Author: LokMarg

Seventy Afghan couples tied nuptial knots in Kabul during a mass wedding ceremony, as the country is dealing with a financial crisis after being taken by the Taliban in August 2021.

Marriages in Afghanistan are a costly affair in the country. Couples from families unable to bear the expenses have sometimes opted to pool their resources in low-cost large-scale marriages.
A local charity organization has arranged a mass wedding party for 70 couples in Afghanistan’s capital city Kabul, Xinhua News Agency reported citing local media on Tuesday.

“The Silab Foundation held a mass wedding for 70 couples in Kabul yesterday. The couples were unable to arrange wedding parties individually due to economic problems,” the agency said citing Bakhtar.

Afghanistan is grappling with a serious humanitarian crisis as according to international assessments, Afghanistan has now the highest number of people in emergency food insecurity in the world, with more than 23 million in need of assistance, and approximately 95 per cent of the population having insufficient food consumption.

Earlier, a report by US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) stated that more than 24.4 million people are in need of humanitarian aid in Afghanistan, an increase from 18.4 million in 2021, Khama Press reported.

It further said that according to a report by World Food Program (WFP), 97 per cent of the population consumed insufficient food in December, and they were resorting to dealing with a situation such as skipping meals.

Earlier, WFP said in its report that since the fall of the former government to the Taliban, over 22 million people face severe hunger. Absolute poverty, food crisis, and unemployment are being witnessed at an all-time high as families in Kabul are forced to move to the streets.

Drought, conflict, the outbreak of COVID-19 and the economic crisis have added to their woes.

Besides this, the continuously soaring prices of food products in the country have emerged as a new challenge for Afghanis. In a short span of fewer than three months, food prices have almost doubled, reported The Khaama Press. The price of a sack of flour ranges between 2,800 to 3,000 Afghanis as compared previously when it was sold at 1,400 Afghanis.

The price of fuel, and also the price of taxi fares, have also surged due to the economic crisis. (ANI)

Indian Youth Congress president Srinivas BV was detained by Delhi Police on Tuesday while he was protesting over Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe against party leader Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case.

Four to five policemen were seen forcibly lifting the Indian Youth Congress chief when he tried to cross a police barricade and put him inside the police vehicle. Srinivas struggled with the personnel in an attempt to get out of the vehicle.

Some of the top leaders of the Congress party including Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, KC Venugopal, Gaurav Gogoi, Deepender Singh Hooda, Ranjeet Ranjan, Imran Pratapgarhi and others.

Among the detainees also included Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala.

The leaders were detained while they were marching towards the ED office in the national capital from the Congress headquarters, Akbar Road.

Meanwhile, ED started questioning Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday for the second consecutive day in the money laundering probe related to the National Herald newspaper.

Prior to reaching the ED office, he visited the Congress headquarters along with sister and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to join the protest.

Rahul was questioned for over 10 hours by the ED on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Congress party on Tuesday said the Centre is scared of the Wayanad MP as he raises his voice against issues like unemployment, inflation and Chinese infiltration.

Addressing a press conference, Surjewala said, “Why is BJP scared of Rahul Gandhi’s strong voice? When China infiltrated and the government was in denial mode, it is Rahul Gandhi who raised his voice. Even today, the government could not drive China out.”

“Rahul Gandhi has been raising his voice against the Modi government on inflation and rising prices of petrol and diesel. That is why, there is a problem with Rahul Gandhi. He raised questions about the sinking economy and unemployment. This is the reason the Centre is upset with Rahul Gandhi,” he said.

Surjewala said the Wayanad MP highlighted the mismanagement of the COVID pandemic and forced the government to provide free vaccines.

Attacking the Centre further over the unemployment issue, the Congress leader said, “It is called ‘900 chuhe khaakar billi Hajj ko chali’. We are experiencing the worst employment rate in 50 years. The rupee value is the lowest in 75 years.”

The Congress’s “Satyagraha protest” – against what it claimed was the alleged misuse of the probe agencies by the Centre – began early on Monday. Sloganeering, demonstrations, posters, air balloons were seen at party headquarters and other parts of the national capital. (ANI)

Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and others were detained by Delhi Police on Tuesday during their protest in the national capital over Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) probe against party leader Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case.

“Our protest will continue. What happened to ED cases against BJP leaders Himanta Biswa Sarma and Narayan Rane?. I have been detained,” Chief Minister Baghel told reporters here

“Police have made arrangements like we did yesterday. We are fully prepared and have requested the protest organizers to hold gatherings at the designated place which is Jantar Mantar. We had detained 449 people yesterday who were later released,” Sagar Preet Hooda, Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order).

Rajasthan Chief Minister and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot slammed the central government over the police action on Congress leaders and workers.

“No one can imagine the pressure from the government on Delhi Police. We can manage with section 144, but you cannot stop us from coming into the AICC office. The situation in the country is very serious. People coming on roads on Ram Navami and Friday namaz,” Gehlot told ANI.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi arrived at the ED office in the national capital on Tuesday for the second time to join the probe in the money laundering case related to the National Herald newspaper.

