Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Saturday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should have led an all-party delegation to Manipur, and his party would have been happy to be a part of that.

Addressing a press conference along with other MPs of opposition bloc INDIA after visiting several areas of the violence-hit state, Gogoi said they will return to New Delhi and raise the stories of horror that they have come across during the tour in Parliament.

"It has been a difficult day for all of us. We went to four relief camps and heard people's stories. Women broke down as they narrated how they were attacked," he said.

"Tonight, we will discuss the things that we saw and tomorrow, we will meet the governor. We will submit a memorandum to her on the basis of the things that we observed. We will also take these stories to Delhi with us and those will be told in Parliament," he said.

Gogoi said Parliament should have discussed the Manipur violence by now.

"We will give constructive suggestions to Parliament. Too much delay has happened," he said.

On the BJP's charge that the visit of the opposition parties is for photo-ops, he said, "Who is stopping the BJP from coming to Manipur? Where is NEDA? What is it doing? It is the INDIA bloc parties that are coming to the state regularly."

TMC MP Sushmita Dev said it is very reassuring that the entire opposition is with Manipur.

JMM MP Mahua Maji said Home Minister Amit Shah claimed that peace has returned to Manipur, "but where is peace? The state is still burning".

DMK MP Kanimozhi said that people are feeling let down by the government.

"They feel that government did not intervene and the violence continued. They don't have any trust in CM N Biren Singh," she claimed.

The delegation of 21 MPs of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) is on a two-day visit to the state to assess the ground situation.

Violence broke out in Manipur on May 3 after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, killing over 160 people since then, and injuring hundreds.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, which include Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40 per cent and reside mainly in the hill districts. -- PTI 

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), an umbrella group of tribals in Manipur, on Saturday wrote a letter to opposition alliance INDIA, seeking its support for their demand of a separate administration and implementation of President's rule in the violence-hit state.

 

Manipur has been witnessing ethnic clashes since May 3 between the majority Meiteis and tribals that have left over 150 people dead.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal valley, while tribals, which include Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40 per cent and reside mostly in the hill districts.

"We fervently appeal to the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) to take up our cause and apprise the nation about our plight.

"We implore you to help us survive this onslaught by supporting our demand for a separate administration from Manipur and to urge the central government to introduce President rule immediately in Manipur to end the violence," the ITLF said in its two-page letter to the opposition parties.

The letter, signed by ITLF chairman Pagin Haokip and secretary Muan Tombing, said almost three months into the sectarian conflict, peace remains a distant dream in the northeast state.

"While all sides have suffered, the minority Kuki-Zo tribals have borne the brunt of the violence, making up over two-thirds of the deaths in the conflict," it claimed.

The ITLF alleged that thousands of weapons looted from state armouries in capital Imphal are being used in the "ethnic cleansing campaign".

"To add to our plight, state police commandos with sophisticated guns and mortars have been openly joining armed Meitei gunmen in raiding tribal villages and attacking the frontlines... Gaps in military buffer zones are being constantly exploited, and the army and other security forces are handicapped because President's rule has still not been implemented," it said. -- PTI

Prime Minister of the Balochistan government-in-exile Naela Quadri has sought the support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the United Nations (UN) for its freedom from Pakistan's illegal occupation.

 

"Prime minister Narendra Modi and the BJP government have an opportunity today to rise in support of Balochistan at the UN, which they may not have tomorrow," Quadri told reporters on Friday, after performing a puja at the VIP ghat of the Ganga in Haridwar in Uttarakhand, praying for Balochistan's freedom.

"Balochistan, which was once an independent country, is under the illegal occupation of Pakistan, which is looting its mineral resources and subjecting its people to all sorts of atrocities. Baloch girls are being raped, houses and orchards are being set on fire," she said.

"Pakistan is not doing it alone. It has also roped in China to perpetrate atrocities on the Baloch people," Quadri said.

If India stands for Balochistan at the UN, "we will also stand in support of India when our country is free", she asserted.

Talking about the commonalities between India and Balochistan, Quadri said both were trampled upon in the name of religion.

Quadri was accompanied by the chief priest of the Dasna temple, Yati Narsinghanand, who has been accused of delivering a hate speech against Muslims at a "Dharma Sansad" event in Haridwar in 2021.

Quadri is currently touring the world to gather support for Balochistan's freedom from Pakistan. -- PTI 

Eight people, including three women were killed in an explosion at a firecracker unit in Tamil Nadu's Krishnagiri district on Saturday, said police.         

Condoling the tragic incident, Chief Minister M K Stalin announced solatium to the kin of the deceased and the injured.

The sudden explosion that occurred in the firecracker manufacturing godown in Pazhayapettai in the district left many injured. 

Due to the impact of the explosion, houses and some shops near the unit were damaged, they said.

Police, and fire and rescue services personnel rushed to the spot to rescue the affected. 

"I am deeply saddened over the news of the death of eight people in an unexpected explosion at a private fireworks factory in Pazhayapettai, Boganapalli village. I have deputed Food Minister R Chakrapani to oversee and expedite the rescue and relief activities," the Chief Minister said reacting to the tragedy. 

