Month: September 2025

fter writing an open letter to the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, producer and actor Pallavi Joshi shared that when she was left with no option, she “requested her to intervene in this matter” for the uninterrupted release of the film, ‘The Bengal Files’.

Set to release in theatres on September 5, Vivek Agnihotri’s ‘The Bengal Files’ explores the communal violence that took place in undivided Bengal during the 1940s, including the events of the Direct Action Day and the Noakhali riots of 1946.

Pallavi spoke to ANI about the reason behind writing the letter, saying, “Our film is not releasing in Bengal. And obviously, when the name of the film is ‘The Bengal Files’, a film is being made on Maa Bharati, so it is very important for it to be released in Bengal. And when all the doors were closed for us, this was the only way, so I wrote a letter to the President as a woman. I have requested her to intervene in this matter, so that our film can be released in Bengal in a peaceful manner.”

In an open letter, Joshi alleges that the film faces an “unofficial ban” in West Bengal, with the theatre owners refusing to screen the movie due to alleged “intimidation” and “threat” by the state’s ruling party workers.

Pallavi added that she doesn’t want to talk about the threat as they are focusing on the release of the film, however, she shared, “The theatre owners in Bengal are telling us, that they have been informed by the police, that if the film is released in their theatres, there will be consequences.”

Joshi stated that Vivek “had recorded a message in the name of Mamata ji (Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal), which I think he had released two days ago. And when nothing happened, finally, I had to write a letter to the President. “

Vivek Agnihotri’s much-anticipated film ‘The Bengal Files’has been surrounded by controversies. A ruckus erupted during the release of the film’s trailer in Kolkata on August 16.

Pallavi shared, “Everyone knew that our function was there. The police were there since morning. When trial runs and test runs were taking place, no one said anything. That’s why they stopped us in the morning. After the media came, why did they create a ruckus in front of everyone? It was their planned action, to do it in front of the press. They deliberately tried to humiliate us. CBFC, a certified film, can run in India and everywhere. If a state bans it, it means they are afraid of something… Why are they opposing our film so much?.. This is a very sad situation. We have worked so hard to make this film…I am 100% sure, when she sees it herself, as a Bengali, she is going to be extremely proud of this piece of art. Mamata ji, please see our film.”

On Thursday, Pallavi Joshi wrote an open letter to the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, seeking intervention for the protection and support regarding the film’s release in West Bengal.

In the letter addressing the President, she wrote, “Respected Madam President. With a heavy heart, I reach out to you, not for favours, but for protection. The Bengal Files, the final part of the Files Trilogy, releases on 5th September. It tells the long-suppressed truth of the Hindu genocide of Direct Action Day, the horrors of Noakhali, and the trauma of Partition. But in West Bengal, truth is under siege. Years before completion, the Chief Minister mocked the film.”

Pointing towards the aftermath of the film’s announcement, Pallavi Joshi claimed, “Since then, baseless FIRs have been filed, police blocked our trailer, and even newspapers avoid carrying ads. My family is threatened every day by political party workers. Now theatre owners have told us they are being intimidated, threatened and are refusing to screen it, fearing violence by ruling party workers. There is no official ban, yet an unofficial ban silences the film before people can see it.”

The producer-actress also highlighted the support of Padma Bhushan actor Victor Banerjee and various Bengali organisations while calling them the “allies” of truth, allegedly showcased in her upcoming film ‘The Bengal Files’.”Legendary actor, Padma Bhushan Victor Banerjee, along with many Bengali organisations in India and abroad, has already petitioned you. Their support proves that truth still has allies,” wrote Pallivi Joshi.

The letter described ‘The Bengal Files’ as a “cinema of truth’ and a story of “survival and hope,” appealing to the President’s understanding as a woman who rose to the highest constitutional office.”The Bengal Files is the cry of Maa Bharati, scarred yet unbroken, a story of survival and hope. As a woman who rose from the margins to the highest constitutional office, only you can truly understand what it means to endure such pain and turn it into purpose,” wrote Joshi.

She continued, “This is cinema of truth. But truth also needs protection. Madam President, I seek not a favour for a film but space for art, for truth, for Maa Bharati’s soul to speak without fear. You are my final hope. Please protect our constitutional right and let The Bengal Files be shown in West Bengal peacefully.”

