FOOD AND TECH

Parineeti Paid Tribute To Her Naani On Her Wedding Day Like This

2023-09-27T16:15:00.001+05:30

Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha had a big fat wedding in Udaipur, Rajasthan over the weekend. Just a few days after the wedding, Parineeti's official wedding couturier Manish Malhotra has shared a special post, mentioning how the actress paid tribute to her late grandmother at the wedding. Re-sharing the post, Parineeti wrote, "I missed my naani on my special day but had a piece of her on me. Thank you M." Sharing the details, Manish Malhotra wrote, "Some details make all the difference. I distinctly remember discussing the lehenga design with Parineeti Chopra, who mentioned adding her Nani's challa (traditional keychain) to it! She wanted to pay a heartfelt tribute to her nani, who used to wear the same challa in her saree with the keys, a symbol of being the lady of the house."

Manish Malhotra added, "For Parineeti, the sound of the challa when her naani walked around the house, was a melody of strength and grace. And that's when I knew we had to add that piece of legacy to her lehenga. Of course, we added more elements that were significant to both Raghav and Parineeti like London, music, Khanda Sahib and more. It was not just an accessory... but a piece of her that Parineeti would have on her special day." Parineeti Chopra commented on his post, "I love you M. There is no one like you."

This is what Parineeti posted:

Screenshot of Parineeti Chopra's Instagram story.

Read Manish Malhotra's post here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Manish Malhotra (@manishmalhotra05)

Manish Malhotra designed a customised veil for the bride, that had the groom's name on it. "The beautiful trailing customised veil with Raghav embrodiered making it very special and poetic," Manish Malhotra wrote sharing the picture of the veil.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Manish Malhotra (@manishmalhotra05)

Earlier, Manish Malhotra posted this wish for Parineeti after her wedding. An excerpt from his post read, "Parineeti from our discussions of all your outfits at my Atelier and Home...Our laughter and your love for tone on tone geometrical intricate art work to the emerald jewellery me sketching and designing for you .. all loving memories for life .. you bring Joy and there is only and only love for you."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Manish Malhotra (@manishmalhotra05)

Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha thanked their fans with a special note on Wednesday that read, "Raghav and I wanted to take a moment to say Thank You from the bottom of our hearts. We are bursting with gratitude for the outpour of love and warm wishes. While we may not have had the chance to respond to each and every message personally (life's been a whirlwind, as you can imagine). Please know that we've been reading everything with joy in our hearts. As we embark on this beautiful journey together, it means the world to us knowing that you're all standing by our side. Your love and blessings are truly priceless and we couldn't have been more thankful. Love, Parineeti and Raghav."

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On Camera, Man Tied To Pole, Beaten To Death In Delhi On Theft Suspicion

2023-09-27T15:13:00.001+05:30

A Muslim man died after being brutally beaten by some unidentified men in Northeast Delhi yesterday over the suspicion of theft.

Police said Israr Ahmed, 26, was tied to a pole and beaten with sticks in Nand Nagri area yesterday morning by a group of men who accused him of theft.

The video of the incident, which is in wide circulation on social media now, shows Israr tied to a pole as the men take turns to hit him with sticks.

Israr cries in pain and pleads, but the men continue to thrash him mercilessly, the video shows.

His father Abdul Wajid told the police that their neighbour later brought him home and informed him about the incident.

When he reached home he found injury marks all over Israr's body. Mr Wajid said his son died at home before they could take him to a hospital.

Denying a communal angel, police said that initial investigation suggests that the men who attacked Israr were from both communities,

Officials said that a case has been filed and some accused have been identified while efforts are on to identify others. "We will arrest them soon," officials said.

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Kerala Police Take Army Jawan, Friend Into Custody For Faking "PFI" Attack

2023-09-26T16:14:00.001+05:30

An Indian Army soldier in Kerala was on Tuesday taken into custody along with his friend for allegedly giving a false statement about six people attacking him and painting the letters "PFI" on his back on Sunday night, police said. The police in Kadakkal town of Kollam district had filed a case based on a complaint from the army personnel and an investigation was underway to ascertain the facts of the case.

The soldier, Shine Kumar, claimed he was attacked by a gang of six people in a rubber forest next to his house. He said they tied his hands with tape, and wrote "PFI" on his back with green paint.

According to news agency PTI, a senior police officer of the district said that no arrests have been recorded in the case so far and the statements of the soldier -- Shine Kumar -- and his friend were being recorded.

"Further action would be taken after verifying the contents of their statements," the officer said.

He also said that the soldier's friend has claimed that Kumar wanted to become famous and that is why this entire act was carried out.

The officer further said that the soldier was giving various reasons for making such a false statement, and they have to be verified.

Police also recovered the green paint, brush and tape allegedly used in the incident from the friend's home.

The soldier's friend told the media that Kumar planned the whole thing to become famous.

Giving details of what allegedly transpired, the friend claimed that Kumar asked him to write 'PFI' on his back and to beat him up.

"I was drunk, so I initially wrote DFI, but he (Kumar) said to write PFI. So I made it PFI. Then he asked me to beat him up, but I said I couldn't because I was drunk.

"Then he asked me to drag him on the ground and lay down, but I could not in my intoxicated state. So he asked me to tape his mouth and hands and then to leave. So I did that," the friend claimed.

PFI is commonly used to refer to banned Islamic outfit Popular Front of India.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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Bengaluru Bandh Today, 200 Protesters Taken Into Custody: 10 Points

2023-09-26T14:15:00.009+05:30

Over 200 protesters have been taken into custody for violating prohibitory orders as they were trying to march towards Raj Bhavan from Vidhana Soudha. The march was led by the Chairman of the federation of pro Kannada organisations, Vatal Nagaraj, his deputy Praveen Shetty, and others.
Protests were planned at Freedom Park, Raj Bhawan, and Town Hall by pro-Kannada organisations, but the police had warned that it would only be allowed in Freedom Park.
Police personnel have reportedly been deployed in Bengaluru's Cottonpete to maintain law and order. All shops are closed except those providing essential services.
Bengaluru Urban District Collector KA Dayanand announced a public holiday for all schools and colleges in the city in view of the Bandh on Tuesday.
Cabs will be running as usual in the city. Ola Uber Drivers and Owners Association president Tanveer Pasha had earlier said that BMTC, Ola, and Uber services will be as usual. Though hotels and restaurants are open in the city, the Bangalore Hoteliers Association, calling it their duty, have announced their support for the bandh. They might be closed during the Friday protests. Auto drivers are also supporting the strike.
Schools, colleges, government offices, banks, ATMs, public and private transport, shops, and commercial establishments are expected to remain shut.
Global firms including Walmart, Google, IBM, and Accenture have asked employees in Bengaluru to work from home today.
The dispute over who gets access to the water has been a source of friction between the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu for more than a century.
Deadly riots broke out in Bengaluru in 2016 after the top court ordered the release of some water to Tamil Nadu.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Monday his government would not curtail the protests but emphasised the importance of maintaining peace.

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Babar Reprimanded Over Traffic Violation, Says Report. Handed Fine Of...

2023-09-26T14:15:00.007+05:30

Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been on the receiving end of some heavy criticism after his team failed to qualify for the Asia Cup final earlier this month. Pakistan lost to India and Sri Lanka in the Super 4 stage and bowed out of the tournament. India defeated Sri Lanka to win the Asia Cup for a record-extending 8th time. Reports had emerged that Babar was involved in a verbal spat with star pacer Shaheen Afridi, who later quashed the rumours by sharing a picture with Babar, and captioning the post as "family".