He directed the health officials at the Government Medical College Hospital, here, to ensure appropriate medicare for the injured, an official release quoting the Chief Minister said. 

"My deepest condolences and sympathies to the family and friends of the deceased. I have ordered the officials to provide Rs 3 lakh each to the kin of those who died, Rs 1 lakh each to the seriously injured, and Rs 50,000 each to the injured from the Chief Minister Public Relief Fund," Stalin said. 

Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi said he was deeply saddened by the loss of valuable lives in the mishap. "My prayers and thoughts are with the bereaved families. Wishing a speedy recovery to those injured," the Governor said on his Twitter site. -- PTI

The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested four people, including two joint director-ranked officers posted in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and an associate of Alok Industries, in connection with alleged bribery of Rs 3 lakh, officials said on Saturday.

   

"Searches were conducted in Delhi, Gurugram and Chennai in the premises of the accused which led to the recovery of cash of Rs 59.80 lakh (approximately), several incriminating documents and digital evidences," the CBI said in a statement.

Those arrested were Joint Directors Manjit Singh and Puneet Duggal, Senior Technical Assistant Ruhi Arora, all posted in the offices of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, and Alok Industries associate Reshabh Raizada, officials said.

Singh and Arora are posted in the office of the Director General of Corporate Affairs, while Duggal is posted as official liquidator in Chennai.

The agency had booked them on Friday for allegedly indulging in corrupt and illegal activities and, in pursuance of a conspiracy, taking bribe from the private person for showing favour in the files of Alok Industries pertaining to the investigation being made by the ministry for adopting illegal and unethical business activities. 

Following the FIR, a trap was laid and the accused were arrested, they said. -- PTI 

Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey on Saturday said she was working to end the hatred and distrust that have strained the relationship between Metei and Kuki communities.

Speaking to reporters after visiting a relief camp in Churachandpur district, Uikey said she has been meeting organisations representing the two communities, and seeking their cooperation to bring back peace and normalcy to the state.

"I have come here for the second time, to share the grief of my brothers and sisters. It is nearly three months that these people are away from their homes. A lot of people lost their homes to arson, and many lost most of their belongings. They don't have anything left. I came here to see that at least these people do not face any problems at the camp," she said.

"I have directed the government that the basic amenities must be ensured -- from clothes to mosquito repellents. I also got to know that there is a problem of medicines here. They are not getting a lot of things because trucks are not reaching here. Still, necessary arrangements are being made and help is also being extended by Mizoram," she added.

The governor said that people, especially leaders, must rise above politics to establish peace in the ethnic strife-hit state.

Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey

"The way hatred and distrust have grown between the two communities -- Meteis and Kukis, I am putting in efforts to end that. I have met organisations representing the two communities and representatives of different political parties, and sought their cooperation in establishing peace. We should rise above politics and ensure peace and normalcy in Manipur," Uikey said.

More than 160 people lost their lives and many people were injured since ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur on May 3, after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals -- Nagas and Kukis -- constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts. -- PTI 

Former West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya was on Saturday afternoon admitted to a Kolkata-based hospital after he complained of breathing complications, officials said. 

 

Bhattacharya (79) was immediately put on mechanical ventilator support at the critical care unit of the private hospital where he was rushed from his Palm Avenue residence via a green corridor.  

Bhattacharya, who was the chief minister from 2000 to 2011, has been suffering from COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and other old age-related ailments for quite some time.  

"His condition is critical. We are examining him. His oxygen saturation deteriorated to 70 per cent in the afternoon and he became unconscious, following which he was rushed to the hospital," the official told PTI.  

A team of senior doctors, including a cardiologist and a pulmonologist, was constituted to monitor his health. 

Both his wife Mira Bhattacharya and daughter Suchetana Bhattacharya both are in the hospital.  

Bhattacharya has been away from public life for the past few years due to his health. 

He had stepped down from the CPI(M)'s politburo and the central committee in 2015 and gave up membership of the state secretariat in 2018. 

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Saturday joined the Muharram procession of Shia mourners on Ashura which was taken out through the traditional route in the interior city areas here, officials said.

   

This is the first time in the last 35 years that a head of the state here has joined the Muharram procession, officials said.

The administration had on Thursday allowed the Eighth day Muharram procession to pass through the traditional route from Gurubazaar to Dalgate -- a first in 34 years.

Dressed in a black Kurta, Sinha joined the procession at Bota Kadal in the Zadibal area of Downtown, the interior areas of the city, escorted by a tight security cover, they said.

Senior officials from the police and civil administration accompanied the LG, they officials.

Sinha during his outing interacted with mourners, and also distributed refreshments among them, officials said.

Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said strict security arrangements had been made ahead of the Ashura procession.

"There are much better security arrangements than the other day, and we are providing three-tier security. LG had promised in the meeting (with the stakeholders) that he will visit and he came here and paid his tributes along with senior officials. This is a good signal," Kumar told reporters.

