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Ahead of New Years eve, Rahul Gandhi takes off to Milan: Reports

OpIndia Staff
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Ahead of New Years eve, Rahul Gandhi takes off to Milan: Reports

Media reports suggest that Rahul Gandhi has left for Milan, Italy early this morning on a Qatar Airlines flight.

His vacation to Milan comes a day before Congress’ foundation day where there were the party had decided to take up the nationalism pitch.

Congress had also been exchanging barbs with the BJP over the farm laws. Punjab Congress leaders have been providing logistical support to the protesting Punjab farmers who have taken the national capital as hostage.

Recently, senior Congress leaders had questioned the frequent vacations by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra instead of leading the party.

In November, after the Bihar election debacle, these leaders again wrote to Sonia Gandhi demanding organisational elections for the party president’s post be held at the earliest. The letter also pointed towards a lack of faith in the leadership of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, suggesting in a censorious tone that at the peak of Bihar campaigning and even on result day, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were holidaying in Shimla instead of being with the party and leading the way.

In November this year, he had planned a 2-day luxurious vacation in Jaiselmer, which he ‘cancelled’ due to ‘personal reasons’.

2000 years old Roman-era food stall buried in volcanic ash unearthed in Pompeii in Italy

OpIndia Staff
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2000 years old Roman-era food stall buried in volcanic ash unearthed in Pompeii in Italy

The Italian archaeologists have unearthed a 2,000 years old fast-food stall from the ashes in Pompeii, Italy. The researchers have dug out an ancient restaurant from the vast archaeological site in the city of Southern Italy, that could now give new clues about the snacking habits of the ancient Romans.

According to the reports, the Italian archaeologists who have been carrying out excavations at the ancient lost city of Pompeii on Saturday said that they had discovered a frescoed ‘thermopolium’ or fast-food counter in an exceptional state of preservation.

The ornate snack bar counter, decorated with polychrome patterns and frozen by volcanic ash, was partially taken off from the ground last year but archaeologists had continued their work on the site to reveal it in its full glory.

Pompeii was buried in a sea of boiling lava when the volcano on nearby Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, killing between 2,000 and 15,000 people. The massive site that spreads over 44 hectares (110 acres) is what remains of one of the richest cities in the Roman empire.

The Thermopolium of Regio V, which is believed to have been present at a busy intersection of Silver Wedding Street and Alley of Balconies, was the Roman-era equivalent of a fast-food snack stall. The thermopolium was very popular in the Roman world. Pompeii alone had around 80 such stalls.

A fresco bearing an image of a Nereid nymph riding a seahorse and gladiators in combat has also been unearthed at the spot.

Remains of ancient food-stall in Pompeii/Image Source: Luigi Spina/AFP

The team has discovered duck bone fragments as well as the remains of pigs, goats, fish and snails in earthenware pots. Some of the ingredients had been cooked together like a Roman era paella. The excavators have found crushed fava beans, used to modify the taste of wine at a bottom of one jar.

Reportedly, the food stall appears to have been closed in a hurry and abandoned by its owners, believed to be after the first rumblings of the eruption were felt, said Massimo Osanna, director general at the Archaeological Park of Pompeii.

A fresco depicting a nymph riding a horse had been discovered previously. Photograph: Luigi Spina/AP

Alongside human remains, amphorae, a water tower and a fountain were found. The remains of a man believed to have been aged around 50 has also been discovered near a child’s bed.

“It is possible that someone, perhaps the oldest man, stayed behind and perished during the first phase of the eruption,” Osanna said. The remains of another person were also found and could be an opportunist thief or someone fleeing the eruption who was “surprised by the burning vapours just as he had his hand on the lid of the pot that he had just opened”, he added.

The archaeologists, in the latest stage of their work, have excavated a number of still life scenes, including depictions of animals believed to have been on the menu, notably mallard ducks and a rooster, for serving up with wine or hot beverages.

Pompeii is Italy’s second most visited site after the Colisseum in Rome and last year attracted around four million tourists.

Andhra Pradesh: BJP’s Raja Singh accuses YSRCP MLA of aiding one Razaq in controlling Srisailam Temple, says cows from goshala slaughtered

OpIndia Staff
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Andhra Pradesh: BJP’s Raja Singh accuses YSRCP MLA of aiding one Razaq in controlling Srisailam Temple, says cows from goshala slaughtered

BJP MLA from Goshamahal, T. Raja Singh, has alleged that the Srisailam Temple in Andhra Pradesh has fallen into the control of Muslims and all contracts and shops have been monopolized by them, Deccan Chronicle has reported. He has claimed that cows in the Goshala are being slaughtered for their meat.

