Month: July 2021

Ever since Sonam Kapoor Ahuja recently came back to India from London, there have been a couple of reports doing the rounds suggesting that the actor is expecting her first child.

Reacting to such rumours, Sonam, who got married to businessmen Anand Ahuja in May 2018, took to her Instagram Story and stated that she is still getting her periods.
For the unversed, the missed period is considered as the most obvious early symptom of pregnancy.

“Hot water bottle and ginger tea for the first day of my period,” she posted on Instagram Story.

Along with it, she uploaded a short video of her having a cup of ginger tea.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Sonam will be seen in ‘Blind’. She was last seen in the 2019 release ‘The Zoya Factor’. She also had a cameo role in Anil Kapoor and Anurag Kashyap’s ‘AK vs AK’, which had released on Netflix last year. (ANI)

Amid the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament, farmers will hold a protest at Jantar Mantar on Thursday, demanding the scrapping of new agricultural laws.

Delhi Police on Wednesday permitted farmers to hold a demonstration at Jantar Mantar demanding the scrapping of agricultural laws, after they took an undertaking from them that the farmers would not march towards Parliament which is currently in session.
Security has been tightened at the Singhu border where farmers will gather today from different protest sites and head towards Jantar Mantar.

Farmers have been permitted to protest at Jantar Mantar with limited numbers not exceeding 200 persons for Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and six persons for Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) from 11 am upto 5 pm daily.
The Delhi government has also granted permission to farmers to hold protest, subject to following all COVID protocols.

In a statement issued late on Wednesday, Delhi Police said the farmers will be escorted by police to the designated protest site at Jantar Mantar from the Singhu border in buses.
Only those farmers who have ID cards will be permitted at the protest site and at the end of the day around 5 pm, Police will escort the farmers on the buses as they return to the Singhu border.

Farmers have also been advised not to take out any march in view of COVID restrictions and they have been asked to observe COVID appropriate behaviour and social distancing. “Delhi Police has put in place extensive arrangements to ensure that the protest programme remains peaceful,” according to the statement.

“After multiple rounds of negotiations with farmers bodies SKM and KMSC, and on being assured in writing that they would remain peaceful and with the approval of DDMA, the farmers have been permitted to protest at Jantar Mantar with limited numbers not exceeding 200 persons for SKM and six persons for KMSC from 11 am upto 5 pm daily,” the Delhi Police said in its statement.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), which is under the Delhi government has allowed farmers to stage the protest between 11 am to 5 pm from July 22 to August 9, subject to the participation of a maximum of 200 protesters per day, according to sources.

Farmer leader Darshan Pal Singh told ANI: “A group of 200 farmers will go in four buses to hold ‘Kisan Sansad’ at Parliament Street where we will discuss the agrarian crisis the three farm laws and MSP. We have constituted a six-member steering committee which will include three members from Punjab.”

Security has been heightened in the national capital with personnel deployed at Jantar Mantar. Delhi Police Special CP (Crime) Satish Golcha, Joint CP Jaspal Singh and CP Balaji Srivastava yesterday visited Jantar Mantar to review security arrangements.

Apart from the main highway all routes leading to Delhi have been put under surveillance and are being monitored round the clock.

Police said they are not taking any chances after what happened on January 26 this year and have made appropriate arrangements.

Delhi had witnessed violent protests during a tractor parade on Republic Day as thousands of agitators clashed with the police.

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.

So far, several rounds of talks have been held between the Centre and farmer leaders to break the deadlock between the two parties. (ANI)

Ahead of the ‘Kisan Parliament’ to be held at the Jantar Mantar in the national capital on Thursday as a protest against the three farm laws, Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Wednesday said it has just been eight months since the farmers are protesting and will continue the agitation till the Centre takes it back.

