India News
“Every state government has the resources to stop such protests”
Mudda looks for a solution after fringe groups go on rampage in six states opposing Padmaavat release, decides that authorities are to blame as they have chosen to play silent witness
Protestors all over India went on a rampage following the release of the film, Padmaavat. Though the Supreme Court struck down the ban imposed by four states (Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana) on the film’s release, it was still not screened in any of the multiplexes there. Vandalism and violence were reported in Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. Members of fringe groups also attacked a school bus in Gurugram on Wednesday.
Thursday’s edition of the Mudda, APN’s daily current affairs show discussed the issue. Moderated by Akshay Tripathi, the guests were Justice AN Mittal, former chief justice of Allahabad High Court, Supreme Court advocate JP Dhanda, CPI leader Ameer Haider Zaidi, BJP spokesperson Ashok Thakur, Congress spokesperson Onkar Nath Singh, film director Vandana Kohli, Kshatriya Mahasahba President Pradeep Singh Babboo, Karni Sena spokesperson Vijender Singh and consulting editor of APN Govind Pant Raju.
Vijender Singh said the video of the mobs attacking a school bus in Gurugram is a fake video. He said: “Media is circulating false news and tarnishing the image of the Karni Sena. Please verify the authenticity of the video. The Rajputs are not involved in this incident. They can never do such thing.”
Ameer Haider Zaidi alleged that the video of the school bus attack is a video from Afghanistan. He added: “Neither the state government or the Central government knows anything about the video. Secondly what actions can we take against the governments that are going against the Supreme Court’s order. States not being able to maintain law and order proves the failure of the state governments. I think some fringe groups who are related to terrorist groups are behind the violence. And, by going forward with the release of the film, Bhansali has given them a reason to do so.”
Ashok Thakur also blamed the media for circulating false news that is sullying the good image of the BJP. He said the BJP is with the SC.
Onkar Nath Singh asked why Haryana’s Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar is silent on the whole issue. He said: “After a PIL was filed in the Supreme Court stating that the Rajputs werebeing misrepresented in the movie, it had asked film critics and journalists to see the movie and file a detailed report. Seeing the report, the apex court had told the director to continue shooting. There is some rule of law. I am a Rajput (Kshatriya) too and I am ashamed to be so. I condemn the attack on the school bus.”
Pradeep Singh Babboo however condemned the attack and said if any Rajput was involved in it, it is shameful for our community. But if they are protesting peacefully, the Supreme Court should not interfere in it, he added.
Justice AN Mittal said: “I think this protests are sponsored. They are taking the cover of the Karni Sena to achieve some ill. I want to ask these protestors why they have never protested when women, Brahmins or Vaishyas etc were shown in a degrading manner in films. There are reasonable restrictions too in a film director’s freedom but these protests are just baseless.”
Vandana Kohli said the people who are protesting have no idea what has been shown in the movie. She said: “After the screening everybody said there has been no misrepresentation of the Rajputs. The ‘aan, baan, shaan’ (pride) of the Rajputs have been aptly portrayed. I don’t understand why they are protesting. After the name was changed to Padmaavat, it has been made clear that the movie is based on an epic. As a law abiding citizen I think what is happening is wrong.”
JP Dhanda blamed the state governments for failing to maintain law and order. He said: “Every state government has the power and resources to stop such protests. They are choosing to be silent. The government should deal with it with a heavy hand and should not let it escalate. The story of queen Padmavati has been shown in good light. I request the Karni Sena to take the film in a happy spirit.”
Govind Pant Raju quoted reports that stated that no misrepresentation of the Rajputs have been done in the movie. He strongly criticised the BJP spokesperson for calling the public responsible for such vandalism.
-Compiled by Usha Rani Das
India News
Uttar Pradesh: Train climbs on platform at Mathura railway station, woman injured
Chief Public Relations Officer of North Central Railways, Himanshu Shekhar affirmed that a high level inquiry would be conducted into the unusual incident.
In a tragic incident, a train climbed on the platform at Mathura railway station. According to reports, a woman sustained minor injuries when a local train climbed onto a platform at the Mathura Junction Railway Station on Wednesday.
An official concerned to the matter asserted that the Railways has ordered a high-level inquiry into the matter. According to the official from Agra division, the electric multiple unit (EMU) train arrived on platform 2A from Shakurbasti at 10.50 pm on Tuesday. The official narrated that after all the passengers, including the crew, had deboarded, the train rolled down the track and climbed onto a platform before coming to a stop.
