Wrong-Side Driving May Cost You Your Licence In Gurgaon

Gurugram Police has decided to take stern action against those found driving on the wrong side of the road, including permanent termination of the driving license, said Assistant Commissioner of Police Preet Pal Singh on Wednesday.

“Commissioner of Police has decided that strict legal action will be taken against anyone who drives on the wrong side of a road in Gurugram. Traffic staff has also been directed to challan such drivers along with suspending their license. If the mistake is repeated, it will invite permanent termination of the license and it will not be issued to the person ever again,” said Singh while speaking to ANI.

While giving the data of road accidents in Gurugram, he said that “Based on Motor Vehicles Act; we challaned 49,671 people in 2019 for driving on the wrong side while the number stood at 39,765 in the year 2020.”

The police have decided that if any accident happens due to wrong side driving, then the accused will be charged under Section 304 (2) of Indian Penal Code and will be given a minimum of 10 years punishment.

“The roads are monitored with CCTV cameras. I request everyone to follow safety rules otherwise strict action will be taken. This is to ensure that people do not put their and others lives at risk. Many people lose their lives due to negligence,” Singh added. (ANI)

‘Will of People Heard’: Biden Sworn In As US President

In his first speech as US President, Joseph R Biden said that this was America’s day, democracy’s day and the will of the people has been heard.

Addressing the crowd after his swearing-in, Biden said: “This is America’s day. This is democracy’s day. The day of history and hope, of renewal and resolve. Through a crucible through the ages, America has been tested anew and America has risen to the challenge.”

He said the will of the people has been heard.

“We’ve learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile. And at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed,” he said.

Despite the violence that shook the Capitol earlier this month, Biden said that all people have come together, indivisible, to carry out a peaceful transfer of power, as it has been for over two centuries.

He also thanked his predecessors from both Republican and Democratic parties during his speech.

“I thank my predecessors of both parties for their presence here today. I thank them from the bottom of my heart… And I know the resilience of our Constitution and the strength, the strength of our nation, as does President Carter, who I spoke with last night, who cannot be with us today, but whom we salute for his lifetime in service,” Biden said.

“We can do great things, important things. We can right wrongs, we can put people in good jobs, we can teach our children in great schools, we can overcome the deadly virus, we can reward work and rebuild the middle class and make healthcare secure for all. We can deliver racial justice and we can make America, once again, the leading force for good in the world.”

He also called on all the American people to overcome the extraordinary challenges that face the country.

“To overcome these challenges, to restore the soul and secure the future of America requires so much more than words and requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy, unity,” Biden said.

However, the new president also spoke of ‘forces that divide us’, and said that ‘unity has always won out’.

“I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real. But I also know they are not new. Our history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal that we are all created equal, and the harsh ugly reality that racism, nativism, fear, demonization have long torn us apart,” he mentioned.

Biden, who is known around the world for his stint as the vice president during the Obama administration, became the oldest person ever sworn in as president of the country at 78.

His election comes at a time when the nation is struggling under the human and economic toll of a pandemic that has killed more than 380,000 Americans. Racial tensions, exacerbated by the departing president to whom they were weapons in his arsenal of disunion, remain to be addressed and healed. (ANI)

HC Grants Anticipatory Bail To ‘Tandav’ Director, 3 Others

The Bombay High Court has granted three weeks transit anticipatory bail to web series ‘Tandav’ director Ali Abbas Zafar and 3 others in an FIR registered in Uttar Pradesh to enable him to approach the appropriate court for regular pre-arrest bail, said Aniket Ujjwal Nikam, lawyer of the accused on Wednesday.

The lawyer said in a video statement on behalf of the accused that the web series has “not hurt the religious sentiments nor there was any intention to do so.”

“The Bombay High Court has granted 3 weeks transit anticipatory bail to the director, writer, producer and the content head of Tandav web series. We had argued before the Court that we have not hurt the religious sentiments nor there was any intention to do so,” Nikam said.

“We also sought relief of the transit bail primarily on the ground that we have to approach the local court for the purpose of appropriate relief and since the atmosphere over there seems to be surcharged and we apprehend the genuine threat of arrest and therefore in such a situation we requested that we may be granted transit bail. The honorable court considered our request and has granted 3 weeks transit anticipatory bail in order to move to the appropriate court at Uttar Pradesh for the appropriate relief,” he added.

