Month: April 2024

External Affairs Ministry has rejected a report in The Washington Post naming Indian Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) official’s involvement in the alleged post to kill Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the US.

Describing it as an “unwarranted and unsubstantiated” imputation on a “serious matter” that is under investigation, Minstry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Monday said the US media report was “speculative and irresponsible”.

In response to media queries on the report that appeared in Washington Post, a US national daily, Jaiswal said that a High-Level Committee set up by the Indian government is carrying out an investigation into the security concerns shared by the US government on networks of organized criminals, terrorists, and others.

“The report in question makes unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations on a serious matter. There is an ongoing investigation of the High-Level Committee set up by the Government of India to look into the security concerns shared by the US government on networks of organised criminals, terrorists and others. Speculative and irresponsible comments on it are not helpful.”

Citing officials and a US indictment, the Washington Post report claimed that the RAW official identified as Vikram Yadav had directed Indian businessman Nikhil Gupta, now in custody in the Czech Republic pending extradition to the US to stand trial in the case, to hire a hitman to kill GS Pannun outside his New York residence. As per the report in the US daily, the operation targeting Pannun was approved by then-RAW chief Samant Goel.

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is an India-designated terrorist who holds American and Canadian citizenship. Earlier in November, the US Justice Department unsealed an indictment against an Indian national for his alleged involvement in a foiled plot to assassinate Pannun.

As per the US Justice Department indictment, Indian national, Nikhil Gupta, who is currently in custody, has been charged with the murder-for-hire of Pannun.

The US Justice Department has claimed that Indian government employee (named CC-1), who was not identified in the indictment filed in a federal court in Manhattan, recruited an Indian national named Nikhil Gupta to hire a hitman to carry out the assassination, which was foiled by US authorities, according to prosecutors.

Gupta is currently in custody and has been charged with murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Czech authorities had arrested and detained Gupta on June 30, pursuant to the bilateral extradition treaty between the United States and the Czech Republic.

Following this, MEA said that a case filed against an individual in a US court and allegedly linking him to an Indian official is a “matter of concern” and is contrary to government policy. India has also set up a high-level committee to probe the matter.

Reacting to the US Justice Department’s indictment in November 2023, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson had said, “We cannot share any further information on such security matters. As regards the case against an individual that has been filed in a US court allegedly linking him to an Indian official, this is a matter of concern. We have said and let me reiterate that this is contrary to government policy.”

“The nexus between organised crime, trafficking and gun running and extremists at an international level is a serious issue for law enforcement agencies and organisations to consider and it is precisely for that reason that a high-level committee has been constituted and we will obviously be guided by its results” the spokesperson said. (ANI)

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Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Tuesday said that his decision to join the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance was not a compulsion or a compromise, adding that his idea of development aligns with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In a candid conversation with ANI during which he shared his thoughts in the lead-up to his floating a rival NCP alliance with his loyalists and eventually joining the ruling NDA in the state as the deputy chief minister, Ajit Pawar said, “There was no compulsion and neither was it compromise. I always think about development. Who is driving the country’s development today? It is PM Modi. I worked against him in 2014 and 2019 (Lok Sabha elections), but if you see today, and as PM Modi, himself said yesterday (on the campaign trail in Maharashrtra), we accomplished the same amount of work in one year as was done in the 10 years under (former PM) Manmohan Singh. He has also been working for the upliftment and well-being of the poor and backward sections. In the last 10 years, not one allegation has been levelled against PM Modi.”

Triggering another seismic event in the landscape of Maharashtra politics on July 2, last year, the nephew of NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar floated a rival faction, which joined the BJP-led NDA. Ajit Pawar took oath as the deputy chief minister for the fifth time.

Claiming that the Opposition bloc–INDIA–had no prime ministerial face, he said there was no one who could rival PM Modi on the yardsticks of leadership and popularity.

