English हिन्दी
Connect with us

India News

Fake News factory at work attributes malicious message to actor Farhan Akhtar

Published

on

Fake News factory at work attributes malicious message to actor Farhan Akhtar

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The latest in fake news about Kasganj is one circulated on social media, involving  Bollywood actor Farhan Akhtar, attributing to him a message he never posted.

Kasganj riots set off a spate of misleading reports, intended to inflame passions against Muslims and portraying them as opposed to Republic Day celebrations and wholly responsible for violence – even after it became clear that (1) it was a ABVP-VHP rally that tried to drive through a lane where the Muslims were celebrating the Republic Day and were in the process of hoisting the national flag (2) they tried to get a saffron flag also hoisted (3) tried to force Muslims to shout Vande Mataram.

Most news coverage kept repeating the line: “clashes happened when the Tiranga Yatra on Republic Day was passing through a Muslim-dominated area”, which is completely misleading.

Another fake news claimed that apart from Chandan Gupta, another Hindu man Rahul Upadhyay had also been killed in the riots. UP Police refuted this and Rahul himself surfaced and said the news was fake.

The attempt to paint Muslims as villains went beyond this when a fake message attributed to actor Farhan Akhtar was circulated on Twitter by a person named Gaurav Pradhan, who is followed on Twitter by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to fake news buster Alt News.

The quote attributed to Akhtar says, “It was Jumma (Friday) on 26th January. Had Hindus not taken tiranga march through muslim majority area of Kasganj and raised provocative slogans like Vande Mataram they couldn’t have been killed”.

FAKE NEWSAccording to the message, the actor is justifying the death of those killed in the communal violence in Kasganj and also calling ‘Vande Mataram’ a provocative slogan.

The said quote is viral on twitter and on facebook, and is being shared in number of pages and groups where Akhtar is described as a ‘jihadi’, said Alt News.

Alt News reported: “Gaurav Pradhan, who tweeted about this, is a repeat offender. He has been caught spreading fake news in the past as well. He is among those who are followed on twitter by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Pradhan tweeted the image with the stamp of Postcard News on it. Postcard News is a leading purveyor of fake news with the objective of inciting communal hatred, and has been exposed on earlier occasions by Alt News.”

Akhtar came out with a clarification, tweeting that he had never said what was being attributed to him by nefarious elements on social media and urged his fans and followers to be cautious about what and what not to believe on social media.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Gaurav Pradhan deleted his tweet after Akhtar’s clarification. However, instead of apologising, he came back with further malicious insinuations.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]”The far-right ecosystem on social media is known to spread mischievous and misleading information time and again, despite being exposed repeatedly. The incessant nature of their campaign is directed at keeping communal tension high, seeking to divide communities through provocative content. Farhan Akhtar is only the latest victim of this malicious propaganda,” said Alt News.

Why Farhan Akhtar? Probably because he too had mocked at Minister of State of Human Resources Development Satyapal Singh’s bizarre comments on Darwin’s theory of evolution: the minister had said it was ‘scientifically worng’ and no one had seen an ape turning into a man![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

Lok Sabha clears bill to levy cess on pan masala and similar goods for health, security funding

The Lok Sabha has passed a bill to impose a cess on pan masala manufacturing units, aiming to create a dedicated revenue source for public health and national security initiatives.

Published

on

Nirmala Sitharaman

The Lok Sabha has approved the Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025, paving the way for a new cess on pan masala manufacturing units. The legislation aims to generate dedicated funds for strengthening national security and improving public health, both areas identified as critical national priorities.

Bill aims to create predictable funding stream

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, responding to the debate before the bill was passed by voice vote, said that the cess will be shared with states because public health falls under the state list.

The new cess will be applied over and above the GST, based on production capacity and machinery used in units manufacturing pan masala and similar goods. The minister clarified that this cess will not affect GST revenue, and that pan masala already attracts the maximum GST slab of 40 per cent.

According to the bill text, the objective is to build a “dedicated and predictable resource stream” to support expenditure related to health and national security.

Sitharaman also mentioned that cess collection as a percentage of gross total revenue currently stands at 6.1 per cent, lower than the 7 per cent average between 2010 and 2014.

