Month: April 2024

The Supreme Court on Monday declined the plea of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh against the issuance of summons issued by the trial court in a defamation case filed by Gujarat University over his alleged comments in relating to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s academic degree.

The bench of Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta was not convinced to interfere with the High Court order which had also refused to stay the trial.

“We are not inclined to entertain the present petition,” said the bench.

“The High Court has already observed that all contentions available to the parties are kept open. The trial court judge would not be influenced by any of the observations made in the impugned order,” said the apex court.

The Gujarat High Court in February dismissed the petitions filed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Member of Parliament Sanjay Singh seeking quashing of summons against them in a defamation case.

Challenging the High Court order, Singh moved the top court seeking relief.

Gujarat University Registrar Piyush Patel had filed a defamation case against Kejriwal and AAP leader Sanjay Singh over their alleged comments after the Gujarat High Court set aside an order of the Chief Information Commissioner for providing information about the Prime Minister’s degrees to them under the RTI Act.

A Gujarat Metropolitan court had summoned Kejriwal and Singh in the defamation case over their sarcastic and derogatory statements in connection with Modi’s degree.

According to the university, the AAP leader’s comments targeting Gujarat University were defamatory and hurt the prestige of the university, which has established its name among the public.

On March 31, 2023, the Gujarat High Court quashed a 2016 order of the Central Information Commission which directed the Gujarat University to provide information on Modi’s degree to Kejriwal. (ANI)

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After three-time MP from Pilibhit, Varun Gandhi was denied a BJP ticket for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections, Maneka Gandhi, his mother and a party candidate from Sultanpur on Monday said that the decision of fielding someone is taken by the party’s high command.

Speaking to ANI, the former union minister said that Varun will continue to do a good job for the country in future.

“What should I say, it’s about what the party decides. Varun has been a good MP. Whatever he will be in life, he will do good for the country,” Maneka said.

BJP has nominated UP public works minister Jitin Prasada from Pilibhit, replacing Varun.

For the first time since 1989 when Varun’s mother Maneka Gandhi won the Lok Sabha polls in Pilibhit as a Janata Dal candidate, a Gandhi family member is not fighting from this constituency. Maneka lost the 1991 election from here but after that, she and Varun have won seven consecutive elections from Pilibhit.

Pilibhit will vote in the first phase on 19 April.

Speaking about the general elections, Maneka also hit out at the Opposition, saying that the BJP is not like the parties that have done nothing for four years and come to woo voters just before the polls.

“We are always ready for the elections. We never stop after the election, we are connected to the people and hence we try to work all five years and not like those who have done nothing for four years,” she added.

The BJP has retained Maneka from Sultanpur seat.

With political dynamics shifting in the state, the BJP is spearheading a robust alliance, encompassing parties like the RLD, SBSP, Apna Dal (S), and Nishad Party, bolstering its position.

On the other hand, while Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav aligns with the opposition bloc, Mayawati embarks on the electoral journey solo.

Lok Sabha polls will be held in seven phases beginning April 19. Uttar Pradesh, which sends the maximum number of MPs, 80, to Parliament, will vote in all seven phases.

Voting for phases one and two will be held on April 19 and April 26.

Next, the state will once again poll in phases three and four on May 7 and May 13.

The Uttar Pradesh electorate will also vote in phases five, six, and seven on May 20, May 23, and June 1, respectively. Polling in Meerut will take place on April 26, during the second phase. The votes will be counted on June 4. (ANI)

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In a significant development ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Central government has sanctioned ‘Y+’ category security cover administered by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) for Madhavi Latha, the BJP candidate vying for the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat.

Sources reveal that the CRPF security arrangement is exclusively provided to the BJP leader for Telangana.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) provided the security cover considering threat inputs received against Latha, who is contesting against All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen’s (AIMIM) four-time member of parliament, Asaduddin Owaisi.

This move comes amidst heightened political tensions and concerns for the safety of candidates, particularly in constituencies with a history of electoral volatility.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday praised Latha, who was not known much in political circles until March 2 when her name featured in the BJP’s candidate list for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

Latha, 49, is contesting from Hyderabad seat from where the Owaisi family has been representing for about four decades.

Prior to Asaduddin Owaisi, who won the seat for the first time in 2004, Hyderabad was represented in the Lok Sabha by his father, Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi, from 1984. Apart from the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat, all assembly seats in Hyderabad, except Goshamahal, are held by the AIMIM.