“More than 65 per cent of people in the country are saying that they want PM Modi to return for a third term. There was a lot of talk around Nitish Kumar (rivalling PM Modi for the country’s most powerful post) in 2019 but he is with the NDA now. Presently, the Opposition has no one to take on PM Modi. There is simply no comparison between him and Rahul Gandhi,” the NCP leader said.

The deputy CM said the ruling ‘Mahayuti’ (alliance of the BJP, the Shiv Sena under Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar’s NCP) was formed to take the agenda of ‘development’ of the state forward.

“Everyone (in his NCP faction) took the decision (to join the NDA) collectively. It wasn’t motivated by a desire to be ministers but to take the agenda of the development of Maharashtra forward. I have said this time and time again that the decision was for the sake of development and nothing else,” Ajit Pawar said.

He added that people across the country have made up their minds to bring the BJP-led NDA under PM Modi back for a third term at the Centre.

“The people are according a rousing reception to PM Modi wherever he goes. He has been asking the people to demonstrate their electoral support for his vision and agenda of development. He has been telling the people why they should vote for us. It’s clear that the people have made up their minds to bring him back for a third term,” the deputy CM said.

A total of 11 Lok Sabah seats in Maharashtra will be polling in the third phase on May 7.

Of the 48 seats, voting for 13 was completed in the first and second phases. (ANI)

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Former Jharkhand Chief Minister and the leader of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) Hemant Soren’s wife, Kalpana Soren, filed her nomination papers for the Gandey Assembly by-poll in Giridih on Monday.

She was accompanied by Jharkhand Chief Minister Chhagan Champai Soren and brother-in-law Basant Soren, among others.

“The central government has promised many things. They will give crores of employment to people and bring back wealth from abroad. The central government should fulfill its promises first and then talk about Jharkhand,” Kalpana said while speaking to reporters after filing her nomination.

Speaking about her husband, Kalpana Soren said that if Hemant had completed his term, he would have remained in office for the next 20-25 years.

“Hemant Soren could not complete his term (as the chief minister) because BJP knew that if he completed the 5-year term then nobody could have moved him for the next 20-25 years,” she said.

The Giridih Assembly seat fell vacant after the resignation of JMM MLA Sarfaraz Ahmad. Polling at the Giridih Assembly will be held on May 20, simultaneously with the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections.

Hemant Soren, who is in prison, was arrested by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam on January 31. (ANI)

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Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani filed her nomination papers for Amethi Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh on Monday and expressed confidence that people will bless the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the elections.

Smriti Irani, who is re-contesting from Amethi, was accompanied by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav as she filed her nomination papers.

“For the service of Amethi, I have filed my nomination today. In the last 5 years in Amethi, 1,14,000 houses have been built under PM Awas Yojana, 1.5 lakh families received electricity connections and over 4 lakh farmers received PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi…I am hopeful that people will bless PM Modi, BJP,” she told reporters after filing her nomination papers.

Amethi will vote in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 20.

Smriti Irani held a roadshow before filing her nomination papers. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister was also present.

People showered flower petals as the roadshow made its way through Amethi roads. Earlier, Smriti Irani held puja at her residence.

A day before filing her nomination papers, Irani rode a scooter to reach out to people in different localities of Amethi.

While Smriti Irani has filed her nomination papers, Congress is yet to declare its candidate from the seat amid specualtions that Rahul Gandhi will be in the fray again from the seat, which is considered a traditional stronghold of Congress. Rahul Gandhi has won three Lok Sabha polls from Amethi.

Smriti Irani defeated Rahul Gandhi from Amethi in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said on Saturday said that the party will release its next list of Lok Sabha candidates, including for Uttar Pradesh’s pending seats, within two days.

Lok Sabha elections are being held in seven phases till June 1 and votes will be counted on June 4. (ANI)

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Renowned filmmaker Rakesh Roshan, who never misses chance to inspire everyone with his fitness regime, left his son and actor Hrithik Roshan amazed with his recent hardcore workout video.

