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BJP-Sena recriminations a Laurel and Hardy drama, says NCP

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NCPThe NCP on Monday mocked the latest duel between the BJP and the Shiv Sena over forging alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls as a “Laurel and Hardy” drama–a popular comedy duo act of the early American cinema known for its slapstick comedy.

The ridicule came a day after BJP president Amit Shah said that if an alliance happened, the party will ensure victory for its allies, but if it did not, the party will thrash its former allies in the coming Lok Sabha polls.

“The way Shiv Sena is giving a statement, that it is not bothered about the alliance and the way Amit Shah said yesterday that it will rout Sena, I think Laurel and Hardy drama is on in Maharashtra,” NCP national spokesperson Nawab Malik told reporters.

Laurel and Hardy was a comedy duo act during the early Classical Hollywood era of American cinema and became known through 1920s to 1940s.

Speaking before Shah in Latur city Sunday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had set the BJP workers a target to win 40 of total 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra.

Reacting to the statements, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party had said it was ready to take on opposition.

Meanwhile, Malik dismissed reports that the NCP was mulling over to give a ticket to renowned lawyer Ujjwal Nikam to contest the Lok Sabha polls.

“The party has not given any such proposal to allot him (Nikam) a ticket. There is no decision made internally to give him candidature. The party won’t give candidature (to Nikam),” he said.

Malik further said NCP and Congress are currently holding discussions with like-minded parties to share seats, and the contours of the alliance would be finalised by January 15.

Senior NCP leader Praful Patel had last week said his party and Congress have reached a consensus on 40 Lok Sabha seats.

In 2014 polls, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) had won 42 out of the 48 seats in Maharashtra, with BJP winning 23 seats and Sena 18.

The Raju Shetti-led Swabhimani Paksha, which was an NDA ally, had won a seat. Shetti left the NDA in 2017 citing dissatisfaction with the Modi government over handling of agrarian issues.

HC lawyers claim ‘brewing scam’ in Navi Mumbai civic body

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Two lawyers from the Bombay High Court Monday alleged the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has been illegally granting work orders to a tainted private contracting firm, which they claimed was responsible for causing the death of an 11-year-old boy in 2018 by negligence.

The lawyers, Mayuri Patil and Vallari Jathar, have written a letter to the NMMC Commissioner requesting him to look into a “brewing scam” into the civic body.

In May last year, 11-year-old Saurabh Chaudhary died and his friend sustained injuries when an iron gate of an under-construction civic school, located in sector 11 of the Koparkhairane area in the satellite town of Mumbai, fell on them.

Addressing a press conference, Patil and Jathar claimed that an internal enquiry conducted by the NMCC last year had fixed the responsibility of the incident on the private contracting company that had constructed the civic school gate.

“Yet, an FIR against the accused is yet to be registered, and the NMCC continues to award work contracts for new projects to the said firm,” the lawyers said quoting their letter.

They have urged the NMCC Commissioner to take appropriate action to ensure that such accidents do not recur.

To highlight farm woes, man jumps into Mantralaya safety net

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A 40-year-old man Monday jumped into a safety net at Mantralaya in order to attract the Maharashtra government’s attention to issues like farm suicides and agricultural distress, police said.

Incidentally the safety net was placed across an open space on the first floor of the state secretariat by the Public Works Department early last year following instances of disgruntled people jumping off the corridors of the sprawling south Mumbai building.

Police identified the man as Laxman Chavan, a resident of Pune, and said he jumped off the second floor of Mantralaya into the safety net.

Chavan moved to the centre of the net and started shouting out his demands to the hundreds of visitors present there at the time, an official said.

A police team arrived at the spot and detained him, he added.

Senior Inspector Shivaji Phadtare of Marine Drive police station said Chavan’s statement was being recorded and further legal action would follow later.

Demand to fill vacant posts of Information Commissioners at Konkan, Pune, and Nagpur

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cis 1Government of Maharashtra had established Maharashtra State Information Commission for providing Right To Information Act to public. In his letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, RTI activist Anil Galgali has demanded to fill the vacant positions of State Information Commissioners at Konkan, Pune, and Nagpur.

