Shashi Tharoor’s ‘shandaar’ jibe at Uttar Pradesh draws flak from BJP

New Delhi, June 23, 2024
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor found himself at the receiving end of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over his social media post on the ‘viral definition’ of Uttar Pradesh.

Tharoor’s dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi in context of Uttar Pradesh drew a sharp reaction from the BJP as many leaders took turns to slam the Congress leader, even labeling him as ‘repeat offender’.

The row broke out over Tharoor sharing a viral post relating to Uttar Pradesh along with Q&A.

The question read: “Uttar Pradesh kise kehte hain? (Define Uttar Pradesh.)”

The answer read: “A state where uttar (referring to answers) are known before the exam.”

Shashi Tharoor commented on the post as “shandaar” and added the hashtag “Pariksha pe charcha”, taking a jibe at PM Modi’s initiative to interact with students during examinations.

Union Minister Jitin Prasada and a prominent UP leader, in reply to Tharoor’s post, said: “I don’t see the humour in running down my state and its people by stereotyping them with such condemnable remarks. Such an insult to UP is deplorable and must be condemned in strongest words.

Rajeev Chandrashekhar, former Union Minister in Modi 2.0 Cabinet, wrote on X: “Shameless crass politics of shaming other fellow Indians – that’s the Congress way, ably demonstrated by this self-titled Global citizen.

It was just a few months ago, another of Cong ‘global citizens’ Pitroda described Indians as Africans, Chinese, Middle Eastern, etc., Runs deep in the Cong DNA, this type of superiority complex.”

BJP’s national spokesperson C.R. Kesavan described Tharoor as a ‘repeat offender’ and said: “Earlier, Shashi Tharoor gravely insulted our North East brothers and sisters by ridiculing their traditional attire as outlandish.

To belittle a serious issue, implying that the state of UP is a state of cheaters is indefensible and unpardonable. Splattering fancy English words does not necessarily make one civil and dignified.”

Rajasthan Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said: “Shashi, you having to resort to frivolity!! And in doing so condemning people of an entire state? You don’t see UP as yours, since you are deriding it. How I see Kerala is it’s my state, it’s my people. Bright, young, dynamic Keralites have served with me in the Army and rubbed shoulders with me in Team India.”

“When a person of your stature and intelligence mocks a state, why wouldn’t others do? And then what!! Remember your oath and responsibility:- ‘Jana-gana-mana-adhinayaka Jaya he Bharat-bhagya-vidhata’,” he added.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote: “This gentleman frequently indulges in satirising various cultures (first Northeast and now UP) with remarkably caustic words. He has succumbed to the beguiling whispers of lunacy, his mind adrift in the ethereal mists of derangement.”(Agency)

IMA hails CBI probe into NEET-UG irregularities, urges swift action

New Delhi, June 23, 2024
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Sunday welcomed the Centre’s decision to transfer the investigation into alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG exam to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Earlier in the day, the government ordered a CBI investigation into the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2024.

The IMA congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Health Minister J.P. Nadda, and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for their prompt response to their concerns regarding the exam controversies.

“We extend our gratitude to the Ministry of Education for transferring the investigation of the ‘irregularities’ in the NEET UG examination to the CBI for a thorough probe,” said the apex healthcare body.

The IMA further said it is thankful to the government for removing the Director General of the NTA, Subodh Kumar Singh, and assigning additional responsibility to Pradeep Kumar Kharola as his successor.

“We appreciate the government for enacting stringent laws to address ‘malpractice and irregularities’ in competitive examinations,” said the IMA.

In cases of organised crime involving examination authorities, service providers, or other institutions, offenders may face imprisonment of up to 10 years and a minimum fine of Rs 1 crore.

“The present students are the future of India, and it is crucial that important competitive examinations are conducted with the utmost diligence and confidentiality,” said the IMA, urging the government to take swift action to ensure that counselling for admission in medical, dental, and other courses begins on time.(Agency)

Mandhana records most runs by Indian woman in bilateral ODI series

Bengaluru, June 23, 2024
In-form opener Smriti Mandhana created history on Sunday after smashing 90 runs against South Africa in the third ODI to record the most runs by an Indian woman in the bilateral ODI series.

Mandhana amassed 343 runs in the three-match series as she continued her dominating run in the final match following consecutive centuries in the first two games. She broke former India batter Jaya Sharma’s record of 308 runs in five innings against New Zealand in 2003-04.

The left-handed batter became the first Indian woman to achieve the feat of scoring back-to-back centuries. She missed out on becoming the second player in the world to hit three successive hundred in ODI format.

Currently, Mandhana is the second-highest run-getter in the ODIs for India with 3585 runs including seven centuries and 25 fifties.

Opting to bat first, captain Laura Wolvaardt’s 61 couple with Tazmin Brits’ 38 guided them to 215/8 in 50 overs.

