"It Refuses To Leave Me": Vijay Reviews Diljit's Amar Singh Chamkila

Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra starrer Amar Singh Chamkila has been receiving love and praise from critics and audiences. The film also impressed actor Vijay Varma. He revealed how the film refused to leave his mind even after five days. The actor also thanked filmmaker Imtiaz Ali for this gift.

Vijay took to his Instagram stories on Monday and shared still of Parineeti and Diljit along with a note. He described the movie as one of the most "potent, poignant and extraordinary" he has seen.

"It's been 5 days since I watched chamkila and it refuses to leave me. It is one of the most potent, poignant and extraordinary film I have seen and I want to thank @imtiazaliofficial sir giving us this gift."

He also heaped praise on Parineeti and Diljit for their performance.

Vijay wrote, "Parineeti Chopra was delightful as she tapped onto such simplicity and genuineness. And Diljit Dosanjh bhai.. mere shabd kam pad jayenge aapki taarif ke liye. Dil jit liya. BRAVO!"

Helmed by Imtiaz Ali, Amar Singh Chamkila presents the untold true story of Punjab's original rockstar of the masses, who emerged from the shadows of poverty and rose to the heights of popularity in the eighties due to the sheer power of his music, angering many along the way, which led to his assassination at the young age of 27.

Diljit Dosanjh portrays Chamkila,' the top-selling artist of his era. Parineeti essays the role of Amar Singh Chamkila's wife, Amarjot Kaur.

Amar Singh Chamkila is streaming on OTT.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Vijay Varma recently appeared in Homi Adajania's Murder Mubarak, which hit theatres month on March 15. The movie features Karisma Kapoor, Sanjay Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, and Pankaj Tripathi in significant roles.

Vijay Varma has finished shooting for their upcoming drama Ul Jalool Ishq.

Helmed by Vibhu Puri, the film also stars veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah and Sharib Hashmi in the lead roles.

The release date is yet to be disclosed. Ul Jalool Ishq is produced by fashion icon Manish Malhotra under his company, Stage5 Productions. The movie will also include music from Gulzar and Vishal Bhardwaj.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/4l1GAhc

Read More

Man Uses PM's Name In Wedding Card, Poll Officials Visit His Karnataka Home

A groom found himself embroiled in controversy after his wedding invitation sparked debate over his political affiliation, police said on Monday.

Uppinangady police in Puttur taluk of Dakshina Kannada, responded to a complaint lodged by officials overseeing election code adherence.

The focal point of contention was the tagline in the wedding invitation. "The best present you will give the couple is electing Modi as PM once again," it said.

According to police, a complaint was lodged by one of the groom's relatives to the Election Commission regarding the tagline.

Based on the complaint, Election Commission officials visited the groom's residence in Puttur taluk on April 14. The groom explained that the invitations were printed on March 1, before the election dates were announced. He also clarified that the tagline expresses admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and concern for the nation. The marriage took place on April 18.

Despite the groom's explanation, EC lodged a complaint with Uppinangady police on April 26, following which a FIR was registered.

Furthermore, the press owner responsible for printing the invitation is also under the scanner of the EC and the police.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/MmIwRS2

Read More

"My Personal Wish": SRK Wants This Big-Hitter To Play For India In T20 WC

Kolkata Knights Riders principal owner Shah Rukh Khan has endorsed the inclusion of his left-handed power-hitter Rinku Singh in the Indian team for the upcoming T20 World Cup, terming it his "personal wish". The 26-year-old Rinku burst into the limelight when he smashed five consecutive sixes in Kolkata Knight Riders' stunning last-over win over Gujarat Titans during IPL 2023. Rinku's name has been doing the rounds as far as selecting the 15-member Indian squad is concerned for the T20 showpiece, which will be held in the USA and West Indies across June. He has a strike-rate of 176 plus in 15 T20I for India with two fifties, Expressing his optimism for Rinku's World Cup prospects, Shah Rukh said during an interview on Star Sports, "Such amazing players are playing for the country. I am really looking forward to Rinku, Inshallah being in the World Cup Squad and some other youngsters from other teams also.

"Some of them deserve it so much, but my personal wish is that Rinku makes it to the team. I will be so happy. That will be the high point for me." With the KKR top-order doing the bulk of scoring so far this season, Rinku has not got many opportunities with the bat.

In his debut season however, the hard-hitting batsman from Aligarh amassed 356 runs in 15 matches, remaining unbeaten in seven of those games. His runs came at a strike-rate of over 175 but power-hitting is not his only talent, for he has the ability to remain calm in pressure situations.

The Bollywood megastar, who shares a great rapport with Rinku, is delighted at his rise after having faced many obstacles on his road to success.

Growing up in modest surroundings, Rinku's family struggled to make ends meet, with his father working as an LPG cylinder delivery man and his mother a housewife.

Despite the offer of a job as a sweeper, Rinku followed his passion for cricket, believing it would lead him to greater heights.

SRK said, "I just want them to feel happy and when I see these boys playing, I feel like I am living as a sportsperson myself. Especially players like Rinku and Nitish (Rana), I see myself in them. I feel really happy when they perform well."

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/m68dF21

Read More

IPL 2024: Gaikwad, Deshpande Star As CSK Thrash SRH To End Losing Streak

IPL 2024, CSK vs SRH Highlights: Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad missed his second successive IPL century by a whisker, while pacers Tushar Deshpande and Matheesha Pathirana decimated the Sunrisers Hyderabad batting as Chennai Super Kings won their IPL home game by 78 runs at MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday. After Gaikwad scored a 54-ball 98 and shared a 107-run partnership with Daryl Mitchell (52) to give CSK a healthy 212/3, Deshpande (4/27) and Sri Lankan Pathirana (2/17) came up with match-winning bowling figures to dismiss SRH for 134 in 18.5 overs. Deshpande took the wickets of opener Travis Head (13) and Anmolpreet Singh (0) in his first over before getting rid of Abhishek Sharma (15) and captain Pat Cummins (5), while Pathirana got the dangerous Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen to demolish SRH. (Scorecard | IPL 2024 Points Table)

Highlights of Chennai Super Kings vs SunRisers Hyderabad IPL 2024 match:

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/TKw642n

Read More

Viral: Karan's Reaction After Seeing Bride Arti Singh Is Major BFF Goals

Actress Arti Singh married businessman Dipak Chauhan on Thursday (April 25). Several unseen glimpses from their wedding have been doing the rounds on social media. One of the videos capture Arti Singh's "jigar ka tukda" Karan Singh Grover, Bipasha Basu and their mother seeing her in a bridal look. Karan Singh Grover's emotional reaction to seeing Arti as a bride was just wholesome. He also gives a warm hug to her and refuses to leave her.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Arti Singh (@artisinghkishadi)

Karan Singh Grover was the perfect bridesman. The actor, dressed in all white, recently shared a video congratulating his best friend Arti Singh for the biggest phase of her life. The video features clips from the actress' wedding. In the video, Arti is seen walking down the aisle in a red bridal lehenga. Karan also lifted Arti during the jaimala ceremony. Sharing the video on Instagram, he wrote, "Jai mata di! May the rest of your life be as beautiful as your heart. Congratulations! Arti Singh and Dipak Chauhan. Love you sooooooo much!!!!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by karan singh grover (@iamksgofficial)

During her stint in Bigg Boss 13, Arti Singh opened up about her bond with Karan Singh Grover and referred to him as her "best friend." She also shared that she had saved his contact under the name 'Jigar ka tukda' (Piece of my heart) on her phone. She stated that before her entry into the Bigg Boss house, Karan gifted her one of his jackets and told her to wear it whenever she felt low. For the unversed, Arti and Karan have been friends for more than eight years now.