In his letter to the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, RTI Activist Galgali has stated that apart from the position of Chief Information Commissioner, there are a total of eight posts of Information Commissioners earmarked as necessary. But apart from the State Chief Information Commissioner, only five Information Commissioners are operational and the load of work due to vacant posts at Konkan, Pune, and Nagpur falls upon other State Information Commissioners, as a result they are burdened with extra cases with resultant delays and increase in number of appeals being filed.

The RTI activist has demanded that rather than filling the vacancies of State Information Commissioners from superannuated government officials consideration should be given to fill the same from accomplished candidates with experience in social work or other spheres or from amongst those with a deep sense of social responsibility by due process of advertisement.

Popular Bengali novel gets contemporary spin in Srijit’s next

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srijit mukherjee

Filmmaker Srijit Mukherjee has said his latest venture ‘Shah Jahan Regency’, the contemporary adaptation of author Shankar’s timeless classic ‘Chowringhee’, is free from commercial trappings.

The novel revolves around the experiences of the characters author Shankar meets while working at a reputed hotel in Kolkata.

‘Shah Jahan Regency’ mirrors socio-political situation in modern-day Kolkata, while retaining the spirit of ‘Chowringhee’ based in the metropolis of 1950s, Mukherjee said recently on the sidelines of a programme.

The national award-winning director stressed that he has put equal emphasis on all key characters in the fiction, unlike the 1968 film based on the same novel with matinee idol Uttam Kumar in the lead.

The film is slated for release on January 19.

Mukherjee also clarified that he has retained the essence of the characters, while reinterpreting them.

“There is a big difference between the Kolkata of 1950s and now. The city had more spacious roads in 1950s, which has changed vastly in the present times. When we give a contemporary spin to the timeless tale, the retro look does gel with the film’s premise,” he said.

Role of a lifetime: Vivek Oberoi on playing Prime Minister Modi

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Vivek Oberoi is set to portray Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an upcoming biopic and the actor, a self-confessed fan of the leader, calls it a role of a lifetime.

The biopic will be directed by Omung Kumar, who has films such as “Mary Kom” and “Sarbjit” to his credit.

At the poster launch of the film, Vivek said that he hopes to become a better person by the end of the shoot.

“I am extremely fortunate. Today, I am feeling like I felt 16 years ago, during ‘Company’ days. I am feeling the same kind of excitement and hunger because this is a role of a lifetime for any actor. I truly believe at the end of the journey, I pray that I become better actor and a better human being,” the actor told reporters.

“Narendra Bhai is one of the tallest leaders in the world and to bring his personal qualities on screen is an incredible challenge and I want all your blessings that we can complete this incredible journey,” he added.

The film’s poster was launched in the presence of Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis in 27 languages. It features Vivek, dressed in a yellow kurta with tricolour in the backdrop. The tagline reads, “Deshbhakti ki meri shakti hai.”

Actor Suresh Oberoi, Vivek’s father, is co-producing the film along with Sandeep Ssingh. The film is yet to go on floors.

 

Win against Thailand best match of my career: Chhetri

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chetriIndian football captain Sunil Chhetri on Monday said that his team’s first win in the Asian Cup after more than five decades was the best match of his illustrious international career in which he has out-scored superstar Lionel Messi.

India thrashed Thailand 4-1 in their group opener on Sunday. The 34-year-old goal machine struck on either side of the lemon break in the country’s stunning win, the first in Asian Cup since 1964.

“It (Thailand match) stays right top there. I’m fortunate to play a lot of good games for my country but this game is right top there. It’s one of those games where the team did really well,” Chhetri told agencies from Abu Dhabi when asked to rate the Group A match.

In the process, he became the second highest international goal-scorer among active players with 67 strikes from 105 matches. He went past Argentine superstar Messi, who has scored 65 from 128 matches. Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest scorer with 85 from 154 matches.

Chhetri, who made his India debut in 2005, said that his side did not expect to win against Thailand by such a big margin.

