Month: January 2021

Amid winter chill and foggy conditions, security forces carried out Republic Day parade rehearsals in the capital on Monday morning.

Group of special forces, along with senior Indian Army and paramilitary personnel, reached Rajpath at 5 am and practice till 10 am.

The security personnel were seen wearing masks during the rehearsal of the parade.

People have also been visiting Rajpath to get a glimpse of the rehearsals.

“We come every day to see the rehearsal. Seeing security personnel full of motivation inspires us,” a visitor told ANI.

“It’s very difficult to wake up in the early morning but they are here from 2 am and doing much for the country,” said Jatin another visitor.

Parts of north India remained under the grip of an intense cold wave on Sunday with night temperatures dropping below the 5 degrees Celsius-mark at some places and dense fog enveloping several areas.

This year National Security Guard (NSG), the elite force of India for counter-terror operations, has decided to make changes for the Republic Day parade as per the COVID-19 health protocols.

NSG commandos will be marching with a distance of more than 1.5 meters from each other. Earlier, they used to march down Rajpath from shoulder to shoulder. The distance will be visible from a distance as NSG commandos will be following the COVID-19 protocols.

India will celebrate its 72nd Republic Day on January 26 this year, honouring the historic date when the country completed its transition towards becoming an independent republic after the Constitution came into effect. (ANI)

In a massive pro-freedom rally organised on the 117th birth anniversary of GM Syed, one of the founding fathers of modern Sindhi nationalism, protesters raised the placards of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other world leaders to seek their intervention for the freedom of Sindhudesh.

The people raised pro-freedom slogans during a massive rally held in Syed’s hometown of Sann in Jamshoro district of Pakistan’s Sindh province on Sunday. They claimed that Sindh is the home of Indus Valley Civilisation and Vedic religion which was illegitimately occupied by the British Empire and was delivered by them in the evil Islamist hands of Pakistan in 1947.

“Among all these barbaric assaults on its history and culture, and all these ages of occupation and dawns of independence Sindh has retained and maintained its separate historical and cultural identity as a pluralist, co-existent, tolerant and harmonious society where all the different cultures, languages and ideas of the foreign and native people have not only influenced each other but accepted and absorbed the common message of the human civilisation,” said Shafi Muhammad Burfat, Chairman of Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz.

He added, “This historical synthesis of religions, philosophies and civilisation from the east and west has given our motherland Sindh a distinct place in the history of humanity”.Burfat told ANI, “While the Sindh gave India its name, the Sindh citizens who pioneered in the fields of industry, philosophy, marine navigation, mathematics and astronomy are today chained by the Islam-o-fascist terrorist unconstitutional forced federation of Pakistan by the military might of Punjabi imperialism in the name of Islam”.

There are several nationalist parties in Sindh, who are advocating for a free Sindh nation. They have been raising the issue on various international platforms and calling Pakistan an occupier that continues to exploit resources and involved in human rights violations in the region.

“Our nation believes in universal peace, unity of humanity and human development and our country has remained as an independent nation on the face of the earth for thousands of years. But today, it is enslaved by Punjabi colonialism in the name of religion and through the might of the military.

“The Sindhi people do not want to remain in the oppressive slavery of the terrorist state of Pakistan, and therefore, we appeal to the entire international community to step forward and support us in our struggle for national independence from the fascist theocratic Islamist terrorist state of Pakistan.”

Sindhudesh is a demand for a separate homeland for Sindhis which was emerged in 1967 under the leadership of GM Syed and Pir Ali Mohammed Rashdi. A large number of Sindhi nationalist leaders, activists and students were disappeared, tortured and killed allegedly by Pakistan’s security agencies in the past few decades. (ANI)

American actor, singer Jennifer Lopez recently set the record straight about how she gets her ‘J. Lo glow.’ Lopez posted a video that showed her trying one of the products from her recently-launched skincare brand, ‘JLo Beauty’, for the first time.

The ‘On the Floor’ singer took to Instagram and showcased her natural glow in the video after removing the mask and giving her followers a close-up look at the results. She said, “Okay I just took off the mask. Honestly, I cannot even see a line on my face. I feel like it took 10 years off my face.”

“We’ve got to change USD 10,000 a piece for these,” the mother of two jokingly added with a laugh.

After sharing the post, the star received a comment from one social media user who claimed Lopez actually used Botox to achieve her look.

“You definitely have Botox. And tons of it. And it’s all good. Just saying,” the user wrote in the comments section.

Lopez was quick to shut the commenter down and graciously shared an alternative “beauty secret” that’s always worked for her.

“LOL that’s just my face!!!” Lopez wrote.

“for the 500 millionth time…I have never done Botox or any injectables or surgery!! Just saying.”

“Get you some JLO Beauty and feel beautiful in your own skin!! And here is another JLO Beauty secret: try spending your time being more positive, kind and uplifting of others,” she continued.