Latha, a cultural activist, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Nizam College and a Master’s degree in Political Science from Osmania University.

She was actively involved in the campaign against instant triple talaq, which was criminalized by Parliament in 2019. Her candidature is significant given Owaisi’s opposition to the law, which he deemed as an assault on Muslim identity and citizenship.

Beyond her activism, Latha is an entrepreneur, an NCC cadet, and a professional Bharatanatyam dancer. She serves as the chairperson of Hyderabad-based Virinchi Hospitals, viewing her candidature as a recognition of her extensive charity work spanning nearly two decades.

In response to Owaisi’s claims of receiving death threats, Latha mocked him, questioning the credibility of his friendships and highlighting his contradictory statements regarding his perceived stronghold in Hyderabad.

Earlier, Owaisi reported receiving threats on social media after his meeting with the family of deceased gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari, who passed away from cardiac arrest on March 28. (ANI)

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A total solar eclipse is slated to take place today when the Moon will pass between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking out the Sun’s light.

It will be a treat for skywatchers to witness one of the biggest celestial phenomena of 2024.

The Sun will remain cloaked for four minutes, during which its enigmatic outer layer will be illuminated.

While the solar eclipse won’t be visible to people in India, a partial eclipse can be witnessed by those who live in Colombia, Spain, Venezuela, Ireland, Portal, Iceland, the United Kingdom, and some Caribbean countries.

Ahead of this astronomical spectacle, Google curated a special animation.

When users type the search term “solar eclipse” on Google, then they can see a graphic overlay depicting the phenomena: the moment when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, revealing just the sun’s outermost layer called the corona.

One can experience the total solar eclipse with NASA. The space agency will start its live stream on April 8 at 5:00 pm GMT (10:30 pm IST) and continue until 8:00 pm GMT (1:30 am IST).

The whole event will take about two and a half hours, but totality will only last about four minutes. (ANI)

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Actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut clarified on Monday that she neither consumes beef nor any other kind of red meat, saying that she is a “proud Hindu”.

“I don’t consume beef or any other kind of red meat, it is shameful that completely baseless rumours are being spread about me, I have been advocating and promoting yogic and Ayurvedic way of life for decades now such tactics won’t work to tarnish my image. My people know me and they know that I am a proud Hindu and nothing can ever mislead them, Jai Shri Ram,” Kangana said in a post on X on Monday.

Kangana’s post comes after ‘rumours’ spread online claiming that the actress eats beef. Some users on social media even dug out an old tweet of Kangana from 2019, in which she had written about her yogic lifestyle.

However, the post wasn’t worded in the first person. It said, “There is nothing wrong with eating beef or eating any other meat. It’s not about religion! It’s not a hidden fact that Kangana turned vegetarian 8 years ago and chose to be a yogi. She still doesn’t believe in just one religion. On the contrary, her brother eats meat.”

Earlier, Maharashtra Leader of Opposition, Vijay Wadettiwar, also alleged that Kangana Ranaut had once tweeted that she liked and consumed beef and the party has now given her a ticket to contest the upcoming elections.

Kangana recently joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. The party has fielded Kangana from the Mandi constituency for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

“My beloved Bharat and Bhartiya Janta’s own party, Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP) has always had my unconditional support, today the national leadership of BJP has announced me as their Lok Sabha candidate from my birth place Himachal Pradesh, Mandi (constituency) I abide by the high command’s decision on contesting Lok Sabha polls. I feel honoured and elated to officially join the party. I look forward to be a worthy karyakarta and a reliable public servant,” Ranaut wrote in a post on X while announcing her political foray.

On the acting front, Kangana will be next seen in ‘Emergency’, which also marks her first solo directorial. (ANI)

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BJP leader and party candidate from the New Delhi Lok Sabha parliamentary seat, Bansuri Swaraj, slammed the Aam Aadmi Party and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and alleged pathetic conditions in Mohalla Clinics in the city.

Swaraj, who was addressing a gathering on Sunday, said fake medicines are being distributed in Mohalla clinics, and administrative staff treat patients.

“On one side, PM Modi distributes good quality and less expensive medicines in Janaushadhi Kendra, on the other side, the AAP government distributes fake medicines in Mohalla Clinics. Doctors don’t treat patients in Mohalla Clinics but the administrative staff look after patients. This is what their Delhi Model is?, she asked.

