Day: January 22, 2021

22Jan By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Politics

Old Bhopal tense as NGO gets ownership of disputed land

The old Bhopal area in Madhya Pradesh remained under heavy police bandobast Friday after the district administration gave possession on January 17 (Sunday) of a disputed land parcel measuring 2.88 acres, claimed to be a graveyard by Muslim community, to Rajdev Janseva Trust, an NGO, many of whose trustees are BJP and VHP leaders. The Trust is now in the process of constructing a boundary wall and plans to build a community hall in the area. On Thursday, the residents in the area who had approached the Wakf Tribunal for a stay on construction work, shut down their shops in protest. The Wakf Tribunal is scheduled to hear the ongoing title suit on January 23. Earlier on Sunday, curfew had to be imposed in the jurisdiction of three police stations close to the disputed site...

Read More

22Jan By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Travel

Gujarat: Weekly tests on WhatsApp to be launched for students of classes 3 to 12

The Gujarat education department has decided to launch WhatsApp-based weekly examinations on trial basis for students of classes 3 till 12 from January 23. Students of Classes 3 till 5 will take examinations for Gujarati and Environmental Science subjects on WhatsApp. This will be followed by the second test on January 30 for classes 3 till 12 while the third test would be conducted on February 6 for Classes 3 till 10 for Environment, English, Hindi, Science and Mathematics. Each test has been designed by Samagra Shiksha and education department’s Command and Control Centre (CCC) as a set of ten multiple choice questions. “The logic behind these tests is that a child should be able to assess himself based on the weekly online learning. There is no time limit so there is no ...

Read More

22Jan By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Politics

Yogi Adityanath mocks opposition leaders, says they are still in ‘quarantine’ | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday mocked the opposition leaders and said they were still in a state of “quarantine”, several months after lockdown was imposed in India in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic. Yogi Adityanath made these remarks in view of the accusations that the opposition leaders are more active on social media than on the ground. Addressing a meeting of the intellectuals (‘Prabuddhjan Sammelan’) organised by the BJP's Lucknow unit at Indira Gandhi Pratisthaanin, Adityanath alleged that the workers of the opposition parties got isolated as their leaders did not show up. "The first case of Covid-19 in UP was detected in the first week of March. Almost ten-and-half months have passed. Leaders of many parties are still in quarantine and not moving...

Read More

22Jan By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Politics

Bihar warns of action for online posts against govt; Opp calls it draconian

In a move that has been described as “draconian and unwarranted” by the Opposition, Bihar Police have issued a circular warning that those making “objectionable and indecent” comments online against the state government, Ministers, MLAs, MPs and officials can be booked under the IT Act and the Indian Penal Code. “We have been, of late, getting information about the use of objectionable and indecent language being used against the government, Ministers, MPs, MLAs and government officials through social media/ Internet. This is against provisions of the law and comes under the domain of cyber crime… For this act, it is apt to take action against such offenders,” states the circular issued by Bihar Police’s Economic Offences Unit (EOU). The circular, which is dated January 21 ...

Read More

22Jan By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Politics

Talks break down, Centre tells farmers we have made best offer, reconsider

Talks between the Centre and farmer unions demanding the repeal of the new agriculture laws broke down Friday after weeks of negotiation. The government made it clear to the farmers that its proposal to suspend the laws for 18 months was the “best” it could offer, and farmers could return to the talks table after a rethink. The hardening of the Centre’s position was evident when, at the very start of the meeting, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar objected to the Samyukta Kisan Morcha’s announcement Thursday evening that the farmer unions had rejected the Centre’s offer to suspend the laws. It is learned that Tomar told the unions that since the talks were scheduled Friday, they should have communicated their decision to the government instead of announcing it ...

Read More

22Jan By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Entertainment

Exclusive! Madhu Mantena Buys Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane and Vikas Bahl’s stakes in Phantom Films – Times of India

There's a new twist in the tale of Phantom Films. In October 2018, Phantom Films' Anurag Kashyap, Vikas Bahl, Vikramaditya Motwane and Madhu Mantena decided to not work together anymore. Anurag had tweeted, "And all dreams come to an end. We did our best and we succeeded and we failed, but I know for sure we are all stronger and wiser and will continue to pursue our dreams in our own individual ways." Now, Phantom Films has undergone a change in its shareholders. ETimes has it that now the shareholders are not entirely the same and the change sees the official exit of Kashyap, Motwane and Bahl from the company. The shares of Kashyap, Motwane and Bahl, who otherwise would have continued to hold and enjoy a 12.5 per cent share each, have been bought by Madhu Mantena. So, hereafter, Phan...

Read More

22Jan By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Politics

Mystery of the missing ‘Spark’ as Thackeray gets statue in Mumbai

Sometime in the early 1990s, an imposing sculpture at Haji Ali Circle was lost to a road expansion project. Over two-storey tall, shaped like a peacock, the sculpture called Spark had been built by pioneering artist Pilloo Pochkhanawala. Years later, in 2002, a miniature version of the work was placed on a traffic island outside the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in Colaba. As a Bal Thackeray statue, the first of the late political leader in Mumbai, comes up on the island on Saturday, it has suddenly come to notice that ‘Spark’ has gone missing again — and may have been missing for months now. The BMC is undertaking a makeover of the Colaba traffic island. Asked about the missing replica, Assistant Municipal Commissioner, A ward (Colaba, Fort), Chanda Jadhav said, “W...