Now, another report has emerged, claiming that the Pakistan captain was slapped with a fine from the traffic authorities on September 17 in Lahore's Gulberg area.

According to Geo News, a fine, totalling approximately Rs 570 INR (2,000 PKR), was imposed for two violations: driving without a valid driver's license and a lane violation.

The report claimed Babar was stopped for a lane violation, but during the interaction with the police, it was discovered that he did not possess a valid driver's license.

Members of the Pakistan cricket team were on Monday issued Indian visas for the ODI World Cup, the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed, hours after the PCB raised serious concerns with the global body over the delay in the national team's travel to Hyderabad. The visa clearance came less than 48 hours before Pakistan's scheduled travel to India in the early hours of September 27. They play their first warm-up game against New Zealand in Hyderabad on September 29. "Visas have been issued to Pakistan," an ICC spokesperson told PTI.

However, confusion remained in the Pakistan camp over the grant of visa.

"We have not got the call from Indian High Commission yet over visa clearance. Member of our team is stationed there," PCB spokesperon Umar Farooq told PTI.

The confirmation from the ICC came after the PCB wrote to ICC CEO Geoff Allardice on Monday over the visa delay besides claiming the anxious wait has adversely impacted the team's preparation for the 50-over showpiece.

Pakistan were supposed to have a two-day team bonding session in Dubai before their scheduled arrival in Hyderabad on September 27 but was cancelled due to the uncertainty over Indian visa.

The Babar Azam-led side plays two warm-up games and as many World Cup matches in Hyderabad starting with the practice fixture against New Zealand.

(With PTI Inputs)

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Waheeda Rehman To Receive Dadasaheb Phalke Award

2023-09-26T14:15:00.005+05:30

Bollywood legend Waheeda Rehman will receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2021, announced Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur. Considered one of Indian cinema's most talented and elegant actors, Waheeda Rehman, 85, is beloved for her work in films like Guide, Pyaasa, Kaagaz Ke Phool and Chaudhvin Ka Chaand. Her accolades include the Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is the country's highest film honour and is given by the government.

In a post on X, Anurag Thakur wrote: "I feel an immense sense of happiness and honour in announcing that Waheeda Rehman ji is being bestowed with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award this year for her stellar contribution to Indian Cinema. Waheeda ji has been critically acclaimed for her roles in Hindi films, prominent among them, Pyaasa, Kaagaz ke Phool, Chaudhavi Ka Chand, Saheb Biwi Aur Ghulam, Guide, Khamoshi and several others. In her career spanning over 5 decades, she has essayed her roles with extreme finesse, leading to a National Film Award for her role as a clanswoman in the film Reshma Aur Shera. A Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awardee, Waheeda ji has exemplified dedication, commitment and the strength of a Bharatiya Nari who can achieve the highest level of professional excellence with her hardwork.

"At a time when the historic Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam has been passed by Parliament, her being awarded with this lifetime achievement award is a fitting tribute to one of the leading ladies of Indian Cinema and one who has dedicated her life after films to philanthropy and the greater good of society. I congratulate her and humbly pay my regards to her rich body of work that is an intrinsic part of our film history."

Read his post here:

I feel an immense sense of happiness and honour in announcing that Waheeda Rehman ji is being bestowed with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award this year for her stellar contribution to Indian Cinema.

Waheeda ji has been critically acclaimed for her…
— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) September 26, 2023

The Dadasaheb Phalke Award announcement coincides with late actor Dev Anand's centenary - Dev Anand was Waheeda Rehman's co-star in one of her most seminal films, 1965's Guide. Dev Anand, who received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2002, would have been 100 today.

Waheeda Rehman will receive the award in a ceremony later this year. The previous winner of the Dadasaheb Phalke award was Asha Parekh with whom Waheeda Rehman shares a close friendship.

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Virat, Rohit To Return As India Eye 'Rare First' vs Australia In 3rd ODI

2023-09-26T14:15:00.003+05:30

Skipper Rohit Sharma would fancy a perfect culmination to the Indian team's World Cup preparations as hosts eye a rare clean sweep of Australia in the third and final ODI here on Wednesday. Never before in the history have India whitewashed Australia in the ODI format. In fact, neither of them have achieved such a result, home or away, irrespective of the number of matches played in a series. Given how perfectly everything has panned out for the World Cup hosts in the lead up to the mega tournament, it would only be fitting that India finish with a deserving 3-0 score-line.

Dominant Indian team, despite the absence of its front-line players and still tinkering with playing combinations to make sure every member has had game-time under their belt, are in pole position to record a fourth consecutive ODI win before the quadrennial event begins.

If they manage to clinch a 3-0 win, India would also have taken a massive upper-hand over the five-time world champions Australia before the two teams meet again in Chennai on October 8 for their World Cup opener.

It will be no exaggeration in saying India have battered Australia in the first two ODIs despite both the rivals making plenty of changes to keep their top guns fresh, while also putting miles in the legs of those who would not usually feature in first-choice XIs.

There could, however, be some respite for the Australian bowlers as India have rested their young gun Shubman Gill for the final ODI after his 74 and 104 in the first two games, alongwith Shardul Thakur.

In the 50-overs World Cup year, Gill is the only batter in the format with a thousand runs and counting — 1,230 runs to be precise at a staggering average of 72.35 — and his absence from the final game would certainly be felt.

But India's batting mainstays Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are expected to return and so are the in-form Kuldeep Yadav and Hardik Pandya from a brief resting period during which KL Rahul has led admirably.

Facing some tough questions over squad composition, players' form, fitness and availability, India have turned the tide and how.

That India would end up with a problem of plenty was something not envisaged when the team embarked on the Asia Cup campaign just a few weeks ago. But the likes of Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Mohammed Shami and even Mohammed Siraj have transformed this Indian outfit into as formidable a unit can get.

He took some time to get going and again struggled with his back-related troubles, but Shreyas Iyer utilised perfect batting conditions in Indore to record a century, which will also consolidate his position in the middle-order.

Much to the delight of the Indian camp, Rahul has delivered the goods with the bat and behind the stumps at the most appropriate time.

Like Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah too has proven his fitness and form in a few matches after a long injury lay-off. After resting from the second ODI, India's premier bowler is available for selection.

Even though the team management appears tilted in favour of injured Axar Patel, oldest member of the Indian squad Ravichandran Ashwin would like to make this opportunity count before the contingent is finalised for the World Cup.

For Australia, it is not often that they flop both with the bat and the ball in India with the white ball as miserably as they have in the first two ODIs. The visitors need to gather themselves as the wheels seem to be coming off rapidly following five consecutive defeats in ODIs.

A few months ago, the same side beat India 2-1 with Mitchell Starc haunting the Indian right-handers with his perfect in-swingers.

With one last game left before the World Cup begins, Australia would be tempted to play their preferred bowling attack with Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc coming in, even though the batting lacks the firepower of Travis Head at the top and Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne not enjoying a successful year of cricket in India across formats.

Squads: India: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin, Washington Sundar.

Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey (wk), Josh Inglis (wk), Matthew Short, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.

Time: 1:30pm IST.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Video: Haryana Chief Minister Rides Royal Enfield, Staff Follow On Bikes

2023-09-26T14:15:00.001+05:30

Residents of Karnal were in for a surprise when they saw Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar cruise through the roads on a Royal Enfield bike this morning. The Chief Minister was followed by his retinue and security detail, also on bikes.

