Category: News

Himachal Rajya Sabha

Six Cong MLAs Who Cross-Voted For BJP Disqualified From Himachal Assembly

By LokMarg

Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania disqualified the six Congress MLAs on Thursday who cross voted in the Rajya Sabha polls.

Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania said, “Six MLAs, who contested on Congress symbol, attracted provisions of anti-defection law against themselves…I declare that the six people cease to be members of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly with immediate effect.”

The six MLAs who have been disqualified are Sudhir Sharma, Rajinder Rana, Davinder K Bhutto, Ravi Thakur, Chaitanya Sharma and Inder Dutt Lakhanpal.

The petition was filed by Congress MLA and parliamentary affairs Minister Harsh Wardhan Chauhan under the anti-defection law for disqualification of the six MLAs.

After the 2022 Assembly elections, the Congress had 40 MLAs, while the BJP had 25 in the 68-member state assembly. The remaining three seats are held by independents.

With the six rebel MLAs disqualified the strength of the house comes down from 68 to 62 and the halfway mark is 32. With the loss of 6 MLAs the Congress now has 34 MLAs and the BJP with independents has 28. The fortunes of the Congress will now rest on its ability to keep the rest of its flock together.

Earlier today, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had called a ‘breakfast meeting’ of all Congress MLAs in Shimla.

“It is an important meeting. Let’s see what happens…This is an informal meeting,” party MLA Ashish Butail said.

Congress MLA Sudarshan Singh Bablu said, “The CM has called everyone for breakfast. Let’s see what discussions are taking place…We received the message last night. Our Government will continue under the leadership of the Chief Minister.”

The meeting is also being attended by Congress’ central observers Bhupinder Hooda and DK Shivakumar. The observers had met the MLAs individually on Wednesday and are expected to report to the party high command today.

The BJP has claimed the Congress had lost the moral standing to be in power after losing majority in the Assembly. (ANI)

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

Trinamool Congress' (TMC) Sheikh Shahjahan

TMC Leader Shahjahan Remanded To 10-day Police Custody

By LokMarg

West Bengal’s Basirhat Court remanded Trinamool Congress’ (TMC) Sheikh Shahjahan to 10-day police custody on Thursday.

Lawyer Raja Bhowmick, who represented Shahjahan in court, said, “14-day police custody (of Sheikh Shahjahan) was demanded, but the court allowed 10-day custody.”

“On March 10, he will be produced in court again,” Raja Bhowmick said.

Shahjahan was arrested by West Bengal police on Thursday morning in connection with an alleged assault on ED officers during a raid in January earlier this year.

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose called Shahjahan’s arrest an ‘eye-opener’, adding that it is only the ‘beginning’.

“Today in Bengal, we see the beginning of an end. The arrest of the prime accused in the Sandeshkhali incidents is an eye-opener for everyone. This is only the beginning. We have to put an end to violence in Bengal,” Ananda Bose said.

“In many pockets of Bengal, we all realise that gangsters are ruling unchecked by law enforcement agencies. What we see is only the tip of the iceberg. ‘Gundaraj’ is very much there in many pockets of Bengal. Strong action has to be taken. This has to be nipped in the bud,” he added.

He further said that considerate action should be taken to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.

“We have to wait. In democratic governance, we have to wait for justice to be done. If any lapses have taken place from the government or any other authority, we still have time to look into that,” the governor said.

“Now, what is required is a considerate action to see that these kinds of things do not happen in future. Action has to be taken against a particular culprit who has been apprehended. My suggestion for all the gangsters is – treat this as an occasion to surrender, otherwise, preventive action has to be taken,” he added.

Shahjahan had been evading arrest by both state and central agencies for over a month.

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari alleged that the arrest was a ‘mutual adjustment’.

“This is not an arrest, this is a mutual adjustment. Unless the central agencies take him into their custody, the people there won’t get justice. He will get five-star facilities in jail. He will use his mobile phone inside and control the area from there,” the LoP said while speaking to reporters while on the way to Sandeshkhali on Thursday.

