Month: June 2024

The ICC T20 World Cup 2024 title clash between India and South Africa is going to be an exciting affair featuring not only some of the biggest batting superstars of the game but also two of the most potent and scary bowling attacks of the tournament so far.

The two undefeated sides in this edition, India will take on South Africa in the T20 WC title clash at Barbados on Saturday. While Proteas recorded an authoritative nine-wicket defeat to end Afghanistan’s dream campaign, India took its revenge by defeating England by 68 runs in a repeat of the 2022 T20 WC semis clash.

South Africa’s bowling attack has outdone India by inches during this tournament. In their eight-match winning run, the Proteas have taken 59 wickets. These scalps have come at an average of 15.23 with a tight economy rate of 5.95.

Key contributors to this powerful bowling attack have been: Pacer Anrich Norje (13 wickets in eight games at an average of 13.46, with best figures of 4/7 and economy rate of 5/64), pacer Kagiso Rabada (12 wickets in eight games at an average of 13.25 and an economy rate of 5.88, with best figures of 3/18), spinners Tabraiz Shamsi (11 wickets in four games at an average of 9.27 and an economy rate of 7.37, with the best figures of 4/19) and Keshav Maharaj (Nine wickets in seven games at an average of 16.88 and economy rate of 6/08, with the best figures of 3/27). Pacers Marco Jansen and Ottneil Baartman (six wickets each) and skipper Aiden Markram (two wickets) are among other contributors.

For India, a total of 56 wickets came at an average of 15.21, slightly better than Proteas, however, the economy rate of Indian bowlers is a little higher at 6.42.

Two of the best bowlers of the tournament are pacers Arshdeep Singh (15 wickets in seven matches at an average of 13.00 and an economy rate of 7.50, with the best figures of 4/9) and Jasprit Bumrah (13 wickets in seven games at an average of 8.15 and an economy rate of 4.12, with the best figures of 3/7). Spinner Kuldeep Yadav has also chipped in with 10 wickets in just four games at an average of 9.40, an economy rate of 5.87 and best figures of 3/19 despite missing some games.

All-rounders Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya (eight scalps each) have also contributed to India’s wicket tally.

Squads:

India Squad: Rohit Sharma(c), Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Sanju Samson, Mohammed Siraj, Yashasvi Jaiswal

South Africa Squad: Quinton de Kock(w), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram(c), Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi, Ottneil Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Bjorn Fortuin, Ryan Rickelton. (ANI)

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Janata Dal-United (JDU) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Jha has been appointed as the party’s national executive president on Saturday while Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will continue to be the national president.

A decision in this regard was taken during the National Executive meeting of JD (U) held on Saturday. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar chaired the meeting in the national capital.

Ahead of the meeting, JD (U) leader Neeraj Kumar said that the 2024 election results have made it clear that the country’s politics revolve around Nitish Kumar.

“We can say that the 2024 Lok Sabha election results have made it clear that the country’s politics revolve around Nitish Kumar ji,” Kumar said.

JD(U) leader KC Tyagi said that Nitish Kumar is the leader of the NDA and the next elections will be fought under his leadership.

“The 2025 election will be fought under the leadership of Nitish Kumar. Not only the Prime Minister announced it, but both the state party presidents of the BJP and the Leader of the House have publicly announced it. Nitish Kumar is the leader of the NDA and the next elections will be fought under his leadership,” Tyagi said.

Earlier, on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the JD(U) and BJP would keep working together for good governance in Bihar. PM Narendra Modi said this after meeting with JD(U) MPs in Delhi on Thursday.

“Had a great meeting with @Jduonline MPs. Our parties have a long history of working together and fighting poor governance, corruption and criminalisation in Bihar. The leadership of @NitishKumar Ji has taken Bihar on the path of development. We will keep working together for good governance,” PM Modi said in a post on X and shared pictures from the meeting.

