Author: Vividh Bharathi

Cong govt shifted lathi-charge victims to undisclosed location: K’taka BJP

Bengaluru, Dec 12 (IANS) The Karnataka BJP on Thursday accused the Congress-led state government of shifting the injured lathi-charge victims to an undisclosed location to prevent its leaders from meeting them.

The party announced plans to stage a protest at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi and raise the issue during the ongoing Assembly session.

Leader of the Opposition, R. Ashoka, speaking to reporters in Belagavi, said, “Our party leaders today planned to visit the hospital to meet those injured in the lathi-charge during the Panchamasali Lingayat reservation stir on Tuesday. We had communicated our intention to visit them. However, the injured persons were suddenly shifted to an undisclosed location.”

“This government is not allowing us to meet those severely injured in the lathi-charge. This behaviour is reminiscent of Hitler. We are unable to track down where the injured have been taken,” he added.

Ashoka stated that the BJP would raise the issue of the assault on Lingayat protesters during the zero hour and stage a protest near the Ambedkar statue on the premises of the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha before the session begins. “A small incident has been blown out of proportion by ordering a lathi-charge on protesters,” he said.

He accused the Congress government of hypocrisy, saying, “In their speeches, Congress leaders quote Basavanna, the founder of the Lingayat sect. Yet in reality, they order lathi-charge on Basavanna’s followers.”

“We don’t know if we are in a democratic system or a state of emergency. During the previous BJP government, the Panchamasali Lingayat community protested without any restrictions. Back then, the number of protesters was four times higher than Tuesday,” Ashoka recalled.

“Our government took action to ensure the situation didn’t go out of hand. Responding to their demand, we decided to provide a reservation quota,” he stated.

Ashoka further said, “The government has instigated violence, and members of the Lingayat community were assaulted so brutally that many are now in the ICU. This is an unpardonable crime. The community seer has pointed out that no Chief Minister in history has ever ordered a lathi-charge on Lingayats, but CM Siddaramaiah did. The seer has warned of consequences.”

He criticized the government for reducing the Assembly session’s length. “The government claimed they would run the session for 10 days but curtailed it to one day, citing the Kannada Sahitya Sammelan. Another day was spent unveiling portraits of Mahatma Gandhi and Anubhava Mantapa. Two more days were lost due to the death of former CM S.M. Krishna,” Ashoka noted.

“The government should have extended the session by a week. We could have addressed issues such as the Waqf board controversy, maternal deaths, the Rs 700 crore-excise scam, newborn deaths, the ration card issue, and the Panchamasali Lingayat reservation,” he added.

Ashoka also said, “The BJP gave the reservation to Lingayats. The Constitution does not allow religious-based reservations for minorities. The BJP government cancelled reservations for minorities and redistributed them to Lingayats, Vokkaligas, Marathas, and others as per the Constitution. The Congress, practising vote-bank politics, has halted the implementation of these reservations.”

He accused CM Siddaramaiah of supporting the assault on protesters. “CM Siddaramaiah assured discussions on the Lingayat Panchamasali reservation issue. Instead of meeting the protesters and receiving their memorandum, he ordered a lathi-charge. If he respected democracy, he would have met the protesters. The CM must apologise, and the responsible police officers must be suspended,” Ashoka demanded.

State BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra announced that all BJP MLAs and MLCs would stage a protest on the premises of the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha.

–IANS

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Chair can’t be questioned: Nadda slams Cong chief for ‘demeaning’ constitutional positions

New Delhi, Dec 12 (IANS) Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha and Union Minister J.P. Nadda on Thursday strongly condemned Congress and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Mallikarjun Kharge for “demeaning” and “derogating” constitutional positions and “questioning the Chair.”

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Nadda emphasised that the “Chair cannot be questioned, with regards to admissibility, and the Chairman’s ruling cannot be questioned or criticised. To do so is contempt of the House and the Chairman.”

