Sumeeth eager to share hard-earned wisdom to youngsters

CHENNAI: B Sumeeth Reddy recently made one of the biggest decisions of his life. Having dedicated his life to badminton for over two decades, he called time on his professional career. His playing days might have ended but it's also the beginning of a new chapter, a chapter he hopes will bring wealth of success. Brimming with hard-earned wisdom, Sumeeth, having donned the hat of a coach, is now eager to pass on the knowledge to youngsters in the days to come. I only wanted to do it (retire) when I felt like I couldn't improve any further than whatever I was during my peak. Lately, I could feel that my body wasn't able to keep up. I had lost a lot of power due to a back issue. Despite that, I used to manage because of my experience. Even last week, I was World No 25. However, I couldn't get myself into the top-10, something that was always in my mind. Maybe, I could have pushed a little more but that would not fulfill my goal, he said. Once recommended by the doctors to quit playing the sport (due to a back injury), the man from Telangana had overlooked their suggestion to soldier on and carve out a respectable career for himself. Against all odds, Sumeeth, alongside partner Manu Attri, had made history in 2016 by becoming the first men's pair from the country to qualify for the Olympics. Manu and Sumeeth climbed as high as World No 17 at their peak. That might pale in comparison to what Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty has produced, but it was a significant push for Indian badminton then. It was not just his personal injury that Sumeeth was battling, the Indian doubles department, for various reasons including the results, did not use to get the attention required to thrive at the elite level. He has played alongside other notable players like Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy, with whom he tied the knot in 2019, in the mixed doubles category as well. Being part of the Olympics is something that will remain in his heart forever. Getting selected for the Olympics was special. Only 13 spots (three others would be part of continental quota) were there and to be part of that number was always special. I had to wait 12 or 16 years to get the Commonwealth medal. I had always missed it by a whisker. That was special. We also had some big scalps against top-ranked players. That was special too. All those Grand Prix wins were also quite special, he recalled. Despite the injury that ended his aspirations to become a singles star (he was former India junior No 1 in singles) and despite the challenges that tested players from doubles category then, Sumeeth is filled with gratitude. We were lucky that we were at one of the top centres in the country, the Gopichand Academy. The atmosphere was always positive, looking to win big titles. Apart from that, my dad has always been a source of strength and motivation. He was also a national athlete. Obviously, he couldn't get any support from my grandparents and he wanted me and my brother to pursue sports. He always supported me. I could see him day in and day out and that pushed me to achieve bigger things in life. The 33-year-old is encouraged by the talent in store, especially Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand apart from Satwik and Chirag. But he also felt that doubles players, especially the youngsters, still have a lot of learning to do. When I started, I had helped them (Treesa and Gayatri) for a month before China. They have done pretty well. Recently, they won against a Korean pair (Kong Hee Yong/Kim Hye Jeong) and that was really good. The pair from Korea had been winning all the top tournaments. Winning against them was also special. I'm also taking care of the mixed doubles pairs and upcoming players. A few juniors have shifted from singles to doubles and I can see some potential in them. It is obviously a tougher task as they are still learning the basics of the sport but I'm obviously enjoying my role. If I say right away, it looks tough (doubles). Satwik and Chirag have won almost everything. Treesa and Gayatri have shown a lot of potential. Apart from that, there's a sizeable gap and that's a big concern which needs to be addressed. The other pairs are also trying. I think it's a lot about confidence and tactical things that we Indians have to look into. We need to focus a lot more on our tactical game. We think we can be ahead if we do that. I would say that it always helped me. I never had a big smash but I was not very skillful. The reason how we could pull off some good matches is by employing this tactical side of the game, he assessed. With his passion and hunger for the sport intact, Sumeeth will be hoping to take India to new heights with his freshly-acquired role.

Will BJP pay huge price in Lingayat heartland for expelling Yatnal?

Events tomorrow - April 4: Karnataka Bayalata Academy, Bagalkot, Rangayana, Mysuru, Folklore Department, Maharajas College, University of Mysore (UoM), Mysuru - Star of Mysore

Events tomorrow - April 4: Karnataka Bayalata Academy, Bagalkot, Rangayana, Mysuru, Folklore Department, Maharajas College, University of Mysore (UoM), Mysuru Star of Mysore

Anupam Kher on directing `Tanvi The Great`: `Koi studio ke paas nahin gaya...`

Meanwhile, `Tanvi The Great` will feature music composed by MM Keeravani, the acclaimed Oscar-winning composer known for his work on RRR

Trump 'a businessman, aur humara customer phas gaya...' says Congress Prez Kharge

Congress will discuss the US administration's 26% reciprocal tariff on India and release a detailed statement. Party leaders criticized the move, calling it detrimental to trade. Trump defended the tariffs, citing unfair treatment by India and other nations. Congress plans to raise the issue in Parliament, urging the government to address it with the US.

BJP stages overnight protest over price hike in Karnataka

BENGALURU: BJP leaders on Wednesday staged an overnight dharna at Freedom Park against the state government for increasing prices of various commodities. Former chief minister and senior BJP leader BS Yediyurappa, who was leading the dharna, said BJP will protest across the state till the government withdraws its decision to hike various taxes and commodity prices. The development work has stopped in the state and no irrigation work has been taken up. But they are busy increasing prices of commodities and have attracted public wrath. This government does not have any moral right to be in power, he added. The Lingayat strongman said he and other BJP leaders will travel across the state to tell people about the governments failures. This is a Tughlaq-style government and it has to be opposed by all. It has forgotten the public interest and it is our duty to ensure that this government does not stick to power for long, he added. He said BJP workers and leaders should go to each house and bring awareness among the people. BJP state president BY Vijayendra suggested that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should travel across the state to know peoples problems. He criticised the governments failure in implementing the guarantee schemes, including Gruha Lakshmi where Congress had promised Rs 2,000 to the woman head of the family. This government has burdened people by increasing prices of petrol, diesel, milk and fees at government hospitals. It has made life miserable for the poor, farmers and common man, he criticised. Leader of Opposition R Ashoka said the Nagmohan Das committee, constituted to investigate the 40% commission allegation against the previous BJP government, has not been able to prove the charges. Contractors had filed a complaint with the Lokayukta, but failed to provide supporting documents. Even the court made similar observations. This shows that Congress lied to people to come to power. They dont have the moral right to be in power and should resign, he said. At Freedom Park, they had organised Yakshagana and street plays, ridiculing the state governments decision to increase prices.

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Sunny Deol Reveals He Was 'Scared' To Make Gadar 2: 'Agar Galat Ho Gaya To Logo Ne...'

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Yatnal supporters to seek help of Lingayat, other religious leaders to urge BJP to withdraw his expulsion

Yatnal, Vijayendra factions vie with each other for Lingayat leader tag

Buddhists take out rally in Kalaburagi to show solidarity with monks agitating at Bodh Gaya

In tte--tte with Rahul on April 3, CM Siddaramaiah may seek two more DCMs

BENGALURU: Besides advocating that he continue in his post, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is likely to propose the creation of two more posts of deputy chief ministers when he meets the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Thursday. His sympathiser, AICC General Secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal, has ensured the meeting with Rahul in the new AICC office. He (Siddaramaiah) knows that DCM D K Shivakumar could not be budged as KPCC president as long as Mallikarjuna Kharge is AICC president. Hence, in the interest of the party, he will propose the creation of more DCM posts ahead of polls to the local bodies, including ZPs/TPs, a Congress leader said. Sidddaramaiah and Rahul will have a one-on-one meeting for about half an hour during which the former will strongly present his case to continue as CM after two-and-a-half years of his tenure. Siddaramaiahs continuation will depend on Rahuls decision and his Man Friday Venugopal will have a say, said another Congress leader. Siddarmaiah would also explain to Rahul the advantages of creating two more DCM posts -- one for a member from the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community and another for an SC. The issue of DCM and KPCC president D K Shivakumars alleged statement on changing the constitution to grant 2B quota for muslims had embarrassed the high command and on that, Siddaramaiah is likely to capitalise. Besides being DCM, Shivakumar holding key portfolios water resources and Bengaluru development has not gone well with the CMs supporters who want someone else as KPCC president. Kharge, who is both LoP in Rajya Sabha and AICC president, will back Shivakumar to continue as KPCC president in the interest of the party in the local bodies polls, a source said. It has to be seen whether Siddaramaiah discusses the alleged honey-trap attempt on his cabinet colleague K N Rajanna and the alleged supari killing plot on the latters MLC son Rajendra.

Tamil Nadu should explore non-lethal solutions over hunting in wild pig conflict

CHENNAI: While the Tamil Nadu forest department has procured weapons and begun the preparations for hunting wild pigs , conservationists warn that the move might disturb the predator-prey ratio and cause more adverse impacts. A new study by the Advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC) has also suggested exploring non-lethal methods to manage the escalating human-wild pig conflict before resorting to hunting. The report, detailing 3,331 conflict incidents, reveals that wild pigs are a growing challenge, with 94.4% (3,117) of cases tied to crop damage, 0.39% (13) to human deaths, 4.9% (161) to injuries, 0.1% (4) to livestock losses, and 0.2% (6) to property damage. However, the AIWC warns that hunting could disrupt ecosystems and urges sustainable alternatives. The study shows wild pigs target crops like groundnut (23%) and paddy (19.9%), with moderate damage to sugarcane (10%), maize (9.5%), tapioca (7.82%), banana (4.6%), and corn (6%). Analyzing 50 forest divisions, 40 reported conflicts, with Dharmapuri leading at 20.8%, followed by Thiruvallur (16.7%). Moderate incidents occurred in KMTR Ambasamudram (8.3%), Tiruvannamalai (7.4%), and Tiruppur (5.1%), while Trichy (0.6%) and Kanyakumari (0.4%) saw the least. December marked the peak conflict month, followed by November and September, with April recording the fewest cases. Tamil Nadus response includes the Wild Pig Hunting Guidelines, zoning areas near forests: Zone-A (up to 1 km) bans hunting, Zone-B (1-3 km) requires capture and release, and Zone-C (beyond 3 km) allows hunting. A special farmers-wildlife conflict resolution committee with officials and experts was constituted to study the impact of wild animals such as elephants and wild pigs on agricultural crop raiding in Tamil Nadu and to find a solution and make recommendations. The committee in its report recommended hunting beyond 5 km from forest boundary, but the State government in its own wisdom reduced it to 3 km. In the research document, the AIWC opined the most efficient strategy to reduce wild pig abundance involves reducing supplementary anthropogenic food resources and selectively removing juvenile and yearling wild pigs. It proposes non-lethal mitigationlike habitat restoration, crop diversification, and eco-friendly fencingbacked by incentive programmes. Dr J Pandiyan, associate professor, Department of Zoology and Wildlife Biology, said biofencing was one of the potential mitigation measures for farmers who are facing intensive conflicts with wildlife. About 45 non-browsing plants have been identified and details will be published in a book shortly. The government can supply these plants free of cost to farmers for cultivation. Species like Dendrocnide sinuata (Anaisoriyan), Acacia concinna (Sigaikkai), Allium cepa (Vengayam), Allium sativam (Vellai poondu), Citrus lemon and Aloe vera (Katrazhai) are known to yield good results. Coimbatore-based environmentalist Mac Mohan said the government is succumbing to pressure without conducting any scientific assessment. There is no predator-prey ratio study, wild pig population assessment is not done, and we don't even have leopard population data. Removal of wild pigs, an important prey base especially for leopards, in large numbers will push big cats into human areas, which can lead to fatalities. Let the government compensate the poor farmers adequately. Kerala has failed to contain the wild pig conflict problem, although rampant culling was carried out. A senior forest official said adequate precautions will be taken before giving hunting permission in a specific division. As per the G.O., local committees will be constituted which will inspect the conflict area for assessing crop damages and recommend for either the release of compensation to farmers or recommend for hunting to jurisdictional forest ranger officers. Permission to shoot the wild pigs will be granted only in most problematic divisions. Centre again rejects Keralas plea to declare wild pig as vermin