An FIR has been registered at Lucknow’s Hazratganj Kotwali against Amazon Prime’s India head of original content Aparna Purohit, director of web series ‘Tandav’ Ali Abbas Zafar, its producer Himanshu Krishna Mehra, writer Gaurav Solanki and others for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Police PRO, DCP S Chaitanya said that an FIR has been registered against the makers and actors of web series ‘Tandav’ for hurting religious sentiments.

“The FIR have been registered under sections 153 (A), 295 (A) and 505 (2) IPC at Mumbai’s Ghatkopar Police station,” he said.

In the wake of the controversy over the release of web series ‘Tandav’, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Wednesday said that the central government should bring in legislation in regard to over-the-top (OTT) platforms.

“We have received a complaint regarding web series ‘Tandav’. Action will be taken as per the law. Central government should bring legislation in regard to over-the-top (OTT) platforms,” Deshmukh told reporters here.

‘Tandav’ creator Ali Abbas Zafar on Tuesday revealed that the cast and crew of the show have decided to implement changes in the Amazon Prime Video-based series in order to address the backlash against its content that has hurt religious sentiments of many viewers.

Zafar shared an official statement from the cast and crew of ‘Tandav’ on Twitter and reiterated that the team had no intentions to hurt or offend the sentiments of any caste, race, community or religion. (ANI)

ICC Calls India Test Cricket Star Rishabh ‘Spider-Pant’

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday dedicated a special ‘Spider-Pant’ song to laud India wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant for guiding his country to a win against Australia in the fourth Test at the Gabba.

Pant was seen singing ‘Spiderman-spiderman’ behind the stumps on the fourth day of the Test, and taking a cue from that, the ICC decided to dedicate an entire song to the wicket-keeper batsman.

“Spider-Pant, Spider-Pant. Does whatever a spider can. Hits a six, takes a catch. Guiding India to the match. Look out! Here comes the Spider-Pant,” tweeted ICC.

On Tuesday, Australia’s fortress — The Gabba — was finally breached. It took 32 years and two months, but the unthinkable was achieved as an injury-ravaged young Indian team beat Australia by three wickets against all odds to take the series 2-1.

Pant played an unbeaten inning of 89 runs in the fourth innings of the Gabba Test as India chased down the total of 328. This is the highest chase recorded at the Gabba, Brisbane. As India won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, BCCI also announced a cash bonus of Rs 5 crore.

The last time a visiting team came out triumphant from the Brisbane Cricket Ground was back in November 1988 when the mighty West Indian outfit under the leadership of Viv Richards thrashed Allan Border’s team by 9 wickets.

Virat Kohli had also returned home after the first Test as he along with his wife Anushka Sharma were expecting the birth of their first child. Kohli announced that they had been blessed with a baby girl on the very day when the Indian team played out of its skin to draw the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

In the first Test against Australia, India was bundled out for 36 and there were many pundits who said the visiting team will face a 4-0 drubbing. But proving every critic wrong, the Ajinkya Rahane-led side registered famous victories in Melbourne and Brisbane. The side also recorded an epic draw in Sydney and at every step, the line-up overcame adversity. (ANI)

Behind Gabba Heroes Stands Original ‘Wall’ — Rahul Dravid

By Nidhima Taneja

Moments after India registered a historic win over Australia at The Gabba on Tuesday, former India skipper Rahul Dravid started trending on Twitter. While most in India were aware of the cricketers winning the series against Australia, only a few die-hard cricket fanatics knew why Dravid’s name started dominating the ‘trending list’.

Rishabh Pant, Navdeep Saini, Shardul Thakur, T Natarajan, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar were the unsung heroes of India’s emphatic series-clinching win at Australia’s fortress – The Gabba. Until a week ago, nobody could have believed that these names would emerge as the match-winners. Except for one man, perhaps — Dravid.

The current National Cricket Academy (NCA) head was perhaps the only man who always believed in the humongous talent pool of budding cricketers in India. After all, he has worked closely with all of these boys as the India A and U-19 coach.

Interestingly, he was the one who had started the chain wherein a player needed to first play for India A before winning a national call-up. The result is there for all to see. The likes of Siraj have gained exponentially on such A tours.

