Month: March 2023

Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain have made everyone proud by clinching gold medals at the Women’s World Boxing Championships Final on Sunday.

While Nikhat Zareen won the gold in the 50kg category, Lovlina Borgohain clinched the yellow metal in the 75kg category.
Nikhat and Lovlina’s achievements received praise from people across the country. Actor Abhishek Bachchan, who is actively involved in sports as an entrepreneur, congratulated Nikhat and Lovlina.

Taking to Instagram Stories, Abhishek wrote, “Congratulations Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain on your gold medal wins at the Women’s World Boxing Championship 2023. Your dedication and hardwork has paid off, we could not be more proud.”

The reigning World champion Nikhat (50kg) defeated Nguyem Thi Tam of Vietnam to win gold for a second consecutive year at the tournament while the Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina (75kg) claimed her maiden Worlds gold with a 5-2 win on points after the bout was reviewed against Caitlin Parker of Australia.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated Nikhat and Lovlina.

“Congratulations to @nikhat_zareen for her spectacular victory at the World Boxing Championships and winning a Gold. She is an outstanding champion whose success has made India proud on many occasions,” PM Modi tweeted.

For Lovlina, he wrote, “Congratulations @LovlinaBorgohaifor her stupendous feat at the Boxing World Championships. She showed great skill. India is delighted by her winning the Gold medal.”

With this victory, Nikhat became only the second Indian female pugilist to win two golds at the World Championships alongside the boxing legend Mary Kom who claimed a record six gold medals in the competition. Alongside Nikhat and Lovlina, 2022 Commonwealth Games medallist Nitu Ghanghas (48kg) and three-time Asian medallist Saweety Boora (81kg) were the other gold medallists for the hosts. All pugilists were rewarded with INR 82.7 lakhs ($100,000) each in prize money for becoming World Champions. (ANI)

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It’s celebration time! As actor Ram Charan turned a year older today, he treated fans with a return gift on this special occasion by announcing the title of his upcoming film.

Taking to Instagram, the ‘RRR’ star dropped a video with a title announcement.
Sharing the video, he wrote, #GameChanger it is !”

The film which was earlier tentatively titled ‘RC 15’ is now officially ‘Game Changer’.

To wish the birthday boy, Kiara Advani also dropped a video with a message.

She wrote, “Happiest Birthday to my dearest friend and costar @alwaysramcharan !! May this truly be a Game Changer in every way. @shanmughamshankar Sir.”

The team recently wrapped up shooting a song for the film in Hyderabad after Ram’s return from the Oscars.

Ahead of Ram’s birthday, he received a sweet surprise from the ‘Game Changer’ team on Saturday.

Director S Shankar, choreographer-actor Prabhu Deva and Kiara Advani were also part of the celebrations.

The film billed as an action drama with current-day politics, features an ensemble cast, with Kiara playing the female protagonist.

The upcoming project is jointly produced by Dil Raju and Shirish Garu under the banner of Sri Venkateswara Creations for a Pan-India release.

‘ Game Changer’ will release in three languages – Telugu, Tamil and Hindi.

Apart from Ram Charan and Kiara Advani, the film also stars SJ Suryah, Jayaram, Anjali, and Srikanth.

The film is slated to release in 2023. (ANI)

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Union Minister Anurag Thakur, on Monday, mourned the demise of Malayalam actor and the former member of parliament Innocent.

Taking to Twitter, Anurag shared a picture and wrote, “Sh Innocent Vareed Thekkethala (fmr MP) was a gifted actor who worked in over 700 films; he filled people’s lives with happiness through his comedy. My sincere condolences to his family and admirers.”

The veteran actor and former member of Parliament Innocent Vareed Thekkethala passed away at a private hospital in Kochi on Sunday at the age of 75.

The actor, a cancer survivor was reportedly not keeping well for some time and was admitted to the hospital on March 3 with respiratory problems.

He passed away at 10:30 pm on Sunday night, the VPS Lakeshore Hospital in Kochi said in a statement. He is survived by his wife Alice, and a son, Sonnet.

The hospital said that the non-functioning of many organs and a heart attack led to the actor’s death.

A few years ago, the thespian had been diagnosed with cancer but in 2015 he announced that he was finally free of the disease. He had written about his battle with cancer in his book ‘Laughter in the Cancer Ward’.

The actor, who was last seen in Prithviraj Sukumaran’s 2022 film ‘Kaduva’, has done over 700 films in Malayalam in a career that spanned over five decades. He had also served as president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) for 12 consecutive years.

Considered one of the best comedians in Malayalam cinema, Innocent also appeared in villainous roles.

With his unique voice and mannerisms, he had endeared himself to countless cinema lovers as well as a toast of mimicry artists.

Born in Inrinjalakuda in 1948, Innocent entered the film industry in 1972 with the movie ‘Nrityashala’ starring Prem Nazir and Jayabharathi.

He played comedy roles in ‘Ramji Rao Speaking’, ‘Mannar Mathai Speaking’, ‘Kilukkam’, ‘Godfather’, ‘Vietnam Colony’, ‘Nadodikattu’, ‘Manichitrathazhu’ and ‘Kalyanaraman’ among others. (ANI)

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Within minutes of the commencement of proceedings of both Houses, Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm and Lok Sabha till 4 pm on Monday, amid Opposition MPs’ protest in the second phase of the Budget Session.