Lamborghini driver who hit two pedestrians in Noida gets bail

NOIDA: A district court on Monday granted bail to a man accused of hitting two pedestrians with his Lamborghini sports car in Noida. Deepak Kumar, a resident of Ajmer in Rajasthan, was arrested on Sunday following the accident near an under-construction building in Sector 94 here, police said. The two labourers have been identified as Dijen Ravidas and Rambhu Kumar, both hailing from Chhattisgarh. They were admitted to a private hospital and have been operated upon, police said. The accused's advocate, Mayank Pachori, told reporters, The court has granted bail as the offence was available. The bail was granted without conditions. He said the accident happened when Kumar was out on a test drive of the vehicle. Kumar, a car dealer in Noida, was booked under section 281 (rash or negligent driving) and 125(B) (endangering life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bhupendra Singh, in-charge of the Sector 126 Police Station, said. A purported video surfaced online on Sunday, showing that after the accident, a man was heard asking the accused if he knew how many people died there. To this, the accused asked the locals koi mar gaya idhar? (did anyone die here?) and came out of the car. The injured labourers said the car came towards them at a very high speed giving them no time to escape. I have injuries on my legs and hands my whole body is paining, said one of the injured labourers. During questioning on Sunday, Kumar told police that the accident had happened due to a fault in the vehicle. The car is registered in Puducherry. What we know about YouTuber Mridul Tiwari whose Lamborghini was involved in a crash in Noida

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What we know about YouTuber Mridul Tiwari whose Lamborghini was involved in a crash in Noida

The Lamborghini involved in a crash in Noida on Sunday evening leaving two labourers injured belongs to a YouTuber Mridul Tiwari. A car dealer was taking a test drive for the purpose of buying the luxury car from Tiwari when the accident occurred. The driver has been arrested and the injured are now recovering at a hospital, according to the NDTV . The car driver has been identified as Deepak, a resident of Ajmer and the car is registered with the Puducherry registration. He has been arrested and the car has been seized, news agency PTI quoted Bhupendra Singh, In-charge at Sector 126 Police Station as saying. A purported video surfaced online showing that after the accident, the accused came out of his car and asked the locals koi mar gaya idhar? (did anyone die here?). In the video, a man was also heard asking the accused if he knew how many people died here. Following this, someone in the video could be heard saying, police ko bulao (call the police). Who is Mridul Tiwari? Mridul Tiwari, in his early twenties, is a resident of Noida. He is a popular YouTuber and a social media influencer, who according to the Republic , owns multiple luxury cars and SUVs. Apart from Lamborghini, he owns multiple other luxury cars like the Porsche 718 Boxter, and recently purchased new Mahindra Scorpio N, the report said. His YouTube channel is called 'The MriDul'. He has 240 videos on his channel and over 1.8 crore subscribers. He launched his YouTube channel in 2018 and was quick to surpass 100k subscribers in less than a year. By March 2020, he hit over a million subscribers. This milestone earned him the coveted silver and golden play buttons from YouTube. Recently, he was also featured in YouTube's Top 10 Indian YouTube Creators list. Mridul's popularity extends beyond YouTube, with a following of over 3.5 million on Instagram and several million followers on Facebook, Republic report said.

Mridul Tiwaris Lamborghini Hits Two in Noida; Driver Asks, Koi Mar Gaya Hai Idhar?

The luxury car, owned by YouTuber Mridul Tiwari, was being test-driven by a car dealer when it struck two laborers near an under-construction site

Shocking!!! Koi Mar Gya Kya: Noida Lamborghini Driver Asks After Hitting 2 Workers

On Sunday, March 30, in a horrific accident, a red Lamborghini hit two pedestrians on a footpath next to an under-construction complex in Noidas Sector 94. Notably, after the driver was confronted following the accident, he nonchalantly asked- Koi mar gaya kya (Did someone die). The workers are thankfully out of danger and are currently Continue reading Shocking!!! Koi Mar Gya Kya: Noida Lamborghini Driver Asks After Hitting 2 Workers The post Shocking!!! Koi Mar Gya Kya: Noida Lamborghini Driver Asks After Hitting 2 Workers appeared first on OurVoice | WeRIndia - Analysis & Opinion .

'Aaj Lal, Gerua ek ho gaya': West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee criticises opposition amid tensions over Mothabari violence

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the Eidgah in Kolkata during Eid-ul-Fitr, reaffirming the government's commitment to stopping riots. She criticized opposition parties, implying a coalition between the BJP and CPI(M), and emphasized the need for harmony. Her remarks followed violence in Mothabari, Malda, which led to 61 arrests and the suspension of internet services.

What is the controversy over the Bodh Gaya temple? | Explained

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'Did anyone die here?': Lamborghini hits two pedestrians on Noida footpath, one held

NOIDA: A Lamborghini hit two pedestrians on a footpath adjacent to an under-construction building in sector 94 here on Sunday, police said. The injured, labourers from Chhatisgarh were rushed to a nearby hospital and are said to be out of danger. They have fractured their legs, police said. A purported video surfaced online showing that after the accident, the accused came out of his car and asked the locals koi mar gaya idhar? (did anyone die here?). In the video, a man was also heard asking the accused if he knew how many people died here. Following this, someone in the video could be heard saying, police ko bulao (call the police). Bhupendra Singh, In-charge at Sector 126 Police Station told PTI , In the car accident two labourers were injured and they were from Chhattisgarh. They are out of danger and have fractures in their legs. The accident happened adjacent to an under-construction building, he said. The car driver has been identified as Deepak, a resident of Ajmer and the car is registered with the Puducherry registration. He has been arrested and the car has been seized, he added. During questioning he told the police that the accident happened due to a fault. Further investigation is underway, Singh said.

Lamborghini Car Accident | Deadly Lamborghini Crash Caught on Camera Near Amity University in Noida

| Shocking Footage: Deadly Lamborghini Crash Caught on Camera in Noidas Sector 126A horrific incident occurred near Sector 126, Amity University, Noida, where a Lamborghini car ran over several workers outside the M3M project. The incident was caught on camera, and the driver's response has sparked widespread outrage. When questioned about the accident, the driver callously asked, 'Mar gaya koi?' (Did anyone die?). This shocking display of indifference has raised concerns about the attitude of some individuals towards human life. In this video, we'll discuss the details of the incident and the public's reaction to the driver's response. n18oc_breaking-news News18 Mobile App - https://onelink.to/desc-youtube

'Koi marr gaya hai'? asks Lamborghini driver after hitting two pedestrians on footpath

A red Lamborghini hit two pedestrians on a footpath in Noida's Sector 94 on Sunday evening, i.e., March 30, NDTV reported.

BYV, DKS colluded to bring out Jarkiholi sleaze CD: Yatnal

BELAGAVI: Undeterred by his expulsion from the BJP, MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal continued firing salvos at party state president BY Vijayendra on Sunday, this time accusing the latter of joining hands with Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to bring out the alleged sleaze CD involving MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Yatnal claimed it was Vijayendra who orchestrated the creation of the CD, in cahoots with Shivakumar. Hitting out at Vijayendra for getting him sacked from the BJP, Yatnal said, I am not the kind of person who would sit at home, upset. I will take a tour from Bidar to Chamarajanagar and from Kolar to Kodagu, in my attempt to fight against the Yediyurappa family. I will travel for Hindutva, and ensure that the father-son duo (Yediyurappa and Vijayendra) are out of politics in the state. Yatnal claimed all the MPs of the state are against Vijayendra and have urged for his expulsion from the party. Furthermore, he added that the same team (Vijayendra and Shivakumar) was involved in the latest honeytrap scandal that has rocked the state. He directly blamed Vijayendra for his ouster from the BJP, stating that both Vijayendra and his father exerted pressure on the party high command to remove him. The father-son duo may have thought that Yatnal would stay away from the BJP if he was sacked, he said, adding that the Veerashaiva Lingayat Mahasabha was not in favor of the two. Referring to his expulsion, Yatnal stated that such injustice to the people had been happening since the times of the Ramayana and Mahabharata. However, he added that he would not appeal to the party to reconsider its decision, but his team members (rebel party MLAs) would do the same.

