Author: Vividh Bharathi

Hyderabad, Dec 11 (IANS) Veteran Tollywood actor Manchu Mohan Babu had a blunt injury below the left eye when he was brought to the hospital on Tuesday, doctors at Continental Hospitals said on Wednesday.

Dr Guru N. Reddy, Chairman and Managing Director of Continental Hospital told the media that Mohan Babu was upset and was not in a frame of mind to understand what was going on.

Mohan Babu is currently under the care of an expert team of doctors consisting of cardiologists, neurologists, plastic surgeons and others. He required close monitoring and observation, Dr Reddy said.

Mohan Babu was admitted to the hospital after a clash at his house in Jalpally when his actor son Manchu Manoj barged in amid a bitter dispute between them.

Mohan Babu, who is also a former Member of Parliament, also attacked a TV reporter with a mike when the latter asked him about the rift with his son.

According to the medical bulletin, Mohan Babu was brought to the hospital at 8.30 p.m. with complaints of diffuse body pains, anxiety and a history of loss of consciousness.

“He was given immediate and necessary medical care by the specialists in the Emergency Department, and following a thorough examination, he was found to have a blunt injury below the left eye and had high blood pressure, increased heart rate, and excessive heart rate fluctuations. Immediately, all of the respective specialists attended to him,” reads the bulletin.

Plastic surgeon Dr Raghuveer said that further line of treatment will be decided after a CT scan.

Meanwhile, Mohan Babu’s elder son and actor Manchu Vishnu told the media at the hospital that his father was injured in Tuesday’s clash at the house. He remarked that their father loved them too much and this was his mistake.

“Ours is a joint family. It’s unfortunate that this has happened. This has caused us immense pain but we hope that the issue will be resolved,” he said.

Stating that every family will have problems, the actor requested media not to create a sensation. He said that while he agrees that the media has to inform the people, some people were crossing the limits.

Vishnu said that his mother had also been admitted to the hospital and he as the elder son was in pain.

The actor said that he was in Los Angeles for the post-production of ‘Kannappa’ but left everything to return home on Tuesday after learning about the discord.

Vishnu said that a reporter getting injured in Tuesday’s incident was unfortunate. He added that the act was not deliberate and that their father came before the media by doing ‘namskar’ but when a mike was put close to his mouth, he attacked on an impulse. He assured all help to the family of the injured journalist.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 11 (IANS) The Centre has sold 12.41 lakh tonne of ‘Bharat’ dals at subsidised prices to consumers to ease the burden of inflation on households, the government told the Parliament on Wednesday.

Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, B.L. Verma said in the Lok Sabha that 12.35 lakh tonnes of Bharat chana dal, 5,663.07 tonnes of Bharat moong dal, and 118 tonnes of Bharat masur dal have been sold at subsidised prices till now.

The government introduced Bharat dal in July 2023 by converting chana stock from the price stabilisation buffer into chana dal for retail sale to consumers at a maximum retail price (MRP) of Rs 60 per kg for 1 kg pack and Rs 55 per kg for 30 kg pack till September 30, 2024.

Bharat chana dal has been extended and expanded by allocating another 3 lakh tonnes of chana stock for retail sale in the form of chana dal and chana whole at MRP of Rs 70 per kg and Rs 58 per kg, respectively, the Minister said in a written reply.

The Bharat brand has also been extended to moong and masur dals.

Moong stock has been converted into moong dal (Dhuli) and moong sabut for retail sale under the Bharat brand at MRP of Rs 107 per kg and Rs 93 per kg, respectively. Bharat masur dal is sold at Rs 89 per kg, he said.

Bharat atta and Bharat rice were also launched on Nov 6, 2023, and February 6, 2024, respectively, to provide atta (wheat flour) and rice to general consumers at subsidised rates.

During Phase 1, Bharat atta and Bharat rice were sold at MRP of Rs 27.50 per kg and Rs 29 per kg, respectively, till June 30, 2024. In Phase 2, these products are now being sold at an MRP of Rs 30 per kg for Bharat atta and Rs 34 per kg for Bharat rice. A total of 15.20 LMT of Bharat atta and 14.58 LMT of Bharat rice were made available to consumers during Phase 1 until June 30, 2024. In current Phase 2, 2,952.25 MT of Bharat atta and 3,413.35 MT of Bharat rice have been sold to general consumers, the Minister also added.

