The Indian Panorama

Month: May 2022

  • Ranveer Singh calls Jayeshbhai Jordaar as an estrogen film

    Ranveer Singh calls Jayeshbhai Jordaar as an estrogen film

    Ranveer Singh, during a recent interview, opened up about his upcoming film Jayeshbhai Jordaar. Talking about his sensitive character in the film, Ranveer said that he is bringing a wave of estrogen in the testosterone-driven era. Recently, hyper-masculine films, including RRR and KGF: Chapter 2 have become a blockbuster, earning more than Rs 1000 crore at the box office. Speaking about his film Jayeshbhai Jordaar, where Ranveer’s character is sensitive, the actor said that he is bringing a wave of oestrogen in the testosterone era. “How about me coming with an estrogen film in this testosterone rage,” he replied when asked about releasing a sensitive film in a hyper-masculine film era. He then recalled that he had been trained by Loyd Stevens, who trained Tarak for RRR. After he was advised to take a testosterone test, he found out that there was too much!

    He said, “Loyd Stevens was my trainer for Ram Leela. First time I created that kind of physique, and my God he was expensive. He trained Tarak for RRR as well, a big-time trainer. He has a scientific approach. He asked me to get these tests, to check my testosterone, to check how much it is if I need supplements you know to fill that testosterone to make that body. The reports came back saying that I have too much of it. I can spare some.”

    Source: India Today

  • David Duchovny to write, direct and star in adaptation of his novel

    David Duchovny to write, direct and star in adaptation of his novel

    Hollywood star David Duchovny will write, direct and star in ‘Bucky F*cking Dent’, which is based on his book of the same name, a novel that topped the best-seller list and was embraced by critics. According to ‘Variety’, ‘Bucky F*cking Dent’ is set in New York during 1978, and follows an aimless thirty-something named Ted, who moves back in with his father Marty (Duchovny) after learning of his terminal illness.

    Marty is looking to make up for lost time, but his health seems to deteriorate whenever his beloved Red Sox lose a game (a condition familiar to Boston sports fans of the era). With help from a crew of neighbourhood old-timers and Mariana – Marty’s Nuyorican grief counselor – Ted orchestrates an intricate plan to provide the illusion of a Sox winning streak to keep Marty’s spirit up (and heart beating). The film is described as “an ode to the bond between father and son” and a true underdog story.

  • Emily Blunt to star in criminal-conspiracy film ‘Pain Hustlers’

    Emily Blunt to star in criminal-conspiracy film ‘Pain Hustlers’

    Actress Emily Blunt will star in ‘Pain Hustlers’, a criminal-conspiracy film directed by ‘Fantastic Beasts’ director David Yates that will be introduced to buyers at Cannes. According to ‘Variety’, from a script by ‘The True American’ writer Wells Tower, the film is produced by Lawrence Grey through his Grey Matter Productions banner and Wychwood Pictures. The movie’s official logline reads: “Dreaming of a better life for her and her young daughter, Liza Drake (Blunt), a high-school dropout, lands a job with a failing pharmaceutical start-up in a yellowing strip mall in Central Florida.” “Liza’s charm, guts and drive catapult the company and her into the high life, where she soon finds herself at the centre of a criminal conspiracy with deadly consequences. In the vein of ‘The Big Short’, ‘American Hustle’ and ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’, ‘Pain Hustlers’ is a hilarious, dramatic and wild journey to the corrupt heart of the American dream.” BAFTA-winning filmmaker Yates is fresh off the release of his third ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore’. Golden Globe winner Blunt most recently starred in ‘Jungle Cruise’, and will next appear in Christopher Nolan’s World War II epic ‘Oppenheimer’.

              Source: IANS

  • Chintan Shivir: Congress moots ‘one family, one ticket’ formula, but waiver for the Gandhis

    Udaipur (TIP)- Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday, May 13,  set the ball rolling for comprehensive organisational overhaul saying the party was in dire need of reforms and extraordinary situations called for extraordinary measures. Near-consensus has emerged in the party over the adoption of “one family, one ticket” formula, with waivers for leaders with an exceptional track record in an organisational role for at least five years.

    The waiver would cover the party’s ruling Gandhi family where party chief Sonia Gandhi and son Rahul have both been contesting Lok Sabha elections. Under the waiver, even AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra would have qualified for the ticket by the 2024 General Election. She assumed charge as the UP general secretary in January 2019. Kick-starting the three-day ‘Chintan Shivir’ of the party here, Sonia acknowledged serial electoral setbacks and the need for the Congress to change the way it worked, even as she assailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “keeping India in a state of permanent polarisation, brutalising minorities and resorting to wholesale reinvention of history”. Sonia’s crisp 16-minute speech delivered mixed messages on issues confronting the nation and challenges confronting the Congress.

    With G-23 members Ghulam Nabi Azad and Anand Sharma seated in the front alongside Rahul Gandhi, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot and Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, Sonia said cadre unity and collective effort was the only way forward to the party’s revival. The Congress chief questioned the PM on economic downslide and non-fulfilment of promises to farmers, calling upon the party to “fight the virus of divisiveness at all costs”. But it was the issue of Congress’ organisational atrophy that Sonia flagged most deeply, terming it “the most fundamental issue”.

    “The circumstances our organisation faces today are unprecedented. Such extraordinary situations demand extraordinary measures. Every organisation to live and prosper must reform itself. We are in dire need of reforms–changes in strategy, improvement in the organisation and transformation in the way Congress functions on a daily basis,” she said to 422 delegates who were made to pack off cell-phones in hired lockers to prevent leaks to the media, as they proceeded to commence panel discussions at a posh local resort here. Source: TNS

  • Supreme Court refuses to stop Varanasi’s Gyanvapi Mosque survey

    Supreme Court refuses to stop Varanasi’s Gyanvapi Mosque survey

    New Delhi (TIP)- The Supreme Court on Friday, May 13,  declined to immediately stop the survey of Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi, saying the matter would have to be considered in due course. Seeking an urgent intervention from Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana, senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi pleaded for a status quo in the case pending before the Varanasi civil court, which on Thursday directed a day-to-day survey of a mosque to inspect, conduct videography and collect evidence regarding the alleged existence of Hindu deities inside the mosque located next to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. “A survey has been directed in relation to the Varanasi property. This is covered under the Places of Worship Act. Now, the court has ordered a court commissioner to conduct a survey. This has been a mosque since time immemorial,” Ahmadi submitted.

    The senior lawyer, who appeared for Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee that manages the Gyanvapi mosque, pressed for an order of the status quo.

    But the CJI responded: “We have not seen the papers. We don’t even know what is the matter. I don’t know anything…how can I pass an order. I will read and then pass orders…let me see.”