It can be recalled that Nitish Kumar returned to the NDA and took the oath as Bihar CM with the BJP’s support after leaving the alliance and joining the Rashtriya Janata Dal-led ‘Mahagathbandhan’ in August 2022. Kumar’s JD(U) contested the Lok Sabha elections in 2024 in alliance with the BJP.

Meanwhile, in the run-up to the Bihar assembly elections, former Union Minister and BJP leader Ashwini Kumar Choubey on Thursday expressed his desire for the NDA to form a government with a full majority in the state.

Choubey said the BJP “should come to power on its own” as he emphasised taking the allies along. He said that the Chief Ministerial candidate will be decided post-election and added that the party does not accept any “imports.”

Bihar is expected to vote for its 243-member legislative assembly in October 2025. (ANI)

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Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Chief and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav on Saturday recalled what they went through during the dark days of Emergency and said that the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi put many of the leaders behind bars, but she never abused them.

In a post shared on X, the RJD chief shared an article “The Sangh Silence in 1975” written by him and journalist Nalin Verma. In the article, they attacked the BJP-led central government and said that although 1975 is a stain on the country’s democracy, let’s not forget who doesn’t respect the Opposition in 2024.

“I was the convener of the steering committee that Jayaprakash Narayan–had constituted to carry forward the movement against the excesses of Emergency imposed by the then PM Indira Gandhi. I was in jail under the Maintenance of Security Act (MISA) for over 15 months. My colleagues and I did not know many of the BJP ministers speaking about the Emergency today. We hadn’t heard of Modi, J P Nadda, and some of the PM’s other ministerial colleagues who today lecture us on the value of freedom,” he posted on X.

“Indira Gandhi put many of us behind bars, but she never abused us. Neither she nor her ministers called us “anti-national” or “unpatriotic”. She never enabled vandals to defile the memory of Babasaheb Ambedkar–the architect of our Constitution. 1975 is a stain on our democracy but let’s not forget who doesn’t respect the Opposition in 2024,” the RJD leader added.

On June 25, 1975, Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister, imposed a 21-month state of emergency. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, which is considered one of the most controversial periods in India’s political history.

Earlier on Thursday, President Droupadi Murmu addressed the joint sitting of the Parliament and criticised the imposition of ‘Emergency’.

“Emergency was the biggest and darkest chapter of the direct attack on the Constitution. The entire country plunged into chaos during the Emergency, but the nation was victorious against such unconstitutional powers”, she said.

The remarks of the President have triggered reactions from the leaders of the INDIA bloc.

Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is attempting to gain cheap applause by making the President deliver a speech filled with lies.

“Modi Ji is trying to gain cheap applause by making the Honorable President speak lies, which the people of India have already rejected in the 2024 elections,” Kharge wrote on his official ‘X’ account. (ANI)

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Five Indian Army soldiers including one Junior Commissioned Officer and four jawans lost their lives when an Army Tank met with an accident in the Daulat Beg Oldie area in Ladakh on Friday evening.

All five bodies have been recovered, defence officials said on Saturday.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed sadness on Saturday over the deaths of five Indian Army soldiers after a Tank met with an accident while getting across a river in Ladakh on Friday.

“Deeply saddened at the loss of lives of five of our brave Indian Army soldiers in an unfortunate accident while getting across a river in Ladakh in a tank. We will never forget the exemplary service of our gallant soldiers to the nation,” Rajnath Singh said in a post on X.

“My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. The nation stands firm with them during this hour of grief,” he added.

The T-72 tank which the Army personnel were operating met with an accident during a river crossing exercise. The mishap took place yesterday due to a sudden increase in water levels, said defence officials.

“There were five soldiers in the tank at the time of the incident, including one Junior Commissioner Officer and four Jawans. One person has been located while the search for others is still going on,” defence officials said in an intial confirmation.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said he was deeply distressed by the news of the accident and the loss of lives.