They were sloganeering over the Adani Group issue and Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification.
Earlier today, the opposition MPs held a meeting at the chamber of LoP Rajya Sabha and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge in the Parliament building on Monday to formulate the strategy for the day.

The opposition parties which participated in the meeting include DMK, Samajwadi Party, JD(U), Bharat Rashtra Samithi, CPI(M), RJD, Nationalist Congress Party, CPI, IUML, MDMK, Kerala Congress, TMC, RSP, AAP, J-K NC and Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction).

Trinamool Congress MPs also participated in the meeting which came as a huge development following Rahul Gandhi’s suspension as MP from Lok Sabha.

TMC chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has been a critic of the BJP, supported Rahul Gandhi.

“In PM Modi’s New India, Opposition leaders have become the prime target of the BJP! While BJP leaders with criminal antecedents are inducted into the cabinet, Opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches. Today, we have witnessed a new low for our constitutional democracy,” the TMC Supremo had earlier said.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge welcomed TMC’s move to participate in the meeting stating that anyone who comes forward to “protect democracy” is welcome.

“I thank everyone who supported this. That is why, I thanked everyone yesterday and I thank them today as well. We welcome anyone who comes forward to protect democracy and Constitution and safeguard the people. We extend heartfelt gratitude to the people who support us,” Kharge said.

Meanwhile, the opposition MPs were seen donning black clothes in protest against the Centre over the Adani issue and Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification.

The Congress MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, earlier in August last year, had worn black clothes and staged a protest against the Centre against price rise, GST hike on essential items and unemployment. They had marched towards the Rashtrapati Bhavan as part of their stir against the issues. (ANI)

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In an attempt to show unity, the opposition parties protested against the Centre over the Adani Group issue wearing black attire and marched from the Parliament complex towards Vijay Chowk in the national capital on Monday.

The opposition MPs raised slogans against the government at the Gandhi statue in the complex and demanded the constitution of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) over the Adani issue.
Congress president Rajya Sabha LoP Mallikarjun Kharge and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi also joined the protest.

During the march, Kharge was seen holding the hands of other MPs and marching. A banner of Satyameva Jayate was also seen. Other opposition MPs were seen holding placards. The MPs chanted slogans against the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi linking him with Adani.

The march comes after both the Houses of the Parliament were adjourned within minutes of their commencement.

Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm and Lok Sabha till 4 pm on Monday.

The opposition MPs were sloganeering over the Adani Group issue and Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification.

Earlier today, the opposition MPs held a meeting at the chamber of LoP Rajya Sabha and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge in the Parliament building on Monday to formulate the strategy for the day.

The opposition parties which participated in the meeting include DMK, Samajwadi Party, JD(U), Bharat Rashtra Samithi, CPI(M), RJD, Nationalist Congress Party, CPI, IUML, MDMK, Kerala Congress, TMC, RSP, AAP, J-K NC and Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction).

Trinamool Congress MPs also participated in the meeting which came as a huge development following Rahul Gandhi’s suspension as MP from Lok Sabha.

TMC chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has been a critic of the BJP, supported Rahul Gandhi.

“In PM Modi’s New India, Opposition leaders have become the prime target of the BJP! While BJP leaders with criminal antecedents are inducted into the cabinet, Opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches. Today, we have witnessed a new low for our constitutional democracy,” the TMC Supremo had earlier said.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge welcomed TMC’s move to participate in the meeting stating that anyone who comes forward to “protect democracy” is welcome.

“I thank everyone who supported this. That is why, I thanked everyone yesterday and I thank them today as well. We welcome anyone who comes forward to protect democracy and Constitution and safeguard the people. We extend heartfelt gratitude to the people who support us,” Kharge said.

Meanwhile, the opposition MPs were seen donning black clothes in protest against the Centre over the Adani issue and Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification.

The Congress MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, earlier in August last year, had worn black clothes and staged a protest against the Centre against price rise, GST hike on essential items and unemployment. They had marched towards the Rashtrapati Bhavan as part of their stir against the issues.

Congress MP Manish Tewari said, “The manner in which Rahul Gandhi’s membership is taken away is completely undemocratic. He has the right to appeal in court. The court even gave him 30 days to appeal. Then what was the hurry to take his membership?.. It’s a black day in the history of our country. What happened was unjust. We will protest against this.” (ANI)

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A day after the Uttar Pradesh Police took gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed in custody to transit him from Gujarat’s Sabarmati Jail to Prayagraj Jail, Atiq Ahmed’s sister said that they are ready to accept all the judgement and are only worried about his (Atiq Ahmed) safety.

The convoy of Atiq Ahmed entered Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi on Monday.
Atiq Ahmed has to be produced in a special court tomorrow for the verdict in a kidnapping case. Atiq Ahmed is among the accused who will be produced in court.

“We are ready to accept all the judgement. We are worried about his (Atiq Ahmed) safety. We are following him from Rajasthan,” said Ayesha Noori, Atiq Ahmed’s sister.