“On one side, BJP delivers tap water connection in every house, whereas AAP commits Jal Board Scam…I want to tell you whole of the Delhi is pissed off due to Kejriwal’s corruption but he was busy in enjoying his power and scams. Today, AAP is doing a drama of sympathy and the people of Delhi can understand it very well,” she added further.

Lok Sabha elections will be held in the national capital in a single phase on May 25. The BJP had won all seven seats in both 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections. (ANI)

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stressed on Sunday that there must be ‘one nation and one election’ to save time and resources for the nation, adding he said that the Congress party will only oppose it.

“There must be One Nation, One Election. Centre had formed a committee under the leadership of former President Ram Nath Kovind. The committee has submitted its reports to the President. I believe the people of the nation will support us,” the senior BJP leader said.

Lashing out at Congress, he said, “However, the Congress party will only oppose it. It is their habit to oppose everything. This (one nation, one election) will save your time and resources.”

The statement was made by Rajnath Singh at a Vijay Sankalp Sabha in Rajasthan’s Kolayat, a town in Bikaner district, on Sunday. He was accompanied by Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and other party leaders.

He also slammed the previous Congress government in Rajasthan, alleging that there was no law and order in the state, which improved after the BJP government came to power.

“There was a Congress government here for the last five years. You know how they ruled. There was no law and order. People were killed by slitting their throats inside their houses. Such was the situation,” he alleged.

“But after our government came to power, Bhajan Lal Sharma became the Chief Minister… I would like to congratulate him on the steps that his government has taken to improve the law and order situation in the state,” Rajnath Singh said.

He said that the prestige of Bharat has enhanced globally since the BJP government came to power at the Centre.

“Previously, we were not taken seriously at any international forums. But today, whenever Bharat speaks, the world listens with its ears open, saying what the Bharat is talking about,” he said.

“The world used to say India was a country of poor and unemployed people. When the BJP government was formed in 2014, we were in the top 11 economies in the world. Now, we are in the top 5 economies in the world. The financial firms that conduct surveys and reviews of the world economy claim that India will be in the top 3 economies of the world by 2027,” he said.

Rajasthan will go to the polls in two phases, on April 19 and April 26. Polling for 12 Lok Sabha seats will be held in the first phase on April 19, while the remaining 13 seats will be polled in the second phase on April 26.

The counting of votes for all 543 Lok Sabha seats across the country is scheduled for June 4. (ANI)

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Actor Sonakshi Sinha never misses a chance to exude her fashion sense. This time, she oozes oomph in a saree.

On Saturday, the ‘Heeramandi’ actor took to Instagram and dropped some glitter on Instafeed.

She can be seen wearing a sparkly sequin saree with heavy accessories. With minimal makeup and open curly hair, she looks as stunning as ever. She posed behind a vintage car.

Along with the post, she wrote, “Fareedans night out”.

Manisha Koirala reacted to the post and dropped an emoji of a smiling face with heart eyes.

Fans also reacted to the post and wrote sweet comments in the comment section.

A netizen wrote, “After a very long time…I see you in a saree..sona in saree looking so beautiful so elegant just looking like a wow.”

Another user commented, “Pretty”

Recently, she made stylish entry in ‘Heeramandi’ event in Mumbai.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Sonakshi is all set to dazzle audiences with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s much-anticipated web series ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’.

Recently, Sonakshi has been garnering praise and applause for her performance in the song ‘Tilasmi Bahein’.

Composed by the director-creator himself, the song features Sonakshi Sinha in her most ethereal avatar yet.

The peppy number, composed by the Bhansali himself and sung by Sharmistha Chatterjee, is a visual and auditory treat for fans.

In the mesmerizing music video, Sinha’s portrayal of the courtesan Fareedan is nothing short of captivating. Dressed in a resplendent beige sequin sari, Sinha exudes allure and charisma as she mesmerizes viewers with her intoxicating dance, filmed in one continuous take.

The song offers a tantalising glimpse into the lavish and mysterious world of ‘Heeramandi,’ leaving audiences eagerly anticipating more.

‘Tilasmi Bahein’ is the second song to be released from the series, following the success of the first song, ‘Sakal Ban.’ With each release, Bhansali continues to impress audiences with his meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail.

