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

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9 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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West Bengal government to launch Annapurna scheme from June 1, offering monthly aid of Rs 3,000 to women

The West Bengal government has announced the Annapurna Yojana, providing Rs 3,000 monthly financial assistance to eligible women aged 25–60 starting June 1, 2026. Existing beneficiaries of the older scheme will be automatically migrated subject to verification.

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9 hours ago

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May 27, 2026

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The West Bengal government has officially notified the rollout of the ‘Annapurna Yojana,’ a welfare initiative aimed at providing assured monthly financial assistance of Rs 3,000 to women across the state. Introduced by the Department of Women and Child Development and Social Welfare, the scheme is structured to foster the socio-economic upliftment of women and will officially come into effect on June 1, 2026.

Under this new initiative, financial benefits will be transferred directly into the Aadhaar-linked bank accounts of qualified beneficiaries using the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.

Strict eligibility criteria outlined

According to the official government notification, specific guidelines have been established to determine eligibility for the monthly cash assistance:

  • Target Age Group: Eligible women must be between 25 and 60 years of age.
  • Employment Status: Applicants must not hold permanent government employment or receive a regular salary or pension from the central government, state government, statutory bodies, panchayats, municipalities, local bodies, or government-aided educational institutions.
  • Tax Criteria: Women who are income tax payers are excluded from the scheme.

Automatic migration and scrutiny rules

The new order clarifies that all current beneficiaries of the erstwhile Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme will be automatically migrated to the Annapurna Yojana. However, the transition involves a rigorous filtering process. Individuals identified as deceased, shifted, deleted, or recorded as absentee electors during the SIR-2026 exercise or voter slip distribution will be systematically excluded from the beneficiary list.

On the other hand, individuals who have filed appeals before the SIR Tribunal or submitted applications under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act will continue to receive financial assistance until their applications are legally resolved by authorities.

Application process for new beneficiaries

For fresh applicants, a dedicated online portal for the Annapurna Yojana will be launched on June 1, 2026. To ensure transparency, all new applications will undergo a strict multi-tier verification process by designated local administrative officials:

  • Rural Areas: Block Development Officers (BDOs) will manage the verification and inquiries.
  • Urban Areas: Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) will oversee the process.
  • Kolkata: Officials of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) will handle applications within their jurisdiction.

Following field inquiries, verified reports will be uploaded directly to the digital portal. The respective District Magistrates and the KMC Commissioner will serve as the final sanctioning authorities in their corresponding jurisdictions to approve the disbursement of funds.

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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay travels to New Delhi for first official meeting with PM Narendra Modi

Newly sworn-in Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay embarked on his first official visit to New Delhi to hold a high-level meeting with PM Narendra Modi, focusing on economic aid, fertilizer supply, and water rights disputes.

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10 hours ago

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May 27, 2026

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Tamil Nadu CM Vijay and PM Modi

Marking his maiden official visit to the national capital since assuming office, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday to deliberate on a wide range of state-specific matters. The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief, who led his fledgling party to a historic victory in the recent assembly elections, took the oath of office on May 10. While the Prime Minister had previously extended his congratulations via social media, this marks the first formal in-person meeting between the two leaders.

According to official sources, the Chief Minister departed from Chennai on a chartered flight at 10:00 AM. The high-profile meeting with the Prime Minister is slated for 4:30 PM, where Vijay is expected to submit a comprehensive memorandum outlining Tamil Nadu’s long-pending welfare and developmental demands.

Key state matters on the table

The core of the discussions is expected to center around financial assistance and clearances for major infrastructure projects in the state. Media reports indicate that the Chief Minister will heavily push for additional funds to bankroll ongoing developmental initiatives.

Furthermore, the interstate Mekedatu water dispute remains a high-priority issue. Chief Minister Vijay has already written to the Prime Minister, urging him to instruct the Union Jal Shakti Ministry and the Central Water Commission (CWC) to reject the Detailed Project Report submitted by Karnataka for a reservoir at Mekedatu.

Other critical administrative concerns to be raised include ensuring an uninterrupted supply of fertilizers for the upcoming Kharif farming season and the removal of the 11 percent import duty on cotton to protect the raw material supply chain for the state’s textile industry.

A packed diplomatic itinerary

Accompanied by a team of senior officials and select cabinet colleagues, the Chief Minister’s itinerary extends beyond the Prime Minister’s Office. Vijay is likely to sit down with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to directly advocate for financial backings for key state portfolios.

The new administration has also drawn national interest for its structural innovations, including retaining critical departments under the Chief Minister—such as Home, Police, and Women Welfare—and carving out a dedicated cabinet-level Artificial Intelligence department, making Tamil Nadu only the second state in the country to do so.

Navigating a complex political landscape, the TVK-led government, which holds 108 seats in the assembly and enjoys backing from coalition partners including the Congress, Left parties, VCK, and IUML, is also using this trip to engage with national opposition leaders. Chief Minister Vijay is scheduled to meet Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi during his stay in the capital.

Before wrapping up his tour, the Chief Minister is slated to participate in a cultural event at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), where he will formally inaugurate a statue of the revered Tamil poet-saint Thiruvalluvar installed by the Tamil Nadu government. Sources indicate that Vijay will conclude his official engagements and return to Chennai on Thursday.

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Assam clears Uniform Civil Code bill, becomes third state after Uttarakhand and Gujarat

Assam has officially become the third state in India to pass the Uniform Civil Code bill. The legislation was cleared by the state assembly on Wednesday despite strong objections raised by opposition lawmakers who claimed it impacts minority rights.

Published

11 hours ago

on

May 27, 2026

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The Assam Legislative Assembly on Wednesday passed ‘The Uniform Civil Code, Assam, 2026 Bill’, making it the third state ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to adopt a uniform legal framework after Uttarakhand and Gujarat.

Opposition flags concerns over rights during house debate

The bill was taken up for final passage in the state assembly on Wednesday, sparking a heated discussion among lawmakers. During the legislative floor debate, opposition MLAs strongly voiced their concerns regarding the proposed law, stating that the legislation will hurt and compromise the fundamental rights of a certain section of society.

Despite objections from the opposition benches, the treasury benches cleared the passage of the bill, cementing Assam’s position as the latest state to move away from diverse personal laws in favor of a uniform code. Media reported that the legislative move follows extensive political discussions in the state surrounding civil regulations. With this enactment, Assam joins Uttarakhand and Gujarat, which have previously passed their respective uniform civil codes.

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