He said while the forces have helped in changing the security scenario in J-K, it is the people to whom the major credit goes for keeping peace in the region.

"It's the public that brings the peace. Yes, we do provide security, we have changed the security scenario, but, the role of the public is very important," the ADGP said.

The day marks the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad -- and his companions in Karbala in Iraq. -- PTI 

Disability rights organisations and activists have urged the Law Commission to align the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) with existing laws protecting the rights of persons with disabilities (PwDs).

   

In response to the Law Commission's call for public opinions on UCC, about 220 disability rights organisations and activists have highlighted their concerns and recommendations from a disability perspective.

Endorsed by prominent activists, lawyers and individuals with disabilities, their submission emphasized the need to safeguard the rights of persons with disabilities (PwDs) and ensure their voices are heard in the formulation of the UCC.

Though the draft UCC is yet to come, it is believed that it will seek to establish uniformity in personal laws, encompassing marriage, maintenance, adoption, guardianship, inheritance, property rights, and community properties.

Disability rights advocates have urged for a nuanced approach to address the specific vulnerabilities faced by PwDs and protect their rights.

In their submission, the groups expressed concern that the UCC, if implemented without careful consideration, could have significant implications for individuals with disabilities.

They advocated for comprehensive consultations with PwDs and their representative organisations, asserting that their lived experiences and challenges must be thoroughly understood and addressed during the drafting process.

The submission stressed the importance of aligning the UCC with existing laws protecting the rights of PwDs such as the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017. 

Disability rights advocates proposed building upon these protective measures to eliminate discrimination and ensure equal rights and protections for PwDs within their familial and societal contexts.

In addition to voicing concerns, the submission included a series of recommendations aimed at fostering inclusivity and equality for PwDs. -- PTI

A Bihar police personnel was allegedly beaten to death on Saturday, while he was at his village in Muzaffarpur district on a vacation, following a dispute over a small piece of land.

   

The incident took place in Muzaffarpur district's Yadu Chhapra village where 53 years old Dipendra Kumar Singh had come for a holiday from Patna, where he was posted as a Havildar.

According to Deputy SP (West), Muzaffarpur, Abhishek Anand, information was received in the morning that Singh's body was lying close to his house.

"We rushed to the spot and sent the body for post-mortem. We have registered a case on the basis of complaints of bereaved family members who have said that the family was engaged in a dispute with a neighbouring household, over a piece of land that measured barely a few square inches", said the official.

He added "Family members have alleged that the deceased had been telephonically seeking help from the local police for the past few days but there was no response. We are investigating the charge. All those who are found to be guilty will be brought to book". -- PTI

A team of the opposition bloc INDIA on Saturday visited the riot-hit town of Churachandpur in Manipur where they met Kuki leaders and members of the civil society besides ethnic strife victims in the relief camps where they were lodged.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury told reporters after visiting a relief camp, "They are talking of investigation by CBI (into the crimes committed)... I would like to ask were they (central government) sleeping till now?"

TMC leader Sushmita Dev said the team will speak with representatives of both the communities.

"Everyone's voice must be heard. We will be talking to both Kukis and Meiteis," she said.

A delegation of 21 MPs from the opposition bloc INDIA reached Imphal earlier in the day and then teams from the delegation flew to Churachandpur in two helicopter flights.

The team led by Chowdhury visited a relief camp set up at the Boys Hostel of Churachandpur College.

Another team, comprising Congress' deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi and others, went to a relief camp at Don Bosco School in Churachandpur.

"We are here to spread the message of peace," Gogoi said.

After returning to Imphal, the team led by Chowdhury will visit a relief camp at Moirang College in Bishnupur district by road to meet victims from the Meitei community.

The other team of opposition MPs will go to the Ideal Girl's College relief camp at Akampat in Imphal East district and will visit another camp at Lamboikhongangkhong in Imphal West.

On Sunday morning, the delegation of opposition MPs will meet Governor Anusuiya Uikey at Raj Bhawan here to discuss the ongoing situation and possible measures to bring peace in Manipur at the earliest.

The team is scheduled to return to the national capital on Sunday afternoon. -- PTI

The local administration on Saturday demolished the houses of two men accused of raping and brutalising a 12-year-old girl in the temple town of Maihar in Madhya Pradesh's Satna district, an official said.

  

The accused, Ravindra Kumar and Atul Bhadoliya, allegedly raped the girl, bit her and inserted a hard object in her private parts on Thursday, police sources stated, but a senior official said this can be confirmed only after her medical examination report is received.

Following the incident, the chief municipal officer of Maihar Municipal Council on Friday issued notices to the families of the two men seeking documents related to their land and buildings, sub-divisional officer of police (SDOP) Lokesh Dabar said.

A probe revealed that the houses of both the accused were illegal, he said, adding that Bhadoliya's house was constructed on 'nazool' land (government land used for non-agricultural purposes), while Kumar's house was built without permission.

