A year after 20 Army soldiers had lost their lives in the violent faceoff with Chinese troops in the Galwan valley, the Indian defence forces have strengthened themselves in the entire Ladakh sector through multiple initiatives.
These include building infrastructure to enhance connectivity and deploying additional troops to tackle any possible aggression by the Chinese. The strengthening of positions has taken place at all levels in the armed forces including both the Indian Army and Air Force.
“Surprised shortly by the sudden Chinese aggression in the Ladakh sector, the forces have now strengthened themselves significantly,” government officials said here.
The biggest achievement has been from the infrastructure point of view as road connectivity to all the forward locations have been improved, they said.
“Whether it is the Zojila pass, the world’s new highest motorable road Umling La, Marsmik La, or Khardung La, they have been kept open for troops movement throughout the year, courtesy the Border Roads Organisation,” officials said.
They added that connectivity has also helped to keep up the supplies at the forward locations throughout the year and provided us the capability to deploy troops in no time.
The Indian Army has also strengthened its deployments in Ladakh as well as the entire Line of Actual Control (LAC) as it has now deployed an additional strike corps to tackle the China border.
“The Mathura-based One Strike Corps has been reoriented towards the northern borders in Ladakh and the 17 Mountain Strike Corps has been given the charge of the entire northeastern states along with providing it an additional Division comprising over 10,000 troops, they said.
The Indian Air Force, on its part, is also strengthening itself with the arrival of its Rafale fighter jets every couple of months, officials added.
Along with the Rafales, the MiG-29s and the Su-30 fleets have been dominating the skies all along the Northern borders and the second squadron or the planes would be ready for operations by the end of this month.
The biggest achievement of the defence forces has been in creating accommodation for the troops as the Military Engineers have created facilities planned to have been built in the next five years within the last 11 months, they added.
Officials said the preparedness of the armed forces is now at a level where the Chinese or any other adversary cannot surprise us in any way. (ANI)
A minor girl and 60-year-old woman have approached the Supreme Court alleging gang rape by West Bengal ruling party members after the declaration of Assembly poll results and sought a court-monitored SIT probe into all incidents of violence and the alleged inaction of police.
The 17-year-old girl from the Scheduled Caste community allegedly gang-raped on May 9 by members/supporters of the ruling party and sought transfer of investigation to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) or Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and shifting the trial out of West Bengal for her own and family’s safety.
The girl alleged that not only was she gang-raped and left to die in the jungle after being dragged there by TMC supporters, the very next day a TMC local leader Bahadur SK came to her house and threatened the family members against lodging a complaint. She stated that he threatened to burn their house and kill them if they lodge a complaint.
The women cited the pro-active action taken by the Supreme Court in post-Godhra communal riots cases in Gujarat and sought a similar court-monitored SIT probe into incidents of gang rape and murders that went on with impunity for a fortnight in the state after TMC scored a massive victory in the assembly elections.
The senior citizen narrated that TMC workers ran amuck after the declaration of Assembly poll results and barged into her house in a village in Purba Medinipur and gang-raped her in front of her six-year-old grandson prior to robbing her household of all valuables on the intervening night of May 4-5.
The plea said, “While the history is replete with gruesome instances where rape was employed as a strategy to terrorise the enemy civilian population and to demoralise enemy troops, but never have such cruel crimes been committed against a woman citizen for her or her family’s participation in the democratic process. Not merely the said crimes were facilitated by the inaction of the state authorities/police, but what was shocking is post-crime humiliation that the rape survivors were subjected to, for their perceived audacity in reporting the crime.”
“The perversity of the investigation as is being carried out by the local police can be inferred from the fact that while the rape was committed by five accused who were all named by the rape survivor, and when the rape is confirmed by a medical report, the police has deliberately chosen to name only one of the five accused in the FIR,” the woman alleged. (ANI)
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday announced that the party will contest from all seats in the 2022 Gujarat legislative assembly polls.
While addressing a press conference in Ahmedabad, Kejriwal said, “People here (Gujarat) think if electricity can be free in Delhi, why not here? Likewise, for hospitals and schools also the condition has not improved in 70 years here. But things will change now.” The Delhi CM also mentioned that the AAP candidates will be contesting on all 182 seats in Gujarat.
Kejriwal also inducted Gujarati news channel anchor Isudan Gadhvi to AAP during the press conference.
While replying a question, Kejriwal said, “The party would not bring Delhi model to Gujarat as each state has its own problems and accordingly there are solutions. The model of Gujarat will be decided by the people of Gujarat.”
“AAP has come up with an option for the people against BJP and Congress in Gujarat,” he added. (ANI)
BJP MP from Gorakhpur Ravi Kishan has written a letter to Union Minister Prakash Javadekar and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath demanding a law to curb vulgar content in Bhojpuri films.