The Chief Minister was on his way to Karnal airport from where he boarded a helicopter to Amritsar. Mr Khattar is due to attend the Northern Zonal Council's meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah in Amritsar later today.

A video shared by Mr Khattar on X, formerly Twitter, shows him riding the bike and his retinue following him. The 69-year-old Chief Minister is seen wearing a crash helmet and riding confidently as he negotiates roundabouts and sharp turns. Karnal is the home constituency of Chief Minister Khattar.

Behind the Chief Minister's bike ride decision is his recent announcement to observe Tuesdays as "car-free day" in Karnal. All government officials in Karnal have been asked to avoid using cars on Tuesdays.

"Whether it is 'car-free day' or 'addiction-free Haryana', no goal can be reached without public support. By travelling to the airport on a bike on 'car-free day', I made a little effort to reduce traffic. I hope the aware public of the state will spread this message and encourage people to give up cars for just one day in a week," the Chief Minister said in a post in Hindi.

The Haryana Chief Minister was recently seen riding a bicycle during a cyclothon organised by his government as part of an anti-drugs campaign. The cyclothon traversed the 22 districts of Haryana within 25 days.

Yamunanagar (Haryana) , September 25 : Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday flagged off a cyclothon in Haryana's Yamunanagar to promote the initiative of 'drug-free Haryana'.

The campaign titled 'Cyclothon for a Drug-Free Haryana' witnessed the first cyclothon on September 1 and today (September 25) is the culmination of the anti-drug campaign.

Visuals from the Yamunanagar cyclothon showed a large number of cyclists taking part in the event as a measure to spread awareness about the menace of drug abuse.

With the message of drug-free Haryana, the cyclothon has traversed all 22 districts of the state in a period of 25 days.

Khattar had earlier announced that every Tuesday in Karnal would be a 'car-free day' where all government officials would travel by bicycle only.

The Haryana Chief Minister had said that the youth will have to be taken forward in a positive direction.

He also said that his government is working for a drug-free society in the state in cooperation with NGOs and other organisations.

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Dalit Woman Stripped Naked, Urinated Upon Over Rs 1,500 Loan In Bihar

2023-09-25T15:15:00.001+05:30

A Dalit woman in Bihar was brutally assaulted and stripped naked for refusing to pay additional interest on a loan her husband had taken from a village strongman.

The man's son also urinated in her mouth, the police said.

Police said the woman's husband had borrowed Rs 1,500 from Pramod Singh in Mosimpur village of Patna district.

The couple had repaid the whole amount, however, Pramod Singh had been demanding additional interest on the loan.

When the couple refused, Pramod Singh, his son and their aides assaulted her and stripped her naked, police said.

In her complaint, the woman alleged that Pramod, his son Anshu and four other men forced her to come along with them on Saturday night while she was outside her home to get water from a handpump.

They thrashed her with sticks and stripped her naked at an isolated place in the village, officials said. Pramod Singh then asked Anshu to urinate in her mouth, officials said.

She somehow managed to escape. Her family members said that they went out looking for her at around midnight, and found her running towards the home naked.

The woman sustained serious head injuries and is being treated at a hospital, police said.

A complaint has been registered and a search is on to arrest the six men, they said.

"We have formed five police teams and searches are being conducted. A case has already been registered in this regard and further investigation is on," said Rajeev Mishra, Senior Superintendent of Police, Patna.

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Rs 2,000 Note Exchange Deadline Ends In 5 Days: Here's What You Can Do

2023-09-25T14:13:00.003+05:30

According to the Reserve Bank of India's "clean note policy”, the highest denomination currency note in India - Rs 2,000 note, will lose its status as legal tender after September 30, 2023.

The process of exchanging or depositing the Rs 2,000 notes began earlier this year on May 23. This week marks the final opportunity for people to exchange or deposit Rs 2,000 notes.

Deposit Process

RBI stated that individuals can deposit Rs 2,000 notes at their respective banks without any specific limit. However, it is important to note that the usual KYC (Know Your Customer) requirements and other legal deposit norms will still be applicable.

For those using a BSBD (Basic Savings Bank Deposit) or Jan Dhan account, the regular deposit limits will continue to be in effect. This means that if you wish to deposit Rs 2000 notes exceeding a certain amount in these accounts, you will need to adhere to the prescribed limits.

Furthermore, in accordance with Rule 114B of the Income Tax Rules, individuals must provide their PAN (Permanent Account Number) when making cash deposits exceeding Rs 50,000 in a single day at either a bank or post office.

Exchage Process

Until September 30, individuals also have the facility to exchange Rs 2000 notes at 19 Regional Offices (ROs) of the RBI. Besides that, one can also exchange Rs 2000 banknotes at any nearby bank branch.

The RBI's guidelines are straightforward: As these notes are legal tender, the exchange should be done without the requirement of a request slip or ID proof. However, some public sector banks have implemented a different approach. Therefore, it is advisable to have an ID proof handy when exchanging this currency to ensure a smooth transaction.

Bank Holidays This Week

-Banks will be open from Monday to Wednesday (September 25 to September 27).

-Thursday, September 28, will be a holiday in observance of Milad-un-Nabi or Id-e-Milad.

-Banks will resume regular working hours on Friday and Saturday (September 29 and September 30).

This means that you can exchange or deposit your Rs 2000 notes from September 25 to September 27 and then again on September 29 and September 30.

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BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri Meets JP Nadda After Party Serves Notice For Slurs

2023-09-25T14:13:00.001+05:30

BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri - heavily criticised for hurling Islamophobic fears at BSP lawmaker Kunwar Danish Ali last week - met party boss JP Nadda Monday morning. The Bharatiya Janata Party leader had been served a show-cause notice after a vulgar outburst in Parliament that was caught on camera and fiercely condemned by the opposition, forcing his party to act against its member.

The BJPon Sunday refused to comment on his use of communal slurs and would only say Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla - who has received letters calling for action against both Lok Sabha representatives.

A day after he was publicly abused during Parliament's special session, a tearful Mr Ali told NDTV he had been unable to sleep and was on the verge of a mental breakdown. The Bahujan Samaj Party MP also said he was considering quitting Parliament if no action is taken against Ramesh Bidhuri.

Mr Ali has written to urging action against Ramesh Bidhuri.

READ | "Considering Leaving Parliament If...": Danish Ali On BJP MP's Remarks

Mr Birla, officials had said, took "serious note" of the foul language and warned the BJP MP of "strict action" if he repeated such behaviour. The opposition was quick to point out that non-BJP lawmakers had been suspended, or even barred from a full session, for less horrific remarks.

On Sunday Mr Ali - targeted by another BJP MP, Nishikant Dubey, over allegations he had used casteist slurs against Prime Minister Narendra Modi - said he feared the comment was to provoke his "physical lynching outside the Parliament" since the "verbal lynching" had already begun.

READ | BJP's Nishikant Dubey Questions Danish Ali's Conduct, After BSP MP Was Abused

"BJP MP Nishikant Dubey's letter (to the Lok Sabha Speaker) is to create a narrative pertaining to my lynching outside Parliament as my verbal lynching already took place," Kunwar Danish Ali said.

READ | "Creating Narrative For My Lynching": MP Danish Ali On BJP Leader's Letter

Nishikant Dubey had demanded the Speaker investigate Mr Ali's "indecent words and conduct..."

That demand was backed by a third BJP MP - in a move seen by many as the party attempting to shift focus away from Ramesh Bidhuri's vile comments and pin blame on Mr Ali.

