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J&K: General Bipin Rawat Stadium inaugurated by L-G Manoj Sinha in Baramulla

OpIndia Staff
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J&K: General Bipin Rawat Stadium inaugurated by L-G Manoj Sinha in Baramulla

In a tribute to the former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, the J&K Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha inaugurated General Bipin Rawat Stadium in Baramulla on 16th January.

The stadium was inaugurated marking the second death anniversary of the country’s first CDS in the presence of G-o-C 15CORPS and other official dignitaries.

L-G Sinha while addressing the ceremony said, “In a century, a figure akin to a divine son emerges, and General Rawat embodied such a spirit. His roots were deeply intertwined with Baramulla, where he served as an Army officer. The proposal for a stadium in his honour originated from the local community, reflecting the profound connection Rawat held with Baramulla. Upon his passing, scores of people from Baramulla journeyed to Delhi to bid their final farewells. Let it be known to the people of Baramulla that our endeavours for district development stand as the greatest tribute to General Rawat.”

General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 15 Corps Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai also paid tribute to the former CDS saying, “It’s a proud moment for us that the stadium has been named after General Bipin Rawat. Efforts will be made to provide better facilities to the youth here.”

He added that the current situation in Kashmir is good but there is still a distance to be covered to move forward.

“Youth have a bright future ahead as Kashmir is progressing and better days are on the horizon and the Army is completely involved with the administration and police to combat narco-terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir which is destroying the future of youth in Jammu and Kashmir,” the Commander added.

Moreover, the L-G also expressed concern about the weather owing to a snow-less winter this year. “I pray to God for snow as snowfall is a must for power projects to run, otherwise they will become defunct. Snowfall is also a must to keep the tourism sector thriving,” he said.

He said that elections for the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and Panchayats will be started after reservations to OBCs are complete.

L-G Sinha also appealed to the people to take part in large numbers in the Republic Day celebrations.

Ancient settlement in PM Modi’s birthplace Vadnagar reveals 2800-year history: 1 lakh artefacts unearthed in 8-year excavation, carbon dating to make more revelations

OpIndia Staff
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Ancient settlement in PM Modi’s birthplace Vadnagar reveals 2800-year history: 1 lakh artefacts unearthed in 8-year excavation, carbon dating to make more revelations

Archaeological findings in Vadnagar, Gujarat, indicate human habitation dating back 800 years before Christ, shedding light on the rich historical legacy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s hometown. The research conducted collaboratively by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), and the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), has unveiled evidence of human settlements existing in this region as far back as 2800 years ago. Several compelling images documenting these discoveries have also emerged.

Researchers have said that there are seven cultural phases in the settlement here. Dr Anindya Chakraborty told the media that excavation has been going on here since 2016, so far his team has excavated 20 meters. Chakraborty is a professor of geology at IIT Kharagpur.

Details about the recently unearthed human settlement in Vadnagar have been featured in a scientific magazine. According to researchers, human presence in this region spans various historical periods, including the Mauryan period, Indo-Greek era, Shaka-Kshatrapa rule, Hindu Solankis, Sultani-Mughal influence, and the Gaekwad-British period. Notably, the discovery also includes the identification of a Buddhist monastery within the archaeological site.

According to researchers, the ongoing excavation has established Vadnagar as the oldest continuously inhabited settlement within a single fortification in India. The site has yielded remnants of various precious metals, including gold, silver, iron, and copper objects, providing valuable insights into the enduring history of this ancient locality.

Researchers further assert that carbon dating of the discovered artefacts indicates an age of up to 3400 years. If conclusively verified, this evidence would affirm the continuous existence of civilisation in India for the past 5000 years.

Researchers argue that substantiating this evidence could potentially debunk the notion of the so-called ‘Dark Age.’ In Indian historical discourse, the Dark Age is traditionally delineated between the decline of the Indus Valley Civilisation and the emergence of the Mahajanapada period. This period is characterised by scant information about the events that transpired in the Indian territory, and if the newly discovered evidence is validated, it has the potential to challenge and redefine our understanding of this historical phase.

Researchers have highlighted that India has encountered numerous external invasions over the past 2200 years, a fact substantiated by the excavations in Vadnagar. Reports indicate the discovery of over 100,000 artefacts at more than 30 excavation sites in this area, shedding light on the historical impact of external influences on the region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was born in Vadnagar. Here he used to sell tea at the station with his father in his childhood. From being a small village during the PM’s childhood, Vadnagar has now grown to become a town.

