Month: April 2024

Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday said the party, if voted to power, guarantees to revive the Scheduled Caste Plan and the Tribal Sub-Plan and implement it by law.

In a post on X, Kharge said, “Congress gives legal guarantee for implementation of SC-ST Sub Plan. As much as the SC/ST population, so much is the budget! The Special Component Plan and Tribal Sub-Plan for Scheduled Castes, introduced by Indira Gandhi in the 1970s to ensure a balanced and adequate share of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes in the budgetary resources, were abolished by the Modi government in 2014.”

“Congress guarantees to revive the Scheduled Caste Plan and the Tribal Sub-Plan and implement it by law,” Kharge said.

Further, the Congress President said that for the last seven decades, the Congress Party has been raising its voice most strongly for the rights and privileges of the backward, deprived, oppressed and exploited sections of society and all castes.

“Only Congress will ensure “share justice””, he said.

Rahul Gandhi also posted on X and said that the Congress aims to ensure the participation of tribals in the building of modern India.

“The aim of the Congress is not only to protect water, forests and land but also to ensure the participation of tribals in the building of modern India. These 6 resolutions of ours dedicated to the tribal society will become a shield for the rights of the tribals by preventing the plunder of resources. The country will become strong only when the foundation is strong,” he said.

The opposition parties of the INDIA bloc have been demanding a nationwide caste census, with the slogan ‘Jitni Abadi, Utna Haq’. They have claimed that it would be conducive to policy-making for people belonging to different castes and communities, on the basis of their population.

However, the ruling BJP has said that it would lead to a division in society.

The 2024 general elections will be held in India in seven phases, from April 19 to June 1, to elect the 543 members of the 18th Lok Sabha. The results will be announced on June 4. (ANI)

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Filmmaker Karan Johar recently shared yet another cryptic post, reminding fans that it’s fine if everyone does not like them.

Karan took to his Instagram stories on Wednesday to share a post advising fans to understand that some people may not like them, and it’s alright.

“You absolutely HAVE to become ok with not being liked. No matter how loving or kind you are, you will never people please your way into collective acceptance. You could be a whole ray of sunshine and people will hate you cuz they’re used to rain. Be ok with shining regardless,” his post read.

Earlier in the month, the filmmaker shared a post igniting speculations about the latest trends in Bollywood and the kinds of movies being made.

Taking to his Instagram stories, he wrote, “Bada scale chahiye toh wo banaao. Action chali. Action banaao! Love story chali toh love story banaao! Chick flick hit hui toh wahan jaao! Mausam har hafte badalta hai… conviction har hafte marta hai! Box office hai bhaiya, Instagram reel nahi… 30 second ki trending mein reh jaaoge wahin ke wahin!” (If you want a big scale, then create it. Action is working. Make action flicks..If a love story works, then make romantic movie. If a chick flick becomes a hit, then make that… weather changes every week… conviction dies every week..It’s the box office, not Instagram reels… you’ll stay in the 30-second trend there.)

Though he didn’t make anything clear, it seemed he hinted toward box office success, and contemporary Bollywood trends being followed within the industry.

Meanwhile, Karan, as a producer is basking in the success of the Sara Ali Khan-starrer film ‘Ae Watan Mere Watan’, a fictional tale set against the backdrop of 1942’s Quit India Movement. The movie is inspired by real events and chronicles a pivotal chapter in India’s quest for independence.

Drawing inspiration from freedom fighter Usha Mehta’s incredible journey, the film pays respect to both recognised and unseen warriors, capturing the bravery, patriotism, sacrifice, and determination displayed by India’s youth throughout the freedom movement.

‘Ae Watan Mere Watan is directed by Kannan Iyer. (ANI)

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With dreams in their hearts, every year, thousands of people come to Mumbai to make it big in the film industry. However, not all can manage to find success.

Around three decades ago, a fresh-faced young actor named Manoj Bajpayee travelled to the so-called “City of Dreams” to make a name for himself, and with his sheer hard work, he undoubtedly set an example of how an outsider can survive in the industry despite various challenges.

Manoj Bajpayee, who got a major break in films with ‘Satya’, has now 100 movies in his filmography. Working in more than 100 movies clearly shows the longevity of the veteran actor’s career.

In a recent interview with ANI, Manoj reflected on his journey in the Indian film industry, which he described as “cut-throat” and “unpredictable”.