Raja Singh has claimed that one Razaq is the contractor at the Srisailam Temple and his wife is employed as the supervisor there. According to him, Razaq is a close aide of Srisailam MLA Silpa Chakrapani Reddy (YSRCP) while Razaq’s brother is a TDP leader. Therefore, irrespective of who is in power, the Razaq brothers are controlling the Temple.

As per the report, Raja Singh said that there are several cases pending against Razaq, including one related to the transportation of mutton in flower baskets. The same flowers are used to perform puja at the Temple. He also alleged that cows were being killed with help from his supervisor wife, which is prohibited.

Silpa Chakrapani Reddy has denied the allegations and said he was ready for the debate with the BJP MLA after Sankranti. He called the allegations “baseless, malicious, mischievous,” meant only to provoke people. Reddy claims to be a staunch Hindu who has built temples with his own money.

A Temple official said that the Endowments Act states that people of other religion are not allowed to live in Temple towns. But Muslims living in Srisailam approached the Court and the matter is now pending before the Court. He also said that the goshala supervisor was transferred after allegations of cow slaughter surfaced. The goshala run by the Srisailam Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy temple is reported to have around 1,542 cows including ox.

Rajasthan: Man gifts plot of land on Moon to his wife on wedding anniversary

Shashank Bharadwaj
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Rajasthan: Man gifts plot of land on Moon to his wife on wedding anniversary

A man from Ajmer named Dharmendra Anija has achieved a unique feat by gifting three acres of land on the moon to his wife Sapna Anija for their wedding anniversary. According to the reports, Dharmendra gifted her wife a piece of land on the moon as he wanted to do something special for his wife on their eighth wedding anniversary.

“It was our wedding anniversary on December 24. I wanted to do something special for her. Everyone gifts earthly possessions like cars and jewellery, but I wanted to do something different. Therefore, I purchased land on the moon for her,” he said.

Reportedly, Dharmendra bought the land through Luna Society International, a firm in New York City, USA. He said the entire process to buy the land took about a year to complete. He said he was happy to buy the plot. ‘I think I am the first man in Rajasthan to buy land on the Moon’, he added.

Wife says she is happy to receive ‘out of the world’ gift from her husband

Dharmendra’s wife Sapna said she never expected to receive such a special “out of the world” gift from her husband.

“I’m extremely happy. I never expected he would gift me something so special. The party was organised by professional event organisers, and the setting was surreal. It felt like we are literally on the moon. There during the ceremony, he gifted me a framed certificate of the property document,” said Sapna.

The land purchase at the moon by Anijas comes after Neeraj Kumar, a resident of Bodh Gaya, also purchased one-acre land on the moon on his birthday. Kumar bought land at the moon, inspired by actors Shahrukh Khan and late Sushant Singh Rajput.

Can one buy land on Moon?

The selling and buying of land on the moon is bound by the laws of ‘Outer Space Treaty’, signed in 1967 between the Soviet Union, the United States and the United Kingdom. It is illegal to sell lunar land to anyone, according to the treaty. The international treaty, signed by 109 other countries, including India has to uphold provisions under the treaty.

As per the Treaty, “outer space is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means”. This prevents any treaty member countries from using outer space in any business activities. However, there is a debate on whether or not the treaty’s prohibition are also valid as far as private appropriation is concerned.

Hence the question arises, how did the likes of Anijas or Kumars, even for that matter Shahrukh Khan and the late Sushant Singh Rajput bought the land on the moon.

These above buyers bought their land through agencies such as US-based portal called Lunar Land Registry or Luna Society International. These portals assure people to sell them a piece of Lunar land.

If any people intend to buy land on the moon, they will be claiming the property in compliance with Title IV of the Space Resource Exploration and Utilization Bill of 2015, Section 402 in the USA. The bill states, “A U.S. citizen engaged in commercial recovery of an asteroid resource or a space resource shall be entitled to any asteroid resource or space resource obtained, including to possess, own, transport, use, and sell it according to applicable law, including U.S. international obligations“.

Reportedly, the non-US citizens can possess Lunar property and resources by contracting a proxy (agent) with US citizenship or commercial rights. However, this bill was never passed in the US parliament.

As far as today, it is illegal to buy land on the moon as per the International treaty. The treaty only allows states to carry out projects on all forms of outer space exploration, including lunar exploration, that would only be for the benefit of all mankind. It also explicitly states that no individual can purchase a piece of lunar land and call it his or her own.

