July 2023 - Page 19 of 49 - Lokmarg

I Will Contest LS Polls From Hajipur: Chirag

By LokMarg 18th July 2023

Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan on Tuesday said that he will contest the next Lok Sabha polls in 2024 from the Hajipur constituency in Bihar.

“I definitely say that I will contest the Lok Sabha elections from Hajipur only. It is not right to share the talks that took place with the BJP on a public platform but it is certain that Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) will contest the Lok Sabha election from Hajipur,” Chirag Paswan told ANI.
“I don’t think that there is a big challenge in Bihar because the credibility of Nitish Kumar ji has come under question mark due to change of alliance regularly” he added.

Chirag Paswan further told ANI, “The alliance which Nitish Kumar will be a part of only suffer losses”.

Meanwhile, present Hajipur MP and RLJP chief and Union Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras said, “His (Chirag’s) claim of contesting from Hajipur is baseless. I would like to advise him that he should not betray the people of his constituency and contest from his present seat.”

Ahead of the NDA meeting today, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan says, “All is well in NDA. Talks were going on for a long time. We had some concerns and discussions were held over it. Our aim is the 2024 Lok Sabha and 2025 Bihar elections.”

Notably, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan on Monday joined National Democratic Alliance (NDA) after meeting with BJP National President JP Nadda and Union Minister Amit Shah.

“Met Shri @iChiragPaswan ji in Delhi. They have decided to join the NDA alliance led by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji. I welcome him to the NDA family,” Nadda tweeted.

On Saturday, Nadda wrote to Chirag Paswan, inviting him to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting that is scheduled to be held on July 18, the LJP (Ram Vilas) informed through a tweet.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is to held a meeting with 38 parties of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the national capital today to mark the completion of nine years of the Modi government.

Meanwhile, the 2nd day of the mega opposition meet was held in Karnataka’s Bengaluru today.

The first day of the Opposition party’s meeting started with the dinner meeting hosted by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday. (ANI)

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26 Party Oppo Alliance To Be Called ‘I.N.D.I.A’: Kharge

By LokMarg 18th July 2023

India National Developmental Inclusive Alliance or I.N.D.I.A will be the new name of the alliance of 26 Opposition parties who met in Karanataka capital Bengaluru, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge announced on Tuesday.

“We will meet again in Mumbai to discuss the details on seat sharing and campaign management,” Kharge said adding that a joint statement will be circulated shortly.
“We have come together to save this grave situation in the country,” the Congress leader said.

The Opposition parties met to chalk out a strategy to put out an united front to take on the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections.

Prior to Kharge’s announcement Bihar chief minster Nitish Kumar headed JD(U) took to Twitter to post the same.

Congress Lok Sabha MP Manickam Tagore said on Twitter, “INDIA will win.”

“Chak De! INDIA,” tweeted Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien.

The current Congress-led alliance is called United Progressive Alliance (UPA). (ANI)

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When It Rains, It Pours Memories

By Amit Sengupta 18th July 2023

Hello, beautiful man I’ll never have on Rue Charlot. Hello, woman smoking
by the Seine and closing her eyes between drags.
We’re all lost, even in Paris,
and if this place won’t take my mood off you,
I guess I’m in love
And in for more rain…
– Alex Dimitrov, Someone in Paris, France, is Thinking of You

Let the rain kiss you, Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops, Let the rain sing you a lullaby.
– Langston Hughes

Under the undulating flyover, Indian classical dancers, all women, are dancing their epical dance: Kuchipudi, Oddissi, Kathak, Bharat Natyam. Even a gypsy woman is dancing in absolute abandon, her hair flying with the wind in symphony with her colourful skirt. And the rain falls like a cosmic galaxy on a wounded country, soaking it with delight, healing it, helping it to survive with optimism and song, in such bleak, bleak times, when a demonic evil stalks the land.

Not always. The Yamuna floodplains have flooded yet again, as is the annual ritual during monsoon. In East Delhi, the peasants and daily-wagers who work on lease on the lush green land made fertile with the dirty waters of the nullah called Yamuna, ravaged and degraded by urban civilizations since decades, have yet again moved up on the pavements and below the flyover, watched by our women classical dancers.

