Month: April 2024

Opposing the regular bail plea of former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) said that there was no delay on the part of the prosecution; rather, the delay was caused by the accused persons by filing frivolous applications in the Delhi Excise Policy case, the ED said before the Rouse Avenue court.

The main thrust of arguments by counsel for Manish Sisodia was the delay in trial. It was argued that trial proceedings are going at a snail’s pace.

Manish Sisodia is in judicial custody in Delhi Excise policy case. His judicial custody was extended till April 18. He will join the bail hearing through video conferencing on April 10.

Special judge Kaveri Baweja, after hearing the arguments of ED’s special counsel Zoheb Hossain, deferred further submission for April 10.

ED’s special counsel, Zoheb Hossain, opposed the argument of delay.

Hossain submitted that the trial has not proceeded at a snail’s pace and there has been no delay from the prosecution side.

“There are 95 applications moved by 31 accused persons,” Hossain argued.

“There is a delay by the accused persons and not by the prosecution,” Hossain submitted.

Hossain further said that the delay is partly due to this accused and partly by other co-accused persons.

ED’s counsel also argued that the delay cannot be the sole basis for bail. The rigours of Section 45 PMLA should always be considered when granting bail in PMLA.

Zoheb Hossain also referred to the bail order of Binoy Babu. He said that Binoy Babh was granted bail as he was a prosecution witness in the CBI case. No money was paid to him or by him. He suffered 13 months of incarceration. He was the regional manager of Pernod Ricard.

It was also argued by the ED that the entire offence of money laundering could not have been possible without the present accused (Sisodia).

Special Counsel referred to the February 7, 2023, order and said that frivolous applications were kept filed by other accused persons, which consumed time.

“Applications moved by one or another accused person show that there was a concerted effort to ensure that the trial is delayed,” Hossain argued.

Hossain also referred to the March 7 order and said that the inspection is going on in a very discouraging manner.

Special Counsel also referred to the Supreme Court’s judgment (in Sisodia’s case) wherein it said that the bail application has to be considered by the trial court without being influenced by the observations in the judgment, except for the observations on the right to a speedy trial.

Zoheb Hossain submitted that the trial is not at a snail’s pace while allowing the 95 applications, and the inspection.

“Delay can’t be the sole ground for bail,” Hossain said.

The ground of delay was not accepted, and the bail of another accused was dismissed on this ground, Hossain said.

The point of delay will be a weighty factor for this court, ED special counsel added.

Hossain submitted that Sisodia and other accused received Rs 100 crores from South groups.

ED’s counsel said that Sisodia is responsible for a policy drafted by many accused persons with the sole purpose of establishing laundered proceeds of crime and increasing the wholesale profit from 5 to 12 percent.

The margin difference is the proceed of crime. Rs. 338 crore would be the proceed of crime during the subsistence of policy, he added.

Special Counsel Hossain said “the kickback alone is not the proceeds of crime in this case. Wholesale profits is the proceed of crime because it are derived from criminal activity. entire wholesale profit, which is difference between 12 and 5 percent, which is 338 crores, would be the proceeds of crime.”

Hossain also mentioned the role of Vijay Nair and said that he is not ordinary worker of AAP but is close associate of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and closely interacts with Sisodia.

Hossain said that Benoy Babu, in his statement, stated that Nair was representing the Delhi excise department as OSD. Hossain referred to a WhatsApp chat between Vijay Nair and Benoy Babu.

Hossain submitted that Vijay Nair had nothing to do with the excise policy. He held the position of media coordinator. But he was used to do billing changing policies, bargaining the bribe, etc.

It was also argued by the ED that there was a political understanding between K Kavitha, Chief Minister Kejriwal and Deputy CM. In terms of that understanding, Kavitha met Nair.

Vijay Nair was acting under the instructions of the accused and other political leaders, Hossain argued.

ED’s counsel submitted that an accused of money laundering need not be accused of a predicate offence. But it is not the case here. Even the mere generation of proceeds from crime would attract the offence of money laundering, as the SC judgement referred to.

Hossain also submitted that the expert committee report was rejected and emails were planted to create a public impression.