Sandeshkhali in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district had been witnessing widespread protests against TMC strongman Shahjahan Sheikh this month as a section of women were seeking justice against alleged atrocities committed by the TMC leader.

A large number of women in Sandeshkhali had accused Shajahan Sheikh and his close aides of “land-grab and sexual assault” under coercion. (ANI)

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

Sunil Grover and Adah Sharma

Sunil, Adah Get Candid About ‘Sunflower 2’

By LokMarg

Actors Sunil Grover and Adah Sharma talked about their upcoming web show ‘Sunflower season 2’ and shared their working experience.

Adah told ANI, “I am surprising everyone. I am telling everyone on the show that I am a bar dancer. But nobody knows what actually I am…This everyone will come to know after watching the series. Raj (the Teddy Bear) has helped me in everything from cooking to committing murders…”

While throwing light on his character, Sunil added, “I like Sonu’s character very much who lives in the Sunflower society. He looks very innocent. He also looks idiot sometimes, he takes the blame on himself for a murder that someone else has committed. We saw this in season 1. In season 2, Rosy, played by Adah will enter. The atmosphere of the Sunflower society has a new spark…”

Earlier, the makers of the web show ‘Sunflower Season 2’ starring Sunil Grover and Adah Sharma unveiled its official trailer.

Taking to Instagram, OTT platform Zee5 shared the trailer that they captioned, “Brace yourself for twice the suspense, twice the thrill, and twice the quirks with ‘Sunflower’ Season 2. #SunflowerS2 premieres 1st March, only on #ZEE5. Trailer Out Now!”

The trailer offers a glimpse into the intriguing world of Sunflower, a middle-class housing society in Mumbai teeming with quirky characters.

Sunil Grover, reprising his role as the enigmatic Sonu Singh, once again seeks to infuse humour and mystery while Adah Sharma adds her charm as Rosie Mehta to the stellar cast.

Picking up from where Season 1 left off, police duo DG and Tambe, portrayed by Ranvir Shorey and Girish Kulkarni respectively, continue their relentless hunt for Kapoor’s murderer. Rosie is a bar dancer, who has inherited Kapoor’s penthouse, raising more questions in the case. As the story progresses, love and romance will flourish between Sonu and Rosie… How will their equations alter the course of the story? Is there more than what meets the eye?

With more intriguing characters emerging as suspects, the question remains: Will the cops nab the actual killer, or they will keep going in circles?

The show is all set to stream from March 1. (ANI)

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

OBCs SCs and ST

Modi Invokes Sharad’s Tenure As UPA Minister To Shred INDIA

By LokMarg

Invoking Nationalist Congress Party (SCP) chief Sharad Pawar’s tenure as Union Agriculture Minister under the Congress-led UPA, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said money sanctioned by Delhi for the distressed farmers of Vidarbha was ‘looted’ midway.

Setting the campaign tone for the ruling BJP-led NDA in the state ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, PM Modi launched a blistering attack on the partners in the INDIA bloc at a rally in Yavatmal, saying, “What was state of farmers when the partners in the INDI-alliance were in Delhi (under Congress-led UPA)? The Agriculture Minister at the time was from Maharashtra (Sharad Pawar). Packages were announced for the distressed farmers of Vidarbha from Delhi but the money was looted somewhere in transit. The poor, farmers and the Adivasis received little or nothing in the way of support. Today, I pressed a button and Rs 21,000 crore under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi reached the accounts of crores of farmers across the country. This is Modi’s guarantee.”

“We have outlined four biggest priorities to make India a developed country by 2047. We will focus on the poor, farmers, youth and women power in pursuit of our vision to take the country to its promised heights. If we can ensure the strength of these four key sections of our population, every community and household in the country will be strong. The work being done in Yavatmal is a reflection of this commitment of ours. Today, farmers are getting all sorts of irrigation support while the poor are getting concrete roofs over their heads. Women across village are receiving income support while public infrastrucure is being developed in line with the aspirations of the youth,” PM Modi said.

