Manjunath Hegde Bomnalli, DHNS, Hubballi, MAR 20 2022
Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah on Sunday stated that the BJP is under the illusion of coming back to power in Karnataka, after the results of five state Assembly elections, but those results would not have any impact on Karnataka. “People of Karnataka cannot be changed using Hindutva or emotional issues. People vote on the basis of issues like price rise, 
unemployment, lack of development, economic crisis, farmers’ problems and other issues,” he said. The BJP never came to power in the State on its own strength, neither in 2008 nor in 2018. But, it used ‘Operation Lotus’. Congress is ready for elections anytime, and it will get a clear majority in the next Assembly elections, Siddaramaiah noted. Holding Padayatra or any other measure over the Mahadayi issue would be decided after discussing the issue with the party leaders in the region after the session of the Legislature, he said. “Look at Jagadish Shettar and Basanagouda Patil Yatnal. Congress has only one group, that is of Sonia Gandhi. Measures to strengthen the party are discussed in the CWC. Those who quit and damaged the party would not be taken back, but others who unconditionally accept the party’s principles are welcome,” Siddaramaiah said. When asked about the Congress’s chief ministerial candidate, Siddaramaiah said, MLAs would decide that after the polls and the party’s high-command would give its approval. He refused the argument that the hijab issue and ‘The Kashmir Files’ film were a setback for Congress.
‘The Kashmir Files’ classification creates controversy in New Zealand
The country’s chief censor David Shanks is reviewing the film’s R16 classification after concerns were raised by the Muslim community
PTI, New Delhi, MAR 20 2022
The Kashmir Files has courted controversy in New Zealand, with the country’s chief censor reviewing the film’s classification, a move that has been criticised by a former deputy prime minister. Written and directed by Vivek Agnihotri, The Kashmir Files depicts the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from the Kashmir Valley in the 1990s. According to New Zealand’s Classification Office, an R16 certificate mandates that a film cannot be viewed by children below 16 without adult supervision. Shanks told the outlet that the 
classification office’s action does not mean the film is being banned in the country. He added that the members of the Muslim community had approached him with concerns the film “could raise anti-Muslim sentiment and potential hatred”. Shanks revealed that the situation was “complex” as the concerns of the community pertained to “behaviours on and offline in relation to the film, rather than the content of the film itself”. The concerns raised were valid and serious, so it was important to “take stock and pause”, he said. Shanks said that the film’s initial classification had been issued without the knowledge of these concerns.The chief censor’s move has been criticised by Winston Peters, the country’s former deputy prime minister and leader of the political party New Zealand First.
Bihar: 23 dead after ‘consuming spurious liquor’ on Holi, admin yet to conduct autopsy
The district authorities, though, have said that some deaths resulted from food poisoning.
Perform or perish, Arvind Kejriwal tells new ministers and MLAs in Punjab
The AAP chief said all the newly elected leaders and ministers would be given targets, failing to meet which they may lose the responsibilities entrusted to them
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday told the party’s newly elected MLAs and ministers in Punjab to perform well or perish and cautioned them that heads would roll if they indulged in corruption.He was addressing the leaders virtually days after the AAP’s resounding victory in the Assembly polls in the state by winning 92 of the 117 seats in the House. Earlier this week, party leader Bhagwant Mann took oath as the Chief Minister of Punjab andlater inducted 10 MLAs as 
ministers in his Cabinet on Saturday. Kejriwal reminded the leaders that nobody had the right to any post, that everyone would be given responsibilities and they would have to work round the clock. He added that failing to meet the targets could cause them to lose their responsibilities. In a straight talk with the legislators and ministers, the Delhi chief minister said, “I will not congratulate those ministers who were sworn in yesterday. Rather, I will give them best wishes. I pray to God that you will come true to the expectations of people. As Mann Sahib (Bhagwant Mann) has said, we have wasted 70 years and are short of time. Mann Sahib will give you targets. A day of 24 hours will not be enough. You will have to work 30 hours a day. If you do not meet the targets, then people will say change the minister. Then you will feel bad, but we will have no option but to replace you.” Recalling Mann’s advice to legislators, Kejriwal said, “During his first address to MLAs, Mann Sahib had asked you not to sit in Chandigarh; every MLA, every minister will be among the people 24×7. He will hit the streets, meet people, go to each household and listen to people.” “I am told that some MLAs who could not become ministers are upset. We have got 92 seats. Only 17 will become ministers. It is not that those MLAs who could not become ministers are less competent. The people of Punjab have elected diamonds. You all are diamonds. You all are capable, but all 92 of us have to work hard as a team. If we will not work like a team, but keep aspirations and greed at the forefront, Punjab will lose. It is important for Punjab that we all work as a team,” the AAP chief added.