“You know, I did not tell my parents and friends that I got Satya until the film’s release date was locked because I did not want to jinx it. Earlier, it used to be unpredictable…they would sign you and then they would not do it…sometimes films would also get shelved. So I did not tell them till the release was planned. Satya became a super duper hit…I feel it’s a very unpredictable and cut-throat industry…No journey is fought alone…it is fought with the help of a lot of people. At the end of the day, destiny plays a very big part,” he expressed.

Manoj also talked about how the industry has changed over the years, highlighting the representation of women in the film business.

“It feels like I just travelled yesterday…our industry is very tough because it is a small industry. Everyone knows everyone…everyone is vying for that one role…it has gone through so many changes. Now it’s digital…sets have been changed…there’s such a great presence of women on sets now. Earlier, there used to be hairdressers or heroines only…Now people get bound scripts; when I started, there was only narration and had to go by the words of the directors,” he said.

Speaking of Manoj’s latest work projects, he is currently being lauded for his power-packed performance as ACP Avinash in ‘Silence 2: The Night Owl Bar Shootout’, which is the sequel to Silence… Can You Hear It? (I could not), the 2021 crime thriller.

On how to make a franchise successful, Manoj said, “Whenever you are doing a franchise, it’s really important for actors to go back and watch it all over again, revisit it….then you will get to know what are the things that you have to retain and what are the things that you should take out and then add more new things. A little bit of work is always required…By doing this, you are helping the director.”

Streaming on ZEE 5, the film also stars Prachi Desai, Sahil Vaid and Parul Gulati. Aban Bharucha Deohans has directed it. (ANI)

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Alia Bhatt is one of the biggest actors in Indian cinema today. With her work, she has not only created a name for herself in the country but also made an impact abroad. The 30-year-old has made it to TIME’s ‘100 most influential people of 2024’ list.

‘Heart of Stone’ director Tom Harper, who worked with Alia in her debut film, wrote about her in the magazine, describing her as a “truly international star”.

“There is a grace to the way she goes about her work: focused, open to ideas, and willing to take creative risks. One of my favourite moments in the film came from an improvisation at the end of a take where she took the emotional thread and ran with it,” Tom wrote.

Last year, Alia bagged several important awards including first National Film Award for her performance in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s directorial ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’. In 2023, she also made her Hollywood debut with ‘Heart of Stone’.

Indian-origin actor Dev Patel and wrestler Sakshi Malik also featured in the list.

Dev’s profile was written by Get Out and Nope actor Daniel Kaluuya.

“Dev radiates goodness. His humanity shines through every time he graces the screen, leaving you no choice but to root for him even when his character is doing something foul; his presence makes you understand where he’s coming from,” he wrote and praised Dev’s latest release, Monkey Man. (ANI)

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Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Indian National Congress’ General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi campaigned in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur and said that if the country conducts fair elections without any tampering of EVMs, then the Bhartiya Janata Party will not secure more than 180 seats.

Speaking to ANI, the Congress leader questioned the basis of BJP’s claim of securing more than 400 seats. She said, “On what basis are they saying that they will get 400, are they astrologers? Either they have done something from before and they know that they will secure more than 400 seats. Otherwise, how can they say that they will get 400 seats?… If today in this country, the elections are conducted in such a way in which there… is no tampering of EVMs, then I can say with full confidence that they will not gain more than 180 seats, in fact, they will win less than 180 seats.

Priyanka Gandhi also said that she views the election from the people’s point of view and stressed that the elections should be conducted based on the issues of the people. “I am saying this everywhere to the people, that this election should be the election of the people. It should be conducted on the issues of the people.”

Attacking PM Narendra Modi and BJP leaders, Priyanka alleged that the BJP is not talking about unemployment, and inflation. “They are not talking about the issues of unemployment and inflation. They are not talking about the real issues faced by farmers and the women. All the conversations are happening only to divert the people’s mind.”

Claiming that people want change, the Congress leader said that people have not seen any development in their lives for the past 10 years and PM Modi has got disconnected with the people.

“People want change. They don’t want this type of politics… In the past 10 years, there has not been any development in the life of any common man, or woman… They are not getting jobs, inflation is not coming down… It’s the time of festivals. Today is Ram Navami. People don’t have money to buy anything…He doesn’t talk about unemployment and inflation. I feel the people around him are not telling him about this… He is disconnected from people,” she said.