Expressing his disappointment, Nadda said, “With sadness, I must say that yesterday, one of the most senior and experienced leaders, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, conducted a press conference and criticised the Chair. This is condemnable and objectionable. It paves the way for a wrong tradition. Any amount of condemnation would not be enough for this.”

During his speech, Opposition MPs continued sloganeering.

“Kharge accused that he was not given an opportunity. It is worth mentioning that letters were written by the Chair time and again to the Leader of Opposition to participate and come to the chamber. However, he always refused and did not participate in the last BSE meeting either,” Nadda said.

“This shows how much interest they have in democratic traditions and how much they respect it,” he added, targeting the Congress.

On Wednesday, Kharge, along with INDIA bloc leaders, launched a scathing attack on Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, blaming him for the repeated stalling of the House due to his “headmaster-type attitude” and treating “Parliament like a school.”

In a joint press conference with Congress and its allies, Kharge made serious accusations against Vice President Dhankhar, stating, “The biggest disruptor of the House is the Chairman himself.”

Kharge accused the Rajya Sabha Chairman of partisan conduct, alleging that he often acted as a “spokesperson of the ruling party.”

Nadda also pointed out that the Congress social media handle had referred to the Chairman as “Chair Leader.”

“The way wrong efforts have been made to derogate and demean a constitutional position, and the way democratic values and the constitutional system have been disrupted, the country will never forgive the Congress party,” Nadda said.

“Today, they worry about constitutional positions and methods. This is the same Parliament outside whose premises Congress leaders mimicked and mocked the Chairman, while their senior party leader made videos of the,” he added.

“Neither the Congress party has any interest in constitutional proceedings nor do they respect constitutional practices. Their press conference yesterday also shows they want to shift the focus from important issues of the nation,” he added.

Further questioning the “link” of Congress with foreign forces, Nadda said, “The country wants to know the relationship between senior-most Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and George Soros, who funds billions to destabilise India. Congress takes his money to contribute to destabilising the nation.”

“The country will not forgive them. The BJP condemns the efforts of the Opposition to criticise constitutional positions,” he said.

Amid the chaos and sloganeering by the Opposition, Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned until 2 p.m.

–IANS

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FIH Pro League: Netherlands women dominate Germany; England men pull off comeback win

Santiago del Estero (Argentina), Dec 12 (IANS) The Netherlands women picked up their first win of the new FIH Pro League season in dominant fashion with a 6-1 thrashing of Germany. Frederique Malta tallied twice, picking up her 100th goal for the Oranje.

With less than 24 hours of rest since falling to Argentina in shootouts, Germany was faced with the task of taking on the reigning Pro League champion Netherlands. Despite only finding brief moments of possession, Germany kept the Netherlands off the board in the first quarter.

Good chances for the Oranje included a backhand shot by Freeke Moes that flew just over the crossover, a Pien Dicke shot saved by Germany’s Nathalie Kubalski and a penalty corner by Jansen that was blocked by the Germany defense.

The tension finally broke for the Netherlands a minute and a half into the second quarter when Moes nailed a backhand shot past Kubalski. Down 1-0, Germany began piecing together more bits of possession, to the frustration of the Oranje. It looked like neither team would score as the quarter drew to a close, but in the final seconds, Frederique Malta pulled right around the goalkeeper to increase the Netherlands lead to 2-0.

Germany won their first set piece opportunity seven minutes into the second half, and on the subsequently awarded penalty corner, won a video referral for a penalty stroke. In a critical moment, the attempt from Stine Kurz was shut down by Anne Veenendal. The missed opportunity only fueled the fire for the Netherlands, who continued to earn penalty corner chances and saw a goal from Jansen in the 41st minute.

Continuing with a dominant attack in the fourth, the Netherlands earned another set piece chance in the 49th minute. Despite a less-than-ideal reception at the top, the chance worked out, with Jansen sending the ball to the bottom right corner. Malta then tallied her 100th goal off a penalty stroke attempt the next minute, giving the Netherlands a solid 5-0 lead.