Hrithik re-posted the video of his dad on his Instagram stories today and wrote, “Matlab ke kaise! How? Unbelievable papa!!”

A few hours back, Rakesh Roshan took to his Instagram and dropped a video of himself from his gym session.

The video featured him doing bench presses, pushups, leg exercises and weight lifting in the presence of his fitness coach.

Sharing the video, he wrote, “I wasn’t posting, but I never missed a workout. My dedication stayed strong.”

As soon as he shared the video, fans and industry members chimed in the comment section.

Anupam Kher wrote, “Jai Ho Sir ji!!”

Suniel Shetty commented, “Siiiiiiiiiir.”

One of the users wrote, “Wow Sir this is truly inspiring.”

Rakesh has acted in films like ‘Khubsoorat’ (1980) with Rekha and ‘Kaamchor’ (1982) with Jaya Prada. He made his directorial debut with ‘Khudgarz’ (1987). He went to direct movies such as ‘Khoon Bhari Maang’ (1988), ‘Karan Arjun’ (1995) and the Shahrukh Khan starrer- ‘Koyla’ (1997. He also worked with his son Hrithik Rosan in films like ‘Koi…Mil Gaya’, ‘Krrish’ series.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Hrithik Roshan and NTR Jr are teaming up for the upcoming flick ‘War 2’.

Directed by Ayan Mukerji, ‘War 2’ is scheduled to hit theatres on Independence Day 2025.

The film is a sequel to the 2019 action thriller film.

‘War’ which starred Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff and Vani Kapoor in the lead roles. (ANI)

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Hosted by Taraji P. Henson at Frederick P. Rose Hall, the Time100 Gala dazzled with stars from various fields, celebrating this year’s most influential figures, including actor Dev Patel, who expressed his eagerness to delve deeper into the action genre as a filmmaker.

Amidst the glamorous atmosphere, Patel honoured at the gala, confessed to feeling overwhelmed by the recognition.

“I have huge imposter syndrome, so I feel like I would be happy just holding some of the trays at the table, to be honest, I feel like somehow I’ve won the golden ticket ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ vibes,” Patel told Variety.

Having recently experienced both acting in and directing the action-packed film ‘Monkey Man,’ Patel shared his aspirations to further explore the genre.

“I grew up watching Bruce Lee, Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen, and Sammo Hung — kind of like a heavy diet of action movies,” Patel revealed.

He added, “So for me, especially when you look at Korean cinema and the way they’ve pushed that kind of revenge genre into something that feels really substantial and meaningful and cinematic and artful… I look up to those masters, and I would love to keep doing it if I’m lucky enough to.”

The Time100 Gala also featured a captivating performance by Dua Lipa, a fellow member of the Time’s class of 2024, Variety reported.

Lipa entertained the audience with renditions of ‘Training Season’ and two more songs from her upcoming album ‘Radical Optimism.’

The Time100 special, capturing the essence of the gala, is set to air on Sunday, May 12, 2024, at 10 p.m. ET on ABC. (ANI)

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Actor Divyanka Tripathi Dahiya, who recently had surgery for a fractured arm, stepped out for the first time on Sunday after the procedure.

The ‘Yeh Hai Mohabbatein’ actress on Sunday took to her Instagram account, to share a series of pictures showing her left hand in a sling as she went out.

The first picture showed her showcasing her attire, while the other one captured her and husband Vivek Dahiya posing alongside comedian Rajiv Thakur. The subsequent picture offered a sneak peek of their dinner.

In her post, Divyanka also included a caption that read, “Khushi ka raaz…first outing after DAYS!! Standup comedy and then dinner with friends…sacchi hansi ke liye aur kya chahiye!”

The actress was all smiles as she posed in a pink cotton kurta and pant set. She completed the look with a ponytail and matching pink heels.

Meanwhile, Vivek Dahiya also reposted a picture from the standup show featuring him, his wife Divyanka, and others posing with Rajiv Thakur.