ED counsel also submitted that there is destruction of evidence in this case. 170 mobiles were changed or destroyed by accused persons. (ANI)

For more details visit us: https://lokmarg.com/

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday said that, unlike Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his party does not make false promises.

The remarks came after Congress released its manifesto titled ‘Nyay Patra’ on Friday while the BJP had called it “bundle of false claims”.

Addressing a public rally in Jaipur, Mallikarjun Kharge said, “We have promised to fulfil 25 guarantees, if our party comes to power. Unlike PM Modi, we don’t tell lies. He has given several guarantees, but I want to ask you which guarantee has been fulfilled so far. He gave the guarantee to provide 2 crore jobs every year. So, in the last 10 years, he had to provide 20 crore jobs. I want to ask if you have got 20 crore jobs or not?”

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was also in the rally, alleged that the country’s big institutions that were formed to strengthen democracy have been weakened and today the situation is such that people do not have faith in the electronic voting machine.

She also targeted the Modi-led BJP government for the ever-increasing unemployment existing in the country and asked “what they had done to remove unemployment”.

She referred to the election manifesto of the party as the voice of the nation.”I am very happy and proud that after becoming a member of the Rajya Sabha, my mother Sonia Gandhi has come to your state (Rajasthan),” she said.

Earlier, on Friday, the Congress came out with its ‘Nyay Patra’ or manifesto for the seven-phased Lok Sabha elections, guaranteeing, among others, a minimum support price (MSP) to farmers on their produce as per the Swaminathan Commission report.

The Congress manifesto was compiled after carrying out nationwide consultations and receiving thousands of suggestions via email and on the portal ‘Awaaz Bharat Ki’, according to party sources.

The manifesto focuses on ‘Paanch Nyay’ or five pillars of justice, including ‘Yuva Nyay’, ‘Naari Nyay’, ‘Kisaan Nyay’, ‘Shramik Nyay’ and ‘Hissedari Nyay’ as well as the guarantees made by it to the people as part of its poll promises for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Rahul’s promise of a nationwide caste survey also features prominently in the list of poll pledges, with the party stating that it will conduct a nationwide socio-economic and caste census to enumerate the castes and sub-castes and their socio-economic conditions, if elected, and will bring an amendment to the Constitution to raise the 50 percent cap on reservations for SCs, STs and OBCs.

The Congress Working Committee (CWC) met in March and held extensive deliberations on the party’s manifesto.

The Lok Sabha elections are scheduled to be held across seven phases, starting April 19. The counting of votes is scheduled for June 4. (ANI)

For more details visit us: https://lokmarg.com/

Mounting a strong attack on Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the opposition party is cut off from the hopes and aspirations of today’s India and its manifesto reflects the thinking that Muslim League had during the freedom movement.

In his first reaction to Congress manifesto released yesterday, PM Modi said it “completely bears the imprint of the Muslim League” and the remaining part is dominated by the Leftists.

Addressing an election rally in Saharanpur, PM Modi said people of the country feel that the Congress which fought for the country’s independence was finished decades back.

“You would have seen, the way Congress released its manifesto yesterday, it proved that today’s Congress is cut off from the aspirations and expectations of today’s India. The manifesto released by Congress reflects the same thinking that was prevalent in the Muslim League during the freedom struggle. The Congress manifesto completely bears the imprint of the Muslim League and the little remaining part, it is dominated by the Leftists. Congress is not visible in this,” PM Modi said.

He said such a Congress cannot take India forward in the 21st century.

Muslim League and Mohammed Ali Jinnah made the demand for the partition of British India into separate Hindu and Muslim states and after the formation of Pakistan in 1947, the League became Pakistan’s dominant political party.

Congress manifesto was released at the party headquarters by party leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi on Friday.

PM Modi said Congress had fought for freedom and many stalwarts including Mahatma Gandhi were associated with it.

“Today, the country is speaking with one voice that the Congress which fought for the country’s independence, that was finished decades back. The Congress that is left has neither policies for in nation’s interest nor vision for country’s progress,” he said.