In 52nd minute, Germany found a consolation goal off a penalty corner straight shot by Lisa Nolte. In retaliation, Moes dribbled past the German defensive line and nailed a clean reverse shot for their sixth and final goal of the match.

On the other hand, Ireland men nearly pulled off an upset over England in their first Pro League match of the 2024-25 season, but were unable to withstand a fourth-quarter surge and the score were levelled 3-3. England sent the match into shootouts, where they won 3-2.

Adam Walker, in his senior debut, opened up the scoring for Ireland with a powerful drag flick, off of a penalty corner won in the fourth minute. As the two teams settled in, both sides saw some offensive chances, getting shut down each time. With two minutes remaining in the first, England’s James Mazarelo shut down two shots off an Ireland set piece opportunity.

Ireland needed just 35 seconds of the second frame to double their lead. A fast break up the field materialised into a one-time reverse chip into the cage from Jonathan Lynch. The second half of the frame was characterised by England on the attack and James Milliken making clutch saves in net for Ireland. In the 26th minute, England’s Stuart Rushmere sent a penalty corner flick out wide, and another set piece chance sent in by Sam Ward was snuffed by Milliken.

Ireland substituted Luke Roleston in goal to start the third, and he performed up to par with his first-half counterpart. England kept up their tempo but continued to be shut down by the Ireland defense, as well as failed to capitalise on their chances – including a beautifully executed pass up to an unmarked Sam Ward which saw no result. Despite all their possession, England trailed 2-0 heading into the final frame.

The fourth quarter had no shortage of action. England finally caught their break when a penalty corner was converted by James Albery on the rebound. With 10 minutes remaining an Ireland set piece was blocked on the line by Thomas Sorsby, preventing the goal but conceding a penalty stroke, which was made by Cole Lee.

With 7 minutes to score two goals, England pulled their goalkeeper to enjoy an extra field player. The move paid off, as Nicholas Park dribbled baseline and sent the ball center, where Jack Waller guided it into the cage. With zip in their step, England tallied another not one minute later, finished by Zachary Wallace to tie the match 3-3 before the final hooter.

Daragh Walsh got the shootouts started for Ireland, making good on his attempt. England’s Albery kept it tied with a reverse shot, then Walker was denied by Mazarelo and Conor Williamson faced the same fate from Roleston. Lynch notched a second for Ireland, but Stuart Rushmere followed up for England, putting the score at 2-2 after three attempts.

Everything stayed even after the fourth round when C. Empey and Jack Waller missed for Ireland and England, respectively. The fifth round was the final as Ireland’s A. Empey was shut down and Zach Wallace made it to give England the shootout victory.

–IANS

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Intruder apprehended near LoC in J&K’s Poonch

Jammu, Dec 12 (IANS) A Pakistani intruder was arrested near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, officials said on Thursday.

The officials said the intruder from the Pakistan side was apprehended by the Army near the LoC on Wednesday.

The intruder was identified as 18-year-old Mohd Sadiq.

“He was trying to sneak into the Indian side of the LoC when he was caught in Noorkote village near the border fence in Poonch,” said the officials.

“He was not carrying any weapon or incriminating material. He is being questioned about his motive to cross the LoC. It appears he might have crossed the LoC inadvertently,” the officials said.

The Army and the security forces have heightened vigil along the LoC and the hinterland, especially after the terrorists carried out some dastardly attacks at the behest of their handlers sitting across the border.

Intelligence agencies say the handlers of terror have become impatient because of the peaceful and people-participative Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly elections. The elections were witnessed by diplomats from many countries.

It is also reported that terrorists could be waiting at the terror launch pads across the LoC in Pakistan-occupied areas to cross over to the Indian side before the mountain passes get closed by heavy snowfall this winter.

Security forces have started aggressive operations against terrorists, their over-ground workers (OGWs) and sympathisers to dismantle the ecosystem of terrorism.

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has chaired top-level security review meetings in which clear orders were given to the security forces to wipe out terrorism from the UT.