“Deeply distressed at the loss of lives of 5 Indian Army bravehearts, including a JCO, while getting a T-72 tank across a river in Ladakh. Our heartfelt condolences to the families of the Army personnel who fell victim to this painful tragedy. In this hour of grief, the nation stands together in saluting the exemplary service of our valiant soldiers,” he posted on X. (ANI)

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A day after the canopy collapse incident at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, in which one person was killed and eight others were injured on Friday morning, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) announced on Saturday that operations at Terminal 1 will remain suspended till further notice.

Terminal 1 handles domestic flights, including those by IndiGo and SpiceJet. All operations have been temporarily shifted to Terminal 2 and Terminal 3.

“Flight operations at Delhi airport are normal and operating from Terminal-2 & 3 only. All flights from Terminal-1 have been shifted to Terminal-3 and Terminal-2,” Delhi airport said in a post on X.

IndiGo issued an advisory on Friday night. “6ETravelAdvisory: #DelhiAirport Terminal 1 update: Flights originally scheduled to operate to/from Terminal 1, Delhi after 0000hrs (midnight) have been shifted to Terminal 2 and Terminal 3,” the airline said.

“The communication regarding terminal information is being communicated either via WhatsApp, SMS or Email. Please check flight status before heading to the airport,” it added.

SpiceJet issued an advisory on Friday evening. “All SpiceJet flights to and from Delhi dated 29th June’24 will depart/arrive from Terminal 3. Necessary information has been communicated to all the passengers via SMS/Email. The passengers are requested to ensure sufficient travel time and keep a check on their flight status,” the airline said in a post on X on Friday.

A passenger at the airport urged the government to resolve the situation quickly. “We are facing time issues. We want the government to resolve these issues as soon as possible,” he said.

Meanwhile, DIAL announced that a technical committee has been formed to investigate the cause of the canopy collapse at Terminal 1.

In a statement issued on Friday, the DIAL said the technical committee will give the report as soon as possible. “Due to heavy rains and winds through the night in Delhi, a canopy at the old departure forecourt of Terminal 1 (T1) partially collapsed around 5 am this morning. While the cause for the collapse is being assessed, the primary cause seems to be the continued heavy rainfall over the past few hours,” the DIAL said.

The statement added, “Rescue operations were launched immediately by the Delhi Airport Emergency Response Team including Fire Fighting, Medical Team and Operations, who provided all necessary support and assistance. Evacuation of passengers and all other individuals from T1 was the first priority and complete evacuation has been undertaken.”

DIAL further said that it is working with all relevant agencies, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Bureau of Civil Aviation (BCAS), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Delhi Police, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), to assess the situation and restore operations.

The statement also noted that four vehicles were damaged in the incident, and the eight individuals who received minor injuries were provided immediate medical assistance at the Medanta Centre at Delhi Airport. The injured were later shifted to ESI Hospital and Indian Spinal Injury Centre (later referred to Safdarjung Hospital) for further medical supervision as required. Unfortunately, one fatality was reported in the incident.

DIAL has extended support to the affected individuals and the family of the deceased, announcing a compensation of Rs 20 lakh to the family of the deceased and Rs 3 lakh each to those who sustained minor injuries. (ANI)

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his heartfelt wishes to the pilgrims embarking on the holy Amarnath Yatra on Saturday.

The annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath shrine began today. This year, the 52-day-long pilgrimage would culminate on August 19.

“My heartfelt best wishes to all the pilgrims on the commencement of the holy Amarnath Yatra. This yatra associated with the darshan and worship of Baba Barfani infuses immense energy in the devotees of Lord Shiva. I wish that all the devotees may prosper with his blessings. Jai Baba Barfani!” PM Modi wrote on X.

Earlier, the first batch of Shri Amarnath Yatra pilgrims reached Baltal base camp in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal on Friday.

A pilgrim at Baltal base camp said, “Being in the first batch gives us the opportunity of first darshan. Local Kashmiris and Security Forces personnel here are very helpful.”