Before the decider in Brisbane, the Australian bowling attack had a combined 1,013 wickets whereas the Indian XI had a meagre 13 wickets to their credit (including two of Rohit Sharma’s).

Despite the odds against them, the young brigade helped India retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy and snatched the win from the jaws of a formidable Australia outfit, the home team’s first loss at their den in 32 years and two months.

Famously hailed as ‘The Wall’ — Dravid needs no introduction. His heroics and records on the field are stuff of cricketing folklore. He retired from international cricket with an illustrious record of 24,208 runs, including 48 centuries, and is the only player in the history of cricket to be involved in two 300-plus ODI partnerships.

These credentials are enough for any retired cricketer to score a plushy comfortable job. But the former Indian skipper chose the road less taken. He decided to coach the junior sides (India Under-19 and India A). Around the end of his international career, he was already in a captain-cum-coach role with Rajasthan Royals.

Under his coaching, the U-19 team was runners-up at the 2016 World Cup and emerged victorious at the 2018 World Cup. However, it’s not the record books that are the driving force for India’s Mr. Dependable. The 2016 WC saw players like Pant emerge while the 2018 edition saw India’s new heartthrob Shubman Gill rise in stature.

Gill’s unbeaten 102 against arch-rivals Pakistan in the semi-final was the first time when the world took note of the opener. On Tuesday, he stamped his authority even on the international stage with a match-winning 91.

Going against the traditional approach, Dravid fuelled in new refreshing energy and mindset in young players. It was no longer about winning or losing matches. There was a new sheriff in town, and the rules of the game had to change!

Every player was to play an equal number of matches beyond which they were encouraged to play domestic first-class cricket. Coach Dravid kept the boys on their toes and believed in giving more chances to newcomers. He had once said if he continued keeping wickets because it was convenient, India would have never got MS Dhoni!

In the Dravid era, the players were consistently put under challenging situations, some would say their preparation was at par with India’s senior squad. Be it Pakistan or Bangladesh, the scale of preparation remained as rigorous.

The motive was clear. The former skipper wasn’t grooming the players to score fast runs, scalp wickets, and move on. He was strengthening the foundation of the sport in the country, creating a stronger base that was to make Indian cricket richer in the years to come.

The seeds he sowed bloomed into a jubilant triumph for India Down Under. After Virat Kohli left as his wife Anushka Sharma was expecting their first child, the bruised and battered Indian outfit fell into the lap of Ajinkya Rahane. With an exception of Chesteshwar Pujara, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravinder Jadeja, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah, prima facie most of the players were inexperienced and raw.

Nobody in their right mind would have placed a bet on India’s chances of retaining the trophy let alone win the series against an Aussie outfit which had a dangerous line-up of world-class players.

But the young brigade had paid attention when coach Dravid taught them: “There are opportunities to learn, and memories to make.”

The last time a visiting team emerged victorious at the Gabba was back in November 1988 when the mighty West Indian outfit led by Viv Richards crushed Allan Border’s Australia by 9 wickets. 32 years and two months later, Rahane’s injury-ravaged young team endured every pain, bruise, racial abuse and created history which they, perhaps, never set out for.

In hindsight, Dravid’s conscious effort to not focus on individuals and mould the potential of each person in his squad has seen young players compete with any world-class player when the situation calls for it.

India’s 2020-21 tour of Australia is a classic example of it. In the absence of phenomenal players such as Jadeja, Vihari, Ashwin, Bumrah due to injuries, the youngsters channelled their fiery passion under immense pressure. They could have easily focussed on ensuring a draw, but the youngsters ensured that they would not call it a day till the last man stood.

This tour has given the world a glimpse of the depth in the national squad — thanks to the efforts of the ever-humble Dravid, who understands the importance of putting players consistently under difficult situations while they are in junior teams. It is to the credit of the frequency of ‘A tours’ India went on in the last few years, that made all the difference in the decider at the Brisbane Cricket Ground.

Like the coach himself had once said, “Experience is not playing more matches, the experience is learning from the matches you play. You can play 30 matches and if you don’t learn anything, it’s like playing the same match 30 times.”