    In a suit filed jointly by five Hindu women, the Varanasi court last month ordered an inspection of the premises through advocate commissioner Ajai Kumar Mishra. The civil court order was affirmed by the Allahabad high court on April 26. The women asked for year-long access to pray at a shrine behind the western wall of the mosque complex. The site is currently opened for prayers once a year. The women also want permission to pray to other “visible and invisible deities within the old temple complex”. Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee filed a plea before the civil court to remove the advocate commissioner. A day ago, the civil court ordered a full survey of the Gyanvapi Mosque complex, rejecting the demands of the mosque management to limit the inquiry to certain parts of the precincts and remove the present surveyor. The judge retained Mishra as the advocate commissioner, who was appointed last month to carry out the survey while adding two more lawyers, Vishal Singh and Ajay Pratap Singh, to the commission that will inspect, and conduct videography and collect evidence regarding the alleged existence of Hindu deities. It directed Mishra and Vishal Singh to conduct the survey.

  • Pak-based Jaish behind the killing of Kashmiri Pandit Rahul Bhat

    The terrorists belonging to Pak-based and globally proscribed Jaish-e-Mohammad are suspected to be involved in the killing of the Kashmiri Pandit government employee Rahul Bhat in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district.

    According to intelligence inputs, the Jaish-e-Mohammad group has been desperate to take action against the minority community in order to keep the terror plot boiling. “After the fall of Afghanistan to Islamist Taliban and globally designated Haqqani network the Jaish-e-Mohammad leadership based in Bahawalpur believes that they can also take on the might of Indian security forces,” said a senior security official.

    While the JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar runs a terror factory from Bahawalpur, the Pakistan government for the record has told the FATF that the terror kingpin cannot be located and presumably not in Pakistan. The Jaish-e-Muhammad’s desperation can be gauged by the fact that two of its terrorists were neutralised in an encounter with the security forces which had erupted after a search operation in an area adjacent to the Sunjwan military station in Jammu a fortnight ago. One of the terrorists had also worn a suicidal vest and had planned a suicide attack in Jammu, the security forces had said.

  • A Fundraising musical concert for Sai Baba Temple and Cultural Center

    NORTH BRUNSWICK (TIP): Sai Pariwar, Inc. organized fundraising musical concert on Sunday,  May 8, 2022, attended by more than 300; County Commissioner Shanti Narra & State utility commissioner Upendra Chivukula attended; New Sai Temple construction to begin soon in North Brunswick, New Jersey:

    Sai Pariwar, Inc. & Sai Mandir in North Brunswick, New Jersey, a 501 (c) (3), non-profit organization which was established 22 years ago, organized a fundraising event on Sunday, May 8, 2022, at Balaji Temple Auditorium in Bridgewater, New Jersey.  The fundraising event was attended by more than 300 people for a melodious Bollywood musical extravaganza with local talented group of singers and musicians who performed for more than four hours of musical melodies from old to Golden era to newer songs with some talented young and veteran singers from the local area.  The highlight of the musical concert was live music from young talented artists with their melodious voices of some beautiful devotional, romantic and peppy songs.  More than 20 singers and musicians performed on the stage with some solo, duets and choruses which were applauded by many , and many performances received standing ovations. The Middlesex County Commissioner and former Councilwoman of North Brunswick Shanti Narra, former Assemblyman of New Jersey State and current New Jersey State Utility Commissioner Upendra Chivukula, Chairman of MANA TV Sridhar Chillara, Chairman of Indus TV Vijay Garg and many prominent individuals from the Indian American community attended the event to extend their support in this noble cause.   Mr. Chivukula and Ms. Narra both urged everyone to support and come forward to contribute toward this wonderful cause. Talented Madhavi Bathula served as the host for this concert and did an amazing job to keep the audience engaged with her unique style.

    The Sai Mandir, North Brunswick (Sai Pariwar), have acquired land in Central New Jersey area in North Brunswick Township, on Route 130, next to Shoprite Complex,  to build Baba Temple and Cultural Center, that will be the spiritual abode of not only Sri Shirdi Saibaba, but other Hindu Deities.  Currently, the temple management is working with the township and architects to get construction permits approved which will be completed in the near future.   The current temple in North Brunswick is in the warehouse areas and the property is very old with logistical challenges of parking and limited access to special needs and handicapped devotees.  The new temple will allow the devotees an opportunity to have facility to worship at a location which is safer with ample parking, basic needs and equipped with technologies required in the 21st century.

    The goal of Sai Pariwar is to raise 3 million dollars to complete the construction of new temple in the upcoming years.   The Sai Pariwar Board of Trustees and committee are requesting all devotees to contribute generously and also reach out to their friends, families and other acquaintances for their generous support, so they can start meeting financial goals of construction and other work for the new temple.  The new temple will bring Indian American communities and devotees together, so that our future generations will have a place to pray at Baba’s feet and to carry on our traditions, culture, values and heritage.  The temple management is sincerely urging everyone for extending their generous contributions and support in this project while offering them the chance to reach our affluent and growing Indian community in Central Jersey area.  Your generous donations/contributions will ensure temple management can meet the financial needs for the construction of a new temple in highly populated Indian Americans in Central Jersey area.

    The major media supporters for this fundraising event were Indus TV, MANA TV/TV 5, GNN, ITV Gold, Parikh Worldwide media, TV Asia, Akila News, Radio Dil, Radio Zindagi, Divyabhaskar.com, masalajunction.com, Gujarat Darpan, Gujarat Samachar and Hi India.   The contributions for the new temple construction can be given at www.saipariwar.org/donations.  For further information about the new temple construction, donations or sponsorships for the future events, please feel free to contact Surendra Katthula aka Guruji at 732-306-9365 or Anil Bhatt at 732-727-2757 or visit Sai Pariwar website at www.saipariwar.org.

    (Based on a press release issued by Dr. Tushar Patel and Surendra Katthul )

  • IIT Kanpur Delegation Visits New York

    IIT Kanpur Delegation Visits New York

    Grand Event Held to Felicitate Distinguished Alumni of IITK

    Members of the IIT Kanpur delegation with the Consul General Randhir Jaiswal (5th from left) and Deputy Consul General (2nd from right)

    NEW YORK (TIP): IITK delegation, led by IIT Kanpur Director, Prof. Abhay Karandikar, made their first pit-stop at New York to hold formal interactions with alumni at an event held in Indian Consulate on 8 May 2022.

    Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Indian Consul General, was the Guest of Honour. The event was attended by Dr Varun Jeph, Deputy Consul General, along with about 75 eminent alumni. Distinguished alumni of IITK, Dr. Dev Joneja, Prof. Shivendra Panwar, and Mr. Ranjan Tandon were felicitated at the event as they could not attend Distinguished Alumnus Award and Distinguished Services Award ceremonies of IITK due to Covid-19 pandemic.