For India, Deepti Sharma and Arundhati Reddy bagged two scalps each while Shreyanka Patil and Pooja Vastrakar bagged one dismissal apiece.

In the chase, Harmanpreet Kaur contributed 42 while Jemimah Rodrigues remained unbeaten on 19 as India went over the line in style with Richa Ghosh’s six over long-on.

India whitewashed South Africa 3-0 with a six-wicket win in 40.4 overs.(Agency)

Sonakshi, Zaheer are officially wife and husband; scene shifts to all-night party

Mumbai, June 23, 2024
Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal are officially husband and wife, now that they have completed all the legal formalities related to a civil marriage.

The marriage, which was formalised at Sonakshi’s sprawling sea-facing, 26-floor apartment in Bandra West, was attended by friends and relatives from both sides, including her parents — Bollywood veteran and newly-elected Lok Sabha MP from Asansol, Shatrughan Sinha, and his wife, Poonam — and her close friend as well as ‘Double XL’ co-star Huma Qureshi.

The newly-weds posted their first pictures as husband and wife instantly after their intimate wedding. Taking to social media, the lovebirds dropped the first glimpses of their wedding looks.

Sonakshi can be seen wearing an ivory-and-golden saree. She opted for a minimal makeup look and accessorised with a kundan choker necklace, matching earrings and bangles.

Her hair is tied in a neat bun with gajra on it. She has minimal mehendi on her hands.

Zaheer, meanwhile, looked dapper in a white sherwani.

In the pictures, Zaheer is seen kissing the hand of Sonakshi, while she is smiling from ear to ear.

Another picture shows Shatrughan Sinha holding his daughter’s hand, as she signs the wedding papers.

The post’s caption reads: “On this very day, seven years back (23.06.2017) in each other’s eyes, we saw love in its purest form and decided to hold on to it. Today that love has guided us through all the challenges and triumphs… leading up to this moment … with the blessings of both our families and both our gods.”

It ended with: “We are now man and wife. Here’s to love, hope and all things beautiful with each other, from now until forever.”

Following their marriage, the newly-weds sent sweets to the paparazzi stationed outside with a heartfelt message that read, “Thank you for showering us with so much love, happiness and kindness on the most important day of our lives! Your support and wishes mean the world to us. Lots of love, Sonakshi and Zaheer.”

With the legal formalities for the civil marriage completed, public attention has moved to the reception venue, Bastian, the Asian-inspired modernist restaurant on Linking Road in Mumbai.

Among the early arrivals at the restaurant were Aditi Rao Hydari (‘Bibbojaan’), Sonakshi’s ‘Heeramandi’ co-star, and her fiance (and South Indian star) Siddharth.

Zaheer’s ‘Ruslaan’ cast mate, Aayush Sharma, the brother-in-law of Salman Khan, who played Cupid to the newly-weds, was among the early arrivals as well.

Manisha Koirala, the ‘Heeramandi’ diva, sent flowers to convey her best wishes because she could not attend the wedding as a result of prior commitments.

For Sunday night’s party, the theme is black and red, and a team of decorators at work in Bastian arranged an array of red flowers and rolled out the red carpet.

DJ Ganesh, who’s known for his eclectic choice of music, will be performing live at the reception.

The rooftop restaurant, incidentally, was founded in 2014 by Ranjit Bindra, Shilpa Shetty and Kunal Jani, and is helmed by Suvir Saran, celebrity chef and founder of the now-closed Michelin-starred restaurant Devi in New York.

Sonakshi and Zaheer, the man she lovingly describes as her ‘personal psycho’, have been dating for the past seven years. Salman, who gave Sonakshi her Bollywood break in the action-comedy ‘Dabbang’ (2010), played Cupid.

Zaheer, too, made his debut in a Salman Khan-produced film — ‘Notebook’ — where he was cast opposite another newbie, Pranutan Bahl, daughter of actor Mohnish Bahl, and granddaughter of Nutan.

It is said that Salman introduced Sonakshi to Zaheer on the sets of ‘Notebook’ in 2017.(Agency)

Punjab Speaker Sandhwan felicitates Hockey Players with cash prizes

Chandigarh, June 23, 2024 (Yes Punjab News)

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan honored Chandigarh hockey players with cash prizes during the Olympic Day and Felicitation Ceremony. These players had represented Indian hockey teams in international tournaments and brought laurels to the city and Hockey Chandigarh.

Mr. Sandhwan announced a grant of Rupees five lakh to Hockey Chandigarh, an affiliated unit of Hockey India, acknowledging the players’ outstanding performance that illuminated the city’s name on various international platforms.

The ceremony, held annually by Hockey Chandigarh, includes an exhibition match this year, aligning with global celebrations under FIH guidelines. The event recognizes players with cash awards for their exceptional performance.