BJP MP Ravi Kisan Shukla on Sunday also wrote to the Speaker and demanded an inquiry into Danish Ali's "unparliamentary" acts and language. In his letter Ravi Shukla blamed Ramesh Bidhuri's "quite inappropriate" comments on "continuous heckling and disturbance by (Danish) Ali".

READ | Another BJP MP Urges Speaker To Probe Danish Ali's Conduct

Mr Ali has received support from across opposition party lines; Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was among the first to visit him last week and he shared a photo of the two hugging with the caption, " "Nafrat ke bazaar mein, mohabbat ki dukkan (In this marketplace of hatred, there is a shop of love)."

READ | Opposition's Show Of Support For Danish Ali, Abused By BJP MP In Parliament

Mr Ali was verbally abused on Thursday during a discussion on the success of India's historic Moon mission, Chandrayaan-3.

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1.1 Crore Passengers, 25 Trains, 9 More Now: PM's Vande Bharat Report Card

2023-09-24T16:13:00.001+05:30

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said it was unfortunate that earlier not much attention was given to modernising Indian railways and asserted that his government was working for its transformation.

PM Modi made the remarks in his address before flagging off nine Vande Bharat trains connecting religious and tourist destinations across 11 states.

The nine trains will provide faster connectivity across 11 states -- Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, West Bengal, Kerala, Odisha, Jharkhand and Gujarat.

In his address via video conferencing ahead of the flag off, PM Modi said the speed and scale of infrastructure development is matching the aspirations of 140 crore Indians.

He said the popularity of Vande Bharat trains is constantly rising and over 1,11,00,000 passengers have already travelled in them.

The prime minister noted that 25 Vande Bharat trains are running and now nine more have been added.

That day is not far when these trains will connect all parts of the country, he said.

"Indian railways is the most trusted co-passenger of India's poor and middle-class people. The number of people who travel in the railways in one day is more than the population of many countries," he said.

"It is unfortunate that not much attention was given to modernise Indian railways. But now our government is working for the transformation of Indian railways," PM Modi said.

In his remarks, PM Modi also said that all Indians are proud of new India's accomplishments and the common person's expectations have reached sky high due to the success of Chandrayaan-3.

The success of G20 Summit has given confidence that India has power of democracy, demography, and diversity, he said.

"World has hailed our women-led development and to advance this vision the government brought Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam," he said.

The new Vande Bharat trains flagged off by the PM will run between: Udaipur-Jaipur; Tirunelveli-Madurai-Chennai; Hyderabad-Bengaluru; Vijayawada-Chennai (via Renigunta); Patna-Howrah; Kasaragod-Thiruvananthapuram; Rourkela-Bhubaneswar -Puri; Ranchi-Howrah; and Jamnagar-Ahmedabad.

These trains are a step towards realising the prime minister's vision of improving connectivity across the country and providing world class facilities to rail passengers, according to an official statement.

"The Vande Bharat trains will be the fastest train along the routes of their operation and will help save considerable time of the passengers," it said.

The introduction of these Vande Bharat trains will herald a new standard of rail service in the country, the statement said.

These trains, equipped with world class amenities and advanced safety features, including Kavach technology, will be a key step towards providing modern, speedy and comfortable means of travel to common people, professionals, businessmen, student community and tourists, it added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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NDTV Exclusive: A Gunmaking Community's Glorious History, Uncertain Future

2023-09-24T15:14:00.001+05:30

Once renowned gunsmiths for the army raised by the tenth Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh, the Sikligars of Madhya Pradesh are now infamous for making illegal firearms for criminals across India.

An NDTV crew travelled from Bhopal, the state capital, to the villages of the Sikligar community in the districts of Barwani, Dhar, Burhanpur and Khargone, which border Maharashtra. The terrain was difficult to navigate, but the journey to uncover the truth about the Sikligar community was imperative.

The crew reached a village near Palsood in Barwani district and met two Sikligars who make illegal weapons. They showed their equipment and said they sell the weapons for Rs 5,000-7,000. Using only bare hands, a hammer, and a chisel, the skilled Sikligar smiths can conjure a weapon out of raw materials in about 10-12 days.

"Our children remain hungry; hence, we make weapons. We buy iron rods for Rs 25-30 per kilogram from scrap. We fire a kiln, and a few others also use lathe machines to make more sophisticated weapons. Where is the option for us? Most of our people are helpless because of poverty, and we need money. When we have nothing to do, we move towards arms-making. We cannot die of hunger," a Sikligar weapon-maker said.

A Life Of Poverty

Most Sikligars are labourers who lead a life of penury. About 20,000-25,000 Sikligars live in four districts of Khargone, Dhar, Barwani, and Burhanpur, which adjoin Maharashtra. Their main source of income is manufacturing illegal arms, which has become a cottage industry in many of these villages.

In the neighboring Dhar district, Desi Kattas (country-made guns) are being manufactured by firing a furnace in a house. The raw materials for these weapons come from old bicycle frames, truck springs, and scrap belts. Iron is melted and shaped with a 2-5 inch saw. The gun handle is made by beating a plank, and the barrel is made from a pipe.

In a dark room, a Sikligar worked alone, convinced by us to show us his weapons. He took out three revolvers.

Toiling alone in a dark room in one such makeshift sweatshop, a Sikligar worker showed NDTV three revolvers that he had made and broke down the basic mechanics of his labour.

"This is half ready, the load is not ready yet, and there is still work left to do. This is 10 per cent, this is 50 per cent. The handle will be attached when it is ready. These iron rods are available at the hardware store," he said pointing at his wares.

"A Mauser is available for Rs 5,000. We sell Desi Kattas for Rs 1,000-1,200, but there is no guarantee with these weapons. It takes 8-10 days to make a Mauser. We give you whatever we have. It is our family business, we learn by watching. Even our children can make these guns."

Multiple raids have been conducted by the authorities on this small-scale industry. In a special operation a few days ago, Dhar police seized 125 country-made pistols, six Mausers, and two revolvers from the Sikligars community of traditional metalworkers.

"There are some pockets in Dhar where illegal weapons are made. We have arrested a few accused and seized 233 weapons. There are some modern weapons that are definitely supplied outside. Our inquiry is ongoing," Dhar Superintendent of Police (SP) Manoj Singh said.

Sikligar Weapons Network

The Sikligars have been making guns in the densely forested hillocks of Madhya Pradesh's Malwa-Nimar region for generations. A few years ago, the Madhya Pradesh Special Task Force (MPSTF) prepared a dossier that revealed that Sikligars have customers in at least 19 states.

After months of investigations, the MPSTF created a database of over 250 Sikligars who make country-made revolvers, pistols, semi-automatic pistols, and even carbines for criminals in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Bihar, Maharashtra, and some southern states.

The Sikligars sell guns directly to customers or through couriers or agents in other states. Tribal men were once the most trusted couriers, but impoverished women are now being targeted. Sikligars used to receive cash payments through couriers or agents, but interstate gunrunners now transfer money directly to their bank accounts. Guns made by Sikligars can sell for anywhere between Rs 5,000 and Rs 25,000.

Weapons made by the community have been used in some of the most high-profile crimes in the country.

In 2009, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (UPSTF) arrested a D-Company shooter in Lucknow who was allegedly assigned to attack BJP MP Varun Gandhi. The shooter had sourced the pistols from a Sikligar in the Barwani district of Madhya Pradesh through a middleman based in Mathura.

In the same year, banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) operatives used pistols made by the Sikligars of Burhanpur district to assassinate MP ATS constable Sitaram Yadav.