Bharat brand of food items are distributed through own retail outlets and mobile vans of the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED), Kendriya Bhandar and National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Limited (NCCF), e-commerce platforms, and big chain retailers, Minister Verma said.

–IANS

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Mumbai, Dec 11 (IANS) The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Wednesday got the revolutionary iBooster green propulsion system.

Designed specifically for 100–500 kg satellites, the iBooster system was developed by the Mumbai-based deep-tech startup Manastu Space Technologies. It facilitates critical operations such as orbit raising, station-keeping, and deorbiting.

The system’s proprietary hydrogen peroxide-based fuel ensures enhanced performance, safety, and sustainability compared to conventional toxic fuels and other exorbitantly expensive alternate fuels.

The milestone marks the culmination of four years of extensive Research and development, supported by DRDO’s Technology Development Fund (TDF), and showcases the growing role of Indian startups in advancing national defense and space capabilities.

Proprietary innovations include a hydrogen peroxide-based fuel, safer and eco-friendly; an optimised thruster design for efficiency and precision; and a high-temperature catalyst, ensuring seamless ignition and endurance in space.

“Manastu Space’s achievement demonstrates the transformative potential of Indian startups in deep tech. Their innovation supports DRDO’s mission to enhance India’s defense and satellite capabilities,” the DRDO said.

“Delivering this technology to DRDO is a proud milestone for us. It reflects our commitment to creating greener, safer, and highly efficient solutions for space exploration. This collaboration highlights the strength of innovation and collaboration in advancing India’s aerospace capabilities,” added Tushar Jadhav, Co-founder of Manastu Space.

Meanwhile, Manastu Space is also gearing up for a groundbreaking space test aboard an upcoming PSLV mission by ISRO, demonstrating the system’s capabilities on a global stage. This mission underlines India’s leadership in developing sustainable space technologies.

Founded in 2017 by Tushar Jadhav and Ashtesh Kumar, Manastu Space Technologies is a pioneer in sustainable space innovation. Specialising in propulsion systems and satellite technology, the company addresses critical challenges in space safety and sustainability.

Through cost-effective, high-performance solutions, Manastu Space is driving India’s emergence as a global leader in aerospace innovation.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 11 (IANS) Ethical issues in artificial intelligence (AI) and spread of fake news are global concerns and India is committed to addressing these challenges through robust debate and responsible innovation, while fixing accountability on social media platforms, Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, said on Wednesday.

Addressing the Parliament, the minister highlighted the critical challenges posed by the emerging AI landscape, social media accountability, and the need for robust legal frameworks.

The minister underlined the importance of balancing freedom of speech with the responsibility to combat fake news and ensure accurate narratives in the digital age.

“It is a major challenge that societies across the world are facing — the accountability of social media, particularly in the context of fake news and the creation of fake narratives,” Vaishnaw remarked.

“These are the issues where freedom of speech comes on one hand and accountability and having a proper real news network getting created, on the other. These are things which need to be debated and if the house agrees and if there is a consensus in the entire society we can come up with the new law,” the IT Minister noted.

The Union Minister also addressed concerns about privacy and AI governance, sharing details of proactive measures taken by the government to develop indigenous tools and technologies.

Under the ‘India AI Mission’, one of the key pillars is application development, focusing on innovations that align with the country’s unique requirements.

“To address the emerging landscape of AI, we have initiated eight projects aimed at creating tools and technologies within the country,” he informed.

Highlighting India’s global leadership in AI, the minister said that the country is one of the leading ones in shaping global thought on AI governance.

“India’s voice continues to hold significant weight in discussions with international bodies, including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and United Nations,” he said.

–IANS

na/uk

New Delhi, Dec 11 (IANS) A day ahead of the crucial hearing in the Supreme Court on pleas challenging the validity of the Places of Worship Act, 1991, the Committee of Management of Mathura’s Shahi Masjid Eidgah, on Wednesday, filed an intervention application, saying that the law was enacted by Parliament in the interest of the country’s progress, which has stood the test of time for more than 33 years.