It is for this reason that additional deployments of paramilitary forces have been made in the UT to augment the existing anti-terrorism grid in J&K.

–IANS

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Every 10 unit rise in annual PM2.5 exposure raising death risk in Indians: Study

New Delhi, Dec 12 (IANS) Every 10 micrograms per cubic metre of air increase in annual exposure to fine particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) is associated with an 8.6 per cent increased risk for mortality across India, finds a study on Thursday.

The study, published in the journal Lancet Planetary Health, revealed that long-term exposure to PM2.5 pollution concentrations higher than the 5 micrograms per cubic meter annual average recommended by the WHO is potentially associated with 1.5 million deaths a year in India.

The findings showed that the 1.4 billion people in India live in areas with PM2.5 concentrations above that recommended by the WHO guidelines.

“High levels of annual PM2.5 exposures are observed in India causing a huge mortality burden (not limited to cities that are highlighted during the extreme pollution episodes), signaling the need for systematic and not symptomatic approach,” said Suganthi Jaganathan, doctoral researcher, Centre for Health Analytics Research and Trends (CHART), Ashoka University.

The study observed that the risk is high even at lower levels of air pollution. This indicates the need to reduce air pollution levels across the country.

Unlike previous studies, this study used PM2.5 exposure from a fine spatiotemporal model built for India and annual mortality counts reported across all districts of India.

During the study period (2009 to 2019), 25 per cent of all deaths (about 1.5 million deaths a year) were attributed to annual PM2.5 exposure higher than the WHO guideline.

About 0.3 million annual deaths are also attributed to annual exposure to PM2.5 above the Indian National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).

The exposure-response function revealed a higher incremental risk for mortality at lower PM2.5 concentrations and leveling off at higher PM2.5 concentrations.

“Delhi may get the headlines, but this is a problem all over India, and nationwide efforts are needed. Coal-burning electric plants need scrubbers, crop burning needs to be limited, and most importantly, we need urgent measures to protect population health,” said Joel Schwartz, Professor, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and principal investigator from the US for the CHAIR-India consortium.

The study was led by the CHAIR-India consortium, established in May 2019, comprised of leading Indian academic institutions such as the Centre for Health Analytics Research and Trends (CHART) at Ashoka University, the Centre for Chronic Disease Control (CCDC) and global institutions like Karolinska Institutet (Stockholm, Sweden), Harvard University, Boston University, among others.

–IANS

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India seeking mutually beneficial FTA with EU: Piyush Goyal

New Delhi, Dec 12 (IANS) Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has highlighted that India is aiming for a balanced, comprehensive and mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the EU, according to an official statement issued on Thursday.

At a meeting held here with Ambassadors of the European Commission delegation, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Italy, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Spain and Sweden, the minister discussed the growing proximity and rising trade between India and the EU.

Minister Goyal said the FTA negotiations, after nine rounds of intense engagement, need political directions to arrive at a commercially meaningful deal while understanding the sensitivities of each other.

He further underlined that any sustainability discussions must appreciate the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibility(CBDR) and implementation of such measures should take into account differing paths of development. He added that the Indian economy is expected to grow at 7-8 per cent annually to become the third-largest economy in the world over the next few years. Thereafter, rapid and exponential growth would help India’s GDP to reach the milestone of $35 trillion by 2047.

Acknowledging the large and untapped economic potential, the European side underscored that both sides would gain tremendously by integrating the two economies and building resilience in their supply chains. The interaction also accorded an opportunity to discuss progress in the India-EU Trade and Technology Council. India is the only country, other than the United States, with which the EU has such a mechanism.

India’s bilateral trade in goods with the EU was $137.41 billion in 2023-24, making it the largest trading partner of India for goods. In addition, the bilateral trade in services, in 2023, between India and the EU was estimated at $ 51.45 billion.

The trade agreement with the EU would help India further expand and diversify its exports of goods and services while securing the value chains. India is seeking to forge balanced agreements with major world economies to increase its market share in global trade, it added.