Like the thousands of migrant workers and their families, emaciated, famished, hungry and thirsty, holding sacks with their bare belongings, who trekked across miles of hot highways under the hard sun of a scorching summer after the sudden lockdown of March 24, 2020, and left to their fate to die on the streets, suddenly, the urban society has discovered these invisible tillers-of-the-land, who have come to showcase their life and times to the citizens of Delhi. So, who are these people yet again, to which country do they belong?

Their humble huts are floating in the waters like democratic monuments of eternal progress. And, like every year, year after year, they have set up another time-tested river-civilisation, on the margins of post-modernity, with swanky cars and SUVs floating by. While the front pages of newspapers celebrate India’s glorious, much-belated journey to the moon! And, that too, after much chanting and prayers, seeking the blessings of miscellaneous Hindu gods.

The displaced citizens of India have set up their homes quickly, resilient residents of earth, as they are, like artists who know their craft. Kids are jumping up and down in the open-to-sky courtyards on a ‘charpai’, women are cooking thick rotis on make-shift chulhas with wood collected from the mini-forest in the neighbourhood, shared with pickle, onion and green chilly, the elderly women are stiching and fixing old clothes, and a young boy is playing a flute in the corner, oblivious of the morning traffic rushing by.

The morning flute has an intrinsic, sublime and soothing sound, soaked with dew drops of the dawn, hiding the night’s unrequited fantasies. It’s a melody which lingers and stays inside my cotton shirt, like a not-so-forgotten, much-familiar, fragrance, flowing with the north wind, as I sing an old Rafi song, riding on my grumbling, vintage, mobike.

Suddenly, old books have yet again started smelling like wood, bark, fallen leaves, lost petals, old sweaters , cotton saris, and wine. Suddenly, books have yet again found their time and space in forgotten forests with mountain-springs and birds chirping at midnight. Suddenly, the pages turn on their own, making a sound of friendship, seeking attention, surrounded by the soft smell of tobacco, as a nocturnal breeze carried by the western disturbances enters the window, like a slow shadow of the past. And life becomes nostalgia yet again, in fast-forward- slow-motion, refusing to go away.

Torrents of rain in the sleepless, summer courtyards, and we don’t need the coolers now. The first mangos, raw and ripe, in the mango orchard next to our home, has enveloped the small-town night with its heady, addictive, seductive aroma, and the songs in the All India Radio Urdu Service, remind us of lost loves and long, lonely journeys, submerged in the longings and desires of the sensuality of the earth, smelling of rain, skin and humidity.

Under the ledge on the terrace, protected from the diagonal and crafty rain, I tell the kids of the mohalla spontaneous ghost stories without head or tail, mostly concocted at the spur of the moment. The kids hold their ‘susu’ out of a joyful, artificial fear, thirsty for more ghost stories. And the water flows through the terraces of childhood like a song of the road: Pather Panchali.

It would be a rainy day tomorrow. If it is exam day, oh, what infinite joy! Rainy days are perhaps the most inspiring days of childhood when all the story books come out, from Enid Blyton’s Malory Towers and Famous Five, to Chandamama, Phantom and Champak. This is the time to enter the mysterious, unexplored terrain of imagination and dream. This is the time to experiment with truth.

Rabindranath Tagore wrote a precious memory of the torrential rain of Bengal in his sprawling home called ‘Jorashonko’ in North Calcutta, with its entrance marked by an amphi-theatre. This is after Kal-Boishaki of March-April, when a certain theatre in the skies is enacted with magical melodrama – thunder, lightening, fierce winds, the blue sky changing into vermillion, orange, red, before the darkness of these romantic nights surround the soul and the heart with deep desires. In Kal-Boishaki, rain never ever arrives, but, there is something primordial and elemental about it, like the poems of Walt Whitman and Jorge Luis Borges.

So it is raining in Tagore’s family home and the kids are overjoyed. Today, therefore, Mastermoshai – the strict tuition teacher – will not arrive – how can he, in this fierce rain? But, then, tragedy strikes – because, there he is, in his dhoti and kurta, riding his ramshackle bicycle, holding his ancient black umbrella, determined as always!

In a quiet and solitary railway station somewhere near Bongai Gaon in Assam, a tea-vendor from Bihar is writing a letter under the flickering light of a lantern. In the midst of a meadow and vast, empty land, the railway tracks shine with metallic glory as rain strikes the earth, filling the railway station with a sweet, shadowy, ghostly mist. This is the place where one should spend a few nights in the rain and write a short-story. This is the place where one should fix up a secret rendezvous. This is the place where one should come every monsoon, with a bottle of Old Monk, a notebook and a fountain pen.