Continue Reading

India News

Simone Tata passes away at 95: A look at the visionary who shaped Lakme and modern retail

Simone Tata, the pioneering business leader who built Lakme and helped shape India’s modern retail sector, passed away at 95. Here’s a look at her legacy.

Published

on

simone tata

Ratan Tata’s stepmother and celebrated business leader Simone Tata passed away on December 5, 2025, at the age of 95. Known for her pioneering role in building Lakme and transforming India’s retail landscape, she leaves behind a remarkable legacy that redefined Indian consumer culture.

A legacy that shaped Indian business

Simone Tata, born in Geneva in 1930, first came to India at the age of 23. Two years later, in 1955, she married Naval H. Tata and gradually became an integral part of the Tata family’s business vision. Her journey with the Tata Group began in the 1960s, when she was appointed to Lakme—then under Tata Oil Mills.

Under her leadership, Lakme quickly grew into one of India’s most trusted cosmetic brands. She rose to the position of managing director and later chairperson, introducing global formulations and modernising beauty products for the Indian market. Lakme’s rise was also rooted in a strong national vision—launched on former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s suggestion to reduce foreign exchange spent on imported makeup.

Transforming retail through Trent and Westside

After Lakme was sold to Hindustan Lever Limited in 1966, Simone moved to Trent, where she helped build one of India’s earliest modern retail chains. This later gave birth to Westside, a brand that has become synonymous with contemporary Indian shopping culture.

She also played a key role in philanthropic initiatives, guiding organisations such as the Sir Ratan Tata Institute and supporting cultural and children-focused foundations.

Family, personal life and final farewell

Simone Tata is survived by her son Noel, daughter-in-law Aloo Mistry, and grandchildren Neville, Maya and Leah. She also drew public attention in recent years for being the only member of the Tata family to attend Cyrus Mistry’s funeral, despite the widely known strained ties between the families.

Her funeral will take place on Saturday morning at the Cathedral of the Holy Name Church in Colaba, Mumbai.

Continue Reading

India News

Centre orders probe into IndiGo crisis, expects normal flight operations in three days

Amid record cancellations by IndiGo, the Centre has ordered a high-level inquiry and expects flight schedules to stabilise by Saturday, with full normalcy in three days.

Published

on

indigo

The Centre has initiated a high-level inquiry into the massive disruption of IndiGo’s operations, with the government projecting that flight schedules will begin stabilising by Saturday and full normalisation is expected within three days. The announcement comes as cancellations by the airline crossed 500 for the second consecutive day, severely impacting passengers across major airports.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said the government has directed urgent measures to ensure swift restoration of services. Within minutes of his statement, the aviation regulator DGCA announced the formation of a four-member committee to examine the circumstances leading to the delays and cancellations.

DGCA forms committee as cancellations spark scrutiny

The DGCA said IndiGo was given sufficient time to implement revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), yet the airline recorded the highest number of cancellations in November. The regulator added that the pattern suggested gaps in the carrier’s internal oversight and preparedness, warranting an independent probe.

The committee will review the sequence of events that triggered disruptions and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.

Flight duty rules relaxed; minister defends move

Amid criticism from the Opposition and experts, the DGCA temporarily suspended certain FDTL rules, increasing pilot duty limits from 12 to 14 hours. The changes were widely questioned, with allegations that the government was yielding to pressure from IndiGo.

Naidu defended the decision, stating the move was taken solely to safeguard passengers and that safety standards would not be compromised.
He reiterated that passenger care and convenience remain the top priority.

Assurance of refunds, real-time updates, and support

Highlighting steps taken to ease passenger distress, the minister said airlines must:

  • Provide accurate, real-time updates before travellers leave for airports
  • Initiate automatic refunds for cancelled flights without requiring follow-ups
  • Arrange hotel accommodation for passengers stranded for extended periods

Senior citizens and persons with disabilities have been accorded special priority, including access to lounges and additional assistance. Refreshments and essential services are to be provided to all affected travellers.

Inquiry to determine accountability

The government said the high-level probe will identify what went wrong at IndiGo, establish responsibility, and recommend systemic corrections to ensure such disruptions do not occur again.

Continue Reading

Trending

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com