Month: April 2024

In response to recent action by food regulators in Singapore and Hong Kong, India’s commerce and industry ministry initiated an inquiry into the alleged banning of certain spices manufactured by Indian companies such as MDH and Everest, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The Ministry has reportedly reached out to authorities in Singapore and Hong Kong, seeking detailed information regarding the banned spices and the reasons behind their rejection.

Technical specifications, analytical reports, and specifics regarding exporters, whose shipments have been turned away, are among the details requested.

This inquiry extends to the embassies in Singapore and Hong Kong, as well as the Singapore Food Agency and the Centre for Food Safety and Food & Environmental Hygiene Department in Hong Kong.

Additionally, the Ministry has enlisted the cooperation of the companies mentioned in media reports surrounding the issue.

The focus of the investigation is to ascertain the root causes of these rejections and to work with the exporters involved to implement necessary corrective measures.

In a move to address broader concerns within the industry, the Ministry has also called for a meeting to discuss the mandatory testing of Ethylene Oxide (ETO) in spice consignments destined for Singapore and Hong Kong. (ANI)

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Former all-rounder Irfan Pathan picked Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli as his preferred top three for the Indian team in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 which is slated to begin on June 1 in the US and the West Indies.

Taking to his official X handle, the former left-armer backed Rohit as the skipper and the opener for the Men in Blue in the marquee event, while also naming Jaiswal as his preferred opening partner.

A part of the commentary panel in the ongoing IPL season, Irfan also endorsed stalwart batter Kohli for the third spot, pointing to his strike rate of 150.39 strike rate in the ongoing edition of the tournament, which, he said, was mote than the career IPL strike rate of former explosive West Indian batter Chris Gayle.

“Now that World Cup is nearing. My top 3 for team India. 1) Rohit Sharma (in form as well as captain) 2) Yashasvi Jaiswal (been saying that he should be there even before his 100 purely cos he was performing well for team India before the ipl) 3) Virat Kohli. (Shouldn’t be any question regarding his place or strike rate. His strike rate at the T20I is 138 + Better than Chris Gayle+ 51 avg. N his ipl strike rate this season is 150),” Irfan posted from his X handle.

Kohli has been a crucial cog in the wheel of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), which has struggled for consistency and wins this season.

Despite the RCB registering just one win in eight games, Kohli stood out with his fiery form in the opening slot.

He has, so far, struck 379 runs in eight matches at an average of 63.17, with 113* as his highest score in the ongoing season. However, the sizzling century by the orange-cap holder came in a losing cause against Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Indoor Stadium, Jaipur.

On the other hand, consistency has been the key to Rohit’s success in the ongoing season. He has been hitting the 40-run mark consistently for Mumbai Indians in the opening slot throughout the season.

He is the fifth-highest run-getter in the 17th edition of the IPL, with 303 runs against his name at an average of 43.29, with 105* as his highest score of the season against the Chennai Super Kings.

Before he found form with a typically swashbuckling unbeaten 104 against the Mumbai Indians on Monday, 22-year-old Jaiswal had aggregated just 121 runs in seven matches at an average of 17.28. However, his standout inning on Monday lifted his strike rate in the ongoing IPL season to 32.14.

India will open their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland on June 5 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York. (ANI)

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Actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha, Trinamool Congress candidate from Asansol said on Tuesday that the people of the state will make a new record of victory and will give a befitting reply to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while filing his nomination for the seat.

Shatrughan Sinha said, “The manner in which the Prime Minister has used objectionable language is not just a coincidence. Last time too, he uttered “Didi, O Didi” and mocked (the CM), the people of the state gave a befitting reply… This time too, I think the people of Bengal will break the previous records and make a new record of victory and will give him a befitting reply.”

While filing nomination for the Asansol constituency, Shatrughan Sinha said that the work done by the state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has led to the party’s victory. He said, “We have done an amazing roadshow and we could see how much support we are receiving from the people, how much love and blessings is there for us. We saw an amazing atmosphere. We can say that because of the work we have done … Mamata Banerjee and TMC have won… We say ‘what Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow.’ That is what has happened.”

Praising Mamata Banerjee, Sinha also said that no Chief Minister would have worked the way West Bengal’s CM worked for the people of the state. “The magic of Mamta’s personality is speaking everywhere. The work Mamta Banerjee has done for her people and the state, no CM has done that ever for their people. And even the Prime Minister of the country hasn’t done anything like this.”