Director and producer of ‘The Bengal Files’, Vivek Agnihotri, expressed his sorrow on the alleged halt of his film’s release in Bengal due to “political pressure.”

He appealed for a peaceful release of his film in Bengal. Taking to his X, Vivek Agnihotri wrote earlier, “As Producer of The Bengal Files, I am pained that multiplex chains in Bengal have refused the film’s release under political pressure and threats by the ruling party. I plead for your intervention to uphold my constitutional rights and ensure its release in Bengal.”

‘The Bengal Files’ is directed by Vivek Agnihotri, who came to fame with his directorial ‘The Kashmir Files’ in 2022.The upcoming film stars Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Darshan Kumar and Pallavi Joshi in the lead roles. (ANI)

Amidst Punjab dealing with severe floods, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday announced the appointment of one gazetted officer for each village of the state for better communication between the administration and affected people.

In a post on social media X, the CM wrote that with the appointment of the gazetted officer, the people of the villages would be able to share their problems, and prompt and appropriate solutions could be provided.

“To ensure direct communication between the administration and the people of the flood-affected villages of the state, we are appointing one gazetted officer for each village, so that those affected by the natural disaster can share all their problems with them, and prompt and appropriate solutions can be provided,” the post read.

Heavy floods in Punjab have killed 37 people, as per the state government. Apart from that, a total of around 1,655 villages have been affected, with Gurdaspur being the most affected area, as 324 villages have been impacted by flooding, followed by Ferozpur (111), Amritsar (190), Hoshiarpur (121), Kapurthala (123) and Sangrur (107). As per the government, around 1,75,216 hectares of total cropland have been affected.

Earlier in the day, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) President Saurabh Bharadwaj brought relief materials to the flood-affected Ajnala village, located in Amritsar.

While bringing relief materials, Bharadwaj said that its team is working hard and claimed that even common people are contributing by extending help.

“The team here is working very hard. Punjab AAP volunteers are working day and night. Whatever is possible is being done…I think even the common people are extending help. This is important because Punjab, Punjabis, and Sikhs have reached out and helped first in places anywhere in the world whenever it was needed,” said Bhardwaj.

Earlier, Punjab Education Minister Harbhajan Singh also visited Ajnala and provided relief materials. (ANI)

Legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar’s appetite for delicious foods and appreciation for a variety of cuisines is just as massive and diverse as his feats on the cricketing field.

Recently, renowned chef Harpal Singh Sokhi revealed how the cricketing icon fell in love with his dishes from his Colaba restaurant ‘Vintage’ and asked him to teach his partner, Anjali Tendulkar, the recipe so that he could enjoy it at home too.

“I used to work at a restaurant called Vintage in Colaba, many years ago. Sachin Tendulkar was just around 21 or 22 years old back then, at the start of his cricketing career, but already becoming a name everyone knew. He would often visit our restaurant and absolutely loved my Patthar Ka Gosht, Kaali Dal, and biryani. Our restaurant was specialized in Hyderabadi cuisine,” Chef Harpal Singh Sokhi told ANI.

“At that time, Sachin was dating Anjali, who is now his wife, and he would often bring her along. I still remember, one day Sachin told me, ‘I’m getting married to Anjali…Please teach her (the signature dishes).’ I joked, saying I wasn’t sure if she’d actually come into our kitchen, but Sachin insisted. He asked me to choose a time when the restaurant wasn’t busy so he could bring her,” the chef shared.

Teaching Anjali Tendulkar how to make Kaali Dal remains one of the most cherished moments of Chef Harpal Singh Sokhi’s culinary journey.

“Eventually, Anjali came to our kitchen for two afternoons when the restaurant was closed, and I personally taught her how to make Kaali Dal and a couple of other dishes. Over the years, I’ve cooked for many dignitaries and celebrities, but this memory is very close to my heart,” the chef reminisced.

Harpal Singh Sokhi has been a prominent figure in the culinary world for decades. With his trademark “Namak Shamak” and entertaining cooking style, he has garnered an enormous fan base over the years.

He currently runs a popular restaurant chain, ‘Karigari’, where menu is personally curated by the chef. At Karigari, every plate beautifully captures the essence of Chef Harpal Singh Sokhi’s culinary journey across India.