Explained: Controversy over Bhagat Singh photograph at Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann’s office
A photograph of Bhagat Singh in Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s office has run into a controversy. What is the objection? How has Singh’s family responded?
The Indian Express
Two days after the AAP’s Bhagwant Mann took over as chief minister of Punjab, the photograph of
the revolutionary Bhagat Singh installed at his office has run into a controversy. Mann—who chose Bhagat Singh’s ancestral village, Khatkar Kalan in Nawanshahr district, to take his oath—has always idolised Bhagat Singh, expressing that he wants to create a Punjab that the freedom fighter had dreamt of. However, the basanti (yellow) turban Bhagat Singh is seen wearing in the photo is being objected to, primarily for the photo’s lack of authenticity. However, according to Bhagat Singh’s family, what should matter is his vision, not the colour of his turban in the picture.
All parties, including mine, divide people: Congress’ Ghulam Nabi
I salute India today, it always maintains an independent foreign policy: Pak PM
उद्धव ठाकरे ने ओवैसी की पार्टी से गठजोड़ की पेशकश ठुकराई, कहा- यह BJP की साजिश है
शिवसेना ने कहा कि यह बीजेपी का एक ‘गेम प्लान’ है. एआईएमआईएम और भाजपा के बीच सांठगांठ है.
मुंबई: महाराष्ट्र के मुख्यमंत्री उद्धव ठाकरे (Uddhav Thackeray) ने गठजोड़ के लिए एआईएमआईएम (AIMIM) की पेशकश खारिज कर दी. शिवसेना के एक ‘हिंदुत्ववादी पार्टी’ होने का उल्लेख करते हुए उद्धव ने कहा कि ये महाविकास
आघाडी (MVA) सरकार का नेतृत्व कर रही पार्टी (Shivsena) को बदनाम करने की भाजपा (BJP) की साजिश है. शिवसेना का नेतृत्व कर रहे उद्धव ठाकरे ने यहां पार्टी के सांसदों और पदाधिकारियों की एक बैठक को डिजिटल माध्यम से संबोधित किया, जिसमें उन्होंने हिंदुत्व और अन्य मुद्दों को लेकर पूर्व सहयोगी भारतीय जनता पार्टी की आलोचना की. शिवसेना सांसद संजय राउत
(Sanjay Raut) ने उद्धव ठाकरे को उद्धृत करते हुए संवाददताओं से कहा, ‘‘भला किसने एआईएमआईएम (ऑल इंडिया मजलिस-ए-इत्तेहादुल मुस्लिमीन) से गठजोड़ करने की मांग की है? यह भाजपा का एक ‘गेम प्लान’ और षड्यंत्र है. एआईएमआईएम और भाजपा के बीच सांठगांठ है.’’ उन्होंने कहा, ‘‘भाजपा ने एआईएमआईएम को शिवसेना को बदनाम करने और शिवसेना के हिंदुत्व पर सवाल उठाने को कहा है. इसी का अनुसरण करते हुए एआईएमआईएम नेता गठजोड़ की पेशकश कर रहे हैं.’’ उल्लेखनीय है कि एआईएमआईएम के सांसद इम्तियाज जलील ने कहा था कि भाजपा को सत्ता में आने से रोकने के लिए उनकी पार्टी शिवसेना नीत एमवीए के साथ गठजोड़ कर सकती है. इस पर, शिवसेना ने कड़ी प्रतिक्रिया व्यक्त की. एमवीए में शामिल अन्य दल राष्ट्रवादी कांग्रेस पार्टी और कांग्रेस है. राज्यसभा सदस्य राउत ने कहा कि शिवेसना ठाकरे के आदेश पर 22 मार्च को राज्य के विदर्भ और मराठवाड़ा क्षेत्रों के 19 जिलों में एक जनसंपर्क कार्यक्रम शिव संपर्क मुहिम शुरू करेगी. उन्होंने कहा कि इसका उद्देश्य उस भ्रम को दूर करना है जो भाजपा विभिन्न मुद्दों पर शिवसेना के बारे में पैदा करने की कोशिश कर रही है.
