Month: April 2024

As the state gears up for the first phase of polling for the Lok Sabha on April 19, not just the candidates across the political divide but also their loved ones and kin are reaching out voters in the hope of electoral blessings.

The daughters of Sowmiya Anbumani, the PMK-NDA candidate for the Dharmapuri parliamentary constituency, are out on the ground seeking votes for their mother. Likewise, the spouse of Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) chief TTV Dhinakaran, Anuradha, was pictured travelling around the constituency in an open van in Theni, seeking votes for her husband.

The Chennai Central candidate of the ruling DMK, Dayanidhi Maran, was pictured canvassing for votes with her daughter in the background. While these candidates are representing rival political forces, what binds them in this context, is that their family members are making their first public appearances on the campaign trail.

Even as ‘dynasty politics’ figures prominently in the political discourse going into the Lok Sabha elections, the family members of the candidates are unfazed as they are stepping out of the shadows and going among the people, being the biggest cheerleaders for their loved one without a shred of inhibition. However, the trend of tagging family members along for canvassing has drawn some eyebrows. But it is sure catching on as the polling dates draw near.

Setting the trend, as it were, former AIADMK minister C Vijayabaskar hit the campaign trail along with his daughter Rithanya Priyadarshini to canvas for votes during the 2021 Assembly elections.

The leaders said they were all for it as having loved ones and family members on the campaign trail gives them ‘moral support’ while they go among the people and boosts their confidence going into the elections.

Speaking to ANI over the phone, DMK spokesperson Saravanan said, “Family members stand as moral support for the candidates while also sending a strong message to the electorate that their families are behind them. If the spouses and children of candidates tag along with them on the campaign trail, it enables a better connect with voters, especially women voters. It also tells the people that the candidates are, after all, human beings who also have to support and provide for their loved ones.”

While the kin, who have nothing to do with politics, are canvassing for candidates, the likes of ruling DMK supremo MK Stalin and sitting MP Kanimozhi are also out among the people, seeking votes in the name of their father and late party founder and CM Kalaingar Karunanithi. Similarly, state Sports Minister Udhyanithi Stalin has been campaigning for his CM father. The father, too, campaigned for his son in the assembly polls earlier.

The founder of Pattali Makkal Katchi, Ramadoss, has also been seen campaigning for his son, Anbumani.

Also weighing in on this growing trend, AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan said, “There is a difference between the AIADMK candidates campaigning with her family members and the DMK and PMK rivals doing it. The DMK and PMK are family-run parties. So when their candidates come out to campaign with their family members, it is like telling the people who is next in line. That’s the message these parties want to send out to the people. There is emotion at play whatsoever.”

While opinions on the trend may vary from person to person, these candidates are pulling out all stops, including bringing their loved ones to forefront, as the poll dates near. (ANI)

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Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader on Tuesday sent a legal notice to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi over her claims that BJP approached her through a “very close” person to join the party.

The notice sent by Delhi BJP leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor stated that on April 2, 2024 Atishi held a press conference and claimed that she was approached by BJP to join the party.

The notice sent through Advocate Satya Ranjan Swain on behalf of Praveen Shankar Kapoor stated that Atishi deliberately and with malicious intent made statements that are not only false, scandalous, concocted and illusionary, but defamatory, to harm the reputation of the BJP and its members.

In the entire speech, she neither revealed specific information about the source of information nor has she given any details about the act of BJP, the notice said.

“Devoid of any specifities your statement is an intentional endeavor to reflect your own imagination and apprehension,” stated the legal notice.

The notice requested Atishi to immediately withdraw the said speech and telecast her apology prominently in her television and social media.

AAP leader and Delhi Minister Atishi on Tuesday alleged that she was approached by the BJP to join them or else she would be arrested by the Directorate of Enforcement in the coming days.

While addressing a press conference here, the AAP leader had said, “The BJP, through one of my close aides, approached me to join their party to save my political career, and if I do not join the BJP, then in the coming month, I will be arrested by the ED.”

The AAP leader accused the BJP-led Centre of trying to threaten the party by using probe agencies.

“I want to tell the BJP that we will not be scared of you. We are the soldiers of Arvind Kejriwal. We are aides of Bhagat Singh. We will continue to save the Constitution and will work to give the people a better life under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal,” she said.

She further alleged that in the coming two months before the General Elections, a few more leaders, including Raghav Chadha and Saurabh Bharadwaj, will be arrested by the central probe agency. (ANI)

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Congress leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday expressed his gratitude to the people of the constituency for electing him as a member of Parliament in the last general elections, saying that he has been blessed with the love of people there.

