Author Archives: TARIQ ABDULLAH

PTI

RAEBARELI/AMETHI, May 20: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and the RSS “traitors” who are “attacking the Constitution” every day and have sold the country’s interests to select industrialists.

The strong allegations by the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha came on the second day of his visit to his constituency Raebareli. The BJP criticised his remarks as a reflection of his “anarchic mindset and character”.

Gandhi while addressing a ‘Bahujan Swabhiman Sabha’ in Raebareli to commemorate local revolutionary Veera Pasi, appealed to the public, “You will have to stand up and fight. When RSS workers come to your homes and talk about Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, you must tell them that their prime minister, their home minister and their organisation are traitors. They have sold our Hindustan and attacked our Constitution, Ambedkarji and Mahatma Gandhi.”

Later addressing an event in Amethi, Gandhi referred to his remarks made earlier in the day at Raebareli and said, “I had said that Modi and Amit Shah are traitors. If someone weakens and destroys our Constitution, then what else should they be called if not traitors?”

Taking on the RSS, he said, “They ask me to apologise. I will never apologise. I am not afraid of them.”

In Raebareli, Gandhi accused the prime minister of “attacking the Constitution 24 hours a day” by weakening MNREGA, not conducting caste census, and favouring select industrialists.

He also referred to Modi’s recent appeal to cut down on fuel consumption, gold purchase, and foreign travel to warn of an “economic storm” coming our way.

He slammed Modi for fly-ing off on a five-nation tour right after his appeal to the people to refrain from going abroad.

(PTI)

NEW DELHI, May 20: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will instill the same fear in the bowlers’ minds that West Indian marauder Chris Gayle had managed to do in his prime, according to former India pacer Irfan Pathan.

Sooryavanshi, with 53 sixes in the ongoing IPL, is within touching distance of the record 59 that Gayle struck in the 2012 season.

On Wednesday night against Lucknow Super Giants, the 15-year-old Rajasthan Royals batter hammered a 38-ball 93 that was dotted with 10 maximums and seven fours. The brutal knock steered his team to a facile seven-wicket win despite being in pursuit of a steep 221.

“It is very difficult to stop him. In his first 10 balls, he was batting at a strike rate of less than 100, and by the end of the innings, he had scored 93 runs off just 38 balls,” Pathan said.

PTI

NEW DELHI, May 20: When Lucknow Super Giants assembled their support staff headed by former Australia coach Justin Langer and IPL journeyman coach Tom Moody, the expectation was that the franchise would finally graduate from being a talented but inconsistent side into a genuine title contender. Instead, what unfolded through the season was a campaign riddled with confused selections, questionable combinations and a team that never quite appeared to know what its strongest XI actually was.

For long phases of the tournament, the tournament, it seemed that head coach Langer and skipper Rishabh Pant were operating from different tactical playbooks. The body language after defeats, the chopping and changing of personnel and the indecisiveness around batting positions all pointed towards a side searching desperately for clarity.

The biggest talking point naturally remained owner Sanjiv Goenka’s decision to break the bank for Pant at Rs 27.50 crore. While Pant remains one of India’s biggest cricketing brands and among the most impactful match-winners, the move inevitably skewed the balance of the squad and perhaps left glaring holes elsewhere.

The most obvious deficiency was the absence of quality overseas fast bowlers. Save South African Anrich Nortje, who himself got only one game, LSG never truly possessed an intimidating foreign pace option.

It left the burden squarely on an inexperienced Indian bowling unit. Among domestic bowlers, only Mohsin Khan and Prince Yadav consistently showed signs of promise. After his surgery, speedster Mayank Yadav played only four games and failed to pick up a single wicket while leaking runs. Young left-arm pacer Akash Singh looked tidy in one outing but was severely punished in the next game.

Yet, through all the struggles, LSG persisted with combinations that raised more questions than answers.

Then came the most curious aspect of LSG’s campaign. Once the team was effectively out of playoff contention, there appeared little logic in not handing opportunities to fringe players. Which naturally raises the question: why did Langer and Moody never give Arjun Tendulkar even a single game? Would he really have done worse than Akash or even the burly Avesh Khan?

Ironically, the LSG social media team aggressively pushed an “Arjun Tendulkar yorker package” online, generating considerable traction and engagement. But if those yorkers were genuinely effective enough for promotional campaigns, why was he never considered good enough for an actual match situation? Or was the famous surname useful only for social media impressions and digital reach? The irony is hard to miss. In a cricket ecosystem where conversations around nepotism dominate discourse, Tendulkar junior almost appears to be a reverse case – picked by franchises repeatedly but seldom trusted enough for a first XI opportunity. (PTI)

(PTI)

KOLKATA, May 20: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday announced the implementation of a mechanism under which infiltrators detained by state police would be handed over directly to the BSF for deportation, while unveiling what he described as part of a broader “detect, delete and deport” framework.