“We were confident of a good show but honestly speaking, we did not think it could have been 4-1. They (Thailand) are a very good side, technically very good. I’m sure none of us could think of a 4-1 win but we were confident of a good outing,” he said.

“I am very happy with the performance and it has been a great start for us. I think the team unity, team understanding and spirit played the role behind the win. The indomitable spirit of the team actually is one of the important reasons why we won the game,” he added.

Thailand, with three players Japanese J-League players in their ranks, dictated the pace of the match in the first half with smooth passing but the Indians turned the game on its head with three second half goals that left the Thais shell-shocked.

Asked what transpired between head coach Stephen Constantine and the players at half-time, Chhetri said, “We just made sure that we can’t allow them to play their natural game. In the first half, they kept the ball and they were pretty strong. We knew that this is their strong point.

So we had to press them and not allow to play their natural game, that’s what we did. Sandesh (Jhingan) and Anas (Edathodika) were pretty brave telling us to go and press to make the team narrow.

“It’s not an easy job but it was one of the reasons which helped us get the win,” said the striker from Delhi who is nearing former captain Bhaichung Bhutia’s (107) most number of India appearances record in this Asian Cup.

The team man he is, Chhetri said that he wanted to celebrate more when his colleagues got the goals.

“Udanta’s cross, man, was something outstanding,” he said about his second goal in the 46th minute from the Manipuri winger’s assist.

“I think I celebrated the third goal most because I was so happy with the build-up and (Anirudha) Thapa scoring. There are some goals which you just celebrate because of the team-effort behind that and Thapa’s goal was one of them. I always feel happy when someone from my team scores a goal,” he said.

“Then comes Jeje (who scored the fourth goal)! I’m so happy for him. The superstar came and delivered as he does so often. He is one of the best players in our team and it showed how confident he was coming off the bench and scoring the goal.”

Asked about the personal milestone of becoming the second highest goal scorer for the country among active players, he brushed aside any comparison with Messi.

“I love to play for my country and whenever I have been given an opportunity, I try my best to score for my country. As far as comparisons are concerned, I don’t take them seriously. There’s no comparison, whatsoever, between me and Lionel Messi. I’m just happy and honoured to play and score for my country.”

A draw against either hosts United Arab Emirates (January 10) or Bahrain (on January 14) could see India through to the round of 16, which, if achieved, will be a historic first for the country.

Chhetri refused to predict anything but said the team will take one game at a time. He, however, agreed that the goal difference of three from the Thailand match could be useful later.

“…we can’t predict anything right now. We take one game at a time. As I said, we might not be the strongest team in the group but we’ll fight till the end. We are not thinking about qualifying now but just concentrating to do well in the next match and then we’ll see where we land,” he said.

India finished runners-up in the 1964 edition of the Asian Cup in Israel which was played among just four teams in a round-robin format. In 1984 and 2011, India were knocked out of the group stage.

Manto needs intelligent, sensitive reader, says Ashwath Bhatt

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manto

English playwright Ben Jonson famously wrote that William Shakespeare was “not of an age, but for all time”.

This iconic quote hardly seems out of place while referring to Urdu writer Sadat Hasan Manto, a maverick whose work has mesmerised millions and continues to whet the appetite of amateurs as well as aficionados.

Actor Ashwath Bhatt, who has proved his mettle in Bollywood movies such as “Raazi”, “Haider” and “Manto”, said the Urdu writer’s work is “timeless” and will remain relevant as long as there is hypocrisy in the world.

Best remembered as the greatest chronicler of the Partition era, Manto also wrote about prostitutes, pimps and alcoholics, and was charged with obscenity six times.

“Manto unmasks hypocrisy, he doesn’t deceive with his words. Speaks truth and is fearless to encounter it. He will remain relevant as long as there is hypocrisy in the world. The day he ceases to be relevant, I will say we have learnt our lesson,” he said on Sunday.

“Manto talks about humanity, women and marginalised folks who are not even considered humans…To understand him, you have to be a sensitive and an intelligent reader. A person who keeps his biases at bay will understand Manto better,” Bhatt told PTI.