"Both the houses were demolished this morning," Dabar said.

According to eye-witnesses, when the demolition squad reached Bhadoliya's house, his family members requested officials to take any step only after the probe is completed. But they went ahead with the demolition.

The duo, who worked for the trust managing a famous temple in Maihar town, allegedly lured the girl and took her to an isolated place, where they raped and brutalised her, the police said.

The profusely bleeding girl, who also bore bite marks on her body, was admitted to a hospital at the divisional headquarters Rewa for advanced medical care, they said.

Earlier, Superintendent of Police (SP) Ashutosh Gupta had told PTI, "I am not denying that a stick or some other object was inserted into the 12-year-old's private parts by accused Ravindra Kumar Ravi and Atul Bhadoliya. But this is something that can only be confirmed only in a medical report."

The new National Education Policy (NEP) will give due respect and credit to every language in the country and those who try to politicise language for their selfish interests will have to shut their shops, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday.

Delivering the inaugural address at the "Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Samagam" on the third anniversary of the launch of the NEP, Modi said the biggest injustice to students is judging them on the basis of their language, instead of their capabilities.

"The National Educational Policy will give due respect and credit to every language in the country.... Those who try to politicise language for their selfish interests will now have to shut their shops," the prime minister said.

"Education in the mother tongue is initiating a new form of justice for students in India. It is also a very significant step towards social justice," he added.

Taking note of the multitude of languages in the world and their importance, the prime minister underlined that several developed countries have got an edge owing to their local languages.

Giving the example of Europe, he said most countries make use of their own native languages. Modi lamented that even though India has an array of established languages, they are presented as a sign of backwardness and those who cannot speak English are neglected and their talent is not recognised.

"As a result, children in the rural areas remain the most affected. The country has now begun to shun this belief with the advent of the NEP. Even at the United Nations, I speak in an Indian language," he added.

Modi underlined that subjects ranging from social science to engineering will now be taught in Indian languages. "When the students are confident in a language, their skills and talent will emerge without any restrictions," he said.

The prime minister said the world is looking at India as a nursery of new possibilities and several countries are approaching the government for setting up Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campuses there.

"The world is looking at India as a nursery of new possibilities. Many countries are approaching us to open IIT campuses there. Two IIT campuses -- one in Tanzania and one in Abu Dhabi -- are already about to start operations.... Various global universities are also reaching out to us, expressing their interest in setting up campuses in India," he said.

Modi said the NEP aims at making India a hub of research and innovation and has given equal importance to traditional knowledge systems and futuristic technology.

He also asked schools to make students aware of subjects such as disaster management, climate change and clean energy.

During the programme, the prime minister released the first instalment of funds under the PM SHRI scheme.

The schools under the scheme will nurture students in a way that they become engaged, productive and contributing citizens for building an equitable, inclusive and pluralistic society, as envisaged under the NEP.

The prime minister also released education and skill curriculum books translated into 12 Indian languages.

The two-day Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Samagam is being held at Bharat Mandapam at the old Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. -- PTI 

Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Saturday alleged that the visit of members of opposition bloc INDIA to Manipur was a "mere show-off".

After arriving at Kolkata on Saturday morning, the senior BJP leader alleged that when Manipur used to burn under previous governments, those visiting the northeastern state now did not utter a single word in the Parliament.

"When Manipur used to remain shut for months, they had not spoken a word," he said.

Thakur said that when the delegation returns from Manipur, the members of the team "will not allow Parliament to function".

"In this context, my request to Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is to bring the same delegation to West Bengal, where atrocities are happening against women," he said.

"Does the Congress oppose the way the Mamata Banerjee government is holding on to power through killings?" he added.

He asked whether the INDIA bloc will visit Rajasthan where "crimes against women are taking place" and submit reports on West Bengal and Rajasthan. -- PTI

A 16-year-old boy allegedly hanged himself in the bathroom of his house Saturday morning in east Delhi's Chander Vihar area, police said.

 

A PCR call was received at 7.06 am about suicide in the Chander Vihar area near Madhu Vihar, they said.

Police found the boy, Ankit Badola, a student of Class 11, hanging in the bathroom with a rope tied to a window rod, Deputy Commissioner of Police (east) Amrutha Guguloth said.

According to a suicide note found on him, Badola was frustrated over his falling short of his parents' expectations in studies, she said. His father works as an architect.  

Proceedings under section 174 CrPC are being conducted, police added. -- PTI

"Get Rahul married" is what some women farmers from Haryana told Congress leader Sonia Gandhi during their interaction with her and she in turn asked them to find a girl for her son, with Rahul Gandhi saying "it will happen".

The concern by the group of women was expressed when they met the Gandhi family at a luncheon hosted by Sonia Gandhi for them at her residence, a promise made by Rahul Gandhi during his recent visit to their fields.

Fulfilling his promise, the former Congress chief invited some women farmers from Haryana's Sonipat district to his mother's home and shared food with them.

During the conversation at her 10, Janpath residence, a woman asks Sonia Gandhi, "Get Rahul married" to which Sonia Gandhi tells her "You find a girl for him".