In the letter in Hindi, Ravi Kishan also demanded to ban obscene Bhojpuri films and songs. He said there has been a lot of decline in the last decade in Bhojpuri films, especially its songs.
“Today’s Bhojpuri film and songs have become synonymous with obscenity. Films and songs are so vulgar that they cannot be seen or heard while sitting with family and children. This kind of downfall in content is very sad and is a matter of concern for Bhojpuri’s language and culture. This is adversely affecting the tender minds of the younger generation. Therefore, there is an urgent need to remove vulgarity in Bhojpuri films and songs. For this, a strict law should be made so that in future, the obscenity of this level can be stopped and the obscene songs can be banned”, Kishan wrote.
“Therefore, it is a kind request to you to ban the obscene Bhojpuri films and songs and make a strict law in this regard”, the BJP MP said.
On February 28, Gorakhpur MP and Bhojpuri actor Ravi Kishan met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and held discussions with him over the proposed film city in the state. (ANI)
Ahead of the release of her film ‘Haseen Dillruba’, actor Taapsee Pannu has headed to Moscow, Russia with her younger sister Shagun Pannu.
Taking to Instagram, Taapsee has posted several pictures from her vacation with Shagun. “Time to surround myself with colours, sit on street side, looking at the sky, take a deep breath and say ‘all is well’…also, hello Moscow. Let’s feel close to ‘normal’ again,” she wrote along with a picture of her sitting against the backdrop of Moscow’s beautiful buildings.
In one of the images, Taapsee can be seen walking in the lanes of Moscow. “The joy of walking in such lanes. Tapctravels,” she added.
Before boarding the flight, she even took to Instagram Stories and updated her fans about her trip.
“‘Time out’ time …the usual suspects are off again,” she had captioned the post.
Coming back to her project ‘Haseen Dillruba’, the Netflix film is directed by Vinil Mathew. Actors Vikrant Massey and Harshvardhan Rane are also a part of the mystery thriller, which is set to release on July 2.
The film focuses on the love triangle between Taapsee, Vikrant and Harshvardhan. It is written by Kanika Dhillon. (ANI)
Mumbai-based Aruna Desai, 58, co-founder of Sweekar – The Rainbow Parents, an LGBTQ+ help group, says parental support is crucial for a child suffering from sexual orientation and gender-identity crisis
I am an out and proud mother of a gay child. I am not a victim that I have to ask for sympathy from someone. When my son came out, in the beginning for almost two to three years I was asked by people how the acceptance came to me. I asked them back what they meant by “acceptance”. He is my child. His sexual orientation doesn’t make me any less proud of him. The children are not born with these tags, it is us as a society that put those tags on them.
When my son came out in 2007, he was scared. He told me about Section 377 which criminalized homosexuality in India before it was amended in 2018 and that being gay was criminal. I wondered how my son who loved another boy could be a criminal. The only thing I knew was he was my child, and I loved him. So when he told me he was gay, I remained calm. I took him out for dinner and told him I loved him no matter what and my love for him is unconditional.
He was 17 years old then. Once he got my support, nothing else mattered to him. I feel, once the children get their parents’ support, they can conquer the world. On the other hand, the parents’ rejection can turn their lives into hell.
When the child is in a mother’s womb, the parents love the unborn unconditionally, without having a second thought about the child’s gender. So, the parents should realise that when the child comes out to them they don’t change, they are the same person they were yesterday. It is your perception for your child that changes. How can you as a parent end up discriminating against them on the basis of their gender or sexual orientation when they come out?
Desai says every parent of an LGBTQ child as a story to share
Parents need to understand when a child comes out to you, the child does not intend to hurt you. The child has also struggled with his or her identity and suffered internal turmoil. People from the LGBT community have a hard time accepting themselves and the society anyways is not kind towards the community. As parents we should understand their internal struggle, support them and feel proud that they trusted us enough to tell us instead of making them feel any worse.
When my son came out, I, along with four other parents who were out and proud and helping their and other children come out to their parents formed a WhatsApp group to help ease the struggle children face with acceptance of sexuality and parents accepting their children the way they are.
We realized there were many LGBTQ+ support groups but not for the parents of LGBTQ+. Hence came in February 2017, Sweekar – The Rainbow Parents. The group was formally launched with the help of some ten parents of Indian LGBTQ children and the support of Sridhar Rangayan and Saagar Gupta who had then made a film called Evening Shadows which revolves around the story of a young gay man who comes out to his mother.