He understands the importance of honing the players while they are young. He is not just churning out good cricketers, but perhaps better people who can withstand any adversity which may come their way. And one doesn’t have to look beyond Gabba to understand that!

Dravid’s selfless service for the nation would be inscribed in golden words in the history of Indian cricket. He is, undoubtedly, the best finishing school a budding cricketer could go to! (ANI)

Health Dept Removes Faults From Vaccination App CoWIN

After witnessing certain glitches in the Co-WIN software platform dedicated to monitoring real-time management of Covid-19 vaccination across the country, the Union Health Ministry is now enhancing the technology by adding a new feature of “Allot Beneficiary” in the software platform.

Manohar Agnani, Additional Secretary at the Union Health Ministry said, “A new feature of ‘Allot beneficiary’ in ‘Ongoing session’ is being added. This will allow maximum possible number of beneficiaries per session and to have better coverage.”

“The new feature will also pre-register beneficiary in the database to the session as additional beneficiary over and above the scheduled number of beneficiaries,” said Agnani while addressing a press conference on Covid-19 vaccination in the country.

“Person’s (beneficiary’s) name can be searched in the database by mobile number and provisional certificate to be given after first dose and final certificate after second dose,” he said.

The official said that the District Magistrate has been directed to review the daily progress of immunisation.

“DMs and District Immunization Officers have been advised to hold daily review meetings with the session site and cold chain point. They have to take the feedback about overall day’s progress. Session planning and schedule for forthcoming days/week,” he said.

“Regular reconciliation of vaccine stocks, daily training/Sensitisation of stakeholders about latest instructions and refinements in software will be undertaken by the district magistrate,” he added.

According to the Central government, a total of 7,86,842 beneficiaries were vaccinated till 06:00 pm on Wednesday as per provisional reports. The government also informed that there was no case of serious/severe AEFI attributable to vaccination to date. (ANI)

Sushmita Gets Invited To Phalke Awards

Actor Sushmita Sen on Wednesday unveiled the invitation card of the Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival (DPIFF) Awards 2021.

The former Miss Universe Instagrammed the video of the invitation. The clip features its step-wise opening of the card, which has a golden sculpture of Dada Saheb Phalke- Father of Indian cinema.

The invitation is in a classy dark blue coloured box, bearing the stamp of Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards.

Through the video, Sen also revealed that the award ceremony, which is in affiliation with Incredible India, and the Ministry of Tourism, will be held on February 20.

“I am ecstatic to unveil the Invitation Card of India’s Most Prestigious “Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards 2021″ in affiliation with Incredible India, Ministry of Tourism being held on 20th February 2021 at Taj Lands End, Mumbai,” the ‘Arya’ actor wrote in the caption.

“The Invitation symbolises prosperity & growth of Indian Cinema. I applaud the Team of DPIFF for their hardwork & wish them grand success for the ceremony. #dpiff #dpiff2021 #incredibleindia,” she added.

The prestigious award is named after the thespian filmmaker Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, who was born in 1840 and passed away in 1944.

The DPIFF organisers honour actors, creators, filmmakers for their contribution to cinema. The award ceremony is organised in the presence of dignitaries, veteran celebrities and diplomats. (ANI)

20 Galwan Martyrs’ Names Written On War Memorial

The names of 20 soldiers who lost their lives in the Galwan Valley clash earlier last year have been written on the National War Memorial.

According to sources from the Indian Army, names of soldiers who died in operations were being written once a year earlier but now the frequency of adding new names would be increased.

The Galwan valley clash took place on June 15 last year when Indian troops led by colonel babu took on the Chinese troops near the patrolling point 14 area.

India lost 20 troops in the fiercest clash between the two sides in recent times while the Chinese also suffered significant casualties.

The clash led to the hardening of at stance by India which has now allowed troops to use weapons during patrolling after the use of unorthodox weapons by Chinese troops. (ANI)

Farmers To Consider Govt Offer To Put Agri Laws On Hold

Farmers leaders on Wednesday said they would consider the Centre’s proposal to put on hold farm laws for over one year and to form a committee of government and farmer representatives to discuss the laws clause wise and respond at the next meeting on January 22.

The tenth round of talks between farmer unions and the Central government over the three farm laws concluded at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. The next round of the meeting will take place on January 22.