Several celebrities including Ankita Lokhande, Vicky Jain, Sana Makbul, Kishwer Merchantt and Yuvika Chaudhary among others attended the actress' wedding. Her Bigg Boss 13 co-contestants Rashami Desai, Devoleena Bhattacharjee, Vishal Aditya Singh, Mahira Sharma, Shefali Jariwala, Hindustani Bhau and Paras Chhabra were also pictured at the event.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/sJuSaPt

Read More

Siddaramaiah Sets Up Team To Probe Sex Scandal Involving JDS MP

A day after voting took place in the constituency, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ordered the formation of a special investigation team to probe a sex scandal allegedly involving Hassan MP and Janata Dal (Secular) candidate from the seat, Prajwal Revanna. Mr Revanna, grandson of JDS chief and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, has left for Germany.

After videos depicting sexual acts began circulating in Hassan, some of which allegedly involved women being forced or filmed without their consent, the Karnataka State Commission for Women had, on Thursday, asked the chief minister to set up a special investigation team. 

Announcing the decision on Saturday, Siddaramaiah wrote in Kannada on X, "The government has decided to form a special investigation team in connection with the Prajwal Revanna obscene video case. Obscene video clips are circulating in Hassan district, where it appears that women have been sexually assaulted.

"In this backdrop, the Chairperson of the Women's Commission had written a letter to the government to conduct an SIT investigation. This decision has been taken in response to their request," he wrote.

Mr Revanna left for Germany on Saturday morning.

The JDS is in an alliance with the BJP and, earlier in the day, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar demanded answers from the ruling party at the Centre as well. 

"The allegations of sexual assault are not just on some random Hassan leader. (Karnataka BJP Chief) BY Vijayendra and others must answer. I read reports of them saying that the Women's Commission is trying to tarnish their image. The Commission has written a letter to the chief minister and the home Minister," Mr Shivakumar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. 

On JDS leader and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy's indirectly accusing him of involvement in the case, Mr Shivakumar said, "Let him bring up my name. I will expose him. Is he justifying sexual assault against women by talking like this?"

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/aO5FHUq

Read More

Video: UP School Teacher Smashes Neighbour's Car With Brick, Attacks Family

A primary school teacher in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr broke into her neighbour's house on Saturday and bashed in the windows of their car, a CCTV video shows. 

In the clip that went viral on social media, Parul Sharma, a school teacher, is seen entering the parking area outside her neighbour Priya Goyal's house at 3 am with a brick in her hand. She flings the brick at the car's windscreen and pulls out a rock from a bag and throws it at the car. She then uses the rock to bash in all the windows of the parked vehicle.

Videos recorded by the neighbour's family show Ms Sharma continue her belligerent attack on the car even as the family wake up and confront her.  In one of the clips, she is accompanied by her elderly mother who does nothing to stop her. The school teacher continues to hurl abuses at her neighbours and tries to force open the door separating them.

In their complaint, the neighbours alleged that after she smashed all the car windows, Sharma broke a lock on the house's gate and attacked her family including her three-year-old son who sustained minor injuries. The family then informed the police. While it is not known what led to the attack, police said the two families have had an ongoing dispute. 

"A video of a fight between the neighbours in Bulanshahr's Kotwali Nagar has gone viral on social media. A case has been filed," senior police officer Shankar Prasad, said.

A case of trespassing, voluntarily causing hurt, damaging property and criminal intimidation have been filed against the teacher.
 

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/3RGZCN5

Read More

"Obscene Batting": PBKS Set World Record, Chase Down 262. Full List Here

The cricket world was in shock as Punjab Kings set a new world record on Friday. Led by Jonny Bairstow's incredible hundred, Punjab Kings set a new world record for the highest run chase in the history of T20 cricket as they overhauled the 262-run target set by Kolkata Knight Riders with eight wickets to spare in the IPL on Friday. PBKS bettered South Africa's 259/4 against West Indies in March last year. In the IPL, Rajasthan Royals held the previous record for chasing down 224 against KKR at Eden Gardens recently, equalling the record they had set against then Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in 2020 in Sharjah.

Highest targets successfully chased in Men's T20 cricket
262 - Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Kolkata, IPL 2024
259 - South Africa vs West Indies, Centurion, 2023
253 - Middlesex vs Surrey, The Oval, T20 Blast 2023
244 - Australia vs New Zealand, Auckland, 2018
243 - Bulgaria vs Serbia, Sofia, 2022
243 - Multan Sultans vs Peshawar Zalmi, Rawalpindi, PSL 2023

:Obscene batting," commented Kevin Pietersen,

Obscene batting
 

— Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) April 26, 2024

Talking about the match, sent into bat, Kolkata Knight Riders scored 261/6 but PBKS completed the chase with eight balls to spare.

KKR rode on a 138-run partnership between openers Phil Salt (75 off 37 balls) and Sunil Narine (71 off 32 balls).

The batters that followed the openers then consolidated the home team's position and took them to an imposing total.

In reply, PBKS too were off to a great start and scored 93 runs for the loss of Prabhsimran Singh's wicket in the powerplay.

Prabhsimran blazed away to a 20-ball 54 before getting run out. Bairstow continued his brutal onslaught to help PBKS pull off a stunning win. Bairstow (108 off 48 balls) was well-supported by the in-from Shashank Singh who smashed 68 in only 28 balls.

Brief scores: Kolkata Knight Riders: 261/6 in 20 overs (Phil Salt 75, Sunil Narine 71).

Punjab Kings: 262/2 in 18.4 overs (Jonny Bairstow 108, Prabhsimran Singh 54, Shashank Singh 68). 

With PTI inputs

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/B48DkPs

Read More

UP Students Clear Exam With 'Jai Shri Ram' Answers, Professors Suspended

First year students at an Uttar Pradesh University aced the exam by allegedly writing 'Jai Shri Ram' and names of cricketers in the answer sheet. But then the law caught up.