Ex-Union ministers expulsion shakes up BJP; the party has a full plate

Fall in line or face action. Thats the simple yet stern message that the BJP top brass seems to be sending to its leaders in Karnataka by expelling former Union minister and MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal from the party for six years. Many in the party view it as a decisive step to put the faction-ridden state unit in order, while Yatnals sympathisers find it a bit too harsh an action that needs to be reconsidered. The move has shaken up the BJP in Karnataka, the partys gateway to the South, clearly indicating that the central leadership will no longer tolerate indiscipline. This also paves the way for BY Vijayendras continuation as the state unit president, and a formal announcement is expected anytime soon. It is a significant move, given the fact that the BJP has been struggling to find its form in the state since the Congress returned to power in early 2023, with a thumping majority of 136 out of 224 seats. Internal squabbles demoralised its cadres and impacted its ability to function as an effective opposition, despite several bunglings by the Congress government. The party leaders in the state did attempt to corner the government over many issues including the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) sites allotment case; the ST Corporation funds misappropriation case, in which funds meant for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes were diverted to private bank accounts and the Waqf land issues with some degree of success. However, the lack of unity among its leaders, especially seniors speaking openly against the state leadership, undid the partys gains. The Congress continued to control the narrative, though, at times, on a weak footing. Take, for instance, two major issues. Yatnal and team had abstained from the BJP-JDS padayatra from Bengaluru to Mysuru to corner the government over the MUDA issue. The party and the former Union minister had launched two separate campaigns against the Waqf Boards claims on the lands owned by farmers and Hindu religious institutions. The campaigns got national attention. Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Jagadambika Pal, visited several places in the state to interact with affected farmers. Yatnal had also positioned himself as a leader seeking reforms in the party to end family and adjustment politics. That got some traction among a section of the leaders, who openly backed him, and many extended tacit support by not defending the party, even when he publicly criticised former chief minister BS Yediyurappa and his son Vijayendra. This caused major damage to the partys image. It gave the impression that the party had three groups the state unit led by Vijayendra; Yatnal, and his team; and a neutral group waiting to see how things pan out. Now, the question is, will Yatnals expulsion impact the BJPs prospects in the elections, and will it help end factionalism within the party? A section of BJP workers see Yatnal, a Panchamsali Lingayat leader from Vijayapura, as a hardline Hindutva leader. Kudalasangama Panchamsali Peeth seer Basava Jaya Mruthyunjaya Swami, spearheading the movement seeking reservation for the community under 2A of the OBC category, has thrown his weight behind Yatnal. Some party leaders continue to back him, but their tone is no longer combative. Party insiders feel, as it stands now, the expulsion may have a minor impact in a few pockets in North Karnataka. But, given Yediyurappas standing as the tallest leader in the Lingayat community and the time the party has to put its strategy to work, it may hardly be a factor in the next assembly polls. BJP may project Panchamasali community leaders from the same region to negate any effect the move could have. Also, it is unclear whether Yatnal will stay out of the party for six years or make a comeback like he did twice after being expelled in 2009 and 2016. For now, it appears to be just the beginning of a series of measures to be taken to set things in order, end factionalism, and boost the morale among the cadre. Undoing the damage, building trust, and ensuring that the entire party works as one cohesive unit takes time and concerted effort from all sides. Its task becomes even tougher, given its formidable opponent. The Congress is already preparing for upcoming local body and assembly polls and has initiated measures to strengthen its presence at the grassroots level. It has actively involved its cadre in governance by making them part of the government committees to implement its flagship guarantee schemes. It is to be seen if the BJP gets its act together to put up a united front against the government over various issues, including price hikes the latest being that of milk and electricity and how it will pursue the honey-trap case. While the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is probing Cooperation Minister KN Rajannas allegation of attempts to honey-trap him, the government seems to be conveniently ignoring the ministers remarks made on the floor of the assembly. He had alleged that 48 leaders from different parties, including some central leaders, were honey-trapped, and many people say Karnataka has become a CD and pen drive factory. This is a serious charge and the government must come clean on it. As the opposition, the BJP has its work cut out.

Manada Kadalu Movie Review: Philosophically deep, but struggles to anchor emotionally

Yogaraj Bhats Mungaru Male remains one of Kannada cinemas most iconic love stories, largely because it captured love in its pure, fresh, and chaotic essence. The monsoon rains, as the perfect metaphor for love, swept audiences away in their beauty and unpredictability, leaving a lasting impact on audiences. So, when Bhat returns with another love story, expectations are naturally high, especially considering how Mungaru Male still casts a long shadow over his career. But does Manada Kadaldu live up to the hype, or does it find a new path to explore the complexities of love? Cast: Sumukha, Rashika Shetty, and Anjali Anish Director: Yogaraj Bhat This time, Bhat shifts his metaphor from the monsoon rains to the vast, unpredictable sea. If the monsoon was a symbol of loves fresh start, the sea here becomes a reflection of the chaos, beauty, and uncertainty of life itself. Along with the sea and the coastal landscapes, the fort forms the emotional backdrop of the protagonists journeya journey that is as much about discovering the self as it is about love. The film opens with the meaningful song ' Neeli Neeli Kadalu' , and the climax sees Sumukha's character underwater, followed by a narration in his voice. This MBBS student from Mysuru begins the story at a crossroads. His disillusionment with his studies and the loss of someone close to him disrupts his idealism. In search of purpose beyond the confines of medicine, he cuts short his studies and sets out on a quest to find deeper meaning in lifethrough nature and his relationships with others. This is where love enters the picture: a chance encounter with Rashika at the seashore, a cricketer dealing with a medical condition, sets the stage for a complex love story. For Sumukha, its love at first sight, but for Rashika, who is devoted to her sport, love is not on the agenda. Their dynamic speaks to the unpredictable nature of loveemotions dont always align with circumstances. Sumukhas perseverance and his journey to win over Rashika leads him to Doni Durga, a coastal town where he meets Anjali, Rashikas best friend. Anjali, an archaeologist, cautions Rashika about the complexities of love, but as the story unfolds, she too finds herself entangled in her own feelings for Sumukha. The result is a poignant love triangle, one that challenges Sumukha to question not just his feelings for both women but also his larger purpose in life. Should he prioritise love, or should he seek a broader sense of meaning? What sets Manada Kadalu apart from Mungaru Male is its shift from romance as the central theme to a broader meditation on life and its purpose. The film asks a vital question: Is it enough to chase love, or should we aim to embrace life in its totality, accepting love as only one piece of a larger journey? In contrast to the simplicity of Mungaru Male, Manada Kadaldu is far more philosophical, urging reflection on the full spectrum of human experience. While the films underlying message is thought-provoking, it doesnt always land with the emotional weight it aims for. At times, the pacing feels uneven. In parallel, the story weaves in the significance of the fort with the history of a king who lived with two wives. There is an element of ancient healing through the character of Dattatreya, juxtaposing modern medicine with traditional knowledge. While this could have been a powerful way to address the complex nature of existence, these elements feel underdeveloped in the script. One subplotRangayana Raghus portrayal of an Adivasi characterfeels tangential and underexplored, distracting from the central themes rather than enhancing them. The performances, particularly from the newer faces, make a good attempt. Sumukhas earnestness is engaging, and his enthusiasm is evident even in the happiest and saddest moments. However, there are times when a bit more depth and seriousness would have grounded his character more effectively. Anjali and Rashika bring sincerity to their roles, and all three contribute positively to the film's vision. Yogaraj Bhats long-time collaborator Harikrishnas music complements the emotional highs and lows, while cinematographer Santosh Rai Pathaje captures the breathtaking beauty of the sea, mountains, and lush greenery. These natural elements become as much a character in the film as the people themselves, contributing to the visual storytelling. Manada Kadalu is not a film that will simply sweep you off your feet the way Mungaru Male did, and one should not expect it to. Instead, its a reflective journey about lifes complexities, the unpredictability of love, and the search for purpose. It challenges its audience to think beyond love's simplicity and consider our existence's larger meaning. It will be interesting to see how the younger generation understands it in all its forms. In the end, its not just about what we love, but how we live. So, is life more important than love? Or do we follow our hearts, no matter the path? For those willing to navigate the unpredictable, chaotic beauty of the seashore, Manada Kadalu is a journey worth taking once particularly for the fresh talents it brings to the forefront, offering a fresh take on Yogaraj Bhats exploration of love and lifes intricacies.

'Saif Ali Khan Aapka Kutta Kha Gaya': Akashdeep Sabir Recalls How Amrita Singh's German Shepherd Killed His Dog

Akashdeep Sabir and Sheeba Akashdeep shared a close bond with Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh.

Pregnant woman turned away twice by MP health centre nurses, newborn dies en route to hospital

RATLAM: A pregnant woman in Madhya Pradeshs Ratlam district was allegedly turned away twice from a health centre, and her newborn died after she delivered while being rushed back to the facility on a handcart by her husband. The incident occurred in Sailana town during the intervening night of March 23 and 24, officials said on Friday. A video of the man taking his wife to the hospital for the third time went viral on social media. Sailana Sub-Divisional Magistrate Manish Jain said, At 9 am on March 23, Krishna Gwala, a resident of Kalika Mata Mandir Road in Sailana, took his wife Neetu to the community health centre, where nurse Chetna Charel sent them away, saying the delivery would take place after two to three days. At 1 am, she again experienced labour pains and was rushed to the hospital, Jain added. This time, nurse Gayatri Patidar refused to admit Neetu after an examination, saying the delivery would happen in 15 more hours. The couple returned home. However, when her condition worsened again, her husband took her to the hospital on a handcart for the third time. She delivered at 3 am en route, but health authorities later told the couple that the newborn had died. Gwala has blamed the hospital management for the death of the child and has demanded action. A thorough probe will be conducted into this incident, Jain said. Dr MS Sagar, the in-charge Chief Medical and Health Officer of the district hospital, said Collector Rajesh Batham had ordered an inquiry into the newborns death. The investigation at the district level found negligence in duty. A show-cause notice has been issued to Sailana Block Medical Officer (BMO) Dr PC Koli. A letter has been sent to the state Commissioner of Health Services seeking action against on-duty doctor Shailesh Dange, he said. Nursing officer Chetna Charel has been suspended with immediate effect, while NHM contract nursing officer Gayatri Patidars services have been terminated, he added.