‘Supposed to guard the nation, protect integrity of its citizens’: Kerala HC denies bail to soldier Anwar Hussain who promised cash to 13-year-old boy for sex

OpIndia Staff
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‘Supposed to guard the nation, protect integrity of its citizens’: Kerala HC denies bail to soldier Anwar Hussain who promised cash to 13-year-old boy for sex

The Kerala High Court has rejected the bail plea of a 32-year-old soldier Anwar Hussain T from Lakshadweep’s Amini village who is accused of offering money to a 13-year-old boy in exchange for having sex with him and one of his friends. The single bench headed by Judge Sophy Thomas expressed that the charges against the bail applicant should be taken seriously because he is a soldier.

“Being a soldier, the allegations against the petitioner have to be viewed more seriously. He is supposed to guard the nation and the dignity and integrity of the citizens,” she observed in an order released on 5th January. Furthermore, the judge stated that the accusations were “unbecoming of a responsible military officer” and disgusting if established. The court proclaimed, “So, this court is not inclined to release the petitioner on bail at present considering the factual situations.”

The perpetrator and his accomplice enticed the minor boy to engage in an act of sodomy with them by offering him cash after which the former was arrested and sections 5b(iv)(aggravated penetrative sexual assault), 6 (punishment for aggravated penetrative sexual assault), 11(iv)(sexual harassment), 12 (punishment for sexual harassment) and 18 (punishment for attempt to commit an offence) of the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses) Act were invoked against him last year.

The victim’s family filed a police report in the case in 2023. The culprit, however, informed the court that he was at odds with the family members of the young boy and was being trapped in a family feud by them. He submitted bail under Code of Criminal Procedure section 439 which deals with the high court’s or court of session’s exceptional powers over bail.

This argument was refuted by the prosecution who asserted that the case’s investigation was still ongoing. It contended that the probe and the boy’s security could be jeopardized if the offender is freed on bond. The bench denied the bail request after considering these grounds.

Number of Indian students seeking study permit in Canada drops by 86% after diplomatic spat over Trudeau govt’s support of Khalistanis

OpIndia Staff
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Number of Indian students seeking study permit in Canada drops by 86% after diplomatic spat over Trudeau govt’s support of Khalistanis

The number of study permits granted by Canada to Indian students dropped sharply in the last twelve months, as a result of a diplomatic dispute over the murder of a Khalistani terrorist leader in Canada, a top Canadian official stated on Wednesday (17th January). The number of Indian students seeking to study in Canada has gone down by a huge amount. Moreover, the Canadian govt is also unable to process applications at previous levels due to a reduction in counsellor staff after India expelled Canadian diplomats who would process the permits.

In an interview, Immigration Minister Marc Miller stated that he does not anticipate the number of study visas for Indians would increase anytime soon. Diplomatic tensions erupted in June when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that there was evidence linking Indian government operatives to the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.

Miller believes that the tensions will continue to weigh on the numbers in the future. “Our relationship with India has halved our ability to process a lot of applications from India,” Miller said.

In October, Canada pulled 41 diplomats, or two-thirds of its staff, out of India on orders from New Delhi. Furthermore, the conflict has led Indian students to pursue higher education in other nations, according to a ministerial spokesperson.

These reasons resulted in an 86% decrease in study permits awarded to Indians in the fourth quarter of last year compared to the previous quarter, to 14,910 from 108,940, according to government figures not previously revealed.

C. Gurus Ubramanian, counsellor for the High Commission of India in Ottawa, stated that some Indian international students were considering alternatives to Canada due to “concerns, in the recent past, regarding the lack of residential and adequate teaching facilities” at several Canadian universities.

In recent years, Indians have made up the largest group of international students in Canada, accounting for more than 41% (225,835) of all visas in 2022.

“I can’t tell you about how the diplomatic relationship will evolve, particularly if police were to lay charges. It’s not something that I see any light at the end of the tunnel on,” Miller said.

International students are a cash cow for Canadian universities, bringing in over C$22 billion ($16.4 billion) per year, and a slowdown will be detrimental to the institutions.

In June, Canada stated that there were “credible suspicions” linking Indian agents to the murder of Nijjar in a Vancouver neighborhood. India has denied the accusations. Canadian authorities are yet to charge anyone for the murder.

Last year, the US Justice Department indicted a 52-year-old man who collaborated with an Indian government employee in plotting to kill a New York City citizen who pushed for a Sikh independent state in northern India.

The Canadian government has also been working to restrict the overall number of overseas students entering the country, in part due to ongoing housing shortages.