At this, Rahul Gandhi said, "It will happen...".

He is also seen being fed by one of the women.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra tells the women that "Rahul was naughtier than her, but she got the scolding instead".

On July 8, Rahul Gandhi made an impromptu stop at Madina village in Sonipat. He interacted with people and spent time with farmers working in agricultural lands.

He also took part in paddy sowing, drove a tractor and ate food brought by women labourers working in the fields, party leaders from the state said.

Rahul Gandhi had then promised them to invite them over to Delhi for a 'Delhi Darshan' as they said they had never visited the national capital despite living so close.

During his visit, Rahul Gandhi had made the farm women talk to his sister Priyanka Gandhi and they had expressed the desire that she invites them over for food to her residence.

"A day to remember for Maa, Priyanka and me with some very special guests. Delhi darshan of Sonipat's farmer sisters, lunch with them at home and lots of talk. Got priceless gifts - desi ghee, sweet lassi, homemade pickles and lots of love," Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi on Saturday while sharing the video of the meeting.

The Delhi high court has directed the members of two families, who were involved in a fight on a trivial issue that was subsequently settled, to plant 400 saplings in their areas to put an end to their "negative energy" by contributing to the society.

The court said the parties shall plant the saplings and take care of those for five years.

The court quashed the proceedings in two criminal cases registered for the alleged offences of voluntarily causing hurt, house-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint, criminal intimidation and attempt to commit culpable homicide.

"However, I consider that the negative energy of the parties should be put to an end by directing them to contribute to the society. Hence, the petitioners in both cases are directed to plant 200 trees each in their areas.

The place shall be identified by the investigating officer (IO) after consultation with the horticulture department and he shall inform the petitioners 15 days in advance," Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma said.

The court said the IO shall also explore the possibility of geo-tagging the saplings for proper monitoring by the appropriate authority.

It has called for a compliance report in the matter in November.

In the first FIR, the complainant said the case dates back to March 4, 2017, when three members of a family came to his house and asked for their IDs for the purpose of getting them blankets that were to be distributed by a candidate of a political party.

However, the complainant told the three that they were supporters of another political party, which led to a verbal dispute and subsequently, a fight.

In the other FIR, it was alleged by the opposite side that while they were collecting the IDs for the purpose of distributing blankets, the other family picked up a quarrel with them and beat them up.

Both the parties arrived at a settlement in January and told the court that they had settled the matter voluntarily, without any fear, force or coercion. -- PTI 

Israel ambassador to India Naor Gilon has voiced concern over the "trivialisation" of Holocaust in Hindi movie Bawaal released on Prime Video, saying it had "poor choice of terminology and symbolism".

The Varun Dhawan-starrer has stirred up a controversy for using the Holocaust to tell a story of marital discord as earlier in the week a prominent Jewish group slammed the movie and called for its removal from the OTT platform.

The Israeli embassy in India on Friday issued a statement, saying it was "disturbed by the trivialisation of the significance of the Holocaust" in the movie, directed by Nitesh Tiwari of Dangal fame.

"I did not and will not watch the film Bawaal but from what I have read, there was a poor choice of terminology and symbolism. Trivialisation of the Holocaust should disturb all," Gilon wrote on Twitter.

"I urge those who don't know enough about the horrors of the Holocaust to educate themselves about it," he added.

Bawaal follows a high school history teacher Ajay Dixit (Dhawan) and his wife Nisha (Jahnvi Kapoor) as they go on a Europe tour where they visit prominent World War 2 sites, including Auschwitz and Anne Frank's home in Amsterdam.

The film, which tracks how the couple resolve their differences, goes into graphic recall of the Holocaust in several scenes. 

It was released on Prime Video on July 21.

Noting that there was a "poor choice" in the utilisation of some terminology in the movie, the Israeli embassy said though "we assume no malice was intended, we urge everyone who may not be fully aware of the horrors of the Holocaust to educate themselves about it." 

"Our embassy is constantly working to propagate educational materials on this crucial subject, and we are open to engaging in conversations with all individuals to foster a better understanding of the universal lessons derived from the Holocaust," the Israeli embassy said.

On Tuesday, the Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC), dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust, released a statement, criticising the film for "outlandish abuse of the Nazi Holocaust as a plot device".

The film features "scenes in which the protagonists enter a gas chamber in Auschwitz and are suffocated while wearing striped clothing", the organisation said. -- PTI

The police in Maharashtra's Amravati district on Saturday registered a case against right-wing activist Sambhaji Bhide for his alleged derogatory remarks on Mahatma Gandhi, a day after the Congress raised the matter in the assembly, an official said.

  

The Rajapeth police have registered the case against Bhide under Indian Penal Code section 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), the official said.

The Congress has accused Bhide, the founder of Shri Shiv Pratishthan Hindustan outfit, of making offensive remarks about the Father of the Nation in his speech during a programme in the Amravati district on Thursday.  

