Women’s commission issues notice to BJP’s Sadhana Singh over remarks against Mayawati

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January 21, 2019

The National Commission for Women has issued a notice to BJP MLA Sadhana Singh and sought explanation for making “extremely offensive and unethical remarks” against BSP supremo Mayawati.

Singh came under stringent criticism from allies and opposition leaders for calling BSP chief Mayawati a “blot on womankind” and “worse than a transgender”.

The Mughalsarai MLA made the controversial remarks at a rally on Saturday while referring to the infamous incident when Mayawati was assaulted by Samajwadi Party workers at a Lucknow guest house in 1995.

Taking suo motu cognisance, the NCW said the remarks made are “extremely offensive, unethical and shows disrespect towards the dignity and respect of women in general”.

“The Commission strongly condemns such irresponsible and disparaging views of persons holding responsible positions. In view of the above, you are hereby required to provide a satisfactory explanation to the Commission on the matter on recept of this notice,” NCW Under Secretary Barnali Shome said.

Gopichand hopes India will get badminton gold at Tokyo Games

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January 21, 2019

Saying that “every year has been better than the previous one”,chief national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand is hopeful that India would clinch its first ever gold medal in the discipline at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“Well, I think every year, in the last few years, has been better than the previous one.

“In 2008 (Beijing Olympics) – the quarterfinal results was the biggest result, in 2012 (London Olympics) we had the first-ever bronze (Saina Nehwal), in 2016 (Rio Olympics) we had the first-ever silver (P V Sindhu) and, hopefully, 2020 (Tokyo Olympics) we will have the first-ever gold,” Gopichand said here Monday.

The former All England champion was speaking after felicitating the seven winners of the IDBI Federal Quest for Excellence #Young Champ programme who will undergo training at the his academy in Hyderabad.

Gopichand said that earlier badminton was remembered for men’s singles players like Nandu Natekar, Suresh Goel and Prakash Padukone, among others, but Saina Nehwal changed the perception.

“Well, yes. For a long time before these girls (referring to Saina Nehwal, P V Sindhu) came out, badminton was primarily remembered for men’s singles players, whether it is Nandu Natekar, Suresh Goel, Prakash (Padukone) Sir or Syed Modi.

“It is how that whole thing was. The change to that (perception) happened (and for that) Saina (Nehwal) was important.

“We needed somebody with that kind of push, hunger, will to win, because (being) the first person to come out and win is very difficult,” the veteran shuttler said.

He heaped praise on Sindhu, saying the 2016 Rio Olympics silver medallist has at least 2 more Olympics left.

“It is great to see what Sindhu has achieved — World Championship medal, Olympic medal and all other medals – and you can still look at her and say ‘she has two Olympics to go at least’, and that is something fantastic,” he noted.

Gopichand said that he was able to pass on the formula for winning to his students at an early age.

“I won the All England (Championship) at 27 and all my life I wish I had won All England at 20, then I would have had so many more years of experience.

“When we were starting off (with coaching), it was my mom’s statement — ‘if you had won early, or if you kids (students) will win early, they will have enough chances to stumble, fall down, tie their laces and move’.

“Because when I realised that I knew the formula for winning, my career was finished.

“So I just wanted to pass it (formula) so that my kids (students) can win at a younger age. And I’m sure I have been successful in that because Sindhu won when she was very young. A lot of my players have won at a young age,” he said.

According to Gopichand, the change in Indian badminton over the last 10 years has been “fantastic”.

Will soon fill vacant posts to improve quality of education: Rajasthan Minister

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January 21, 2019

Rajasthan minister Govind Dotasara said on Monday that the Education Department will soon fill vacant positions to improve the quality of education and provide jobs to unemployed youths.

Replying to question in the Rajasthan Assembly, the minister said the previous government had announced vacancies for various posts without completing any formalities and the present government is committed to fill the vacant positions soon.

As on January 1, 2019, posts of 1,642 principals, 1,158 headmasters, 9,912 lecturers, 224 grade-1 physical education teachers, 13,990 senior teachers, 496 and 5,056 grade-2 and grade-3 physical education teachers, 11,906 grade-3 level-1 teachers and 13,940 of grade-3 level-2 teachers were vacant, he said.

Dotasara said that 58,324 posts were vacant in the department.

Serena muscles past top seed Halep into Open quarters

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January 21, 2019

Serena Williams subdued a stubborn fightback from world number one Simona Halep to take her quest for a record-equalling 24th major into the Australian Open quarter-finals on Monday.