Two professors at state-run Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University in Jaunpur were suspended for allegedly extorting money from students in exchange of marks on answer sheets written with songs, music and religious slogans.

Student leader Divyanshu Singh had alleged in a letter sent to the Prime Minister, Chief Minister, Governor and Vice Chancellor that with the connivance of some officials of university, even the students who got zero marks were passed by giving them more than 60 percent marks.

Irregularities, exposed by an RTI response, were identified during the assessment of special bank copies, resulting in significant variations in marks upon re-evaluation.

"There was an allegation that students have been given more marks. So we constituted a committee. That Committee in its report said that students have been awarded more marks," said Vice-Chancellor Vandana Singh.

Asked about the religious slogans, she said: "Have not seen the copy with Jai Shri Ram answers but saw a copy in which I could not make out anything relevant based on which marks could be given to the student. The handwriting was not very clear."

The Raj Bhavan had written a letter to the Vice-Chancellor of the University and directed to take action in the matter.

NDTV has accessed the answer sheets where Jai Shri Ram appears in the middle of the answer about 'pharmacy as career'. In the same answer, appears the names of cricketers like Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

The examiners, Dr Vinay Verma and Manish Gupta, were suspended in the examination committee meeting on Wednesday.

"Teachers have been warned so that such a thing is not repeated. The committee has recommended termination for the involved teachers. But there's a model code of conduct is in place and further action will be taken once the poll code is lifted," said the Vice-Chancellor.  

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/3oqvIJd

Read More

AUS Great Gives Brutal Verdict On Hardik As Skipper, Says "Don't Think..."

The decision taken by Mumbai Indians to appoint Hardik Pandya as the captain in place of Rohit Sharma ahead of IPL 2024 was not accepted by a section of their fanbase. Hardik, who completed a sensational trade from Gujarat Titans, ended Rohit's ten-year tenure as skipper but the fans were not happy with the decision and he was booed at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Things did not improve as Mumbai Indians have won just three out of their eight matches and are fighting an uphill battle in the race for the IPL 2024 playoffs. During a discussion on Cricbuzz, former New Zealand international Simon Doull and legendary Australian cricketer Adam Gilchrist were asked to rate Hardik's captaincy this season and both of them were not quite convinced with how he has led the side till now. 

"It is a tough thing to come and take over a franchise that is so storied and successful. He obviously had good captaincy skills at Gujarat, you don't lose those. I think he is growing into it but he's still got work to do," said Doull.

"I am not seeing him strategically getting it right. I think some batting positional changes, some bowling changes at certain times, just overall strategy, I don't think as captain he's quite got it right," Gilchrist added.

Earlier, six-time IPL winner Ambati Rayudu opened up about the chances of Hardik making his spot in the India squad for the T20 World Cup 2024.

"Both of them are not competing for the same spot. Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja are finishers in the Indian team, and Shivam Dube is the kind of batter who comes in at No. 4 or 5. When the spinners are operating and conditions are slow, he can hit boundaries and accelerate to change the game. But between overs 16 and 20, Dube's strike rate isn't that high, he fails to hit that many runs. So I feel Hardik and Jadeja have that role in the Indian team," Rayudu said on Star Sports.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/lOn5mRk

Read More

Salman, Alia Lead Celeb Roll Call At Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar Screening

Sanjay Leela Bhansali is all set to make his OTT debut with a web series titled Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. Ahead of the release of the magnum opus on May 1, the makers held a star-studded screening in Mumbai on Wednesday night. The screening was attended by some of the biggest stars in Bollywood including Alia Bhatt and Salman Khan. The Tiger actor, who has worked with the ace director in the iconic film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, was spotted arriving at the screening amidst heavy security. The actor was seen wearing a black shirt and jeans for the night. Alia Bhatt, who looked lovely in a white traditional outfit, was accompanied at the event by her mom Soni Razdan, and mom-in-law Neetu Kapoor. All three actors looked lovely as they flashed their brightest smiles for the camera. For the unversed, Alia Bhatt featured in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Gangubai Kathiawadi, which earned her the prestigious National Award last year.

Take a look at her pictures from the night:

Team Heeramandi also attended the screening in their traditional best. Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Sharmin Segal, mom-to-be Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Taha Shah Badussha, and Fardeen Khan were seen posing on their carpet in style.

Aditi Rao Hydari's plus one at the event was her fiance Siddharth while Richa Chadha and Sonakshi Sinha's cheer squad included the former's hi-husband Ali Fazal and the latter's mom Poonam Sinha.

Father-son duo Shekhar and Adhyayan Sinha, who will both be seen in Heeramandi, were also spotted on the red carpet in their traditional best.

Other stars adding glamour to the event included Ananya Panday, Rashmika Mandanna, Mrunal Thakur, Shruti Haasan, Esha Deol, Rakul Preet Singh, Bhumi Pednekar, Huma Qureshi, Patralekhaa and others.

Male celebrities gracing the event included Vijay Varma, Vicky Kaushal, Karan Johar, Randeep Hooda, and Zayed Khan.

Veteran actress Rekha looked drop dread gorgeous in a yellow saree while celeb couple Sussanne Khan and Arslan Goni were seen twinning in black. Newlyweds Kriti Kharbanda and Pulkit Samrat were also seen marking their presence at the event.

Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar will be released on May 1. About the project, Manisha Koirala  said: “I waited 28 years for Sanjay to call me and it's been a pleasure. It's an honor to be working with that genius. A lot of hard work and pyaar mohabbat has gone into making Heeramandi. We have made the show with so much love, and we expect you all to love it.”

 The period drama features a stellar ensemble cast including Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh, and Sharmin Segal.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/YPqCdr2

Read More

"Make No Mistake, This Is A Ban": TikTok Vows To Fight New US Law In Court

TikTok's CEO vowed Wednesday to fight in the courts to overturn a newly signed US law that could see the popular app banned due to allegations it is controlled by the China government.

The legislation gives TikTok nine months to divest from its Chinese parent company ByteDance or be shut out of the American market.

The US and other Western officials have alleged the social media platform allows Beijing to collect data and spy on users. It has 170 million users in the United States alone, many of them young.

Critics say TikTok is also a conduit to spread propaganda. China and the company strongly deny the claims.

"Make no mistake, this is a ban. A ban on TikTok and a ban on you and your voice," TikTok boss Shou Zi Chew said in a video posted on TikTok moments after President Joe Biden signed the bill into law.

"Politicians may say otherwise, but don't get confused. Many who sponsored the bill admit a Tiktok ban is the ultimate goal."

Chew called the move "ironic" given that the "freedom of expression on TikTok reflects the same American values that make the United States a beacon of freedom."