Set against the backdrop of the Indian freedom struggle of the 1940s, ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’ promises to be an epic saga of love, power, revenge, and freedom. Through the stories of courtesans and their patrons, the series delves deep into the cultural reality of Heeramandi, offering a compelling narrative that is sure to enthral audiences worldwide.

‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’ is all set to dazzle audiences as it makes its grand premiere on the streaming giant Netflix on May 1, 2024.

The series which marks Bhansali’s debut in the web world, will also star veteran actor Manisha Koirala, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh and Sharmin Segal in pivotal roles. (ANI)

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Friends who slay together, stay together. The perfect example is our B-Town girl gang- Kareena Kapoor Khan, Karisma Kapoor, Malaika Arora and Amrita Arora.

Friends who slay together, stay together. The perfect example is Kareena Kapoor Khan and her girl gang- Karisma Kapoor, Malaika Arora and Amrita Arora.

Kareena, who is currently enjoying the success of her film ‘Crew’, attended a dinner party at Manish Malhotra’s house in Mumbai on Saturday night.

Kareena was accompanied by her sister Karisma, best friends Amrita Arora and Malaika Arora.

The girls arrived in style for dinner.

Taking to Instagram stories, Karisma treated fans with inside pictures.

“Always a fun night with this crew,” she captioned the post.

The image captured Karisma, Amrita and Malaika posing on the couch.

At the back, Bebo can be seen in her poser mode by making pout while she stands beside Natasha Poonawalla and Manish Malhotra.

Kareena wore a beautiful co-ord set. Dressed in a mint green shirt and off-white coloured flared pants with a contrasting pink-hued neck piece.

For her girl’s outing, she went for a no-makeup look and a sleek top knot bun look.

Karisma made a stunning appearance in a summer-ready printed midi dress featuring a multi-coloured abstract pattern.

Malaika opted for a sleeveless white corseted blouse with a plunging neckline that she paired with black leather pants.

Amrita Arora, on the other hand, aced co-ord set look. She wore a pink hued oversized blazer, a matching waistcoat, and shorts.

Meanwhile, Kareena was recently seen in ‘Crew’, a story of three women, touted as a laugh-riot, set against the backdrop of the struggling airline industry. However, their destinies lead to some unwarranted situations and they get caught in a web of lies.

Helmed by Rajesh A Krishnan, ‘Crew’ features Kareena, Tabu, and Kriti Sanon as air “bada**” air hostesses. From stealing peanut boxes meant for flights to planning to earn a lot of money and raising the glam quotient, the trio has grabbed eyeballs.

The film, made under Balaji Telefilms and Anil Kapoor Film & Communications Network banners, was released on March 29.

Karisma is garnering apperception for her performance in ‘Murder Mubarak’, which also starred Pankaj Tripathi, Sara Ali Khan, Vijay Varma, Dimple Kapadia, Sanjay Kapoor, Tisca Chopra, Suhail Nayyar and Tara Alisha Berry. (ANI)

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Building more excitement among fans, actor Allu Arjun shared a glimpse from the dubbing session of the much-anticipated film ‘Pushpa: The Rule’.

Just one day to go for Allu Arjun’s birthday and Pushpa 2 exciting announcement.

Taking to Instagram stories, Allu Arjun shared a picture from the dubbing studio and captioned it, “ALL SET.”

On Friday, he dropped a new poster of his look from the film.

In the poster, the actor can be seen holding a trident, exuding power.

“#Pushpa2TheRuleTeaser On April 8th,” Allu Arjun captioned the post.

Fans chimed in the comment section and reacted to the poster.

‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’ is directed by Sukumar and also stars Rashmika Mandanna, and Fahadh Faasil. Produced by Mythri Movie Makers and Muttamsetty Media, the film will be released on August 15, 2024.

The makers have also planned to release the film’s teaser on Allu Arjun’s birthday, which falls on April 8.

Allu received a National Film Award for his performance in the first part.

After the National Film Awards list was announced in August 2023, Allu Arjun took to social media and expressed his gratitude. “A huge congratulations to all the national award winners across various categories and languages throughout the nation. Your accomplishments are truly commendable. I would like to express my gratitude for the love and wishes pouring in from all corners of the country. Feeling honored and humbled by it all. Thank you for the love. Humbled,” he wrote.

The first part of Pushpa showcased power tussles set against the backdrop of red sandalwood smuggling. Sukumar directed it. (ANI)

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