Shashi Tharoor – Most deserving Congress president candidate

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August 30, 2022

shashi tharoor, tharoor, congress, inc, indian national congress, rahul gandhi, congress president, sonia — Image: PTI

Shashi Tharoor is a public intellectual who has been serving as a Member of Parliament for Thiruvananthapuram-Kerala, since 2009. When he began his political career he was approached by the Congress, the Communists, and the BJP. He chose Congress because he felt ideologically comfortable with it. In March 2009, Tharoor contested the Indian General elections as a candidate for the Congress Party in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

Despite criticism that he was an “elite outsider” Tharoor won the elections by a margin of 99,989. They then selected him as a Minister of State in the Council of Ministers of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. On 28 May 2009, he was sworn in as Minister of State for External Affairs, in charge of Africa, Latin America, and the Gulf, including the Haj pilgrimage, and the Consular, Passports, and Visas services of the Ministry. As Minister of State for External Affairs, he re-established long-dormant diplomatic relationships with African nations, where his fluency in French made him popular with Francophone countries and their heads of state.

Tharoor was a pioneer in using social media as an instrument of political interaction. He was India’s most-followed politician on Twitter until 2013, when he was overtaken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Some of his Twitter posts have proved controversial in the past and were highlighted negatively by the opposition and press. After the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti, he was the first Indian minister to visit. He reformed the measures relating to the conduct of the Haj pilgrimage. He started new policy-planning activities on the Indian Ocean and represented India at various global events during his 11-month tenure as minister. In April 2010, he resigned from the position, following allegations he had misused his office to get shares in the IPL cricket franchise. Tharoor denied the charges, and during his resignation speech in Parliament, called for a full inquiry. In a 2014 rejoinder he defended his position.

He also serves as Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology and All India Professionals Congress. He formerly served as Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs (2014 to 2019). Born in London, UK, and raised in India, Tharoor worked across the world. At present Congress needs a good candidate for party president’s post. Tharoor actually suits the needs. He is an educated intellectual, understands Congress politics more than anyone, he has high regards for Gandhi family as he is the one who will never leave Congress for personal gains.

There are gossips that Tharoor is running for the past but he did not confirm or deny the report when reporters asked him whether he would contest the October election. News reports stated that Tharoor, an MP from Thiruvananthapuram, is “exploring the possibility” of running for Congress president but has yet to take a final call on it. “He has not made up his mind, but could take a call on it soon”. He called the election of a “fresh president” the start towards the revitalization the Congress badly needs.

Tharoor said the election also had other benefits “for instance we have seen the global interest in the British Conservative Party during their recent leadership race, a phenomenon we already witnessed in 2019, when a dozen candidates contested to replace Theresa May, and Boris Johnson emerged on top”.

Similarly, the Congress polls would increase national interest in the party and galvanise more voters towards the Congress party once again. The party will elect a new president on October 17, and with both interim chief Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi – a former president – refusing to contest, speculation is swirling around non-Gandhi options. We will know the new chief on October 19.

Ghulam Nabi Azad, who led the “G-23”, quit the party on Friday, with a five-page resignation letter targeting Rahul Gandhi and doubting the credibility of the internal election. Kapil Sibal, another prominent “rebel” quit in May. Let us see who would lead the Congress party as its president other than Gandhi’s.

Each day minimum 14 cases of rape, kidnapping and murder are filed in the Mumbai

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Afternoon Voice

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August 30, 2022

mumbai police, police, rape, mumbai cases, cases in mumbai — Each day minimum 14 cases of rape, kidnapping and murder are filed in the Mumbai 3

Mumbai not only bore the brunt of the Covid epidemic it witnessed a sharp rise in crimes registered in 2021. The National Crime Records Bureau data contained in the Accidents, Deaths and Suicides in India and Crime in India reports for 2021 show 174 different types of criminal offences are registered under Indian Penal Code sections every day in Mumbai. At least 14 cases of violent crimes such as rape, kidnapping and murder are filed in the city daily.