Read More

22Jan By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Politics

‘All Ministers with us’: Arnab Goswami’s chats make BJP do some social distancing

THE BJP and the Centre have avoided reacting to the WhatsApp chats between Republic TV’s Arnab Goswami and former CEO of the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) Partho Dasgupta submitted to the court by the Mumbai Police in the TRP case. But as the Congress calls for a JPC probe and flags Goswami’s claims of proximity with the government, that distancing will be tested once Parliament begins. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) Friday demanded a “time-bound investigation” into “the breach of national security, violations of the Official Secrets Act and the role of the persons involved.” Congress president Sonia Gandhi criticised what she called the “deafening” silence of the Government, adding that “those who give certificates of patriotism and nationalism to others...

Read More

22Jan By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Gaming

Bengal: EC says no bike rallies after model code kicks in

The Election Commission Friday said bike rallies in the forthcoming West Bengal Assembly elections will be banned after the model code of conduct is enforced. In the last Assembly polls, bike rallies were allowed, but regulated. Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said, “Once the election schedule is announced, the model code of conduct will be enforced. After that, no motorbike rally will be allowed for the poll campaign.” Arora also said the ruling TMC’s allegations against BSF were “unfortunate”, and asked the party to prove its claim. TMC had Thursday claimed that the border force’s personnel were “terrorising” people to vote for BJP. The EC bench is on a three-day visit to the state to review preparedness for the polls in April-May.   Source link ...

Read More

22Jan By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Politics

British PM says new variant may carry higher risk of death – Times of India

LONDON: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday the new English variant of Covid-19 may be associated with a higher level of mortality although he said evidence showed that both vaccines being used in the country are effective against it. "We've been informed today that in addition to spreading more quickly, it also now appears that there is some evidence that the new variant - the variant that was first discovered in London and the southeast (of England) - may be associated with a higher degree of mortality," he told a news briefing. The warning about the higher risk of death from the new variant, which was identified in England late last year, came as a fresh blow after the country had earlier been buoyed by news the number of new Covid-19 infections was estimated to be sh...

Read More

22Jan By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Politics

MSP to APMCs: SC panel puts up questions to draw farmers

*Are you aware about the implications of legalising MSP? *Do you think there may be risk of acquiring land by the corporate sector or the contractor? *There are apprehensions that the provisions in the Act will collapse APMC markets. Do you feel so? *If yes, how will it be responsible for the collapse of APMC markets? These are some of the questions in a feedback form prepared by the Supreme Court-appointed committee seeking “suggestions” of farmers and other stakeholders on the three contentious farm laws and the demand for legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP). The feedback form, available on the committee’s webpage, contains 20 multiple-choice questions divided into 5 sections. While Sections A, B, and C deal with the three farm laws, Section D contains questi...

Read More

22Jan By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Gaming

Delhi: 200 samples from Covid-19 sero-survey missing

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has issued a show cause notice to the chief district medical officer of the West district after officials were unable to trace 200 samples collected for the fifth round of the serological survey in Delhi. In the notice issued by the DGHS, Dr Nutan Mundeja, officials have been asked to explain the reason behind the lapse within three days. “This is a serious lapse on the part of team of West district responsible for sero survey,” stated the notice, also marked to Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Delhi government. The fifth round of the serological survey kicked off in Delhi on January 11. A total of 28,000 samples have been collected during the exercise which was expected to end on Friday. The West district had...

Read More

22Jan By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Gaming

Year after Northeast Delhi riots, BJP plans ‘rath yatra’ in district to collect Ram Mandir donations

A ‘rath yatra’ in a nine-seater van is being planned for his constituency by Manoj Tiwari, the MP from Northeast Delhi and former state BJP chief, during which he will collect contributions for construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Calling it the ‘Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Nirman Nidhi Abhiyan’, Tiwari said he will begin the yatra from February 1, which is also his birthday. “I will reach out to all sections of society to collect contributions for a grand Ram temple. There are several brothers and sisters from the minority community who also wish to contribute, and I will go to their houses, shops and establishments too,” Tiwari said. The Northeast Delhi constituency had last year seen communal riots that left 53 dead and hundreds injured. BJP leader and Tiwari’s aide Neelka...

Read More

22Jan By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Politics

Kushwaha may align with JD(U), get education berth

Rashtriya Lok Samta Party chief and former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha is said to be in talks to align his party with the JD(U) and become the education minister in the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government in Bihar. A JD(U) source said: “There won’t be a merger of RLSP with JD(U). Since Kushwaha has been taking up education issues, he could become education minister,” the source said, adding that the RLSP leader would be nominated to the Upper House in Bihar soon. The Bihar Cabinet is likely to be expanded next week, with the JD(U) and BJP reportedly agreeing to a 50:50 seat-sharing formula. From the BJP, Syed Shanawaz Hussain is a front-runner for a ministerial berth. Other contenders from the party included Nitish Mishra, Samrat Choudhary, Nitin Navin, Rana Randhir Sin...