The 37-year-old American beat the Romanian top seed 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 in an epic three-setter to line up a last eight clash with Czech eighth seed Karolina Pliskova.

It was Williams’ first match against a world number one since returning after having a baby in September 2017 and the American showed why many already regard her as the greatest of all time.

She unleashed an early onslaught and Halep was in danger crumbling before the French Open champion regrouped for a stirring comeback.

“It was an intense match and there were some incredible points,” Williams said.

“She’s the number one player in the world and there’s a reason why… (but) I’m such a fighter, I just never give up.”

Williams won her 23rd Grand Slam Down Under two years ago while two months pregnant and is the bookies’ favourite to claim an eighth Australian title, despite being seeded 16th.

Halep did better early in the second set, and when the American did break her in the third game she immediately broke back.

The turning point came in the sixth game of the third set when Halep clawed three break points but Williams held and took a decisive break in the fifth.

Aaron Sorkin calls on Democrats to be ‘the non-stupid party’

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January 21, 2019

Oscar winner Aaron Sorkin urged young Democrats elected to Congress to take up the opportunity of making the party “the non stupid” one.

The screenwriter-director said the onus was on the new “crop” to take charge of the situation and help point the difference between the two parties.

“They need to stop acting like young people. I think there’s a great opportunity here for Democrats to be the non-stupid party, to point out the difference,” Sorkin told CNN’s Fareed Zakaria.

The “Molly’s Game” helmer also underscored the issues the Democratic Party must focus on.

“It’s not just about transgender bathrooms, that’s a Republican talking point. They’re trying to distract you.

“We haven’t forgotten the economic anxiety of the working class, but we’re going to be smart about this. We’re not going to be mean about it,” he said.

Two more rappers accuse Ariana Grande of plagiarising their content

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January 21, 2019

American Singer Ariana Grande’s latest single ‘7 Rings’ has once again landed her in trouble, as two more rappers have accused her of copying their content.

Shortly after the singer dropped ‘7 Rings’ earlier this month, rapper Princess Nokia accused Grande of stealing lyrics and flow from her.

Following Princess Nokia’s accusations, two more rappers namely, Soulja Boy and 2 Chainz, have explicitly called out the ‘thank u, next’ singer for allegedly stealing their work for the track.

Alleging that Grande stole from his song titled ‘Pretty Boy Swag,’ Soulja Boy replied to a tweet in which the former Nickelodeon star thanked her friends who featured in the ‘7 Rings’ music video and wrote, “Give me my credit. Period.”

“Lol stop stealing my swag. Word,” he added.

He later followed up with “You’re a thief.”

Meanwhile, MC 2 Chainz, an Atlanta-based rapper, pointed out the similarity between the ‘7 Rings’ and his ‘Door Swangin’ music video in terms of the setup where the songs were shot. Both the videos featured hot pink trap houses.

Using the reference of Big Draco aka Soulja Boy, a rapper who accused Drake of stealing his musical style, MC 2 Chainz posted a clip of Grande’s ‘7 Rings’ on his Instagram page and wrote “Tryna figure out if I should Big Draco Ariana Grande. You all tell me in the comments. #bigdracovibesall2019,”

Grande reportedly expects that her new track ‘7 Rings’, which is slated for release on Friday, will become an anthem for women empowerment.

The lyrics of ‘7 Rings’ also feature references to her breakups just like ‘Thank U, Next’.

Kareena Kapoor Khan may contest from Bhopal LS seat

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January 21, 2019

A local Congress corporator has requested party chief Rahul Gandhi to field noted Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor Khan from the Bhopal constituency in Madhya Pradesh in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.

In a letter written to Gandhi on Sunday, corporator Yogendra Singh Chauhan claimed that the actress would be the most suitable candidate to defeat the BJP in Bhopal seat, held by the saffron party since long.

Kareena Kapoor Khan is the wife of Bollywood actorSaif Ali Khan, who is the son of former Indian cricketer late Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, scion of the erstwhile Bhopal state. Pataudi had in 1991 unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha poll from Bhopal, a BJP bastion, on Congress’ ticket.

Taking a swipe at Chauhan, MP BJP spokesman Rajnish Agrawal dubbed the corporator’s move as entertaining and further added that we are too strong in the Bhopal Lok Sabha seat as our MPs have worked for its all round development.

Asked what will be their strategy if the actress was fielded from the seat, Agrawal said that it was not proper for him to comment on such a hypothetical question. The demand has proved the fact that the Congress has no leader to take on the BJP in Bhopal.

Meanwhile, Chauhan, who is considered close to state Public Relations Minister P C Sharma, claimed that some more Congress councillors were going to request Gandhi to field the actress from Bhopal seat.