However, the silver lining is that in terms of cases registered per lakh population-it denotes the crime rate-Mumbai ranks 11th, among urban centres behind Delhi, Jaipur, Indore, Surat, Patna and others, most of them in north India. As per the crime rate, Mumbai is placed 11th as against 15th in 2020. The report showed crime rose in Mumbai by 27% (63,689 cases) in 2021 from 50,158 in 2020 and 40,684 in 2019. However, police said rise in cases was because of violations of prohibitory orders issued during the Covid-19 lockdown.

2021, Maharashtra and Mumbai are among states and cities seeing the highest resurgence in offences recorded in the second year of Covid. Lockdown violations may have been a contributory factor. Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra are the big states which saw the highest increase in registered crimes between pre-Covid 2019 and 2021. Similarly, cities with the sharpest rise in cases between 2019 and 2021 were Chennai (154%) and Mumbai (56%). In absolute numbers though, both are far behind Delhi. State-wise, Maharashtra had the most crimes (3.67 lakh) in 2021, followed by UP (3.58 lakh). Crime rates up, but serious crime under check.

Reporting of serious crimes such as murder as well as those against women and children have dipped. But cybercrime has increased and so has forgery and cheating. Former IPS officer turned lawyer YP Singh said during the pandemic, the crime rate dipped worldwide and so was the case in India. Among crimes reported in Mumbai in 2021 were 7,820 cases of theft, 4,899 of forgery, cheating or fraud, 2,282 of rash driving, 1,590 of kidnapping or abduction, 401 of sexual harassment, 386 of death by negligence, 303 of rioting, and 162 of murder.

State wise data also showed Maharashtra topped in 2021 in filing cases of rioting with 8,709 such cases (which includes 77 cases of communal riots, 86 political, 67 caste-related). It was followed by Bihar (6,298), Uttar Pradesh (5,302), Karnataka (4,193), Tamil Nadu (2,275), Haryana (2,253), Odisha (2,220). Overall Maharashtra is placed 10th in terms of cases per lakh population, which indicates the crime rate, while Delhi tops the list (see graphic). Delhi is followed by Tamil Nadu and then Kerala. Gujarat and Haryana are in fourth and fifth places.

However, Maharashtra stands first in total crimes registered in the country with 3,67,218 cases. UP came 2nd with 3,57,905. This is despite the number of IPC cases registered in Maharashtra in 2021 dipping by 6.8% to 3,67,000 cases from 3,94,017 in 2020. While Mumbai has the highest number of cases within Maharashtra, Nagpur and Pune are placed 6th and 14th.

Water stock in seven reservoirs rise to 97.03 per cent in Mumbai

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PTI

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August 30, 2022

Lake Representative Image — Water stock in seven reservoirs rise to 97.03 per cent in Mumbai 5

The seven lakes that provide drinking water to Mumbai have 14,04,404 million litres of water or 97.03 per cent of the total capacity of 14,47,363 lakh million litres, according to the BMC on Tuesday.

The city draws water from Tulsi, Tansa, Vihar, Bhatsa, Modak Sagar, Upper Vaitarna and Middle Vaitarna.

Last year, during the same time, water stock was at 88.12 per cent with 12,76,285 million litres, while in 2020 the water stock was 13,73,478 million litres.

The water level in Tansa is at 98.53 per cent. At Modak Sagar, 98.55 per cent of water stock is available, Middle Vaitarna has 96.23 per cent, Upper Vaitarna has 96.81 per cent, Bhatsa 96.59 per cent, Vehar 100 per cent and Tulsi has 100 per cent of useful water level.

Two killed, three injured after a car collided with ST bus on a highway in Maharashtra

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PTI

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August 30, 2022

Accident photo — Image for representative purpose

Two persons were killed and three seriously injured when their car collided with a state transport bus on the Mumbai-Goa highway in Maharashtra’s Raigad district on Tuesday, an official said.