Read More

22Jan By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Gaming

JNU V-C Jagadesh Kumar gets extension

Jawaharlal Nehru University Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar, who was scheduled to retire on January 26, was Friday asked by the Education Ministry to continue in office till his successor is appointed. An advertisement had been put out in October for the same saying the V-C must possess “the highest level of competence, integrity, morals and institutional commitment”. “The incumbent Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar, whose five-year term is to complete on January 26, is allowed to continue in the office, notwithstanding the expiry of the tenure till his successor is appointed,” P K Singh, Under Secretary, Ministry of Education, said Friday. Kumar has seen a fair share of tumult on campus during his tenure — starting from the February 9, 2016 sedition case against Kanhaiya K...

Read More

22Jan By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Politics

11th round of talks between farmers, govt breaks down, no date fixed for next meeting: 10 key developments | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The 11th round of negotiations between the protesting farmers and the government on Friday broke down with both the sides not ready to climb down from their respective positions. While the farmers remained adamant on repeal of the three agri laws, the government asked them to consider their offer of suspending the implementation of the Acts up one-and-a-half years. For the first time, no date has been fixed for the next round of talks. Here are the key developments of the day: 1. The government's negotiations with protesting farm unions hit a roadblock as the farmer leaders stuck to their demands for a complete repeal of three farm laws they find pro-corporate and a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP), even as the centre asked them to reconsider its proposal for p...

Read More

22Jan By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Sports

Young Australian cricketers still in primary school compared to Indian counterparts: Greg Chappell | Cricket News – Times of India

MELBOURNE: Young Australian cricketers are still in "primary school" compared to their Indian counterparts, feels former India coach Greg Chappell and has urged his country's cricket board to invest in talent to avoid becoming "also-rans" in no time. An injury-hit India sans their star players notched up an incredible 2-1 win over Australia in the four-Test series and Chappell believes it is the robust domestic structure and efforts put in by BCCI which prepares its youngsters to take on the rigours of international cricket. "Our young cricketers are weekend warriors compared to their Indian compatriots, who get challenging matchplay from the Under-16 age group onwards," Chappell wrote in a column for 'Sydney Morning Herald'. "By the time an Indian player reaches the national XI, he has...

Read More

22Jan By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Gaming

Delhi: Three baolis set to get a fresh lease of life

The Archaeological Survey of India has asked Delhi Jal Board to rejuvenate 12 water bodies, including Agrasen ki Baoli, Red Fort Baoli and Purana Qila Baoli. A report containing details of the plan was submitted to the National Green Tribunal Wednesday by a monitoring committee headed by retired Delhi HC judge Justice SP Garg. A no-objection certificate for rejuvenation of three water bodies under the ASI has already been issued to the DJB in September, the report stated. “After much persuasion by the monitoring committee, it was agreed by the ASI that they will issue NOC to DJB for rejuvenation of water bodies as it (ASI) has no expertise of its own to rejuvenate them,” the report said. In December, the ASI had sought a proposal on the plan from the DJB chief executive off...

Read More

22Jan By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Entertainment

ETimes Paparazzi Diaries: Varun Dhawan’s wedding festivities kick off in Alibaug; Saif-Taimur spend some father-son time in town – Times of India

The big fat Bollywood wedding we have all been waiting for is finally taking place not too far away from Mumbai city. Browse through ETimes’ paparazzi diaries to get your lowdown on all the pictures from Varun Dhawan and Natasha Dalal’s wedding festivities to Saif Ali Khan and son Taimur Ali Khan spending quality time together, B-town boys hitting the gym hard and some gorgeous celeb spotting around town, here are the best photos of the day... After playing the perfect Dulha on the big screen, Varun Dhawan is all set for the real deal as he gets ready to wed his childhood sweetheart, Natasha Dalal. The blushing bride and dashing groom kissed B-town goodbye for the weekend as they headed to Alibaug for their big wedding with their families in tow. Our cameras got you all the photos from...

Read More

22Jan By drnakipuriaNo Comments

Gaming

Ahead of R-Day protest, farmers firm: ‘Makes no sense to turn back now’

With farmer unions rejecting the Centre’s offer to keep the new farm laws in abeyance for 18 months, many farmers at the Singhu border said their movement would be “futile” if they turn back now, especially with thousands more expected to join them by Republic Day. Jang Singh (73), a farmer from Ambala in Haryana who has been at the Singhu border since the protest began, conceded that “the government’s offer to keep the laws in cold storage is definitely a win for us”, but added that “we will not go anywhere until the laws are repealed… even if that means we have to stay for a few months”. Singh, whose children and grandchildren are also at the protest site now, said he has helpers to take care of his fields back home. Affiliated to the Bharatiya Kisan Union, he said many ...

Read More