Expressing her views on the electoral bond scheme, Priyanka Gandhi questioned PM Modi for calling it a transparent system.

“Yesterday, he (PM Modi) said that because of the electoral bond system, the whole system has turned transparent… Now, the Supreme Court is saying to bring out the lists of donors and make it transparent… After the list was unveiled, we got to know that the company who is working for Rs 180 crore is donating Rs 1100… the ones who were raided gave you a donation and now the case has been closed. Then how is this fight against corruption? Nobody is more corrupt than them. They made the system of corruption and now when they are caught, they are saying it is a transparent list,” Priyanka Gandhi said.

Taking to her official X handle, the Congress’ general secretary tweeted, “I am overwhelmed by the love of the people of Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. This enthusiasm, this zeal and this passion is a sign of the coming change. People who are disappointed with unemployment and inflation are now beginning to see hope for change. This enthusiasm is a reflection of that hope. The departure of BJP, which has done injustice to the people, is certain. India will unite, India will win.”

Saharanpur goes to the polls in Phase 1 on April 19 with Congress’ Imran Masood up against incumbent BJP MP Raghav Lakhanpal and Majid Ali of the BSP. The results of the Lok Sabha elections will be declared on June 4. (ANI)

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The Democratic Progressive Azad Party on Wednesday announced that former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and DPAP chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad will not contest the Lok Sabha elections from the Anantnag-Rajouri seat.

Advocate Saleem Parray will be a candidate from the Azad’s Democratic Progressive Azad Party for the Anantnag Rajouri seat.

DPAP leader, Advocate Mohammad Saleem Paray, confirmed the development and said the people of Jammu and Kashmir want to see Azad as the Chief Minister.

“Ghulam Nabi Azad had a meeting with the leaders of south Kashmir. Deliberations were held on a lot of things. Finally, my name was proposed and I am thankful to Ghulam Nabi Azad that he trusted me. I will try my level best to meet all the expectations. Replacement is not a proper word. He is being a good leader. There is no replacement. I wanted Ghulam Nabi Azad to contest from here but as a political worker, I am connected to people. People of the state want Ghulam Nabi Azad to take charge of Jammu and Kashmir, they want to see him as the Chief Minister,” he added.

He further said that he would try his best to meet the expectations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

“Keeping in mind all the things this decision has been taken. I will repeat the same: I will try my level best to meet the expectations,” he added.

When asked that some leaders are saying that Ghulam Nabi Azad is fearful of contesting, he asked the names of those leaders who claimed that former CM is fearful.

“Take the names; I will then answer to them. Omar Sahab shifted from Srinagar to Baramulla. Why? The people here want to see Ghulam Nabi Azad as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. People should appreciate that Ghulam Nabi Sahab has moved a young party leader to contest the elections,” he said.

Meanwhile, DPAP’s provincial president of Kashmir, Mohammad Amin Bhat said that advocate Saleem Parray will be the DPAP candidate for the Anantnag-Rajouri seat

“A meeting took place with Azad and it was decided that advocate Saleem Parray will be the DPAP candidate for the Anantnag-Rajouri seat. I won’t be able to tell you the reason behind the decision–this is the party’s decision,” Bhat said.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti will fight from Anantnag-Rajouri and the National Conference has fielded Mian Altaf for the Lok Sabha polls.

Earlier in 2022, Azad had left the Congress, ending his five-decade-long association with the party, and floated the DPAP.

In the 2014 elections, Jitendra Singh from the BJP gathered 46.8 per cent of votes on the Udhampur seat, while Ghulam Nabi Azad, who fought on the Congress ticket, gathered 40.9 per cent.

Voting in Udhampur will be held on April 19, in Jammu on April 26, in Anantnag-Rajouri on May 7, in Srinagar on May 13, and in Baramulla on May 20.

Earlier, there were six seats for J-K, including Ladakh. But, following the abrogation of Article 370 by the Parliament, Ladakh does not have a Lok Sabha constituency. In the 2019 elections, the BJP won three seats, while the National Conference won the other three seats.