    As one of the top benefactors of IITK, Dr. Dev Joneja and Mr. Anil Bansal addressed the gathering and encouraged alumni to give back to the Institute. IITK delegation team consists of Prof. S. Ganesh, Deputy Director, IITK, Prof. Yogesh M. Joshi, Mr. Kapil Kaul, CEO, IITK Development Foundation. The delegation is traveling across the US to meet its alumni to strengthen its relations and chart the future road map of the Institute.

    (Based on a press release)

  • Indian American Sikh attacked in a robbery bid

    Indian American Sikh attacked in a robbery bid

    RICHMOND HILL, NY (TIP): In less than a month and a half a third targeted attack on an Indian American  Sikh has taken place in Queens neighborhood of Richmond Hill, which is considered a neighborhood dominated by Punjabis. Kuldip Singh, 62  who hails from Dasuya in Hoshiarpur ( Punjab) was taking a walk at around 10.30 in the morning of Sunday,  May 8 near his home in 115 Street between Liberty Avenue and 107 Avenue in Richmond Hill when a Black young man between 25 and 30 years on a bicycle stopped by him, threw his bike on the road, took out a pistol and asked for money. Kuldeep said told The Indian Panorama  that he impulsively caught hold of the Black guy’s right arm  in which he was holding the gun. What followed was a kind of wrestling  match between the two. The young man proved stronger than the old Kuldeep Singh and punched him ferociously.

    As a result, Kuldeep Singh suffered a few injuries on many parts of the body, including a fractured  nose and  a fractured finger of the left hand. The assailant managed to escape. The incident – the third attack on a Sikh- in the neighborhood has shocked and angered the community. A  Sikh community leader Harpreet Singh Toor said that the community should get together and instead of being silent spectators should come immediately to the rescue of a victim. Many  people in the Sikh community have  expressed admiration for the courage of Kuldip Singh who instead of sheepishly handing over the wallet faced the assailant. In the ongoing investigation, the police have impounded the attacker’s bicycle and the hunt for the assailant is on. The Indian Panorama contacted Kuldip Singh on May 13 evening to know about his health. He complained of terrible pain in his spine and head.

  • Massive fire at medical college in Amritsar; three floors of the building have been damaged

    Massive fire at medical college in Amritsar; three floors of the building have been damaged

    AMRITSAR (TIP): A major mishap was averted at Government Medical College, Amritsar, after fire engulfed a hospital building near the X-Ray department. The hospital employees claimed the fire started from an electricity transformer in the parking area behind the building. The patients admitted in different wards of the building were timely evacuated by the hospital employees and their attendants. The fire could be controlled only after 40 minutes when the fire tenders reached the place. The three floors of the building have been damaged. The hospital authorities stated that no one has received any injuries. Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has expressed anguish over the incident. He wrote on Twitter that he was monitoring the relief work and Minister Harbhajan Singh had reached the spot. The loss to the medical equipment and building is yet to be assessed.

    (Source: TNS)

  • U.S. Congressional Candidate Victoria Virasingh (VA-8) Approaches Virginia Election

    U.S. Congressional Candidate Victoria Virasingh (VA-8) Approaches Virginia Election

    ARLINGTON, V.A.(TIP): Victoria Virasingh is a progressive Democrat running to represent Virginia’s 8th Congressional District. Her campaign is breaking barriers, inspiring new voter participation in the political process, and getting backed by organizations across the country. As the only Democratic primary occurring in Virginia and one in a reliably blue district, this is certainly a race to pay attention to. Virasingh, daughter of immigrants, was born and raised in Arlington. Given that 48 percent of residents in VA-08 are minorities, her lived experience as a Latina-Asian American provides her with unique insights to the everyday struggles that many in her community face. With valuable professional experience in government, non-profit, and private sectors, Virasingh is running for Congress to address these challenges once and for all, and she’s leading the way for more young women of color to follow. Virasingh is the both the first Latina and first Asian to ever be on the ballot for this race. She is the second woman to ever be on the ballot for this race and is the youngest to ever run for this position.

    Being the first at anything is often trying. Nevertheless, Virasingh has risen to this occasion with a strong community cheering for her success. Her campaign submitted 1,628 signatures of locals who support her candidacy, surpassing the required 1,000 signatures. In terms of financial support, she decided not to accept any money from PACs and has instead raised funds from over 1,000 individual donors.

    Moved by Virasingh’s compassion, pragmatism, bravery, and boldness, multiple national organizations have endorsed her campaign for Congress. One is Barrier to Entry PAC, which “supports candidates and campaign staff from working class backgrounds as they carve their paths in the Democratic political space.” Another is Her Bold Move who wants “to shatter every glass ceiling that still exists in our government – including the one in the oval office – by electing women to seats that have historically only been held by men.”Victoria Virasingh is the daughter of the district, a bold leader, and a fighter for the people. She’s running for U.S. Congress in VA-08  to shape a future that works for all of us. Learn more about her campaign by visiting: https://www.victoriaforcongress.com. Early voting in Virginia begins Friday, May 6 and the primary election day is Tuesday, June 21. Victoria Virasingh will be the first name on the ballot! For more information about voting, visit the Virginia Department of Elections: https://www.elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/calendars-schedules/upcoming-elections.html.

  • Midwest Punjabi Association (MPA) in collaboration with the Consulate General of India set the precedent for paying tribute to “The Martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre”

    CHICAGO,  IL (TIP): The celebration of Punjabi Virsa (Punjabi Heritage) organized by the Midwest Punjabi Association (MPA) in collaboration with the Consulate General of India set the precedent for paying the perfect tribute to the martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. The event was organized on May 1st, 2022 at Ashton Place, Willowbrook, IL as part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav to celebrate Vaisakhi and pay tribute to the martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, CG Amit Kumar, Mayor Rodney Craig, Mayor Tom Daily, Mayor Dr. Gopal Lalmalani, trustee Syed Hussaini along with other elected officials and community leaders graced the event.  Mr. Gurmeet Singh Dhalwan, President, Midwest Punjabi Association gave a brief introduction of the event and briefed the guests about the past activities and upcoming initiatives of Midwest Punjabi Association. He proudly mentioned the guidance given by Mr.Ranjit Singh.

    He said keeping in mind the spirit of Ek Bharat Shresth Bhara , Midwest Punjabi Association has decided to pay tribute One author from Punjabi ,one from regional language and one from regional language and one from our national language Hindi. We will continue and take forward the spirit of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav in all years to come.We all know Gurmeet Singh Dhalwan is a well-known name in the media industry and the Founder President of Adbhhut Media Newspaper and Channel. Dhalwan is an entrepreneur with more than two decades of experience in wholesale & retail business. He is the Founder President of Midwest Punjabi Association, (MPA) a Non-Profit Organization. He is also a member of cultural inclusion and diversity committee/commission Village of Hanover Park, IL. He is a community leader, social worker, and a Philanthropist.