Bhide, who is on a tour of Vidarbha, had addressed a gathering in Bharat Mangal Hall in Badnera Road area in Amravati.

Earlier, Congress state secretary Nandkishore Kuyate filed a complaint against Bhide at Rajapeth police station and demanded that a case be registered against him.

On Friday, Maharashtra Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Balasaheb Thorat demanded strict action against Bhide, terming his comments shameful.

"Sambhaji Bhide has a twisted mindset. His comments about the Father of the Nation have disturbed the country. He repeatedly makes controversial comments and it needs to be found out who is backing him for political interests. We want strict action against him," said the former minister.

Without taking names, he claimed that a machinery was working to finish off progressive ideology.

Thorat's colleague and former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan sought Bhide's arrest. "If such a person is making a defamatory statement regarding Mahatma Gandhi, then he has no right to roam (freely) in the state," Chavan said in the assembly. 

In the past too, Bhide has drawn flak for his controversial comments. -- PTI 

Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh has tied the knot with her longtime fiance Jean Todt after nearly two decades of engagement.

 

Ex-Ferrari Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa shared the news that Yeoh, 60, and Todt, the former CEO of Ferrari, got married in Geneva. They were engaged in 2004.

Massa shared a photo of the couple's wedding program, which featured a message that read, "We met in Shanghai on 4th June 2004. On 26th July 2004, J.T proposed to marry M.Y and she said YES."

"Today after 6992 days on 27th July 2023 in Geneva, surrounded by loving family and friends, we are so happy to celebrate this special moment together!" the program read.

Massa also posted several photos from the wedding celebration, including a selfie  with Todt and Yeoh, who is seen holding her Oscar trophy.

Todt, 77, later confirmed the news in a post on Twitter.

"Now that my other son @MassaFelipe19 has "discreetly" spread the good news, I can happily confirm the union with the Love of my life, Michelle," he tweeted.

Yeoh, who won an Oscar for best actress earlier this year for her performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once, was previously married to businessman Dickson Poon from 1988 to 1991. 

Todd has a son, Nicolas, from a previous marriage.

A delegation of 21 MPs from the opposition bloc INDIA reached Imphal on Saturday to assess the ground situation in ethnic strife-torn Manipur.  

 

The team of opposition MPs will visit several relief camps to meet victims of the ethnic clashes that broke in the northeastern state on May 3.

The MPs reached Imphal by a commercial flight from Delhi.

After their arrival here, the delegation will go to Churachandpur, where fresh violence has taken place, to meet victims from the Kuki community in the relief camps there.

"From Imphal, they will go by a chopper to Churachandpur due to security issues. As only one helicopter is available, the members of the delegation would be divided into two teams, and the chopper will make two trips to ferry them," a security official told PTI.

One team, comprising Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and others, would reach Churachandpur first and visit a relief camp set up at the Boys' Hostel of Churachandpur College.

Another team, comprising Congress' deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi and others, would go there and visit a relief camp at Don Bosco School in Churachandpur, a source in the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee said.

"After returning to Imphal, the team led by Chowdhury will go to another relief camp at Moirang College in Bishnupur district by road to meet victims from the Meitei community," he said. 

A 40-year-old man from Nepal, who was working at a tower construction site in Sikkim's Gangtok district, was brutally killed by a local after an altercation took place between them, police said on Saturday. 

 

The incident took place at Samdong village, around 27 kilometres from the state capital early on Friday when the 23-year-old accused hacked the Nepalese with a machete and bludgeoned him with a rock, Gangtok Superintendent of Police Tenzing Loden Lepcha said.

The deceased was identified as Rupesh Rai, a resident of Illam in Nepal, and he was working at a tower construction site at Upper Samdong in Gangtok district.

The accused narrated the incident to his mother who informed the local panchayat functionaries about the murder of the Nepalese. 

The local surrendered at Singtam Police Station later on Friday, the SP said. 

The body of the Nepalese has been sent for a post-mortem examination, and an investigation is on, he added. -- PTI 

Bharatiya Janata Party president J P Nadda rejigged the list of the party's central office-bearers on Saturday, bringing in a Pasmanda Muslim from Uttar Pradesh as one of its-vice presidents and accommodating its former Telangana unit chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar as a national general secretary.

The BJP has dropped C T Ravi, a leader from Karnataka, and Dilip Saikia, a Lok Sabha MP from Assam, as its general secretaries, with sources indicating that they may be contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Former Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) vice-chancellor Tariq Mansoor, now a BJP MLC in Uttar Pradesh, has been made a vice-president, a decision seen to be part of the party's overtures to Pasmanda Muslims.

Most of the office-bearers have been retained as vice-presidents, general secretaries and secretaries in the new list.

There are 13 vice-presidents, nine general secretaries, including B L Santhosh as the in-charge of organisation, and 13 secretaries in the list. Former Union minister Radha Mohan Singh, a Lok Sabha MP from Bihar, has been dropped as a party vice-president.