Every parent of an LGBTQ+ child has a different story to share. The vision of the group was to help parents with their own journeys of coming out and to help them accept their children, guide each other, educate ourselves with the latest news and laws on LGBTQ+ community and seek to dispel the myths and misinformation that surround sexual orientation and gender identity. When we started we wanted to be a pan-India group, however, gradually, parents of Indian origin residing in other nations like Oman, Australia, London etc started joining the group to challenge the discriminating notions around LGBTQ+ community and fight for their rights.
Sweekar has a Facebook page and an Instagram handle by the same name. Today we have 117 parents in that WhatsApp group and are happy about it for the fact that it has a multifold effect in increasing the awareness about LGBTQ+ community. One parent can help sensitise 20 more people in his/her extended family and friends. Since 2007 we have been able to sensitise over 200 parents of children from LGBTQ+ community.
My message to parents of LGBTQ+ children is to accept your children as they are. And if you think that your child should choose a heterosexual lifestyle, have a change of scene by asking yourself if you were asked to choose a homosexual life, will you do that. Like a heterosexual cannot be forced to become a homosexual, the vice versa is also true. No one voluntarily chooses a life laden with fear, discrimination and isolation by classmates, friends, colleagues, and family.
So when your child comes out to you don’t be judgmental, or accusatory. Reassure them by saying “I love you, and I am proud of you for telling me.” Have an open dialogue with your child where you can both share each other’s concerns. All you have to do is unlearn some things and learn new things about your child and just be there for them.
Amid uproar over the rise in fuel prices which has crossed Rs 100-mark in some states, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday admitted that the current fuel prices are “problematic” for people but asserted that the government is saving money for welfare schemes.
When asked about Congress’ nationwide protest against the skyrocketing fuel prices, Pradhan asked why fuel prices are high in Congress-ruled states. “I accept that current fuel prices are problematic for people, but be it central or state government, over Rs 35,000 crores is being spent on COVID-19 vaccines in a year. In such dire times, we are saving money to spend on welfare schemes,” he said.
“Rahul Gandhi must answer why fuel prices are high in Congress-ruled states like Punjab, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra. A lot of money is being invested for welfare schemes across the country,” Pradhan said.
He added, “If he is so concerned about the poor, he should instruct Maharashtra CM to reduce taxes as prices. The price in Mumbai is so high because tax is the highest in Maharashtra.”
Congress leaders and workers had held nationwide protests on Friday against the rising prices of fuel in the country.
After several hikes, the price of petrol price crossed Rs 95 per litre mark, while it is selling above 101 per litre in Mumbai. Diesel price stood at Rs 86.22 per litre in Delhi while in Mumbai it is Rs 93.58 per litre. The price of diesel and petrol differ from state to state depending on the value-added tax. (ANI)
The Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V is expected to be available at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in Delhi from June 15, sources said. According to the sources, the program for Sputnik V rollout at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital will depend on the consignment received.
The first phase of the Sputnik V rollout by Apollo Hospitals and Dr Reddy’s Laboratories had started on a pilot basis on May 17 in Hyderabad and on May 18 in Vishakhapatnam.
Besides Apollo Hospitals, the vaccine is also available in Hyderabad at Continental Hospitals.
The price per dose of Sputnik V at private hospitals as per the pricing schedule issued by the central government has been capped at Rs 1,145.
The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), earlier on June 10, announced that the efficacy of the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine during a vaccination campaign by Bahrain’s Ministry of Health was estimated to be at 94.3 per cent. (ANI)
Claiming a systematic genocide in Balochistan by Pakistani security forces, the Baloch Human Rights Council (BHRC) urged the Group of Seven (G7) leaders to investigate the heinous crimes by Pakistan in the region.
In a memorandum addressed to the G7 leaders, the Council urged them to send a UN fact-finding mission to investigate the extra-judicial killings and mass disappearances of the Baloch political and social activists. They also urged that the perpetrators of the heinous crimes against humanity in Balochistan should be brought to justice by initiating cases against them in the international court of justice in The Hague. “The Baloch are facing a systematic genocide. They are pinning their hopes on getting support from the international community. In the face of heinous crimes being committed by the Pakistani security forces in Balochistan, the silence of the international community is incomprehensible,” said Samad Baloch, General Secretary of BHRC.
The crimes against humanity being committed in Pakistan have several aspects, including the enforced disappearance of political and social activists, extra-judicial killings, the formation of death squads by the army, the formation of proxy militant religious organisations, open patronisation of the narcotics business, and the ruthless exploitation of natural resources by Chinese corporations, he highlighted.
According to Samad Baloch, many prominent Baloch social, intellectual and political figures have been targeted and eliminated by death squads and intelligence operations and the whereabouts of thousands of Baloch are still unknown.