“Don’t spend your time trying to bring others down that will keep you youthful and beautiful too!!! Sending you love. #beautyfromtheinsideout #beautyhasnoexpirationdate.”

As per People Magazine, after months of anticipation, Lopez finally released the entire JLo Beauty collection earlier this month. (ANI)

‘Vacci-nationalism’ should be stopped and it should not be used for the political benefits, said Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Sunday.

“The vaccination is for common people and scientists have developed it. The BJP-led government should not do Vacci-nationalism,” Chowdhury said adding that Mamta Banerjee too shouldn’t politicise the matter.

“Because of the confusion regarding the vaccination drive, people are afraid of being vaccinated. This raises questions about the success of the vaccination drive,” he added.

After Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLAs got vaccinated during the first phase of the nation-wide vaccination drive, Chowdhury said, “The MLAs sent the message that it is important to save one’s life than saving the life of the common people.”

PM Modi launched the pan-India rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination drive on Saturday via video conferencing.

The Indian COVID-19 vaccine drive is billed as the world’s largest vaccination programme, covering the entire length and breadth of the country. The drive aims to first inoculate millions of its healthcare and frontline workers and reach an estimated three crores people by the end of its first phase.

Referring to the issue of seat-sharing, Chowdhury told ANI that the decisions regarding seat-sharing cannot be made in one meeting.

“The polarising agenda of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and TMC will not work,” the Congress leader said adding that Congress and its alliance left parties would focus on the important issues of the common people.

Congress will fight the upcoming assembly polls in West Bengal in alliance with the Left parties.

Reacting to the ongoing farmers’ protest, the Congress leader said, “Fifty farmers have lost their lives while protesting on the different borders of the national capital. How many more farmers have to sacrifice their lives to make the union government understand that farmers want the new farm laws to be repealed?”

Farmers have been protesting on the different borders of the national capital since November 26 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.

In response to the Shiv Sena attacked its ally Congress opposing the name change of Maharashtra’s Aurangabad to Sambhajinagar, Chowdhury said that there are many roads in the country named after Britishers but they would not try to change them.

“They only change names of the city or roads named after the Muslim rulers. We cannot change our country’s past whether we like it or not.” (ANI)

Farmers will carry out a tractor parade along Delhi’s Outer Ring Road on Republic Day, announced Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav on Sunday, asserting that the parade will be conducted peacefully with the national flag.

“Farmers will carry out a tractor parade with the national flag on the Outer Ring Road of Delhi on Republic Day. Along with jawans, the kisan will also celebrate the sovereignty of the country,” Yadav said at a press conference here.

This comes on the 53rd day of the farmers’ protest at the borders of the national capital against the Centre’s farm laws.

For the parade, Yadav also added that weapons of any kind, inciteful language, and violent actions would be strictly not allowed in the parade and hoped that the Delhi and Haryana Police would not cause hindrances to the parade.

“No disruption will be caused to the official Republic Day ceremony,” he added.

The parade will pass through Peeragadhi, Janakpuri, Dhaula Kuan, Munirka, IIT, Khel Gaon, Chirag Delhi, Nehru Place, Okhla, Majnu ka tila, Burari, Azadpur, among other areas.

“There will be a national flag or an emblem of a farm union on each vehicle, and flags of political parties will be allowed anywhere. Those unable to participate in the parade in Delhi will do so in their respective states while following the same guidelines,” Yadav added.

Communist Party of India leader Hannan Mollah, who has lent his support to the farmer’s protest appealed to the public to join the parade in Delhi.

“Through this parade, we want the public to know the problems of the annadatta and come out and support us. We appeal to the people to come and join us in the parade,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the Central government’s application seeking an injunction against the proposed tractor rally seeking to disrupt the gathering and celebrations of Republic Day on January 26.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Sharad Arvind Bobde will hear the application on January 18 along with pleas raising the issue of farmers protesting at Delhi borders.

Farmers have been protesting on the different borders of the national capital since November 26 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)

India recorded the highest number of vaccinations on day one in the world on Saturday, at 2,07,229, higher than the US, UK and France on day one, said Union Health Ministry Sunday.

“2,07,229 people were vaccinated on day one– the highest day one vaccination number in the world; higher than the US, UK and France on day one,” said Dr Manohar Agnani, Additional Secretary of Union Health Ministry at a press briefing.

He further stated, today, only six states conducted COVID-19 vaccination sessions including Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Manipur and Tamil Nadu.

“447 cases of AEFI (Adverse event following immunisation) were reported on 16 and 17 January; only three required hospitalisation,” said Dr. Agnani.

States and Union Territories (UT) were advised to conduct COVID vaccination sessions four days a week to minimise disruption of routine health services.

“On the second day of vaccination today, 17,072 beneficiaries administered the vaccine and a total of 2,24,301 people have taken the vaccine shot so far,” said Dr Agnani.