Addressing a gathering ahead of filing his nomination from Wayanad for the Lok Sabha elections, Rahul Gandhi said that he treats people of the constituency in the same way he treats his younger sister Priyanka Gandhi.

“It has been an honour for me to be your member of Parliament. I don’t treat you and think of you like an electorate. I treat you and think of you the same way I think of my little sister Priyanka. So in the houses of Wayanad, I have sisters, mothers, fathers and brothers. And I thank you from the bottom of my heart for that,” Rahul Gandhi said.

He further said that he was always ready to bring Wayanad’s issues to the attention of the nation and world.

“There is an issue of man-animal conflict, medical college issue. I stand with the people of Wayanad in this fight. We have tried to pressurise the government on the medical college, I have written letters to the CM. But unfortunately, they have not moved forward. I am absolutely convinced that if we have a government in Delhi and when we get a government in Kerala, both of which we will do, we will resolve these issues,” he said.

“I am not making just a political speech. Regardless of thier parties, communities, age, every single person in Wayanad gave me love, affection, respect and treated me as their own,” the Congress leader added.

Earlier, Rahul Gandhi held a roadshow in the constituency, thousands of party workers and supporters turned up for the roadshow.

The Congress leader was accompanied by his sister Priyanka Gandhi and AICC general secretary’s K C Venugopal and Deepa Dasmunshi as well as Leader of Opposition in the state assembly V D Satheesan and KPCC acting president M M Hassan.

Communist Party of India (CPI) Lok Sabha candidate from Wayanad, Annie Raja also filed her nomination on Wednesday.

The CPI is a partner of the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front in Kerala.

While the CPI and the Congress are partners in the opposition INDIA bloc, the two parties are fierce contenders in Kerala with both parties pitting their strongest candidates against each other.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Rahul Gandhi won from Wayanad with a huge margin of over 4.31 lakh votes; the highest margin in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in Kerala. He secured 64.94 per cent vote share defeating LDF candidate PP Suneer. The NDA had fielded BDJ(S) leader Tushar Vellapally who secured just around 78,000 votes which accounted for a mere 7.25 per cent.

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) won 19 out of 20 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. While the Congress won 15 seats, its allies Indian Union Muslim League won two seats, the Revolutionary Socialist Party won one and the Kerala Congress (M) won one seat.

The Communist Party Of India (Marxist) won one seat in Alappuzha. (ANI)

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At least 77 people are trapped across Taiwan after a powerful earthquake struck the island’s eastern coast, CNN reported citing the National Fire Agency (NFA).

Authorities did not elaborate on the condition of those trapped but said that rescue operations were underway.

The 7.4 magnitude quake has killed four people and injured more than 700 others, according to NFA. Of those injured, 132 are in Hualien County, near the epicentre of the quake, the agency added.

Taiwan was struck by its strongest earthquake in 25 years on Wednesday when a 7.4 magnitude tremor struck the island’s eastern coast, collapsing buildings, killing at least four people and triggering tsunami warnings across the region that were later lifted, CNN reported.

The tsunami warnings also prompted airlines and airports to suspend flights, which were later resumed.

CNN reported that the powerful tremors that rocked Taiwan morning have damaged 125 buildings across the island, according to the National Fire Agency (NFA).

About half of the damaged buildings are in Hualien County, near the epicenter of the earthquake, according to local officials.

Four buildings in the county had partially collapsed, Hualien County Magistrate Hsu Chen-wei said at a news conference Wednesday.

Residents from three of the buildings have been safely evacuated, while search and rescue operations continue at the nine-storey Uranus Building, which is leaning to the right after the ground floor collapsed, Hsu said, CNN reported.

Twenty-two people have been rescued from the Uranus Building, with efforts still underway to contact one remaining resident, according to the National Fire Agency.

Meanwhile, the Australian Foreign Minister, Penny Wong has offered condolences to the people killed in Taiwan and asked the Australian authorities to follow the advice of the local authorities.

“Australia’s thoughts are with those killed and injured following the earthquake near Taiwan. DFAT officials in Taipei and Tokyo are working with authorities but at this stage aren’t aware of any Australians affected,” she posted on X.

“Please follow the advice of local authorities. Australians in need of emergency consular assistance should contact the Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 (overseas) & 1300 555 135 (in Australia),” she added.

The Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Ministry appreciated the wishes by the countries across world and said that support strengthens their resolve.