He added that Rs 3,800 crore has been transferred separately to the accounts of farmers in Maharashtra.

“Under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, more than Rs 3 lakh crore has been deposited in the accounts of 11 crore farmers across the country. The farmers have received Rs 30,000 crore, of which Rs 900 crore has been wired directly to the accounts of farmers in Yavatmal.

“The work on a plan to build the world’s largest wahehouse for storing food grains has started. These warehouses will be built by cooperative societies of farmers, who will also have control over it. Small farmers will be able to derive huge benefits from this storage facility. They will no longer be under the compulsion to sell their produce at low rates,” PM Modi said.

“Before 2014, a rural distress swept the country but the INDI-alliance partners that were in power at the time were indifferent to the concerns of the people. From independence till 2014, only about 15 of 100 families in a village had piped water supply. The majority of those deprived were Dalits, poor and tribals. It was Modi who guaranteed piped water to every household from the ramparts of the Red Fort. I am happy to share with you all that in only about 4-5 years since I made the announcement, piped water has reached 75 of every 100 families. That’s why the whole country is saying that Modi’s guarantee stands for the fulfillment of all guarantees,” he added.

PM Modi claimed previous Congress-led government at the Centre put as many as 100 major irrigation projects in the country on hold for decades, adding that work on 60 of these projects has been completed and the remaining will be done soon.

“I also guaranteed that my sisters across villages will become ‘Lakhpati Didi’. I can tell you that one crore sisters have already become Lakhpati Didis. During the presentation of the budget, we announced of Lakhpati Didis would be raised to 3 crore. Today, the number of women self-help groups has gone past 10 crores. They have received assistance worth Rs 8 lakh crore from banks. Under the ‘Namo Drone Didi’ scheme, some of our sisters are being trained to become drone pilots, after which the government will give them drones through which they will provide assistance to farmers,” Prime Minister Modi said.

Claiming that tribals were ignored during the Congress years, he said, “No big plan was ever made for our Vishwakarma (skilled artisan) friends. It was Modi who launched ‘PM Vishwakarma Yojana’ worth Rs 13,000 crore for the first time. It was Modi again who thought the welfare and well-being of some of our most backward citizens and tribals. For the first time, Rs 23,000 crore under ‘PM Jaan-Mana Yojana’ was allocated for their development.”

Reinforcing his pledge to take ‘Vikas’ (development) to the far corners of the country, PM Modi added, “We have also set out on a mission to change the lives of our fellow citizens. The work we have done over the last 10 years has laid the foundation for what is to be done in the next 25 years. I have resolved to take Vikas to every corner of India. Every fibre of my being and every second of my time is dedicated to your service.” (ANI)

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

Reliance Industries Limited

Reliance, Disney Announce Strategic Joint Venture

By LokMarg

Reliance Industries Limited, Viacom 18 Media Private Limited (Viacom18) and The Walt Disney Company announced the signing of binding definitive agreements for a joint venture that will combine the businesses of Viacom18 and Star India.

According to a joint press release, as part of the transaction, the media undertaking of Viacom18 will be merged into Star India Private Limited through a court-approved scheme of arrangement.

Nita M Ambani will be the chairperson of the joint venture, with Uday Shankar as Vice chairperson providing strategic guidance to the joint venture.

In addition, Reliance Industries has agreed to invest at closing Rs 11,500 crore (USD 1.4 billion) into the joint venture for its growth strategy.

The transaction valued the joint venture at Rs 70,352 crore (USD 8.5 billion) on a post-money basis, excluding synergies.

Post completion of all the processes, the joint venture will be controlled by Reliance Industries and owned 16.34 per cent by Reliance Industries, 46.82 per cent by Viacom18 and 36.84 per cent by Disney.

Disney may also contribute certain additional media assets to the joint venture, subject to regulatory and third-party approvals, the release added.