Earlier this month, Vivek had to abruptly end an Instagram live session after learning about his wife’s accident.

His team issued an apology, stating, “Divyanka had an accident few hours back and now under medical care. Vivek is with her as she recovers.”

Just a few days back, Divyanka shared a video of herself practising a headstand, revealing that she was doing the exercise when she fractured her arm. (ANI)

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The Delhi Police has summoned Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy in connection with Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s fake video case, sources said on Monday.

The Congress leader has been asked to appear before Delhi Police’s IFSO unit (Cyber Unit) on May 1 with his mobile phone.

The Telangana CM has been asked to appear with his mobile phone, allegedly used for posting the fake video on X (formerly Twitter).

This comes after the Delhi Police registered a case on Sunday following a complaint by the Ministry of Home Affairs in connection with the doctored videos of Union Home Minister Amit Shah being circulated on social media platforms.

Further details are awaited. (ANI)

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the ninth Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur on his Parkash Purab, birth anniversary, on Monday and said that his life serves as a guiding light, illuminating the path of righteousness and devotion.

Taking to his social media handle on X, Prime Minister Modi posted, “I bow to Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji on the sacred occasion of his Parkash Purab. He is remembered by millions across the world as the embodiment of courage, compassion and selflessness. His life serves as a guiding light, illuminating the path of righteousness and devotion.”

“His unwavering commitment to justice and protecting the rights of all individuals stands as a testament to his greatness. In the face of tyranny and oppression, he fearlessly defended the principles of fairness and equality,” the post added.

Parkash Purab is a term used in Sikhism to refer to the birth anniversary celebrations of the ten Sikh gurus.

“Parkash” means “illumination” or “light,” while “Purab” means “day.”

Guru Tegh Bahadur was born in Amritsar in 1621 to Guru Hargobind and Mata Nanki.

Beyond the Sikh community, Guru Tegh Bahadur’s teachings offer invaluable lessons for humanity.

Guru Tegh Bahadur’s life exemplifies the strength of courage and compassion, emphasising the importance of defending others’ rights. His message of universal love and equality serves as a beacon of hope in a world seeking unity and peace.

In a world grappling with conflicts and divisions, Guru Tegh Bahadur’s legacy reminds us that peace lies in embracing shared humanity, respecting differences, and upholding fundamental rights.

By embracing his teachings, we can work towards creating a more inclusive, peaceful, and harmonious world, where love, compassion, and justice prevail, Khalsa Vox reported. (ANI)

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Ahead of the third phase of Lok Sabha polling, Chhattisgarh state in charge of Congress party Sachin Pilot suggested that the mood in the country is changing and his party will get more seats here than the BJP.

“The mood in the country is one of change. People are saying that we have given them (BJP) a full majority government twice but they haven’t fulfilled their poll promises… I can sense a change in all those states where there is a bipolar contest between the BJP and Congress, especially in North India… I would say with all humility that the Congress will get more seats than the BJP here,” Pilot told ANI.

Replying to a query, he said, “Congress has never secured a majority in the Lok Sabha elections in Chhattisgarh. But this time, the selection of our candidate, campaigning, manifesto, strategy and narrative is very positive. The workers are very enthusiastic.”.

Chhattisgarh has 11 Lok Sabha seats. As per the Election Commission, Chhattisgarh recorded a voter turnout of 76.24 percent in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

The polling was peaceful and 102 villages in Bastar division witnessed polling in Lok Sabha for the first time.

Voting in the remaining seats in Chhattisgarh will be held on May 7 in the third phase.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won 9 of the 11 Lok Sabha seats in the state, while the Congress had to settle for just 2 seats.

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are being held over a six-week marathon until June 1. The elections are being held in seven phases. Polling for the first and second phases has been completed.

Polling for the third phase will be held on May 7.

Lok Sabha polls are being held across seven phases till June 1 and votes will be counted on June 4. (ANI)

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