Congress made a slew of promises in its manifesto including a legal guarantee for MSP, 50 per cent reservation for women in government jobs, repealing Agnipath scheme, doubling GDP in next ten years, strengthening anti-defection law, restoring status quo ante with China, mobile phones for students from class IX to XII and amending the GST regime.

In his speech at the Saharanpur rally, PM Modi also launched a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav over the tie-up between the two parties for the Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday referred to their unsuccessful partnership in 2017 assembly polls and said “do ladkon ki flop film” has been released again.

He also slammed the INDIA alliance and said while they are for “commission”, his government is on a mission.

Attacking Congress, he said the party is finding it difficult to find candidates even from its strongholds and said there were instances where party candidates did not turn up for filing nomination.

“This is the first election I am witnessing where the opposition is contesting not to win but to contain the BJP below 370 seats and NDA 400. Samajwadi Party is in such a condition that they have to change the candidates every hour and for Congress, it is even worse, they aren’t finding candidates, even at their strongholds… ‘Do ladkon ki film jo pichali baar flop ho chuki hai, un do ladkon ki film ko in logon ne fir se release kiya hai,'” he said.

Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav had held a roadshow in Agra in February this year, almost seven years after the Congress and Samajwadi Party tied up for the 2017 assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh in which they did not do well.

PM Modi said the BJP has won trust of people through its work.

“Today is the foundation day of BJP. In just a few decades, record numbers of our countrymen have joined the BJP. BJP has won the trust of the people, BJP has won the hearts of the people. The biggest reason for this is that the BJP does not follow politics but follows national policy. For BJP, the nation comes first, this is not BJP’s slogan but our article of faith,” he said.

He also attacked the UPA rule saying that the country was going through a period of despair and crisis.

“Ten years ago, I came to Saharanpur for an election meeting. At that time, the country was going through a period of great despair and great crisis. I had guaranteed you at that time that I would not let the country bow down. I had resolved that with your blessings, I will turn despair into hope, hope into faith. You left no stone unturned in your blessings and Modi left no stone unturned in his hard work,” he said.

He recalled that the BJP government works without discrimination and said the government has also brought the bill to abrogate triple talaq.

“Abrogating article 370 has been our mission and this mission has also been completed. The stones thrown by stone-pelters in Kashmir, Modi took that stone and started building Vikasit Jammu and Kashmir… Today, every Indian says, ‘Niyat sahi to natije sahi’. BJP government works without any discrimination, we want our policies to reach everyone and for this, we have worked for 10 years. Our mantra is ‘saturation’, which means people should benefit 100 per cent, that’s the real secularism and social justice,” he said.

Referring to allegations of the opposition parties over the misuse of probe agencies, PM Modi said the action “against corruption” will continue.

“INDI alliance is for Commission. Whereas NDA, Modi government is for the mission…,” he said.

Saharanpur along with seven other seats in Uttar Pradesh will go to the polls in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls on April 19. (ANI)

For more details visit us: https://lokmarg.com/

A case has been registered against Charan Das Mahant, the Chhattisgarh Congress’ Leader of Opposition, over his ‘objectionable’ remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a public rally.

The FIR was registered under Section 506 (for criminal intimidation) at Kotwali Police Station in Rajnandgaon city following directions by the District Election Officer against the senior Congress leader on Friday, police said.

Charan Das Mahant, who is one of the star campaigners of the party, sparked controversy at a public rally in Rajnandgaon on Tuesday when he stated that they needed someone who could hold a stick and confront PM Modi.

During his speech in the local dialect, Mahant urged the public to ensure the former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel’s success for their future well-being. Mahant called for support for Baghel’s victory in the Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seat, hailing him as a champion of women and farmers. “We need a protector who can stand up against Narendra Modi, and your MP (referring to Baghel) is that person. We want someone who can hold a stick and confront Narendra Modi,” he said.

These remarks stirred controversy, drawing a swift response from the ruling BJP.

BJP MP and national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi criticised the Congress after Mahant’s controversial remark against PM Modi and accused the Congress of “losing its mental balance as the people’s love and support for PM Modi continue to grow.”