The JV will be one of the leading TV and digital streaming platforms for entertainment and sports content in India, bringing together iconic media assets across entertainment (e.g. Colors, StarPlus, StarGOLD) and sports (e.g. Star Sports and Sports18) including access to highly anticipated events across television and digital platforms through JioCinema and Hotstar.

The JV will have over 750 million viewers across India and will also cater to the diaspora across the world.

The JV will seek to lead the digital transformation of the media and entertainment industry in India and offer consumers high-quality and comprehensive content offerings anytime and anywhere.

The combination of the media expertise, cutting-edge technology and diverse content libraries of Viacom18 and Star India will allow the JV to offer more appealing domestic and global entertainment content and sports livestreaming services, while delivering an innovative and convenient digital entertainment experience at affordable prices.

With the addition of Disney’s acclaimed films and shows to Viacom18’s renowned productions and sports offerings, the JV will offer a compelling, accessible and novel digital-focused entertainment experience to people in India and the Indian diaspora globally.

The JV will also be granted exclusive rights to distribute Disney films and productions in India, with a license to more than 30,000 Disney content assets, providing a full suite of entertainment options for the Indian consumer.

Mukesh D Ambani, Chairman & Managing Director of Reliance Industries, said, “This is a landmark agreement that heralds a new era in the Indian entertainment industry. We have always respected Disney as the best media group globally and are very excited at forming this strategic joint venture that will help us pool our extensive resources, creative prowess, and market insights to deliver unparalleled content at affordable prices to audiences across the nation. We welcome Disney as a key partner of Reliance group.”

Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, said, “India is the world’s most populous

market, and we are excited for the opportunities that this joint venture will provide to create longterm value for the company. Reliance has a deep understanding of the Indian market and consumer, and together we will create one of the country’s leading media companies, allowing us to better serve consumers with a broad portfolio of digital services and entertainment and sports content.”

Uday Shankar, Co-founder of Bodhi Tree Systems, said, “We are privileged to be

enhancing our relationship with Reliance to now also include Disney, a global leader in media and entertainment. All of us are committed to delivering exceptional value to our audiences, advertisers, and partners. This joint venture is poised to shape the future of entertainment in India and accelerate the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of making Digital India a global exemplar.”

The transaction is subject to regulatory, shareholder and other customary approvals and is expected to be completed in the last quarter of Calendar Year 2024 or first quarter of calendar year 2025. (ANI)

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

Jamtara of Jharkhand

Train Runs Over Passengers At Railway Station In Jamtara

By LokMarg

In a major accident, a train ran over some passengers at Kala Jharia railway station in Jamtara of Jharkhand, Jamtara Deputy Commissioner Shashi Bhushan Mehra said.

The Deputy Commissioner informed further that a few deaths have been reported in the incident.

However, he added that it was still too early to determine the exact number of deaths.

Medical teams and ambulances have been rushed to the spot, he added.

Further details are awaited. (ANI)

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

China Russia US

US Acts To Stop Sale Of Sensitive Personal Data To China, Russia

By LokMarg

US President Joe Biden on Wednesday will sign an executive order aimed at better protecting Americans’ data from foreign adversaries like China and Russia.

The aim is to prevent the large-scale transfer of Americans’ personal data to what the White House calls ‘countries of concern’, and to do so without limiting legitimate commerce around data, senior Biden administration officials said on a call with reporters.

“Our intelligence community has made it clear that “our adversaries increasingly view data as a strategic resource,” a senior Biden administration official said on a call with reporters Tuesday evening.

The senior administration officials listed potential countries of concern as China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, Cuba and Venezuela.

“These countries are leveraging their access to Americans’ bulk sensitive personal data and government-related data to engage in a variety of nefarious activities, including malicious cyber-enabled activities, espionage and blackmail,” the official added.

US Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement that the executive order would give the Justice Department “the authority to block countries that pose a threat to our national security from harvesting Americans’ most sensitive personal data”.