"Rest assured, we aren't going anywhere," Chew told the platform's users.

"We will keep fighting for your rights in the courts. The facts and the Constitution are on our side."

The ban measure was included in a $95 billion foreign aid package, including military assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.

The bill, which could trigger the rare step of barring a company from operating in the US market, passed the Senate by a 79-18 vote three days after it cleared the House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support.

Under the bill, ByteDance would have to sell the app or be excluded from Apple and Google's app stores in the United States.

TikTok for years has been in the crosshairs of American authorities, who say the platform allows Beijing to snoop on users in the United States.

The bill passed by Congress also gives the US president the authority to designate other applications as a threat to national security if they are controlled by a country deemed hostile.

Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X, formerly Twitter, came out last week against banning TikTok, saying "doing so would be contrary to freedom of speech and expression."

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/YX8FEnW

Read More

Revanth Reddy's Loan Waiver Promise With Bizarre Attack On KCR

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy today reiterated his promise to waive farmer loans upto Rs 2 lakh, "come what may",. Then came a bizarre addition -- "even if KCR (his predecessor K Chandrasekhar Rao) were to die by hanging in his farm house, I will waive farmer loans by August 15," he thundered.

Revanth Reddy was addressing a meeting in his Kodangal assembly constituency, which falls in his native Mahbubnagar constituency.

His comments come on the eve of Mr Rao, the chief of Bharat Rashtra Samithi, starting his Lok Sabha campaign. The journey begins tomorrow by a special bus.

Even before that, Mr Rao has been touring drought-hit districts, meeting with farmers in distress to tell them that they were much better off when he was Chief Minister. There was no shortage of water and farmers harvested plenty, he told them.

Revanth Reddy's promise of waiving Rs 2 lakh loans of farmers before August 15 was made two days ago in Bhongir. BRS leader and nephew of KCR, T Harish Rao, had asked yesterday whether Mr Reddy would resign if he was unable to fulfil his loan waiver promise.

Today, it was Revanth Reddy's turn to retort and he asked if KCR would disband his party if he kept his word on waiving farmer loans by August 15.

"Your uncle knows better than you that Revanth does what he says and keeps his word," the Chief Minister said.

This is not the first time Revanth Reddy is talking about hanging Mr Rao. A few days ago, he said it would not be wrong to hang KCR and his son for the way in which they had allegedly looted real estate in Hyderabad.

On April 6, when Rahul Gandhi was in Tukkuguda, on the outskirts of Hyderabad, Revanth Reddy had attacked KCR, declaring that he would send him to jail. He would also build a 2BHK for Mr Rao in Cherlapally so he could cool his heels inside with his family, Mr Reddy said.

In 2015, just an year after KCR became Telangana Chief Minister, Revanth Reddy, then with the TDP, went to jail in a cash-for-votes scam. He had to come out on bail to attend his daughter's engagement ceremony. Revanth Reddy had vowed revenge against KCR when he came out of jail.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/TkAc9Rp

Read More

"BJP Will Not Cross Even 220 Lok Sabha Seats": Siddaramaiah To NDTV

Two days before half of the state's 28 constituencies vote in the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls on Friday, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has claimed that, contrary to its aim of winning 400 seats, the BJP-led NDA will not cross even 220 and at least part of the reason for this will be that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not fulfilled his promises.

Speaking exclusively to NDTV on Tuesday, the Congress leader also said that the alliance between the BJP and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda's Janata Dal (Secular) is an "unholy one".

Responding to a question on people claiming that Siddaramaiah's personality is important in an Assembly election but PM Modi's image may have an edge in the Lok Sabha polls, the chief minister said, "What is the image that he (the PM) has? When he has failed to fulfil the promises he has made to the people of the country, how will the same image continue? I don't think there is a Modi wave in the entire country, and particularly in Karnataka."

On how he saw the Congress' prospects in his home turf of Old Mysuru, which had given the party the lone seat it had won in Karnataka in the 2019 elections - against the BJP's 25 - Mr Siddaramaiah said the situation was different at the time because emotional issues were projected. In these elections, he said, the PM has to list his achievements in his 10-year tenure, and also predicted that the Congress will win 20 constituencies in Karnataka.

Asserting that the INDIA bloc is not at a disadvantage despite not declaring a prime ministerial candidate, the Congress leader also said there is no threat to the stability of his government irrespective of the election results. Asked if the Congress would complete its term in the state regardless of who the chief minister would be, he answered in the affirmative and also expressed hope that the party would get another term.

"Instability will come only when the people are unhappy. Stability does not mean a government continuing for 10 years. People should also be socially, politically and economically empowered, only then can we say that the country is stable," he said.

Claiming that the alliance between the JD(S) and the BJP was an "unholy" one, the chief minister indicated that it was a result of the desperation of Mr Deve Gowda - whose party won only 19 of 224 seats in last year's Assembly polls - given that he had earlier criticised PM Modi on several issues, including communalism.

"People will never forget what HD Deve Gowda has said about PM Modi and they know why the parties have forged an alliance," Mr Siddaramaiah said.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/OlyXn0h

Read More

Former Professor At Chennai Academy Arrested For Alleged Sexual Harassment

Sheejith Krishna, a former faculty of Chennai's Kalakshetra Foundation, has been arrested today on allegations of sexual harassment by former students. A renowned dancer, Mr Krishna had resigned on his own from Kalakshetra and started his own dance academy. Sheejith Krishna's team is yet to respond on the allegations.

The former students, now settled abroad had moved the Madras High Court, alleged Mr Krishna had sexually harassed them when they were on campus between 1996 and 2001. The court had directed the Chennai Police Commissioner to act on the complaint. Confirming the arrest, a senior police officer told NDTV "The former students allege Sheejith used them".

Last year, the Kalakshetra Foundation sacked professor Hari Padman after an inquiry committee found him guilty of sexual harassment. He was also arrested.

Large sections of students had also taken to the streets alleging sexual harassment by faculty and repertory artists and they sought justice citing inaction by the administration.

Initially, the management and the National Commission for Women had denied any sexual harassment until the issue went to court. Around a hundred students, including male students, gave written complaints to the state women's commission.

An independent committee has given a set of recommendations that the Madras High Court has urged the institution to implement, calling its failure to address sexual harassment a "blight on Kalakshetra". The recommendations include a ban on entry of students into teachers' quarters except during community celebrations, a ban on "engaging repertory artists, curtailing obsession on performance and an emphasis on deep learning and polishing art form".

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/pzC7vKJ

Read More

Mohan Yadav On Why His Children Don't Stay At Chief Minister Residence

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav is focused on his priorities. So much so, that his three children do not stay with him in the official Chief Minister's bungalow as he says the focus on family might come in the way of his responsibilities and may "dilute it".