An accused in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts case reportedly sourced pistols from Sikligars in Burhanpur district of Madhya Pradesh.

The Pune-based gang operated by gangster Santosh Jadhav, who is among the suspects in the high-profile Sidhu Moosewala murder case in Punjab, was also sourcing guns from Sikligars operating from forests of Sendhwa in Barwani district.

"We found out that they have some gangs with links to Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh. We can say that they are connected outside," SP Singh said.

Apathy And Neglect

However, not everyone in the community is an illegal weapon maker. Some of the people NDTV spoke to expressed their utter helplessness.

"Ten to twenty boys have joined this business in our village because there is no employment for them," said Ajay Singh Chawla, a resident of Khalsa Nagar in Barwani.

"We used to make everything from swords to spears, but it later became illegal. Twenty per cent of the people are still doing it to earn a living," said Prem Singh.

"I am not saying everyone is innocent, but more than 50-60% have left this business. Even so, the police still arrest innocent people and then demand a bribe," said Magan Singh Bhatia, National President, Sikligar Samaj.

It is still unclear where the bullets for these guns come from. In an effort to reduce gun violence and the illegal arms trade, Manoj Kumar Singh, DIG of Ratlam Range, has proposed a barcode system for bullets.

"This is a demo round. There is a barcoding machine that costs 1 paise per round. Arms dealers enter the number of arms they have sold daily on a website. If we start monitoring how many rounds are being sold to each licensee and if the bullets are barcoded, this will help to stop gun violence," he said.

The headlines sensationalise the Sikligar community's involvement in illegal gun manufacturing, but there is a more nuanced story beyond the noise in media.

Centuries ago, the Sikligar Sikhs were the proud weapon makers for the armies of the sixth and tenth Sikh Gurus in their battles against the Mughals. Today, they yearn to return to the mainstream, but government neglect has left their villages in poverty and despair.

"If my house gets built, God will bless you. There is nothing inside my house, there is no one behind, I eat bread if someone gives it," cried Dhool Singh, 84, blind and someone who does not receive a disability pension from the government.

"There is no work, no pension, I went to Panchayat office 10 times for disability pension but no one listens, Panchayat people don't even respond," said another blind Sikligar, 29-year-old Babbu Chauhan.

Daya Kaur's family of 20 people live in a two-room Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (PMAY) house but do not get any other benefits.

"We never got the benefit of the Ujjwala scheme. We don't have Aadhaar. Wood is not available in the rains. We slept hungry last evening," she said.

Sikligarphalya

Sikligarphalya, a village home to 300 Sikligar Sikhs, is located in the tribal belt of Barwani. It is accessible by a half-beaten track leading from the main road ahead of a toll barrier. After crossing the hillocks, the village becomes visible, 4-5 kilometres further down this path.

As NDTV reached the village, many families gathered around the main meeting place. The village has no road, no electricity, no clean drinking water, and an Anganwadi centre that is only equipped to teach students till Class V.

"We do not want our next generation to make weapons," said Ajay Singh, a Sikligarphalya native.

"Those who are involved in making guns will stop if they are given jobs or any other source of income to support their families. Our children want to study in the city, but no one is willing to accept them outside the village. There is no place for us in the mainstream," others quipped.

"People have not reached out to them. I have also gone to the jail to talk to them. There is a lack of education. Disabled people should get a pension. I have given instructions to the police station in charge. I hope they will be in the mainstream soon," SP Singh conceded.

Once the weapon makers for Sikh gurus, the Sikligar story is one of neglect and apathy.

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Arvind Kejriwal, Bhagwant Mann, All Smiles, Reach Parineeti-Raghav Wedding

2023-09-24T14:13:00.001+05:30

Delhi Chief Minister and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann were welcomed with garlands at AAP MP Raghav Chadha and actor Parineeti Chopra's sangeet ceremony in Uaipur last night.

Other politicians and film personalities joined the pre-wedding festivities before the main ceremony at The Leela Palace today.

At the couple's "90s theme" sangeet, Chief Minister Mann was seen shaking a leg to DJ Navraj Hans tunes. DJ Hans, son of veteran Bollywood singer Hans Raj Hans, shared a video of his live performance at the ceremony. Other videos featuring Mr Mann dancing are now viral on social media.

Exclusive : #BhagwantMann grooving on Punjabi tunes in #RaghavChadha - #ParineetiChopra Sangeet ceremony held last night in Udaipur#ParineetiRaghavWedding #RaghavParineetiKiShaadi pic.twitter.com/TEMhBq4V1a
— Ritik Gupta (@RitikGupta1999) September 24, 2023

Mr Kejriwal and Mr Mann arrived in Udaipur yesterday morning. AAP MP Sanjay Singh was also among the guests who arrived in the city for the wedding.

"I congratulate Raghav and Parineeti on the new chapter of their lives. May God fulfil all their wishes. Today and tomorrow is the wedding ceremony and all the people will join it," Mr Singh said, as quoted by news agency ANI.

The big fat wedding festivities began today at 10 am with the choora ceremony. This will be followed by a sehrabandi at 1 pm. Raghav Chadha's baraat will travel on a boat from Udaipur's iconic Lake Palace to the wedding venue. The jaimala is scheduled to take place at 3 pm which will be followed by the pheras and vidai. The entire wedding is expected to be wrapped up by 6:30 pm before a reception at 8:30 pm.

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Explained: What Happens If Chandrayaan-3 Rover, Lander Don't Wake Up

2023-09-23T16:14:00.001+05:30

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has been trying to restore communication with Chandrayaan-3's Vikram lander and Pragyan rover after the two were put to sleep earlier this month.

ISRO, on September 2, announced in a post on X ( formerly Twitter) that the Pragyan rover had completed all its assignment on the Moon and was now “parked safely and set into sleep mode”.

“APXS and LIBS payloads are turned off. Data from these payloads is transmitted to the Earth via the Lander. Currently, the battery is fully charged. The solar panel is oriented to receive the light at the next sunrise expected on September 22, 2023. The receiver is kept on,” the space agency said.

Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
The Rover completed its assignments.

It is now safely parked and set into Sleep mode.
APXS and LIBS payloads are turned off.
Data from these payloads is transmitted to the Earth via the Lander.

Currently, the battery is fully charged.
The solar panel is…
— ISRO (@isro) September 2, 2023

The Vikram lander was also turned off after it successfully performed a short “hop” and “exceeded its mission objectives”.

Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
????????Vikram soft-landed on ????, again!

Vikram Lander exceeded its mission objectives. It successfully underwent a hop experiment.

On command, it fired the engines, elevated itself by about 40 cm as expected and landed safely at a distance of 30 – 40 cm away.… pic.twitter.com/T63t3MVUvI
— ISRO (@isro) September 4, 2023

The two modules were put in sleep mode for the lunar night, which is equal to around 14 days on Earth.

What happens if Chandrayaan-3 Rover, Lander don't wake up?

At the time of putting the lander and rover to sleep, the ISRO had said that if the two don't wake up, they will “forever stay there as India's lunar ambassador”.

“Hoping for a successful awakening for another set of assignments! Else, it will forever stay there as India's lunar ambassador,” wrote the space agency.

On September 22, when the lunar sunrise was expected, the ISRO shared it tried to establish contact with the rover and lander, but in vain.

“Efforts have been made to establish communication with the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover to ascertain their wake-up condition. As of now, no signals have been received from them. Efforts to establish contact will continue,” the ISRO said in a post on X.

Chandrayaan-3 Mission:
Efforts have been made to establish communication with the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover to ascertain their wake-up condition.