“Right now we have a challenge with the sheer volume of students coming in,” Miller explained. “It’s just gotten out of control and needs to be reduced, I would say, significantly over a short time.”

Miller stated that the government would implement additional measures to reduce the number of overseas students during the first half of this year, including a possible cap. Canada is a popular choice for overseas students because it is very simple to secure work permits after completing courses.

The administration aims to address “a very generous” program for postgraduate work permits and to crack down on “fly-by-night” universities known as designated learning institutes, he stated.

The government has previously announced plans to limit the number of off-campus work hours for overseas students, which the food service and retail businesses fear may result in labor shortages.

In 2023, the government predicted that over 900,000 international students would study in Canada, roughly three times the number a decade earlier. Miller reported that 40% of those students, or around 360,000, were Indian. The number of licenses issued to Indian students decreased by 4% last year, but they still remained the largest group.

Pakistan Air Force posts a video boasting about its ‘advanced capabilities’, gets bombed by Iran hours later

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan Air Force posts a video boasting about its ‘advanced capabilities’, gets bombed by Iran hours later

Iran launched drone and missile assaults on terrorist bases inside Pakistan on Wednesday (17th January), claiming to hit two Jaish al-Adl terrorist sites, a day after the elite Revolutionary Guards conducted similar strikes on Iraq and Syria. Pakistan issued a forceful statement condemning Iran’s “unprovoked violation of its airspace” and warning of “consequences”. Pakistan further claimed that two children died and three others were injured as a result of Iran’s attack.

The significant missile attack by Iran on targets inside Pakistan’s territorial border came just hours after the Pakistani Air Force boasted about its advanced capabilities in a video. The Pakistan Air Force claimed ‘transformative modernization initiative to counter evolving threats, prioritizing the induction of modern systems through smart acquisitions and indigenization’.

“A key milestone in this strategic transformation has been the acquisition of Fifth Generation Stealth fighter jets, the foundation of whose induction into the PAF has already been laid which will ensure an impregnable defense of the country,” the Pakistan Air Force stated as it announced acquisition of the J-10C fighter jets.

“The acquisition of J-10C fighter jets, Unmanned Aerial Systems, modern electronic warfare platforms, force multipliers, state-of-the-art integrated air defense systems, air mobility platforms, HIMADS, and hypersonic missile capabilities at an unprecedented pace has bolstered the PAF’s warfighting capabilities,” PAF added.

Pakistan reached out to the Iranian charge d’affaires at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to express its “strongest condemnation of this clear violation” of its sovereignty. While Pakistan’s Foreign Office did not specify the location of the victims, reports indicate that the bases were in Balochistan, and one of the terror group’s biggest headquarters was attacked.

Pakistan condemned Iran’s attack as a “unprovoked violation of its airspace” and vowed to “vehemently protest the violation of its sovereignty.” It is totally unacceptable, and it might have significant implications.”

Jaish al-Adl was founded in 2012 and declared a terrorist outfit by Iran. Jaish al-Adl is a Sunni terrorist organization based in Iran’s southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchistan. Over the years, Jaish al-Adl has launched multiple attacks on Iranian security personnel.

Interestingly, the IRGC strike inside Pakistan happened just when Pakistan’s caretaker PM Anwaar Kakar was meeting Iranian FM Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Just a day prior, Iran had hit areas near US consulate in Erbil, Iraq, claiming to hit Israeli spy bases. The IRGC has also conducted long-range missile strikes hitting ISIS targets in Syria, in an apparent display of its capabilities.

In December, Jaish al-Adl claimed responsibility for an attack on a police station in Sistan-Baluchistan, which killed at least 11 officers. Sistan-Baluchistan shares a border with Pakistan and Afghanistan. The region has a history of conflicts between Iranian security forces, Sunni insurgents, and drug smugglers.

MHA cancels FCRA registration of Delhi-based think tank Centre for Policy Research

OpIndia Staff
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MHA cancels FCRA registration of Delhi-based think tank Centre for Policy Research

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has cancelled the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration of the Delhi-based think tank Centre for Policy Research (CPR) for allegedly violating certain foreign funding norms.

“The FCRA has been cancelled via order received on January 10″ and the institution will weigh its options to seek justice,” Yamini Aiyar, President, CPR said while speaking to ANI.

Yamini Aiyar is the daughter of controversial Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar.

The MHA cited reports published by CPR on “current affairs programs” as one of the reasons for the cancellation.