Womans body found in Gaya

2 cops injured in attack by people in Gaya

Yatnal's return to BJP certain, will appeal to party to reconsider expulsion: Rebel leader Ramesh Jarkiholi

BELAGAVI: A day after MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal was expelled from the BJP for six years, a group of disgruntled party MLAs headed by Ramesh Jarkiholi have decided to hold a meeting in Bengaluru on Friday to send a strong message to the party that all of them are with Yatnal. Jarkiholi said in Belagavi on Thursday that the rebel MLAs, who are against the leadership of B V Vijayendra in the party, will appeal to the party high command to reconsider the decision, adding that Yatnal would return to the party soon. Jarkiholi said he still stands by his previous statements opposing the leadership of party state president B Y Vijayendra and added that he has never spoken against any other BJP leaders. Tomorrow, on the 28th, we will hold a meeting with our close associates in Bengaluru, where we will discuss everything. Moreover, no one is bigger than the high command, so we will appeal to the party to reconsider its decision, he said. Jarkiholi admitted that they (disgruntled BJP MLAs) had anticipated action against Yatnal. However, he questioned such a drastic step taken by the party to expel a leader from a prominent community. We have always been with the BJP. The party is like a mother to us. But showing leniency towards some party leaders and taking strict action against others is unfair, he said. He also recalled that he, too, had spoken against some party leaders in the past. But that was the party's internal matter. Taking such a harsh step by the party against a senior and tall leader of Yatnal's repute is disappointing, he added. Expulsion is not new to BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal Clarifying that there is no question of leaving the party, Jarkiholi stated, Yatnal and our other colleagues are firmly with the BJP. There are some issues, but we are united. We will request the high command to reconsider this decision. Jarkiholi revealed that he had already discussed the matter with key leaders in the BJP high command. Jarkiholi expressed confidence that Yatnal would return to the party within a week. I have already spoken to some top leaders of the party in New Delhi about it and the return of Yatnal is certain, he reiterated. When asked about his opinion of BJP state president BY Vijayendra and his leadership in the state, Jarkiholi refrained from commenting. I will not speak on this matter now. I stand by my previous statements, he said, concluding the conversation. According to sources, several noted leaders from the Lingayat community and the supporters of former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa are against the reinduction of Yatnal in the party as the latter who had been expelled from the party twice in the past did not mend his ways in spite of it. He openly opposed the leadership of Vijayendra and also humiliated Yediyurappa on several occasions despite the party top brass warning him to exercise restraint time and again. However, the group of disgruntled MLAs and other party leaders which include MLAs B Somashekhar, Siddesh, Annasaheb Jolle, Kumar Bangarappa and several others are expected to exert pressure on the party in an attempt to bring Yatnal back. They are likely to make their stand clear in Friday's meeting in Bengaluru, sources said. Did adjustment politics come back to bite BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal

Gaya preparations for Khelo India Youth Games reviewed

Labourer from Bihar dies after assault in Tamil Nadu

A labourer from Nalanda, identified as Amit Kumar, was fatally assaulted by criminals in Tamil Nadu. Despite medical treatment in Coimbatore and later in Patna, he succumbed to his injuries. His family has filed an FIR naming five youths from Gaya district involved in the attack.

She made debut with SRK, quit Bollywood, now has Rs 45,000 cr wealth

Mumbai: Many Bollywood actresses enjoy fame but later marry into successful business families, leaving acting behind. One such actress is Gayatri Joshi, who acted in only one Bollywood film, alongside superstar Shah Rukh Khan, and then left films forever. Gayatris Bollywood Debut Gayatri Joshi began her Bollywood journey in 2004 with the film Swades, opposite Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

In a first, Debrigarh hosts Indian Bison Festival

Bhubaneswar: In a bid to raise awareness about conservation of Indian bison (also known as gaur or gayala in Odia), Hirakud Wildlife Division has recently organised Indian Bison Festival at Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary, a first-of-its-kind in the state. The festival was held at Zeropoint in Debrigarh under the leadership of divisional forest officer (DFO) Anshu []

Anti-defection law failing its purpose: SC

The Supreme Court, hearing petitions seeking the disqualification of BRS MLAs for defection, observed that the 10th Schedule of the Constitution the anti-defection law instituted to prevent Aya Rams and Gaya Rams was not serving its purpose. Instead of preventing defections, political parties were encouraging the practice.

Class 12 student going for board exams forced to run behind bus after it fails to stop in TN, driver suspended

TIRUPATTUR: A Class 12 girl, who was waiting for a bus to reach her examination centre, was forced to run behind a government bus after it failed to stop at the designated bus stop in Tamil Nadus Kothakottai, despite visible signals from her and another woman. The incident, which happened around 8 am on Tuesday, was captured on video by a person riding a bike behind the bus. The video shows the girl running after the bus for a short distance, risking her safety before it finally stopped and allowed her to get on board. After the video of the incident went viral, the transport department suspended the bus driver, S Muniraj, who is a permanent employee, and terminated the services of the conductor, Ashok Kumar, who is a contract employee engaged on a temporary basis. According to sources, the girl studies at Nimmiyambattu Government Higher Secondary School, which is also her examination centre, approximately 3 kilometres from the Kothakottai stop. Speaking to TNIE , a transport department official confirmed that driver Muniraj was suspended within 30 minutes of the incident. As per regulations, the driver must stop at every designated bus stop, even if no passengers are visibly waiting. There could be individuals approaching from a distance, and the conductor must signal the driver to halt. In this case, both failed in their duty, the official said. The official said that action was taken even before the bus - travelling from Vaniyambadi via Alangayam to Tirupattur - reached its final destination. We have also ensured that the girl was able to attend her exam, he added.

Girl dies as rock fragment from boulder blasted illegally hits head in Tamil Nadu

VILLUPURAM: A 10-year-old girl grazing goats with her mother was killed on the spot after a piece of rock from a boulder, illegally blasted with gelatin sticks 200 metres away, hit her head on Sunday evening near Vikravandi. After the incident sparked tension in the locality, police on Monday arrested a 45-year-old villager on the charge of illegally using gelatin sticks to clear a boulder in a canal for dredging. The police are also questioning the president of Thirukunam panchayat, Prakash, on whose suggestion the villager allegedly used gelatin sticks to clear the boulder. According to police, E Gayathri of Thirukunam Madura T Kosapalayam village, a Class 5 student of a government school, had joined her mother E Muthulakshmi in grazing goats on land owned by P Krishnamurthy on Sunday as it was a holiday. After the child collapsed at the spot, locals, who heard the womans cry, informed the Kanjanur police. Vikravandi sub-division DSP G Nandakumar and a police team from Kanjanur rushed to the spot and conducted an inquiry. The body was sent to Villupuram Medical College and Hospital in Mundiyampakkam for autopsy. S Sankar Accused bought gelatin sticks illegally from kin According to police sources, the engineering wing of the agriculture department had taken up dredging of canals clogged with sand due to the floods during Cyclone Fengal last year. S Sankar (45), who is a staff of the contractor of the agriculture department, had illegally used gelatin sticks to clear a boulder in the canal. The piece of rock flew over 200 metres in the impact of the blast and struck Gayathri, police sources said. Villupuram Superintendent of Police P Saravanan said that Sankar was arrested on Monday. A case has been booked under Section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and under the Explosives Act, 1884. Prakash has been inquired by the police. Sankar had illegally bought the gelatin sticks from a relative who possessed licence to handle explosives. According to a source from the village, Muthulakshmi was living separately for the last few years with her daughter after a dispute with her husband, Ezhumalai of Arcot village near Arangandanallur. Chief Minister M K Stalin, in a press release on Monday, expressed his condolences and announced Rs 3 lakh compensation for Gayathris family from the CMs Public Relief Fund.

Tuberculosis: Treatment gaps among genders a worry

BENGALURU: Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a major health concern in Karnataka, with nearly 80,000 cases reported in the state in 2024. According to the state health department, adolescents account for 4,989 cases, while non-adolescents make up 74,379 cases. Adolescent females outnumber males, but the trend reverses in adults, where men are nearly twice as affected as women. Bengaluru city has the highest TB burden with 11,897 cases, followed by Raichur (4,364) and Kalaburagi (4,342). Among adolescents, Bengaluru city has 1,012 cases and Kalaburagi 374 cases. World Tuberculosis Day is observed on March 24 every year. Speaking to TNIE , District Health Officers (DHOs) posted across various districts highlighted a gap between how a man and a woman receives the care. The officials mentioned that while TB affects both men and women, social stigma and economic barriers often delay care for female patients, leading to worse outcomes. The DHOs also mentioned that they have been witnessing cases where females were abandoned by their families or prevented from marrying due to fears of infertility. Lead Consultant, Interventional Pulmonology, Aster CMI Hospital, Dr Sunil Kumar K explained that undiagnosed TB poses an increased risk of maternal mortality, preterm labour, and low birth weight in newborns. In Karnataka, maternal health challenges persist, and untreated TB further increases these concerns. The non-specific presentation of TB symptoms in women such as fatigue, weight loss, and a persistent mild cough often leads to misdiagnosis, as these symptoms are frequently attributed to nutritional deficiencies or other common ailments. Consequently, a substantial number of TB cases in women go unrecognised and unreported, suggesting that the true burden of the disease may be significantly higher than current data indicated, Dr Sunil stressed. The Union Health Ministry has been running schemes like Nikshay Poshan Yojana, which gives TB patients Rs 1,000 per month during treatment, and Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, which provides extra nutritional support through community donations. However, despite these efforts, women battling TB say the emotional and mental toll is far worse than the financial strain. Gayathri Nair, a teacher and member of Hosa Hambala, an NGO supporting TB patients in rural Karnataka, highlighted that even after treatment, many women struggle with skin discolouration and persistent weakness, making it difficult to return to normal life. What affects the patients most are the ways people react to their appearance. The discrimination is worse than the disease itself, she said.

Gaya DM inaugurates crche

Man shot in head while asleep in Gaya

Water crisis plagues Kazhakoottam as demand and supply gap widens

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Yet another summer is here and Kazhakoottam the rapidly developing IT city continues to grapple with a severe water crisis. According to the Kerala Water Authority (KWA), there is a 10 MLD gap in the demand and supply and presently they are ensuring water supply by controlling the valves. Several wards in the Kazhakootam constituency, including Edavacode, Sreekaryam, Chellamangalam, Powdikonam, Chempazhanthy, Njandoorkonam, Mannanthala, Attipra, Kulathoor, Kazhakootam and Kattayikonam, struggles with water crisis. Lack of mini tankers for supplying water to residential areas with road accessibility issues is a major crisis in many areas in Kazhakootam. Chellamangalam ward councillor Gayathri Devi C said that unavailability of mini water tankers is a major challenge. She said that there are many pockets where big tankers cannot reach and the KWA doesnt have long hoses to supply water to such areas. Hundreds of families in my ward are at the receiving end and we have to request for the water a day ahead. The big water tankers are unable to reach these problem areas and they park on the PWD main road. Its a huge stress for families here, said Gayathri Devi. Complaints galore even before the peak summer as the water crisis aggravates in many parts. Around 400 families under the Arasumoodu Residents Association have been struggling with a severe water crisis for years now. We have staged so many protests and now they are supplying water twice a week, said secretary S Gopakumar, Arasumoodu Residents Association. According to KWA, the number of accommodation units is rapidly increasing in Kazhakoottam and there are already around 80 major flats. We are controlling the valves to ensure water supply to Technopark and other major institutions in the region. When the crisis worsens, the corporation will be making arrangements to supply water in tankers for the residents, said an official of KWA. Age-old pipelines and recurring bursts are the main reasons why the KWA is unable to meet the growing demand in Kazhakootam area. It is learned that the pipeline from Peroorkada to Manvila is more than 25 years old and the project to replace the pipeline with new ones got approval back in 2019. A senior official of KWA told TNIE that the Rs 68 crore project has been tendered. The contractor has already placed the order for pipelines and the work will begin immediately, said the official. Owing to apathy and delays in making decisions, the project encountered cost escalation. Growing demand Around 400 families under the Arasumoodu Residents Association have been struggling with a severe water crisis for years The number of accommodation units is rapidly increasing in Kazhakoottam, according to Kerala Water Authority Age-old pipelines and recurring bursts are main reasons why KWA is unable to meet the growing demand in Kazhakootam area