A few days ago, Sinha had said that the NDA will be reduced to 150-175 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. “TMC will sweep in this election and BJP will go through a massive rout. Those whoo are giving the slogan of ‘400 paar’, may remember the result of 2004 this time,” Sinha had said.

Notably, polling in the 42 parliamentary constituencies in West Bengal will be held across all seven phases: April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1. (ANI)

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In a heartwarming display of affection, Bollywood actor Taapsee Pannu recently took to Instagram to shower praises on her husband, renowned badminton player Mathias Boe, marking her first public acknowledgement of their marital bond since tying the knot in a private ceremony held in March in Udaipur.

The typically private actor, known for her roles in movies like ‘Pink’ and ‘Thappad,’ has kept her wedding details under wraps, choosing not to share any glimpses from the ceremony on social media.

However, her admiration for her husband couldn’t be contained any longer, as she shared a poignant quote by Boe, celebrating his dedication to his sport and describing him as a shining star who illuminates the world around him.

“Shining a spotlight on every player’s special ability creates a greater illumination of the beauty of this sport. That’s the best part of being a coach,” read Boe’s quote, which Taapsee re-shared with admiration.

Taapsee and Boe’s wedding ceremony was a blend of Sikh and Christian rituals, reflecting the couple’s diverse backgrounds.

Among the attendees were Taapsee’s ‘Dobaaraa’ and ‘Thappad’ co-star Pavail Gulati, writer Kanika Dhillon as well as close friend and director Anurag Kashyap.

Leaked footage from her wedding showed Taapse in a red bridal suit, walking down the aisle alongside her sister and friends and dancing to “Kothe Te Aa Mahiya.”

Taapsee and Mathias have not shared pictures from their wedding festivities on social media yet.

On the work front, Taapsee will be next seen in ‘Phir Aayi Haseen Dillruba’ and ‘Khel Khel Mein’. Directed by Mudassar Aziz, ‘Khel Khel Mein’ features Akshay Kumar, Vaani Kapoor, Ammy Virk, Fardeen Khan, Aditya Seal, and Pragya Jaiswal in significant roles.

The movie revolves around a group of friends reuniting after a long time, leading to comical mishaps.

‘Phir Aayi Haseen Dilruba’ is a sequel to ‘Haseen Dilruba’, which premiered exclusively on the OTT platform Netflix in July 2021 and gathered positive reviews from the audience and starred Vikrant, Taapsee Pannu and actor Harshvardhan Rane in the lead roles. In the second part, Taapsee will be seen sharing screen space with Vikrant and Sunny Kaushal. (ANI)

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The forthcoming web series ‘Ranneeti: Balakot & Beyond’ has generated substantial buzz. The series delves into the heart of the Pulwama terror attack aftermath and the subsequent retaliatory action by the Indian Air Force. At the helm of this riveting narrative is veteran actor Jimmy Shergill, who recently shared his insights into the challenges and responsibilities of portraying real-life heroes.

Directed by Santosh Singh, the series promises to unravel the intricate tapestry of events surrounding the Balakot airstrikes of February 26, 2019.

In an interview with ANI, Jimmy Shergill articulated the formidable task of embodying characters whose contributions often remain obscured from the public eye.

He remarked, “So, such people who do so much behind the scenes, but their faces, their names never come out. So, obviously, it’s a big challenge.”

Shergill emphasized the absence of reference points while depicting the roles of soldiers and policemen, highlighting the unique demands placed upon actors in such portrayals.

Joining Shergill in this cinematic journey are acclaimed actors Lara Dutta, Ashutosh Rana, and Ashish Vidyarthi, each lending their talent to breathe life into the multifaceted narrative.

Lara Dutta, who portrays a power broker in the series, shed light on the broader implications of the storyline.

She elucidated, “It is based on true events that rewrote the history in many ways of our country. So, the Pulwama (terror) attack had its own repercussions with the Balakot airstrike.”

Dutta further expounded on the global ramifications of India’s stance post-Pulwama, underscoring the series’ exploration of India’s evolving image on the international stage.

Scheduled for release on April 25 on JioCinema, ‘Ranneeti: Balakot & Beyond’ is poised to offer viewers an immersive experience, unravelling the intricacies of high-stakes decision-making and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

It is produced by Sunjoy Waddhwa and Comall Sunjay W from Sphereorigins Multivision Private Limited. (ANI)

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The Delhi High Court has dismissed the bail plea of accused Salim Malik, alias Munna, in connection with the northeast Delhi violence case.