As of now, no signals have been received from them.

Efforts to establish contact will continue.
— ISRO (@isro) September 22, 2023

Experts are hoping that the rover and lander might wake up with the crack of dawn citing examples of China's lunar lander Chang'e-4 and rover Yutu-2 that had started operating again after surviving their first lunar night in 2019.

However, former ISRO Chairman AS Kiran Kumar told BBC that it is not necessary that the Chandrayaan-3's lander and rover wake up as temperature plummets to as low as -200 to -250 degree Celsius during night on the Moon and batteries are not designed to be stored or operate at such extreme temperatures.

Former ISRO scientist Tapan Mishra told the news agency ANI that the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover were originally designed to operate for only 14 days.

He said if they survive the first lunar night then they will be able to make it through more nights. “If it survives one lunar night, I'm sure it will survive many more lunar nights and it may probably operate from 6 months to one year. That will be a great thing,” Mr Mishra said.

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"We Just Couldn't Find Common Ground": Farhan On SRK's Don Exit

2023-09-23T15:13:00.001+05:30

After the legendary actors Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, actor Ranveer Singh is all set to portray the role of Don in the third instalment of the hit franchise. Director Farhan Akhtar recently announced Ranveer as the new Don with a special announcement video.

Several fans showcased their disappointment over the new casting of the film. In an interview with US-based publication Variety, director Farhan Akhtar shared that he and SRK “parted mutually”.

“I'm not in the position of replacing anybody. These are things that we discussed over the years, I wanted to take a certain direction with the story, somehow we just couldn't find common ground. We just parted mutually knowing that it's probably for the best. So that's where it is,” Akhtar told Variety.

Farhan also said that he is excited to work with Ranveer Singh in the third instalment of the film.

He said, “I'm really excited Ranveer's on board. He's so charged and so ready to go. It's a big film, just purely from the point of view of an actor, it's a big thing to do, and we're really excited to have him on board. His energy is energizing us, so to speak.”

In the announcement teaser, Ranveer could be seen seated in a building with his back to the camera. He lights up a cigarette, introduces himself as Don, and then turns to face the camera. He donned a leather jacket and matching pants for the dapper look and accessorised it with leather boots and matching sunglasses.

The Don series has always been associated with compelling stories, exhilarating action, and unforgettable moments.

Don starred Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra and Boman Irani in prominent roles. The film was released in 2006 and won Best Asian Film at the Neuchatel International Fantastic Film Festival. Later, its sequel was released in 2011 and was declared a hit.

Actor Hrithik Roshan was seen in a special appearance role in Don 2.

Farhan's directorial was a remake of 1978's Don, featuring Amitabh Bachchan in the lead role.

A new era of Don will begin in 2025. Farhan earlier announced a road trip film Jee Le Zaraa starring Alia Bhatt, Katrina Kaif and Priyanka Chopra. Farhan told Variety that the film is currently on hold.

“We just have issues with dates, and the actor's strike that's happened has put Priyanka's dates into a huge tizzy with what can happen and what can't, so I've started genuinely believing that that film now has a destiny of its own. It'll happen when it has to, we'll see,” Farhan said.

Farhan referred to an ongoing writers and actors' strike in Hollywood. The film promises to be another tale of friendship following the lineage of Dil Chahta Hai and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. The upcoming film will star Alia Bhatt, Priyanka Chopra and Katrina Kaif in the lead roles.

Farhan announced Jee Le Zaraa in August 2021.

"Did someone say road trip? Thrilled to announce my next film as director and what better day than 20 years of Dil Chahta Hai to do it. #JeeLeZaraa with @priyankachopra #KatrinaKaif @aliaa08. I cannot wait to get this show on the road," Farhan had posted on Twitter. Farhan has penned the film's script with Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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No India Visa, No Dubai Trip. Hiccups For Pak Ahead Of World Cup: Report

2023-09-23T14:13:00.001+05:30

The Pakistan cricket team's plans to travel to Dubai before arriving in Hyderabad for the ODI World Cup in India have been cancelled over visa issues. As per a report, Babar Azam and his men had planned to travel to Dubai for a pre-World Cup team bonding trip but it couldn't be materialised. The plan had to be cancelled as the Pakistan team is still waiting to get visas for their travel to India. Of the 9 teams that are participating in the tournament, alongside India, the Pakistan team is reportedly the only one to have not received their visa yet.

Pakistan were supposed to fly to the UAE next week and stay there for a couple of days before heading to Hyderabad for their first warm-up game against New Zealand on September 29.

But now those plans have been ruled out as the Pakistan team will head to Karachi and fly to Hyderabad next week, as per a report in ESPNCricinfo. Pakistan will be travelling to India for the first time since 2012-13.

It also has to be noted that neither team has travelled to the other's country for a bilateral series since 2012-13 when Pakistan had come to India for a white-ball series. In fact, only two players from the current Pakistan squad have travelled to India before for cricketing assignments.

Pakistan will open their World Cup campaign against The Netherlands on October 6 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.

On Friday, Pakistan named a 15-player squad for the World Cup with Babar Azam leading the squad.

But they will be missing the presence of their star pacer Naseem Shah who picked up niggle injury during their Super Four clash against India at the Asia Cup. He was off the field during the middle of his over and later ruled out of the competition.

Hasan Ali has been named in the squad as Naseem's replacement. Pakistan's renowned pace attack will be led by Shaheen Shah Afridi. Backing him will be Haris Rauf, Mohammed Waseem, and Hasan Ali.

Pakistan squad for the upcoming World Cup: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Wasim.

With ANI inputs

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AP Dhillon After Cancellation Of Shubh's Tour: "It's Become Impossible..."

2023-09-22T15:14:00.005+05:30

Indo-Canadian singer Amritpal Singh Dhillon, known professionally as AP Dhillon, has shared a lengthy post on Instagram Story on the controversy around Canada-based fellow Punjabi artist Shubhneet Singh. Shubh, as the singer is known, was scheduled to perform in India in coming weeks but the tour was cancelled over his alleged support to the Khalistan issue. Shubh had shared a distorted map of India on his Instagram handle, which omitted the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and the Northeastern states.

Now, breaking his silence on the issue, Mr Dhillon said people should "spread love and not hate". He also explained why he stays away from social media.

Ap Dhillon shared the long note on Instagram a few hours ago.

"I try to stay out of all the social mania as it is clear to me that regardless of what I say or do, it is a lost cause... someone, somewhere is going to spin the narrative to their liking and create more division. As an artist it has become almost impossible to stay focussed on your craft and do what you love. I try to be mindful of everyone's sentiments, but it's gotten to a point where we have to second and triple guess our every move due to fear of unintentionally fuelling even more division," The musician said on Instagram Story.

"Special interest and political groups constantly use our (artists') public image as a chess piece to further their agenda, while we are just trying to make art that helps people on an individual level, regardless of their colour, race, religion, nationality, gender etc," Mr Dhillon added.

The 'Brown Munde' requested people to focus on spreading love and peace and not get influenced by "man made social constructs" that spread division.

What happened with Shubh?

Ticket booking platform BooyMyShow posted on X (formerly Twitter) on September 20 that the musician's show has been cancelled. The company also said that it has initiated a complete refund of the ticket amount for all consumers who had purchased tickets for the show.

A day before, electronics brand boat had withdrawn its sponsorship from Shubh's India tour.