The accident took place on the highway near Poladpur in Raigad district this morning, the official from the district headquarters said.

The car collided head-on with a bus of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), he said.

Jaywant Sawant (60) from Ambernath and Kiran Ghaghe (28) from Ghatkopar in neighbouring Mumbai were killed in the accident, while the injured persons were Sawant’s family members from Ambernath and Badlapur in Thane district, the official said.

The bodies of the deceased were sent to a government hospital for post-mortem, he said, adding that other details of the accident are awaited.

All-rounder Mitchell Marsh was ruled out of the ODI series against Zimbabwe and New Zealand

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ANI

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August 30, 2022

Australia’s cricket team suffered a major setback today, after all-rounder Mitchell Marsh was ruled out of the ODI (One-Day International) series against Zimbabwe and New Zealand owing to an ankle injury.

Steve Smith said that losing the West Australian all-rounder was disappointing, but fitness for the forthcoming T20 World Cup is paramount, where the team will require his services.

Cricket.com.au quoted Smith as saying, “The way we set up our team the other day with bulk allrounders, he was a big part of that. It’s disappointing for Mitch but there’s some pretty important stuff coming up.” He highlighted the player’s importance in the upcoming World Cup and said, “He was a big part of our T20 World Cup campaign last year and I’m sure there’s big plans for him this year. The priority is to get him right for that.” Marsh claimed ankle discomfort during Australia’s five-wicket win in Townsville on Sunday and will head back home to Perth.

The all-rounder is likely to be available for Australia’s three-match T20 series against India, which kicks off on September 21.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Josh Inglis will take his place for the next five One-Day Internationals (ODIs) to be played in northern Queensland, with the second match against Zimbabwe scheduled for Wednesday in Townsville.

Inglis will return to Australia from the Hundred, where he is presently playing for the London Spirit in the Hundred.

Earlier Australia defeated Zimbabwe in the first match of the three-match series by five wickets to secure a 1-0 lead.

A five-wicket haul by all-rounder Cameron Green coupled with top knocks from David Warner and Steve Smith allowed the hosts to seal the match.

Zimbabwe were bundled out for 200 despite Wesley Madhevere scoring a brilliant 72 off 91 balls. Australia chased down the total comfortably with David Warner (57) and Steve Smith (48*) scoring solid knocks. Ryan Burl took 3/60 and bowled really well for the visitors.

The second match will be played on August 31 with the final match of the series to be played on September 3.

Sedition case: Islamabad court dismisses PTI leader Shahbaz Gill’s bail plea

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ANI

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August 30, 2022

shahabaz gill — Sedition case: Islamabad court dismisses PTI leader Shahbaz Gill's bail plea 9

A District and Sessions court of Islamabad on Tuesday dismissed the post-arrest bail petition of Imran Khan’s close aide and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shahbaz Gill, a day after it reserved its ruling in the sedition case.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal pronounced the reserved verdict on Gill’s bail plea after hearing in-length arguments from both parties, Dawn reported.

In yesterday’s hearing, Gill’s counsel revealed that the PTI chief’s aide was willing to tender an apology for any misunderstandings.

During the hearing, Gill’s co-counsel, Burhan Muazzam, acknowledged that Gill’s comments had caused a misunderstanding, adding that his client was ready to dispel it, Dawn reported.

“Shahbaz Gill is ready to apologize as well but who gave [them] the right to frame a sedition charge after targeting various points,” Muazzam said, adding that Gill had never even thought of treason.

Gill’s counsel concluded his arguments, after which the prosecution also wrapped up its arguments following which the judge reserved the verdict on Gill’s bail application and adjourned the hearing.

Captain Steve Smith feels that he can play a significant part in ICC T20 World Cup

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ANI

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August 30, 2022

Former Australia captain Steve Smith feels he can play a significant part in this year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign if he is utilized in the hosts’ title defence later this year in October.