When asked about the key factors behind running a successful restaurant, Chef Harpal Singh Sokhi said, “If you are both the face and the owner of the brand, you must dedicate yourself wholeheartedly to it. It requires your time, day and night. You need to be omnipresent across all locations and, directly or indirectly, stay connected with your guests through your team.”

He elaborated, “We have a feedback system that allows us to know every day what our guests think about their experience. I consider myself very fortunate in this regard. Even when someone doesn’t enjoy their meal, they treat me like family and share their concerns with so much warmth, saying, ‘We visited your restaurant, but something was missing.'”

“We immediately work on corrective measures, and I’m truly grateful to such guests. Many people leave quietly, whether they’ve enjoyed their meal or not, but those who take the time to write to us give us a valuable opportunity to improve and perfect what we offer.”

Chef Harpal Singh Sokhi was recently seen in the second season of ‘Laughter Chefs – Unlimited Entertainment’. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that the upcoming GST reforms mark a significant step in making India self-reliant, calling them the “next-generation” of changes required to strengthen the economy and ease compliance for citizens and a “double dhamaka” of happiness before this Diwali and Chhath Puja.

Announcing the implementation date, PM Modi said the simplified GST regime will take effect on September 22, the first day of Navratri.

Reiterating his Independence Day address, the Prime Minister said, “Without timely changes, we cannot give our country its rightful place in today’s global situation. I had said from the Red Fort on 15 August this time that it is crucial to undertake next-generation reforms to make India self-reliant. I had also promised the countrymen that there would be a double dhamaka of happiness before this Diwali and Chhath Puja…”

“Now GST has become even simpler… On 22 September, which is the first day of Navratri, the next gen reform will be implemented as all these things are definitely related to the ‘Matrishakti’,” he added.

“This time, the festivity of Dhanteras will also be even more vibrant. Because the tax on dozens of items has now been reduced significantly. 8 years ago, when GST was implemented, a dream of several decades was realized. It was one of the biggest economic reforms in independent India,” he said further.

PM referred to GST reforms as a double dose for support and growth of the country.

“In the 21st century, as India moves forward, next-generation reform has also been carried out in GST. GST 2.0 is a double dose of support and growth for the country. The new GST reforms will bring tremendous benefits to every family in the country. The poor, neo middle class, middle class women, students, farmers, youth… everyone will get tremendous benefits from reducing GST tax,” he said.

The landmark next-generation GST reforms that were announced on Wednesday include significant relief to citizens in the healthcare and insurance sectors. One of the biggest announcements is the complete removal of GST on individual health and life insurance.

Until now, they have attracted 18 per cent GST. With the new reform, they have been moved to the zero-tax bracket, making health and life insurance more affordable and accessible to a wider section of society.

These reforms, cleared by the GST Council, are expected to reduce the cost of essential medical items and health-related financial services. In addition to this, GST rates on several critical medical items have been reduced from 12 per cent to just 5 per cent.

They include a thermometer, medical-grade oxygen, all diagnostic kits and reagents, glucometers and test strips, as well as corrective spectacles. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held delegation-level talks with his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong in New Delhi.

The two leaders jointly inaugurated the JN Port PSA Mumbai Terminal (BMCT) Phase-II in the presence of officials from both countries.

Several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were also signed between India and Singapore during the event, with both Prime Minister Modi and Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong in attendance.

Prime Minister Modi met Wong at the Hyderabad House in the national capital for a bilateral meeting.

Earlier in the day, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also called on PM Wong and discussed strengthening India-Singapore ties.

Jaishankar expressed hope that Wong’s talks with Prime Minister Modi would chart a roadmap for the nations’ ties.

In a post on X, Jaishankar said, “Pleased to call on PM Lawrence Wong of Singapore this morning in Delhi. Appreciate his constant encouragement for the strengthening of India-Singapore ties. Confident that his talks later today with PM Narendra Modi will chart a roadmap for our contemporary ties.”

Following his meeting with EAM Jaishankar, Singapore PM Wong said that the discussion between the two leaders revolved around global and regional developments among other issues.

“With India External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar– We discussed regional & global developments, and the good progress in India-SG cooperation,” Wong said.