“It is expected that after being opposed by the people and the ever-increasing support and affection towards PM Modi, opposition leaders, mainly from the Congress, seem to have lost their mental balance. The Chhattisgarh LoP has once again used derogatory language for PM Modi, which has been a habit of Congress,” BJP’s national spokesperson, Sudhanshu Trivedi, said on Thursday.

“Such language is saddening in democracy… I want to ask, ‘Ye Mohabbat Ki Dukaan Se Kon Kon Se Farmaan Hai?’. Congress claims to hold exclusive copyright and be from the tradition of Gandhi, but did Gandhi used to have a stick for this reason? And this is not just a slip of the tongue but a statement made deliberately and this is all happening from the 2014 elections,” he added.

Elections in the 11 parliamentary constituencies of Chhattisgarh will take place in three phases on April 19, 26 and May 7. The counting of votes will be done on June 4.

The BJP, which has a stronghold in Chhattisgarh, won 9 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha, while the Indian National Congress (INC) was limited to only 2 seats.

In the 2014 election, the BJP won 10 seats, while the INC only managed to win one seat. (ANI)

For more details visit us: https://lokmarg.com/

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has announced that Tesla will unveil a ‘robotaxi’ on August 8. He made the announcement in a post on social media platform X.

In a post on X, Musk stated, “Tesla Robotaxi unveil on 8/8.” In the past, Musk has expressed liking for self-driving vehicles, stressing that they will be one of Tesla’s most important products.

In the past, Elon Musk said that Tesla will make a car that did not have human controls. He had also said that Tesla cars, which will have full self-driving capability will through software, gradually become better and better at driving, CNN reported.

He said that the cars, at some point, will have the capability of operating as fully autonomous taxis and could earn money for their owners by giving taxi rides on their own.

So far, Tesla has passed several of Musk’s predictions for when actual self-driving would be possible. In April 2019, Tesla said it expected to start operating robotaxis by 2020. The company predicted that the autonomous car would last 11 years and drive 1 million miles, which would make the company and the car operators earn a profit of USD 30,000 each year.

However, Elon Musk has admitted that his track for predictions can be off sometimes by a mile. In an event in April 2019, he said, “The only criticism and it’s a fair one, sometimes I’m not on time. But I get it done and the Tesla team gets it done,” according to CNN report.

Presently, people can buy full self-driving capability with a new Tesla Model 3 for an additional USD 12,000 added to the car’s roughly USD 40,000 purchase price. The full self-driving capability can be bought on a subscription basis for up to USD 199 a month, based on how the car was originally equipped.

In small gray type, Tesla’s on-line description reads, “The currently enabled features require active driver supervision and do not make the vehicle autonomous,” implying that it is not, in fact, capable of fully self-driving today.

According to Musk, the system will one day make Tesla cars incredibly valuable. In the company’s call for the third quarter in 2023, he noted, “You can think of every car we sell or produce that has full autonomy capability as something that in the future may be worth five times what it is today.”

Experts who have tested the system have said that, as of now, it is still far from being able to drive on its own without human control, CNN reported.

Kelly Funkhouser, associate director of vehicle technology for Consumer Reports, recently tested the system. Funkhouser said she is less worried about its safety than she is about ordinary Tesla Autopilot, which is made to give more limited driving assistance, particularly on highways.

She said, “You’re not likely to tune out and become complacent or over-reliant on it.” Funkhouser added, “In fact, I would say you’re potentially more alert, CNN reported.

A number of companies, including Google’s parent company Alphabet’s subsidiary and GM subsidiary Cruise, are working on autonomous ride-sharing services. Cruise has halted testing work after one of its self-driving cars hit and dragged a pedestrian.

An internal review found that representatives of Cruise did not fully open up with regulators regarding the incident. The US Department of Justice is conducting an investigation into the matter. Meanwhile, Waymo, recently, recalled its own cars after two of its cars hit the same tow truck within minutes of one another.