“Pakistani officials have accepted more than 6000 missing persons, and we genuinely believe that their lives are in grave danger. Abductions of students, doctors, teachers, journalists, and human rights activists are taking place daily in Balochistan. The irony is that the Pakistani army is fighting a war in Balochistan without witnesses. The whole province has been declared a no-go area for even the national journalists for the last 15 years,” he said in the memorandum.
Demanding justice for the Baloch, Samad remarked that failing to do so would be tantamount to letting down a people who are being minced under the powerful jaws of the military establishment of a recognised rogue state.
While thousands of Balochs have been abducted and disappeared since its illegal occupation, hundreds of others have been eliminated in the line of Pakistan’s “kill and dump” policy. Thousands still remain unaccounted for.
Due to the silence and numbness of the civilized world and Human rights organizations and lack of the media or other means in Balochistan.
Enforced Disappearance has been used as a tool by the Pakistani state to silence the oppressed people of Balochistan since the very first day of its occupation. While countless abductees have been killed, many of them are still facing inhuman torture in army secrets cells.
Enforced disappearances have been a long stain on Pakistan’s human rights record. Despite the pledges of successive governments to criminalize the practice, there has been a very slow movement on legislation that is equal to nothing, while people continue to be forcibly disappeared with impunity. (ANI)
Actor Kiara Advani on Sunday completed seven years in the film industry and posted pictures of her journey so far on social media.
On Twitter and Instagram fans flooded her with wishes and Kiara has been personally sharing all those posts on her feed and thanking everyone for showering her with love on her special day. “7 years of us,” she wrote in response to fan postings.
Kiara made her acting debut in 2014 Bollywood with the film ‘Fugly’, which also starred boxer Vijender Singh and actor Mohit Marwah.
With films like ‘M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story’, ‘Lust Stories’, ‘Kabir Singh’ , ‘Guilty’ and ‘Good Newwz’, Kiara proved her versatility and carved a niche for herself. She will be next seen in the biographical action drama film ‘Shershaah’, which revolves around the life of the Kargil hero Vikram Batra. Actor Sidharth Malhotra will be seen essaying the titular role.
Kiara is also paired opposite actor Kartik Aaryan in the upcoming horror-comedy film, ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2’.
When one of the social media users asked Kiara to do more films down south, Kiara tweeted: “Love you all. Exciting announcement soon.”
Kiara was last seen in ‘Indoo Ki Jawani’ and ‘Laxmii’. (ANI)
We use cookies to give you the best online experience. By agreeing you accept the use of cookies in accordance with our cookie policy.
When you visit any web site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Control your personal Cookie Services here.
These cookies are essential in order to enable you to move around the website and use its features. Without these cookies basic services cannot be provided.
Cookie generated by applications based on the PHP language. This is a general purpose identifier used to maintain user session variables. It is normally a random generated number, how it is used can be specific to the site, but a good example is maintaining a logged-in status for a user between pages.
In order to use this website we use the following technically required cookies
wordpress_test_cookie
wordpress_logged_in_
wordpress_sec
These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make (such as your user name, language or the region you are in) and provide enhanced, more personal features. These cookies can also be used to remember changes you have made to text size, fonts and other parts of web pages that you can customize. They may also be used to provide services you have asked for such as watching a video or commenting on a blog. The information these cookies collect may be anonymized and they cannot track your browsing activity on other websites.
Cookie associated with sites using CloudFlare, used to speed up page load times. According to CloudFlare it is used to override any security restrictions based on the IP address the visitor is coming from. It does not contain any user identification information.
Cookie associated with sites using CloudFlare, used to identify trusted web traffic.
__cfruid
These cookies collect information about how visitors use a website, for instance which pages visitors go to most often, and if they get error messages from web pages. These cookies don’t collect information that identifies a visitor. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. It is only used to improve how a website works.
This cookie name is associated with Google Universal Analytics - which is a significant update to Google's more commonly used analytics service. This cookie is used to distinguish unique users by assigning a randomly generated number as a client identifier. It is included in each page request in a site and used to calculate visitor, session and campaign data for the sites analytics reports. By default it is set to expire after 2 years, although this is customisable by website owners.
This cookie name is associated with Google Universal Analytics, according to documentation it is used to throttle the request rate - limiting the collection of data on high traffic sites. It expires after 10 minutes.
This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to store information of how visitors use a website and helps in creating an analytics report of how the website is doing. The data collected including the number visitors, the source where they have come from, and the pages visited in an anonymous form.
These cookies are used by Youtube, Google, Twitter, and Facebook to deliver adverts that are relevant to you and your interests. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advertisement as well as help measure the effectiveness of the advertising campaign.
This cookie is usually associated with the ShareThis social sharing widget placed in a site to enable sharing of content across various social networks. It counts clicks and shares of a page.