Mr Yadav, 49, a first-time Chief Minister, is father to a daughter and two sons.  

"My child is studying in Bhopal. He has completed his MBBS course and is now doing his MS. Now you tell me, if he is in this environment won't he be disturbed. So if he has to study properly, he should focus on that," the Chief Minister told NDTV's Editor-in-Chief Sanjay Pugalia in an exclusive interview.

"Earlier, my daughter was doing her MBBS course here in Bhopal.  Even then I told her that you have to study in a hostel. The children are also okay with this. I have the satisfaction that there is a positive approach towards this in my family," he underlined.

Asked if he is not being too tough on the family, Mr Yadav said, "We will have to toughen up. When we will understand, the message will percolate down. Our responsibilities might be diluted if we focus only on family. So we have got to save ourselves from that sentiment. The more one grows, the more one should be careful." 

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/5fMtHvS

Read More

Aligarh Muslim University Gets 1st Woman Vice-Chancellor In Over 100 Years

Naima Khatoon has been appointed as the Vice Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), making her the first woman to hold the top post in over 100 years, sources said on Monday.

Naima Khatoon was appointed after receiving approval from President Droupadi Murmu, who is a Visitor to the University, they said.

Permission from the Election Commission of India (ECI) was also sought in view of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) being in place, they said.

"Naima Khatoon, Principal, Women's College, has been appointed as the Vice Chancellor of AMU for a period of five years. The ECI has stated that the commission has no objection from the MCC angle to the proposal related to the appointment of the AMU VC subject to the condition that no political mileage be derived from it," a source said.

Naima Khatoon, who completed her PhD in psychology from AMU, was appointed as a lecturer in the same department in 1988 before being elevated to professor in 2006. She continued there before being appointed the principal of the Women's College in 2014.

Founded in 1875, Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College became AMU in 1920, following the Aligarh Muslim University Act.

In September 2020, AMU completed 100 years as a university, becoming one of the oldest universities in India. The university has had no woman vice chancellor so far.

In 1920, Begum Sultan Jahan was appointed as the AMU chancellor. She continues to be the only woman to have held the post.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/BbFXO6Q

Read More

Not Jaiswal Or Gill, Ganguly Backs Star Duo To Open For India At T20 WC

Delhi Capitals (DC) Director of Cricket and former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly opened up on the need to adopt a fearless approach in T20I cricket by Team India and praised star batter Virat Kohli, saying that he has the ability to get a 40-ball century. Delhi Capitals is currently at eighth place in the points table with six points after three wins and five losses. They lost their last game to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).

Speaking during a media event in Delhi, Ganguly said, "The most important thing for India is to play without fear. There is no hard and fast rule about age and playing youngsters in T20Is, James Anderson still plays Tests and bowls 30 overs in Tests, MS Dhoni still hits sixes and both are in their 40s. Six-hitting is important. Virat has got the capability to hit a 40-ball century. It is about playing fearlessly and freely in T20Is."

"India needs to go out and hit. Rohit, Virat, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya etc. All of them are exceptional talents and their six-hitting abilities are tremendous, he added.

While Ganguly would like the selection committee, coach Rahul Dravid and Rohit to take decisions in the best interest of the team during the T20 World Cup, he would ideally like to see the Kohli-Rohit opening combination.

"If you ask me and it's just my personal opinion and I'm not saying that the selectors should do it, because at the end of the day, it's their call, Rohit and Virat should open," he said

After a magnificent home Test series against England, has Yashasvi Jaiswal fallen off the radar in terms of T20 World Cup selection, taking his recent IPL form into account? "I don't think Yashasvi's name has dropped too far down the ladder. He's a special player," Ganguly replied.

For him, selection for T20 World Cup shouldn't be based on one IPL season.

Expanding on the Team India he wants for the T20 WC starting from June 1 this year in West Indies/USA, Ganguly said that there needs to be a balance of youth and experience.

"There needs to be a balance of experience and youth. This is the case with great teams. You have to look at all the performances (in IPL and international both). The experienced players of India are tremendous because of the performances they have put up over the years."

Speaking on the Impact Player rule, which allows teams to use substitutes in the matches, Ganguly said that it has not really diminished the role of all-rounder, but rather given the team a way to play better batter instead of an average all-rounder.

"Good all-rounders always play and contribute. Look at Hardik Pandya, Rashid Khan, Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell," he added.

On KL Rahul's approach in T20 cricket, Ganguly said that it all depends on what his captain and coaches tell him.

"His innings against Chennai Super Kings, was exceptional (82 in 53 balls on last Friday)," added Ganguly.

Ganguly said that IPL will indeed affect how selectors choose the squad for T20 WC, but hoped that selectors will look at performances in the past three-four seasons.

DC's next game is against Gujarat Titans (GT) at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium on April 24.

With PTI inputs

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/6cTpwQI

Read More

"No Warranty For Modi's Guarantee": Revanth Reddy On Congress's Chances

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has expressed confidence his party the Congress will win 14 of the 17 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

Mr Reddy became Chief Minister in December 2023 after the Congress defeated K Chandrashekar Rao's Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).

"Every medicine has an expiry date," Mr Reddy told reporters in Karnataka's capital Bengaluru during an informal interaction, adding Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lose the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

The Chief Minister did not tell whether his confidence comes from the party winning the assembly election in the southern state.

The BJP and its ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have been against the well-being and development of southern states, the Chief Minister alleged.

"There is no warranty for Modi's guarantees," Mr Reddy said.

He dared the Opposition BRS to win even a single seat in the Lok Sabha elections.

The BJP may stand to gain from the votes that the BRS will lose, but the Congress will still be able to take at least 14 seats, Mr Reddy said.

He said the Congress party, unlike the BJP and the RSS that have been discriminating against southern states, has always been inclusive by appointing leaders from these states to key cabinet and party positions, even when the Congress had swept the Hindi heartland.

Though Mr Reddy criticised Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM of allegedly colluding with the BJP to polarise voters during election season, he admitted that in a city as Hyderabad where terror groups have tried to radicalise young Muslims, the presence of a political party as AIMIM helped in containing radicalisation.

Mr Reddy recently campaigned in Kerala too. He said the BJP will likely be restricted to a maximum of 20 among the 130 seats in the southern states. In the northern states, the BJP's numbers will decrease from what it had got in 2019.