Comic as bridge: ATREE, Tinkle team up for conservation education

BENGALURU: Comics hold a special place in everyones heart, bringing nostalgic to adults and serving as an entertaining and educational tool for children. Tapping into this, researchers from Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) have partnered with Tinkle, the popular childrens magazine, to create comics focused on conservation and environment education. According to ATREE researchers, comics have proven to be an effective way to bridge the gap between scientific research and tsuidents while promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Over the past year, 10 comics have been released on various environmental topics. The collaboration is now expanding to translate existing and upcoming editions into Indian languages, including Kannada and Marathi, to reach a wider audience. Jaya Peter from ATREEs communication team, who is involved in the project, explained that while ATREEs researchers across the country have conducted significant studies, much of their work remains unknown to the public. Comics were identified as an ideal medium to engage people, especially children. Since ATREE lacks the resources to distribute comic strips independently, they partnered with Tinkle, leveraging its well-known characters to communicate complex scientific ideas in an engaging way. She added that some stories are based on real-life research and experiences, such as orchid conservation or the study of diatomy, while others focus on research findings like the impact of housing exotic fish at home in aquariums or protection of Chalazode frogs. Educational topics, such as the role of different bee species and the migration patterns of harriers, are also covered. The selection process for each comic edition is unique. ATREE researchers, during their tea breaks, discuss their ongoing and published work, identifying topics with the most potential to be animated for children before finalising them. Tinkle Editor Gayathri Chandrashekar, working on the project, shared that the choice of topics and characters depends on what will engage children and the availability of scientists. Published research is preferred as a foundation for storytelling. Additionally, Tinkle has been collaborating with the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) to showcase women scientists through comic strips, an initiative that started last year. Plans are underway to collaborate with more research institutions in Bengaluru in the future, she added.

From career break to AI enthusiast-Gayatri's journey back to workforce

Gayatri Rao, a mechanical engineer, took a career break in 2016 and later transitioned into data science through self-learning and structured upskilling with Great Learning's AI & ML program. Overcoming initial challenges, she gained confidence through mentorship &hands-on training.

Rangayana Kalaburagi to organise month-long summer theatre workshop for children

'Yatnal will never become CM of Karnataka': Former Minister Renukacharya

CHITRADURGA/DAVANAGERE: Former minister M P Renukacharya said on Wednesday that Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal will never become chief minister of Karnataka and he is day-dreaming of becoming CM. Speaking to TNIE , he said Yatnal is involved in divisive politics and it is damaging the BJP's image. This is helping the Congress party in a big way. In order to bring back those who have deserted the party to the BJP fold and ensure a massive victory for the party in 2028 state assembly polls, we are making ground work and the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community convention is a step in that direction, he said. He also alleged that Yatnal is having the support of the Congress in dividing the community on caste and sub-caste basis. Yatnal pictures himself as Veerashaiva-Lingayat leader at one point, in another time, he pretends to be a Hindu leader and also becomes a Panchamasali leader later, thereby he is dividing the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community on caste basis, he alleged Siddaramaiah's 75th birthday celebration gave strength and new vigour to the Congress party and ensured that the party came to power with full strength. Now, in a similar way we want to strengthen the hands of B S Yediyurappa who had built the BJP from scratch in Karnataka, he said. MP Renukacharya accuses BJP MLA Yatnal of plotting against Yediyurappa, Vijayendra Veerashaiva-Lingayat convention in D'gere in May Veerashaiva-Lingayats have been fragmented and the Congress has been successful in taking some Veerashaiva-Lingayats into their fold ever since Yediyurappa stepped down as CM. Now, we have to reunite them. As part of this massive exercise before the state assembly elections 2028, we are organising this mega convention. Former minister S A Ravindranath is the convener, he said. Responding to a question on defying the orders of the BJP national leadership, Renukacharya said, Our convention will help the BJP in a big way and will not destroy the chances of its win. On the other hand, Yatnal is involved in fragmenting community votes through his divisive politics. He himself has said that he has the support of some top BJP leaders, if so, let him make it public, he advised. The convention will pass a resolution on the unscientific caste-based socio-economic survey report prepared by the Backward Classes Commission and will pressure the central government to provide OBC status to Veerashaiva-Lingayats. These are the main agenda of the Davanagere convention which will be held in May 2025, he said. Further, he said that his team has visited 17 districts of Karnataka and the rest of the areas will be completed at the earliest and the dates for the Veerashaiva-Lingayat convention will be finalised shortly at a meeting in Bengaluru. Im frontrunner for BJP state chief post: Basanagouda Patil Yatnal

Jewel loan rule spells debt trouble for customers in Tamil Nadu

MADURAI: A recent policy change introduced by the Reserve Bank of India regarding repayment of jewel loans has cast a new financial burden on the loanees and created windfall gain for loan sharks who charge even up to Rs 2,000 interest per lakh for two days (about 365% per year). Hitherto, banks allowed customers to renew their jewel loans after 12 months by just paying their interest alone. It was not mandatory to repay the loan principal to renew their loans. However, since last October, banks have made it mandatory for customers to pay the entire loan amount with interest after 12 months to re-pledge the loan for next 12 months. Moreover, the jewel loan once closed can be reopened only on the next working day. If customers fail to renew their loan as per this revised mandate, the banks can auction the jewels to recover their loan dues of principal and interest. This has landed the customers in a new debt trap as loan sharks, across Tamil Nadu, have started lending money at exorbitant interest rates for a few days to help people renew their loan accounts by paying the principal and the interest accrued. Aware of customers plight, but have to stick to RBIs rules: Banker S Syed, a customer from Madurai, told TNIE he took a gold loan for Rs 15 lakh from a nationalised bank by pledging 320g of gold at 9% interest. For mandatory renewal of the loan after 12 months, Syed had to pay the bank Rs 16,70,000 for one day, which was not easy for him. I found a middleman who was targeting gold loan customers. He gave the required amount but took Rs 1,000 as commission for Rs 1 lakh per day. To save my jewels from being auctioned, I had to pay him Rs 30,000 to get my Rs 15 lakh worth of jewellery. Eventually, I pledged the jewels that I got from the bank with a pawn broker at 24% interest, and paid the Rs 30,000 to the middle man. I underwent severe mental torture and financial loss because of this, he said. T Xavier Devasagayam, another customer, said, Gold appraisers of banks are working as touts for these loan sharks to mobilise funds for repayment, he added. A bank official said, Though we clearly know the plight of the customers, we have to strictly adhere to RBIs rules. Customers can re-pledge the jewels on the same day on their family members names if they want. If customers had paid their loan interest every month, they dont have to renew the loan, he said. Speaking to TNIE, All India Bank Employees Association district secretary M Kalidoss said the association has made a request to the RBI to relax the condition, considering the plight of the customers. Esan Murugasamy, founder of Tamilaga Vivasayigal Pathukappu Sangam, said, Banks used to provide jewel loans of up to Rs 3 lakh at 33 paise interest to farmers as the amount of crop loan given in cooperative societies is not sufficient to meet the cost of crop cultivation. Jewel loans are very useful to farmers. At the end of the year, farmers used to renew the loan by paying only the interest for that year. Now, the banks are refusing permission to do so, citing the RBI circular. Now farmers have to go to the banks and spend a few days to take the loan again and pay the full loan amount. This puts a heavy burden on the farmers. To arrange for the total sum to re-pledge the jewels, farmers are falling prey to money lenders. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Congress MP Manickam Tagore wrote to letter to Finance Minister Nirmala, drawing her attention to the issue. The recent policy changes introduced by the RBI regarding the repayment terms of jewel loans are likely to have a significant adverse impact on vulnerable sections of the society, including small businesses, farmers and low-income individuals, the MP said in his letter. Given the critical nature of this issue, I urge you to kindly intervene and request the RBI to amend this rule. The previous system of interest-only repayment with the option for loan renewal offered much-needed flexibility to borrowers and was vital in ensuring continued access to emergency funds, the MP said. MP sends letter to FM Congress MP Manickam Tagore, in a letter to Finance Minister Sitharaman, urged her to request RBI to amend rule. The policy may impact farmers, low-income individuals and small businesses, MP told the FM (With inputs from M Saravanan @ Coimbatore)

Mamata congratulates Kolkata-born academic on being selected for Holberg Prize

Kolkata, Mar 17 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday congratulated Professor Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak on being selected for the 2025 Holberg Prize, considered one of the most prestigious international awards in humanities and social sciences. Acknowledging Spivaks significant contributions to literary theory and philosophy, Banerjee said in a social media post that she has also been charmed by her (Spivaks) long and sustained association with pro-poor voluntary services in some remote villages of West Bengal. I congratulate our Professor Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak on her attaining yet another top international recognition, Banerjee posted on X. I congratulate our

Lex Fridman chants 'Gayatri Mantra' on podcast, PM Modi calls it 'great', watch viral video

This was PM Modi's second podcast appearance and his first with Fridman. The episode, released on Sunday evening, covered various topics

How Did I Do: Lex Fridman Chants Gayatri Mantra On Podcast, PM Modi Lauds His Effort | Watch

Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared on the 'Lex Fridman Podcast' on YouTube and talked about various aspects of his life. During the show, Fridman chanted Gayatri Mantra.

Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak Wins 2025 Holberg Prize

Renowned scholar honored for her contributions to postcolonial theory, feminism, and literary criticism

Severe groundwater contamination detected in over 30,000 rural wards in Bihar: Report

PATNA: Bihar is grappling with severe groundwater contamination, with 30,207 rural wards exposed to unsafe drinking water that poses serious health risks, according to a new report. The report, which was recently tabled in the assembly as part of the Bihar Economic Survey (2024-25), highlighted the presence of arsenic in groundwater in 4,709 such wards, fluoride in 3,789 wards and iron in 21,709 wards. Around 26 per cent of the rural wards in 31 districts, out of a total of 38, have groundwater sources affected by arsenic, fluoride and iron contamination beyond permissible limits, the state's Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) said in the study. The affected wards are located in Buxar, Bhojpur, Patna, Saran, Vaishali, Lakhisarai, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Begusarai, Khagara, Munger, Katihar, Bhagalpur, Sitamarhi, Kaimur, Rohtas, Aurangabad, Gaya, Nalanda, Nawada, Sheikhpura, Jamui, Banka, Supaul, Madhepura, Saharsa, Araria and Kishanganj districts. We are aware of the fact. Sensing the gravity of the situation, the state government has decided to make rural Bihar 'hand pump-free' and provide safe drinking water to people in the rural areas under the 'Har Ghar Nal ka Jal' scheme, PHED Minister Niraj Kumar Singh told PTI. The government is also implementing multi-village schemes (MVS) to improve water quality in the state, he said. Under the 'Har Ghar Nal ka Jal' scheme, PHED is providing safe drinking water to 83.76 lakh families in rural areas, he said, adding, potable water is also being made available to families in the 30,207 rural wards where the contamination is high. The state government is already working on a plan to use river water for drinking purposes. In September 2024, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar laid the foundation stone of a Rs 1,347-crore project for the supply of water from Sone river for drinking purposes in Aurangabad, Dehri and Sasaram cities after necessary treatment, the minister said. The scheme will use the water of Son river, ending the dependence of these cities on groundwater, he said. The project is likely to be completed in two years. In 2023, the CM dedicated the ambitious Ganga Water Supply Scheme (GWSS) or the 'Ganga Jal Apoorti Yojana' to the people of Gaya, Rajgir and Nawada. Under the scheme, people in these districts are provided an uninterrupted supply of clean and safe drinking water, Singh said. Dr Manoj Kumar, a leading gastroenterologist in Bihar, told PTI, The high level of chemical contamination in groundwater is certainly a matter of concern. The authorities must identify the source of contamination and take appropriate steps. Besides, camps should also be organised in the affected wards on a regular basis to make people aware of the adverse effects of consumption of contaminated groundwater. The authorities should come out with standardisation and classification of the quality of water used for drinking purposes. Kumar said drinking water quality standards should describe the quality parameters. Water may contain many harmful constituents, yet there are no recognised and accepted standards for drinking water in the country. The type of contaminant and its health effects vary depending on the water source, he said. The health impacts of water contamination can vary from a bout of stomach infection to terminal illnesses like cancer, Kumar said. The methods of purification depend on specific contaminants in a person's water source. Therefore, detailed water quality standards must be introduced by the authorities concerned, he added.

Lakshya Sen crashes out of All-England Open 2025 after losing his quarter-final encounter against Shi Feng Li

Indian Commonwealth Games champion Lakshya Sen exited the All-England Open 2025 quarter-finals after a loss to Shi Feng Li of China. In the women's doubles, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand were defeated by Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning. Earlier, PV Sindhu and Malvika Bansod also exited the tournament.

BJP rival camps vie with each other to woo Lingayats

Pancha Peetha seers have insulted faith, say Jagatika Lingayat Mahasabha leaders

Panchamasalis to launch eighthphase of agitation in Basavakalyan on April 26

They are seeking reservation under 2A category and OBC status for all Lingayat sub-castes in the Central list

MP: Police Shave Heads Of Youth, Parade Them For 'Dangerously' Celebrating India's Champions Trophy Win

Videos of the incident, showing the tonsured youths being escorted by the police on Monday, quickly went viral. The controversy prompted BJP MLA Gayatri Raje Puar to meet with Dewas Superintendent of Police (SP) Punit Gehlot on Tuesday.

Sit-in demonstration in Margherita

HT Correspondent MARGHERITA, March 11: A sit in demonstration for three hours was held on Monday at North Margherita Rangamancha, Margherita to repeal the Buddha Gaya Temple Management (BTMC) Act 1949 at Buddh Gaya, Bihar. More than 500 Buddhist people including Buddhist monks staged sit -in demonstration at North Margherita Rangamancha where through Panchsheel prayer []

Youths tonsured, paraded by police for going overboard celebrating India's Champions Trophy win in MP

BHOPAL: Youngsters in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh, who reportedly went overboard celebrating Indias Champions Trophy victory on Sunday night, have faced unusual punishment from local police. The police allegedly got the concerned youths tonsured and then publicly paraded them on the road in Dewas city, reportedly in the name of recreating the dangerous Sunday late-night celebrations. Videos of youths with tonsured heads being taken into police custody on Monday evening went viral, prompting third-term local BJP MLA Gayatri Raje Puar to meet Dewas District Police Superintendent Punit Gehlot the following day. Not just the nine youngsters, but the entire country was celebrating Indias Champions Trophy title triumph. They are not habitual criminals, so the act of tonsuring their heads and publicly parading them on the road is unwarranted. The family members of the concerned youths accompanied me to the SP Dewas office on Tuesday morning. Weve condemned the unimaginable punishment given to the youths. The SP has promised a thorough probe into the entire matter, the BJP MLA said. The SP-Dewas Punit Gahlot, meanwhile, said that a probe has been instituted into the entire series of incidents starting from the Sunday late-night celebrations to the Monday evening development. The probe will be conducted from all possible angles by the additional SP Jaiveer Singh Bhadoria in a time-bound manner. The probe will be completed within seven days, and those found at fault will have to face appropriate action. Whatever action has been taken so far in connection with the Sunday late night incident is based on the video footage of the incident. The probe ordered into the incident will cover all angles, including investigating whether those taken into custody were actually involved or not (particularly as their families are pleading their innocence), Gahlot added. Importantly, following the Men in Blues title win in Dubai, massive celebrations erupted in the western MPs Dewas city. During the celebrations, when the local police team led by the police station in-charge Ajay Singh Gurjar tried to stop some youths from bursting crackers dangerously in the heart of Dewas city the Sayaji Gate -- those youths were caught on camera misbehaving with the police team, forcing the police team to leave the place hastily. While the police station in charge left the place, some youths could be seen chasing the police vehicle and pelting stones at it. Based on the video footage of the Sunday late-night celebrations-related incident, the local police booked ten youths in the matter. The police were later caught on camera parading tonsured youths from the local police station to the Sayaji Gate (the place where the Sunday late-night incident happened) on Monday evening. Also, on Sunday late night, some cops physically assaulted a local Momos seller for selling his wares till late night amid the celebrations. The entire brutality was caught on camera. Acting in the matter, the concerned police constable has already been attached to the police lines and a probe ordered into the incident. The probe into that incident is being conducted by a circle SP (CSP).

Video Showing Monk Beaten in Nepal Falsely Linked to Bodh Gaya Protests in Bihar

The video is from Nepal from April 2024 and is not linked to the ongoing protests in Bodh Gaya, Bihar.

'CCTV Camera Band Nahi Kiya Gaya Tha': Manoj Jha, Ashwini Vaishnaw engage in verbal spat

All England badminton championships; Indian shuttlers face tough challenge amid injuries and form struggles

Saina and Lakshya Sen came close in 2015 and 2022, finishing as runners-up, while Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand reached the semifinals in consecutive editions.

'Why Do Brahmins Control the Mahabodhi Temple?' Ask Buddhist Monks in Bodh Gaya

Buddhist monks' indefinite protest against the Bodh Gaya Temple Act 1949 has been ongoing since February 12.

Eight killed, 13 injured in truck-SUV collision in MP's Sidhi

SIDHI: Eight persons were killed and 13 others injured after a collision between a truck and a sports utility vehicle (SUV) in Madhya Pradesh's Sidhi district early on Monday, police said. The incident took place at around 2.30 am near Upni petrol pump on Sidhi-Bahri Road, Deputy Superintendent of Police Gayatri Tiwari said. The vehicles collided head-on when the SUV (a taxi service) carrying members of a family was going towards Maihar, while the truck was heading to Bahri from Sidhi, she said. Seven persons travelling in the SUV died on the spot, the official said. Out of the 14 injured, nine were referred to Rewa for further treatment, where one of the seriously injured persons succumbed, Sidhi's Superintendent of Police (SP) Ravindra Verma told PTI. The others were undergoing treated at the Sidhi district hospital. The truck driver was detained, Tiwari said. Verma said the SUV occupants were going to Maihar for 'mundan' (tonsuring) ceremony of a child when the accident occurred. Prima facie, it seems the SUV was approaching from the wrong direction which led to the collision, he said. A team led by an additional superintendent of police has been constituted which will conduct a probe into the accident from all angles, the SP said. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed grief over the incident. Instructions have been given to approve a financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh each from the chief minister's discretionary fund to the families of those who died in the road accident, Rs 1 lakh each to the seriously injured and Rs 50,000 each to other injured persons, the CM said in a statement.

Time has come to change Karnataka BJP leadership, says partys rebel MLA

That explains the Lingayat rallies being organised by Yediyurappa and sons, says B.P. Harish

MP Man kills wife, hangs himself; grief-stricken grandfather jumps into his funeral pyre

SIDHI: An elderly man allegedly committed suicide by jumping into the funeral pyre of his grandson, who hanged himself after killing his wife, in Madhya Pradesh's Sidhi district, police said on Saturday. The incident occurred at Siholia village under Bahri police station limits, an official said. A man identified as Abhayraj Yadav (34) hanged himself after killing his wife Savita Yadav (30) on Friday. Their last rites were conducted the same evening, Deputy Superintendent of police (DSP) Gayatri Tiwari said. The death of his grandson Abhayraj left his grandfather, Ramavatar, shocked and traumatised, she said. On Saturday morning, information was received that the grandfather also committed suicide by jumping into the burning pyre, she said. His charred body was found on the pyre, she said. The reason behind Savita's killing was not yet known, Tiwari said, adding that investigation into the murder and the subsequent suicide cases was underway. (If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050, Tele Manas - 14416 (available 24x7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' helpline - 02225521111, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.)

Kareena Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor share a warm hug at IIFA Awards 2025; netizens say 'Geet aur Aditya ka reunion ho gaya'

Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor started dating in 2004 while filming Fida and broke up while shooting Jab We Met in 2007.