Commenting on his visit, Wong said he had a “productive start” to his trip to New Delhi.

In a post on X, he stated, “Had a productive start to my visit in New Delhi. Last evening, I joined overseas Singaporeans and friends of Singapore for a special SG60 reception. Many had travelled from different parts of India — Chennai, Mumbai, and beyond — to be part of this occasion.”

During his official visit to India, Wong also met Union Health Minister and BJP national president JP Nadda on Wednesday in New Delhi, further strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries.

Yesterday, Wong, accompanied by his wife Loo Tze Lui, paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi by laying a wreath at Rajghat.

In a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “PM Lawrence Wong of Singapore paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi by laying a wreath at Raj Ghat. Bapu’s universal ideals of truth and non-violence continue to inspire us.”

On Tuesday, Wong held discussions with Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman, focusing on strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations.

The Ministry of Finance stated that the discussion centred on enhancing cooperation in critical areas, including trade and investment, fintech, skill development, sustainability, healthcare, and connectivity. (ANI)

Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Thursday said that the government is fully prepared to deal with the rising water level of the Yamuna river following heavy rainfall and also assured that the situation is under control.

Speaking to ANI, Manjinder Singh Sirsa said, “We are fully prepared as the water level of the Yamuna river is increasing. We are continuously monitoring the situation. The situation is currently under control.”

Yamuna’s water level at Old Railway Bridge was recorded at 207.47 meters at 10 a.m. on Thursday. The level has remained steady for the past two hours, with the same reading recorded at 8 and 9 a.m. today.

On the flood situation in Punjab, Sirsa criticised AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia for ignoring the interests of the state.

“Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia looted Punjab, and when it came to standing with the people of Punjab, they fled and came to Delhi,” he said.

Amidst Punjab witnessing heavy rainfall, around 37 lives have been lost due to severe flooding, announced the state government on Thursday.

According to the Punjab government, around 1,655 villages have been affected, with Gurdaspur most affected area of the lot, as 324 villages are impacted by flooding, followed by Ferozepur (111), Amritsar (190), Hoshiarpur (121), Kapurthala (123) and Sangrur (107), whose villages were significantly impacted by floods.

Further, the Punjab government said that around 1,75,216 hectares of total land have been affected. Gurdaspur was most affected, as 40,169 hectares of crop land were impacted due to heavy rain. Additionally, crop land in Mansa (24967), Sangrur (6560), Fazilika (17786) and Kapurthala (3000) were also affected. (ANI)

Heavy rains have left Himachal Pradesh struggling with massive infrastructure breakdowns, with 1,286 roads, including six national highways, blocked, 2,809 distribution transformers disrupted, and 1,081 water supply schemes hit, the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) said on Thursday.

Since the onset of the monsoon on June 20, 343 people have died in rain-related incidents and road accidents across the state, the SDMA said. Of the total fatalities, 183 were caused by rain-related incidents such as landslides, flash floods, and house collapses, while 160 people lost their lives in road accidents.

The latest public utility status report, compiled at 10:30 am, shows widespread damage across all 12 districts. Mandi, Kullu, Shimla, and Chamba are among the worst-hit, with hundreds of rural and urban localities facing power outages and drinking water shortages.

Mandi district alone reported 293 roads blocked and 404 transformers out of service, while Kullu district had 225 road closures and over 1,096 transformers disrupted. In Shimla, 216 roads were shut and 405 power transformers were non-functional, severely affecting connectivity and essential services.

The SDMA said restoration work is ongoing on a war footing, with state agencies and local authorities mobilised to clear debris, repair infrastructure, and resume services. However, continued rainfall and the threat of fresh landslides are slowing progress.

“Given the scale of damage and continued adverse weather conditions, restoration may take several days in severely affected pockets,” an SDMA spokesperson said.

The monsoon, which has battered the hill state for over two months, has also led to crop losses, damage to public infrastructure, and large-scale displacement of residents in vulnerable areas. Authorities have urged people to avoid unnecessary travel, especially in landslide-prone zones.

Meanwhile, triggered by heavy rainfall a massive landslide hit parts of Kullu in Himachal Pradesh. In the inner Akhada Bazaar of Kullu district, two to three houses have been damaged in the early hours of Thursday.