Taking to X, the ministry said, “We appreciate the worldwide good wishes & prayers issued in the wake of the 7.2 earthquake & ongoing aftershocks. Support from allies & friends in moments of adversity touches our hearts & strengthens our resolve–#Taiwan stands strong as an #IslandOfResilience.”(ANI)

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Actor Parineeti Chopra who is currently gearing up for the release of her much-awaited film, ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’ opposite Punjabi singer-turned-actor Diljit Dosanjh yet again dropped a BTS video with Diljit Dosanjh and Imtiaz Ali.

The ‘Ishaqzaade’ actress on Tuesday posted a BTS video on her Instagram, offering fans a glimpse into the making of her character, Amarjot, for the film.

In the video, the actress can be seen undergoing a physical transformation for her role in the film. The actress also appears joyful and is captured dancing and enjoying herself while preparing for her scenes during the shooting of the biographical movie.

Sharing the video on social media, the actress wrote a caption that read, “How will I ever top this film experience? Spoiled forever..#Chamkila.”

As soon as the video was shared, fans flooded the comment section.

A fan wrote, “You have given full justice to this role @parineetichopra just look at your hardwork so proud.”

Another fan commented, “Can’t wait to watch you perform this special role.”

While a third fan wrote, “I’m eagerly waiting for it! Promises to be a blockbuster for sure.”

Helmed by Imtiaz Ali, ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’ presents the untold true story of Punjab’s original rockstar of the masses, who emerged from the shadows of poverty and rose to the heights of popularity in the 80s due to the sheer power of his music, angering many along the way, which finally led to his assassination at the young age of 27.

Diljit Dosanjh portrays ‘Chamkila,’ the top-selling artist of his era, who rose from poverty to immense fame in the 1980s through his powerful music.

Makers recently unveiled the film’s trailer.

The trailer shows a young man (Diljit Dosanjh) from a Punjab village invited to perform at a local event. Despite his objections to being called Chamkila, he decides to proceed. Surprisingly, his music enthralls the village, especially the women, although some criticize the provocative lyrics. Eventually, he joins forces with singer Amarjot Kaur.

‘Amar Singh Chamkila’ is set to stream on the OTT platform Netflix from April 12.

The film has been produced by Mohit Choudhary, Select Media Holdings LLP, Saregama, and Window Seat Films. The music of the film is available on Saregama. (ANI)

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Union Minister for Earth Sciences Kiren Rijiju has rejected China’s attempt to rename several places in Arunachal Pradesh, terming them “malicious” and asserted that the Ministry of External Affairs has given an appropriate response to Beijing’s action.

In an interview with ANI, Rijiju said that the Chinese were very happy with the Congress government as they had the policy not to develop border areas. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reversed the border policy of Congress. He said that China is nervous as infrastructure is being developed in border areas.

Union Minister said, “China has given some kind of names to some places in Arunachal Pradesh. But, I don’t understand why they are doing that. We are very upset and we totally reject this kind of malicious activities conducted by the Chinese government. Our government from the External Affairs Ministry has responded very appropriately. But, what I feel is China is very nervous because earlier these border areas were totally left underdeveloped during Congress time and during Modiji’s time, all major highways, roads, bridges, all 4G networks, water supply, electricity, all basic amenities are being provided in the border areas, especially in Arunachal Pradesh which was neglected for so long.”

He noted that India has emerged as a great power under PM Modi’s rule. He asserted that India will not create problems for others, however, it will respond appropriately if the country is disturbed. Rijiju said that the people of Arunachal are Indian citizens and nobody can change their status.

His remarks come after China recently released a list of 30 places in Arunachal Pradesh in a bid to assert its claim over India’s northeastern state. India has been rejecting such renaming of places by China.

Criticising Congress for not developing border areas during its government, he said, “Chinese were very happy with Congress government because Congress had a policy not to develop the border areas. But, Prime Minister Modiji has reversed the negative border policy of the Congress party. So, now since the border areas are seeing the light of modern development.

China is reacting to it. China is feeling uncomfortable. They are raising objection why India is building so much infrastructure in the border areas. So, that is why they are resorting to this kind of unethical conduct. But, this India is not the India during Congress time. This is not the 1962 India.”

“Under Modiji’s regime, India emerged as a great power and India will not create any problem. India will not intrude into other countries internal matters. But if we are disturbed,

then we will respond appropriately. So nothing to worry, people of Arunachal Pradesh are rock solid behind Prime Minister and people of Arunachal are absolutely patriotic people. We are Indians and nobody can change our status,” he added.