Anil Antony, son of veteran Congress leader A K Antony, has been brought in as a national secretary.   -- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to Imam Hussain on Saturday, saying his courage and commitment to the ideals of justice and human dignity are noteworthy.

Muslims across the world, especially Shias, commemorate the death of Hussain on this day in the battle of Karbala.

Better known as 'ashura', it is the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram.

'We recall the sacrifices made by Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS). His courage and commitment to the ideals of justice and human dignity are noteworthy,' Modi said on Twitter.   -- PTI

A 21-member delegation of the Opposition alliance INDIA boarded a flight to Imphal on Saturday, saying their two-day visit to violence-hit Manipur will be aimed at assessing 'the real situation on the ground'.

An exclusive ANI footage showed the members of the delegation boarding a flight to Imphal on Saturday morning.

Before departing for the Northeast state, the Opposition leaders said they will focus on taking stock of the situation on the ground and 'not raise political issues' during their two-day visit.

Speaking to ANI before boarding the Manipur flight, Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who is part of the 21-member delegation, said, "The PM hasn't even made an attempt to visit Manipur as yet. Only after receiving a jolt from the Opposition did the Centre wake up to the situation."

Earlier, on Saturday, Chowdhury, who heads the Congress in his native West Bengal, said the visit was about understanding the 'real situation' in Manipur.  -- ANI

The Delhi-Jammu Tawi Rajdhani Express was thoroughly checked at Haryana's Sonipat railway station on Friday night after an information was received claiming that there was a bomb on the train, police said.

The train arrived at the Sonipat railway station at 9.34 pm on Friday, a Government Railway Police (GRP) official said.

The train was thoroughly searched by a bomb disposal squad and a dog squad, the official said.

No explosive was found on the train, he added.

The train was allowed to leave the station at 1:48 am, the official said.  -- PTI

Tension prevailed in Robertsganj area in Sonbhadra on Friday evening after the body of a cow-calf was found near a temple, police said.

Additional Superintendent of Police Kalu Singh said a case has been registered and ensured that strict action would be taken against the guilty.

As Muharram will be observed on Saturday, there is a possibility that this has been done to vitiate the atmosphere, he said.

The carcass of the nine-month-old calf has been removed from the spot behind the Hanuman temple, police said.   -- PTI

A minor girl who wanted to go to Pakistan to meet her Instagram friend was handed over to police by Jaipur airport authorities on Friday, officials said. 

Airport Station Officer Digpal Singh said the girl, a resident of Sikar's Shrimadhopur, had no documents required for international travel.

He also said there is no flight from Jaipur to Pakistan.

The official said the girl told police she went to the airport to go to Pakistan to meet her Instagram friend.

He said the family members of the girl have been informed and she would be handed over to them.

Recently, a 34-year-old married woman from Alwar, Rajasthan, went to Pakistan on a valid passport and visa to meet with her Facebook friend, whom she later got married to.   -- PTI

A multi-party delegation of the opposition's Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) reached the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on Saturday morning, to leave for a a two-day 'on-the-spot assessment' of the ground situation in Manipur.

Sources said the opposition bloc had written to Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who allowed the delegation to visit the state.

The delegation would be meeting Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey on Sunday morning, Hussain said.

The delegation includes Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Gaurav Gogoi of the Congress, Trinamool Congress's Sushmita Dev, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's Mahua Maji, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's Kanimozhi, Nationalist Congress Party's Mohammad Faizal, Jayant Chaudhary of Rashtriya Lok Dal, Manoj Kumar Jha of Rashtriya Janata Dal, N K Premachandran of Revolutionary Socialist Party and T Thirumavalavan of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi.

Janata Dal-United chief Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh, Aneel Prasad Hegde (JD-U), Communist Party of India's Sandosh Kumar, Communist Party of India-Marxist's A A Rahim, Samajwadi Party's Javed Ali Khan, Indian Union Muslim League's E T Mohammed Basheer, Aam Aadmi Party's Sushil Gupta, Arvind Sawant (Shiv Sena-Uddhav Thackeray), D Ravikumar (DMK), Phulo Devi Netam and K Suresh (Congress) will also be part of the 20-member delegation which will leave on Saturday morning and return on Sunday afternoon.   -- ANI/PTI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday slammed the Congress and its allies, including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, saying nothing would happen by changing the name of their alliance to Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).

The senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader was addressing a rally in Rameswaram, ahead of kick-starting Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai's state-wide 'En Mann, En Makkal (My Land, My People)' padayatra.

In 10 years of the United Progressive Alliance government, Rs 12 lakh crore corruption took place, and changing the name of the alliance now will make no difference, Shah said.

"When Congress and its allies, including the DMK, go to the people seeking votes, the public would remember the corruption," he said.

He said people will remember the UPA regime for the 2G Spectrum scam, CommonWealth games scam and Coal allocation scam.

He also mentioned the 'chopper scandal' apart from 'Submarine scam and ISRO scam'.

"Congress-DMK and allies opposed the removal of Art 370; is Kashmir ours or not," he asked.