Prior to reaching the ED office, he visited the Congress headquarters along with sister and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to join the protest.

The Congress’s “Satyagraha protest” – against what it claimed was the alleged misuse of the probe agencies by the Centre – began early on Monday. Sloganeering, demonstrations, posters, air balloons were seen at party headquarters and other parts of the national capital. (ANI)

Actor Kiara Advani, who is currently busy promoting her upcoming film ‘Jug Jugg Jeeyo’, has completed 8 years in the film industry. Kiara celebrated the occasion by cutting a cake with the paparazzi.

Kiara was seen wearing a white Saree with sequin embroidery over it. She wore a corset-inspired tube blouse and completed the look by pairing the saree with gold and green ‘jhumkas’.

Kiara also took to Instagram to share a video of her journey in the industry so far. She wrote, “June 13th! The day I stepped into this magical world of filmmaking.

8 years and counting… my rainbows not my thunderstorms…My heart is filled with gratitude

My day began with my wonderful team surprising me with a super warm virtual interaction with my fan clubs and ended with @Varundvn who turned work into a celebration reminding me why I chose to be a part of this chaotic yet magnetic industry!

I maybe 8 years old today but I have a lifetime of entertaining left to do ! #waitforit .. I promise to make you proud!”.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CexbzaoIEM9/

Kiara made her Bollywood debut with ‘Fugly’ in 2014. The film was a comedy-drama social thriller. Kiara was paired against Sonam Kapoor’s cousin and actor Mohit Marwah.

Presently, Kiara is awaiting the release of her next film ‘Jug Jugg Jeeyo’ alongside Varun Dhawan. She was last seen in ‘Bhool Bhulaiyya 2’ alongside Kartik Aaryan. ‘Bhool Bhulaiyya 2’ was a massive success at the Box office and collected around 200 crores worldwide. (ANI)

Bollywood actor Shraddha Kapoor’s brother Siddhanth Kapoor has now been released on station bail after he was arrested on Monday when his medical reports confirmed his consumption of drugs.

The other four people detained have also been released on station bail, as per the police.
Siddhanth Kapoor and the four others will have to further appear before the Police as and when called, said Bheema Shankar Gulled, DCP East Bengaluru.

Siddhanth Kapoor was detained by Bengaluru Police earlier in the day for allegedly consuming drugs at a party in the city on Sunday night.

Bengaluru City Police’s Deputy Commissioner of Police (east) Bheemashankar S Guled said, “Siddhanth Kapoor’s medical shows he had consumed drugs. We have already arrested him and are following the procedure. We will be sending him to judicial custody.”

Acting on a tip-off, police raided a hotel on MG Road in the city on Sunday night where a party was hosted.

“Last night we got info that a party is going on and they have consumed drugs. We raided and detained 35 people. We didn’t find any drugs on their person but found MDMA and ganja disposed of nearby. We will investigate CCTV to check who disposed of it,” added DCP Guled.

Samples of people suspected of having consumed drugs were sent for medical tests and Siddhanth’s sample was among six that turned positive. Police said it was unclear whether they had consumed drugs at the hotel or had come to the party after taking drugs outside.

“Hotel has been given notice, we have asked specific questions, they will have to answer. Bengaluru city police have declared war on drugs and this was part of it. Earlier in the month, we had conducted a raid, where 34 had tested positive for drugs,” added DCP East. (ANI)

June 14th marks the death anniversary of Actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Sushant passed away at the age of 34 in 2020, leaving millions of his fans heartbroken. As fans mourn his death today, let’s take a look back at five of the iconic roles he played onscreen:

1. Mahendra Singh Dhoni from MS Dhoni: The Untold Story
   Sushant Singh Rajput won the audience’s hearts with his spectacular performance as Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the biopic. Many left spellbound, some were even confused about whether they watched Sushant or Dhoni on screen, clearly proving what a great actor Sushant was. From Dhoni’s walk to the way he talks, Sushant took note of everything and that was beautifully depicted in the film. Mansoor Khan from Kedarnath Sushant Singh Rajput brought magic on screen with his portrayal of ‘Mansoor’ in the heart-wrenching love story. His innocence and nobility made it easier for the audience to fall in love with him. The movie that marked Sara Ali Khan’s Bollywood debut was an inter-faith love story set around the tragic and infamous Kedarnath floods and landslides that took the lives of many in 2013. Sarfaraz Yusuf from PK Even though Sushant appeared in the movie for a brief while only, his role in the film was an impactful one. Sushant played a Pakistani boy Sarfaraz who falls in love with an Indian girl Jaggu (played by Anushka Sharma). People fell in love with his charm and critics praised him for his honesty and simplicity on screen. Ishan Bhatt from Kai Po Che Sushant transitioned from a TV Actor to a Bollywood star with Kai Po Che. He played the role of failed cricketer who was obsessed with the sport and ended up becoming a coach. Co-starring alongside Rajkummar Rao and Amit Sadh, Sushant aced his part and gave the industry the best debut performance that year. Aniruddh Pathak from Chhichhore Sushant delivered another splendid performance in Chhichhore which turned out to be a huge box office hit. Touted to be his best performance, Sushant swiftered through different shades of his character Aniruddh Pathak, an engineering graduate battling divorce whose world comes crashing when his only son tries to commit suicide after failing an engineering entrance exam. Oscillating between a colourful past and tensed present, Sushant showcased a plethora of emotions throughout the film and won millions of hearts! Though we lost Sushant Singh Rajput on June 14, 2020, he had a glorious career and the actor will live on in the many roles that he played on screen. (ANI)

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares Bueno will pay his official visit to India on Wednesday, a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs read on Tuesday.