Speaking to ANI, Tikait said, “Our 200 people will go from the Singhu border in four-five buses tomorrow. We will gather from different protest sites at Singhu border and head towards the Jantar Mantar. We will protest at Jantar Mantar until the Monsoon session of Parliament is over.”
“It is the duty of the police to stop the movement. We will continue protesting at the Jantar Mantar the way we are protesting. It has just been eight months since we are protesting. We do not know how long the agitation will last but it will go on peacefully and properly,” he said.

“The Central government has brought these laws and it will take it back, it will take time,” Tikait added.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police on Wednesday said it has offered certain terms and conditions to farm union leaders and depending on their agreement farmers from the Singhu border will be granted permission to hold their protest march in the national capital during the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament.

“Around 2,500 Delhi police officials along with 3,000 paramilitary personnel will remain deployed at Singhu border on Thursday. Apart from this, anti-riot force, water cannons and tear gas are on standby to make all efforts to stop the anti-social elements among the farmers from crossing over into Delhi forcefully, similar to what happened on Republic Day this year,” police sources said.

Security has been heightened in the national capital with personnel deployed at Jantar Mantar.

The farmers during their repeated rounds of talks with the police have said they intend to begin their daily protest from tomorrow and will hold ‘Kisan Parliament’ at Jantar Mantar every day till the monsoon session of Parliament is in progress. Every day 200 farmers will reach Jantar Mantar to stage a protest from 11 am to 5 pm against the three farm laws.

Farmers have said that each of these 200 farmers will carry identity cards and will reach Delhi in buses escorted by the police.

However, this time police said they are not taking any chances after what happened on January 26 this year and have made proper arrangements.

Apart from the main highway all routes leading to Delhi are under surveillance and are being monitored round the clock.

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.

Farmer leaders and the Centre have held several rounds of talks but the impasse remains. (ANI)

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday directed officials to conduct a thorough inspection of all cow shelters in the state.

As per an official release by the Chief Minister’s office, CM Yogi directed a thorough inspection of all cow shelters in the state by sending Joint Director level officers to the districts.
The chief minister said that district-wise status reports should be submitted within a week. Apart from arrangements for green fodder, straw etc for the cattle, wherever there is death of cow due to mismanagement, strict action will be taken against the concerned officer or employee.

“All necessary arrangements should be ensured in all the cow shelters in the state. Officers of the level of Additional Director / Joint Director of Animal Husbandry Department should inspect the cow shelter sites and make its report available to the government”, tweeted Chief Minister.

On June 9, 2020, the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved the Prevention of Cow slaughter (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 to prevent cow and their slaughtering in the state, the government said in a statement.

According to the Ordinance, for the first offence, a person can be jailed for one to seven years with penalties ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 3 lakh while for the second offence, the person can be imprisoned for 10-years with a fine up to Rs 5 lakh.

“The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday approved an ordinance, providing maximum rigorous imprisonment of 10 years and a fine up to Rs 5 lakh to protect cows and prevent their slaughtering,” read a statement. (ANI)

Foreign Minister of Maldives Abdulla Shahid on Wednesday arrived in New Delhi for his official visit, said External Affairs Ministry (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

“Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives and President-elect of UNGA76 @abdulla_shahid arrives in New Delhi on an official visit,” Bagchi wrote in a tweet.

Abdulla Shahid, who is also President-Elect of the 76th General Assembly of the United Nations (PGA), will pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will hold talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on key international, multilateral, regional and bilateral issues of mutual interest.

Shahid will also share his vision for United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Presidency through a virtual public address titled “Presidency of Hope: COVID Pandemic and Need for Reformed Multilateralism” on July 23 at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) premises at Sapru House, New Delhi.

” The visit of Shahid will provide an opportunity to exchange views with him on several global challenges that the United Nations is currently seized with. It will also give us an opportunity to reiterate India’s abiding commitment to multilateralism and to the UN’s leadership in confronting these challenges,” the MEA said in the release.

India would be the first country that Shahid would be visiting in his official capacity as PGA-Elect since his election on June 7, 2021.

PGA-elect had last visited India in April 2021 in his capacity as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives.