This is the first election after the Supreme Court ruling last year, which upheld the Parliament’s decision to abrogate Article 370 and bifurcate the state into two union territories. The apex court also asked the Election Commission of India to hold the next assembly elections in J&K before September 30, 2024. (ANI)

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Campaigning for 102 parliamentary constituencies distributed across 21 states and Union territories, where voting will be held in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections on April 19, concluded on Wednesday.

In the first phase, polling will be held in Arunachal Pradesh (2 seats), Assam (5), Bihar (4), Chhattisgarh (1), Madhya Pradesh (6), Maharashtra (5), Manipur (2), Meghalaya (2), Mizoram (1), Nagaland (1), Rajasthan (12), Sikkim (1), Tamil Nadu (39), Tripura (1), Uttar Pradesh (8), Uttarakhand (5), West Bengal (3), Andaman and Nicobar (1), Jammu and Kashmir (1), Lakshadweep (1) and Puducherry (1).

Campaigning for the first phase of polling on April 19 in Uttar Pradesh concluded Wednesday evening, with candidates closing up their campaigns for eight parliamentary seats.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, both members of the opposition’s INDIA bloc, held rallies in Saharanpur and Moradabad on the final day of the campaign.

The seats going to the polls in the first phase on Friday are Saharanpur, Bijnor, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Nagina, Moradabad, Rampur, and Pilibhit.

Likewise, campaigning drew to a close in Uttarakhand at 5 pm this evening, Chief Electoral Officer B VRC Purushottam said.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in a roadshow in Haldwani on the last day of the election campaign, earlier on Wednesday.

After winning all five seats in Uttarakhand in the 2014 and 2019 general elections, the BJP is attempting to retain them for a third term.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the BJP’s campaign, built around the development plank, in Madhya Pradesh for the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections that ended on Wednesday.

With the first phase scheduled for April 19, the fate of 88 candidates contesting six seats in the MP will be sealed by voters.

In Maharashtra, campaigning for Lok Sabha elections came to an end in five constituencies of the Vidarbha region on Wednesday evening.

Polling will be held in the constituencies of Nagpur, Ramtek, Bhandara-Gondia, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli in the first phase on April 19.

The campaigning in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur parliamentary constituency ended on Wednesday evening. It is witnessing its first major electoral battle since the abrogation of Article 370.

The polling is slated for the Udhampur Lok Sabha seat in the first phase on April 19 and will decide the fate of 12 contestants.

Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Commissioner Saloni Rai said, “On April 17 at 6 pm, we suspended all election-related campaigning, and political parties have been directed to not hold campaigning, roadshows, or canvassing other than door-to-door campaigning.”

“Section 144 is also imposed. Flying squad and static surveillance teams have been deployed. Our main objective is a free and fair and inducement-free election,” said Rai.

Meanwhile, campaigning for three Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal – Cooch Behar (SC), Jalpaiguri (SC) and Alipurduars (ST) — going to polls in the first phase on April 19 came to an end at 6 PM on Wednesday.

Altogether 14 candidates, including sitting MP and Union minister Nisith Pramanik, are contesting the parliamentary elections from Cooch Behar.

Verbal exchanges between main rivals Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress over issues such as corruption, poverty, and pre-poll promises dominated the campaigning for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in Chhattisgarh, which concluded on Wednesday evening.

Naxal-affected Bastar is the only seat among the 11 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state that will vote in the first phase on April 19, an exercise that will take place in the shadow of the major counter-insurgency operation in Kanker district on April 16.

In Mizoram, the campaigning for the lone Lok Sabha seat ended on Wednesday with political parties making last ditch efforts to sweep the voters.

Campaigning for the April 19 simultaneous polls in Arunachal Pradesh came to an end on Wednesday evening, setting the stage to elect two Lok Sabha MPs and 50 lawmakers for the state assembly.

The BJP has already opened its account by securing 10 seats in the assembly in Arunachal.

Campaigning for five Lok Sabha constituencies in Assam, which are due to go for polling on April 19, including the high-profile constituency of Dibrugarh, ended on Wednesday.

The Lok Sabha poll campaigning for 2024, for the first phase of elections, ended at 5 pm on the five Lok Sabha seats in Assam, including the high-profile seat of Dibrugarh, where Union Minister and former Chief Minister of Assam are contesting.

The voting for the Lok Sabha election in the first phase is to be held across 21 states in 102 seats, including five seats in Upper Assam.

