है.
नए मसौदे को मंज़ूरी मिलने के बाद सरकार के अधिकारों में बढ़ोतरी होगी. ब्याज दरें तय करने के लिए अब सात सदस्यीय समिति का गठन होगा.
इस समिति में चार प्रतिनिधि सरकार के होंगे जबकि तीन रिज़र्व बैंक से रहेंगे. बैंक के खाते में जो सीटें आई हैं गवर्नर उसी का हिस्सा होंगे.

अधिकार कम होंगे

नए मसौदे के तहत आरबीआई गवर्नर के पास निर्णायक मत का अधिकार तभी रहेगा जब पक्ष-विपक्ष के वोट बराबर हो जाएं.
आरबीआई के एक वरिष्ठ अधिकारी ने  बताया कि रिज़र्व बैंक में इस मसौदे को लेकर निराशा का माहौल है.
बैंक ऑफ़ बड़ौदा के पूर्व कार्यकारी निदेशक आरके बक्शी को लगता है कि अगर ऐसा हुआ तो गवर्नर की भूमिका ख़ासी कम हो जाएगी.
उन्होंने कहा, "मौजूदा स्थिति में आरबीआई गवर्नर के पास पूरी पावर है ब्याज दरों को लेकर. अभी तक वोटिंग की कोई प्रणाली नहीं है जैसी अब हो सकती है."
बक्शी ने कहा, "ये एक अच्छा क़दम है जो अमरीका और इंग्लैंड में बहुत वर्षों से रही है लेकिन प्रस्तावित समिति में अगर चार प्रतिनिधि सरकारी रहेंगे तब टकराव भी होगा और गवर्नर के अधिकारों में गिरावट भी आएगी."

सरकार बनाम आरबीआई

'द टेलीग्राफ़' अख़बार के बिजनेस संपादक जयंतो रॉय चौधरी का मानना है कि नए प्रावधानों से टकराव बढ़ेगा.

पिछले लगभग एक वर्ष से सरकार का रिज़र्व बैंक पर ब्याज दरें घटाने को लेकर दबाव सा देखा गया है.
सरकार का मत रहा है कि विकास दर बढ़ाने के लिए महंगाई दर पर आरबीआई का ध्यान कम और ब्याज दरें घटाने पर ज़्यादा होना चाहिए.
हालांकि गवर्नर रघुराम राजन के नेतृत्व में आरबीआई ने अपनी नीति पर चलते हुए ब्याज दरों में फ़ैसले को संभल कर ही लिया है.
'द टेलीग्राफ़' अख़बार के बिज़नेस संपादक जयंतो रॉय चौधरी के अनुसार, नई सरकार ने इस मसौदे में यूपीए सरकार द्वारा डाला गया एक अहम प्रावधान हटा लिया है.
उन्होंने कहा, "निश्चित तौर पर आरबीआई की आज़ादी पर बट्टा लग सकता है. यूपीए सरकार के समय में बने इस मसौदे में आरबीआई गवर्नर के पास ब्याज दरों के मामले में वीटो पावर थी जो अब हटा ली गई."
चौधरी ने कहा, "मैं ये तो नहीं कह सकता कि पिछली सरकार के और आरबीआई के बीच मतभेद बिलकुल नहीं थे, लेकिन अब तो टकराव की स्थिति है और मामले का राजनीतिक विरोध भी होगा."

Let's give Dhoni respect and time.Ganguly to Bedi, former skippers oppose Dhoni stepping down as captain: Sourav Ganguly

| Jun 23, 2015

Ganguly said Dhoni's words to quit were result of frustration.

NEW DELHI: Former captain Sourav Ganguly on Monday demanded respect for beleaguered Mahendra Singh Dhoni, saying he has astonishing one-day records as skipper and needs to be given all the time in the world to take a decision.

Following India's defeat in the second ODI against Bangladesh, in an unusual show of emotions, Dhoni Sunday night said he can step away from captaincy if it brings back good days to Indian cricket.

Ganguly said one must not take it seriously since Dhoni's words were result of frustration.

"He has said it in the heat of the moment and it's not right. He was upset after the defeat. Leave it there. Everybody has to sit together and think. Don't put MS Dhoni down, he has a terrific record in one-dayers. Give respect to him," Ganguly told a TV Channel.

When asked if he thinks Dhoni should continue as captain at least till 2016 World Twenty20, Ganguly said, "It's not an individual decision. Let's cool down, let the series be finished. Such a decision can't be taken overnight.

"Whoever has to take a decision, has to take long-term aspect in mind. There is BCCI president, secretary general and office bearers. He should be given all the time in the world. Whether he wants to continue and has the power to lift the side..."

When reminded that he was part of the BCCI Advisory Committee and can make a suggestion on the matter to the Board, Ganguly said, "I am not sure if it is part of the Advisory Committee."