The diplomatic row between India and Canada

The Khalistan issue has led to an escalation of diplomatic row between India and Canada that saw each expelling a senior diplomat. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged New Delhi's hand in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, in British Columbia in June this year. India quickly dismissed Canada's assertion as absurd.

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"100% Regret": Rahul Gandhi On Congress Not Including OBCs In Women's Bill

2023-09-22T15:14:00.003+05:30

The Congress "100 per cent regrets" it did not pass the women's reservation bill when it was in power, Rahul Gandhi said Friday afternoon. He acknowledged that had his party accepted the demand for a quota for women from OBC communities - a demand it rejected in 2010 but is now championing - the landmark bill might have become law a decade ago.

"100 per cent... (we have) 100 per cent regret," Mr Gandhi said after calling out the Bharatiya Janata Party over a potential delay of a further six years or more before the new bill comes into effect.

The call for a quota within a quota for OBC women was made by the Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal in 2010, when the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government had tabled its version of the bill. The Congress rejected that demand and a furious SP and RJD withdrew support. The bill, which had already cleared the Rajya Sabha, never made it to the Lok Sabha.

The Congress has been critical of the Bharatiya Janata Party's version of the bill since it mandates a census and delimitation, or redrawing of constituency boundaries, before implementation. This means it is unlikely to come into effect before the 2029 election and possibly not till 2034.

The opposition has united to condemn the government for this delay, demanding provisions for conduct of a census and delimitation be dropped and the quota be implemented immediately.

The BJP has hit back by pointing out the Congress' inability to pass this bill and told Parliament Thursday the delay is to ensure "transparency" in deciding which seats are to be reserved.

"What this (the census and delimitation provisions) means is this bill won't be implemented now... it won' be implemented today and this is something every woman in India should understand."

"If at all it is implemented, it will be 10 years from now," Mr Gandhi said.

Mr Gandhi also attacked the BJP for using the women's reservation bill as a "diversionary tactic" to shift focus from the demand for a caste census, which the Congress MP said is needed for a better understanding of the various castes and communities that make up India's vast population.

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"Majority Government Made It Possible": PM On Women's Reservation Bill

2023-09-22T15:14:00.001+05:30

Pitching for a "strong government with majority", Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that's what made the approval for the long-pending women's reservation bill possible. It proves that a majority government was required to take the country forward, he said.

Addressing an event organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Mahila Morcha to felicitate him for the passage of the women's reservation bill in Parliament, he asserted it was no ordinary legislation, but an announcement of a new India's new democratic commitment.

"It is our privilege that the chance to script history was given to us by crores of Indians. The event (women's quota bill) will be discussed for generations...Some decisions can change the course of a country's future. The successful passage of the bill is one such decision," he said.

Reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies was talked about for nearly three decades, he noted, adding that the earlier efforts lacked commitment and women were even insulted.

In a swipe at parties like the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Samajwadi Party (SP), fierce critics of the bill in the present form, PM Modi pointed out that political parties that used to tear copies of the women's reservation bill in Parliament had to support it.

The Constitution amendment bill will soon become law after the president's assent and the subsequent notification -- a procedural formality.

This is a proof of fulfilling "Modi's guarantee" that he will usher in a new era of women-led development, he said amid loud cheers from the large number of women present at the BJP headquarters.

Citing a number of his government's schemes and decisions for women's welfare, PM Modi said it has made every attempt to unshackle them with programmes for their security, respect, and prosperity.

"PM Awas Yojana gave women property rights, Beti Padhao Beti Bachao scheme gave women education, Muslim women are now free from the shackles of Triple Talaq," he said.

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"No Place For Hate": Canada Ministry After Threats To Hindu-Canadians

2023-09-22T14:14:00.001+05:30

Canada has condemned the “offensive and hateful” videos, which surfaced online asking Hindus of Indian origin to leave the country, terming it an “affront” to all Canadians and the values they hold.

The Ministry of Public Safety of the Canadian government in a statement posted on X said, “There is no place in Canada for hate. The circulation of an online video in which Hindu Canadians are told to leave Canada is offensive and hateful, and is an affront to all Canadians and the values we hold dearly.”

The Ministry has also urged the Canadians to respect each other and follow the rule of law.

1/2 : There is no place in Canada for hate. The circulation of an online video in which Hindu Canadians are told to leave Canada is offensive and hateful, and is an affront to all Canadians and the values we hold dearly.
— Public Safety Canada (@Safety_Canada) September 22, 2023

Earlier members of 'Hindu Forum Canada' wrote to Canada's Minister of Public Safety Dominic LeBlanc seeking security for the Hindu community in the face of direct threats from Khalistani elements.

The forum urged for urgent attention to the community's deep concerns regarding recent statements by designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun asking all Indo-Canadian Hindus to leave the country following diplomatic tensions between the two countries over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Canada's Ministry of Public Safety said, “Acts of aggression, hate, intimidation or incitement of fear have no place in this country and only serve to divide us. We urge all Canadians to respect one another and follow the rule of law. Canadians deserve to feel safe in their communities”.

2/2: Acts of aggression, hate, intimidation or incitement of fear have no place in this country and only serve to divide us. We urge all Canadians to respect one another and follow the rule of law. Canadians deserve to feel safe in their communities.
— Public Safety Canada (@Safety_Canada) September 22, 2023

Minister Dominic LeBlanc has also condemned the circulation of the hate video and said that there is no place for such acts in society.

"All Canadians deserve to feel safe in their communities. The circulation of an online hate video targeting Hindu Canadians runs contrary to the values we hold dear as Canadians. There is no place for acts of aggression, hate, intimidation or incitement of fear," he tweeted.

Harjit Sajjan a minister in Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet also said that those propagating threats "do not embody" Canadian values.

"To Hindu Canadians and Indians from all backgrounds: Anyone who says you do not deserve to be safe & welcomed in your home does not embody the values of freedom & kindness we hold dear as Canadians. Do not let others delegitimize or question your place and love for Canada," Sajjan, Canada's minister for emergency preparedness said on X.

On Thursday, Canadian MP Chandra Arya had alleged that some extremist elements are “attacking” and “threatening” Hindu-Canadians to go back to India.

He also urged all the Hindu-Canadians in the country to stay calm and vigilant and report any untoward incident to law enforcement agencies.

Notably, Arya is an Indo-Canadian leader who belongs to the Liberal Party of Canada, the same party as Trudeau.

“Few days back Khalistan movement leader in Canada and the president of Sikhs for Justice which organizes the so-called referendum, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun attacked Hindu Canadians asking us to leave Canada and go back to India,” Arya posted on X.

“I have heard from many Hindu-Canadians who are fearful after this targeted attack. I urge Hindu-Canadians to stay calm but vigilant. Please report any incident of Hinduphobia to your local law enforcement agencies,” he added.

He further expressed dismay at the “glorification of terrorism” and hate crime being allowed in the name of “freedom of expression”.

“I can't understand how the glorification of terrorism or a hate crime targeting a religious group is allowed in the name of freedom of speech and expression. There would be an outrage in Canada if a white supremacist attacked any group of racialized Canadians asking them to get out of our country. But apparently, this Khalistani leader can get away with this hate crime,” he said.

Ties between India and Canada came under strain after Trudeau on Monday speaking in Canada's lower house of Parliament alleged India's involvement in the killing of Hardeep Nijjar in June this year in Surrey, British Columbia.

India has outrightly rejected Trudeau's allegations as "absurd" and "motivated". Ottawa expelled a senior Indian diplomat over the mater and New Delhi, in a reciprocal move then expelled a senior Canadian diplomat. Amid the row, India has also suspended visa services for Canadian nationals.