This means agencies such as Lunar Land Registry, Luna Society International, buying land for private ownership of the moon on behalf of other people is impossible and illegal. The ownership certificates they provide only act as souvenirs.

“Aajkal apun khatarnak mood main hain”, Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan warns mafia

OpIndia Staff
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“Aajkal apun khatarnak mood main hain”, Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan warns mafia

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday issued a stern warning to the mafia elements in the state asking them to leave Madhya Pradesh or else he will bury them 10 feet deep. Addressing a Good Governance Day event, organised to mark the birth anniversary of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Shivraj Singh said he has been in a “dangerous” mood lately and will not spare those who are involved in illegal activities.

“Leave, Madhya Pradesh, otherwise, I will bury you 10 feet deep and no one will know about your whereabout,” the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister warned.

In a video that has gone viral on the internet, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was heard saying that Good governance, which means a regime where people do not face any trouble, is prevailing in MP now.

Warning mafia and others involved in illegal activities, the Chief Minister added state government will hold talks with central departments to solve the drug problem in the state. Drug peddlers, land mafia, chit fund mafia, goons and other such people will not be spared, he added.

The CM had earlier said that the BJP government in the state is ‘softer than flowers for law-abiding citizens’ and ‘deadlier than a thunderbolt for those who are evil’.

The warning to the illegal mafia in the state comes just weeks after the CM had ordered a crackdown on drug mafia. The Madhya Pradesh government had directed authorities to launch a special campaign from December 15 to December 22 on advice from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).

Uttar Pradesh: Flaunting your caste on your cars may get you in trouble

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Flaunting your caste on your cars may get you in trouble

Flaunting your caste on your cars as sticker could get you in legal trouble. As reported by Live Hindustan, such vehicles which flaunt caste identity on their cars may be seized if rules are framed. A Maharashtra-based teacher, Harshal Prabhu had reportedly written to PMO wherein he had expressed concerns of increase in casteism by such flaunting of caste on cars.

A lot of vehicles like cars, bikes, tractors and even e-rickshaws show off the caste of the owners like “Jaat”, “Rajput”, “Yadav”, “Mughal”, “Qureshi” etc. Prabhu drew PMO’s attention towards this and said that this destroys the social fabric of our country. This is also against the law, he wrote.

He added how India is still susceptible to caste-based crimes and such flaunting of caste should be banned.

As per the report, upon receiving the complaint, the PMO sent the letter to the Transport Department and asked to do the needful.

Letter from UP transport dept

Uttar Pradesh transport department has been advised to do the needful as per the rules regarding number plates and stickers on cars.

In June 2019, over 1400 vehicles were penalised for name and caste on number plates amongst others in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

India to become 5th largest economy in the world by 2025, projects UK based think tank

OpIndia Staff
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India to become 5th largest economy in the world by 2025, projects UK based think tank

Amidst the economic slump caused due to the outbreak of the Wuhan Coronavirus, India is projected to overtake the United Kingdom to become the fifth-largest economy in the world by 2025. The projections were published by UK-based think tank the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) on Saturday.

It must be mentioned that India had earlier taken over the United Kingdom in 2019 to secure the 5th spot in the list of world economies but then got pushed back to the 6th spot again in 2020. As per reports, it is projected that India is likely to grow by 9% and 7% in 2021 and 2022 respectively and will become the 5th largest economy in 2025 and the 3rd largest by 2030.

“Growth will naturally slow as India becomes more economically developed, with the annual GDP growth expected to sink to 5.8 per cent in 2035. This growth trajectory will see India become the world’s third-largest economy by 2030, overtaking the UK in 2025, Germany in 2027 and Japan in 2030,” the think tank noted.

Indian economy lost momentum prior to Coronavirus outbreak

CEBR, however, noted that the Indian economy has been suffering a slowdown prior to the slump caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. “Slowing growth has been a consequence of a confluence of factors including fragility in the banking system, adjustment to reforms and a deceleration of global trade,” it said. Indian economy grew at a mere 4.2% in 2019, as compared to 6.1% in 2018 and 8.3% in 2016.

The UK think tank observed, “GDP in Q2 (April-June) 2020 was 23.9 percent below its 2019 level, indicating that nearly a quarter of the country’s economic activity was wiped out by the drying up of global demand and the collapse of domestic demand that accompanied the series of strict national lockdowns.”