The announcement, made at a press conference attended by senior BSF officials shortly after Adhikari returned from north Bengal, signalled a sharper policy turn on infiltration and border management — long among the BJP’s most potent political themes in Bengal, at the centre of the new government’s agenda.

Adhikari said those communities covered under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) would remain outside the ambit of the new mechanism, while others identified as infiltrators would face action with immediate effect.

“A letter was sent by the Centre to the state on May 14 last year regarding the direct handover of infiltrators to the BSF, but the previous government failed to implement this important provision. We have now enforced it,” the chief minister said at the state secretariat Nabanna.

He alleged that the previous Trinamool Congress government had opposed the CAA and also failed to operationalise the mechanism proposed by the Centre.

“On one hand, the previous government opposed the CAA, and on the other, it did not use this important provision. Today we are implementing it,” Adhikari said.

Seeking to draw a distinction between refugee protection and illegal immigration, the chief minister referred to provisions under the CAA. “Under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the communities covered by it have been named, and those who came (to India) till December 31, 2024, are protected, and police cannot detain them,” he said.

The communities covered under the citizenship law include Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians who fled alleged religious persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan before the prescribed cut-off date.

The CM said those not covered under the law would be treated as infiltrators.

“Those who are not covered under the Act are completely illegal infiltrators. State police will detain them and hand them over to the BSF,” Adhikari said.

“The BSF will speak to the BGB and take necessary steps to deport them. This law is being implemented starting today,” he said.

Adhikari described the framework as “detect, delete and deport”, while explaining the mechanism.

The chief minister said instructions had already been communicated to the state’s top administrative and police officials.

“We have informed the DGP and the home secretary that this law will be implemented in all police stations in border areas for the sake of West Bengal and the country’s security,” he said.

Officials said the mechanism would be implemented across police stations located in border districts, with coordination between state police and the BSF expected to form the backbone of the process.

For the BJP government in Bengal, the announcement appeared to be more than an administrative directive. Border management and infiltration have long occupied a central place in the party’s Bengal politics. On Wednesday, those themes moved from campaign rhetoric to policy execution.

‘Melody Moment’ breaks internet O Video crosses past 100 million views O Share price of Parle Industries goes up

ROME, May 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented a light-hearted and unique gift — a “Melody” toffee packet– to his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni, bringing back the widely popular “#Melodi” moment that has often gone viral on social media.

The informal exchange, marked by laughter between the two leaders, was later shared by the Italian PM on Instagram, where she also spoke about the gesture and the gift received from the Indian Prime Minister.

Sharing the video of the moment, Meloni said, “Prime Minister Modi brought us a gift — a very, very good toffee — Melody,” as both leaders were seen sharing a laugh during the interaction.

She further added in her caption, “Thank you for the gift.”

The “Melodi” phenomenon — a portmanteau combining the names of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Giorgia Meloni — has become a recurring viral trend online, reflecting the visible personal rapport and friendly exchanges between the two leaders during various international engagements.

The term has frequently been used by social media users to highlight their light-hearted interactions at global platforms, often turning into viral moments that generate memes, discussions and widespread online engagement, while also symbolising a perceived strengthening of India-Italy relations.

The viral ‘Melodi’ trend originally gained momentum after Meloni posted a selfie on X during the COP28 summit in Dubai, where she captioned it, “Good friends at COP28 #Melodi”. Till then, Melodi was just a meme hashtag used by Internet users. Since then the duo has frequently drawn attention for their warm greetings, handshakes and cordial interactions at multiple international events, including their widely shared selfie at the G20 Summit held in New Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifts a pack of toffees to his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni during a meeting in Rome, Italy. (PTI)

Meanwhile, the clip where Modi is seen gifting a “Melody” toffee packet on Wednesday morning first took social media by storm and has now created a record of sorts in terms of views and public engagement.

As per the latest social media metrics, the video of the duo sharing a lighter moment has crossed 100 million views within a few hours of the ‘melody toffee’ moment, when PM Modi handed over a pack of popular chocolates to the Italian PM.

The clip broke the internet as the netizens went gaga over it and couldn’t stop talking about it. As the video circulated online, it went viral, evoking global interest and dominating social media trends. In fact, names like ‘Parle’ and ‘Melody’ became the most searched terms on Google and X.

Interestingly, the melody moment also drove up the share price of Parle Industries, with its stock price hitting the upper circuit, though it has no connection with the company that makes Melody chocolates.

It’s the Parle Products, an unlisted company that manufactures confectionery and chocolates besides biscuits and poppins. (IANS)

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PTI, IANS

PTI

SILIGURI, May 20: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday said that an AIIMS, an IIT and an IIM will be set up in the northern part of the state, while ordering steps for qualitative development of the lives of tea garden workers in the region.

