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Eye on Gujarat’s Rajputs votes, BJP and Congress unite against Bhansali’s Padmavati

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8 years ago

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Eye on Gujarat’s Rajputs votes, BJP and Congress unite against Bhansali’s Padmavati

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Congress, BJP want the Deepika Padukone-starrer to be banned in Gujarat or its release deferred till elections are over, say distortion of history shouldn’t be allowed

Even as the Congress and BJP engage in a high-pitched diatribe against each other in poll-bound Gujarat, here’s an issue that seems to have united the two political parties – Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s opulent multi-starrer Padmavati.

With doubts being raised on whether the film stays true to the “historical facts” of the siege of Chittor by Alauddin Khilji, the BJP and Congress both fear that any “distortion of history” by the makers of Padmavati might rile the Rajput community of Gujarat and cause a law and order situation. The Deepika Padukone-starrer film is slated for a December 1 release while Gujarat is scheduled to go for a two phase election on December 9 and 14.

The BJP has demanded that the Election Commission must intervene in the issue and either defer the release of Padmavati to a date after the Gujarat polls or ban the release of the film in the state. The Congress on the other hand has said that the film should be banned if it “distorts history”.

The demands by the BJP and the Congress – both parties are eyeing to capture the state’s substantial Kshatriya/Rajput vote which holds the key to winning around two dozen of the state’s 182 assembly seats – comes days after former chief minister Shankersinh Vaghela (a Kshatriya leader) threatened “violent protests” across the state if the film was released in Gujarat without being pre-screened for Hindu, and specifically Kshatriya, community leaders and being approved by them. Vaghela, who had quit the BJP over two decades ago to join the Congress but quit the grand-old party earlier this year, has announced a ‘third front’ to take challenge the Congress and the BJP in the largely bi-polar state.

Gujarat is a prestige battle for the BJP which has ruled the state for the past 22 years. It is also the home state of www.apnlive.com/topic/narendra-modiand the party’s national president Amit Shah. With Modi no longer the chief minister of Gujarat and the incumbent Vijay Rupani government facing an uphill electoral battle due to anti-incumbency and agitated Patel, Dalit, Adivasi and Minority communities, the Congress is hoping to finally end its exile from power in the state. In such a situation, every seat and every endorsement by members of different castes who comprise the Gujarat electorate counts.

While on the face of it, the BJP and Congress’ opposition to Padmavati may seem trivial, but in its backdrop lies a greater political battle for the two political parties.

Expectedly then, the state BJP’s spokesperson IK Jadeja said that his party “would prefer that Padmavati is either banned or its release.” A Kshatriya leader himself, Jadeja said: “We have received representations from Khastriya, Rajput communities opposing any purported distortion of history and character of Rani Padmavati in the movie.”

Senior Congress leader and also a chief ministerial hopeful, Shaktisinh Gohil echoed views that were strikingly similar to his political rival though he did seek to put the BJP in a spot too. “With elections round the corner, a minister from the BJP has written to the Election Commission seeking a ban on ‘Padmavati’ till the elections are over. It is your (BJP) government, write to the PM (sic),” Gohil said. The Congress leader added: “Postponing the release of the movie will not assuage the feelings of a community. We demand that if there has been distortion of history as some people have claimed, the movie should not be released at all.”

What is hilarious, though also disturbing, about the controversy over Padmavati is the fact that the “historical accuracy” that opponents of the film have been talking about is itself highly suspect. Several noted historians have rubbished the claims put forth by a section of self-anointed Rajput and Hindu scholars with regard to the siege of Chittor and the characters of Rani Padmavati (depicted in the film by Deepika Padukone) and Raja Rattan Singh (portrayed by Shahid Kapoor).

The character of Rani Padmavati was a creation of the 16th Century Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi who is known for his epic poem Padmavat. Written around 1540 AD, Padmavat introduced the character of Rani Padmavati to history. The legend that Alauddin Khilji got smitten by the beauty of the brave and immensely beautiful queen Padmavati and laid siege on Chittor to capture her was Jayasi’s creation – it was written over 200 years after Khilji’s actual conquest of Chittor in Rajasthan. In the years after 1540, the legend was strengthened by Hindu and Kshatriya scholars to establish Rani Padmavati as a ‘real historical character’ though her existence doesn’t really find any mention in the texts of the time when Chittor was actually conquered by Khilji.

Yet, the theatrical revival of the legend of Padmavati has caused a flutter in India today, leaving radical Hindu and Kshatriya groups riled. While Bhansali himself was attacked by goons of the Hindu right-wing outfit Karni Sena in January this year during the making of the film, in October members of the same fringe outfit destroyed a Surat-based local artist’s painstaking 48-hour-long effort at creating a ‘rangoli’ depicting Deepika Padukone as Padmavati.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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RBI cuts repo rate to 5.25%, paving the way for cheaper loans

The RBI has cut the repo rate to 5.25%, aiming to support growth as inflation softens. The central bank also raised GDP projections and announced liquidity-boosting measures.

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4 hours ago

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December 5, 2025

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Reserve Bank of India

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reduced the key repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25% on Thursday, signalling relief for borrowers as banks are expected to offer lower EMIs on home and vehicle loans. Governor Sanjay Malhotra announced the move after the conclusion of the three-day Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.

RBI prioritises growth as inflation eases

Malhotra said the decision was unanimous, with the central bank choosing to focus on supporting economic momentum despite concerns over a weak rupee. The repo rate was earlier cut in June from 6% to 5.5% amid easing inflation trends.