ASI kills wife then shoots self over domestic dispute

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January 21, 2019

A 43-year-old assistant sub-inspector of police allegedly shot dead his wife before killing himself with his service revolver over a domestic dispute here on Monday, police said.

The deceased were identified as Gurdeep Singh and his wife Surender Kaur, 38, police said. The couple, along with their children, was living in village Nasrauli. The children had gone to school when the incident occurred, Superintendent of Police Astha Modi said.

Gurdeep, an assistant sub-inspector, first shot dead his wife and then immediately killed himself with his service revolver, the SP said.

The ASI was posted in Panchkula police line and had come to his native village this Monday. Police also said that the exact cause behind the incident could not be ascertained so far but it could be due to a domestic dispute.

The SP said no suicide note was recovered from the spot and investigation was on.

Anna Hazare to go on indefinite hunger strike for Lokpal

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January 21, 2019

At a press conference on Monday, announcing indefinite hunger strike from January 30 over his unmet demands for farmers and implementation of the anti-corruption law, social activist Anna Hazare said that the Rafale scam would not have happened if the Lokpal was there in place. I have plenty of papers on Rafale and I will hold a separate press conference after studying it for two days. One thing I do not understand is how a company formed a month ago before the deal was made partner in it. The veteran anti-graft leader slammed the Centre for not implementing the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 despite an order of the Supreme Court, saying that he felt the country was in danger of slipping towards autocracy.

This will be his third hunger strike over the demand of Lokpal in the last eight years. He sat on an indefinite hunger strike at the Ramleela ground here for the first time in April 2011 leading civil society members and groups. He will start his hunger strike at his village Ralegan Siddhi on January 30 and will continue it till the government meets his demands.

In the past the government said in writing that they will implement Lokpal law and provide pensions and 1.5 times of minimum support price to the farmers but did nothing. Now I will not have any more false assurances and continue the hunger strike till there is life in my body, he said.

In March last year, Hazare along with his supporters held a week-long hunger strike at the Ramleela ground, demanding implementation of the Lokpal law. Not implementing order of a constitutional body moves the country from democracy to autocracy. This government is on the same course. What kind of a government is this which does not obey the Supreme Court order? Is it a government, or some bania ki dukan (provisional store), said the anti-graft campaigner. Hazare also charged the government of failing to meet his demands for pensions, adequate price of crops and loan waivers to the farmers.

This government is not concerned about the farmers. It is concerned only for industrialists whose loans running in lakhs of crores of rupees have been waived. He claimed agrarian distress due to falling prices has forced farmers to throw their produce like vegetables and milk on the roads. Organisations of farmers in 15 states, including Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan and Maharashtra, have assured to join the hunger strike and more are expected to do so in the coming days, say a core committee member of the Mahapanchayat, Shiv Kumar Kakka.

Hazare asked his followers not to crowd Ralegan Siddhi, where he will be on fast unto death, and hold the hunger strike at their respective places. Rashtriya Kisan Mahapanchayat that has extended support to Hazare, said farmer outfits across the country will join the hunger strike.

Honoured to meet PM Modi: Anil Kapoor

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January 21, 2019

Anil Kapoor – 62-year-old actor, who met the prime minister, recently said that he has been trying to meet him since he was Gujarat chief minister. It was wonderful meeting him. I had wanted to meet him since he was the chief minister of Gujarat but it never happened. But there are certain meetings which are destined. So, I was fortunate and had the privilege and honour to meet him. It was very inspirational. I have never seen someone working so hard.

When asked if he would like to see Modi as the PM again, Anil said, “That’s for all of us to decide, we will see. This is not a political platform. He was speaking at the trailer launch of “Total Dhamaal”. Directed by Indra Kumar, the film features Ajay Devgn, Madhuri Dixit Nene, Arshad Warsi, Riteish Deshmukh, Johnny Lever, Boman Irani, and Sanjay Mishra among others.

“Total Dhamaal” reunites Madhuri and Anil after “Pukaar” which released in 2000. Madhuri said that the actor has not changed in all these years. I don’t think Anil can ever change. He will always be the same. He is one of a kind. It’s always a pleasure working with him. I’m working with Ajay also after a long time. It was wonderful working with everyone.

While the previous two installments featured Sanjay Dutt, the actor won’t be seen in “Total Dhamaal”. When asked about his absence from the film, Kumar said that It would have been a lot more fun if Sanjay Dutt had been there but his dates were not available. It left both of us unhappy.

“Total Dhamaal” is scheduled to release on February 22.