The rescue team of the district administration, including NDRF (National Disaster Response Force), Home Guard, Fire Department, and Police Department teams rushed to the site and initiated the rescue operation. According to reports, six people are buried under the debris of the landslide, while four injured people have been safely rescued from the incident site.

Due to heavy rainfall, considerable difficulty is being faced in the search and rescue operation. Deputy Commissioner of Kullu Torul S Ravish, SP Kullu Karthikeyan Gokul Chandran, local MLA Sunder Singh Thakur, and all officials of the district administration are carrying out the search and rescue operation at the incident site. (ANI)

Industry associations and trade bodies across sectors have welcomed the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate cuts announced by the government. Speaking to ANI, representatives from different sectors said the reforms would make the Indian industry more competitive and benefit consumers directly.

Manish Singhal, Secretary General of ASSOCHAM, said the decision would energise the economy. “Our economy will become more competitive and will be a huge boost. Our production will increase, the industrial capacity utilisation will increase, investment will also increase. As the economy will become more competitive, exports and the domestic market will hugely benefit,” he said.

From the healthcare sector, Rajiv Nath, MD of Hindustan Syringes & Medical Devices Ltd and Forum Coordinator at the Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AIMED), welcomed the cut in GST on medical devices from 12 per cent to 5 per cent.

“We are very happy with this Govt decision… which will provide affordable access to the consumers and to the patients and lower their healthcare cost. More importantly, for manufacturers who were getting extremely worried about inverted GST structure. The Government has assured that we will receive GST refunds within 7 days. If this happens, it will be excellent because we can pass on the full benefit to the consumers,” he said.

Echoing the sentiment, MD Poly Medicure and CoA Member EPCMD, Himanshu Baid, said the cuts would drive consumption. “This is a very big decision for driving consumption in the country where GST rates have come down for most of the essential products. For essential medical products, such as thermometers, glucometers, and diagnostic kits, the GST rate has been reduced to 5 per cent. It’s a great reform done by the govt., which is going to drive local consumption and also improve affordability and accessibility for many products that were out of reach for common people,” Baid told ANI.

Trade bodies also linked the move to strengthening India’s position in global markets. Mukesh Jain, State President of the Rice Exporters Association, Chhattisgarh, said, “I express my gratitude to PM Modi and FM Nirmala Sitharaman and welcome this decision of GST reform. This step will not only strengthen the local markets, but will also provide a competitive edge to Indian industries amidst the challenges of American tariffs.”

From the textile sector, Ravi Sam, Vice Chairman of Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL), said, “This has been a big, big relief today… This relaxation of bringing down the three or four slabs into two slabs, most of the textile industry, 99 per cent is in 5 per cent. Now with the festival season coming up, I think there’s going to be a lot of interest and a lot of increase in business, which will really help the industry now.”

Chemical exporters also welcomed the cut. Satish Wagh, Chairman of the Basic Chemical, Cosmetic and Dyes Export Promotion Council, noted, “This is a very good move by the government because everybody was expecting a reduction in the GST. This will definitely help the manufacturing sector to boost manufacturing, and the common man who was always affected because of the high slab of GST will get the benefit.”

Adding to this, Ravi Patodia, Member of the Bhadohi Carpet Export Promotion Council, said, “This will provide a lot of relief to the general public. The tax burden will be reduced and inflation will also be reduced… It is a good decision considering the current tariff crisis..” (ANI)

The Supreme Court on Thursday declined interim bail to Kashmiri Separatist Leader Shabir Ahmed Shah in a terror funding case.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta also issued notice to the NIA and sought its response in two weeks.

Shah has approached the top court, filing an appeal against the Delhi High Court’s June 12 order, which denied him bail in an alleged case of terror funding.

Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for Shah, sought interim bail, saying that he was very sick. However, the bench refused to grant him interim bail and posted the matter for hearing after two weeks.

Observing the possibility of Shah carrying out similar unlawful activities and influencing witnesses couldn’t be ruled out, the High Court refused to grant him bail in the case.

Shah was arrested by the NIA on June 4, 2019.

In 2017, the NIA registered a case against 12 persons on allegations of conspiracy for raising and collecting funds for causing disruption by way of pelting stones, damaging public property and conspiring to wage war against the government of India. (ANI)