Bhupendra Patel To Be New CM Of Gujarat

Bhupendra Patel, the man known for his gentle personality and a protege of former chief minister Anandiben Patel is set to replace Vijay Rupani as the Chief Minister of Gujarat.

“Bhupendra Patel is capable. He has a very gentle personality which surely help in this development work ahead. We believe BJP will win the upcoming elections in the state under his leadership,” Rupani told mediapersons soon after Patel was elected as the new Chief Minister of Gujarat in BJP’s Legislative Party meeting held here on Sunday.
Patel is an MLA from the Ghatlodia seat, which was previously held by Anandiben Patel, who is currently serving as the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, with an additional charge of Madhya Pradesh.

Patel a first-time MLA had won his seat by a margin of 117,000 votes in 2017, the largest margin in that poll defeating Congress candidate Shashikant Patel.

He has served as chairman of the Standing Committee of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and had also chaired the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA). Patel has also served as municipal councillor in Ahmedabad.

With Assembly polls in the state scheduled to take place in 2022, BJP went with Patel, a Patidar face for the Chief Minister.

In Gujarat, the Patidars are a dominant caste with a sizeable control over the electoral votes. The community also dominates the political economy with a strong hold over education, realty and cooperative sectors.

This comes a day after Vijay Rupani submitted his resignation.

Rupani took charge as the Chief Minister of Gujarat on August 7, 2016. He currently represents Gujarat’s Rajkot West as MLA. In the 2017 state election, the BJP won 99 of the state’s 182 Assembly seats, Congress got 77 seats. (ANI)

Attend Kisan Mahapanchayat

‘Mahapanchayat Has Revived The Farmers Movement’

Kuldeep Singh Khalsa, 32, who travelled from Tikri Border to Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh to attend Kisan Mahapanchayat, says this is a do-or-die battle for protesting farmers

When we received the call to attend the Kisan Mahapanchayat at Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh on September 5, we didn’t waste a single moment. We moved straight from Tikri Border (where we had been protesting till then) to the Mahapanchayat site. We were a group of 20 people who went to participate in the important Mahapanchayat and we lend our full support to the cause as well as the kisan leader Rakesh Tikait Saheb.

The place was full of protestors and not even a single patch of the ground at the protest site (Government Inter College Ground) was unoccupied. People kept pouring in with each passing hour. The Mahapanchayat was organised smoothly and there was no inconvenience to us for the days we were there.

Our spirits have been revived and attendance in such huge numbers has given the movement a fresh shot in the arm. It shows that the protest isn’t going to die down anytime soon until a concrete solution is offered by the government.

We have zero faith in the current government and the corporate entities it is seemingly supporting. If corporates get into farming, we will turn into gulams all over again. The very fabric of our country will be torn, for people without land are people without identities. The farmers don’t have the means or resources to fight these corporates. As individuals, farmers are powerless but collectively we can be a force to reckon with. Which is why such a huge number of farmers with landholdings big and small attended the Mahapanchayat.

Khalsa says corporates have little knowledge of farm procedures or crop cycles

Tikait Saheb has taken a vow that he will not enter his house until our demands are fully met. Such leadership gives us the motivation to carry on. It is this trust that was evident at the Mahapanchayat. The atmosphere was one of hope and faith that the tide would turn fully in our favour soon. There were farmers from various nooks and corners of the country at the meet, including female protesters. For, this time it is aar ya paar ki ladai (do-or-die battle).

It has been nearly one year since we started protesting and even though the ministers say that there have been multiple rounds of meeting with farmer leaders, those meetings had little substance. Forget MSP, even farm loan waivers haven’t been worked upon. The pandemic has already made our condition worse. If we don’t give this fight all we have, we could be at the mercy of such corporates who have no idea of farming procedures or crop cycles.