The BJP’s election manifesto for West Bengal promised the establishment of an AIIMS, an IIT and an IIM in North Bengal.

Briefing reporters on Adhikari’s first administrative meeting here in north Bengal, BJP’s Darjeeling MP Raju Bista said that the CM also stressed the need for improving healthcare infra-structure in the region.

He said that Adhikari, who took oath as the chief minister of the first BJP government in West Bengal on May 9, assured the people that an AIIMS would be set up to ensure proper healthcare in north Bengal.

“Apart from the AIIMS, an IIT, an IIM and a cancer hospital will be set up in north Bengal,” Bista said.

These institutes will come up in different districts of the region.

“The CM has also directed that no objection certificates (NOC) for various development projects be issued by the authori-ties without delay,” the MP said.

Bista said that Adhikari has also asked for special initiatives for development work in the border areas near Bangladesh and Nepal.

He said that with more than five lakh directly employed people and 20 lakh indirect beneficiaries of the tea gardens dotting the northern districts of the state, the chief minister stressed the bet-terment of the condition of tea garden workers.

“The CM asked the Tea Board chairman and other officials to study the Assam tea garden worker welfare model and asked them to come up with pointers on what would be the issues involved in implementing the same here,” Bista said.

New labour law will be implemented in the tea gardens in the future, and betterment of the workers’ lives in line with that in Assam will be ensured, the BJP said.

“The CM has ordered implementation of the Centre’s Chai Srameek Yojana, which was blocked by the previous TMC government for the last three years,” he said, adding that Rs 350 crore worth of benefits are pending to Bengal’s tea garden workers under the scheme. (PTI)

NEW DELHI, May 20:

(PTI) The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a PIL challenging the Centre’s decision to conduct caste-based Census, saying the issue falls under the policy domain. The top court said the government must know the number of persons belonging to backward castes to frame welfare measures. The top court did not agree to the submissions of PIL petitioner Sudhakar Gummula that plenty of information and figures were available with the government on caste details. “These are all policy matters, whether the Census should be caste-based or not. What is wrong with it? The government must know as to how many people are in the backward class, what kind of welfare measures are to be taken for them. It is within the policy domain,” the CJI said while dismissing the PIL.

(Agencies)

NEW DELHI, May 20: Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng has alleged that her Facebook and Instagram accounts were suspended shortly after she questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to Norway.

Lyng, a reporter for the Oslo-based newspaper Dagsavisen, stated on X that she has been unable to access both platforms and expressed hope for their swift restoration. Describing the suspension as a “small price to pay for press freedom,” she noted that she had never encountered such an issue previously.

The controversy follows a viral press interaction in Oslo, where Lyng questioned Modi on media access and press freedom during a joint appearance with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

Since the exchange, Lyng has reportedly faced significant online harassment, including accusations of being a political agent—claims she has dismissed.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has not yet commented on the suspension of the journalist’s accounts.

Twisha Sharma death case

(Agencies)

BHOPAL, May 20: A local court on Wednesday directed that the body of Noida woman Twisha Sharma, who was found hanging at her marital home here last week following alleged harassment for dowry, be preserved, but rejected her family’s plea for a second autopsy.

Judicial Magistrate First Class Anudita Gupta said a letter be issued to police directing them to immediately obtain information regarding “low-temperture preservation facility” in Madhya Pradesh, and submit a report to the court without delay.

Earlier in the day, the city police urged the woman’s family to take custody of her body as it could begin decomposing.

Twisha Sharma (33), daughter-in-law of a retired judge, was found hanging at her marital home here. On Tuesday, the court had called for the case diary before deciding on her parents’ application that her body be preserved and a second postmortem examination be conducted outside the state.

In their plea, Twisha’s family pointed out flaws in the investigation and pointed out, among other things, that the FIR was registered three days after she was found dead.

Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women (NCW) on Wednesday took suo motu cognisance of reports regarding the suspicious death of Sharma. It sought a detailed action taken report (ATR) from the Madhya Pradesh government within seven days.

NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar wrote to the Madhya Pradesh Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, directing them to ensure an immediate, fair and time-bound probe into the matter.

(IANS) NEW DELHI, May 20: The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Centre and all states on a PIL raising concerns over the sale of alcohol in inconspicuous packaging such as tetra packs, PET bottles, plastic sachets and other portable containers. During the hearing, the CJI Kant-led Bench orally remarked, “This is very deceptive”. The plea seeks formulation of uniform and harmonised guidelines across states to regulate the packaging of liquor, contending that divergent definitions under various State Excise Acts allow alcohol to be sold in “flasks”, “pots”, “wrappers” and other similar receptacles. According to the petition, alcohol is increasingly being sold in portable and inconspicuous packaging such as tetra packs, plastic sachets and small PET bottles, which can be easily concealed and carried in public places.