Divisional commercial manager and public relations officers for the Agra division of the North Central Railways said that a woman received an electric shock and no one else was injured in the incident. The woman has been identified as Usha Devi (39). She is from Jhansi. After the accident, she was taken to a hospital and administered first aid. Following that, she was sent to Jhansi. Reportedly, few trains on the upline were affected.
Chief Public Relations Officer of North Central Railways, Himanshu Shekhar affirmed that a high level inquiry would be conducted into the unusual incident. The movement of the trains on all platforms except platform 2A is normal, the officials mentioned. Earlier, train traffic was affected after an overhead equipment (OHE) snapped.
In another incident, a 12-year-old boy based out of West Bengal’s Malda transformed his red shirt into a flag to signal the loco-pilot about the broken track the train was heading to, averting a possible accident. Following, the pilot reacted immediately and applied the emergency brake.
The incident took place last Sunday, close to the Bhakula road. Northeast Frontier Railway officials underlined that the boy waved his red shirt to an approaching train packed full of passengers after spotting a damaged track.
India News
BJP’s Shahnawaz Hussain suffers cardiac arrest, admitted to Lilavati Hospital
While giving information about the health of BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain, Doctor Jalil Parkar of Lilavati Hospital said that he was admitted to Lilavati Hospital after cardiac arrest. He told that Shahnawaz Hussain has suffered a heart attack. After this the doctors performed his angioplasty.
Former Union Minister and BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain has suffered a heart attack. According to reports BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain suffered a cardiac arrest in the evening. After which he has been admitted to Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai. Shahnawaz Hussain is the national spokesperson of BJP and he has also been the Industry Minister in Bihar Government.
While giving information about the health of BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain, Doctor Jalil Parkar of Lilavati Hospital said that he was admitted to Lilavati Hospital after cardiac arrest. He told that Shahnawaz Hussain has suffered a heart attack. After this the doctors performed his angioplasty.
He was one of the youngest Union Ministers in Atal Bihar Vajpayee’s Cabinet. The BJP leader held several portfolios, including Minister of State, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Minister of State, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Coal, Minister of Civil Aviation and Minister of Textiles during Vajpayee regime.
Shahnawaz Hussain suffered a major setback when he had to face defeat in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Earlier in 2006, BJP had brought him to Parliament through by-election. After the defeat in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the party did not even give tickets in the 2019 elections. The seat from which Shahnawaz Hussain contested was given to JDU by BJP. However, JDU was a part of NDA at that time.
In the 2020 assembly elections in Bihar, BJP had fielded Shahnawaz Hussain for the Legislative Council elections. Shahnawaz Hussain was successful in winning and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made him the Industries Minister. However, in 2022, BJP suffered a major setback when Nitish Kumar’s party JDU broke ties with NDA and formed the government with RJD.
Shahnawaz Hussain, who once enjoyed power, is now seen in the role of opposition in the Bihar Legislative Council. Bihar is the home state of Shahnawaz Hussain and Supaul is his home district.
India News
Students hold protest in Manipur after photos of two dead students surface online
The protesting students tried to march towards Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s residence
Hundreds of students took to the streets in Manipur’s capital, Imphal to protest against the brutal murder of two students by suspected armed men. The students demanded justice for the victims. According to reports, photos of two students, who apparently have been decapitated, have gone viral across the social media platforms.
The protesting students tried to march towards Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s residence, after which security forces used tear gas shells and smoke bombs in an effort to disperse the crowd. Reportedly, multiple students were injured and they were hurried to the hospital for medical treatment.
The photos that have gone viral show two students, a 17-year-old girl and a 20-year-old boy, sitting at the grassy compound in what appears to be a makeshift jungle camp of an armed group.The girl is seen in a white shirt and the boy in a checked shirt holding a backpack. Behind them, two armed men were clearly visible.
In the next viral photo, their bodies are seen slumped on the ground. According to reports, as the girl was a minor, officials concerned to the matter are looking into the allegations of rape, before she was murdered.
Meanwhile, N Biren Singh led Manipur government has asked the people of the northeastern state to exercise restraint and allow authorities to investigate the kidnapping and killing of both the students. In a statement issued by the secretariat of Chief Minister N Biren Singh late on Monday night, the state government asserted that the case has been already handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
In addition, the government also assured the public that swift and decisive action will be taken against all those involved in the crime. The statement further underlined that the government was committed to ensuring justice for the murdered students and severe punishment on any perpetrators found responsible for this heinous crime.