ALSO READ: Solution To Farm Crisis Lies With Canada Sikh MPs

This time it is not only the elders who are fighting, even children of farmers and other youngsters are taking extra initiative, be it then amplifying the cause through their social media handles or volunteering in any capacity.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha has given a call for nationwide bandh on September 27 and we fully support it. Just how many voices will the government ignore? The government should show genuine interest to solve the problem otherwise elections are right down the corner. The vote speaks louder than words. In my opinion, forget six months (to the Assembly elections), if the jazba (spirit) is right and the cause just, then even one month is enough to take on the matter politically.

COVID-19: India Logs 28,591 New Cases In Last 24 Hrs

India recorded 28,591 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the cumulative covid count to 3,32,36,921, the Union Health Ministry informed on Sunday.

Presently, there are 3,84,921 active cases in the country. In the last 24 hours, 20,487 cases of COVID-19 were reported in Kerala only.
According to the ministry, a total of 338 people succumbed to the coronavirus infection in the last 24 hours, taking the overall death toll to 4,42,655 in the country.

As a sign of relief, India recorded 34,848 recoveries in the past 24 hours and the recovery tally has gone up to 3,24,09,345.

Currently, the overall recovery rate in the country stands at 97.51 per cent.

The daily positivity rate of the country stands at 1.87 per cent while the weekly positivity rate is 2.17 per cent.

India has substantially ramped up its COVID-19 testing capacity wherein over 54 crore tests have been conducted so far.

In the ongoing nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive, 73.82 crore vaccine doses have been administered to eligible beneficiaries to date. (ANI)

New Gujarat CM To Be Finalised At BJP’s Legislative Party Meet

The name of the new Gujarat Chief Minister is set to be finalised at today’s Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) legislative party meet in Gandhinagar, said Yamal Vyas, party’s spokesperson.

After the meet, the elected leader is likely to meet state Governor Acharya Devvrat, he added.
This comes a day after Vijay Rupani submitted his resignation from the post of Chief Minister of Gujarat.

The meeting, which will be held at the party’s headquarters Shree Kamalam in Gandhinagar, will be attended by state BJP chief CR Paatil and three central observers including Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi, Narendra Singh Tomar and BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh.

“Today, the legislative party meeting will be held at Shree Kamalam. Our president CR Paatil and three central observers will remain present in the meet. The meeting will be held to decide the next Chief Minister of the state. It is obvious that Chief Minister will be decided today itself,” Vyas told reporters here.

He further stated that after the meet, the CM designate is likely to meet Governor today. “However, it will be up to the leader when the leader wants to take the oath. The party leadership will decide accordingly,” he added.

Assembly polls in the state are scheduled to take place in 2022.

Rupani took charge as the Chief Minister of Gujarat on August 7, 2016. He currently represents Gujarat’s Rajkot West as MLA. In the 2017 state election, the BJP won 99 of the state’s 182 Assembly seats, Congress got 77 seats. (ANI)

Shiv Sena To Contest On All Seats In UP Assembly Polls

Shiv Sena on Saturday announced that it will contest all 403 seats in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in 2022.

The decision was taken after the Shiv Sena regional executive body meeting in Lucknow.

“Shiv Sena will be the voice of people and filed candidates in all assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh to counter BJP. Coordinators have been appointed to strengthen the organisation in every assembly constituency. The delegation of state leaders will soon hand over the report of the election preparation and the organisation,” reads the Shiv Sena, Uttar Pradesh statement.

Meanwhile, Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda launched the booth Vijay Abhiyan virtually in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday and addressed workers across 27,700 booths in the state via video conferencing.

Political activities have gained momentum in Uttar Pradesh as Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is in the state for two days to formulate strategies for the state polls.

Congress will conduct a Pratigya Yatra in the state covering 12,000 km ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls.

The decision was taken in the meeting of the Advisory and Strategy Committee of the Uttar Pradesh Congress chaired by party’s state in-charge Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. In the meeting, it was also decided that zone-wise election campaigns and programmes will be started.