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya ties knot with classical singer Sivasri Skandaprasad:SeeFIRSTPICS

The wedding took place in the presence of close family and friends. Following the traditional ceremony, a grand reception will be held at Gayatri Vihar grounds in Bengaluru, Tejasvi Surya's hometown

Shehzadis last rites not held as Abu Dhabi seeks consent letter: Family

BENGALURU: The final rites of Shehzadi Khan were not held on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi, claimed her elder brother Shamsher Khan. The family received a call from the Indian embassy in Abu Dhabi whether any of our relatives was there to authorise local authorities to conduct her last rites. We were also asked to send the authorities a consent letter authorising them to do so in the absence of kin, Khan told this newspaper over phone. We have written a letter to the embassy following the call and are awaiting a response. The MEA had reached out to the family and assured that it would make arrangements for them to go to Abu Dhabi for Shehzadis last rites scheduled on March 5. The family, however, had refused to go and requested the authorities in Abu Dhabi through the MEA to conduct her last rites and share the photographs with them. 'Hamara time khatam ho gaya, bus sukoon chahiye': UP woman Shehzadi's last words to kin before execution in UAE The distraught family from village Goyra Mugli in UPs Banda has been at a loose end regarding the fate of Shehzadi, the 33-year-old who was executed on February 15 for the death of a four-month-old child under her care. We came to know of her execution on March 3 at 4pm following our plea in the Delhi High Court, said her father Shabbir. The MEA informed the HC on Monday that Shehzadi was sentenced to death in Abu Dhabi over the death of an infant and was executed on February 15. The Indian embassy was informed about the execution only on February 28. The MEA informed that the Indian embassy had provided legal support.

Adah Sharma makes shocking statement about marriage, reveals why she doesn't want to have wedding: 'Mann uth gaya hai'

Adah Sharma, who headlined the controversial film The Kerala Story in 2023, said that though she isn't scared of any relationships, her dream is to not get married.

'Hamara time khatam ho gaya, bus sukoon chahiye': UP woman Shehzadi's last words to kin before execution in UAE

BENGALURU: The family of Shehzadi Khan, the 33-year-old woman from Banda district in Uttar Pradesh who was executed on February 15 in Abu Dhabi for the death of a four-month-old child under her care, will not be going to Abu Dhabi for her final rites. Instead, they have requested the authorities in Abu Dhabi through the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to conduct her last rites and share the photographs with the family. Speaking exclusively to TNIE over the phone from Delhi, Shehzadi's elder brother Shamsher Khan said that the MEA has reached out to the family and assured that they would make arrangements for them to go to Abu Dhabi for her last rites. But, what is the point of going there now? The MEA could have been more proactive in Shehzadi's case and alerted us to get appropriate legal arrangements for her earlier. My sister's life could have been spared. She was trafficked by Uzair from Agra, tortured by her employers in Abu Dhabi and implicated in a false case of the death of their child. We spent Rs 50,000 for filing an appeal in the court when we came to know that she is no more, grieved Shamsher, who works as a fabricator in Mumbai. Shehzadi's father Shabbir expressed the family's anguish at the injustice meted out to his daughter and blamed the Abu Dhabi authorities and MEA for informing them about her execution more than 15 days later. We came to know on Monday, March 3, at 4 pm that they had executed her on February 15 in Abu Dhabi following our plea in the Delhi High Court. We offered Fateha (prayers for the deceased) in our village last evening. Tomorrow they will bury her there. How can we go at such a short notice and what is the point now? She did not get justice from anywhere. We have requested the authorities in Abu Dhabi through the Indian embassy there to share photographs of her final rites, said Shabbir, a farmer from village Goyra Mugli in Banda district. According to the family, Shehzadi last spoke to her parents from Abu Dhabi's Al Wathba jail, where she was lodged, between 12 and 12.30am on February 15. She was executed soon thereafter. Hamara time khatam ho gaya, papa. Unhon ne hummey dossrey kamrey mein shift kar diya hai. Time nahi hai hamarey paas (my time is over. They (prison authorities) have shifted me to another cell. I don't have time), sobbed Shehzadi on the phone while speaking to her parents. Arrey nahi beta, aisa mat bol. Allah, Allah kar, beta (don't talk like this. Pray to Allah), cried Shabbir, while assuring his distraught daughter across the continent in a doomed lonely prison cell. Shehzadi requested her parents to withdraw the FIR against her employers (whose infant had died while in her care). Dushmani mat lena. FIR wapas le lo. Ab hummey kuch nahi chahiye. Bus, sukoon chahiye. Ye court, kachehri ka chakkar band kar do. Aaram se rehna (don't foster enmity. Withdraw the FIR. Don't run after courts. Stay in peace. I don't want anything now other than peace), wept Shehzadi on the phone. Her parents prayed for their daughter and apologised that they could not do anything for her. Kitney accidents huey hamarey saath, samajh lena ek aur ho gaya (I have met with so many accidents in my life, think this was another one), she said. Shehzadi sought forgiveness from her parents and said that she doesn't owe anyone anything and there is no debt on her. Her emotionally traumatised parents begged for Allah's mercy for their ahadur beti (brave daughter) and begged her to speak to her lawyer. That was the last call we received from Shehzadi. She was the youngest in the family of seven children -- three daughters and four sons. She had suffered 80 percent burn injuries as a child and was getting a monthly pension of Rs 1,500 from the UP government. She was a social worker and helped many people using donations she received. She was working with Roti Bank in Banda and it was during the Covid-19 pandemic that she had befriended Uzair from Agra online. He took her to Abu Dhabi in December 2021 on the pretext of getting her a good employment at his uncle Faiz and aunt Nazias home and treatment for her burn injuries there. Shehzadi began working as a caregiver for her employers newborn. The four-month-old died on December 7, 2022, after receiving routine vaccinations. Despite the hospital and police recommendation for a postmortem, Faiz and Nazia refused and signed a waiver. They later started accusing Shehzadi of murdering their child and tortured her to the extent of a forced confession of a crime she had not committed, said Shamsher. In July last year, based on Shabeer's complaint, Banda police had registered an FIR against Faiz, Nazia, Uzair and Faizs mother Anjum Sahana Begum on the courts order. Shehzadi was arrested in February 2023 in Abu Dhabi following a complaint by her employers, who blamed her for their infant's death in December 2022. She was convicted and sentenced to death on July 31, 2023. The UAE authorities officially notified the Indian embassy of her execution on February 28. It came to light during a court hearing on March 3 following a plea filed by Shabbir about his daughter's fate and legal status. The MEA informed the Delhi High Court on Monday that Shehzadi was sentenced to death in Abu Dhabi over the death of an infant and was executed on February 15. The Indian embassy was informed about the execution only on Feb 28. The MEA informed that the Indian embassy had provided legal support, including submitting mercy petitions and pardon requests to the UAE government. But the UAE's highest court - the Court of Cassation - upheld Shehzadi's death sentence.

Lingayat organisations come together to oppose RSS narrative on vachanas, call for unity

Now, BJP rebels hold a meeting of Lingayat leaders to enlist their support

Lucknow Diary: BJPs Dalit outreach plan for Assembly polls

BJPs Dalit outreach plan for Assembly polls With UP Assembly polls scheduled for 2027, political parties have started charting out priorities. The ruling BJP, along with RSS, is working out a new outreach plan focused on Dalits, to check an apparent shift of disenchanted SC vote bank from BSP to rival camps, particularly the SP and Congress. The plan envisages visits of BJP functionaries and ABVP members to degree colleges, universities, engineering and medical colleges to meet Dalit students in groups or individually and convince them about the social justice measures undertaken by Modi government at the Centre and Yogi government in UP. SBSP to contest over 10 seats in Bihar The Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP), led by Yogi minister OP Rajbhar, is preparing to contest over 20 seats in Bihar, where Assembly polls are set to take place in later this year. Rajbhar, a BJP ally, claims to have completed the groundwork on nearly 29 seats. He is set to demand a fair share from the BJP and JD(U) in the state where his party has been active for the past few years. Sources said SBSP has zeroed down on assembly seats across 28 districts, including Sasaram, West Champaran, Nawada, Nalanda, Gaya, Aurangabad and Bettiah. Dalit groom assaulted, marriage party returned A Dalit groom bore the brunt of caste discrimination when a group of 40 upper caste men attacked his marriage procession for passing through their locality and playing DJ music in Bulandshahr. While the groom was pulled down from the horse, the baratis (wedding guests) were beaten up and forced to return. Six of them sustained head injuries in the incident. An FIR has been filed against 30 identified and some unknown people under relevant sections of BNS which included sections 191 (2) (rioting), 126 (2) (preventing someone from moving freely), 324 (4) (mischief), and 115 (2) (voluntarily causing hurt).

Lingayat leaders, seers meet Chief Minister, seek 500 crore

Lingayat spiritual and political leaders met CM with demands

Among the demands of the delegation included Rs 100 crore budgetary allocation each in every budget to spread the teachings of Basavanna which is necessary to spread the teachings among the forthcoming generations, a Sharanara Darshan Centre on the lines Akshara Dham and allocate 25 acres for the purpose

Bengal Woman Meets With Accident While Escaping From Eve-Teasers At Night, Dies

The victim, identified as Suchandra Chattopadhyay, was travelling with three colleagues to Gaya for a function when the accident took place at Panagarh around 3 am.

Bengal woman killed in attempt to escape eve-teasers

A 27-year-old event management professional was killed in an accident while trying to escape from eve-teasers who were chasing her in another vehicle in West Bengal's Paschim Bardhaman district. The victim, identified as Suchandra Chattopadhyay, was travelling with three colleagues to Gaya for a function when the accident took place at Panagarh around 3 AM. Two of the other passengers sustained serious injuries. Police have launched a search operation to locate the suspects.

Footage: Anurag Kashyap to present Hindi version of Manju Warriers Malayalam thriller; trailer out

Also starring Vishak Nair and Gayathri Ashok, the found-footage feature will hit cinemas on March 7.

IIT Baba's prediction fails as India defeats Pakistan by six wickets! Netizens say, 'ab underground hone ka time aa gaya'

Abhey Singh, aka IIT Baba, predicted that Pakistan will win the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 game against India. On the contrary, India has defeated Pakistan by six wickets, with Virat completing his emphatic 51st one-day international century.

'Unhe thugga gaya hai': Vineeta Singh slams Shraddha Kapoor's jewellery brand for 'misleading' customers

Bollywood actress Shraddha Kapoor's jewellery brand, Palmonas, recently appeared on Shark Tank India season 4. Palmonas co-founders, Pallavi Mohadikar and Amol Patwari, pitched their business to the sharks, asking for Rs 1.26 crores in exchange for 1 per cent equity.