Atiq Ahmed on Sunday was taken out by a 45-member team of Uttar Pradesh police from Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati Jail where he was lodged and is currently en route to Prayagraj jail.

Earlier, Ahmed on Sunday expressed fear that he might be murdered while being taken to Prayagraj from Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati Central jail by Uttar Pradesh police.

Stepping out of Sabarmati jail here Ahmed told reporters waiting outside that a conspiracy was is being hatched to kill him on the pretext of following court orders.

“Court Ke Kandhe Par Rakhkar Hume Maarna Chah Rahe Hai (They are using the court’s orders as a pretext to get him killed),” Atiq Ahmed said as he was being escorted inside a police van. A 45-member team of Uttar Pradesh police.

Ahmed is the main accused in the Umesh Pal murder case. Umesh Pal, the prime witness in the 2005 murder of BSP MLA Raju Pal, and his two security personnel were shot dead in Prayagraj on February 24 this year.

Previously, Prayagraj Police Commissioner Ramit Sharma on Sunday said that Atiq is to be produced before a court on March 28 in connection with a kidnapping case, the verdict of which is slated to be pronounced on the same day.

“Court has fixed March 28 as the date for the pronouncing the verdict in an old kidnapping case…All the accused have to be produced before the Court in this matter. To produce Mafia Atiq Ahmed before Court, an accused in this case, a Police team has been sent to Sabarmati jail,” the Commissioner said.

DG (prisons) Anand Kumar said that preparations have been made for Atiq in the Prayagraj jail. The jailed politician will be kept in a high-security barrack with a round-the-clock CCTV camera for surveillance.”Mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed will be kept in isolation in a high-security barrack at the jail. His cell will have a CCTV camera. Jail staff will be chosen and deployed on the basis of their records, they will have body-worn cameras,” Kumar said.

“Prayagraj Jail office and Jail HQ will monitor round the clock through a video wall. DIG Jail HQ is being sent to ensure all the arrangements at Prayagraj Jail,” he added.

As per the UP police’s detailed plan for the trip, they have chosen a route that passes through Madhya Pradesh’s Shivpuri and Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi to bring back the gangster. The journey will take more than 30 hours. (ANI)

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The Supreme Court will hear a batch of pleas on Monday challenging the release of 11 convicts who had gang-raped Bilkis Bano and murdered her family members during the 2002 Godhra riots.

The Gujarat government had granted remission to 11 convicts on August 10 last year following which they walked free on August 15, 2022.
A bench of Justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna will hear the case on March 27.

On March 22, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said that he will constitute a bench to hear pleas. “I will have a bench constituted. Need to break two benches for it. Will look at it this evening,” he said after advocate Shobha Gupta, appearing for Bano, mentioned the plea for an early listing of the case.

Earlier also advocate Gupta mentioned the matter for urgent hearing and said that a new bench needs to be constituted by the CJI as Justice Bela M Trivedi recused from hearing the plea.

A bench of Justices Ajay Rastogi and Bela M Trivedi earlier had ordered that matter be listed before the bench, in which Justice Trivedi is not a part of as she had recused herself from hearing the case.

Besides filing a petition against the pre-mature release of convicts, Bano had also filed a review petition seeking a review of its earlier order by which it had asked the Gujarat government to consider the plea for the remission of one of the convicts.

The review petition was dismissed.

Some PILs were filed seeking directions to revoke the remission granted to 11 convicts.

The pleas were filed by the National Federation of Indian Women, whose General Secretary is Annie Raja, Member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Subhashini Ali, journalist Revati Laul, social activist and professor Roop Rekha Verma and TMC MP Mahua Moitra.

Gujarat government in its affidavit had defended remission granted to convicts saying they completed 14 years of sentence in prison and their “behaviour was found to be good”.

The State government said it has considered the cases of all 11 convicts as per the policy of 1992 and remission was granted on August 10, 2022, and the Central government also approved the pre-mature release of convicts.

It is pertinent to note that the remission was not granted under the circular governing grant of remission to prisoners as part of the celebration of “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav”, it had said.

The affidavit stated, “State government considered all the opinions and decided to release 11 prisoners since they have completed 14 years and above in prisons and their behaviour was found to be good.”

The government had also questioned the locus standi of petitioners who filed the PIL challenging the decision saying they are outsiders to the case.

The pleas said they have challenged the order of competent authority of the government of Gujarat by way of which 11 persons who were accused in a set of heinous offences committed in Gujarat were allowed to walk free on August 15, 2022, pursuant to remission being extended to them.

The remission in this heinous case would be entirely against public interest and would shock the collective public conscience, as also be entirely against the interests of the victim (whose family has publicly made statements worrying for her safety), pleas stated.

The Gujarat government released the 11 convicts, who were sentenced to life imprisonment, on August 15. All the 11 life-term convicts in the case were released as per the remission policy prevalent in Gujarat at the time of their conviction in 2008.

In March 2002 during the post-Godhra riots, Bano was gang-raped and left to die with 14 members of her family, including her three-year-old daughter. She was five months pregnant when rioters attacked her family in Vadodara. (ANI)

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