In the 2017 Assembly elections, the BJP won a landslide victory winning 312 Assembly seats. The party secured a 39.67 per cent vote share in the elections for 403-member Assembly. Samajwadi Party (SP) bagged 47 seats, BSP won 19 while Congress could manage to win only seven seats. (ANI)

China Usurped LoC Area As Big As Delhi, Media Silent: Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, during a meeting with National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) members alleged China has encroached into Indian territory in Ladakh on a landmass as wide as the national capital Delhi, said sources on Saturday.

Sources said that while addressing the meeting, Gandhi also alleged that the media is keeping silent on the BJP-led government’s action, contrary to its constant criticism of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government during its tenure.
“Rahul Gandhi while addressing NSUI leaders today said China has encroached on Indian land, as much land as Delhi, in Ladakh. He said if this had happened during the UPA government, the media would have criticised it 24X7. He said the media would have said the UPA government has destroyed the country, but today, it is keeping silent,” sources said.

Sources said that recalling the media coverage after the 2008 Mumbai attacks, Gandhi said, “Media termed former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as useless after 26/11 terrorist attack, but it called Prime Minister Narendra Modi as fearless after Pulwama attack.”

“He said media will be left useless the day we decide to go to the public directly,” sources claimed.

Sources said that the Congress leader went further to attack the media and claimed, “Before independence, leading newspapers supported the British government during the freedom movement, as they are supporting the government today. In sections of the media during the British rule, Mahatma Gandhi was abused 24X7.” (ANI)

Delhi Witnesses Highest Rainfall In 46 Years

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday informed that the heavy rainfall in Delhi will continue till Sunday morning as the low-pressure area over east Rajasthan and another forming over the Bay of Bengal are likely to intensify further.

According to IMD senior scientist, RK Jenamani the national capital will receive a fresh bout of rain from September 17.
“Heavy rainfall in Delhi will continue till tomorrow morning. It will cover Delhi-NCR, Punjab and Rajasthan. Systems over east Rajasthan and another forming over the Bay of Bengal are likely to intensify further. Delhi will receive a fresh spell of rain from September 17-18,” said Jenamani.

Interestingly, the senior scientist informed that the national capital has received the highest 24-hour rainfall this year in 121 years.

He said, “Delhi received the highest 24-hour rainfall this year, in 121 years. It has received 390 mm rainfall in September– the highest in 77 years, after 417 mm in September 1944. Delhi has recorded 1139 mm rainfall in four months, which is highest in 46 years, below 1155 mm in 1975.”

Several areas, including the Delhi airport, were waterlogged after heavy rain lashed the national capital on Saturday. Heavy rainfall and consequent waterlogging have disrupted the normal, everyday life in various parts of Delhi.

Due to incessant rains in the national capital, several routes were either partially or completely waterlogged causing disruption in traffic movement. Several areas were submerged due to continuous heavy rain. Waterlogging was also witnessed near RK Puram, Moti Bagh, India Gate, Delhi Airport, Minto Bridge, ITO, Dwarka, Palam, and Madhu Vihar area. (ANI)

Indians Inhuman Towards Pets: Karishma Tanna

Actor Karishma Tanna on Saturday opened up about her concern for the treatment of animals in India and how most people are “heartless” and “inhuman” when it comes to the welfare of animals.

“India, not to sound rude, I thought is so heartless and so inhuman when it comes to pets. There is only 10 per cent or 5 per cent of humans, in India per se, who really take care of animals or are dog lovers or animal lovers, rest of the people don’t care,” Karishma told ANI during the launch of India’s first tech-enabled integrated pet care platform, Zigly.

Karishma further spoke about the special connection she has with animals, “I swear the connection I have with dogs…I have started to believe in my previous janam I must be an animal or an animal caretaker…the connection is something else.”

Her love for dogs is not restricted to just her own pet, but she makes sure to feed the street dogs and keeps food available for them in her car.

“If I see a street dog in trouble or if I see a lanky dog or if I see bruised one, I literally get teary-eyed,” she added.