By: Express News Service | Patna |
Twenty-three persons died after reportedly consuming spurious liquor in Banka, Bhagalpur and Madhepura districts of Bihar recently. While Banka and Bhagalpur reported 11 and eight deaths, respectively, Madhepura recorded four suspected hooch deaths during the Holi weekend. Holi was celebrated on March 18 and 19 in Bihar. The district authorities, though, have said that some deaths resulted from food poisoning. Notably, no autopsy has been conducted yet on the deceased. So far, Dumaria, Pawai and Dumrawan villages in Amarpur block of Banka have reported 11 deaths. Mrinal Shekhar, who had unsuccessfully contested from Amarpur on a Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) ticket during the 2020 Assembly polls, said: “The local administration has been trying to brush the deaths aside as a case of food poisoning. Let the post-mortem be conducted in all cases, and the truth will come out.” There are reports that over half a dozen people have been admitted to hospitals in Banka and Bhagalpur. Sukhdev Sah, whose father-in-law Dablu Kumar is admitted in a Banka hospital, said: “My father-in-law drank liquor on March 18 and later complained of nausea, stomach pain and giddiness.” Banka SP Arvind Kumar Gupta said: “We have asked the sub-divisional police officer to visit homes of the deceased. We do not know the reason for the deaths as of now.” In Bhagalpur town’s Sahebganj area under University police station, four people allegedly died between Friday and Sunday after drinking spurious liquor while four suspected hooch deaths have been reported from Navgachhia’s Bhawanipur area during Holi. Bhagalpur police, too, have not confirmed any hooch death. A senior police officer said, “We are conducting raids at possible hideouts of liquor suppliers based on information received from local residents.” In Madhepura, four people died between Thursday and Saturday. Three victims belonged to one village. Another four have been admitted to various hospitals in the district. The Madhepura administration has also not confirmed any hooch.
Y-security to Karnataka HC judges who delivered hijab verdict; 2 held for threat speeches
The three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and Justices Krishna Dixit and Khazi M Jaibunnisa recently upheld the state government’s decision to ban the hijab inside classrooms.
By: Express News Service | Bengaluru, Chennai |
Following an allegedly threatening speech by the leader of a fringe Muslim group, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said on Sunday that the state government would provide ‘Y’ category security to the three High Court judges who delivered the recent verdict in the hijab row, including Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi. “This is an alarming sign for democracy and we should ensure that these kind of anti-national forces don’t grow. The country’s law and order is in place because of the judiciary. Why are pseudo-secular people silent now? This is not secularism but communalism. We have to stand together and protest against this act,” Bommai said in Bengaluru. The Tamil Nadu police on Saturday arrested two leaders of the Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamath (TNTJ) after videos of their speeches showed them reminding
the judges about the death of Dhanbad Additional Sessions Judge Uttam Anand, who was knocked down by an auto while on a morning walk in July last year, and raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. In a video from a protest at Goripalayam in Madurai on March 17, two days after the Karnataka High Court verdict, TMTJ leader Covai R Rahmatullah is hearing saying, “Have you forgotten the incident of last August in Jharkhand, where a judge on a morning walk was murdered for giving an anti-people judgment? Two people surrendered in the case after two days. Do you remember? Do not even think that Karnataka Muslims have accepted your judgment. If untoward things happen, let me clarify that the judges alone will be responsible. A similar video, from a protest organised in Thanjavur by the same group, had people raising slogans against Modi and Shah, and warning that nobody should test their patience.