    CG Amit Kumar in his inaugural remarks commended the organizers for their unique initiative to throw light on the tragic event through writings and reflections of noted authors like Sardar Nanak Singh, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore and Subhadra Kumari Chauhan.  He spoke about the impact of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on the national freedom struggle with the public sentiment across the length and breadth of India turning decisively against the colonial rule.

    The master of the ceremony was Prachi Jaitly. The program started with rendition of Gurbani Kirtan by Bhai Jagat Singh Dilliwale and Bhai Bhagat Singh Chicagowale, followed by presentations / recital of Gurudev Tagore’s poems and poems from the Punjabi collection of poems Khooni Vaisakhi, written by Sardar Nanak Singh. A message from Amb (Retd) Navdeep Singh Suri, who is Nanak Singh’s grandson and who translated the poems into English, was played. Navdeep Suri,s video message was followed by the beautiful poetic tribute skillfully crafted by Charandeep Singh along with some of the finest poetic talents like Raj Lally Batala, Jasbir Kaur Mann, Rakesh Malhotra, Dr. Taufiq Ansari Ahmed, Dr. Afzal-ur-Rehman Afsar, Rakind Kaur, and Suneeta Malhotra. The narration of the performance was done by Prachi Jaitly. There was also a Kathak dance performance by Shiwali Varshney Tenner based on the poem “Jallianwale Bagh mein Basant” written by Subhadra Kumari Chauhan and a poetry session with local prominent poets of Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi. Bratasree Roy Biswas is also performed Indian classical dance ‘Rabindra Natya Nritya’ which is a form of dance drama based on poems, song and novels composed by the Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore from Bengal. The performance depicted how the epic author had returned his knighthood in protest of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in the 1919.

    Adding more spark to the event Gurmeet and team proudly announced the launch of his sparkling logo ‘GSD’ in the presence of dignitaries and remarkable organizations from Chicagoland. Logo is the actual reflection of though and dreams. The logo was initially acknowledged with greetings from legendary actor Kamal Hasan and was further showered with best wishes & initials of local guests of honor, congratulating the new founder-president as he embarks on his new venture. Participating Indian American associations included the FIA-1980; Artists Association of North America, Bengali Association of Greater Chicago (BAGC), Punjabi Cultural Society, Michigan; Kalman de Ang Sang; Urdu Samaj of Chicago; Dramatech of America; Guru Ladho Re Seva Society, Wisconsin; Swera (Sikh Women Era); and Punjabi Americans Organization (PAO) Saneevani4U; etc.

    The Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place on 13 April 1919. A large peaceful crowd had gathered at the Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, Punjab to protest against the oppressive Rowlatt Act. In response to the public gathering, general Dyer surrounded the protesters. The Jallianwala Bagh could only be exited on one side, as its other three sides were enclosed by buildings. After blocking the exit with his troops, he ordered them to shoot at the crowd, continuing to fire even as the protestors tried to flee. The troops kept on firing until their ammunition was exhausted. Estimates of those killed vary between 379 and 1500+ people and over 1,200 other people were injured of whom 192 were seriously injured.

    It was one-of-a-kind programs that was purely dedicated to Jallianwala massacre victims and paying tribute to their sacrifice with pure patriotism. A special tribute was paid to the former MPA Vice President Alok Suri who passed away recently. The event was supported and sponsored by Anil and Chandni Kalra of Northwest Realty, Pinky Dinesh Thakkar, Syed Hussaini, Standard Home Care, Amrik Singh of Amar Carpet, Iftekar Sharif, Jesse Singh, Remax, Anil Loomba, HMSI, Brij Sharma of Powervolt, Ashton Place, Puneet Sawhney, Lucky Sahota, Dr Vikram Gill.

    (Press Release and photos / Asian Media USA)

  • May 13 New York & Dallas E – Edition

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  • Babbar Khalsa, Pakistan’s ISI behind Mohali explosion: Police

    Babbar Khalsa, Pakistan’s ISI behind Mohali explosion: Police

    Chandigarh (TIP)- The Punjab Police has arrested five people in connection with the RPG attack at its Mohali office and pointed at the nexus of militant outfit Babbar Khalsa International and Pakistan’s spy agency ISI. Addressing a press conference here on Friday, May 13, Punjab Director General of Police V K Bhawra said a sixth accused is in police custody in a separate case.

    The plot behind the incident has been traced and a nexus between militant outfit Babbar Khalsa International and gangsters at the behest of Pakistan’s ISI has come to the fore, he said.

    The DGP said key conspirator Lakhbir Singh, a resident of Tarn Taran, is a close associate of gangster-turned-terrorist Harvinder Singh Rinda. Rinda is believed to be in Pakistan. Bhawra said the five arrested include those who provided shelter, logistic support and the weapon to those who carried out the explosion.

    The three people involved in firing the rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) are still wanted, he said. The DGP said Tarn Taran resident Nishan Singh, an accused in the case, is already under the custody of the Faridkot police in some other case. He will be arrested in this case too, he said. Nishan Singh is facing several criminal cases, including one related to attempt to murder and another under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

    In an audacious attack on Monday, a rocket-propelled grenade was fired at the state police’s intelligence wing headquarters in Mohali’s Sector 77. Windowpanes on one of the floors of the building were shattered because of the explosion. No one was injured in the incident.

    Source: PTI

  • Ranil Wickremesinghe returns as Lankan PM

    Ranil Wickremesinghe returns as Lankan PM

    COLOMBO (TIP): Opposition leader and former premier Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn-in as Sri Lanka’s 26th Prime Minister on Thursday, days after his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa was forced to resign following violent protests over the worst economic crisis in the debt-ridden island nation.

    The 73-year-old United National Party (UNP) leader took oath before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at a ceremony in the President’s office after they held closed-door discussions over formation of a new government to address the economic crisis. “My best wishes to the newly appointed PM, who stepped up to take on the challenging task of steering our country through a very turbulent time. I look forward to working with him to make Sri Lanka strong again,” President Gotabaya tweeted along with a picture of him and Wickremesinghe.

    Sri Lanka was without a government since Monday when Gotabaya’s elder brother and former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned after violence erupted following an attack on the anti-government protesters by his supporters. The attack triggered widespread violence against Rajapaksa loyalists, leaving nine dead.

    Mahinda quickly tweeted a congratulatory message to Wickremesinghe. He is under protection at a naval base following violent attacks on his aides. Members of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and some from the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and several other parties said they would back Wickremesinghe in Parliament, according to reports. However, several factions opposed the move to appoint Wickremesinghe as the new Prime Minister.