–IANS

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Rohit Bal’s will causes confusion as family, Lalit Tehlan claim to have one each

New Delhi, Dec 12 (IANS) Connoisseur of luxury wear Rohit Bal’s will has turned into a bone of contention as his close friend and former model Lalit Tehlan has claimed to be in possession of it, where a major chunk goes to him at the same time, the late designer’s brother Rajiv Bal says that the family also has a will.

Rajiv also shared that he and his family do not know about the will that Tehlan claims to have by Rohit, who was fondly referred to as Gudda, who passed away aged 63 on November 1.

According to media reports, Tehlan had said that Rohit owned 99 percent of Rohit Bal Designs Pvt Ltd. out of which 1 percent belonged to Billa, his brother Rajiv Bal.

Tehlan said that most of the assets fall under the company, which needs two directors. He claimed that a “major chunk” will come to him along with “movable and immovable assets, which includes his personal house, personal bank account, his fixed deposits.”

According to the report, Tehlan, who is a model and the founder of Alexander Jeans by Rohit Bal, also claimed that the designer gave his employees such as his “cook and driver a very generous amount for their long-standing services.”

Talking about Tehlan’s claims, Rajiv told the media outlet, when reached out to him, he said he also has a will and that until he sees the one with Tehlan, he cannot say anything.

Chairman of the Fashion Design Council of India Sunil Sethi has been assigned as the executor of the will.

The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) late on November 1 night announced the passing away of the iconic designer, who was known for his lotus and peacock motifs.

The fashion designer was suffering from a heart ailment and in 2023 was admitted to the intensive care unit.

The FDCI shared a post on Instagram, which read: “We mourn the passing of Legendary designer Rohit Bal. He was a founding member of the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI). Known for his unique blend of traditional patterns with modern sensibilities, Bal’s work redefined Indian fashion, and inspired generations.”

“His legacy of artistry, and innovation along with forward thinking will live on in the fashion world. Rest in peace GUDDA You are a legend.”

The designer’s last show was at the Lakme Fashion Week in the National Capital and his muse was Bollywood actress Ananya Panday, who took to her Instagram stories and shared a picture of the two strutting the ramp after the grand finale.

–IANS

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Ready to bowl as much as Australia need: Marsh ahead of Brisbane Test

Brisbane, Dec 12 (IANS) Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has confirmed his readiness to bowl as per the requirements of the team ahead of the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test against India.

Marsh was treated cautiously before the start of the five-match series and then given careful management ahead of the Adelaide Test due to his periodic back stiffness since the white-ball tour of the UK in September.

Plans for him to bowl in the Sheffield Shield earlier in the season were shelved due to persistent back issues. In the Perth Test, he managed two wickets, delivering 17 overs across the match but experienced soreness afterwards. This raised doubts about his availability for the Adelaide Test, with Beau Webster called up as cover.

Marsh refrained from bowling in the lead-up to the Adelaide match, with Pat Cummins confirming the decision was to conserve his overs during training. However, his performance was limited in the first innings, where he bowled four overs and finished with figures of none for 26.

“We had a really clear plan before the series started. I didn’t bowl as much as I would have liked to in the lead-up to the series, but our medical staff and Ronnie and Patty (Cummins) were really clear on my lead-up. I trusted that. I haven’t had to bowl too much so far but my body is feeling really good,” Marsh said on his bowling.

The all-rounder also added to bowl at different game scenarios during the match to utilise his versatility to the fullest.

“I’ll try and be ready to bowl as much as Patty needs me. Our all-rounders haven’t bowled a hell of a lot in Australia the last few years but I am really thankful for our medical staff and Ronny and Patty, who have allowed me the space between that first and second Test to just get right for the game. I guess there was a fair bit of noise about it. I felt rather important, actually, but my body feels really good. I had an interrupted lead-in but I am really well placed. For me, it is about being able to contribute. Whether that is five overs and bowling the occasional good ball and getting a wicket or just bowling overs to give our boys a chop out, I love it,” he added.