So why is he writing a letter past-midnight, surrounded by this eternal, nocturnal solitude? “A train will arrive soon,” he says. “It will travel through Bengal. And, then, to my homeland – Bihar. It will take my letter to my mother, father, wife and children. I miss them!”

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SC Report Helped Rebuild Confidence In Group: Adani

By LokMarg 18th July 2023

Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani on Tuesday once again slammed the US-based short seller Hindenburg Research report terming it was “a combination of targeted misinformation and discredited allegations.”

Addressing the company’s 31 st Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2023 today, Adani told investors that in January this year the US-based group had published a report to short the company’s stocks just as they were planning to launch the largest Follow-on Public Offering in India’s history.
“The report was a combination of targeted misinformation and discredited allegations, the majority of them dating from 2004 to 2015. They were all settled by the appropriate authorities at that time. This report was a deliberate and malicious attempt aimed at damaging our reputation and generating profits through a short-term drive-down of our stock prices,” Adani said in a video message.

“Subsequently, despite a fully subscribed FPO, we decided to withdraw and return the money to our investors to protect their interests. While we promptly issued a comprehensive rebuttal, various vested interests tried to exploit the claims made by the short seller. These entities encouraged and promoted false narratives across various news and social media platforms,” the industrialist said.

The Hindenburg report, which came out this January 24, alleged stock manipulation and fraud, among other charges, by the conglomerate.

The Adani Group had then termed Hindenburg as “an unethical short seller”, stating that the report by the New York-based entity was “nothing but a lie”. A short-seller in the securities market books seeks to gain from the subsequent reduction in the prices of shares.

SEBI and a Supreme Court-appointed expert committee were tasked to probe the matter. The SC committee had made its report public in May this year.

Addressing shareholders today, Adani said that the apex court-appointed expert committee’s report helped rebuild confidence in the Adani group.

“The (SC-constituted) expert committee did not find any regulatory failure. The committee’s report not only observed that the mitigating measures undertaken by your company (Adani Group) helped rebuilt confidence but also cited that there were credible charges of targetted destablisation of Indian markets,” Gautam Adani told investors at the AGM.

“It also confirmed the quality of our Group’s disclosures and found no instance of any breach. While SEBI is still to submit its report we are confident of our governance and disclosure standards. It is my committment that we will continue to strive to keep improving this every single day. Our track record speaks for itself.”

Supreme Court-appointed expert committee constituted to look into the Adani-Hindenburg row, in May, had said it would not be possible for it to conclude that there has been a regulatory failure around the allegation of price manipulation in stocks.

“At this stage, taking into account the explanations provided by SEBI, supported by empirical data, prima facie, it would not be possible for the Committee to conclude that there has been a regulatory failure around the allegation of price manipulation,” the expert committee had said in its report submitted to the apex court.

On March 2, Supreme Court set up an expert committee on the issue arising from the Hindenburg Research report on Adani Group companies. The committee was headed by former apex court judge Justice AM Sapre. The top court had then asked SEBI to file a status report within two months.

Referring to the then volatility in the stocks and stating the interest of the investors as paramount and to insulate them from any potential financial losses, the Board had decided not to go ahead with the fully-subscribed FPO. A follow-on public offering (FPO) is the issuance of shares to investors by a company listed on a stock exchange after its initial public offerings.

Adani Enterprises had filed a red herring prospectus with the markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for the Rs 20,000 crore follow-on public offer (FPO), the largest ever in India.

Meanwhile, Gautam Adani also told stakeholders in his address today that even after the Hindenburg episode, the group continued to raise several billions from global investors and pointed out that no rating agencies, both in India or abroad, have cut its ratings.

The industrialist also extolled the growth prospects for India.

“While economic cycles are getting increasingly hard to forecast, there is little doubt that, India – already the world’s 5th largest economy – will become the world’s 3rd largest economy well before 2030 and, thereafter, the world’s second largest economy by 2050,” Adani said.