    Four-time PM

    Wickremesinghe, a lawyer-turned politician who has been in Parliament for 45 years, has served as PM on four previous occasions. He was fired from the post by then President Maithripala Sirisena in October 2018. He was reinstalled after two months

    He is widely accepted as a man who could manage the economy with far-sighted policies, and is perceived as the Sri Lankan politician who could command international cooperation

    Ex-PM of Sri Lanka sends wishes

    Congratulations to the newly appointed Prime Minister. I wish you all the best as you navigate these troubled times. — Mahinda Rajapaksa, former Lanka PM

    India hopes for political stability

    The High Commission of India hopes for political stability and looks forward to working with the Government of Sri Lanka formed in accordance with democratic processes. India’s commitment to the people of Sri Lanka will continue. — Indian High Commission

    President of India congratulates

    My best wishes to the newly appointed PM, who stepped up to take on the challenging task of steering our country through turbulent times. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Lanka President.

    (Source: PTI/TNS)

  • Doyen of Punjabi singing Satinder Sartaaj to perform in New York on May 15

    Doyen of Punjabi singing Satinder Sartaaj to perform in New York on May 15

    HICKSVILLE, NY (TIP): One of the best-known Punjabi singers of all times, Satinder Sartaaj is on a singing tour of the US. He is scheduled to perform at the Colden Center auditorium in Queens, New York  on May 15th evening.

    The organizer  of the show  Balwinder Singh Bajwa hosted a meet and greet for Sartaaj  at Antun’s in Hicksville on Thursday, May 12th. Bajwa who has promoted more entertainment shows than any other in the Punjabi community in the US described Sartaaj as a singer in the best Sufi tradition whose songs are rich in poetry and deal with the beauty of mind and soul. He is the best among the best Punjabi singers , Bajwa said.

    Speaking in his characteristic mellifluous tone, Sartaaj made a passionate plea for the need to preserve and promote Punjabi culture abroad. He said he loves Nature, and  he sings Nature. He has always wished to remain rooted to his cultural values. That explains the Sufi tradition in his singing.

    Harry Singh Bolla, a prominent Punjabi businessman and one with charitable disposition who patronizes culture and art and every worthwhile community endeavor observed that the younger Punjabi generation in the US is not familiar with much of their culture and suggested that a concerted effort should be made for the promotion of the rich Punjabi cultural heritage. Bolla had a lot of praise for Sartaaj who he described as a singer who truly promoted the best in the Punjabi culture. Bolla also praised Bajwa for his contribution to promoting Punjabi culture through his entertainment shows. Prof. Indrajit S Saluja made a request to Sartaaj who, he said is  a widely traveled man,  and one who has interacted with lots of people , including the young, to suggest how best the objective of inculcating the  Punjabi cultural values  among the Punjabi youth could be achieved. The event was well navigated by the well-known master of Ceremonies Sherry Datta and Pardeep Singh of the Global Punjab TV.

  • Delhi fire: Cops identify 7 bodies, 29 still missing; death toll likely to rise

    Delhi fire: Cops identify 7 bodies, 29 still missing; death toll likely to rise

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Day after a massive building fire in outer Delhi’s Mundka claimed 27 lives, frantic relatives were still searching for their loved ones as police said 29 people were unaccounted for. According to the Fire Department, the death toll could rise up to 30 as charred remains were found in the building during cooling operations on Saturday morning. Twelve injured were undergoing treatment at a hospital here. They said the four-story building, which did not have a fire safety certificate, had a single entry and exit point which could have been the reason for the high number of casualties. “The building had a single escape route which is why there were so many casualties. Twenty-seven people have died,” Chief Fire Officer Atul Garg said.

    Officials said there was only one narrow staircase for entry and exit which made escape from the burning building difficult. Garg said it is suspected that an explosion in an AC may have triggered the fire.

    Harish Goel and his brother Varun Goel, owners of a CCTV camera and router manufacturing and assembling company, from whose office the fire is suspected to have started, have been arrested, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer) Sameer Sharma said. Garg added it was difficult to ascertain whether the remains found on Saturday morning were of one person or more.

    Of the 27 deceased, seven have been identified so far as Tania Bhushan, Mohini Pal, Yashoda Devi, Ranju Devi, Vishal, Drishti and Kailash Jyani, the DCP said.

    Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy, Manish Sisodia, visited the spot-on Saturday. The chief minister announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured in the fire, which started from the first floor of the building.

    Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal said he was “deeply pained” by the loss of lives in the tragedy and called for immediate steps to prevent such incidents in the future. He also extended his condolences to the bereaved families. Distraught relatives of those who have not been found yet thronged the Sanjay Gandhi Hospital on Friday night looking for information about them.

    One of them, Ajit Tiwari, said his sister Monika (21) had started working for the company just a month back.

    “She received her first salary on Thursday. We got to know about the fire at 5 pm but had no idea that the blaze occurred at her office building. When she did not return home by 7 pm, we started looking for her,” he said.

    Monika lives with her two brothers and a sister in Delhi’s Agar Nagar. She is from Gonda district in Uttar Pradesh.

    Another woman was seen frantically looking for her elder daughter, who also works at the CCTV camera packaging unit. “My daughter Pooja has been working at the CCTV camera packaging unit for the last three months. We live in Mubarakpur and got to know about the incident at 9 pm. She has a cut mark below her left eye. We are looking for her at various hospitals. She is the sole breadwinner of our family of four. Her two younger sisters study in a school,” she said. Ankit, who works at one of the offices in the building, said a motivational session was underway on the second floor when the fire broke out. “I am very fortunate that I am alive. I could have also lost my life. A motivational session was going on at the second floor of the building when we noticed the blaze. We broke the glass windows and somehow managed to escape,” he added.

    Deepa Verma, Director of the Forensic Science Laboratory, Rohini, said two teams, including senior experts, are working at the spot. “They will collect samples for the purpose of identification and collection,” she said, adding that these will be handed over to the investigating officer.

    Charred human remains have also been found, so possibly a forensic DNA examination would be carried out to ascertain the identity of the deceased, she said. According to DCP Sharma, an FIR has been registered against the owners of the CCTV camera packaging unit under sections 304 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 120 (concealing design to commit offence punishable with imprisonment) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code. All floors of the building were being used by the same company, he said. The building’s owner, Manish Lakra, has also been booked, the police said. So far, identities of all but one of the 12 injured people have been ascertained. According to a list released by the district magistrate of West Delhi, they are Satish (38), Pradeep (36), Ashu (22), Harjeet (23), Nitin (24), Avinash (29), Sandhya (22), Dhanvanti (21), Bimla (43), Ayesha (24) and Mamta (52).

    (Source: PTI)

  • $44 billion Twitter deal ‘temporarily on hold’ over data on fake accounts; stocks slump

    $44 billion Twitter deal ‘temporarily on hold’ over data on fake accounts; stocks slump

    NEW YORK (TIP): Elon Musk tweeted on Friday, May 13,  that his $44-billion cash deal for Twitter Inc was “temporarily on hold” while he waits for the social media company to provide data on the proportion of its fake accounts, says a Reuters report. Twitter shares initially fell more than 20% in premarket trading, but after Musk, the chief executive of electric car market Tesla Inc, sent a second tweet saying he remained committed to the deal, they regained some ground.