"Don't we need to free the nation from terrorism? When Modi undertook surgical and airstrikes, the UPA people opposed it."

Taking forward Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Tamil pitch, he said Modi honoured Tamil culture by installing the 'Sengol' in the new parliament building.

Modi presented the Tamil language, culture, and thoughts of Tamil leaders to the world through various platforms.

He is the first to 'speak the Tamil language in the United Nations'.

During the Congress-DMK rule, the massacre of Tamils occurred in Sri Lanka, and Tamil fishermen suffered, he said.

Through the yatra, Annamalai will establish Modi's nationalism in place of regionalism, Shah added.

The 'Entire World is One' motto was borrowed from Tamil Nadu's culture as India's G20 motto, the union minister said, and recalled that during his trip to France, the PM announced the building of a statue of the saint-poet Tiruvalluvar.

He also underlined the welfare initiatives for Sri Lankan Tamils, besides highlighting the Union government's initiatives such as Kashi Tamil Sangamam and Tamil Saurashtra Sangamam.

Shah hit out at the DMK regime, calling it the most corrupt in the nation and said the BJP yatra is an attempt to usher in politics of development and good governance in Tamil Nadu.

"This yatra is a journey to take Tamil culture from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Kolkata to Somnath."

Accusing the DMK regime of being a 'government of illegal wine mafia, sand mafia and Tamil Nadu electricity generation and distribution scam', Shah said, "This is an anti-poor government."

He named the Congress and its allies one by one, including the DMK, Trinamool Congress and Shiv Sena-UBT, and accused them all of trying to empower their families.

"They are not interested in the nation's development," he alleged.

"Sonia Gandhi wants to make her son Rahul the Prime Minister, M K Stalin wants to make his son Udhayanidhi the chief minister."

The BJP top leader also criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad Yadav and Shiv Sena-UBT leader Uddhav Thackeray as leaders who desired to see their heirs in leadership positions.

"However, Modi is the only leader who is working for the nation's development," he said.

In his nine years of leadership, Modi has replaced casteism, family politics, appeasement, and regionalism with the politics of performance, the top BJP leader said.

Shah also raised the issue of an accused DMK leader who is in jail continuing as a minister in Tamil Nadu.

"Stalin should be ashamed of retaining V Senthil Balaji, arrested in an Enforcement Directorate case and in jail, in the cabinet," the Union minister said.

"Can a person in jail continue as a minister," he asked.

"Should Senthil Balaji not have resigned? Even if Senthil Balaji resigns, Stalin will not accept it because he is afraid that all secrets will be disclosed.

"Stalin made more than 500 promises during the 2021 assembly election, but instead of fulfilling assurances, he drowned entire Tamil Nadu in the business of alcohol," Shah charged.

The senior BJP leader later flagged off the 'En Mann, En Makkal' padayatra by Annamalai, saying, "It is a yatra to free Tamil Nadu of dynastic and corrupt politics and start an era of development and pro-poor initiatives."

The Union minister held Annamalai's hand and raised it amid enthusiastic chants by party members.

Annamalai will travel on a vehicle for 10,000 km and on foot for 700 kilometres.

The stage put up for the launch of the padayatra was modelled on the newly inaugurated Parliament building.

The yatra, which will go on for six months, marks the start of BJP's poll campaign ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

The yatra will cover all 234 assembly constituencies in the state.In his address, Annamalai likened the yatra to a 'yagna' to reach out to the people about the welfare schemes of the BJP-led Centre under PM Modi's leadership and the 'never-seen-before' financial allocations by the Centre to Tamil Nadu.

Annamalai praised the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and asserted that this is the rule of 'common men' and Modi is an 'ordinary man who made all Indians proud through his work'.

"Modi is a Tamilian at heart, and he has made Tamilians proud world over and taken Tamil culture and Tamil classic Tirukkural across the world, which echoed in the United Nations as well," Annamalai said.   -- PTI

A 50-year-old woman was arrested here on Friday for allegedly murdering her husband with an axe, chopping his body into parts and dumping them into a river here, police said on Friday.

They said the murder took place on Monday night at Shivnagar village in the Gajraula area and a case under relevant sections of the law has been registered against the woman.

In her statement to the police, Dularo Devi claimed she killed her husband to put an end to the domestic violence she suffered at his hands, Circle Officer (City) Anshu Jain said.

Jain said the woman initially told police that her husband Rampal, 55, had gone missing from home on Monday, following which a complaint was lodged and a probe initiated.

It was after her son named Devi as a suspect in his father's disappearance, police questioned her and she eventually confessed to the crime, the CO said. 

After retrieving the location from the woman, police traced the chopped body parts of her husband and recovered his blood-stained clothes, almost 10 kilometres from her house, Jain added.

The blood-stained clothes were found on Thursday, while all the chopped body parts were recovered from two cement bags on Friday.

Rampal's relatives, however, alleged that Devi killed him as she was in a relationship with another man, police added.

"The matter is being investigated. If any other name crops up, he or she will be arrested," Jain said.  -- PTI