The elections are being held in seven phases. Votes will be counted on June 4.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/eZWVKFE

Read More

Lived In A Hostel And Tried To Escape Mess Food? This Video Needs Your Attention

One of the biggest drawbacks of living in a hostel has always been surviving with limited (good) food options. Sounds relatable? Now, an Instagram user has thrown light on a similar situation by sharing a glimpse of his hostel food. Suganth dropped a video, wherein he was served a South Indian meal by his hostel mess. What was on the menu? Deep-fried "vadai" with coconut chutney and sambhar. In the clip, Suganth can be seen squeezing the sambhar-soaked vadai with his hand. But surprisingly, instead of sambhar, we could see a more-than-necessary amount of oil dripping from the vadai. TBH, the sambhar and the chutney look super watery. The text, on the video, read, "Hostel food," with a woozy face emoticon. Sharing the clip, Suganth in the caption wrote, "My Hostel Vadai..."

Also Read: Dietician Reveals Shocking Truth About India's Favourite Tea-Time Treat – Rusk Biscuits

Watch the full video of oil-loaded vadai below:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by 𝑺𝒖𝒈𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒉💙 (@life_of_suganth)

It seems the Internet could very well relate to Suganth. So far, the video has amassed more than 37 million views. Several people have also shared their experiences in the comments. 

A comment read, "Same problem with my company's food."

Many pointed out the health conditions that such food could cause, as a user said, "99 missed calls from a heart attack."

A few called it, "Dangerous food in the world."

Another jokingly commented, "Continue like this for 1 month taking oil out of wada then boom you will have an oil factory in your room and can give rations also."

"Cholesterol: I'm coming," wrote a person.

"There is some vada in your oil," joked another

Some claimed that the amount of oil that came out of the vadai was enough for them to prepare a proper meal, as a comment read, "I can cook kg chicken with that oil."

Another read, "What is this, it seems you can make 5 dosa using oil to come from that Vada."

Also Read: Viral Video Of Watermelon Chicken Biryani Leaves Internet Divided

Have you also experienced something similar?

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/PD028Wf

Read More

1st Time In History! SRH Go On Rampage vs DC, Score World Record 125 In...

The SunRisers Hyderabad batters came out all guns blazing against Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2024. Travis Head (89, 32b) and Abhishek Sharma (46, 12b) went on a rampage against DC at their home-ground as they threatened to slam new records with their batting. And they did break records. Thanks to their fiery knocks, SRH reached 125 in six overs. This is the first time in the history of T20 cricket that any team has reached 125-mark in the power-play of a T20 innings. 

For a team, which has slammed the two highest scores in the history of the IPL this year, there were high  expectations. But even by their own high standards, what SRH achieved on Saturday was beyond imagination.  

Highest powerplay scores in the IPL
125/0 - SRH vs DC, 2024
105/0 - KKR vs RCB, 2017
100/2 - CSK vs PBKS, 2014
90/0 - CSK vs MI, 2015
88/1 - KKR vs DC, 2024

SRH also broke their own record for best score in the first 10 overs of an inninsg in the IPL.

Highest scores after first 10 overs in IPL
158/4 - SRH vs DC, Delhi, today*
148/2 - SRH vs MI, Hyderabad, 2024
141/2 - MI vs SRH, Hyderabad, 2024
135/1 - KKR vs DC, Vizag, 2024

Talking about the game, Delhi Capitals (DC) skipper Rishabh Pant won the toss and elected to bowl first against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the 35th encounter of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 at the Arun Jaitely Stadium on Saturday.

The Hyderabad-based franchise have displayed good performance in the 17th season of the IPL. Currently, Pat Cummins' side is in fourth place on the points table with eight points and a net run rate of +0.502. SRH clinched a 25-run win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in their last match of the tournament.

"We're going to bowl first. Wicket looks pretty good, we would like to chase because we are playing more as a batting unit. We have more batters. Maybe there will be dew. The only thing we said is 'stay in the contest'. Yes they've been playing really good cricket but you can't let them get away with it. Ground doesn't matter, end of the day you have to play good cricket. We're looking to improve each and every match. Instead of Sumit, Lalit comes in. Instead of Ishant, who had a back spasm just 5 minutes back, Nortje comes in," Pant said after winning the toss.

SRH skipper skipper Pat Cummins said that they are going with the same team.

"We were thinking of having a bowl first as well, looks like a good wicket. The way the boys have been batting, we know teams are going to come hard at us. Same batting lineup, we'll have a look at the bowling a little later on," Cummins said.

With ANI inputs

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/3h02wkR

Read More

Repolling At 11 Manipur Polling Stations After Gunfire, EVMs Destroyed

Manipur chief electoral officer on Saturday announced repolling at 11 polling stations in the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency on April 22.

The decision follows a directive from the Election Commission to declare the polls held at these stations on April 19 as null and void and schedule fresh polling.

The affected polling stations are Moirangkampu Sajeb and Thongam Leikai in the Khurai constituency, four in Kshetrigao and one in Thongju in Imphal East district and three in Uripok and one in Konthoujam in Imphal West district, the official said.

Incidents of firing, intimidation, destruction of EVMs at some polling booths and allegations of booth capturing were reported from conflict-hit Manipur that recorded a turnout of 72 per cent in the two Lok Sabha constituencies - Inner Manipur and Outer Manipur - on Friday.

Earlier in the day, the Congress had demanded repoll in 47 polling stations alleging that booths were captured and elections were rigged.

Manipur Congress president K Meghachandra said the party had lodged a complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer demanding repoll in 36 polling stations in the Inner Manipur constituency and 11 in the Outer Manipur constituency.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/zkZy3vh

Read More

UP Man Books Cab From Salman Khan's Home Under Gangster's Name, Arrested

A 20-year-old man has been arrested for booking a cab from Bollywood superstar Salman Khan's home in the name of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, said police on Friday.

According to Mumbai police, the accused has been identified as Rohit Tyagi, a 20-year-old man from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.

Sharing details, police said that the accused had booked a cab in the name of Lawrence Bishnoi from Galaxy Apartment, the house of actor Salman Khan, to the Bandra Police Station.

"When the cab driver reached Galaxy Apartment at Salman Khan's house and asked the watchman there about the booking, the watchman who was stunned at first, immediately informed about the booking to the nearby Bandra Police Station," said police.

Acting on the same, Bandra Police of Mumbai interrogated the cab driver and tracked the information about the person who booked the cab online.

"The person who booked the cab turned out to be a 20-year-old student from Ghaziabad, identified as Rohit Tyagi," said the police.

The police further said that during the investigation it was revealed that the accused had booked the cab in the name of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi as a prank.

The police registered a case against the accused and arrested him from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.

He was thereafter brought Mumbai and presented before the court after which he was sent to the custody of Bandra Police for two days.

Further details into the matter are awaited.

Earlier, on Tuesday, Kutch Police arrested the two accused persons and handed them to the Mumbai Crime Branch. Later, a city court sent the two accused to the custody of the Mumbai Crime Branch until April 25 in connection with the firing incident.

The accused, identified as Vicky Gupta (24) and Sagar Pal (21) from Bihar, were presented before the court after a medical examination.