Meanwhile, a report in the Financial Times had on April 3 said that Tesla Motors will send a team to scout locations in India this month for a proposed USD 2-3 billion electric car plant. This development comes after India lowered tariffs on higher-priced imported EVs last month for companies that commit to making them in the country within three years. (ANI)

For more details visit us: https://lokmarg.com/

Delhi Minister and Aam Admi Party leader Atishi slammed the Enforcement Directorate on Saturday, saying no money trail has been established by the central agency but it still arrested its party leaders.

She alleged that the BJP files all kinds of false cases against AAP and its leader the Delhi Chief, Minister Arvind Kejriwal, through agencies such as the ED, the Central Bureau of Investigation, and the Income Tax and Election Commission.

Hitting back at Atishi’s allegations, Delhi BJP president Virendraa Sachdeva said that many layers are being unveiled in the alleged liquor scam.

The Delhi education minister in today’s press conference said, “ED has been investigating the money trail in this so-called liquor scam. ED is still investigating the money trail linked to any leader of AAP, but they didn’t get a single penny of proceeds from crime from any AAP leader.”.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, arrested by the ED on March 21 in connection with the alleged Delhi excise policy scam case, has been sent to judicial custody until April 15. He is lodged in Tihar jail.

“The Supreme Court has continuously asked ED, where is the money trail linked to AAP?… But ED has no answer for this. Justice Sanjiv Khanna says the money trail has not been proven, it’s debatable. But many AAP leaders have been arrested under this case even after no money trail,” Atishi said.

The AAP leader stated that the BJP should not fight the elections by hiding behind the agencies but on the basis of their performance.

“BJP files all kinds of false cases against AAP & its leader, Arvind Kejriwal, through agencies under them like the ED, CBI, I-T and Election Commission of India. The case of Goa was also similar when the ECI sent a notice to Arvind Kejriwal on the complaint filed by the BJP. But, yesterday, the Goa Court dismissed the case, citing it as baseless,” she alleged.

“I want to say to the BJP that if they want to face AAP politically, then they shouldn’t try to fight the elections by hiding behind the agencies. If you have the courage, then come forward and fight the elections based on your work,” the AAP leader said.

Virendraa Sachdeva said, “Many layers are being unfolded in the liquor scam. When CBI will interrogate (BRS leader) K Kavitha, I think many things will come out, many more faces will be unmasked…”

The case pertains to alleged irregularities and money laundering in framing and implementing the Delhi excise policy 2022, which was later scrapped. (ANI)

For more details visit us: https://lokmarg.com/

Contradicting claims of famine in Gaza, Hamas lowered the prices of food, while residents said the problem was a lack of money to purchase the basics.

One man told The Press Service of Israel that despite the cost of sugar falling from 100 shekels (USD 26) to 10 shekels, it has not returned to its pre-war price of three shekels. He explained that before October 7, “There was also work and we could buy. Today there is no work and the prices are higher than before. And so it is for all prices, not just sugar.”

He added, “In any case, we don’t have money to buy.”

A woman told TPS-IL, “Although the prices are cheap, the situation is difficult. Wherever we go, we find everything expensive and even if it is cheap we cannot buy. Let’s hope from Allah that it will return to the way it was before.”

For example, one kilo of flour now costs 10 shekels ($2.68), down from 30 shekels (USD 8.05), according to instructions from the Hamas-run Central Government Emergency Committee. The price of canned goods dropped in half from 10 shekels to five ($1.34). The prices went into effect on Monday.

The cost of other basic items, including sugar, rice, cooking oil, meat, prepared foods and more were also reduced.

According to the Israel Defence Forces, Hamas lowered the prices because the terror group has lost significant control over aid being delivered.

The Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) reported that as of Tuesday, 20,019 trucks have delivered 374,540 tons of humanitarian supplies to date since the beginning of the war. COGAT is a unit within the Israeli Defense Ministry that coordinates civilian issues in Judea, Samaria and Gaza between the government, military, international organizations and the Palestinian Authority.

Those deliveries included 12,357 trucks carrying 260,930 tons of food, and 1,433 trucks delivering 28,580 tons of water.

Meanwhile, in a filing presented to the Israeli Supreme Court on Tuesday, the state said the number of trucks entering Gaza since October 7 is larger than the number of trucks crossing into the Strip before the war. The state was responding to a legal appeal filed by several human rights organisations.