India better equipped to deal with Coronavirus outbreak

“The pace of the economic recovery will be inextricably linked to the development of the COVID-19 pandemic, both domestically and internationally,” CEBR noted. It is important to note that a key factor in India’s recovery has been the agricultural sector so far due to high productivity. “In the medium to long term, reforms such as the 2016 demonetisation and more recently the controversial efforts to liberalise the agricultural sector can deliver economic benefits,” it added.

India is better equipped than other developing nations to produce vaccines for the Wuhan Coronavirus in 2021 as the country had been successfully running a 42-year-old vaccination programme, targetting 5.5 crore people each year. Although the government stimulus package has been lower than major world economies, CEBR said that investment in infrastructure can lead to significant productivity gains. Therefore, the outlook for the economy going forwards will be closely related to the government’s approach to infrastructure spending,” it added.

‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ in legal trouble: Case filed against Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Alia Bhatt and others for defamatory content

OpIndia Staff
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‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ in legal trouble: Case filed against Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Alia Bhatt and others for defamatory content

A case has been filed against Sanjay Leela Bhansai, Alia Bhatt and Bhansali Productions for the upcoming movie ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ which portrays the life of a brothel owner by the same name. Gangubai’s son Babuji Rawji Shah has alleged that the contents of the book on which the movie is based on are defamatory and constitute an infringement on his right to privacy, self-respect and liberty.

The book is based on Hussain Zaidi’s ‘The Mafia Queens of Mumbai’. Shah has also filed a case against the author and reporter Jane Borges whose research constituted the premise of the book. The son has demanded the permanent cessation of the printing and circulation of the book, in addition to the deletion of the chapters on Gangubai Kathiawadi. He has also demanded that the movie be scrapped.

Narendra Dubey, Shah’s lawyer, has claimed that a criminal complaint may also be filed in the coming weeks for ‘defamation, indecent representation of women, and circulation of obscene and indecent material’. The first hearing in the matter was held at the Bombay High Court on Tuesday and the next hearing is slated to occur on the 7th of January.

Dubey told The Print, “Ever since the promo of the film came out, rumours have spread and Shah has been harassed in his own locality. His leg was fractured from being hit. His relatives are also suffering as they are now being known as coming from a ‘prostitute family’.”

Gangubai Kathiawadi was slated to release in September this year but got delayed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. It is now expected to release sometime next year.

Gita, Atmanirbhar Bharat, Clean Environment and more: Key takeaways from 19th episode of Mann Ki Baat 2.0

OpIndia Staff
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Gita, Atmanirbhar Bharat, Clean Environment and more: Key takeaways from 19th episode of Mann Ki Baat 2.0

On December 27, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the people of India in the 19th episode of Mann Ki Baat 2.0, where he talked about several issues and talked about Shrimad Bhagwad Gita, Chaar Sahibzade, Atmanirbhar Bharat, Clean environment, Animal Rights and more.

Gita: A wonderful Granth

On the auspicious day of Gita Jayanti, which was on December 25, PM talked about the importance of the book. He said that it is a wonderful Granth because it is the voice of Bhagwan Krishna himself. “The very first mantra of Vedanta is – ‘Athaato Brahm Jigyasa’ that is, come, let us inquire about Brahm. That is why we talk about the inquest of even Brahm, the ultimate creator!” he said. He further added that curiosity constantly inspires you to learn something new. In childhood, we learn only because we are curious. That is, we are alive as long as there is a curiosity in us.

Atmanirbhar Bharat: A journey everyone is committed to take

During his address, Prime Minister talked about Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan and how the people of India are enthusiastically participating in it. He mentioned one Abhinav Banerjee from Delhi who wrote to PM telling him about the shopkeepers in Jhandewalan market in Delhi selling high-quality Made-In-India toys and encouraging people to buy Indian products. PM said that the change in the mindset of the buyers that too within a year is remarkable.

He also talked about one Venkat, Murli Prasad from Vishakhapatnam, who sent PM his ABC (Atmanirbhar Bharat Chart) for 2021, in which he explained what he wants to replace with Made-in-India products in the coming year. The list contained everything from appliances, stationery, gadgets and more.

Remembering Chaar Sahibzade

PM while talking about the sacrifice made by four sons of Guru Gobind Singh, Sahibzada Ajit Singh, Jujhar Singh, Jorawar Singh, and Fateh Singh, he mentioned his visit to Gurudwara Rakabganj to offer floral tributes and pay my obeisance to Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji who attained martyrdom on November 11, 1675.