Smith, who scored 69 runs in four innings last season, has found it challenging to get into Australia’s T20I squad in recent times, frequently being used to play the role of an anchor to repair an innings after a bad start

Despite concerns that his game is not suited to the shorter format, the 33-year-old feels he can be a useful asset in national colours, as seen by a 37* (27) performance to help the team win a series against Sri Lanka in June earlier this year.

ICC quoted Smith as saying, “I feel like when I’m playing good T20 cricket, I’m in that team for sure. I think the role that I’ve been given in the last couple of years is the Mr. Fix-it sort of role, and that tag’s been taken away from me now (since) the Sri Lanka tour.”

While not known for his sheer might with the bat, Smith has produced a lot of quick-fire half-centuries in Australian colours, with all four of his T20I half-centuries coming at a strike rate in an abundance of 140.

Should he be asked to increase the run rate in the middle order, Smith believes he can play the perfect foil to Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, and others in either setting mammoth totals or hunting steep targets in front of the home crowd.

Smith spoke regarding his mindset, “I felt like I could go out and just play with a lot more freedom naturally (in Sri Lanka) and not have any kind of hesitation in the back of my mind like I need to be a bit more reserved or anything.” He added, “I can just take the game on and if I want to smack someone for six first ball, then I’m able to do that freely. When I’m playing my best, I play freely. I watch the ball and hit the gaps and just look to use the middle of my bat as much as possible.”

Meanwhile, Mitchell Marsh’s ankle injury has dealt a little setback to Australia’s preparations for the event.

The all-rounder set to miss ODI Super League matches against Zimbabwe and New Zealand, the Australians are hoping for him to recover in time, to fly to India in late September for a three-match T20I series in preparation for their title defence.

Marsh is in competition with Smith for the number three place, while Smith acknowledges that his teammate will play a significant role in the home campaign. “It’s obviously not ideal for Mitch. He’s been playing some really good white-ball cricket recently.” Speaking on Marsh, Smith said, “He was obviously a big part of our T20 World Cup campaign last year and I’m sure there’s big plans for him this year, so I think the priority is to get him right for that.” Australia begin their title defence against New Zealand in October in front of their home crowd.

BJP leader Javadekar said, Oppn should think about 2029 polls not 2024

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PTI

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August 30, 2022

Senior BJP leader Prakash Javadekar on Monday said the opposition should understand the personality of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the work being done by him for the people of the country and advised them not to worry about the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and instead think of the 2029 elections.

He said after Modi became prime minister in 2014, the atmosphere in the country changed for good.

The country got a prime minister who came up with different thinking and programmes, communicated directly with people and brought transparency in governance, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said.

The Rajya Sabha member was speaking at a function organized by the Thane city BJP here for the release of a book on Modi’s 20 years in public office – 12 years as Chief Minister of Gujarat and eight years as PM.

Javadekar, a former Union minister, asserted the BJP is getting electoral success repeatedly only because people like Modi’s work.

“The opposition should first understand the work of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the last 20 years, Modi has been working continuously without falling sick even once. Various programmes, activities and schemes are being undertaken by Modi.

“A patriotic atmosphere was created throughout the country through the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign. VIP culture has become a thing of the past…document attestation, a practice that existed for decades, was abolished in one day. In 2014, an LED bulb cost Rs 200, but now it is available for 70,” he said.

The former minister in the Modi cabinet said because of the PM’s popularity, his party BJP now has 11 crore members, making it the largest political outfit in the world.

He said the work of the Modi goverment has touched every aspect of people’s life.

Javadekar said, “11,000 unmanned Railway gates in the country have been staffed or alternative routes have been made available. Therefore, there had been no (major) accident at Railway gates in the last eight years.” Javadekar said pensioners have benefited immensely by the Centre’s decision to digitize life certificate.

Modi’s wide range of decisions like providing houses, water, foodgrains, cooking gas, in-home toilets and free treatment to the needy show his concern for common citizens, the former Union minister said.