Bhatt has become synonymous with Manto, and has been instrumental in rekindling interest in his work by bringing the great writer to life on stage through his popular play ‘Ek Mulaqat Manto Se’ ( a rendezvous with Manto) for the last 16 years.

Manto, whom author Salman Rushdie described as “the undisputed master of the Indian short story”, is celebrated through performances of plays, and his life has been adapted into films both in India and Pakistan.

More than six decades after his death, Manto continues to have more than a foothold in modern times.

“The relevance of Manto is growing because our standards are falling. We are becoming more narrow-minded and parochial in our outlook. More judgmental and abrupt in forming opinions about issues we have no knowledge of…We humans are becoming more dangerous than animals,” said Bhatt.

“His popularity is soaring because his stories have a universal appeal. There is a Toba Tek Singh (Manto’s famous short story) in every conflict zone, be it Croatia or Palestine,” he said.

Manto’s working life was cut short by his addiction to alcohol which led to his death at 43. He produced 20 collections of short stories, five collections of radio dramas, some essays, a novel and a clutch of film scripts.

While Bhatt may not like the likening of Manto to other authors, his favourite writer did compare himself, not with famous literary figures, but with God.

Six months before his death in January 1955, Manto had composed his own epitaph which, although never used on his tombstone, said: “Here lies Saadat Hasan Manto and with him lie buried all the secrets and mysteries of the art of story writing. Under mounds of earth he lies, still wondering who among the two is the greater story writer God or he”.

Its official! Shraddha Kapoor, Varun Dhawan to reunite for ‘ABCD 3’

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abcd3

It’s confirmed! After being a part of ‘ABCD 2’, Shraddha Kapoor has come onboard to star alongside Varun Dhawan in the third part of the dance film franchise.

The news comes after Katrina Kaif, who was the original choice for the makers, opted out of the Remo D’Souza-directorial due to prior commitments with Salman Khan’s period drama ‘Bharat’.

Film critic Taran Adarsh took to social media to make the announcement.

He tweeted, “IT’S OFFICIAL… Director Remo D’Souza, Varun Dhawan and Shraddha Kapoor reunite [after #ABCD2] for a new dance-based film… Filming begins 22 Jan 2019 in Punjab… Major chunk will be shot in UK… Produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar and Lizelle D’Souza.”

The ‘Sui Dhaaga’ actor also extended his warm welcome to Shraddha. Along with a picture with his co-star, Varun wrote, “welcome home chirkut @ShraddhaKapoor”

According to Adarsh’s tweet, the film goes on floors later this month.

 

Pant is one for future: Ganguly

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gangulyFormer captain Sourav Ganguly on Monday hailed India’s historic Test series win in Australia and said wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant is one for the “future”.

Having made his Test debut in August 2018, the 21-year-old Pant has gone from strength to strength, scoring a Test hundred each in England and Australia within months.

In Australia, Pant amassed 350 runs in seven innings, the second highest after Cheteshwar Pujara, while behind the stumps he broke the record for most catches – 20 – by an Indian wicketkeeper in a Test series.

“He will be a superb player for India in the future. He has been so good in the series and in future also, he will shine,” Ganguly told reporters on the sidelines of Bengal’s Ranji Trophy Elite Group B fixture against Punjab.

Rain played spoilsport in the fourth and final Test as the Virat Kohli-led side won the series 2-1, ending a 71-year wait to win their first series Down Under.

Australia were 316 in arrears when the match was called off, leaving India with a 2-1 triumph after wins in Adelaide and Melbourne. Australia won in Perth.

Terming their win terrific, Ganguly said: “It’s a terrific win. They played excellent cricket througout and the batting clicked. They scored 400-600 runs and that was the key.”

“Bumrah and Pujara were simply brilliant. They played big roles behind the win,” Ganguly said, while also giving credit to pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who claimed 21 wickets in four Tests at an average of 17.00, including a five-for.

Pujara amassed 521 runs at 74.42, scoring three hundreds to be adjudged both Man of the Match and Man of the Series.

Asked to compare Kohli’s side with teams of the past including his side that drew 1-1 in 2003-04, Ganguly said: “I don’t compare ever. So I can’t answer that question.

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