Slamming Congress for their approach towards China, Rijiju said that the party has no moral standing to make remarks on border areas as they neglected the border areas for the past 60 years. Hitting out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, he said that Wayanad MP was speaking the language of the Chinese government and accused him of working as a “propaganda agent” for the Chinese government.

Asked about opposition parties’ remarks that government needs to change its trial balloon diplomacy with China, he said, “The Congress government and Congress party, they have shown their track record. So, what Congress says is basically furthering the propaganda of China. So if you see Rahul Gandhi’s language. He is exactly speaking the same language of the Chinese government. So, Rahul Gandhi is working as a propaganda agent of the Chinese government. So, the Congress has no moral right or any moral standing to comment on border areas because they have committed a scene against these border areas. They have left the border areas totally neglected and underdeveloped for last 60 years.”

Praising PM Modi-led government for developmental work in border areas, he said that PM Modi has brought the people of border areas into the mainstream by introducing different initiatives like the vibrant village program.

He said, “Modi ji has started the real developmental activities in the border areas. So the Congress party should better remain quiet, don’t speak the language of the Chinese government. Stay quiet because they have done enough damage to our border areas as well as the status of the people.”

“They have left our people to themselves without giving any proper attention. They neglected our people for more than 60 years. Now Modiji has brought the border people into the mainstream – The vibrant village program, the declaration of the border villages as the first villagers of the country. So, what Modi ji has done is totally changed status of the people of border areas. Now, our border people are very happy,” he added.

Earlier in the day, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) firmly rejected China’s attempt to rename several places in Arunachal Pradesh saying assigning invented names will “not alter the reality that the state will always be an integral and inalienable part of India.

“China has persisted with its senseless attempts to rename places in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. We firmly reject such attempts. Assigning invented names will not alter the reality that Arunachal Pradesh is, has been, and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India,” MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in an official statement.

According to a March 30 report in its state-run Global Times, the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs released a fourth list of standardized geographical names in Zangnan, the name that China uses for Arunachal Pradesh.

According to the official website of the ministry, 30 additional publicly used place names in the Zangnan region has been officially revealed, the Global times report said.

The Chinese Civil Affairs Ministry released the first list of the so -called standardised names of six places in Zangnan in 2017, while the second list of 15 places was issued in 2021 followed by another list with names for 11 places in 2023.

Set to take effect from May 1, 2024, the implementation measures stipulate in Article 13 that “place names in foreign languages that may harm China’s territorial claims and sovereignty rights shall not be directly quoted or translated without authorization,” the Global Times report said.

India has repeatedly rebuffed such attempts by China to rename places in Arunachal Pradesh. On Monday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that changing names won’t have any effect and the northeastern state was, is and will always be India’s part. (ANI)

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Heaping praise on the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that India was able to keep a firm stand during the Russia-Ukraine conflict because there were “clear instructions” from the top leadership.

He said that PM Modi had given clear instructions to keep the interest of Indian consumers in priority despite external pressure against purchasing Russian oil.

“The biggest change that has taken place is that the same ministries and bureaucrats are now judged on the basis of their performance. So, it’s about leadership and motivation,” Jaishankar said during an interaction in Rajkot, Gujarat.

Recalling the time of conflict, he said PM Modi had asked to put all the efforts in evacuating the Indian students.

“When we sensed that tensions were increasing in Ukraine, we asked the Indian students to evacuate…once the war started, I got very clear instructions that do whatever you want to at whatever cost, put the whole ministry in action, but bring all the Indian students back. That’s what happens when you get clear instructions,” he said.

He said that India kept the interest of its consumers on priority while purchasing Russian oil, despite external pressure.

“As people know, there was a lot of pressure on us not to buy oil from Ukraine. If we had not purchased oil from Russia, we would had to purchase from Gulf nations. It would have increased the oil prices. What you are getting at Rs 100 would have cost Rs 125,” Jaishankar said.

“I was asked how was I able to keep such a clear position despite so much pressure. I was able to because I had very clear instructions from the Prime Minister. I was told that to keep the interest of Indian consumers a priority,” he added.

Recalling another serious issue during the conflict, the EAM said how the officials went to Ukraine to evacuate the students.

“During the war in Ukraine, firing was so intense in an area, that the stranded students said that they wouldn’t leave their hostels unless someone from our side came there. I called my officers and two of them were sent to evacuate the students. Both of them were very brave, but I can say everyone in the room was ready to go. This is the change today,” Jaishankar further said. (ANI)

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Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya will chair a meeting on Wednesday with various stakeholder agencies to review preparedness to tackle heat related illness due to heat waves and action plan for upcoming summer season.