“Following our independence, it took us 58 years to get to our first trillion dollars of GDP, 12 years to get to the next trillion and just 5 years for the third trillion. I anticipate that within the next decade, India will start adding a trillion dollars to its GDP every 18 months. This puts us on track to be a 25 to 30 trillion-dollar economy by 2050 and will drive India’s stock market capitalization to over 40 trillion dollars – approximately a10X expansion from current levels,” he said. (ANI)

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SC To Hear Rahul’s Plea Against Gujarat HC Order In Modi Case On July 21

By LokMarg 18th July 2023

The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, agreed to hear on July 21 the plea filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi challenging the Gujarat High Court’s order that declined to stay his conviction and a two-year-jail term in the ‘Modi’ surname defamation case.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Rahul Gandhi, mentioned the matter for urgent listing before the Supreme Court.
Rahul Gandhi had on Saturday approached the apex court challenging the Gujarat High Court order which declined to stay his conviction in the criminal defamation case in which he was sentenced to two years in jail by Surat court over ‘Modi surname’ remark.

After his conviction in the case, Gandhi was declared disqualified as MP from Kerala’s Wayanad on March 24 following a notification of the Lok Sabha Secretariat.

Gandhi was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment which disqualified him as an MP under the rigours of the Representation of People Act.

In March, the magisterial court had convicted Gandhi for his remarks ahead of the 2019 national polls about the ‘Modi’ surname.

After magisterial court convicted Gandhi, he approached the Sessions court, which rejected his plea for a stay on his conviction on April 20. Thereafter, he approached the High court. (ANI)

Bengaluru Oppo Meet Vs BJP-Led NDA’s Show Of Strength In Delhi

By LokMarg 18th July 2023

The second and concluding day of the opposition unity meeting in Bengaluru is set to begin here on Tuesday, with 26 like-minded parties closing ranks with a common aim of taking on the Bharatiya Janata Party in the next year’s Lok Sabha polls.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, on the other hand, will be holding a meeting of 38 parties of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the national capital on Tuesday.
The NDA meeting will be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting of the NDA is being organised to mark the completion of 9 years of the central government under PM Modi.

Meanwhile, the first day of the Opposition party’s meeting started with the dinner meeting hosted by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

After the dinner Congress leader BK Hariprasad said that the meeting started with a good signal and it would be the end of BJP in 2024.

On being asked about the NDA meeting scheduled to be held in Delhi, he said, “That would be National Disaster Alliance”.

Earlier, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav hoped that the people of the country would hand the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a massive defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

“…2/3rd of the population is going to defeat BJP. I hope that the people of the country will give BJP a massive defeat…I am receiving inputs from all corners of the country that the BJP will be wiped out…,” SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said ahead of the Opposition meeting.

Meanwhile, the draft agenda of the joint opposition meeting set up a subcommittee for drafting the common minimum programme and communications points for the alliance for the 2024 general elections for chalking out the joint programme of parties, which includes rallies, conventions and agitation.

They plan to discuss the process for deciding seat sharing on a state-to-state basis and the name for the alliance is also on the table. The opposition parties may also discuss the issue of EVM and suggest reforms to the Election Commission. The opposition leaders also set up a common secretariat for the proposed alliance.

Moreover, several committees are expected to be formed which will hold meetings to deliberate on various issues pertaining to the alliance. Various groups and sub-groups may also be formed.

In this meeting, a convenor may be appointed and groups formed to decide on various issues apart from deciding on a common minimum programme.

Sources said Congress is keen that the chairperson should be from the party as it is the largest party in the grouping. However, the party may not be not adamant on the matter and would be willing to go by the combined decision of opposition parties, sources said.

They said no one has any objection to the name of former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. She is also not a contender for the post of Prime Minister and is attending the two-day opposition meeting.

The sources said that opposition parties are keen not to make the 2024 Lok Sabha polls a battle between “a leader vs Modi” but to keep the focus on issues and make it a “Modi vs people” battle.

They said that some parties had proposed making Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar the convenor of the grouping in the meeting of opposition parties held in Patna last month and if there is a unanimity on the matter, the Congress would go along.

The sources said there is a proposal to make two-three subgroups or a coordination committee.

There is a suggestion that a group should be formed to decide on issues to be raised collectively against the Narendra Modi government. Any such group may also be entrusted with deciding the issues on which to hold agitations against the government and to stay away from issues that could help the BJP by causing “polarization”.

Sources said there is a proposal to form a group to decide on seat allocation in states.

They said that since leaders of 26 opposition parties cannot hold meetings in a short period, there is a proposal to form a group for coordination. “There is also a proposal to formulate a common minimum programme,” a source said.