The campaign for the Tripura West Lok Sabha constituency and the Ramnagar Assembly constituency by-poll also ended at 5 pm on Wednesday.

All preparations, including security arrangements, have been made for the polling to be held on April 19, an election department official said.

Rallies, public meetings and roadshows marked the two-week-long high-decibel campaign.

In the meantime, speaking on the preparations for Lok Sabha elections in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, South Andaman SP Niharika Bhatt says, “The election campaign will be banned from 6 PM today and no political gathering or street processions will be allowed, that’s called the ‘Silent’ period.

“Only door-to-door campaigning will be allowed and that too without speakers. DC has also given orders regarding Section 144 to maintain law and order. Voting will start at 7 in the morning on April 19 and go until 6 p.m. A few pink polling booths have been established where all the officials will be women,” said the official.

The 2024 general elections will be held in India in seven phases, from April 19 to June 1, to elect the 543 members of the 18th Lok Sabha. The results will be announced on June 4. (ANI)

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Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday slammed the BJP-led union government for allegedly betraying PDA (Pichhde, Dalit and Alpasankhyak) families and said that the PDA will defeat the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

“PDA is going to defeat NDA. As far as ‘Pariwarwaad’ is concerned, I want the BJP to take a resolution that they will neither give a ticket to ‘pariwar wale’ nor take votes from ‘pariwar wale’. They (the BJP) cannot even take the name of the INDIA alliance properly. The spelling of India is INDIA; what is INDI? The people who came in 2014 will be gone in 2024,” he said while addressing a press conference with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Hitting out at the ruling government over the electoral bond scheme, the SP leader said that the BJP has been the warehouse of corrupt leaders.

“‘Electoral bond ne inka band baja diya…BJP sabhi bhrashtachiroya ka godaam ban gayi’ (BJP has become the warehouse of all corrupt leaders). They are not only taking corrupt people (in their party) but also keeping the money earned by the corrupt,” Akhilesh said.

He further said that the INDIA alliance is the new hope in the elections, adding that the day when the farmers start getting remunerative prices for their crop and the day the Indian government increases the income of the farmers, poverty will go away.

“INDIA alliance is the new hope in the elections and as Rahul ji said that there are many things in his manifesto by which poverty can be eradicated. Adding to that I want to say that the day the farmers of our country will become happy, the day the farmers of the country will start getting remunerative prices for their crops, I understand that all the political parties and especially those who are the partners of INDIA alliance are saying that they will give MSP and the day the Indian government increases the income of the farmers, poverty will go away,” the SP chief said.

Extending his wishes to the people of the occasion of Ram Navami, he said, “I want to extend my best wishes to everyone on the occasion of Ram Navami. I am happy that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the Samajwadi Party are doing a press conference together. Today, we are in Ghaziabad and this time INDIA alliance will wipe out BJP from Ghaziabad to Ghazipur. Today, farmers are upset as all the promises of BJP turned out to be fake.”

Voting in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases.

The Ghaziabad seat will witness a triangular contest. The BJP has declared Atul Garg as its candidate from the Ghaziabad constituency after Union Minister and the sitting BJP MP from Ghaziabad, Gen (retd) VK Singh, withdrew himself from the fray for the Lok Sabha polls.

Garg is set to face the INDIA bloc candidate and Congress leader Dolly Sharma, while the Bahujan Samaj Party has fielded Nand Kishore Pundir.

In the 2019 general elections, proving all the arithmetic of the SP-BSP ‘mahagatbandhan’ in Uttar Pradesh wrong, the BJP and its ally Apna Dal(S) won 64 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats. The SP-BSP won 15 seats. (ANI)

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Dubai International (DXB) is advising passengers not to come to the airport, unless absolutely necessary due to the unprecedented weather conditions in the country.

In a statement, Dubai Airports said that flights continue to be delayed and diverted. Passengers are advised to contact their respective airlines for the latest information on flight status.

Dubai Airports assures passengers that they are working hard to recover operations as quickly as possible in very challenging conditions.

On the same note, Emirates Airlines has decided to suspend travel procedures for passengers departing from Dubai starting from 8:00 am on Wednesday, April 17th, until midnight on April 18th, due to operational challenges resulting from adverse weather conditions and road conditions.

Emirates Airlines added that procedures for passengers arriving in Dubai and transit passengers will continue. (ANI/WAM)

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