Trident Stallions in semi-finals of Sher-e-Punjab T20 Cup

Mohali, June 23, 2024 (Yes Punjab News)

Trident Stallions have also booked a ticket to the semi-finals in Season-2 of the Sher-e-Punjab T20 Cup. In the ninth league match, Trident defeated Intersoft Titans by 8 wickets to secure their place in the knockout.

Abhay Choudhary played an unbeaten innings of 102 runs off 52 balls, while Gurnoor Brar took 3 wickets. This is the team’s sixth win in 9 matches and the team is third in the points table with 12 points.

In the match played at IS Bindra International Cricket Stadium, the captain of Trident Stallions won the toss and decided to bowl first. Pukhraj Mann came out to open for the Titans and hit aggressive shots. He could only score 20 runs in 7 balls and Gurwinder got him out. After this, the Trident bowlers did not give anyone a chance to recover.

In the middle order, Jashanpreet Singh contributed 25, Emanjot Singh 22 and Abhinav Sharma 20 runs to take the score to 145/9 in 20 overs. Fast bowler Siddharth Kaul scored an unbeaten 18 runs in 11 balls.

Gurnoor Brar was once again the most successful bowler from Trident Stallions. He got rid of 3 batsmen by giving 32 runs in 4 overs and Aryaman Singh took 2 wickets by giving just 12 runs in 4 overs. Gurwinder Singh also took 2 wickets, while Jass Inder Singh and Dhruv Mittal took 1-1 wickets.

In response, Abhay Choudhary played aggressive shots for the Trident Stallions, but captain Prabhsimran Singh lost his wicket on 18 runs. Aryan Sharma could also score only 6 runs, but Salil Arora supported him. Abhay Choudhary kept the pace of runs going. He scored an unbeaten 102 runs in 52 balls with the help of 11 fours and 5 sixes.

Abhay scored an important century for the team while batting at a strike rate of 196.15. Salil returned unbeaten after scoring 18 runs and both of them ensured the team’s victory by losing 2 wickets in 15.2 overs.

The bowlers of Intersoft Titans could not make an impact and Trident’s opener Abhay kept scoring runs continuously. Emanjot Singh and Yuvraj Singh did take 1-1 wickets, but both the bowlers proved to be expensive.

Patiala Police launches “Mission Sahyog” to strengthen fight against drugs

Patiala, June 23, 2024 (Yes Punjab News)

In a significant step towards eradicating the menace of drugs from the region amidst the ongoing anti-drug awareness campaign as per the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Patiala Police on Sunday launched an innovative initiative “Mission Sahyog” aimed at enhancing coordination between Police and Public in the fight against drugs.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Patiala Range Harcharan Singh Bhullar accompanied by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Patiala Varun Sharma held a meeting with committee members— also referred as Police Sahyogi— comprising Sarpanches of various villages and other dedicated community enthusiasts in the presence of key stakeholders including sub-divisional Police Officers and Station House Officers (SHOs).

Notably, the state government has enforced a three-pronged strategy— Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP)— to root out drugs from the state.

Divulging details, DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar said that Mission Sahyog provides a dynamic platform for the Police-Public Coordination Committee to engage in activities that foster cooperation and collective action against drug-related issues.

“The initiative underscores the importance of community involvement in addressing this critical challenge and seeks to harness the collective strength of the police force and the public to create a drug-free environment,” he added.

The DIG said that Mission Sahyog is not just a program, it is a movement that aims to bring together the police and the public in a united front against drugs. “We believe that with strong community involvement, we can make significant strides in our mission,” he said.

SSP Varun Sharma said that during the conference a comprehensive 360-degree feedback session was conducted, allowing stakeholders to share their insights and suggestions.

The mission and vision of Mission Sahyog has been articulated, emphasising a collaborative approach where every member of the community plays a vital role in the initiative’s success, he added.

The SSP said that a feedback system is already in place in Patiala and anyone can feel free to provide information to the Patiala Police. “Anyone providing any kind of information or tip will be kept confidential,” he said, while adding that the Patiala Police will also reward the person if his information leads to any drug recovery.

Meanwhile, all the officers present in the meeting has highlighted the strategic importance of community participation in combating drug abuse and reaffirmed the commitment of the Police to support and work alongside community members.

The conference concluded with a renewed pledge from all participants to work relentlessly towards making Patiala a safer and drug-free district.

Nagaland CM tells state’s AG to intervene as 45 Naga youth detained in Punjab

Kohima, June 23, 2024
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio asked the state’s Advocate General to personally intervene in the matter related to the detention of 45 Naga youth in Punjab, an official said on Sunday.

A Nagaland government official said that the Chief Minister discussed the issue of detention of 45 Naga youth at the Mohali Jail in Punjab with state’s Advocate General K.N. Balgopal, and directed him to personally intervene.