They said all issues will be discussed in the meeting and decision t taken on those on which there is an agreement.

The issues on which there is no agreement will be discussed further, they said.

Congress general secretary KC Venugopal lashed out at the BJP-led government and said the opposition parties are all united by a common purpose – to protect democracy in this country, to ensure the Constitutional rights and the independence of our institutions.

“These all are under attack by the present regime of the BJP Govt. They wanted to silence the Opposition’s voice. They are misusing agencies to suppress the voice of the Opposition. The disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from the Parliament is one of the biggest examples of that. The incident happening in Maharashtra is also an example,” he said.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said that opposition leaders will hold discussions on many issues including EVM machines during the second joint opposition meeting in Bengaluru.

“Agenda of today’s meeting is to be one. Discussion will be held on many issues including EVM machines, Lok Sabha seat sharing, what will be the name of the front,” he said.

Moreover, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took a swipe at BJP over the NDA meeting scheduled for Tuesday and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi “suddenly thought of NDA” after the meeting of opposition parties in Patna last month.

Jairam Ramesh said at a press conference here that efforts are being made to infuse “new life” in BJP-led National Democratic Alliance after the success of the opposition conclave in Patna.

“PM and BJP are baffled. After the Patna meeting, the PM suddenly thought of NDA. Attempts are being made to breathe new life into NDA. Suddenly, it was reported that the NDA meeting has been called for tomorrow. This is a result of the meeting in Patna,” he said.

Chief Minister MK Stalin said that the Opposition parties have united to “defeat” the ruling BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections while terming the Enforcement Directorate raids at the residence of State Minister K Ponmudi as “diversionary tactics” coming ahead of the second unity Opposition meeting.

Speaking to reporters at the Chennai airport before flying to Bengaluru to attend the Opposition meeting, CM Stalin said,” “All Opposition parties have united to defeat the BJP-led Central government. We took the decision in Bihar to convene the second meeting in Karnataka today and tomorrow”.

“Opposition unity which started in Bihar last month will continue during the second meeting in Bengaluru,” CM Stalin added.

On being asked about the ED raids at the residence of State higher Education Minister K Ponmudi, Stalin said, “This was a false case initiated by the then Jayalalithaa Government against him thirteen years ago. The ED raids reflect the BJP’s frustration.”

“The raid is a diversionary tactic in the light of the Opposition meeting,” he added.

Aam Admi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chaddha said that the coming together of like-minded opposition parties is giving “sleepless nights” to the Bharatiya Janata Party. He also claimed that the saffron party will not return to power at the Centre in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The AAP leader said that “The alliance of like-minded opposition parties is giving sleepless nights to the ruling BJP. The coming together of leaders of non-BJP parties have made them to live in fear”, adding, “The agenda of the meeting will be discussed during the meeting in Bengaluru”.

Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko said he hopes that the Modi government will lose the next elections as he arrived in Bengaluru to attend the two-day joint opposition meeting.

“This is a very important meeting, it will bring a change in Indian politics…I hope that Modi govt will lose”, Vaiko said.

Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah said that something more “substantive” will be done in the opposition meeting being held in Karnataka’s Bengaluru.

“This is only the second meeting. Obviously, I hope that something more substantive will be done in this meeting because the last meeting was just the beginning. We wanted to see how many parties are attending, and what their individual points of view are. This is the second in the series of meetings, we need to have something more substantive,” he said while talking to the reporters.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party and said that after Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, the economic condition of the country was destroyed.

“BJP is the party which destroyed the economy of the country, not Opposition parties. After Narendra Modi became PM, the economic condition of the country was destroyed, prices were raised, farmers poor are in distressed condition and because of communal issues people are living in scary situations,” he said.

Siddaramaiah also hoped that the people of the country would give BJP a massive defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

“BJP and PM Modi will not get a mandate this time, they will lose this time,” he said.

Karnataka CM also asserted that the influence of PM Narendra Modi is waning and that the decline of the BJP has initiated in Karnataka.

“Didn’t we defeat Modi in Karnataka, BJP’s loss in all the places, where Modi campaigned? During the Karnataka assembly elections, PM Narendra Modi visited the state 28 times. The decline of the BJP has begun in Karnataka. We’ll win the majority of seats in Lok Sabha 2024 polls, and BJP and NDA alliance parties will lose.”