The MHA’s action comes almost a year after CPR’s FCRA registration was suspended for 180 days and then the suspension was extended for another 180 days. The MHA suspended the FCRA licence of CPR in February last year.

Earlier in September 2022, the Income Tax department conducted a ‘survey’ operation against CPR, and two other organisations- Oxfam India and a Bengaluru-based Independent and Public-Spirited Media Foundation (IPSMF) — as part of a probe to look into their foreign funding.

In July 2023, the Income Tax Department reportedly informed the ‘Centre for Policy Research (CPR),’ run by the daughter of Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar, about the withdrawal of its tax exemption status.

Oxfam India’s foreign funding is also blocked in India as MHA, in December 2021, refused to renew its FCRA licence. Parallelly, the Central Bureau of Investigation is also investigating Oxfam India.

The CPR then filed a challenge in the Delhi High Court against the suspension of its license too.

The MHA then contended that CPR’s foreign funding should be ceased due to concerns about receiving foreign contributions for undesirable purposes that could impact the country’s economic interests.

The MHA had further accused the CPR of transferring foreign contributions to other entities and depositing them in non-designated accounts, violating the FCRA. 

(With inputs from ANI)

PM Narendra Modi visits Guruvayur Temple in Kerala, attends wedding of BJP leader Suresh Gopi’s daughter

OpIndia Staff
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PM Narendra Modi visits Guruvayur Temple in Kerala, attends wedding of BJP leader Suresh Gopi’s daughter

On a pleasant Wednesday (17th January) morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived a the Guruvayur Sri Krishna Swamy Temple in Thrissur, Kerala. PM Modi performed a pooja and had a darshan at Guruvayur Temple. The Prime Minister was seen dressed in Kerala’s traditional Mundu and Veshti. Prime Minister Modi also attended the wedding of actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi’s daughter Bhagya Suresh at the temple.

Prime Minister Modi arrived at the Kalyana Mandapam where the wedding rituals of bride Bhagya Suresh and groom Suresh Mohan were performed. PM Modi blessed the couple on their special occasion and congratulated them. He left the venue after clicking pictures with the newly-married couple. Notably, Malayalam actors Manmootty, Mohanlal, and Dileep among others also attended the wedding.

PM Modi with actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi at Guruvayur Temple (Image source: FilmiBeat)

Taking to X, PM Modi shared some pictures from his Guruvayur visit as expressed his gratitude to the people of Kerala for extending a warm welcome to him.

“It was early in the morning but people in Guruvayur came in large numbers to bless me. I cherish this warmth and it motivates me to work even harder for the people,” PM Modi posted.

The temple priests presented a replica of Lord Krishna’s idol to Prime Minister Modi today.

Image source: (PM Modi’s X handle)

In another post, PM Modi hailed the divine energy of the temple as he wrote, “Prayed at the sacred Guruvayur Temple. The divine energy of this Temple is immense. I prayed that every Indian be happy and prosperous.”

Notably, PM Modi is set to inaugurate the International Ship Repair Facility (ISRF) of the Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) at Kochi in Kerala. The 310-meter-long drydock built along with India’s first fully developed ship repair ecosystem ISRF is set to become a game-changer for India’s marine sector. PM Narendra Modi is also inaugurating various infrastructure projects at Kochi worth Rs 4000 Crores. Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal took stock of the preparations before the Prime Minister arrived in Kochi and reviewed these projects.

PM Modi performs Thulabharam

Before gracing the wedding of Suresh Gopi’s daughter Prime Minister Modi performed the ‘Thulabharam’ ritual at the Guruvayur Temple today. It is interesting to note that during the Thulabharam ceremony, the devotee sits on one side of the weighing scale (Tula) and places an item of equal or greater weight on the other side. The item is then offered to the deity. According to Puranic belief, doing this ritual signifies the devotees’ submission to the deity. The items kept on the balance vary based on the needs of the devotee. Thulabharam ritual is performed for alleviation from distress, accomplishing an aspiration, or healing from a health condition.

PM Modi performing the Thulabharam ritual during his 2019 visit to the Guruvayur Temple (Image source: Mathrubhumi)

As per the Puranas, this ritual was started after Rishi Narada challenged one of Lord Krishna’s wives Satyabhama to take a challenge that her husband would sit on one side of the scale and she would have to put as much wealth on the other side of the scale as to outweigh the Lord himself and prove her love for Krishna. On failing to do so Lord Krishna would become a slave (Das) of Narada. However, despite offering her entire wealth including gold, she failed to outweigh Lord Krishna, seeing this, goddess Rukmini came and placed a Tulsi leaf on the weighing scale with all her devotion to the supreme deity. After this, the Tulsi leaf outweighs Lord Krishna. The scriptures say that Rishi Narada had pre-planned this, to teach Satyabhama the power of devotion and love. This puranic tale inspires the Thulabhram ceremony at the Guruvayur Temple.