Healthcare workers who were administered vaccine include nurses, doctors, paramedic staff, sanitation workers and others who have been given COVID-19 care-related duties.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the world’s largest vaccination drive against the pandemic.

The Centre stated that the shots will be offered first to an estimated one crore healthcare workers and around two crore frontline workers, and then to persons above 50 years of age, followed by persons younger than 50 years of age with associated comorbidities. (ANI)

Legendary Indian classical musician and Padma Vibhushan awardee Ghulam Mustafa Khan passed away in his Mumbai residence on Sunday afternoon.

The celebrated musician was an Indian classical musician in the Hindustani classical music tradition, belonging to the Rampur-Sahaswan Gharana. He was a receiver of several accolades including the Padma Shri in 1991, followed by Padma Bhushan in 2006 and Padma Vibhushan in 2018.

On the loss of a legend par excellence, the music fraternity extended their condolences through social media.

Melody Queen Lata Mangeshkar paid an emotional tribute to the legend by posting a picture of him and wrote, “I have just received the sad news that the great classical singer Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan Sahab is no more in this world. I feel very sad to hear this. He was not only a good singer but also a good human being. My niece has also learned music from Khan Saheb, I had also learned a little music from him. There has been a lot of loss of music due to his departure. I offer my humble tribute to him.”

The Oscar-winner musical maestro AR Rahman also mourned Khan’s passing away and shared an old video of him singing one of his composite songs. “The sweetest teacher of all ..May the Ghafoor-ur-Rahim give you a special place in the next world #UstadGhulamMustafa,” his tweet read.

By sharing a throwback picture featuring him with the departed soul, Musician Salim Merchant wrote, “Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan is no more. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1991, Padma Bhusan in 2006 and Padma Vibhushan in 2018. I’m fortunate to have spent time with him & also share my birthday with the legend. Condolences to the family.”

The National film award winner Indian film director Hansal Mehta wrote, “My teacher. Guru to a student who just wouldn’t stay on. Great teacher. Great artist. Hindustani Classical Music has been bereaved. His students have been orphaned. I have been orphaned. RIP Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan Saab. Stay strong brothers Murtuza, Qadir and Rabbani.”

Earlier, playback singers Harshadeep Kaur, Armaan Malik, Shashaa Tirupati, and others also mourned the demise of the acclaimed musician. (ANI)

Two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders on Sunday alleged that Saif Ali Khan-starrer web series ‘Tandav’ hurts Hindu religious sentiments.

BJP leader Ram Kadam said that he has filed a complaint at Mumbai’s Ghatkopar Police Station against Saif Ali Khan’s latest web series ‘Tandav’. He alleged that the series has hurt the sentiments of Hindus and he would not tolerate this.

Kadam said, “I have decided to write a letter to Union Minister Prakash Javadekar regarding this issue and will also mention that all the Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms must be brought under censorship.”

When asked which part of the series he objects to, Kadam said, “One of the actors has used Lord Shiva’s Trishul and Damru in an objectionable manner which has hurt the sentiments of Hindus.”

“Strict against should be taken against the actor, director and producer of the web series,” he said.

Expressing similar concerns, Manoj Kotak, a BJP leader has written a letter to Union Minister Prakash Javadekar.

In the letter, Manoj Kotak wrote, “It seems that the makers of Tandav have mocked Hindu gods and disrespected Hindu religious sentiments. I urge the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to ban Tandav for the meantime.”

On January 4 Amazon Prime Video released the Tandav trailer. (ANI)

Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra has received a donation around Rs 100 crores, said General Secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust Champat Rai on Sunday.

While speaking to ANI, Rai said, “The data has not reached to the headquarters till now but we have got a report from our karyakartas, that they have received a donation for around Rs 100 crores for this noble cause.”

The Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust is conducting a mass contact and contribution campaign for the construction of the grand temple in Ayodhya which began on January 15 and will go on till February 27.

The Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust was set up in accordance with the Supreme Court verdict on November 9, 2021, for the construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya.

In response to the questions raised regarding the donation made by the President of India Ram Nath Kovind for the construction of Ram Temple, Rai said that there is nothing wrong with it.

“He is an Indian and soul of India is Ram. So anybody who is capable can make offers in this noble cause,” he said.

President Ramnath Kovind on Friday donated Rs 5,00,100 as a contribution towards the construction of Ram Temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya.

A Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) delegation including its International Working President Alok Kumar, RSS leader Kulbhushan Ahuja, the treasurer of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Trust Govind Dev Giri and temple construction committee head Nripendra Mishra met President at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 15.

Champat Rai also informed that Ram temple construction has been started and it would be finished in-around 39 months, most likely before 2024.

According to the trust, the temple will be built by adhering to the country’s ancient and traditional construction techniques. It will also be built in a manner to sustain earthquakes, storms, and other natural calamities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ayodhya on August 5 to attend the ‘Bhoomi pujan’ at the Ram Janmbhoomi site. (ANI)