Maldives occupies a central place as part of India’s Neighbourhood First policy and the SAGAR vision of the Prime Minister and the two Ministers are also expected to review the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation between the two sides.

The discussions are expected to give further momentum to the rapidly expanding ties between the two countries. An Agreement for High Impact Community Development Projects to be implemented with Indian grant assistance in the Maldives will also be signed during the visit, the release added. (ANI)

Bollywood actor Sonu Sood on Wednesday penned an emotional tribute on the birth anniversary of his late mother.

The ‘Dabangg’ actor shared a series of monochrome throwback pictures on his Instagram handle that appear to be the pictures from her mother’s wedding day as she is seen clad in bridal attire.
Alongside the snaps, he penned a heartfelt note that read, “Happy birthday Maa. I wish I could wish you personally every year with a hug & thank you for the lessons of life that you have taught me. I promise to give my best always & make you proud.”

Expressing how much he misses his mother, he added, “These messages can never express how much I miss you. The vaccum that has been created in my life without you will always remain the same till I see you again. Stay happy where ever you are and keep guiding me always. Love u maa.”

The post on the photo-sharing platform garnered more than 9 lakh likes within a few hours of being posted.

It received likes and comments from celebrity followers including Sunil Shetty, Farah Khan Kunder, Esha Gupta, and more.

Filmmaker Farah Khan Kunder also left a heartfelt comment on the tribute post shared by Sonu. “Rula diya na.. mothers r always with us.. whether physically there or not,” she wrote.

The actor has been winning hearts with his philanthropic work amid the COVID-19 pandemic. From delivering oxygen cylinders to helping the needy get proper medical attention to now setting up oxygen plants – Sonu has been doing it all.

Sonu, who had received his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at Apollo Hospital, in Punjab in April, had also launched ‘Sanjeevani – A Shot of Life’, an initiative to encourage people to get vaccinated against the novel coronavirus and for raising awareness about the inoculation drive in the country.

Separately, on the film front, Sonu will feature in Chiranjeevi-starrer upcoming Telugu movie ‘Acharya’. He also has ‘Prithviraj’, co-starring Akshay Kumar, in the pipeline.

Also, Sonu recently launched a book recounting his experience of helping migrant workers during the COVID-19 lockdown titled ‘I Am No Messiah’. The book is written by the actor himself, revealing the emotional challenges he faced while extending help. (ANI)

Slamming the BJP-led Central government over the ongoing Pegasus controversy, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday pitched for Opposition unity against the ‘threat to democracy’ in the ‘surveillance state’.

Speaking during the virtual address on the occasion of Martyr’s Day, Trinamool chief said she would be visiting the national capital from July 27 to July 29 and would be keen on meeting the opposition leaders.
Accusing the BJP of “bulldozing the federal structure” of the country, Banerjee said she has plastered the camera of her phone. “Our phones are tapped. Pegasus is dangerous and ferocious. I cannot talk to anyone. You are paying too much money for spying. I have plastered my phone. We should also plaster the Centre otherwise country will be destroyed,” she stated.

She ‘congratulated’ the people of the country and West Bengal for voting for her party, and said, “We fought against money, muscle, mafia power, and all agencies. Despite all odds, we won because people in Bengal voted for us and we received blessings from people in the country, world.”

Asking the Opposition to unite against the BJP juggernaut, Banerjee conveyed her ‘humble regards’ to all national, local leaders, including Sharad Pawar, P Chidamabaram, Digvijay Singh, Ram Gopal Yadav, Jaya Bachchan, Sanjay Singh, Manoj Jha and Priyanka Chaturvedi.

“We have to unite together. Our self-interest is to save people and the federal structure to save the country. The Prime Minister is not ashamed of saying that Uttar Pradesh is the best state where bodies were floating in river Ganga. We collected the corpse and cremated them, which was their work. Over four lakh people died due to Covid because of you (BJP), because of lack of oxygen,” she said.