The two men, who came on a motorbike, fired four rounds outside the Galaxy Apartments, where the actor resides, around 5 am on Sunday morning and fled.CCTV footage showed that both accused sported caps and carried backpacks.

The clip also showed them firing in the direction of the actor's home.

After the arrest of the accused, Kutch DSP AR Zankant said preliminary investigations revealed that the accused were in contact with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

Notably, since November 2022, Salman Khan's security level has been elevated to Y-Plus after threats from gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar.

The actor was also authorised to carry a personal firearm and has also acquired a new armoured vehicle for added protection.

On Monday, Salman's brother Arbaaz Khan issued a statement on the family's behalf, saying they all have been affected due to the 'disturbing' firing incident.

He also shared that the family was fully cooperating with the Mumbai Police in the ongoing probe into the incident.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/blKtmaN

Read More

Warning Of "Weather Wars" Amid Debate Around Cloud Seeding And Dubai Rain

A leading weather experts has warned of "weather wars" between countries if cloud seeding gets out of hand. In a statement, Johan Jaques, a senior meteorologist at environmental technology company KISTERS, has warned if unintended consequences when technology is used to alter the weather. The comment comes as theories claiming Dubai's torrential rainfall was caused by cloud seeding are doing the rounds on the internet. The practice, in which planes inject clouds with chemicals, was introduced in the 1940s especially in areas with little rainfall, or in case of prolonged dry spell.

But several experts don't agree with the theory that cloud seeding was responsible, and the theory has caused a debate in the community.

Still, Mr Jaques thinks there could be diplomatic consequences and subsequent "weather wars" is cloud seeding is allowed to proliferate.

"Cloud seeding aims to enhance and accelerate the precipitation process. Especially in areas which have not seen any rain over a long time, such intense precipitation can lead to infiltration excess flow, with potential flash floods as a result," the meteorologist said in a statement, as per Newsweek.

"The Dubai floods act as a stark warning of the unintended consequences we can unleash when we use such technology to alter the weather. Additionally, we have little control over the aftermath of cloud seeding. Where exactly is it going to be raining effectively? Using techniques such as cloud seeding to bring much-needed rainfall in one area can cause flash floods and droughts in another," Mr Jaques further said.

There is no evidence to suggest that rain in Dubai was caused by cloud seeding. A UAE government agency that oversees the process has denied that any such operations took place before the storm.

The UAE state news agency late on Wednesday carried a statement from President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan saying he had ordered authorities to assess the damage and provide support to families impacted by the storm.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/D1Co278

Read More

Preity Zinta Breaks Silence On Viral 'Will Bet Life To Get Rohit' Quote

Rohit Sharma is now a hot topic in IPL 2024. Since, he was replaced by Hardik Pandya as Mumbai Indians captain there has been speculation over his future with the franchise. While there have reports claiming he might leave the five-time IPL champions ahead of the IPL 2025 auction, there has been no official confirmation. In the midst of this an alleged quote of Punjab Kings co-owner Preity Zinta went viral. In the quotes, social media handle claimed that Zinta said, she would 'bet her life' to get Rohit Sharma in her team. 

Preity Zinta has now broken silence on the quote and has said it's fake.   

"#Fakenews ! All these articles are completely fake & baseless. I hold Rohit Sharma in very high regard & am a big fan of his, but I have NEVER DISCUSSED him in any interview nor made this STATEMENT !

"I also have a lot of respect for Shikhar Dhawan & he being currently injured , makes these articles appear in very poor taste. These articles are a perfect example of how misinformation is picked up without any verification & circulated online. I humbly request all Media to refrain from circulating this & embarrassing all concerned parties ?? All I want to say is that we have a great team currently & our only focus is to win games & make the most out of #IPL2024  Thank you. @PunjabKingsIPL"

#Fakenews ! All these articles are completely fake & baseless. I hold Rohit Sharma in very high regard & am a big fan of his, but I have NEVER DISCUSSED him in any interview nor made this STATEMENT ! I also have a lot of respect for Shikhar Dhawan & he being currently injured ,... pic.twitter.com/VYbyV4eqHU

— Preity G Zinta (@realpreityzinta) April 19, 2024

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/7tGYegh

Read More

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Swing Seats In Phase 1. See Details

1. The Coimbatore Lok Sabha seat will see a high-stakes battle, with Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai facing DMK leader Ganapathy P Rajkumar and AIADMK's Singai Ramachandran. The candidature of its Tamil Nadu state president shows the BJP is pressing hard to increase its presence in south India.
2. Union Minister and BJP leader Nitin Gadkari is eyeing a third straight victory from Maharashtra's Nagpur seat. The seat will see a contest between Mr Gadkari and Congress candidate Vikas Thakre, who is at present the Nagpur West MLA.
3. Jitin Prasada, who quit Congress in 2021, is among the key candidates of the BJP in the first phase. He replaced two-time MP from Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit, Varun Gandhi. The BJP got a solid majority in UP in the previous two Lok Sabha elections. The Samajwadi Party fielded Bhagwant Saran Gangwar, and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) fielded Anees Ahmes Khan against Mr Prasada.
4. Former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi is contesting from Gaya. This election holds important political significance for the 79-year-old Manjhi. Gaya has the highest number of candidates - 14 in total - contesting the elections. The BJP has left the Gaya (reserved) seat for its ally, the Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular (HAM-S).
5. The BJP is leaving no stone unturned to snatch the only seat won by the Congress in the 2019 elections, Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh. Nakul Nath, son of former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, is fighting again from the Chhindwara seat against BJP candidate Vivek Bunty Sahu, who had lost to Kamal Nath in the last two assembly polls.
6. The Jorhat seat in Assam will decide if the Congress's deputy leader in Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, can make it to the elected house this time too. The Constituency has been seen as a stronghold of the BJP. Mr Gogoi's decision to contest the elections from Jorhat, instead of his family's stronghold Kaziranga (erstwhile Kaliabor) -- from where he is the MP -- has made the contest interesting.
7. The assembly elections in Arunachal Pradesh (60 seats) and Sikkim (32 seats) will also be held today. Voting will begin at 7 am and end at 6 pm. The Election Commission has deployed over 18 lakh polling personnel across 1.87 lakh polling stations; over 16.63 crore people are eligible to vote.
8. Polling will be held in all seats of Tamil Nadu (39), Uttarakhand (5), Arunachal Pradesh (2), Meghalaya (2), Andaman and Nicobar Islands (1), Mizoram (1), Nagaland (1), Puducherry (1), Sikkim (1) and Lakshadweep (1).
9. Besides, there will be voting in 12 seats in Rajasthan, 8 in Uttar Pradesh, 6 in Madhya Pradesh, 5 seats each in Assam and Maharashtra, 4 in Bihar, 3 in West Bengal, 2 seats in Manipur, and one seat each in Tripura, Jammu and Kashmir, and Chhattisgarh.
10. In 2019, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) won 45 of these 102 seats and the NDA 41. Six of these seats have been redrawn as part of the delimitation exercise.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/TkiCtpy

Read More

Advances Rejected, Ex Classmate Stabs Woman 7 Times In Karnataka College

The daughter of a Congress corporator has died after being stabbed seven times with a knife by a former student of the college she was attending in Karnataka's Hubbali. Her attacker has been arrested and police said it appears that he carried out the killing because she had rejected his advances.