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, party MP TR Baalu, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party leader Rahul Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Raghav Chadha, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko and others leader arrived in Bengaluru to attend the meeting.

Earlier, hitting out at United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and Opposition party alliance, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda on Monday termed it as “Bhanumati ka Kunba”.

“UPA and Opposition parties alliance is Bhanumati ka Kunbha’s, ‘Kahi ki Eet, Kahi Ka Roda, Bhanumati ne Kunba Joda (bringing together elements that don’t go with each other),” JP Nadda said addressing a press conference in the national capital.

He further said it is an alliance based on selfish interests and is only for photo opportunities.

“UPA neither has a leader nor does it has the power to take decisions. It is an alliance based on selfish interests and is only for photo opportunities. It is 10 years of corrupt governance and non-governance of the UPA government,” the BJP chief said. (ANI)

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Former Kerala CM Chandy Passes Away At 79

By LokMarg 18th July 2023

Former Kerala Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Oommen Chandy passed away at Chinmaya Hospital in Bengaluru at 4.25 am on Tuesday. He was aged 79 and had been undergoing treatment for cancer.

Oommen Chandy represented the Puthupally constituency in Kottayam district for more than 50 years. He was the MLA from Puthupally.
Chandy first represented Puthupally in 1970 when he was the Youth Congress president. He became a minister for the first time in the K Karunakaran cabinet in 1977. He was appointed Chief Minister twice. He had handled the finance portfolio in the state. He had also been the Leader of Opposition.

Chandy was a leader who was always reachable to his people. His programme “Janasambarka paripady” which was launched to hear people’s complaints when he was the Chief Minister was very popular.

Following his sickness, he had been undergoing treatment in the USA and then he continued his treatment in Bengaluru.

Kerala Congress President K Sudhakaran condoled the death of the former Kerala Chief Minister.

“The tale of the king who triumphed over the world with the power of ‘love’ finds its poignant end. Today, I am deeply saddened by the loss of a legend, @Oommen_Chandy. He touched the lives of countless individuals, and his legacy will forever resonate within our souls,” Sudhakaran tweeted. (ANI)

Oommen Chandy is survived by his wife Mariamma and children Maria Oommen, Chandy Oommen and Achu Oommen. (ANI)

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Kajol, Ajay Spend Good Time With Nysa, Yug

By LokMarg 17th July 2023

On Monday, actor Ajay Devgn shared a priceless glimpse from his family time.

Taking to Instagram, Ajay dropped a fam-jam featuring wife Kajol, daughter Nysa, son Yug and nephew Daanish Gandhi.
In the image, Ajay and Kajol are seen smiling as they posed with their kids. Kajol looked stunning in a blue top. Ajay, Yug, and Daanish kept it simple yet stylish in their black outfits. Nysa looked adorable in a pink sweater.

“Nothing more sacred than spending time with this bunch,” Ajay captioned the post.

The adorable snap was captured in a restaurant. However, the location was not disclosed.

Kajol also shared the same photo on Instagram stories and said: “I agree… memories need to be recorded.”

Kajol and Ajay’s fam-jam picture garnered loads of likes and comments from fans.

“Beautiful image,” a social media user commented.

“Loved it,” another one wrote.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Ajay has joined the star cast of Abhishek Kapoor’s next big-screen action adventure. Not only Ajay but his nephew Aaman Devgan and Raveena Tandon’s daughter Rasha Thadani are part of the yet-to-be-titled film. It will be out on February 9, 2024.

Ajay also has Vikas Bahl’s supernatural thriller film in kitty. Fans can also see him in ‘Maidaan’.

On the other hand, Kajol has come up with a web show ‘The Trial – Pyaar, Kaanoon, Dhokha’, which is helmed by Suparn Varma.

The courtroom drama is the Indian adaptation of ‘The Good Wife’, which starred Julianna Margulies in the lead role. Kajol plays Noyonika Sengupta, a housewife who starts practising law again when her husband’s public scandal puts him in prison.

Talking about the show, Kajol said, “The complexities are what defines a character to me and the layers surrounding Noyonika are what spoke to me when this role first came over. Noyonika felt personal, I instantly felt protective about her and that reaffirmed my faith in choosing ‘The Trial – Pyaar, Kanoon, Dhoka’ to be my first step into the long format. Suparn Varma has built a world where the vulnerability of characters meets the cruel situations posed by life.”