The case was registered by the Delhi Police under Sections 3/4 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and Sections 13/16/17/18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, commonly known as “UAPA,” were also invoked in the case.

While denying him bail on April 22, the division bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Manoj Jain said, “In the present case, there is enough material on record which clearly indicates that the appellant/Salim Malik herein was a co-conspirator and has committed the offence for which he has been charge-sheeted. Therefore, in view of the bar provided under Section 45 D (5) of UAPA, we do not find any merit in the present appeal and the same is accordingly dismissed.”

“In view of the factual matrix of the case and statements of the witnesses recorded during the investigation, we find that the accusation made against the appellant makes out a prima facie true case against him,” said the court.

The appellant earlier, in his bail application filed before the Trial Court, pleaded that he was not an accused or co-conspirator and had been falsely implicated in the present case; he was not a member of any WhatsApp group in the present case; the role attributed to him did not fall under the terrorist act; there had been a delay of more than 10 days in registration of the present FIR; the disclosure statement had no evidentiary value; no recovery of weapon had been made at the instance of the appellant; no independent witness had been linked to justify his role in the alleged offence; he had been in judicial custody since June 25, 2020; and charge-sheet in the present case has been filed.

The prosecution, while opposing the plea, submitted that even though the appellant may not be a part of the WhatsApp group, it is quite obvious from the statements of various witnesses that he attended the meetings and took an active part in relation to hatching the conspiracy to commit riots. At this initial stage of the case, when the court has yet to ascertain charges and then embark on trial, the statements of witnesses examined by the prosecution during the investigation have to be taken at their face value.

According to the prosecution, the riots, which took place in the capital city of Delhi in the year 2020, were the result of a deep-rooted conspiracy, wherein the appellant was a co-conspirator. The preparators and conspirators of such riots had learned from the riots that had earlier taken place in December 2019, which had similar characteristics and modus operandi, albeit on a lower scale.

The objective of the conspirators was to escalate protests to chakka jam and once a crowd was mobilised, lead and incite them against the police and others. In order to give a secular look, secular names/Hindu names were given to protest sites.

The conspiracy involved moving from the protest site to designated locations and blocking the main road and highways, thereby creating confrontal situations, communal violence, attacking police and paramilitary forces, and damaging public and private property by using petrol bombs, firearms, deadly weapons, acid bombs, stones, chilli powder, etc. Finances were also arranged and utilised in organising such violence. According to the prosecution, the entire chain of events, clearly reflects conspiracy and from the testimony of witnesses recorded under Section 161 CrPC and Section 164 CrPC as well as from electronic evidence, i.e., chats of WhatsApp groups, it was clear that the appellant was a co-conspirator, stated Delhi Police. (ANI)

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Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat took a dig at the Congress party on Tuesday, stating that their manifesto is merely a declaration of the Wakf board.

He compared the declaration made by the Congress party to the ones that the Muslim League used to make before independence.

“The Congress manifesto is nothing more than a declaration of the Wakf board. The declaration that the Congress party has issued is like the one the Muslim League used to make before independence,” he told ANI at a poll rally in Jodhpur.

Shekhawat claimed that the Rajasthan government failed to provide water to every house in the state despite receiving maximum resources from the central government.

The leader also alleged that the Rajasthan government was afraid that if water reached every house, people’s love for PM Modi would increase so much that Congress would not come to power for the next 50 years.

“The speed at which work has been done in the country under Jal Jeevan Mission in 4 years is 4 times the work done in 70 years…Unfortunately, despite Rajasthan getting the maximum resources from the central government. The Rajasthan government could not work because they were afraid that if water reached every house, then the love of the people for PM Modi would increase so much in Rajasthan that Congress would not be able to come to power even for 50 years,” he said.

“After the formation of a double-engine government in Rajasthan, we will free Rajasthan from this drinking water crisis permanently,” he added.

BJP’s Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who is running for the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Jodhpur, is aiming for a hat-trick victory in the Jodhpur Lok Sabha constituency.

The Lok Sabha election is being conducted in Rajasthan in two phases. The first phase of polling for 12 Lok Sabha seats was held on April 19, while polling for the remaining 13 seats will be held in the second phase on April 26.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP swept all 25 parliamentary constituencies in the state. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, they secured 24 out of the 25 seats. (ANI)

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Adish C. Aggarwala, President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, wrote a letter to Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday, requesting to introduce suitable amendments in statutes to provide the appointment of sitting judges instead of retired judges to tribunals and commissions.