The meeting will be attended by officials from NITI Aayog, Directorate General Of Health Services, DG Indian Council of Medical Research, Director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi, MS Safdarjung , RML Hospital and LHC to review preparedness to tackle heat related illness due to heat waves and action plan for upcoming summer season.

Earlier, India Meteorological Department said that most parts of the country are likely to witness above normal maximum temperatures during April to June, with 10-20 days of heat waves expected in different parts

The Director General of Meteorology at IMD, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, said at a press briefing that normal rainfall is also expected during the month of April across the country.

He was addressing a briefing on the seasonal outlook for the hot weather season of April to June.

“Above normal maximum temperatures are likely over most parts of country, especially with high probability over central India and western peninsular India,” Mohapatra said.

Mohapatra informed that normal to below normal maximum temperatures are likely over some parts of the western Himalayan region, north-east states and north Odisha to experience normal to below normal maximum temperatures.

On heatwave conditions, Mohapatra said: “Above normal heatwave days are likely over most parts in the plains of Country. 10 to 20 days of heat wave expected in different parts against normal of 4 to 8 days.”

The most prone areas to an increased heatwave are Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and North Karnataka followed by Rajashtan MP and north Chattishfardh Oddisha Andra Pradesh,

The maximum temperature during February and March was normal to below normal.

Notably, heatwave is a period where local excess heat accumulates over a sequence of unusually hot days and nights.

As per IMD, a heat wave is considered if the maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 40 degrees Celsius or more for Plains and at least 30 degrees Celsius or more for Hilly regions

During the briefing, Union Minister for Earth Sciences, Kiren Rijijiu asserted that it is a time to be alert and prepared.

“Our prepartuion has increased manifold in the last few years. It is a time to prepare and be alert. There are projections for extreme heatwaves during the next 3 months,” he said.

The IMD DG Mohapatra said that rainfall over the country during the month of April is most likely to be normal (88-112 per cent of LPA).

It is important to note that the Long period average (LPA) rainfall over the country during the month of April from 1971 to 2020 is about 39.2 mm.

“Normal to above-normal rainfall likely over most parts of the northwest, and some parts of central and north peninsular India. Below normal rainfall is likely over east and west coast, parts from east and northeast India south peninsular India,” he said. (ANI)

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Indian men’s hockey team vice-captain Hardik Singh feels that after winning the Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of The Year 2023 award, the “amount of responsibility” increases over a player after winning such an accolade.

Notably, he also won the Hockey India Ajit Pal Singh award for Midfielder of the Year at the Hockey India 6th Annual Awards 2023, which took place in the national capital on Sunday.

This honour recognizes Hardik’s exceptional talent, dedication, and outstanding contributions to the sport over the past year. His unwavering commitment, exemplary leadership as the vice-captain of the Indian men’s hockey team, and unparalleled performance have made him a standout player in the global hockey circuit.

The journey of the 25-year-old player to the summit of the sport has been nothing short of inspirational. Beginning his career with remarkable promise, Hardik has evolved into a lynchpin of the Indian Men’s Hockey Team, showcasing exceptional technical prowess and strategic acumen on the field.

The midfielder has been pivotal in guiding the team and not just earning accolades for himself but also bringing immense pride and glory to the country.

The 25-year-old, who hails from Jalandhar, also won the Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of The Year 2022.

Expressing his delight at winning the award for the second consecutive year, the midfielder said as quoted from HI, “I would like to thank my teammates, coaches and the support staff for putting their faith in me. This will further push me to perform even better. Honestly, I didn’t expect to win as there were a lot of strong contenders like Harmanpreet Singh, PR Sreejesh, who have been outstanding in the past year. I believe we had a roller coaster year as a team. I honestly feel that I am accepting this honour on behalf of the entire team.”

“There is an increased amount of responsibility when you get such individual awards and recognition. I feel that when the federation gives you such prestigious awards, it means that they trust you and you should be able to perform to your best in matches that you play,” he added.

Having made his senior international debut in 2018, Hardik Singh has proved his mettle by donning 123 caps for India. For his remarkable performances and contributions in the gold-winning Indian team at the Asian Games and the Asian Champions Trophy, he was also named the Men’s FIH Player of the Year in 2023, adding another feather to the cap of the dynamic talented player. (ANI)

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