Talking about her collaboration with Zigly, a brand that offers to be a one-stop solution for all pet needs, Karishma added, “Coming to a pet store and being a part of it is something I’m proud of. This is my best work till now when it comes to events. A jewellery store opening would be a part of my profession, but this is what I love.”

The ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi 10’ winner also appreciated the thoughtfulness and love that the founder, Ashok Jaipuria, had put in the idea of the store.

Ashok Jaipuria, the founder of Cosmo Films and PetsFamilia Foundation, also spoke about his love for pets.

“I have two…they are called Zoo-Zoo and Google. They are voiceless but they communicate the most, and sometimes when I’m stressed with my wife I spend time with them,” he quipped.

“It’s a great feeling and I love them to whatever extent you can put it,” the founder added. (ANI)

Awaara – Of Tramp And His Times

Exploring Awaara, found a clip of a Turkish film made in 1946. It has a song identical to ‘Awaara hoon…’ with the capped hero walking the street, happily singing to strangers, including pretty women. Words sound similar, the musical score is identical. Only, it could be Ankara or Istanbul, not Bombay. When a song you grew up humming turns out to be a ‘copy’, it hurts a bit, even if momentarily.

Film analyst Gautam Kaul says this was probably the first case of plagiarism by Shankar Jaikishan, the composer duo. Like Raj Kapoor, the film’s producer-director-actor, they badly needed to establish themselves. The film itself was a gamble after two Kapoor flops. To get a ‘star’ like Nargis, Kapoor had to stage a hunger strike outside her home and melt her mother Jaddan Bai’s heart.

The rest is history: the film was a universal hit. The title song has had presidents and prime ministers foot-tapping, if not singing it.

The world has changed a lot since Awaara was released 70 years ago. Whether it is for better or for worse depends upon one’s values, circumstances and the nostalgia quotient. To compare the world with a film may look simplistic, but Awaara is a good landmark and a benchmark.

Although billed as a crime-and-romance film, it was the story of a newly independent, aspiring India with Jawaharlal Nehru guiding the nation’s destiny. Whether he left the glass half-full or half-empty is currently being vehemently debated. Constantly demonized, he is being struck off history books on modern India.

The most striking change is about the message of socialism that the film carries. Khwaja Ahmed Abbas, the left-leaning journalist and filmmaker who co-wrote the sorry with V P Sathe, also wrote the dialogues. He sharpened his message in Shree 420 (1955), in a similar tale with a wider span.

ALSO READ: Sahir – The Poet Of The Underdog

Few Indians talk of socialism, declared as a failed ideology. Much of the world is currently dominated by right-wing demagogues, all ‘nationalists’ (or ultra-nationalists) with narrow vision. Judge Raghunath, played by Prithviraj Kapoor who nursed a wrong ‘usool’ about a criminal begetting only a criminal, would be uncomfortable today. He shows the humility of accepting his ready-to-reform son. Not so today’s little men wielding big power, backed by money, muscle, media and blind supporters.

Raghunath may be forgiven for his single prejudiced judgment that altered his life, when one sees some present-day judges – taking some recent instances – justify marital rape, acquit molesters of minors, condone state-sponsored violence, help the executive suppress public dissent and much else.

Judges no longer live in palatial mansions like Raghunath. Not, at least, in Mumbai. Abbas sharpened his pen and vision of the city in Shree 420 and his own Shehar Aur Sapna, to make this Urb Prima in Indis, independent India’s first global city. It never sleeps. People flock there to fulfil their dreams, also to the dream factory called Bollywood.

Awaara’s romance blended the western with traditional India. Not much change here. By and large, men are weak and confused (when not stalking their hapless ‘prey’), but women are bold and caring. Patriachy persists, but from president to peon, women, given half-a-chance, have been pushing their way.

The gender-bender in this film is Rita, played by Nargis. In a well-etched role, reflecting a strong character, she carries the film on her shoulders. She dares to love her childhood friend despite the huge gulf in education and lifestyle. She weans bim away from the world of crime. But when told that law doesn’t listen to matters of heart, she says with quiet defiance: my heart, too, doesn’t listen to law.