In his letter, Adish said, “I wish to highlight the impact of the appointment of retired judges of the Supreme Court and high courts as chairpersons and members of commissions and tribunals and other such positions by the government on the perception of people about the neutrality of these judges and of the decisions that had been rendered by these judges while they were in service. The government is, as is well known, the biggest litigant in the courts. Apart from cases by or against the government, there are cases involving ministers and other politically active persons. The judge who is deciding a case is looked on as an impartial umpire who is not approachable by either party.”

“When this judge is, immediately upon retirement, handpicked by the government to hold a certain position, people cannot help but speculate if the judge was appeasing the government when occupying the chair to be favourably considered by the government on his retirement, in return for the favour,” he added.

The President of the Supreme Court Bar Association also mentioned that this trend had started in 1988, during the regime of the Congress Party at the Centre.

“The Consumer Protection Act and later the Protection of Human Rights Act set up consumer courts and human rights commissions, which were headed by retired judges. There is now a large number of retired Supreme Court judges, chief Justices and judges of different high courts who are presiding over commissions and tribunals in different parts of India, having been appointed by the central and state governments,” he pointed out.

He also mentioned that there is a crying need to amend the statutes to change the eligibility requirement from a retired judge to sitting judges or practicing lawyers, as of the 21 judges who retired from the Supreme Court from January 2008 to 2011, 18 got assignments in different commissions and tribunals.

Adish Aggarwala further added that the Constitution itself provides for the direct appointment of advocates as judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts. If advocates can be considered for being appointed as judges of important constitutional courts, there is no reason why they should not be in the zone of consideration for heading tribunals and commissions.

He also said that the services of judges should be profitably used in courts for longer tenures by raising the retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 65 years to 68 years and that of High Court judges from 62 years to 65 years.

Further, pointing out the phenomenon that when a judge resigns or retires from the post, they join active politics.

“There is another phenomenon that is bringing disrepute to the legal profession and particularly the judiciary. This happens when a judge resigns or retires and immediately joins active politics. I wish to refer to the Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary, adopted by the United Nations Congress on September 6, 1985. and endorsed by its General Assembly, which recognise that judges may enjoy the freedoms afforded to other citizens but must “conduct themselves in such a manner as to preserve the dignity of their office and the impartiality and independence of the judiciary,” the letter said. (ANI)

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Amid a debate on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks that “Congress wants to snatch women’s Mangalsutra,” the Prime Minister reiterated on Tuesday that he had put the truth before the country that Congress is hatching a deep conspiracy to snatch your property and distribute it to its special people.

Addressing a public meeting here today, PM Modi said that his speech had created panic in the entire Congress and INDIA bloc.

“When I came to Rajasthan the day before yesterday, I had presented some truths before the country in my 90-second speech. This has created panic in the entire Congress and INDI alliance. I had put the truth before the country that Congress is hatching a deep conspiracy to snatch your property and distribute it to its special people. I exposed their vote bank and appeasement politics. After all, why is Congress so afraid of the truth?” the Prime Minister said.

PM Modi also asked what would have happened if there was a Congress government at the centre after 2014.

“In 2014, you allowed Modi to serve in Delhi. Then the country made decisions that no one had even imagined. But think about what would have happened even after 2014 and even today if there was a Congress government in Delhi. Had Congress been there, stones would have been pelted at our forces in Jammu and Kashmir even today. Had Congress been there, the enemies would have come from across the border. Had Congress been there, neither One Rank One Pension would have been implemented for our soldiers nor would our ex-servicemen have received Rs 1 lakh crore,” he said.

Further, sharpening his attacks, PM Modi said that the thinking of Congress has always been of appeasement and vote bank politics.

“As soon as the Congress government was formed at the Centre in 2004, its first task was to reduce the reservation for SC/ST in Andhra Pradesh and give reservation to Muslims. This was a pilot project, which Congress wanted to try in the entire country. Between 2004 and 2010, Congress tried to implement Muslim reservations in Andhra Pradesh four times. But due to legal hurdles and the awareness of the Supreme Court, it could not fulfil its plans,” PM Modi said.

“The Constitution is completely against it. The right of reservation which Baba Saheb gave to Dalits, backward classes and tribals, Congress and INDI Alliance wanted to give it to Muslims based on religion. Amidst these conspiracies of Congress, Modi is today guaranteeing you from an open platform that reservations for Dalits, backward classes and tribals will neither be ended nor will be allowed to be divided in the name of religion. This is Modi’s guarantee,” he added. (ANI)

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