Kajol was also seen in ‘Lust Stories 2’ recently. (ANI)

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Angad Bedi at international sprinting tournament

Angad To Represent India At International Sprinting Tournament

By LokMarg 17th July 2023

Actor Angad Bedi is all set to take his sprinting passion to new heights and proudly represent India in the 400m race at an international level, following his remarkable achievement of winning the silver medal in his maiden 400m sprinting tournament in Mumbai.

While he has established himself as a versatile actor, Angad has always harboured a deep love for sports, and his recent success in the 400m race has inspired him to embark on this remarkable journey.
With a determination to excel in his newfound athletic endeavour, Angad has been undergoing rigorous and intensive training under the guidance of his coach, Brinston Miranda.

Coach Miranda, a seasoned athlete himself, achieved the remarkable feat of securing the 5th rank at the World Masters Games in 2016.

Angad’s association with Coach Miranda ensures that he receives top-notch training and mentorship to hone his skills and elevate his performance to international standards.

Expressing his excitement about representing India in sprinting, Angad Bedi said in a statement, “I am honoured and thrilled to have the opportunity to represent my country in the 400m race next year. First I am aiming for Maharashtra State in December then Nationals. The silver medal in my debut sprinting tournament has fueled my determination to pursue this sport at a professional level. With the guidance of my esteemed coach, Brinston Miranda, I am committed to giving my best and making my country proud. I am grateful for the support and encouragement I have received from my family, friends, and fans throughout this incredible journey.”

On the acting front, Angad was recently seen in R Balki’s directorial ‘Lust Stories 2’ opposite Mrunal Thakur and garnered great reviews for his performance.

His next release under the direction of R Balki is a sports drama film titled ‘Ghoomer’.

Angad will be seen sharing screen space with Saiyami Kher and Abhishek Bachchan. (ANI)

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Anil Praises Shanaya For Bagging Mohanlal’s Film

By LokMarg 17th July 2023

Actor Anil Kapoor, on Tuesday, gave a shoutout to his brother Sanjay Kapoor’s daughter Shanaya Kapoor as she bagged her debut pan-India film.

Taking to Instagram, Anil shared a monochrome picture of Shanaya and wrote, “This is the beginning like no other, and we are so incredibly happy to witness your dreams turning into reality. May this project be the first of many remarkable achievements in your shining career. We believe in you wholeheartedly, and we couldn’t be more proud! Boundless love, unwavering support and hearts bursting with pride, always!”

Shanaya Kapoor is all set to star in Megastar Mohanlal’s upcoming pan-India film ‘Vrushabha’.

Even before the release of her debut film ‘Bedhadak’, Shanaya signed her new movie.

Apart from her, the film will also star, Mohanlal, Zahrah S Khan and Telugu actor Roshann Meka in the lead roles.

The film will be produced by Ektaa Kapoor.

Few days ago, producer Ektaa made the announcement about her new film ‘Vrushabha’ in collaboration with actor Mohanlal.

Taking to Insta, Ektaa shared a picture featuring herself, her father-actor Jeetendra and Mohanlal.

Sharing the picture, she wrote, “Posing with d legend n the genius !!!! JAI MATA DI so excited to b working with the actor par excellence @mohanlal. Balaji Telefilms partners with Connekkt Media and AVS Studios for VRUSHABHA – a Pan India bilingual Telugu Malayalam Film starring megastar Mohanlal. High on emotions and VFX, the film is an Epic Action Entertainer transcending generations. Touted to be one of the biggest films of 2024, VRUSHABHA, directed by Nanda Kishore, goes on floors later this month and will be released simultaneously in Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil and Hindi.”

The film is an epic action entertainer transcending generations. ‘Vrushabha’, directed by Nanda Kishore, goes on floors later this month and will be released simultaneously in Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil and Hindi.

The film is slated to release in 2024.

Shanaya will be making her acting debut with Karan Johar’s ‘Bedhadak’, in which she will be seen essaying the role of Nimrit. The film also stars Lakshya and Gurfateh Pirzada in lead roles.

In March 2022, she announced the news on her Instagram handle and unveiled her first look from the film.

The official release date of the film is still awaited.

Talking about Anil’s work front, he recently received a lot of praise for his performance in the series ‘The Night Manager – Part 2’ alongside Aditya Roy Kapur.

He will be next seen in the aerial action thriller film ‘Fighter’ alongside Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone. (ANI)

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