In an evocative sequence at the beach, Raj goes close to where Rita is changing. A gentleman would never do this, she chides him. He admits he is not one. She calls him junglee (savage) thrice. He chases and slaps her thrice and twists her arm, even tries to strangulate her. But she surrenders, falls at his feet, willing to be slapped more. He caresses her and the two embrace passionately. ‘Libbers’ today would revolt against her ‘surrender’ to a ‘junglee’. Yet she would be a torch-bearer in any campaign to support inter-caste and inter-faith marriages, being opposed by ‘khaps’ or in the name of “love jihad”, by bigots.

Awaara’s theme appealed to the universal sentiment of social upliftment and justice. Its advocacy of the reformative theory of punishment puts some of the onus on the society for creating a criminal. This makes it a landmark film.

It’s a film about relationship. Raj fights to win legitimacy. He explodes when the society ill-treats him. He takes his insecurities out on Rita, and that makes their romance uncomfortably bruised and traumatic. Beautifully portrayed, it shows that real human relationships are messy, unpleasant – even painful. The message is: everyone, from a wealthy judge in his mansion or a tramp on the street, needs a bit of love.

Raj Kapoor emulated Charles Chaplin as he introduced him to Hindi cinema, perfected it in Shree 420 and continued till Mera Naam Joker (1970). Chaplin must have had more avatars in India than anywhere else because Indians have, long before Chaplin, digested Hollywood. That enterprise continues well into this century, even as Indians offer Hollywood some run for the money around half he world.

Certainly not the first since Indian cinema had caught attention outside even before independence, Awaara was a rage in many countries across the world. It was called The Vagavond, The Tramp, Tavarish Brodigya in Russia, and many other names. It crashed the Iron Curtain, gently pushing the de-Salinisation process in the erstwhile Soviet Union. Those were early days of Hindi-Rusi Bhai Bhai. It shaped India’s cultural outreach under Nehru, making cinema integral to India’s ‘soft’ diplomacy today, something few countries possess.

ALSO READ: India’s Soft Power Drives Hard Bargains

The egalitarian ideals Awaara championed resonated in the newly-independent nations and those emerging from miseries of the World War II. Unsurprisingly, it was wildly popular in Russia, China and across the Eastern Europe, but also in Turkey and the Arab world, more familiar than the West with India’s song-and-dance.

It became a family movie in many countries. Dr Amar Kumar Sinha hosted me to the Hungarian version, Csavargo, way back in 1973. At the interval, we Indians were surrounded and asked about the film and those behind it. Sinha says the movie doesn’t run in European theatres any more. But “Awaara Hoon” can be heard on YouTube in multiple versions in Russian, in Uzbekistan, China, Japan – you name it. That takes away some of the plagiarism sting.

Well-written and well-composed songs quicken the momentum in this slow-paced movie. Ten songs were the standard input those days. Some are forgettable, but others, mainly those penned by Shailendra, make for rich experience.

Awaara gave Indian cinema its first dream sequence, uniquely, with three songs, performed amidst a sea of twirling clouds or mist. Choreographed by Zohra Segal, the songs depicted heaven-to-hell-and back episodes. It ends on an optimistic note, a metaphor of life.

Awaara, his third film as a director, established Kapoor. He was only 27 then, but at 22, Nargis was his ‘senior’. Rita’s character went well with her modern-girl image. She dons a one-piece swim suit, considered daring seven decades ago. It also underscored the success of a fine team job by some of the brilliant minds and hands, including cameraman Radhu Karmakar and art director M R Achrekar.

Dina Iordanova, professor at the University of St Andrews, and other experts cite several texts and anecdotal evidence to state in a special issue of the journal ‘South Asian Popular Cinema’ that Awaara may be a candidate for the title of the “most popular film of all times”.