The order directs the Department of Justice to issue regulations that establish protections for Americans’ sensitive personal data, as well as sensitive government-related data, including geolocation information on sensitive government sites and members of the military.

The Justice Department also plans to work with Homeland Security officials to build safety standards to prevent foreign adversaries from collecting data.

It will further attempt better checks to ensure that federal grants going to various other agencies, including the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, aren’t used to facilitate Americans’ sensitive data flowing to foreign adversaries or US companies aligned with them.

Protected information will include genomic data, personal health data, geolocation data, financial data and certain personal identification data. Authorities said such information has been of high value for data brokers and cybercriminals, which enables them to blackmail individuals, surveil others, and create scams, among other privacy concerns.

“Companies are collecting more of Americans’ data than ever before, and it is often legally sold and resold through data brokers,” the White House informed.

The executive order announced Wednesday is part of a growing effort by the Biden administration to counter the use of US advances to undermine national security. US officials continue to focus on ways foreign adversaries use investments to give them access to American technology and data. (ANI)

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

Malayalam actor Lena Gaganyaan Astronaut Nair

Malayalam Actor Lena Announces Marriage To Gaganyaan Astronaut Nair

By LokMarg

Malayalam actor Lena announced her marriage to Gaganyaan pilot Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair just hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the names of four Indian Air Force pilots who will participate in India’s first human space travel programme, Gaganyaan.

She took to Instagram to share that, in order to maintain legally mandated anonymity, she was waiting for this announcement before revealing her marriage to him.

Lena confirmed that she married Prasanth on January 17, 2024. This marks the actress’ second marriage.

Sharing a video, she wrote, “Today, on February 27, 2024, our Prime Minister, Modi ji, presented the first Indian astronaut wings to Indian Air Force fighter pilot and Group Captain Prashant Balakrishnan Nair. This is a historical moment of pride for our country, Kerala, and for me. To keep the secrecy officially demanded, I have been waiting for this announcement to inform you that I have married Prashant on January 17, 2024, in a traditional ceremony.”

The couple can be seen wearing garlands and posing in traditional outfits beside their family members.

Earlier, PM Modi announced the names of the four astronaut designates who are undergoing training for India’s first human space flight mission, Gaganyaan.

Apart from Captain Prashanth Nair, the other chosen Indian Air Force pilots are Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, Group Captain Angad Pratap, and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla.

The four astronauts were trained at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on a visit to Kerala, reviewed the progress of the Gaganyaan mission and bestowed ‘astronaut wings’ on the astronaut-designates at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.

The Gaganyaan mission is India’s first human space flight program, for which extensive preparations are underway at various ISRO centres. (ANI)

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

CEPA agreement India-UAE

Aim To Double India-UAE Non-Oil Trade By 2030: CEPA Council Director

By LokMarg

The non-oil bilateral trade between India and the UAE has seen a sizable jump to over USD 50 billion ever since the signing of the CEPA agreement and the aim is now to take it close to USD 100 billion by the end of this decade.

Since 2022, when the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was signed, non-oil bilateral trade has witnessed a 16 per cent increase between the two partner countries, reaching over USD 50 billion, said UAE-India CEPA Council Director Ahmed Aljneibi, speaking to ANI.

“And we aim to make that around USD 100 billion by 2030. The CEPA Council aims to leverage the benefits of the agreement by informing the business community here in India, and specifically today here in Chennai, one of our first roundtables that we had. It’s been a fruitful discussion,” Aljneibi said in Chennai.

The UAE-India CEPA Council (UICC), in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), held a business roundtable for Chennai-based exporters aimed at promoting the UAE-India economic partnership.

“We aim to have more roadshows similar to this one that we had in Chennai today. We aim to go around the country, especially within the state of Tamil Nadu. I believe there are different opportunities here. Every city has a specialisation in terms of industry, and we aim to explore that and inform them of the opportunities that they can find,” he said.

Speaking about his interaction with business representatives today in Chennai, he said he had an understanding that a lot of people were really keen to expand into the UAE.

