While Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh ordered a change in the name of Dalit icon Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar to Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, perhaps a token move to woo Dalits to Hindutva fold, two statues of Dalit icon Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar were vandalised in the state on Friday night and Saturday.
One statue was found with its head chopped off at a park in Allahabad’s Trivenipuram locality on Saturday and the other statue was damaged in Siddharthnagar district’s Gohaniya village on Friday night, said media reports.
Locals found the head lying a few feet from the statue in the park in Trivenipuram early on Saturday morning, police said. “We are aware of the matter and are trying to locate the suspects,” said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Allahabad Aakash Kulhari, according to media reports. He said a case has been registered and ruled out any tension in the area following the incident.
Local BSP and SP leaders and supporters gathered at the park staging a protest, demanding the culprits be arrested. Recently elected Phulpur MP Nagender Singh Patel also reached the spot on Saturday morning, reported the Indian Express.
Close on the heels of this, another Ambedkar statue vandalisation was reported from Gohaniya village in Siddharthnagar. The hand and nose of the statue were broken by unknown miscreants last night. This makes it fourth such incident in the state in March.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath said that stern action will be taken against the miscreants who vandalised the statues. The acts of vandalism continue in the state despite Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issuing a directive to all senior district officials to ensure the security of statues of eminent personalities.
Earlier, an Ambedkar statue was vandalised in Rajapatti village in Azamgarh on March 10. Before that, miscreants had targeted an Ambedkar statue in Meerut.
Dalit groups last week lashed out at the UP government for trying to appropriate Ambedkar’s name while reminding the saffron party that Ambedkar had in fact shunned Hinduism because of the divisive caste system.
BSP chief Mayawati had demanded that those disturbing peace and harmony by vandalising statues should be booked under the sedition law. She also demanded security for statues and memorials built in the memory of icons, especially those of Dalits and other backward classes.
A spate of vandalising statues started after a statue of Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin was brought down in Tripura after the BJP registered a thumping victory in the state Assembly elections. A statue of social reformer Periyar was vandalised in Tamil Nadu’s Vellore district and a bust of Jan Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee was blackened in Kolkata’s Kalighat.
The Home Ministry issued a directive to states to deal with such incidents strictly as did the UP CM Yogi Adityanath to his district police and administrative officers.
The much-anticipated teaser for L2: Empuraan, the second chapter of the planned trilogy directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, has been unveiled, offering a glimpse of a darker, more brutal narrative. Starring Malayalam cinema legend Mohanlal, the film continues the story of Stephen Nedumpally, also known as Khureshi Ab’raam, a character that mesmerized audiences in Lucifer.
The teaser debuted at a grand event attended by the film’s key players, including Mohanlal, Prithviraj, and Mammootty, who released the teaser in style. Clocking in at 143 seconds, the preview immediately sets a grim tone, beginning in Qaraqosh, a war-torn town in Iraq. The atmosphere is tense, underscored by the chilling phrase, “Death to the Evil.”
One of the standout moments in the teaser recalls PK Ramdas (Sachin Khedekar) advising Priyadarshini (Manju Warrier) in the first film: “If one day you feel everything is falling apart and I’m not around, the only person you can turn to is Stephen.” This sentiment reverberates through the teaser as it shifts to Stephen’s iconic black Ambassador car, now layered with dust—an ominous sign of his long absence.
The suspense builds as a voice declares, “He leads the most powerful mercenary group in Asia,” introducing audiences to Stephen’s transformation into a figure commanding immense influence and fear. The teaser’s climactic moments highlight Mohanlal’s commanding return as Khureshi Ab’raam, warning of the perils of dealing with the devil.
Star-Studded Cast and Stellar Crew
Joining Mohanlal in this cinematic spectacle are Manju Warrier, Indrajith Sukumaran, Tovino Thomas, and others reprising their roles from Lucifer. The film also features Saniya Iyappan, Saikumar, Baiju Santhosh, Fazil, and Sachin Khedekar in key roles.
The story, penned by Murali Gopy, is brought to life with the expertise of cinematographer Sujith Vaassudev, editor Akhilesh Mohan, and composer Deepak Dev, whose score amplifies the teaser’s intensity.
As the teaser hints at power struggles, deceit, and vengeance, L2: Empuraan sets the stage for an explosive continuation of this gripping saga, leaving fans eagerly awaiting its release.
The Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education (MSBTE) has officially announced the results for the Winter 2024 diploma exams. Students who appeared for these exams, held in December 2024, can now access their results on MSBTE’s official website, msbte.org.in.
To check the MSBTE Winter Exam Result 2025, candidates must have their enrollment or seat numbers ready. The results are accessible via a direct link available on the website.
Navigate to the “Examination” section and click on “Winter 2024 Exam Result.”
Enter your enrollment number or seat number in the required fields.
Click on the “Show Result” button to view your marksheet.
Download and save the PDF for future reference.
Details mentioned on the MSBTE Winter Diploma results:
The MSBTE Winter Diploma Marksheet 2025 includes the following information:
Student’s name
Register number
Course name
Marks obtained in each subject
Subject codes and names
Total marks
Maximum marks
Result status (Pass/Fail)
The announcement is crucial for diploma students across Maharashtra as it determines their academic progress and eligibility for future courses or career opportunities.
Students are advised to verify all details on their marksheets and contact the board in case of discrepancies. For further updates, visit the official MSBTE website.
The Waqf Amendment Bill is poised for a final vote on January 29 in the Joint Parliamentary Committee. The committee had been tasked with reviewing the bill by November 29, which was then extended to February 13, approved 14 changes to the draft. The 44 amendments proposed by the Opposition were rejected by its chairman BJP MP Jagadambika Pal.
The Opposition had accused the BJP of bias in several sittings of the committee leading to the suspension of several MPs, including Kalyan Banerjee of Trinamool Congress and Asaduddin Owaisi of the AIMIM, both vocal critics of the Bill.
The Opposition MPs had also written to Speaker Om Birla against Pal, saying he was rushing the Bill to gain political mileage ahead of the Delhi Assembly election due to be held on February 5.
Earlier, reports had said Banerjee had broken a glass during a verbal altercation while in deliberations with BJP MP and former Calcutta HC judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay.
The Bill aims to reform Waqf Board administration, mandating the inclusion of non-Muslim and women members. The Central Waqf Council’s composition would also change, incorporating a Union minister, MPs, ex-judges, and individuals of national repute, regardless of religious affiliation. Crucially, the Council’s land acquisition powers would be removed. A controversial clause restricts donations to Muslims practicing their faith for at least five years, prompting concerns about religious freedom.
While proponents claim the bill empowers Muslim women and children, critics, including the Congress and the DMK, allege it infringes upon Articles 15 and 30 of the Constitution, which guarantee freedom of religion and the right of minorities to administer educational institutions. The final report is expected by January 31.
APN News is today the most watched and the most credible and respected news channel in India. APN has been at the forefront of every single news revolution. The channel is being recognized for its in-depth, analytical reportage and hard hitting discussions on burning issues; without any bias or vested interests.