Ganguly did not make a big issue out of the fatigue factor, saying all the teams have jam-packed schedule and one has to find a way to succeed despite the crammed FTP.

Racism 'Part of Our DNA,' Says Obama, Citing Slavery Legacy. Obama Invokes Slur to Make Point on Race

Racism 'Part of Our DNA,' Says Obama, Citing Slavery Legacy.

Obama Invokes Slur to Make Point on Race

June 23, 2015

File Photo of US President Barack Obama

Washington:  It was a single word, just six letters long, but one that has not been spoken by an American president in public for generations.

President Barack Obama invoked the word "nigger" in a podcast interview released Monday to drive home his point that slavery still "casts a long shadow" on American life. But in the process, he touched a raw nerve in a country struggling to confront racism and hatred days after nine black parishioners were killed during Bible study in a South Carolina church.

"We're not cured of it," Obama said of racism during an interview for a "WTF with Marc Maron" podcast. "And it's not just a matter of it not being polite to say nigger in public. That's not the measure of whether racism still exists or not."

For part of the hourlong conversation with Maron, the nation's first black president patiently explained that race relations had improved in his lifetime. But in also acknowledging that racism was still deeply embedded in the United States as a "part of our DNA," he turned to a racially-fraught word. His use of it quickly became the focus of daylong commentary online and on cable news.

Marc Morial, the president of the Urban League, condemned the president's use of the term, calling it a "disparaging, hateful" word that should never be uttered, even by artists or poets who say they are seeking to change a word of hate into one of love. Nor should it be used, he insisted, by presidents trying to teach a nation a lesson.

"I got called that name numerous times," Morial said. "It led to fights. It never is appropriate to use it."

Morial praised Obama for his willingness to talk about racism, and he said he did not think the president intended to offend anyone. But he said the word was no better than the Confederate flag or the white hood of the Ku Klux Klan.

"It ought to be retired from the English language," he said. "Put it right next to the flag, in a linguistic museum. It belongs with the flag. It belongs with the hood."

For a nation in mourning over the killings at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, the president's use of the word echoed loudly. And after a year of several high-profile, fatal confrontations between the police and African-Americans, Obama's comment seemed designed almost as an exclamation point on a topic he now turns to frequently.

"I think he's being provocative," said Ishmael Reed, an author and poet who has written extensively on the African-American experience. "He's got a short time to be president, and I think he's letting his hair down. You have to raise the decibels in order to be heard."

Josh Earnest, the president's press secretary, said Obama had planned to use the word when he sat down with Maron, a comedian who records his popular podcast from his garage in Southern California. But Earnest said Obama was not surprised by the reaction to a word that has long been a racial slur, conjuring images of lynchings, oppression, bigotry and discrimination, while becoming unmentionable in most parts of public life.

Earnest called Obama's use of the word "notable," even provocative. But he said the president had used the term to make an argument "that is familiar to those who have been listening."

Obama will have another opportunity to be heard on Friday, when he delivers the eulogy for the Rev. Clementa C. Pinckney, the pastor at Emanuel AME Church, who was among the nine people killed there.

Obama has been far more open about the issue of race during his second term, in part because of incidents that have forced Americans to confront the depth of anger and frustration among some blacks, especially about their treatment by the police. The president reflected openly about race after protests that followed recent deaths of black men at the hands of the police. In 2012, he said that if he had a son, he might look like Trayvon Martin, the black teenager from Florida who was killed by a member of his community's neighborhood watch group.

Early in his White House tenure, Obama started a mentoring program for young, black men. But he has shown increasing eagerness to discuss the evolution in his own thinking about racial identity and the country's difficult racial struggle.

Morial said such a shift seemed inevitable.

"Every president, towards the end of their term, when they are freed of the straitjacket of having to think every moment of the day about what is required in the election, can think about the country, about their legacy and about the more difficult issues," he said.

The interview with Maron was a wide-ranging conversation about race, including a discussion about how Obama grew up as the son of a black father and a white mother. He talked about being a rebel during his youth and "trying on" different personas as he struggled to understand what kind of African-American man he wanted to be.

"I'm trying on a whole bunch of outfits," Obama said. "Here's how I should act. Here's what it means to be cool. Here's what it means to be a man."

He said that a lot of his anguish when he was young "revolved around race" but that his attitude changed around the time he turned 20. He said he began to understand how to honor both sides of his racial identity.

"I don't have to be one way to be both an African-American and also someone who affirms the white side of my family," Obama said. "I don't have to push back from the love and values that my mom instilled in me."

Obama began talking about race and his upbringing when he wrote the memoir "Dreams From My Father" as he was about to begin his first campaign, for the Illinois State Senate in 1995. The word "nigger" appears 19 times in the book, often as a way to explain the kind of language that he heard as he grew up.

In the interview, Obama made clear that he thinks further progress will come slowly.

"Societies don't overnight completely erase everything that happened two to 300 years prior," he said.