During his visit, Albares will hold talks with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar on bilateral, regional, and international issues of mutual interest.
According to MEA, the bilateral ties got a fresh impetus after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Spain in 2017.

“Albares’s visit will be an opportunity to review the entire gamut of our bilateral relations and further deepen the partnership across various areas including trade, defence, science & technology, innovation, climate, and culture sectors,” the statement said further.

Meanwhile, in January this year, Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the signing of an agreement between India and Spain on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters.

According to a press statement from the Cabinet, “the agreement will help in making available, reliable, quick and cost-effective information and intelligence for the prevention and investigation of Customs offences and apprehending of Customs offenders.”

The Agreement would provide a legal framework for sharing of information between the Customs authorities of the two countries and help in the proper administering of Customs laws and detection and investigation of Customs offences and the facilitation of legitimate trade.

Customs offence concerning the illegal movement of the following: Arms, ammunition, explosives and explosive devices; Works of art and antiques, which are of significant historical, cultural or archaeological value; Toxic materials and other substances dangerous to the environment and public health; Goods subject to substantial customs duties or taxes; New means and methods employed for committing Customs offences against Customs legislation, the statement added. (ANI)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday reached the office of the Enforcement Directorate accompanied by his sister and party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. He will be questioned by the officials for his alleged role in a money-laundering case linked to the National Herald newspaper.

Earlier yesterday, the former Congress President appeared before ED for the first time for questioning on Monday. He left the ED office around 11 pm after questioning on Monday.
Heavy police deployment was seen on the route from Gandhi’s home to the ED office. This comes as Congress workers are observing a sit-in protest at the party headquarters on Akbar Road, Delhi after police refused to give them permission to hold a protest march in public.

According to a senior Delhi Police official, Congress had given an undertaking saying that the march and protest would be done at the party office, but on Monday, protesters took to the streets and reached the ED office. Section 144 is in force in the area and so the police detained the protesters to maintain law and order here.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore today alleged that he was detained by the Delhi Police on his way to the ED office. He wrote on his Twitter handle and said, “Today.. morning again we are detained … Hon’ble @loksabhaspeaker what’s happening in Delhi? Why home minister doing this? #RahulGandhi”

Ahead of the second day of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s questioning by the Enforcement Directorate, the Congress again slammed the BJP-led Centre and accused it of using the probe agency as an “election management department” which it claimed has lodged over 5,000 cases to intimidate political adversaries.

Congress General Secretary Randeep Surjewala addressed a press conference today morning on the matter wherein he said, “ED probe against Rahul Gandhi is an attempt to muzzle his voice as he has always questioned Modi government on issues like China capturing our territory, inflation, fuel price hike, unemployment, religious vendetta…He is being constantly attacked.”

Congress leader Harish Rawat said the party’s protest will continue on Tuesday. “We will continue this fight tomorrow as well. The struggle of Congress party will continue until they (Central government) try to suppress the voice of Rahul Gandhi and our party,” he said to ANI on Monday.

The Congress’s “Satyagraha protest” – against what it claimed the alleged misuse of the probe agencies by the centre – began early on Monday. Sloganeering, demonstrations, posters, air balloons were seen at party headquarters and other parts of the national capital. (ANI)

A total of 337 people were arrested from various districts of Uttar Pradesh in connection with the June 10 violence till 7 am today, said police on Tuesday.

This includes 92 from Prayagraj, 83 from Saharanpur, 52 from Hathras, 40 from Moradabad, 18 from Ferozabad, 41 from Ambedkarnagar, six from Aligarh, and five from Jalaun.
Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said, “337 accused arrested till 7 am today, in the wake of protests in the state on June 10. This includes 92 from Prayagraj, 83 from Saharanpur, 52 from Hathras, 40 from Moradabad, 18 from Ferozabad, 41 from Ambedkarnagar, six from Aligarh, and five from Jalaun.”

Kumar further said that 13 FIRs have been registered so far in connection with the Friday violence.

Several incidents of violence including sloganeering and stone-pelting were reported from several parts of Uttar Pradesh on Friday when people began protesting against the inflammatory statements of suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled party leader Naveen Kumar Jindal.

A clash erupted in Prayagaraj between police and protesters. Stones were also hurled during clashes in the Atala area of Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagaraj. A huge protest was witnessed in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur over the controversial statements.

Meanwhile, a day after the violence, the UP government conducted a demolition drive at the “illegal properties” of two “masterminds” of the violent protest.

Apart from Uttar Pradesh, several other states also witnessed massive protests against controversial remarks. (ANI)