    The shares were down 8.6% to $41.19 in midday trading on Friday, a steep discount to the $54.20 per share acquisition price. Musk, the world’s richest person, decided to waive due diligence when he agreed to buy Twitter on April 25, in an effort to get the San Francisco-based company to accept his “best and final offer.” This could make it harder for him to argue that Twitter somehow misled him.

    Since then, technology stocks have plunged amid investor concerns over inflation and a potential economic slowdown. The spread between the offer price and the value of Twitter shares had widened in recent days, implying less than a 50% chance of completion, as investors speculated that the downturn would prompt Musk to walk or seek a lower price.

    “Twitter deal temporarily on hold pending details supporting calculation that spam/fake accounts do indeed represent less than 5% of users,” Musk told his more than 92 million Twitter followers.

    Twitter is planning no immediate action as a result of Musk’s comment, people familiar with the matter said. The company considered the comment disparaging and a violation of the terms of their deal contract, but was encouraged by Musk subsequently tweeting he was committing to the acquisition, the sources added. Musk came to Twitter’s office for a meeting on May 6 as part of the transaction planning process, a Twitter spokesperson said. There was no immediate reaction from the investors that Musk tapped last week to raise $7.1 billion in funding.

    Spam or fake accounts are designed to manipulate or artificially boost activity on services like Twitter. Some create an impression that something or someone is more popular. Musk tweeted a Reuters story from ten days ago that cited the fake account figures. Twitter has said that the figures were an estimate and that the actual number may be higher. The estimated number of spam accounts on the microblogging site has held steady below 5% since 2013, according to regulatory filings from Twitter, prompting some analysts to question why Musk was raising it now. “This 5% metric has been out for some time. He clearly would have already seen it… So it may well be more part of the strategy to lower the price,” said Susannah Streeter, an analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown.

    Representatives for Musk did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters.

    Tesla’s stock rose 4% on Friday morning. The shares have lost about a quarter of their value since Musk disclosed a stake in Twitter of April 4, amid concerns he will get distracted as Tesla’s chief executive and that he may have to sell more Tesla shares to fund the deal.

    There is plenty of precedent for a potential renegotiation of the price following a market downturn. Several companies repriced agreed acquisitions when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in 2020 and delivered a global economic shock. In one instance, French retailer LVMH threatened to walk away from a deal with Tiffany & Co. The U.S. jewelry retailer agreed to lower the price by $425 million to $15.8 billion.

    Acquirers seeking a get out sometimes turn to “material adverse effect” clauses in their merger agreement, arguing the target company has been significantly damaged. But the language in the Twitter deal agreement, as in many recent mergers, does not allow Musk to walk away because of a deteriorating business environment, such as a drop in demand for advertising or because Twitter’s shares have plunged.

    Musk is contractually obligated to pay Twitter a $1 billion break-up fee if he does not complete the deal, and the language in the deal contract appears to cap any damages that Twitter can seek from Musk to that level.

    But the contract also contains a “specific performance” clause that a judge can cite to force Musk to complete the deal. In practice, acquirers who lose a specific performance case are almost never forced to complete an acquisition and typically negotiate a monetary settlement with their targets. “The nature of Musk creating so much uncertainty in a tweet (and not a filing) is very troubling to us and the Street and now sends this whole deal into a circus show with many questions and no concrete answers as to the path of this deal going forward,” Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives wrote in a note. Musk has said that if he buys Twitter he “will defeat the spam bots or die trying” and has blamed the company’s reliance on advertising for why it has let spam bots proliferate.

    He has also been critical of Twitter’s moderation policy and has said he wants Twitter’s algorithm to prioritize tweets to be public and was against too much power on the service to corporations that advertise. Nevertheless, Musk is targeting advertising revenue to more than double by 2028, according to slides he presented to investors that were reported by the New York Times.

    Ads are expected to make up about 45% of Twitter’s total revenue by that time, down from nearly all of its revenue today, according to the investor presentation.

    Earlier this week, Musk said he would reverse Twitter’s ban on former U.S. President Donald Trump when he buys the social media platform, signaling his intention to cut moderation.

    Trump, who started a rival site called Truth Social, took to his own platform to weigh in on the fracas.

    “There is no way Elon Musk is going to buy Twitter at such a ridiculous price, especially since realizing it is a company largely based on bots or spam accounts,” Trump wrote in a post, adding that his site is much better.

  • 20 Punjabis in fray for Ontario provincial polls

    20 Punjabis in fray for Ontario provincial polls

    Major political outfits banking heavily on South Asians in general and Punjabis in particular

    MISSISAUGA (TIP): As many as 20 candidates of Punjab origin are in the fray for the Ontario provincial elections in Canada for which the polling is scheduled to be held on June 2 for all 123 constituencies.

    The three major political outfits – the Liberals, National Democratic Party (NDP) and the Progressive Conservative Party (PC) -are not only banking heavily on South Asians in general and Punjabis in particular, but they have also given “adequate representation” to their communities by fielding them.

    In the final list, Liberal Party and Progressive Conservative Party have fielded six Punjabi candidates each, New Democratic Party five, Green two and one will contest as an Independent. Most of the Punjabis are contesting from the 11 constituencies of Brampton and Mississauga suburbs of Toronto, dominated by the diaspora. The Progressive Conservative Party has fielded Hardeep Grewal from Brampton East, Amanjot Sandhu from Brampton West and Deepak Anand from Mississauga Malton. Liberals have fielded Jannat Garewal from Brampton East, Harinder Malhi from Brampton North, Rimmy Jhajj from Brampton West, Aman Gill from Mississauga Malton, Ruby Toor from Brantford Brant and Manpreet Brar from Essex.

    The NDP has fielded Sara Singh from Brampton Centre, Sandeep Singh from Brampton North, Navjot Kaur from Brampton West and Jasleen Kamboj from Thornhill. Green party has fielded Aneep Dhade from Brampton North and Mini Batra from Durham, while Manjot Sekhon is contesting from the Ontario party. Seven Punjabis who won in 2018 are again trying their luck. Prominent among them are Nina Tangri from Mississauga Streetville, Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism Parm Gill from Milton, President of the Ontario Treasury Board Parbmeet Sarkaria from Brampton South and NDP national president Jagmeet Singh’s younger brother Gurratan Singh from Brampton East.

    (Source: TNS)

  • Lesser explored treks of the Himalayas

    Lesser explored treks of the Himalayas

    If you are looking for an adventurous getaway, now would be an ideal time for it. This time around, trek through the lesser travelled areas of the Himalayas, and experience the magic of clear skies, colourful landscapes, and uninterrupted views of the lofty peaks. Take your pick.