The filing added that Israel has provided Gaza with more than 3.3 million cubic meters of water through pipelines. It noted that Israel also coordinated the establishment of two new water lines extending from Egypt with the involvement of the United Arab Emirates.

The passage of aid deliveries is controversial in Israel. Food, water and fuel deliveries are frequently stolen by Hamas once they arrive inside the Strip. Israeli authorities have sidelined UNRWA, the embattled UN Relief and Works Agency for distributing food, water, medicine and other supplies. The agency has been under fire amid revelations that many of its staff are members of Hamas, including several who participated in the October 7 attacks.

“Don’t feed Hamas” is a common chant at Israeli demonstrations against humanitarian aid deliveries, and the families of hostages have called on the government to leverage the aid for information, access and freedom of their captive loved ones.

At least 1,200 people were killed and 240 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the remaining 134 hostages, Israel recently declared 31 of them dead. (ANI/TPS)

For more details visit us: https://lokmarg.com/

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) adopted an anti-Israel resolution, and in response, the Israeli ambassador walked out of the plenary session in protest at the end of her speech, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release.

The UNHRC on Friday adopted a resolution calling for Israel to be held accountable for possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip at the end of the 55th Council session.

In the resolution adopted today, the UN condemned Israel for the war in Gaza but made no mention of Hamas or its crimes on October 7th. The resolution equates the abductees with detainees suspected of terrorist activity. It also goes against Israel’s right to defend itself. Furthermore, the resolution provides legitimacy for Palestinian ‘resistance’ to the ‘occupation,’ calls for an arms embargo on Israel, and blatantly disregards the supply of weapons to Hamas by Iran and its allies.

Following the adoption of the resolution, Israel’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and International Organisations in Geneva, Ambassador Meirav Eilon Shahar, left the hall in protest, the press release added.

The resolution — passed with 28 of the council’s 47 member states voting in favour, six opposed and 13 abstaining. The United States voted against the anti-Israeli resolution, as did Germany, Argentina, Paraguay, Bulgaria and Malawi.

Later today, the council is expected to adopt three more anti-Israeli resolutions, and the US is expected to vote against all of them.

Israel’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and International Organisations in Geneva, Meirav Eilon Shahar said, “All that matters to this Council and many of its members is condemning the State of Israel, and defending the Hamas terrorist organization as well as anyone else who seeks to harm and destroy us.”

“The resolutions adopted today are a stain on the United Nations in general and the Human Rights Council in particular. It is a disgrace that the Council adopted a resolution that does not even mention Hamas or its brutal terrorist attacks of October 7. This Council could not even bring itself to condemn the brutal murder of more than 1,200 of our citizens or the abduction of 240 men, women, children and babies. A Council that chose not to condemn the acts of rape, mutilation and sexual violence committed against Israeli women, girls and men by Hamas,” Shahar also said.

There are 47 member states in the United Nations Human Rights Council, according to geographic distribution. Currently, its members include Malaysia, Kuwait, Qatar, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Algeria, South Africa, Somalia, Cuba, together with the United States, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, Romania, Georgia, Bulgaria among other states, the release also said.

The member states of the Council are elected for a term of 3 years and only members of the Council have the right to vote on the various resolutions.

The Human Rights Council was established in 2006 through a resolution of the UN General Assembly and it is known for its inherent discrimination against the State of Israel. Every year the Council adopts at least four anti-Israel resolutions.

So far, it has adopted 108 resolutions condemning Israel out of the 300 resolutions against specific states. The matter of Israel is raised disproportionately about other conflict zones around the world, and certainly to countries that are known human rights violators, such as Iran, Syria, Yemen, and Qatar.

Against the backdrop of the war in Gaza, preoccupation with Israel has increased significantly since October 7, Israel’s Foreign Ministry also said. (ANI)

For more details visit us: https://lokmarg.com/

The six-time Grand Slam champion Sania Mirza, who is a Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) women’s team mentor, said the Women’s Premier League (WPL) has been the biggest revelation for the women’s cricket that has happened.