Due to this, many housewives have become BJP activists, Javadekar said.

The issue of Ram temple had been pending since the last 500 years, but now a grand temple dedicated to Lord Ram is coming up in Ayodhya, he said.

The opening of the Kartarpur corridor, Buddhist circuit and improving road connectivity for Chardham Yatra have received good response from people, the BJP leader said.

“So now, the opposition should discuss the 2029 Lok Sabha elections without worrying about the 2024 polls,” said Javadekar, indicating the BJP is poised to win the next parliamentary elections.

Elvis fame actor Shonka Dukureh’s cause of death revealed

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ANI

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August 30, 2022

The cause of death of’ ‘Elvis’ fame Hollywood actor Shonka Dukureh, who was also a blues singer and passed away last month at the age of 44, has finally been revealed.

According to Page Six, in the documents from Us Weekly on Monday, the coroner ruled her death as “natural.” She died of “hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.”

Dukureh was found dead on July 21 inside her bedroom in the Nashville apartment she shared with her two children. It was reported that her son, who is the older of her two kids, found her unresponsive before rushing to the home of a neighbour, who called 911 at approximately 9:30 am.

A spokesperson for the Metro Nashville Police Department confirmed that no foul play was suspected, reported Page Six.

Dukureh was best known for playing the role of Big Mama Thornton in ‘Elvis’, which follows the life of the singing legend Elvis Presley.

The movie, which premiered on June 24 and stars Austin Butler, was her first and only film credit, according to IMDb.

Ahead of her death, on Instagram, she had proudly talked about her role in the movie and the opportunity to sing Presley’s hit song ‘Hound Dog’. Just one week before her untimely death, she wrote, “Gratefulness is where I live cuz [sic] my granny, gmama, momma, family modelled and instilled it in me.” “It isn’t a posture of less than or crumbs scraping, but one that acknowledges good things aren’t a guarantee and when we encounter them thankfulness, gratefulness is the least we can express,” added Dukureh, as per Page Six. ‘Elvis’ is a biographical musical drama on the legendary singer Elvis Presley in the 1950s which apart from Butler, consists of an ensemble cast including Tom Hanks, Olivia DeJonge, Dacre Montogomery, and Maggie Gyllenhaal to name a few.

Shameful: Sharad Pawar on release of life-term convicts in Bilkis Bano case

By

PTI

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August 30, 2022

Sharad Pawar, Gujrat, Bilkis Bano — Image: PTI | NCP chief Sharad Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Monday termed “shameful” the release of the 11 life-term convicts in the Bilkis Bano case under the Gujarat government’s remission policy.

Speaking to reporters in Thane in Maharashtra, Pawar said the release of the convicts is contrary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address wherein he had appealed to people to respect women.

“Atrocities on women are on the rise in the country. When the courts have awarded them imprisonment till death such a decision by the Gujarat government to release the convicts in the Bilkis case was a shameful one,” he said.

Pawar also suggested that activist Teesta Setalvad’s arrest was wrong.

“What the Gujarat government is doing in the Teesta Setalvad case is totally wrong,” he said.

Setalvad was arrested by the Gujarat Police in June for allegedly submitting false evidence in the 2002 Gujarat riots case.

The 11 men sentenced to life imprisonment in connection with the gang rape of Bilkis Bano during the 2002 Gujarat communal riots and the murder of seven members of her family walked out of the Godhra sub-jail on August 15 after the Gujarat government allowed their release under its remission policy. They had served more than 15 years in jail.

The Supreme Court had directed the Gujarat government to look into the issue of remission of the sentence of one of the convicts.

A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Mumbai on January 21, 2008, sentenced the 11 accused to life imprisonment. Their conviction was later upheld by the Bombay High Court.

On March 3, 2002, Bilkis Bano’s family was attacked by a mob at Randhikpur village in Limkheda taluka of Dahod district in Gujarat. Bilkis, who was five months pregnant at that time, was gang-raped and seven members of her family were killed.