    Solang Valley

    Located near Manali, at an altitude of about 2,560 m, Solang Valley offers a beautiful view of the snowclad Himayan range. A trek from Manali to Solang (16 km) is one of the best ways to reach the place. The trek will take you through paths with picturesque surroundings and deodar forests. Moreover, you won’t just find snow-capped mountains to gaze at; the trail is laden with apple orchards, a few old villages, and abundant lush green environs. Once at Solang, you can try out activities such as paragliding, zorbing, horse-riding, etc.

    Naggar

    A trek from Naggar, a quaint settlement in the Kullu district, to the village of Malana, takes about three days. Going through the Chanderkhani Pass is a part of the Naggar trek. It’s a great opportunity not just to marvel at the beauty of nature, but also to experience the selfless hospitality of the rural folk living in these mountainous areas. On your trail, you will come across villages like Rumsu and pastures like Shillu Pathar that are ideal to camp for the night. The descent to the village of Malana is steep. Therefore, it is important to be careful while trekking.

    Chalal

    Chalal is a small village situated very close to the small town of Kasol. It is located on the banks of the Parvati River and provides a much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of Kasol. This is a short trek, but it nevertheless proves to be an enthralling experience. The road to Chalal is scenic; the path runs along the river, which has huge boulders where one can relax in the middle of the trek. For anyone taking a trek to Rasol or higher, it is a good idea to stop by Chahal to rest or stalk up on supplies.

    Sandakphu

    Sandakphu, a part of the Singalila Ridge, is the highest peak of West Bengal. With an altitude of 3,636 m, the summit is a surreal experience, and is a must-see for people who love adventure treks. It is one of the few places that offers trekkers a majestic view of four of the tallest mountains in the world – Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse and Makalu – spread across India, Nepal, Bhutan and further. The trek to Sandakphu is a long one, and it is advisable to carry enough supplies to last through the journey. The distances between one pit stop and the next are quite long. Once you start your trek from Manebhanjan, which is about an hour’s drive from Darjeeling, it takes nearly four hours to reach Chitre. The trail is quiet steep, with a mixture of rocky, gravel-filled paths, as well as levelled land, which are easier for walking. The trail towards Kalipokhri is beautiful and you see an abundance of exotic, colourful birds. By the end of the day, you reach the small Black Lake of Kalipokhri – the sacred lake that never freezes, with Buddhist prayer flags hanging over it. You can camp at Kalipokhri and head out to Sandakphu the next morning, which is a relatively easier trek of about 6 km.

    Roopkund

    Situated at an altitude of 4,463 m, this is a moderately challenging trek. The Roopkund, or Skeleton, Lake, (several human skeletons were found at the site in 1942) is one of the sites that attracts adventure lovers. The challenging terrain is accompanied by picturesque sights of snow-capped mountains and the Bedni Bugyal  grasslands.

  • Buddha Purnima

    Buddha Purnima

    Buddha Purnima, traditionally known as Vesak or Vesakha,  is celebrated as Lord Gautama Buddha’s Birthday. Vaishakh Purnima is also called Buddha Purnima. Gautama Buddha’s name was first Prince Siddhartha Gautama. Buddha means ‘Knowledgeable and knowledgeable person’, Gautama Buddha is also known as Shakyamuni.

    Buddha Purnima is the biggest festival day for followers of Buddhism. Buddha was born on the full moon day. Buddha attained nirvana on the day of full moon and left this world on the day of Vaishakh sukla full moon. This day is celebrated as Buddha Purnima in the whole world. Several types of celebrations have been organized on this day. Celebrations are organized according to customs and culture of different countries in different countries.

    On this day devout Buddhists and followers assemble in various temples before dawn for the ceremonial and honourable hoisting of the Buddhist Flag.

    Devotees bring simple offerings of flowers, candles and joss-sticks to lay at the feet of their teacher. They come together to make a special effort to refrain from killing of any kind and are encouraged to partake in vegetarian food for this day.

    Certain temples observe the practice of displaying a small statue of Buddha in front of the altar in a basin filled with water and decorated with flowers. Devotees are allowed to pour water over the statue as a symbol of cleansing bad karma.

    Buddha Purnima also includes talks given by monks who engage in reciting verses uttered by Buddha 25 centuries ago to invoke peace and happiness.

    Celebrating this day does not involve festivities unlike other events, but works as a mean of making special efforts to bring happiness to the unfortunate, the aged, the handicapped and the sick.

    Celebrations around the world

    Japan

    The festival here, is based on a different legend that says, a dragon appeared in the sky on Buddha’s birthday and poured soma over him, which is a Vedic ritual drink. In the modern arena, Japan celebrates Vesak by pouring amacha, a sweet tea on statues.

    Nepal

    Nepal is home to Lumbini-birthplace of Buddha, and Swayambhu-the holy temple for Buddhists also known as the Monkey Temple. The main door of Swayambhu is opened only on this day; hence, people from all over Kathmandu valley are stimulated by the event. Pilgrims across the world gather in thousands to celebrate Buddha’s birthday at his birthplace.

    Sri Lanka

    Sri Lanka celebrates Vesak for about one week! During this time, the selling of alcohol and fresh meat is prohibited with abattoirs also being closed. The celebrations here include giving of alms and erection of pandals wherein each pandal illustrates a story from the Jataka Tales. Food stalls are set up by Buddhist devotees that provide eatables and drinks to passersby. Also birds, insects and animals are released by the thousands in what is known as a ‘symbolic act of liberation’; of giving freedom to those who are in captivity, imprisoned, or tortured against their will.

    Apart from these, other Asian countries like Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore also participate in processions and prayers by monks and make this day a true symbol of spirituality.

    What Do People Do?

    Many Buddhists visit temples on Vesak to listen to monks give talks and recite ancient verses. Devout Buddhists may spend all day in one or more temples. Some temples display a small statue of Buddha as a baby. The statue is placed in a basin filled with water and decorated with flowers. Visitors to the temple pour water over the statue. This symbolizes a pure and new beginning.

    Many Buddhists pay special attention to Buddha’s teachings during Vesak. They may wear white robes and only eat vegetarian food on and around Vesak. Many people also give money, food or goods to organizations that help the poor, the elderly and those who are sick. Caged animals are bought and set free to display care for all living creatures, as preached by Buddha.

    Public Life

    Government offices, post offices and banks are closed in India on Vesak. Stores and other businesses and organizations may be closed or have reduced opening hours. Transport is usually unaffected as many locals travel for religious celebrations.

    Background

    Gautama Buddha was a spiritual teacher in India. Many scholars are uncertain when he lived. It is believed that Buddha was born at some time between sixth and fourth centuries BCE. Opinions among scholars are generally divided between those who place Buddha’s death about 480 BCE and those who place it as much as a century later.

    Buddha was an influential spiritual teacher during and after his lifetime. Many Buddhists see him as the Supreme Buddha. Festivals to honor Buddha were held for many centuries. The decision to celebrate Vesak as the Buddha’s birthday was formalized at the first conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists. This conference was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in May, 1950. The date was fixed as the day of the full moon in May. Different Buddhist communities may celebrate Vesak on different dates in years when there are two full moons in May. This is because the Buddhist lunar calendar can be interpreted in different ways.