NIA chargesheets fourth accused in CPI-Maoist Magadh zone revival case

NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency on Saturday said it has filed a chargesheet against a zonal committee member of banned CPI (Maoist) in a case of attempts to revive and strengthen its presence in Magadh zone in Bihar. In its third chargesheet filed in the case before a special court in Patna, the federal agency has charged Bihari Paswan, a member of North Bihar Madhya Zonal Committee of the banned outfit, under Indian Penal Code and anti-terror Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the NIA said in a statement. He is the fourth accused against whom the chargesheet has been filed in the case, it said. NIA investigations have revealed that Bihari Paswan, who was arrested in August 2024, was trained in manufacturing of IEDs (improvised explosive devices). Along with other accused, he was actively involved in unlawful activities intended to disrupt the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India, the statement said. The NIA has alleged that Paswan co-conspired to further strengthen the presence of CPI (Maoist) in Begusarai-Khagariya area on the directions of one of the earlier arrested accused, Pramod Mishra who is a polit bureau member. Paswan used to provide logistics support to Pramod Mishra and other leaders, and was also involved in raising funds for the proscribed organisation through collection of levy from brick kiln owners and other business establishments, the agency said. The NIA had recovered mobile phones and letters connected with CPI (Maoist) from Paswan's possession during his arrest from Begusarai. The case had emanated from the arrest of two top leaders of CPI (Maoist) by Tekari police in Gaya district of Bihar in August 2023. Naxal literature, handwritten letters and seven memory cards were seized from their possession, the NIA said. The anti-terror probe agency had registered the case in October 2023 against Pramod Mishra and Vinod Mishra, residents of Gaya region

Railway asks RITES to design proposed permanent holding areas at railway stations

NEW DELHI: Following the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station which killed at least 18 people including four children, the Ministry of Railways has instructed Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) to design 'permanent holding areas' (PHAs) at 60 stations across the country for crowd management. These stations have been selected based on the sudden increased crowd surges during special occasions like Holi, Diwali, Chhatha and other festivals. So far, permanent holding areas (PHAs) have been developed at only 9 stations in and around Prayagraj in UP. These holding areas are located outside the platforms to help control the flow of passengers and prevent overcrowding. In view of emerging crowds of passengers for Mahakumbh ahead of Mahashivratri, falling this year on February 26, passengers holding areas on temporary basis have also been created at Patna junction, Danapur, Ara, Buxar, Sasaram Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Hajipur, Samastipur and other railway stations following the massive origination of passengers towards Mahakumbh, a senior official working with the Ministry of Railway told this newspaper. The temporary passenger holding areas have also been created at Deendayal Upadhyay Railway station, formerly known as Mughalsarai, under the east Central Railway. Upon being asked about the progress on the plan for the construction of the proposed holding areas, the railway official said, The RITES has been instructed to start working on the design of permanent holding areas keeping every factors in mind. After the design is readied by the RITES, the Ministry of Railway after wider discussion approves it and move ahead in mission mode for 60 railway stations. Many stations in Bihar, UP and other states witness sudden surges in crowds of passengers during festivals like Saharsa. Kanpur, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Udna, New Delhi and other stations also witness sharp surges in number of passengers during festivals. After final design of PHAs is readied and approved, all amenities like ticketing zones, wi-fi, eateries stalls, and others would be made available in each of PHAs. Not only this, by doing some changes in the Amrit stations, the permanent holding area would also be created to control crowds during peak time, said an official. As it is roughly being estimated, the Ministry will have to spend between Rs 1 crore to Rs 5 crore for the development of these permanent holding areas as part of a larger effort to improve crowd management at major stations. Railway Ministry orders platform X to remove videos of New Delhi railway station stampede For the time being, in view to keep emerging crowds for Mahakumbh, massive holding areas at Ghaziabad, Anand Vihar, New Delhi, Ayodhya Dham, Vanaras ,Ballia, Siwan, Deoria, Chhapra, Rajendranagar in Patna, Muzaffarpur, Barauni, Jaynagar, Madhubani, Raxaul, and Gaya have been created by the railway. Passengers are allowed to enter the platforms based on the scheduled departure times of their trains. This initiative aims to improve crowd management and enhance passenger safety, especially during peak hours and festive seasons, the official said. Meanwhile, UP CM Yogi Aditaynath appreciated the railway for arrangements to the Mahakumbh-bound passengers. He said that more than 13,500 trains including more than 3500 special trains are in service for the Mahakumbh. The 48 digital ticketing, multilingual announcements and conveniences being provided to passengers reflect the railway's commitment, he said.

Kushinagar to be developed as international tourist destination, says Minister Shekhawat

NEW DELHI: Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has issued directions to authorities to spruce up lighting and various other amenities to facilitate visitors with walking disability at Kushinagar, a significant Buddhist pilgrimage site located in Uttar Pradesh. After reviewing the arrangements in place at Parinirvana Stupa, also known as Mahaparinirvana Temple, located among the ruins of ancient Buddhist monasteries founded during the 5th century AD, the minister said it would be developed as an international tourist attraction. According to Prime Minister Modis vision, Kushinagar in UP will be developed as an international tourist place. Today I reviewed the arrangements of the Mahaparinirvana Temple. I instructed ASI to provide better lighting and ramp facilities for tourists in the temple, he posted on social media platform X. It is believed that Gautama Buddha died in Kushinagar and attained parinirvana. Kushinagar is the central point of the Buddhist circuit, which consists of pilgrimage sites at Lumbini, Sarnath and Gaya. In the Union Budget earlier this month, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled plans to boost growth of tourism with special focus on destinations related to the life and times of Lord Buddha. Continuing with the emphasis on places of spiritual and religious significance in the July Budget, there will be a special focus on destinations related to the life and times of Lord Buddha, the finance minister had said. The Centre in recent years has been focusing on promoting sites related to Buddha. It organised the first Asian Buddhist Summit in Delhi last year. The summit, themed Role of Buddha Dhamma in Strengthening Asia, featured prominent Sangha leaders, scholars, and practitioners from across the continent, fostering dialogue and understanding while addressing contemporary challenges faced by the Buddhist community. Earlier, in 2023, the first of its kind event a two-day international conference on Shared Buddhist Heritage was held in Delhi in 2023. The programme brought together Central Asian, East Asian, South Asian and Arab countries on a common platform to discuss Shared Buddhist Heritage. In this series, an International Airport at the Lord Buddhas Parinirvana in Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh was inaugurated in 2021.

Six persons bitten by street dog at Kangayam

Palash Vaswani on why Sooraj Barjatya choose him to direct Bada Naam Karenge, how stars changed OTT: 'Ab yeh ho gaya ki bada star lao' | Exclusive

Director Palash Vaswani discusses the response he is receiving to his latest OTT directorial, Bada Naam Karenge, and how stars have changed the dynamics of OTT.

Rangayana workshop on theatre songs from tomorrow

Hrithik Roshan and Rekhas mother-son Koi Mil Gaya reunion

Mumbai: At the star-studded success bash of Netflixs The Roshans, Hrithik Roshan shared a heartwarming moment with veteran actress Rekha as they reunited. The two, who had previously captivated audiences with their emotional performances in the iconic film Koi Mil Gaya, posed together, evoking fond memories of their powerful on-screen mother-son bond. The evening saw Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Rekha Leaves Hrithik Roshan Blushing Big Time, Kisses Alka Yagnik At 'The Roshans' Party | WATCH

Rekha Ji won hearts with her usual charm at 'The Roshans' party last evening. Clad in an oh-so-glam outfit, she was seen playfully pointing at Hrithik Roshans face when paps asked, 'Jaadoo kahan hai?' leaving the 'Koi... Mil Gaya' star blushing hard. Rekha Ji also shared a sweet moment with Alka Yagnik, giving her a tight hug before planting a kiss on her cheek. Watch the video for more details! bollywood news | entertainment news live | latest bollywood news | bollywood | news18 | n18oc_moviesLiked the video? Please press the thumbs up icon and leave a comment. Subscribe to Showsha YouTube channel and never miss a video: https://www.youtube.com/c/SHOWSHAIndiaFollow Showsha on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/showsha_/Follow Showsha on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/showshaFollow Showsha on X: https://x.com/news18showshaFollow Showsha on Snapchat: https://snapchat.com/t/6YeotZeyMore entertainment and lifestyle news and updates on:https://www.news18.com/entertainment

CM Nitish announces ex gratia for kin of deceased from Bihar in New Delhi railway station stampede

PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday expressed grief over the deaths in a stampede at New Delhi railway station , and announced ex gratia for the next of kin of the deceased hailing from the eastern state. At least 18 people were killed and more than a dozen injured in the stampede that broke out late Saturday night at the crowded railway station. The CM has expressed condolences over the casualties in the stampede at the New Delhi railway station. He is deeply saddened by the deaths of Bihar natives in the incident, and announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the immediate family members of the deceased, and Rs 50,000 for those who are injured, a statement issued by the CMO said. According to a statement issued by the state Disaster Management Department here on Sunday, A total of eight people from the state died in the stampede that took place at New Delhi railway station on Saturday. A maximum of three people from Samastipur died in the incident, followed by two from Nawada and one each from Vaishali, Patna and Buxar districts. Commenting on the incident, Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi told reporters in Gaya, The incident which took place at New Delhi railway station last night was very tragic. It happened because of the heavy rush of passengers at the platform. Overall, adequate arrangements are in place to ensure that pilgrims don't face any difficulties. The incident took place due to a large number of passengers attempting to find space inside the trains en route to Prayagraj. The government is giving compensation to the family members of those who died and were injured in the stampede, he added. Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, in a post on X, said, The incident at New Delhi railway station is heart-wrenching. My deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. I pray to God to grant peace to the departed souls and for the speedy recovery of the injured. Meanwhile, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad slammed the BJP-led government at the Centre over the incident, and demanded the resignation of the railway minister. The stampede episode is very disturbing. It has exposed the inadequate arrangements made by the central government. The railway minister must resign after this incident, Prasad told reporters here. Asked to comment on how lakhs of people were heading to Prayagraj for the mega religious gathering, Prasad said, Kumbh has no meaning. It is just meaningless. Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, told reporters, It's a very tragic incident. The incident has proved that the entire system has completely collapsed the government machinery is more interested in VVIPs visiting Prayagraj. There are no arrangements for poor people, who are going there at the mercy of almighty. they are suffering the most. they are dying. The government has made no arrangements for other visitors. The entire country, especially the people of Bihar, want to know who is responsible for these deaths? Accountability must be fixed, he added. Mother of two, empty hands, a blue backpack: Many journeys cut short by New Delhi stampede

A Nail Pierced Her Head: Man Who Lost His Daughter, 7, In Delhi Stampede

Meri ladki ke kila ghus gaya (a nail pierced my daughter's head), said a man, whose 7-year-old daughter was among the 18 who died during a stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station late on Saturday.