PM said, “We are indebted to this martyrdom. Once again I bow to the martyrdom of Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, Mata Gujari, Guru Gobind Singh Ji and the four Sahibzade. Several such sacrifices have preserved the present fabric of India, keeping it intact.”

The younger sons Baba Jorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh attained martyrdom when they refused to become Muslims, and Wazir Khan ordered to brick them alive. Mata Gujri, Mother of Guru Gobind Singh and wife of Guru Tegh Bahadur, when she heard about what happened to Chote Sahibzade, died of emotional trauma. The two older ones, Baba Ajit Singh and Baba Jujhar Singh fought in the Chamkaur battle, where they attained martyrdom.

The increasing population of leopards

While talking about the population of leopards in India, PM Modi said that it should make everyone proud that the population has risen by 60 percent between 2014 and 2018. The number of leopards was 7.900 in 2014, and in 2019, it was reported to have reached 12,852. He said, “Amongst the states with the maximum population of leopards Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra are topmost in the order. Also, there has been an increase in India’s forest area, the reason for this is that not only the government but also many people, civil society, many institutions too are engaged in conserving our trees and plants and wild animals.”

PM talked about a girl Gayatri from Coimbatore, who made a wheelchair for a suffering dog with the help of her father. “In Delhi NCR and other cities of the country in the chilling cold, many people are doing a lot for the care of shelterless animals.

They arrange for food, water, sweaters and even beds for those animals. Some people arrange food for hundreds of such animals every day. Such efforts should be commended,” he said.

Transforming old temples

During his address, he talked about Yuva Brigade from Karnataka. The organization of youth has transformed an ancient Shiva temple named Veerbhadra Swami in Srirangpatna in Karnataka. They have removed the weeds and shrubs around the temple and repaired the construction. They also arranged an electricity connection for the temple. “. Passion and firm commitment are two means through which people can achieve every goal. When I see the youth of India, I feel delighted and assured. Delighted and assured because the youth of my country has the ‘Can Do’ approach and the ‘Will Do’ spirit in them, he said.

Kashmiri Saffron – a spice of pride

In May 2020, Kashmiri Saffron was given the Geographical Indication Tag or GI tag. PM mentioned that the saffron from Kashmir is popular across the globe, and it has many medicinal properties. The deep dark colour and long threats with a strong aroma make it a distinct spice.

In May this year, the Kashmiri Saffron was given the Geographical Indication Tag or GI tag. Through this, we want to make Kashmiri Saffron a Globally Popular Brand. Kashmiri saffron is globally famous as a spice that has many medicinal properties. It has a strong aroma, its colour is deep dark, and its threads are long and thick, which enhances its medicinal value.

“It represents the rich cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir. And if you’re talking about the quality, the saffron of Kashmir is unique and completely different from the saffron of other countries. Saffron from Kashmir has now got a distinct identity with the GI Tag recognition. You will be delighted to know that after obtaining the GI Tag certificate, Kashmiri Saffron was launched in a supermarket in Dubai. Now its exports will get a boost. This will further strengthen our efforts to build an atmanirbhar Bharat,” he said.

Ayodhya: Students booked for raising ‘azaadi’ slogans during protests against college principal

OpIndia Staff
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Ayodhya: Students booked for raising ‘azaadi’ slogans during protests against college principal

Students from Saket College in Ayodhya have been booked on charges of sedition after they raised ‘Azaadi’ slogans during a protest. The students claim that they were protesting against the delay in announcing the dates for the students’ union elections.

Former president of Saket College students’ union, Abhas Krishna Yadav, told TOI, “Students were raising ‘azaadi’ slogans as they were seeking freedom from the corrupt principal and anti-student system of the college, and demanding to hold student union elections.”

The sedition case was registered on the basis of a complaint filed by the principal of the college. Sumit Tiwari, Shesh Narayan Pandey, Imran Hashmi, Satvik Pandey, Mohit Yadav and Manoj Mishra have been booked under Sections 124 A (sedition), 147 (rioting), 188 (disobedience to order), 332 (causing hurt to deter public servant from duty), 342 (wrongfully confinement), 353 (assault on public servant), 427 (causing damage to property), 435 (mischief by fire or explosive substance) and 506 (offence of criminal intimidation) of the IPC.

The principal told reporters that the students “were raising slogans of ‘azaadi’, they wanted to take azaadi by revolt and by violence, by burning the country. It was my duty to protect the motherland, therefore, I have filed the complaint against them.”

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