New Delhi, Jul 6 (PTI) These are the top stories from the northern region at 8.45 pm

These are the top stories from the northern region at 8.45 pm NEW DELHI DEL23 LDALL PM Varanasi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday dismissed as "professional pessimists" the critics of the Centre's target to achieve a USD 5-trillion economy within the next five years and asserted that the "new India" is on the threshold of sprinting forward. NEW DELHI DEL27 UNESCO-LD JAIPUR New Delhi: The walled city of Jaipur, known for its iconic architectural legacy and vibrant culture, made its entry into the UNESCO World Heritage Site list on Saturday, becoming the second city of the country after Ahmedabad to get the recognition.

CHANDIGARH DES2 PB-AMARINDER-RAHUL Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday said only a young leader should replace Rahul Gandhi as the Congress president, asserting that it would help the grand old party bounce back. AMRITSAR LGD2 PB-COURT-POLICEMEN Amritsar: A court here has convicted 13 people, including 11 former policemen, in a 2014 kidnapping and murder case of a jail inmate.

CHANDIGARH DES9 PB-MINISTER-SIDHU Chandigarh: Punjab cabinet minister Brahm Mohindra Saturday appealed to his ministerial colleague Navjot Singh Sidhu to assume charge of the power ministry, amid ongoing stalemate between Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and the cricketer-turned-politician. GARKHON DEL5 JK-KARGIL-ANNIVERSARY Garkhon (JK): Twenty years after Indian troops recaptured several mountain tops overlooking the strategic Srinagar-Leh highway from Pakistani intruders, they will again scale the jagged heights and recreate the victory scenes to mark the anniversary of the Kargil war on July 26.

AURAIYA DES14 UP-LD ACCIDENT Auraiya (UP): Eight people were killed and three injured in a collision between a tempo and a truck early Saturday morning here, police said. JAMMU DEL4 JK-FIRING Jammu: Two Army personnel were injured in Pakistani firing along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Saturday.

CHANDIGARH DES22 PB-DEOL-POLL EXPENDITURE Chandigarh: The poll expenditure of Gurdaspur MP and actor Sunny Deol has been found exceeding the statutory limit of Rs 70 lakh, an election official said Saturday. NEW DELHI DES8 DL-CCTV-SCHOOLS New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Saturday launched a project for CCTV camera installation in all government schools in the city, saying it will be a "historic milestone".

NAINITAL DES7 UKD-MOUNTAINEERS-IDENTIFICATION Nainital: Noted British mountaineer Martin Moran who led the eight-member team that perished on way to the Nanda Devi East peak was the lone climber of the group whose body could not be found. LUCKNOW DES13 UP-MAYAWATI Lucknow: Seemingly mocking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's election theme of a strong government versus a "helpless" one, BSP chief Saturday claimed a "majboor" ruling alliance would actually have been better. DHARAMSHALA DES21 HP-DALAI LAMA Dharamshala (HP): The Dalai Lama turned 84 on Saturday and called for creating compassionate society and religious harmony.

SRINAGAR DES24 JK-ABDULLAH Srinagar: National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah Saturday said his party would not allow changes in Jammu and Kashmir's demography and any attempt to dilute the unique identity of the state would be resisted tooth and nail. JAMMU DES18 JK-MOOKERJEE-STATUE Jammu: A 17.5-metre high statue of BJP ideologue Syama Prasad Mookerjee, his first in Jammu and Kashmir, was unveiled in Kathua district Saturday, coinciding with his 118th birth anniversary.

IN THE PIPELINE Agra: BJP MP's security guards thrash toll plaza workers, open fire in air: Police. PTI ASH ASH.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)