Another Amarnath Yatra pilgrim at Baltal base camp said that it is difficult to express the happiness he feels about being selected in the first batch of pilgrims.

“The arrangements for pilgrims done by local police, local Kashmiris, and the Security Forces are very good,” he said.

The pilgrims who have arrived here from different parts of the country said, “There are good arrangements for pilgrims here. We also want to thank the personnel of the Security Forces.”

Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha attended a meeting with civil society members, organised by the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Srinagar at SKICC During the meeting, discussions regarding the arrangements for the Amarnath Yatra and Muharram was done.

The Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Jammu and Kashmir said, “A discussion was done regarding the yatra.”

Amarnath Yatra involves a challenging trek to the Amarnath cave shrine in Jammu and Kashmir. The yatra attracts hundreds of thousands of devotees each year, making security a critical concern.

The annual yatra, which lasts for about 45 days, is a major concern of the government amid recent terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.

The administration is leaving no stone unturned to ensure the safety and well-being of the pilgrims, amidst heightened security concerns and the challenging terrain of the route. (ANI)

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Singer Sunidhi Chauhan in her latest release ‘Leta Jaijo Re’ takes listeners on a musical journey through Rajasthan.

‘Leta Jaijo Re’, takes her listeners through a journey spanning the dunes of Rajasthan with Shashwat Sachdev, Sunidhi Chauhan, The Manganiyar community, and the Kawa Brass Band.

This 26 artist ensemble revives timeless melodies celebrating Rajasthan’s cultural heritage.

A legacy song of the Manganiyar community, Coke Studio Bharat’s rendition of Leta Jaijo Re merges two iconic Rajasthani folk songs to celebrate the rich heritage.

The song’s festive theme is inspired by Rajasthan’s cultural diversity, vibrant costumes, distinctive music, and dance forms. ‘Leta Jaijo Re’ is set against the backdrop of a palatial haveli while celebrating the region’s unmatched royalty and creates an atmosphere that echoes the energetic pulse of Rajasthan.

The music video for Leta Jaijo Re captures the essence and energy of a performance that pays homage to Rajasthan’s cultural heritage.

National award-winning composer and producer, Shashwat Sachdev orchestrates the symphony, blending traditional and modern sounds to create a unique musical experience.

Sunidhi Chauhan, with her powerful voice and the Kawa Brass Band’s spirited procession and the Manganiyars’ powerful performances create an audio-visual spectacle.

Shashwat Sachdev shared his experience while shooting the song, “I am honored to present Leta Jaijo Re and to work with my Childhood hero Sunidhi Chauhan and my musician friends. This song is a beautiful blend of my childhood memories and of Rajasthan’s rich musical heritage through contemporary sounds. Our aim was to create something that resonates with audiences today while paying tribute to my own heritage, my journey and timeless traditions of the Manganiyar community and the legacy of Indian music.”

Sunidhi said in a statement, “Leta Jaijo Re with Coke Studio Bharat is truly close to my heart. Bringing this timeless folk tune to life was an incredible journey, especially with the beautiful collaboration of the Shashwat, Manganiyars from Rajasthan, Chotu Khan, and the Kawa Brass Band. This unique blend of talents brought a fresh and vibrant energy to the song, making this collaboration truly one-of-a-kind. We hope to connect with our audience on a soul level, sharing the joy and deep connection we felt while creating it.”. (ANI)

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MP Sanjay Raut launched a scathing critique against Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the 2024 Lok Sabha election results, calling the outcome a “personal loss” for the Prime Minister.

Highlighting BJP’s earlier claims of securing over 400 seats, Raut said, “The mandate received in Lok Sabha elections 2024 is a personal loss of PM Modi. PM Modi made claims of winning 400 plus seats but what happened, Rahul Gandhi defeated PM Modi. Before forming the government he should have done some self-introspection. The nation needs a leader who takes everyone along.”

On Former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren getting bail, Raut said that it is connected to Rahul Gandhi becoming the Leader of the Opposition and the increasing power of the opposition.