Goddess Rukmini offering Tulsi leafe during Lord Krishna’s Thulabharam illustration (Image source: DivyaDesamOnline)

Guruvayur Temple – The Bhuloka Vaikuntham

The Guruvayur temple, known as “Bhuloka Vaikuntham” (Holy abode of Lord Vishnu), is thought to be at least 5,000 years old, with the main idol installed by Brihaspati and Vayu and blessed by Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati. The temple devoted to Lord Vishnu and the young form of Lord Krishna is popularly known as the ‘Dwarka of the South’. The statue of Lord Vishnu installed here has four arms. One holds the conch Panchajanya, another holds the discus Sudarshana Chakra, the third has the mace Kaumodaki, and the fourth holds a lotus with a Holy basil garland. The temple is particularly known for its elephant festival – Guruvayoor Aanayottam. Devotees from all over the world come here to see beautifully dressed elephants. Moreover, Guruvayur Ekadashi, Vaishakam and Ashtami Rohini festivals are also celebrated at the ‘Bhuloka Vaikuntha’.

Guruvayur Temple in Thrissur (Image source: Guruvayur Dewasom)

The Guruvayur Temple is a typical example of Kerala’s traditional temple architecture. It faces east and has two gopurams, one in the east (Kizhakkenada) and one in the west (Padinjarenada). Moreover, structures like Nalambalam (temple structure enclosing sanctum sanctorum), Balikkal (sacrificial stone) and Deepastambam (Pillar of lights) in the temple precincts leave the visitors spellbound. The wall of the sanctum sanctorum (Srekovil) is adorned with antique 17th-century artwork. 

Fake News on PM Modi’s visit to the temple

Notably, some people were spreading fake news that many weddings at Guruvayur Temple were cancelled due to the visit by PM Modi. However, the temple administration clarified that no weddings scheduled for 17th January were cancelled. The temple however changed the times of some weddings to accommodate a security window for the visit. While it was being claimed that 48 weddings were cancelled, actually 39 of the 65 marriages planned for today were rescheduled to take place between 5 am to 6 am, while originally 9 weddings were scheduled during this period. Therefore, a total of 48 marriages were scheduled for 5 to 6 am.

Guruvayur Devaswom Board had further clarified that there was no question of weddings taking place outside auspicious time or muhurtham because of the change of time slots, because there is no muhurtham at the Guruvayur temple, and weddings can take place anytime in the day. The boead also clarified that the limit of 20 guests per wedding is already there in the temple for several years, and it has not been imposed for PM Modi’s visit. The temple sees over 100 marriages in a day in some days, and that is why the limit on guests have been implemented.

‘Please close the commode lid and sit on it’: SpiceJet crew slips in a note after a passenger gets stuck in the loo on flight

OpIndia Staff
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‘Please close the commode lid and sit on it’: SpiceJet crew slips in a note after a passenger gets stuck in the loo on flight

In yet another horrendous flying experience, a passenger on a SpiceJet flight from Mumbai to Bengaluru got stuck inside the loo of a SpiceJet for almost an hour on Tuesday morning due to an alleged malfunction of the lavatory door lock.

As per reports, following the deactivation of the seat belt sign at 2:13 am after departure from Mumbai, a male passenger headed to the restroom but became unexpectedly locked inside. He remained in the confined space until the aircraft landed in Bengaluru at 3:10 am, at which point technicians were able to unlock the door.

The passenger reportedly sought help from the crew members after he couldn’t open the door to the lavatory from inside. The crew members slipped in a note through the cracks in the folding door of the loo, asking him to remain calm while expressing their inability to open the door from the outside.

“Sir, we tried our best to open the door. However, we could not open it. Do not panic; we are landing in a few minutes. So please the commode lid, sit on it and secure yourself. As soon as the main door is open, the engineer will come. Do not panic,” the note read.

The passenger remained in the lavatory until the plane landed at the Bengaluru airport, upon which a technician helped wrench the door open, following which he received immediate medical support.

SpiceJet issued a statement, apologising for the incident and affirming that the passenger would receive a complete refund. The airline also noted that the traveller received assistance throughout the entirety of the journey.