WPL is contributing to the increase in interest in women’s cricket across India. On March 17, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) lifted their maiden Women’s Premier League crown after Smriti Mandhana-led side outplayed Delhi Capitals (DC) by 8 wickets at Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi.

On women empowerment in India and opportunities for females in sports Sania told ANI,” We as a, as a nation, as a society, we have to encourage more and more girls to follow their dreams. We have to encourage more and more girls to do what they love, no matter how out of the box it is. And I think that slowly that is happening, but there is always room for improvement.

“WPL has been the biggest revelation for the women’s cricket that has happened. Because women’s cricket has always been played. It’s not like they haven’t played. They just haven’t gotten the recognition that the male cricketers used to get. And now with this platform, with the WPL, I think it’s become really, really cool for them to be able to showcase their talent and also show how good they really are at what they do. The more eyeballs, the more TV, the bigger the sport gets,” Sania said.

On women empowerment in India and opportunities for females in sports Sania said, “We as a, as a nation, as a society, we have to encourage more and more girls to follow their dreams. We have to encourage more and more girls to do what they love, no matter how out of the box it is. And I think that slowly that is happening, but there is always room for improvement.”

On the challenges of being a mother and sports personality, she said it’s not easy and challenging as well, but the tennis ace said it’s the greatest honour.

“It’s not easy, it’s challenging, I think being a mother has been one of the greatest honours and pleasures of my life. So for me, my work and everything, I just was trying to find that balance and it is challenging at times. And that’s where your family comes into play, your support system comes into play, who help you,” Sania said.

Sania bid an emotional adieu to the sport in her hometown of Hyderabad last year at the venue where it all started for her as a 16-year-old. Sania played her two exhibition tennis matches at the Bahadur Stadium, where she made her WTA event debut back in 2003.

She retired from professional tennis after the Dubai Tennis Championships last year. (ANI)

For more details visit us: https://lokmarg.com/

Heat wave conditions are likely to prevail over parts of east and peninsular India during the next two days, the India Meteorological Department said on Friday in its latest update.

Regions that would likely see heat waves are Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand,

Vidarbha, North Interior Karnataka, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, Rayalaseema and Telangana.

During the past 24 hours, heat wave conditions prevailed in isolated pockets over North Interior Karnataka, Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam.

Heatwave is a condition of air temperature that becomes fatal to the human body when exposed. It is defined based on the temperature thresholds over a region in terms of actual temperature or its departure from normal.

In certain countries, it is defined in terms of the heat index based on temperature and humidity or based on the extreme percentile of the temperatures.

The heat wave is considered if the maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 40 degree Celsius or more for plains and at least 30 degree Celsius or more for Hilly regions.

IMD advised people to avoid heat exposure, wear lightweight, light colour, loose, cotton clothes, cover head, use a cloth, hat or umbrella.

On Thursday, maximum temperatures were in the range of 40-42 degree Celcius over many parts of Vidarbha, Telangana and Rayalaseema, some parts of East Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Marathwada, Coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam and North Interior Karnataka and at isolated pockets over Gangetic West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Kerala

Maximum temperatures departures are above normal by 3-4 degree Celcius at isolated pockets over Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, East Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Vidarbha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Gangetic West Bengal, Rayalaseema, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Also, an enhanced rainfall and thunderstorm activity is likely to continue over northeastern part of the country till April 9, 2024.

Another Western disturbance is likely to affect Western Himalayan Region from April 10, 2024. Under its influence, light rainfall/snowfall very likely at isolated places over Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh on April 5-6, 10-11; and over Uttarakhand during next 7 days.

Rainfall at isolated places over Rajasthan very likely on April 5-6, 10-11, 2024, IMD said today.

A cyclonic circulation over north Bangladesh persists, another cyclonic circulation lies over east Assam and neighbourhood.

Under its influence, daily widespread to widespread light/moderate rainfall/snowfall with isolated thunderstorms and lightning very likely over Arunachal Pradesh; scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall with isolated thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds (40-50 kmph) over Assam and Meghalaya and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura during next 7 days. (ANI)

For more details visit us: https://lokmarg.com/