“In this era of Modi and Shah, the judiciary has also become political. The judiciary is working under political pressure. Central agencies are agents of the BJP. After Rahul Gandhi became the LoP and by seeing the strength of the opposition, Hemant Soren has got bail, Arvind Kejriwal will also get bail,” Raut said while speaking to ANI.

Hemant Soren was released from the Birsa Munda Jail following a bail order from the Jharkhand High Court.

Soren was arrested by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in January on charges related to an alleged land scam and money laundering. The investigation concerns the purported generation of substantial proceeds through the forgery of official records, involving fake sellers and buyers to acquire large parcels of land worth crores.

In related events, on March 22, a Special PMLA court extended Soren’s judicial custody until April 4. Soren was presented via video conferencing. The Ranchi police had also issued a notice to ED officials to join the investigation following an FIR filed by Soren under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The Jharkhand High Court had previously ordered no coercive action against ED officials after the agency filed a petition challenging Soren’s FIR. Soren had alleged that the ED’s searches at his residences were aimed at tarnishing his image and harassing him for being a tribal.

The ED had claimed to have recovered Rs 36 lakh in cash and documents related to the investigation, alleging that Soren had acquired 8.5 acres of land through fraudulent means. The investigation revealed that a syndicate, including Revenue Sub-Inspector Bhanu Pratap Prasad, was involved in corrupt property acquisitions. (ANI)

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India has categorically rejected the US State Department’s 2023 report on international religious freedom as “deeply biased” and lacking understanding of India’s social dynamics.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned the report, accusing it of being driven by “votebank considerations” and maintaining a prescriptive outlook.

“We have noted the release by the US State Department of its report on international religious Freedom for 2023. As in the past, the report is deeply biased, lacks an understanding of India’s social fabric, and is visibly driven by votebank considerations and a prescriptive outlook. We therefore reject it,” stated MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Friday, addressing a weekly briefing.

Jaiswal further criticised the report for its “selective use of facts” and reliance on biased sources. “The excise itself is a mix of imputations, misrepresentations, selective usage of facts, reliance on biased sources, and a one-sided projection of issues,” he added.

He noted the report questions validity of Indian laws and regulations, including those aimed at monitoring financial flows and ensuring compliance, which India sees as essential for national security.

“This extends even to the depiction of our constitutional provisions and duly enacted laws of India. It has selectively picked incidents to advance a preconceived narrative as well. In some cases, the very validity of laws and regulations are questioned by the report, as are the right of legislatures to enact them. The report also appears to challenge the integrity of certain legal judgments given by Indian courts,” Jaiswal added.

“The report has also targeted regulations that monitor the misuse of financial flows into India, suggesting that the burden of compliance is unreasonable. It seeks to question the need for such measures,” he said.

India also underscored that human rights and diversity remain subjects of legitimate discussion between the two nations. However, Jaiswal emphasised that such dialogue should not be misconstrued as a pretext for foreign interference in domestic affairs.

“In 2023, India has officially taken up numerous cases in the US of hate crimes, racial attacks on Indian nationals and other minorities, vandalisation and targeting of places of worship, violence and mistreatment by law enforcement authorities, as well as according to political space to advocates of extremism and terrorism abroad,” Jaiswal pointed out.

The United States’ yearly report on global religious freedom has expressed worries regarding India’s anti-conversion laws, incidents of hate speech, and alleged demolitions of residences and religious sites belonging to minority communities.

Releasing the 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom early this week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said, “Today, governments around the world continue to target individuals, shutter places of worship, forcibly displace communities, and imprison people because of their religious beliefs.”

Talking about India, he added, “In India, we see a concerning increase in anti-conversion laws, hate speech, demolitions of homes and places of worship for members of minority faith communities.”

He noted that in the United States, there has been a significant increase in reports of hate crimes and other incidents specifically targeting Muslims and Jews. (ANI)

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