Earlier this week, passengers travelling from IndiGo airlines in several cities across the country had to face severe delays purportedly due to harsh weather conditions, as reported by the airlines to the DGCA. The delays sparked outrage among passengers, with many untoward incidents reported, notably the assault on a cabin crew member by a fellow passenger.

Ex-MP Mahua Moitra receives third notice to vacate government residence in Delhi

ANI
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Ex-MP Mahua Moitra receives third notice to vacate government residence in Delhi

Trinamool Congress Party (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra has received fresh notice to vacate her government-allotted accommodation in New Delhi on Wednesday.

This is the third notice served to Moitra by the Directorate of Estate, under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, asking her to vacate her official bungalow and comes shortly after she was expelled from the Lok Sabha in connection with the ‘cash-for-query’ case.

“The Applicant vide Letter dated 08.01.2024 requested to initiate eviction proceedings against, you under the provisions of Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1971,” the notice of Office of the Estate Officer and Assistant Director of Estates (Litigation), Directorate of Estates read.

The Ministry of Urban Development served the second notice to Mahua on January 11 this year.

The TMC leader had approached the Delhi High Court, seeking the quashing of the notice issued by the Directorate of Estate cancelling her government accommodation in the national capital.

The plea stated that a notice had been issued to her on December 11, 2023, which directed her to vacate the house by 7.01.2024, failing which proceedings under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants Act) 1971 (‘PP Act 1971’) will be caused to be initiated.

The plea prayed to allow her to retain possession of her government accommodation till results of the 2024 General Elections.

It also stated that the absence of government accommodation, however, poses a significant impediment to the petitioner’s ability to host and engage with party members, parliamentarians, fellow politicians, visiting constituents, key stakeholders and other dignitaries, which is essential, especially in the lead up to a general election.

Moitra was on December 8, 2023, expelled from the Lok Sabha after a discussion on the report of the Ethics Committee in the ‘cash for query’ that was tabled in the Lower House.

Moitra, who was not allowed to speak during the discussion inside the House, said that the Ethics committee broke every rule.

The expelled Lok Sabha MP alleged that she has been found guilty of breaching a code of ethics that ‘does not exist’.

The Ethics Committee report probing ‘Unethical Conduct’ of the TMC MP had recommended that Moitra “may be expelled” from the Lok Sabha and called for an “intense, legal, institutional inquiry” by the central government in a “time-bound manner”.

The report was adopted by a 6:4 majority in the panel last month. The report on Moitra’s cash-for-query case revealed that she visited the UAE four times from 2019 to 2023 while her login was accessed several times. (ANI)

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

‘Should we be so intolerant?’: Kerala High Court on plea against Malayalam film ‘Antony’ over gun inside a Bible scene

OpIndia Staff
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‘Should we be so intolerant?’: Kerala High Court on plea against Malayalam film ‘Antony’ over gun inside a Bible scene

On Tuesday (16th January), the Kerala High Court heard a plea raising objection over a scene in the film “Antony” showing a gun kept inside a Bible. Petitioner Joji Verghese challenged the release of the Malayalam film contending that such a scene hurts the religious sentiments of the Christian community.

A single-judge bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran heard the plea and made some strong observations about religion and tolerance. The Court stated orally that people should not be so intolerant. It noted that these types of scenes were featured in Hollywood films as early as the 1960s and 1970s. Further, the Kerala High Court judge said that whatever holy text is in the scene, some or the other section would be unhappy or offended.

“Should we be so intolerant that even for a passing reference to a book you should take up objection? Even if it is a Bible, doesn’t there need to be a negative reference or connotation for you to object? Bible is used to hide a gun so Christians are unhappy. If it is Gita, Hindus will become unhappy. If it is the Quran, Muslims will be unhappy,” Justice Ramachandran said.

The Court inquired about how the book could be said to be the Bible since it was only a fleeting shot. It stated that experts censored the film before being distributed on multiple platforms.

“How do you know this is the Bible? …The statement states it was as a fleeting moment…it was such brief that it could not be registered in the mind of the viewer…”

The bench, however, agreed to watch the allegedly objectionable part from the film “Antony”. “if you want you can produce the video, I will see…the petitioner seeks additional time to produce additional evidence”, the single-judge bench noted.

The court also stated that such petitions would only benefit movie producers who could use negative or positive publicity to broaden the reach of their film. The matter will be heard again in two weeks.

The story of the film revolves around Antony’s life, his encounters with other gangsters, and what occurs when Kalyani Priyadarshan’s character, Ann Maria, enters his life and he is forced to become her guardian following her mother’s death.

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