The RBI now projects Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation at 2% for FY2025-26, significantly softer than earlier estimates. For the first quarter of FY2026-27, inflation is expected at 3.9%, lower than the previous projection. The governor noted that rising precious metal prices may contribute to the headline CPI, but overall risks to inflation remain balanced.

GDP outlook strengthened

In a strong upward revision, the central bank increased the GDP forecast for the current financial year to 7.3%, previously estimated at 6.8%. Growth for the October–December quarter has also been revised to 6.7%.

The last quarter registered a six-quarter high expansion of 8.2%, reflecting resilient demand and steady credit flow.

“The growth-inflation balance continues to offer policy space,” Malhotra said, reiterating that the RBI’s stance remains neutral.

Other key decisions

Alongside the repo rate cut, the RBI announced adjustments to key policy corridors:

  • Standing Deposit Facility (SDF): 5%
  • Marginal Standing Facility (MSF): 5.5%

To improve liquidity and strengthen monetary transmission, the RBI will conduct forex swaps and purchase ₹1 lakh crore worth of government bonds through Open Market Operations (OMO).

RBI reviews a challenging year

Reflecting on 2025, Malhotra said the year delivered strong growth and moderate inflation even as global trade and geopolitical uncertainties persisted. He added that bank credit and retail lending remained healthy, providing support to the economy.

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IndiGo flight chaos deepens as over 500 services cancelled, passengers stranded for hours

Over 500 IndiGo flights were cancelled nationwide, leaving passengers stranded without food, clarity or their luggage as airports struggled to manage the disruption.

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4 hours ago

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December 5, 2025

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IndiGo flight

India’s largest airline continued to face massive operational breakdowns, triggering frustration among travellers at major airports across the country. From piles of unattended suitcases to passengers waiting over 12 hours without food or clarity, the disruption stretched into its fourth consecutive day.

Long delays, no communication leave passengers anguished

Several travellers at Delhi airport described the situation as “mental torture”, as thousands of unclaimed suitcases lay scattered across the terminal. Many slept on the floor, while others expressed anger over the lack of communication from airline staff.

One flier said he had been waiting for over 12 hours without any explanation: “Every time they say one-hour or two-hour delays. We were going to a wedding but don’t even have our luggage.”

A passenger in Hyderabad recounted a similar ordeal, saying the flight was delayed indefinitely with no food, water, or updates from the airline. At the airport, some travellers blocked an Air India flight in protest over the lack of arrangements.

Goa and Chennai airports also witnessed tense moments. Videos from Goa showed fliers shouting at IndiGo staff as police attempted to calm the situation. At Chennai, CISF denied entry to IndiGo passengers due to heavy congestion.

Major metro airports impacted; cascading cancellations nationwide

Flight cancellations and delays were reported across multiple airports:

  • Over 200 flights were cancelled in Delhi
  • More than 100 each in Mumbai and Bengaluru
  • Around 90 in Hyderabad
  • Dozens more in Pune, Vishakhapatnam, Chennai and Bhopal

Pune airport stated that parking bay congestion worsened the situation, as several IndiGo aircraft remained grounded due to lack of crew. Other airlines continued operations without disruption.

Airport authorities said they had mobilised additional manpower for crowd control and passenger support.

IndiGo admits planning lapses, says more cancellations expected

The airline acknowledged a “misjudgment” in assessing crew requirements under revised night-duty norms, which it said created planning gaps. Winter weather and airport congestion further aggravated the crisis.

IndiGo informed the aviation ministry and DGCA that some regulatory changes—such as the shift in night-duty timings and a cap on night landings—have been rolled back temporarily to stabilise operations.

The airline warned that cancellations may continue for another two to three days, and from December 8, schedules will be trimmed to prevent further disruption.

In a message to employees, CEO Pieter Elbers said restoring punctuality would not be an “easy target”.

Airline issues apology amid nationwide frustration

In a late-night statement, IndiGo apologised to customers and industry partners, acknowledging the widespread inconvenience caused by the disruptions. The airline said all teams were working with authorities to bring operations back to normal.

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Delhi to install 305 mist sprayers across 9 major pollution hotspots

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that 305 mist sprayers will be installed across nine pollution hotspots in Delhi, alongside expert-led planning and coordinated measures to reduce dust and biomass-related pollution.

Published

19 hours ago

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December 4, 2025

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Delhi-NCR air quality

The Delhi government has announced a large-scale deployment of mist sprayer technology to tackle rising air pollution, with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta confirming that 305 mist sprayers will be installed across nine pollution hotspots in the capital.

Mist sprayers to curb dust at critical locations

During an inspection at ITO, Gupta said the mist sprayers already operational at the site are performing effectively. She noted that 35 poles at ITO have been fitted with these machines, which are helping suppress dust—a major contributor to air pollution in Delhi.

According to the Chief Minister, trials conducted in certain NDMC areas have shown promising results, reinforcing confidence in the technology.

High-level committee to guide pollution-control measures

Gupta announced the formation of a high-level expert committee that will advise the government on effective measures to reduce pollution. The panel will include senior officials from various departments as well as environmental specialists, including experts from IITs. Officials stated that the committee will receive special powers to implement pollution-mitigation strategies.

Departments directed to repair roads, add greenery

The Chief Minister said departments including PWD, DSIIDC and DDA have been instructed to fix potholes, repair and carpet roads, plant foliage along dividers and islands, and take other measures to reduce pollution sources.

She urged residents to report potholes on the government portal for quicker action.

Appeal to RWAs to prevent biomass burning

To curb winter pollution, Gupta advised Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) to distribute electric heaters to security guards to discourage biomass burning, which significantly contributes to seasonal pollution spikes.

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