The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday however said that no information has been shared by Canada regarding the killing of Nijjar.

In a news conference in New York on Thursday the Canadian PM again failed to present any evidence to back Canadian claims and reiterated there were "credible reasons" to believe that India was linked to the death of Nijjar.

Khalistan Tiger Force chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a designated terrorist in India, was gunned down outside a Gurdwara, in a parking area in Canada's Surrey, British Columbia on June 18.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Allegations By Canada Politically Driven": India Amid Diplomatic Row

2023-09-21T17:15:00.001+05:30

Canada has not given any specific information about its allegations of India's hand in the killing of a Khalistani terrorist on its soil, and the allegation appears to be "politically driven", the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MEA) said today.

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told reporters in Delhi that India has informed Canada it is willing to look into the matter, but Canada has not shared any material on the allegations first made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about the "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June.

"No specific information was shared by Canada then, before, or after. We are willing to look at specific information if provided to us. From our side, we have very specific information on particular individuals in Canada and all these have been shared with them. But Canada hasn't acted on them," Mr Bagchi said.

The huge diplomatic battle escalated today with India freezing all Canadian visas, and Canada announcing it would reduce its diplomatic staff presence in India.

India also wants Canada to reduce its diplomatic presence as they have a higher number of staff in India than India has in Canada.

India has been asking Canada to take action against over 20 individuals linked to Khalistani terrorism, Mr Bagchi said. He said Canada has become one of the safe havens for terrorists, adding the hold on Canadian visa processing is linked to the larger issue of Khalistani terrorism.

"Canada should worry about its growing reputation of being a safe haven for extremists and terrorists," the MEA spokesperson said.

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"Corruption Begins With Voter Bribery": India's 2nd Richest Chief Minister

2023-09-21T16:13:00.001+05:30

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has exhorted voters to join his campaign against "money culture" in elections and help him make the next polls about performance and not money. The BJP leader has also said that a politician who expends crores on getting elected will spend the next five years trying to recover it.

According to data from election watchdog Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), Mr Khandu is the second-richest chief minister in India with assets of over Rs 163 crore declared in his election affidavit. At 44, he is also the country's youngest chief minister.

Addressing a big public meeting at Yachuli in Lower Subansiri district, Mr Khandu urged people to help him to ensure that the Assembly elections in the state next year are "based on performance and not money".

"We always complain against corruption. But have we ever thought where it begins? It begins when a voter casts his or her valuable vote in exchange for money," the chief minister said.

Elections for the 60-member Arunachal Pradesh Assembly as well as the Lok Sabha will be held next year and Mr Khandu said he wants to start his campaign before that.

"Unfortunately, in our state, the candidate who pumps out the most cash wins the election. This must be stopped. Money culture is the reason for eligible, capable and honest people losing out on chances to represent their constituency and work for the development of the people," the chief minister said.

"Where is the time and zest for the representative, who spends crores of rupees on winning elections, to think of development? His five years will be spent on recovering the cash and earning more money to invest in his next election," he added.

According to the ADR data, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy of the YSR Congress Party is the country's richest chief minister with declared assets of Rs 510 crores. Mr Reddy is the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh.

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At UN, Trudeau Avoids Indian Media Questions On Khalistan Terrorist Twice

2023-09-21T15:14:00.001+05:30

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did not respond to questions about Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and India rejecting allegations made by Trudeau in Parliament about India's involvement the terrorist's killing.

Justin Trudeau was in the United Nations Headquarters to attend the high-level 78th session of the UN General Assembly.

On Wednesday, he spoke at the Climate Ambition Summit, the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine and at the Global Carbon Pricing event at an especially constructed SDG Pavilion in the UN premises.

On two different occasions and two different venues within the UN premises, Press Trust of India asked questions to Justin Trudeau about India rejecting his allegations relating to 'Khalistan' terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar's killing. But Trudeau did not respond and walked away, surrounded by his security detail. Here is a video of one such instance:

Visuals of Canadian PM Justin Trudeau at United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York, US. pic.twitter.com/itdbUnI2tm
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 21, 2023

India has strongly rejected Trudeau's statement made in the Canadian Parliament and said "allegations of Government of India's involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated."

Trudeau has made allegations in the Canadian Parliament of the involvement of "agents of the Indian government" in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, the chief of the banned terrorist organisation Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF).

Nijjar was one of India's most-wanted terrorists who carried a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh and was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen outside a gurdwara in Surrey in the western Canadian province of British Columbia on June 18.

Bilateral ties between India and Canada have been tense in recent months. Trade talks have been derailed and Canada just cancelled trade talks.

Amid the growing diplomatic row between the two countries, India on Wednesday advised all its citizens living in Canada and those contemplating travelling there to exercise "utmost caution" in view of growing anti-India activities and "politically-condoned" hate crimes in the North American country.

In a strongly-worded advisory, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi referred to "threats" targeting Indian diplomats and sections of the Indian community that oppose the "anti-India agenda", and asked Indian nationals to avoid travelling to regions and potential venues in Canada which have seen such incidents.

Canada's Immigration Minister Marc Miller sought to reassure Indian nationals on Wednesday that it is safe to travel to the country even as a terrorist of the Sikh separatist movement banned in India has announced plans for rallies in Canadian cities on Monday that seek the closing of New Delhi's diplomatic missions in Canada, The Globe and Mail newspaper reported.

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Shilpa Shetty, In Nauvari Saree, Dances During Ganpati Visarjan

2023-09-21T14:14:00.001+05:30

Shilpa Shetty is such a mood in the Ganpati Visarjan video that she posted on her Instagram profile. In the video, Shilpa can be seen preforming the festivities with her family. The latter section of the video features her dancing at the visarjan with son Viaan, husband Raj Kundra and sister Shamita. Shilpa Shetty, sharing the video on Instagram, wrote, "Saying goodbye to our Gannu Raja is always the most difficult part, but we will wait for him to come back next year with even more love, peace, blessings, positivity, and happiness for all of us."

Check out Shilpa Shetty's post here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shilpa Shetty Kundra (@theshilpashetty)

Shilpa Shetty had actively been sharing moments from her Ganesh Chaturthi festivities on her Instagram profile. She shared this video earlier this week, which had glimpses of her celebrations with family. ICYMI, this is the video we are talking about:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shilpa Shetty Kundra (@theshilpashetty)

Shilpa Shetty posted this image with her family and she wrote, "Ganpati Bappa Moriya. Happy Ganesh Chaturthi to you all. Sukhee Bhava."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shilpa Shetty Kundra (@theshilpashetty)

Meanwhile, Shilpa Shetty's sister Shamita too had posted images from the Ganesh Chaturthi festivities and she wrote, "Happy Ganesh Chaturthi everyone. May lord Ganesha remove all your obstacles n bless you with peace, prosperity, happiness and all that your heart desires."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shamita Shetty (@shamitashetty_official)

The actress will next be seen in Rohit Shetty's Indian Police Force with Sidharth Malhotra and Vivek Oberoi. She is busy with the promotions of her film upcoming film Sukhee, co-starring Kusha Kapila.

On the work front, Shilpa Shetty was last seen in Sabbir Khan's Nikamma. She was also seen as one of the judges on the TV reality shows Super Dancer Chapter 4 and India's Got Talent 10. She stepped into Bollywood with the 1993 thriller Baazigar and is best-known for her performances in films such as Main Khiladi Tu Anari, Dhadkan, Life In A...Metro, Apne, to name a few.

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