With the series tied at 1-1, the third Test between India and Australia will be played in Brisbane from Saturday.

–IANS

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Prateik Chaudhary : ‘Tose Naina Milaike’ was an amazing 400 episodes journey for me.

Mumbai, Dec 12 (IANS) Actor Prateik Chaudhary, who plays the lead character Sanjeev in the show ‘Tose Naina Milaike’, feels his 400 episodes journey in the show was an amazing experience.

He said, “We completed 400 episodes before the show went off air. It’s quite sad when the show ends but it is quite relevant that with every ending there is a new beginning. I’m looking forward to my new journey. I’m already looking forward to it. I’m in talks and soon will announce my upcoming project.”

Recalling his journey in ‘Tose Naina Milaike’, which also stars Vishal Gandhi and Supriya Kumari, he continued: “The show will always remain close to me as it was my first show as a lead face. It was an amazing journey and a lifetime experience for me to play the role of Sanjeev. I got to earn a lot of love and appreciation from my audience.”

“Tose Naina Milaai Ke”, drama series that premiered on 11 September 2023 on Dangal. It told the story of a girl with dusky complexion who is confident that nobody will marry her, gets unexpectedly married-off to the same house as her sister.

Prateik earlier acted in “Paramavatar Shri Krishna” and “Sindoor Ki Keemat”, which told the story of an optimistic girl named Mishri and her marriage to the sharp man named Arjun. It’s a story of a marriage where these two contrasting personalities would come together and sparks fly.

Now, the actor is looking forward to playing more challenging roles. He is open to exploring new mediums.

“I’m open to strong and powerful roles irrespective of the medium. I’m open to acting and exploring new mediums. I want to play more lead roles. I’m working hard and beleive in destiny.”

‘Tose Naina Milaike’ is produced by Cockcrow & Shaika Entertainment.

–IANS

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Former Andhra Pradesh minister Avanthi Srinivas quits YSR Congress

Visakhapatnam, Dec 12 (IANS) Former Andhra Pradesh minister Avanthi Srinivas resigned on Thursday from the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP).

Srinivas announced his resignation both as YSRCP in-charge for the Bheemili Assembly constituency and from the primary membership of the party at a press conference here.

He sent his resignation letter to the YSRCP president and former chief minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and the party’s North Andhra coordinator Vijayasai Reddy, mentioning that he would like to distance himself from politics for personal reasons.

Avanthi Srinivas criticised Jagan Mohan Reddy and advised him to honour the people’s mandate.

The former minister found fault with the YSRCP chief’s decision to stage protests over various issues.

He said people have given the mandate to the Telugu Desam Party-led coalition for five years and it was not proper to call ‘dharna’ without giving even five months to the coalition government.

Srinivas also slammed the YSRCP leadership for “ignoring” the party workers. Alleging that there is no internal democracy in the YSRCP, he said party workers “suffered” for the last five years.

He said Jagan Mohan Reddy used to give orders by sitting in Tadepalli but party workers suffered on the ground.

Srinivas, whose real name is Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao, was elected to the Assembly from the Bheemili constituency on a YSRCP ticket in 2019. He was minister for tourism, culture and youth advancement in the YSRCP government from 2019 to 2022.

He, however, suffered defeat from the same constituency in the elections held in May this year.

Avanthi Srinivas was elected to Lok Sabha from Anakapalli on a TDP ticket in 2014. He later joined YSRCP.

Several leaders, including three Rajya Sabha members, have quit the YSRCP since it lost power to the TDP-led NDA in May.

TDP-Jana Sena-BJP alliance stormed to power with a landslide victory in the May 13 elections. The alliance bagged 164 out of 175 Assembly seats and 21 out of 25 Lok Sabha seats.

The YSRCP, which had come to power in 2019 by winning 151 Assembly seats, could win only 11 seats. The party managed to win only four out of 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

–IANS

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