Neha Hiremath, daughter of Congress corporator Niranjan Hiremath, was a first-year Master of Computer Applications student at the BV Bhoomaraddi College of Engineering and Technology in Hubballi. Officials said she had known her attacker, Fayaz - who also studied with her at the college, but later dropped out - for some time.

Around 5 pm on Thursday, Neha was walking inside the campus when Fayaz confronted her. CCTV footage shows a couple of sentences being exchanged between them before Fayaz attacks her. Neha falls to the ground after being stabbed the first time and Fayaz goes on to knife her at least six more times.

Fayaz then makes a run for it while some students chase after him.

Fighting back her tears, Neha's mother said, "I came to pick her up and spoke to her over the phone. Within five minutes of our conversation, chaos erupted and someone mentioned she had been stabbed. I haven't seen her face yet and I still believe our daughter is alive. I can't accept that she's gone. I'm not ready to see her in that state. We sent her to college with the hope that we would see her smiling."

Hubballi Dharwad Police Commissioner Renuka Sukumar said Neha was rushed to a hospital, but declared brought dead.

"The accused had fled, but we arrested him in under 90 minutes. Other students have told us that Neha and the accused knew each other and had studied together. We will know more once the accused's interrogation is done," she said.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/Ma91gvC

Read More

India Showed Will To Counter China's Activities In 2023: US Official

India in 2023 showcased itself as a global leader as it demonstrated a greater willingness to counter China's activity throughout the Indo-Pacific region and took steps to modernise its military and reduce its dependency on Russian origin-equipment, the top US intelligence official has told Congress.

The remarks by Lt Gen Jeffrey Kruse, Director of the Defence Intelligence Agency came during a Congressional hearing on defence intelligence countering China. "During the past year, India has showcased itself as a global leader by hosting the Group of 20 economic summit and demonstrated a greater willingness to counter PRC's (People's Republic of China) activity throughout the Indo-Pacific region," Kruse told members of the House Armed Services Committee - the subcommittee on intelligence and special operations.

India, he said, has advanced partnerships in the Indo-Pacific with regional South China Sea claimants, such as the Philippines, through training and defence sales and deepening cooperation with the US, Australia, France and Japan.

China claims most of the South China Sea as its own, while The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counterclaims over the maritime area.

"In 2023, India took steps to modernise its military to compete with China and reduce its dependency on Russian-origin equipment. India conducted sea trials for its first domestically produced aircraft carrier and also has negotiated with several Western countries on the transfer of key defence technologies," Mr Kruse said.

India has maintained its neutral stance on Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Russia remains India's most substantial defence partner and New Delhi continues to acquire weapons from Moscow, such as the S-400 surface-to-air missile system, despite New Delhi's desire to diversify its defence acquisition partnerships, Mr Kruse said.

"In 2024, New Delhi probably will focus on securing its national parliamentary elections, maintaining economic growth, and building on its 'Make in India' initiative as part of its military modernisation effort -- which is aimed at countering Beijing," he told the lawmakers.

Bilateral relations between India and China remain tense following the 2020 Galwan clash that killed 20 Indian soldiers and at least five PLA (People's Liberation Army) soldiers.

In October 2023, senior Indian and PLA officers failed to resolve disputes about the two remaining standoff locations in eastern Ladakh during their twentieth round of talks. Both sides maintain approximately 50,000-60,000 troops in the area and continue to improve their military infrastructure near the border, Kruse told the lawmakers.

On Pakistan, Kruse told lawmakers that it has sought international support, including from the UN Security Council, to resolve its dispute with India about Kashmir. Separately, Islamabad and New Delhi have maintained an uneasy ceasefire along the shared Line of Control since February 2021.

"Pakistan has sustained its nuclear modernisation efforts despite its economic turmoil. Terrorist violence against Pakistani security forces and civilians also rose last year," Mr Kruse said.

In 2023, militants killed approximately 400 security forces, a nine-year high, and Pakistani security forces have conducted almost daily counterterrorism operations during the past year.

Pakistan's contentious relationship with India continues to drive its defence policy, Mr Kruse said. However, cross-border violence between the countries has decreased since their February 2021 recommitment to a ceasefire, he said.

"Islamabad is modernising its nuclear arsenal and improving the security of its nuclear materials and nuclear C2. In October, Pakistan successfully tested its Ababeel medium-range ballistic missile," he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/j0U65ti

Read More

Cost Of Hat-trick Of 6s? Dhoni's Video After MI vs CSK Match Worries Fans

MS Dhoni left both fans and experts completely spellbound as the Chennai Super Kings batter slammed Hardik Pandya for three back-to-back sixes during the IPL 2024 match against Mumbai Indians on Sunday. The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai was witness to a trademark Dhoni knock that saw the veteran wicket-keeper batter score 20 runs in just 4 balls at an astonishing strike rate of 500. At 42 years old, Dhoni has vastly limited himself to a finisher's role for his franchise and his knock was instrumental in taking the total beyond the 200-run mark. However, it looked like the knock came at some cost as Dhoni was seen limping with padding around his knee in a video posted on social media.

MS Dhoni last night at the team hotel. Man is limping but still going at it for his fans#IPL2024 #MIvsCSK pic.twitter.com/hR6JNVUsgg

— Vinesh Prabhu (@vlp1994) April 15, 2024

Dhoni was suffering from a knee injury during IPL 2023 and the veteran wicket-keeper batter underwent a surgery just after the competition. 

CSK bowling consultant Eric Simmons earlier said that Dhoni has been struggling with his knee injury but he has decided to bat bravely for the sake of the team.

"Everyone else is more interested in his injuries than he is. He's one of the hardest men I've ever come across. I don't even think we know to what extent he may or may not be in pain. He just carries on and does his thing," Simmons said after CSK's win over MI.

"I'm sure there's some niggles. He just has that ability to ignore what it is and do what needs to be done. We're more concerned about his injuries. When I say we, I mean the public (which) is more concerned about his injuries than he is," he added.

Coming to the match, Chennai Super Kings defeated Mumbai Indians by 20 runs despite Rohit Sharma scoring a brilliant century in front of his home crowd.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/xaYD3bZ

Read More