After the talks, farmer leaders said that they will discuss among themselves and will respond to the government’s proposal in the next round of meeting.

“The government said that it is ready to file an affidavit in the court to the effect that it would put the implementation of the laws on hold for one and half a year. They also said that a committee would be formed on MSP and the laws. They said that the government would implement the recommendations of the committee. We will hold a meeting tomorrow and take a decision on the proposal,” Hannan Mollah, General Secretary, All India Kisan Sabha said while talking to the media.

“We asked the government to withdraw the fake cases registered by NIA against farmers. In response, the government said they are looking into the matter and asked us to provide the names of leaders against whom new cases, if any, have been registered,” he added.

Krantikari Kisan Union chief Darshan Pal said, “Three laws and MSP were discussed in the meeting. The government said that it will give an affidavit on 3 laws to the Supreme Court and we will put a moratorium for 1-1.5 years. A committee will be formed which will decide the future of the 3 laws and MSP. We said we would consider.”

“The government has said it is ready to suspend the laws for one and half a year. In reply, farmers said that there is no point in suspending the laws and made it clear that we want the repeal of the laws,” said Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Bhartiya Kisan Union Ekta (Ugrahan).

After the meeting, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said, “During discussions, we said that government is ready to put on hold the farm laws for one or one and half years. I’m happy that farmer unions have taken this very seriously and said that they would consider it tomorrow & convey their decision on Jan 22. I feel that talks are progressing in the right direction and there is a possibility of finding a resolution on Jan 22.”

On January 12, the Supreme Court stayed the implementation of the Centre’s three farm laws and asked the committee formed by it concerning the laws to submit its report within two months.

The committee has been directed to hold a dialogue with farmers and submit its recommendations pertaining to the farm laws within two months from the date of its first sitting.

However, the leaders of farmers’ unions rejected the committee, saying their members were already in favour of the farm laws.

Bhupinder Singh Mann, National President of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Mann) had recused himself from the four-member committee appointed by the top court over the new farm laws.The first meeting of the Committee appointed by the Supreme Court to deliberate with concerned stakeholders on farm laws was held on Tuesday, said the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

Farmers have been protesting on the different borders of the national capital since November 26 last year against the three newly enacted farm laws – Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. (ANI)

BJP Not To Project CM Face For Bengal Polls: Vijayvargiya

By Kumar Gaurav

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kailash Vijayvargiya on Wednesday said the party will not project a chief ministerial face for the West Bengal Assembly elections at present.

While speaking to ANI, BJP General Secretary and West Bengal In-charge Kailash Vijayvargiya said this is in line with the party’s approach where it is not in power.

“Nobody is asking about the CM face in West Bengal elections. In most of the states where the BJP doesn’t have a government, we fight elections without chief ministerial candidates. Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Assam are examples of this. No chief ministerial face will be projected in (West Bengal Assembly elections). After securing the majority, the party leadership and the MLAs will decide who will become the chief minister,” Vijayvargiya said.

“I want to assure the people of Bengal that our CM will work for the all-round development of Bengal. We will provide good governance to West Bengal,” he added.

As elections are nearing in West Bengal, ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders and supporters are approaching BJP to become its part. However, Vijayvargiya said that the party will accept only those leaders who believe in PM Modi’s leadership and the politics of development.

“There are many people who are unhappy with Mamataji and want to come to our party. But we will not accept those leaders involved in cow smuggling, money smuggling and anti-national activities. We will take those who believe in the politics of development and the leadership of Modiji,” he said.

While attacking Mamata Banerjee’s government, Vijayvargiya said, “Mamata’s government is a synonym of violence and on a daily basis our workers are being killed and injured. She has pushed the state into anarchy. We will form the government there and reclaim the Bengal of Rabindranath Tagore, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.”

Commenting upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Kolkata on January 23 to inaugurate the Parakram Diwas programme to mark the 125th birth anniversary celebration of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose at the iconic Victoria Hall, Vijayvargiya said, “PM Modi will dedicate a museum which will motivate the youth.”

The central government has decided to celebrate Subhash Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary on January 23 as Parakram Diwas every year.

Last month, the Prime Minister had urged people to mark the 125th birth anniversary celebrations of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in a grand manner. (ANI)