    Symbols

    The dharmacakra or dharma wheel is a symbol often seen during Vesak. It is a wooden wheel with eight spokes. The wheel represents Buddha’s teaching on the path to enlightenment. The eight spokes symbolize the noble eightfold path of Buddhism.

  • Supreme Court refuses to stay delimitation process in J&K

    Supreme Court refuses to stay delimitation process in J&K

    New Delhi (TIP)-  The Supreme court on Friday refused to stay the ongoing delimitation process in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Two Kashmir residents had challenged the government’s decision to constitute a delimitation commission for redrawing the assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies in the Union Territory.

    The delimitation panel had recommended increasing the assembly seats from 83 to 90 in the union territory.

    A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and MM Sundresh also issued notice to the Centre and Election Commission of India and sought their responses within six weeks and said that the rejoinder affidavit shall be filed in two weeks thereafter. The court has slated the hearing for August 30.

    During the hearing, Justice S K Kaul asked the Senior Advocate Ravi Shankar Jandhyala who was appearing for the petitioner, as to why the petition had raised issues on abrogation of article 370, which has essentially challenged the delimitation exercise undertaken in J&K pursuant to the notifications of 2020, 2021 and 2022.

    Justice Kaul stopped the counsel and said, “Be mindful of the language you use. Kashmir has always been a part of the country! Just a special provision was removed.” The bench then noted that the petitioners have not challenged the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution and therefore pleadings concerning Article 370 are to be ignored.

    The Court also asked Jandhyala as to why he had not challenged the constitution of delimitation that was formed two years ago. The counsel responded to this by saying that delimitation is a process to be undertaken only by the Election Commission and not by any other body.

  • NIA arrests Chhota Shakeel’s two aides in D-Company case

    New Delhi (TIP)- The National Investigation Agency (NIA) today said it had arrested two close aides of Pakistan-based gangster Chhota Shakeel for allegedly handling the illegal activities and financial transactions of the crime syndicate controlled by fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. The accused, identified as Arif Abubakar Shaikh (59) and Shabbir Abubakar Shaikh (51), were arrested on Thursday, May 12, an agency spokesperson said, adding that the former was arrested from Goregaon West in suburban Mumbai, while the latter was held from Mira Road East in Thane district. “Both of them were apprehended by a team of the NIA, which is probing the cases against D-Company — Dawood Ibrahim’s syndicate,” the official said, adding that the duo was closely associated with Shakeel and were involved in the cartel run by Ibrahim.

    Of late during searches at multiple locations in Mumbai and Thane, the NIA had also picked up many suspects for investigation, sources said, adding that the arrests of Arif and Shabbir were also in line with the agency’s ongoing probe into the alleged D-Company’s crime syndicate.

    During their interrogation, the NIA team found that Arif and Shabbir had carried out some transactions with Chhota Shakeel, following which they were arrested.

    The NIA had registered a suo moto case against the Dawood Ibrahim’s crime syndicate on February 3. Meanwhile, the International Criminal Police Organisation has issued a Red Corner Notice against Shakeel.        Source: TNS

  • India bans wheat exports with immediate effect to control rising domestic prices

    India bans wheat exports with immediate effect to control rising domestic prices

    New Delhi (TIP)-  India has banned wheat exports with immediate effect as part of measures to control rising domestic prices, according to official notification.

    However, the export shipments for which irrevocable letters of credit (LoC) have been issued on or before the date of this notification will be allowed, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification dated May 13.

    ‘The export policy of wheat … is prohibited with immediate effect…,’ the DGFT said.It also clarified that wheat exports will be allowed on the basis of permission granted by the Government of India to other countries to meet their food security needs and based on the request of their governments. In a separate notification, the DGFT announced the easing of export conditions for onion seeds.

    ‘The export policy of onion seeds has been put under the restricted category, with immediate fact,’ it said.

    The export of onion seeds was earlier prohibited. Official data released this week showed that retail inflation surged to an eight-year high in April due to high prices of fuel and food items.

    The ban on exports also comes amid disruption in global wheat supplies due to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine which are major exporters of the foodgrain. India’s wheat exports surged to 7 million tonnes, worth USD 2.05 billion, in 2021-22 due to strong global demand. Of the total wheat exports, around 50 per cent of shipments were exported to Bangladesh in the last fiscal, according to the DGFT data.

    The country exported around 963,000 tonnes of wheat this year against 130,000 tonnes in the same period last year.

    India was looking to export 10 million tonnes of wheat in 2022-23. The commerce ministry recently stated that India would send trade delegations to nine countries – Morocco, Tunisia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Turkey, Algeria and Lebanon  –  to explore possibilities of boosting wheat shipments. India’s wheat purchase have also declined sharply by 44 per cent to 16.2 million tonnes as of May 1 in the current Rabi marketing season due to heavy lifting by private traders and low arrivals in Punjab and Haryana.The government had procured 28.8 million tonnes of wheat in the year-ago period. The rabi marketing season runs from April to March. Private players have bought wheat at a price higher than the minimum support price amid increased demand for the grain for export. The Centre has set a target to procure a record 44.4 million tonnes of wheat in the 2022-23 marketing year as against an all-time high of 43.34 million tonnes in the previous marketing year. Amid lower purchase for the central pool, the Centre has stopped the sale of wheat under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) to bulk consumers and asked them not to wait for recommencement of the scheme for buying the grain.

    Source: PTI

  • India logs 2,858 fresh Covid-19 cases in 24 hours; Delhi records 899 new infections

    New Delhi (TIP)- India registered a total of 2,858 new cases in the last 24 hours, marking a 0.6% increase from yesterday. This brings the total caseload to 4,31,19,112. The top five states which registered the maximum fresh cases are Delhi with 899 cases, followed by Haryana with 439 cases, Kerala with 419 cases, Maharashtra with 263 cases and Uttar Pradesh with 175 cases. Of the new cases, 76.8% were reported from these five states, with Delhi alone responsible for 31.46% of the new cases. India’s active caseload stands at 18,096. In the last 24 hours, the number of active cases has declined by 508. A total of 11 deaths were reported in the country in the last 24 hours, increasing the total reported death count to 5,24,201.

    India’s recovery rate now stands at 98.74%. A total of 3,355 patients have recovered in the last 24 hours, which brings the total recoveries to 4,25,76,815 across the country.

    India has administered a total of 15,04,734 doses in the last 24 hours, which brings the total tally of doses administered to 1,91,15,90,370. A total of 4,86,628 samples were also tested in the last 24 hours.

    Earlier, the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) and the Council Of Scientific And Industrial Research (CSIR) developed India’s first indigenous mRNA (Messenger RNA) vaccine technology to fight against Covid-19.