The application said that the validity of the law, prohibiting the alteration of religious places of worship as they stood on August 15, 1945, has been upheld by a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in M. Siddiq (D) Thr. Lrs. vs. Mahant Suresh Das & Ors. case.

It added that Parliament, in the exercise of its powers and in the interest of the forward progress of the country, had enacted the 1991 Act, which has stood the test of time for more than 33 years and the petitioners have chosen to challenge the enactment belatedly, after 29 years.

Further, it said that the adjudication of the petitions against the Places of Worship Act is likely to have a significant bearing on the adjudication of its special leave petitions pending before the apex court against the dismissal of their application filed under Order VII Rule 11 of the CPC (Code of Civil Procedure) and the pending suits against the applicant mosque committee.

The application said that the mosque committee is party to 17 different suits being tried by the Allahabad High Court, where the plaintiffs have staked a claim over the entire parcel of land over which the Shahi Masjid Eidgah has been built, and have further sought the removal of the mosque structure from the said land, claiming the same to have been built over Krishna Janm Sthan.

“It would be in the interest of justice if the applicant (mosque committee) is allowed to intervene and assist this Hon’ble Court in the adjudication of the issues (relating to the validity of Places of Worship Act, 1991),” the application said.

The Supreme Court has notified a 3-judge Special Bench to hear a clutch of petitions challenging the validity of certain provisions of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991.

As per the causelist published on the website of the apex court, a special bench headed by CJI Sanjiv Khanna and comprising Justices Sanjay Kumar and K.V. Vishwanathan will hear the matter on December 12.

A similar application has been moved by the Managing Committee of Varanasi’s Gyanvapi Mosque before the top court, saying that the consequences of declaring the 1991 Act unconstitutional are bound to be drastic and will obliterate the rule of law and communal harmony.

The mosque committee said that an Article 32 petition challenging a legislative enactment must indicate the unconstitutionality of the provisions based on constitutional principles and the rhetorical arguments seeking a sort of retribution against the perceived acts of previous rulers cannot be made the basis for a constitutional challenge.

“The Parliament, in its wisdom, enacted the legislation as a recognition of secular values of the Constitution. The applicant humbly submits that while this Hon’ble Court considers this challenge to the 1991 Act, the petition may be dismissed as being devoid of merits,” the application had added.

–IANS

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Mumbai, Dec 11 (IANS) Indian frontline indices closed on a flat note on Wednesday as investors are waiting for November CPI (Consumer Price Index) data, which will be released by the government on Thursday.

At closing, Sensex was up 16 points at 81,526 and Nifty was up 31 points at 24,641.

The broader market trend was positive. On the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), 2143 shares closed in the green, 1,839 settled in the red and 113 shares closed without change.

Among the sectoral indices, Auto, IT, Fin Service, pharma, FMCG, metal and realty were top gainers and PSU Bank, media, energy and pvt bank were top laggards.

Midcap and smallcap stocks outperformed the largecap in the trading session. Nifty midcap 100 index closed at 59,292, up 157 points or 0.27 per cent and Nifty smallcap 100 index closed at 19,657, up 74 points or 0.38 per cent.

According to the market experts, “The Indian market exhibited subtle movements, reflecting mixed sentiments prevailing in global markets ahead of the US CPI inflation data release, which could influence the FED policy. The US dollar strengthened, while bond yields saw a marginal uptick.”

“Defensive sectors, including FMCG and pharmaceuticals, experienced an uptick. Additionally, the metals sector saw gains driven by optimism surrounding potential stimulus measures from China,” they added.

In the Sensex pack, Bajaj Finance, Nestle India, Bajaj Finserv, Asian Paints, UltraTech Cement, Infosys, Maruti, Bharti Airtel and Hindustan Unilever were the top gainers. JSW Steel, NTPC, SBI, Reliance, Tech Mahindra, Axis Bank and Titan were the top losers.

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) extended their buying on December 10, buying equities worth Rs 1,285.96 crore, while domestic institutional investors also bought equities worth Rs 605.79 crore on the same day.

The market opened at a flat note. At around 9.27 a.m., Sensex was trading at 81,515.06 after gaining 5.01 points or 0.01 per cent, while the Nifty was trading at 24,623.8 after rising 13.75 points or 0.06 per cent.

–IANS

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