She asked NCP chief Sharad Pawar to call a meeting while she was in Delhi to discuss uniting the whole Opposition as one front. “I request all parties to form one front and work unitedly. Next week I am going to Delhi to meet people in the Parliament. I would like to meet all Opposition leaders on July 27, July 28, and July 29. Sharad Ji, you can call a meeting on these days and I will attend it,” the West Bengal Chief Minister said.

Going back to her clarion call of ‘Khela Hobe’ (Game is on), Banerjee said, “‘Khela’ will happen in all states until BJP is removed from the country. We’ll celebrate ‘Khela Diwas’ on August 16. We will give footballs to poor children. Today, our freedom is at stake. BJP has endangered our liberty. They don’t trust their own ministers and misuse agencies.”

Targetting the BJP-led central government on fuel price hikes and unavailability of COVID-19 vaccines, she said, “Look at the petrol prices. The Government of India collected Rs 3.7 lakh crore from fuel tax alone. Where is the money going? No vaccines are available. You want to create a surveillance state. Ministers’ phones have been tapped. Judges’ phones have been tapped. Pegasus spyware intercepted the phones of judiciary, politicians, media persons,” Banerjee added. (ANI)

In a show of strength, 62 MLAs, arrived at Punjab Congress President Navjot Singh Sidhu’s residence in Amritsar on Wednesday.

As per his office, Sidhu had called the party MLAs for breakfast.
Amarinder Singh’s media advisor in a tweet yesterday had said, “The Chief Minister will not meet Sidhu till he publicly apologises for his personally derogatory social media attacks against him.”

The MLAs at Sidhi’s residence said that the party is united and that there is no need for an apology.

“Why should Sidhu apologise (to CM)? It’s not a public issue. CM has not solved many issues. In that case, he should also apologise to the public,” Congress MLA Pargat Singh said.

MLA Madan Lal Jalalpur said, “I have faith that 2022 Assembly polls will be won because of Sidhu. CM’s advisers are misleading him. Due to this, Punjab is going backward.”

“The day Sidhu was appointed as the Punjab party President, about 5 per cent of votes for Congress increased. The youth who were leaving Congress and joining the AAP party came back because of this. I am sure that at least 20 per cent of votes for Congress will increase because of Sidhu,” he added.

Jalalpur also said that the party and the CM have to work together to be successful. Referring to Punjab CM’s tweet he said that Sidhu should not apologise because it is a CM’s duty to address the concerns of people of his state, even if it is against him.

“Sidhu is not just Sidhu anymore; he is the Punjab Congress president. He has nothing to apologise for. Although, yes, Sidhu should respect him since he is like a father to us all,” he added. (ANI)

By Ajit K Dubey

Engaged in a military stand off with India in Ladakh since last year, the Chinese Army has increased its activities along the Barahoti area in Uttarakhand along the Line of Actual Control there as a platoon of the People’s Liberation Army was seen operating recently.

“Recently a platoon (around 35 troops) of the PLA were seen operating around the Barahoti area in Uttarakhand and surveyed the area around there. The Chinese have been seen doing some activity around this area after a significant gap,” sources told ANI.
The Chinese troops were constantly monitored in the area during their stay there,” they said.

The sources said the Indian side has also made adequate arrangements in the area.

Sources said the security establishment feels that the Chinese may attempt some activity in this area but the Indian operational preparedness is high all along the central sector.

Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and Central Army chief Lt Gen Y Dimri have also visited the central sector boundary with China in recent times to review the situation and operational preparedness there, they said.

The Chinese activity at an air base near the Barahoti area has also gone up and a large number of drones have been deployed by them there, they said.

India has positioned additional troops in the central sector and many rear formations have gone ahead there, the sources said.

The Indian Air Force has also activated a few air bases there including the Chinyalisaund advanced landing ground where the An-32s have been making frequent landings.

The Chinook heavy-lift helicopters are also operational in that area and can carry out inter-valley troop transfers, whenever required. (ANI)