The writer can be reached at mahendraved07@gmail.com

One Nation One ElectionRam Nath Kovind

Women’s Role In Judiciary Needs To Be Increased: President

Stating that the appointment of three women judges in the Supreme Court last month was a ‘historic’ decision towards women empowerment, President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday said that to achieve the inclusive ideals of the Indian Constitution, the role of women in the judiciary needs to be increased.

“If we have to achieve the inclusive ideals of our Constitution, then the role of women in the judiciary also has to be increased,” said President Ram Nath Kovind at the foundation stone laying ceremony of Uttar Pradesh National Law University and new building complex of Allahabad High Court at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh today.
He noted that the presence of four women judges out of the total 33 judges appointed in the Supreme Court is the highest ever in the history of the judiciary.

Referring to the Allahabad High Court’s historic decision to enrol India’s first woman lawyer, Cornelia Sorabji in 1921, the President termed that decision a forward-looking decision in the direction of women empowerment.

He said that last month, a new history was created of the women’s participation in the judiciary with the appointment of nine judges, including three women judges, in the Supreme Court. He said that these appointments have paved the way for a woman Chief Justice of India in future.

President Kovind emphasized that the establishment of a truly just society would be possible only when the participation of women increases in all areas including the judiciary.

He noted that at present the total strength of women judges in the Supreme Court and High Courts together is less than 12 per cent. He said that if we have to achieve the inclusive ideals of our Constitution, then the role of women in the judiciary also has to be increased.

The President said that he had seen closely, the struggle of the poor for getting justice.

“Everyone has expectations from the judiciary, yet, generally people hesitate in taking the help of the courts. This situation needs to be changed in order to further increase the confidence of the people in the judiciary,” said President Kovind.

He said that it is the responsibility of all of us that – everyone gets justice in time, the justice system should be less expensive, decisions should be in the language understood by the common man, and especially women and weaker sections should get justice in the judicial process. This would be possible only when all stakeholders associated with the judicial system bring necessary changes in their thinking and work culture and become sensitive.

The President said that it is the need of the hour to continuously strive on many aspects, from expediting the disposal of pending cases to increasing the efficiency of the Subordinate Judiciary in order to boost the confidence of the general public in the judiciary.

“Our judicial process would be strengthened with the arrangement of adequate facilities for the Subordinate Judiciary, increasing the number of working judges and providing enough resources as per the provisions of the budget,” said the President.

He expressed confidence that the Allahabad High Court would set an example in all such areas with the cooperation of the State Government.

Speaking about the choice of Prayagraj for the Uttar Pradesh National Law University, the President said that a major identity of Prayagraj has been the centre of education. Given the important role of Allahabad High Court and the reputation of Prayagraj as a centre of education, it is the ideal place for this Law University.

The President said that quality legal education plays an important role in strengthening the rule of law based system.

“World-class legal education is one of the priorities of our society and country. In this era of the knowledge economy, the ambitious policy of becoming a knowledge super-power is being implemented in our country. The establishment of Uttar Pradesh National Law University is a step forward in this direction,” stated the President.

The President said that it is relatively easy for any institution to establish all the systems in a well thought out manner at the very beginning. Once the system is created, the process of improving it becomes complicated. Therefore, he urged all stakeholders to adopt the best practices in the Uttar Pradesh National Law University from the very beginning.

He said that a world-class institution should be built by implementing the world’s best practices in all aspects like the creation of modern facilities, selection of students, the appointment of teachers, preparation of curriculum, selection of styles of pedagogy etc.

Meanwhile, speaking on the occasion, Chief Justice of India, Nuthalapati Venkata Ramana said, “Allahabad HC has a history of more than 150 years. In 1975, it was Justice J Lal Singh, who passed the judgement disqualifying PM Indira Gandhi, which shook the nation.”

Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju expressed his aim to make India a destination for international arbitration and the need to improve judicial system and focus on the delivery of justice to the common man.

“We want to make India, a destination for international arbitration. To improve our judicial system, we must target to deliver justice to the common man. We must focus on how common man is delivered with justice on time&brigde gap b/w common man and justice,” said Rijiju.

Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath were also present at the event. (ANI)