Rio asked the Advocate General to depute his team to take urgent necessary actions for the release of the “innocent Naga youths who were falsely implicated”.

The official said that the Chief Minister also directed the Resident Commissioner in-charge of Nagaland House in Delhi to be in touch with the families of the “Naga youths” and extend to them all necessary assistance.

The parents and relatives of the Naga youth have been requested to contact the Nagaland government to provide all information and cooperation for getting the Naga youth released, an official said.

Nagaland’s officials, meanwhile, could not give details about the detention of the Naga youths in Punjab.

Local media, however, reported that 45 Naga youths were apprehended in Chandigarh at midnight of May 14, as they were accused of duping American citizens by posing as agents of major corporations including Amazon, Apple, Microsoft.

These arrests occurred after the Punjab Police busted two fake call centres, the media reports stated.(Agency)

Aamir Khan visits Sevagram in Maharashtra; says ‘thoughts of Bapuji had a great influence on me’

Mumbai, June 23, 2024
Bollywood’s perfectionist Aamir Khan on Sunday visited Sevagram in Maharashtra for the first time, and said how he has been an ardent follower of Mahatama Gandhi while also underlining the Father of the Nation’s influence on him.

Sevagram, located in Maharashtra, is the place of Mahatma Gandhi’s ashram, and his residence from 1936 till his death in 1948.

After Sabarmati, Sevagram Ashram holds immense importance as the residence of Mahatma Gandhi is located there.

Talking to mediapersons, Aamir, said: “I have come for the first time in Sevagram. There is a magical energy over here. I have been a follower of Bapuji, and his thoughts had a great influence on me.

I am very happy that I have come to a place where he has spent time and days. The things he had used… seeing them felt great which I can’t express in words. It’s a really wonderful place.”

Aamir, who first appeared on the screen at the age of eight in the 1973 movie ‘Yaadon Ki Baaraat’, marked his leading role opposite Juhi Chawla in the 1988 tragic romance ‘Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak’.

He then went on to star in movies like ‘Dil’, ‘Afsana Pyaar Ka’, ‘Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar’, ‘Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke’, ‘Andaz Apna Apna’, ‘Rangeela’, ‘Akele Hum Akele Tum’, ‘Raja Hindustani’, ‘Ishq’, ‘Ghulam’, ‘Sarfarosh’, ‘Rang De Basanti’, ‘Taare Zameen Par’, ‘Fanaa’.

Aamir has also delivered more hits, like ‘Dhoom 3’, and ‘PK’. However, his movies like ‘Thugs of Hindostan’, ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’ received mixed reviews from critics.

The actor recently produced ‘Laapataa Ladies’. The comedy drama is directed by his ex-wife Kiran Rao. It stars Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastava, Chhaya Kadam and Ravi Kishan, and tells the story of two young newly-wed brides who get exchanged during a train ride to their husband’s homes.

He next as ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ in the pipeline.

The sports drama is directed by R.S. Prasanna, and produced by Aamir and Kiran.(Agency)

Why more Indians are getting head and neck cancers

New Delhi, June 23, 2024
Increased consumption of tobacco and related products are driving head and neck cancer cases in India, said health experts on Sunday.

Head and neck cancer includes cancers in the tongue, mouth, and other parts of the pharynx like oropharynx, nasopharynx, hypopharynx, salivary glands, nasal cavity, larynx (voice box), etc.

“The prominent cause of oral cavity cancers is having tobacco and tobacco-related products, betel nuts and smoking, alcohol. Sometimes HPV infections also contribute to it,” Pritam Kataria, Consultant, Medical Oncology, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, told IANS.

To cut down the head and neck cancers, the expert called for “strict regulations regarding the tobacco and tobacco-related products and on the intake of alcohol”.

“If the tobacco and related products are taken off, the majority of the head and neck cancer incidents will come down in the end. That’s a big challenge, because the awareness among the masses, and changing behaviour are some of the difficult aspects of cancer prevention,” Pritam said.

Accounting for 30 per cent of all cancer cases, head and neck cancer is the most common in India and its burden is higher in the country than in the US, UK, Australia, Africa and Brazil.

In India, the number of cancer cases is rising. According to GLOBOCAN 2020, there will be 2.1 million new cancer cases in India by 2040, an increase of 57.5 per cent from 2020.

To curb the problem, Prathmesh Pai, Director and surgeon, Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Head and Neck Cancer Institute of India stressed the need to raise public awareness of the harms of tobacco, betelnut, and alcohol.

“Engage the parents and schools to prevent the adoption of these habits by the youth, public campaigns to ban the sale of tobacco, betelnut, and alcohol to the youth, ban production and sale of tobacco, betel nut, and alcohol,” he told IANS.(Agency)