“It’s just that they need that push of support or that source of support that they can find. And I think, I hope that, you know, the CEPA Council can provide that guidance for them, that support that they need as a platform,” he asserted.

The roundtable featured more than 20 participants from various sectors like logistics, automotive, agriculture, and healthcare. The roundtable provided a valuable platform for business-owners to discuss opportunities to benefit from the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), and the bilateral strategic partnership more broadly.

CEPA is a full and deep agreement signed on February 18, 2022, during a virtual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. CEPA entered into force on May 1, 2022.

Some of the key sectors, including labour-intensive sectors, that have witnessed significant export growth on account of the CEPA include: Mineral Fuels; Electrical Machinery (particularly telephone equipment); Gems & Jewellery; Automobiles (Transport vehicles segment); Essential Oils/Perfumes/Cosmetics (Beauty/Skin care products); Other Machinery; Cereals (Rice); Coffee/Tea/Spices; Other Agri Products; and Chemical Products. (ANI)

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

Prem Chopra

Prem Chopra Reveals Why He Refused To Work In English Films

By LokMarg

Acing negative roles with panache is cult classics such as ‘Do Raaste’, ‘Prem Nagar’, ‘Upkar’, and ‘Bobby’, screen legend Prem Chopra found fame in the Indian film industry and established himself as the undisputed king when it came to playing the villain.

Not only did he carve a niche for himself in the Indian film industry but also courted fame overseas with some iconic negative roles.

Following in the footsteps of actors and his juniors in the industry–Naseeruddin Shah, Anupam Kher and Anil Kapoor, Prem Chopra made his Hollywood debut in 2012 with the film ‘Heartland’.

However, in an exclusive interview with ANI, Chopra revealed that he had resolved never to do movies in English.

While opening up on his debut Hollywood film ‘Heart Land’ while refusing to mouth English dialogues, Chopra said, “I had an offer…somebody came to me and said they were making an English film, a Hollywood production with American actors in it. He told me that it was a tribute to ‘Godfather’ (cult crime trilogy directed by iconic American auteur Francis Ford Coppola). I jumped on it thinking I was playing the ‘Godfather’. However, when I arrived at the set, I was told that it wasn’t the ‘Godfather’, and ‘Godfather’ was merely a character in the film. I did some American films, including ‘Heartland’, which was released all over America. I played a Sardar in the film.”

Sharing the story around his refusal to do films where was he was required to deliver dialogues in English, Chopra said, “The film (‘Heartland’) was Punjabi-English. Mostly it was English. However, I refused to deliver dialogues in English. There is a good story around it. My son-in-law is in America. He sent an English girl over to me to seek my approval for their marriage on his behalf. I kept looking at that girl, thinking to myself if it was, at all, possible to let my son marry someone to who represented a community of people who are unlike some of my best friends. We all used to be in the army. I said (he could never let his son marry into a community of) people, who treated Indians like animals, were responsible for the death of one of my best friends and did not even give him a respectable funeral. I said I had made up my mind not to speak this language at all. However, I told the girl: ‘considering the surroundings you grew up in and finding you to be a very simple person, I deem you fit for the marriage.’ This is the back story.”

Helmed by Fred Holmes, ‘Heartland’, apart from Prem Chopra, also featured Stephan M Singh, Amelia Jackson-Gray and Divya Dutta.

Chopra has worked in more than 400 films during his career and is fondly remembered for some of his iconic negative roles.

His unforgettable one-liner “Prem naam hai mera… Prem Chopra” (Prem is my name…Prem Chopra) from the Rishi Kapoor starrer ‘Bobby’ got him overnight stardom as a villain.

In a six-decade-old career in the industry, Prem Chopra acted in several films such as ‘Upkaar’, ‘Purab Aur Pashchim’, ‘Do Raaste’, and ‘Phool Bane Angaarey’, among others.

He was recently seen in the action-thriller ‘Animal’, which also starred Ranbir Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol and Rashmika Mandanna in lead roles. (ANI)

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