Category: National

PTI

Patriotic Ladakhis are raising their voice against Chinese intrusion, government should listen to them and ignoring their warning will cost India dearly: Rahul Gandhi

While there is no confirmation about the cast, Ajay Devgn would produce the project on Galwan Valley clash between India and China

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Leh to respond to India-China clash in Ladakh, comes an announcement that the story of the Galwan Valley clash is ready to be converted into a Hindi movie. Actor Ajay Devgn has officially confirmed that he would be producing the film on Galwan Valley clash.

Last remembered for his role as the Maratha warrior Tanaji Mansule in the movie ‘Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior’, Ajay Devgn is prepping to bring the story of Galwan clash forward with his new project. The actor also has another movie ‘Bhuj: The Pride Of India’, which is also touted as a true story of the life of IAF squadron leader Vijay Karnik, from Indo-Pakistan war of 1971.

The cast and crew for the film on Galwan valley clash is still under finalisation. The shooting of the movie would begin once the coronavirus situation settles down.

Here’s the official statement:

Ajay Devgn Ffilms & Select Media holdings LLP join hands to showcase the strength of our Indian Army during the recent Galwan Valley incident!

It is a known fact that actor-filmmaker Ajay Devgn has always supported movies or characters that portrays Strength and Valour. The actor, in past, who has shouldered films like LOC: Kargil, The Legend of Bhagat Singh, Tanhaji, Singham and RAID amongst others is all set to showcase the Might, Valour & Sacrifice of the Indian army during the infiltration of China at the Galwan Valley recently. On 15 June, our troops were ambushed. The fighting resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers of 16th Bihar Regiment including its commanding officer, Colonel Santosh Babu. At a de-escalation meeting following the incident, China accepted that the Chinese commanding officer was also killed. U.S. intelligence reportedly concluded that 35 Chinese soldiers were killed. 20 of our brothers laid their lives to assert the Territorial Integrity and Sovereignty of our Mother Land, It is their story! It narrates the story of the sacrifice of 20 Indian army men who fought the Chinese army. The cast and other crew are under finalisation.

With inputs from DNA Web Team

Chinese Embassy terms Narendra Modi’s comments on expansionism “exaggerated and fabricated”.

China on Friday warned India against making “a strategic miscalculation with regard to China”, in a sharp reaction to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise visit to Ladakh to meet Indian troops.

China also described Mr. Modi’s comments on “expansionism” as being “exaggerated and fabricated”, underlying the tense state of relations. “China has demarcated boundary with 12 of its 14 neighbouring countries through peaceful negotiations, turning land borders into bonds of friendly cooperation. It’s groundless to view China as ‘expansionist’, exaggerate & fabricate its disputes with neighbours,” Ji Rong, the spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi, said on Twitter.

Against ‘complication’

In Beijing, the Chinese Foreign Ministry reacted to Mr. Modi’s visit by saying India should not “complicate” the situation along the border. “China and India are in communication with each other through military and diplomatic channels,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a daily press briefing, when asked about the visit. “Neither side should make any move that may complicate the border situation.”

Mr. Zhao warned India to “avoid a strategic miscalculation with regard to China”.

“I would like to stress that China hopes that India will work with us, follow faithfully the important consensus reached between the two leaders, abide by the agreements reached between the two governments, strengthen communication and coordination on properly managing the current situation through diplomatic and military channels, and jointly uphold peace and stability in the border areas,” he said.

“At the same time, we need to see that China and India, both major developing countries, bear the historic mission of accelerating national development and rejuvenation,” the official said. “China and India should follow the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and uphold overall bilateral relations,” he said.

Checking up: Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting soldiers at a military hospital in Leh on Friday.

Mr. Zhao also warned against “artificial barriers” that would hurt economic relations, in reference to India’s recent moves on the trade and investment front, from banning 59 Chinese apps to announcing a halt to highway projects.

On Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari’s remarks on July 1 to keep Chinese firms away from highway projects, Mr. Zhao said: “In recent days some politicians in India have kept issuing irresponsible remarks that are detrimental to China-India relations. It calls for concerted efforts on both sides to maintain China-India relations. India should work with China for the same goal and uphold the overall interests of our bilateral relations. Artificially setting up barriers for such cooperation not only violates WTO rules, but also hurts India’s interests.”

He said China would “take all necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate rights of Chinese businesses”.

With inputs from The Hindu

Congress leader and former Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Friday said that Modi once again avoided mentioning China during his speech in Ladakh. “For the third time in a week, PM did not name China as the aggressor, why?” he tweeted. “What is the purpose of talking about an unnamed ‘enemy’ to the people of India and the jawans in Ladakh?”

Chidambaram added that the government has failed to answer Congress’ questions on satellite images that showed Chinese troops occupying Indian territory. Chidambaram also wondered whether Modi, in his interactions with United States President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, had named China as the intruder.

For the third time in a week, PM did not name China as the aggressor, why?

What is the purpose of talking about an unnamed ‘enemy’ to the people of India and the jawans in Ladakh?

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) July 3, 2020

PM has still not answered our questions about where the violent clashes took place on June 15-16 between Chinese and Indian troops and if the Chinese have intruded into Indian territory at several points.

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) July 3, 2020

With inputs from Scroll.in

Meanwhile, Congress leader P Chidambaram asked why the prime minister once again failed to name China during his speech in Ladakh on Friday.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the situation with China. In a tweet, Gandhi claimed that while the prime minister says the Chinese Army did not enter Indian territory during a violent clash with its Indian counterpart on June 15, the people of Ladakh hold a different view of the matter.

“Ladakhis say, China took our land,” Gandhi tweeted. “PM says: Nobody took our land. Obviously, someone is lying.” Gandhi tweeted a video showing residents of Ladakh accusing China of occupying territory. The Congress also shared the video on its official handle.

At least 20 Indian soldiers were killed and 76 wounded in the clash on June 15, in Galwan Valley in Ladakh, along the Line of Actual Control. China too admitted to losing personnel, but did not specify a number.

Ladakhis say:
China took our land.

PM says:
Nobody took our land.

Obviously, someone is lying. pic.twitter.com/kWNQQhjlY7

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 3, 2020

The Congress leader’s attack came on the day that Modi visited Indian troops in Leh, Ladakh, and gave a speech praising their bravery, asserting that all Indians were proud of them. The prime minister also said that the “enemy” had seen the “fire and fury” of India’s soldiers, and that “expansionists” always lose, in an indirect reference to China.

Gandhi has been attacking Modi and the Centre over the past three weeks following the Ladakh clash. On June 30, he criticised Modi’s address to the country, in which the prime minister spoke about the coronavirus pandemic. Gandhi implied, through an Urdu poem, that the prime minister had once again avoided talking about the tensions with China.

On June 21, Gandhi accused Modi of “surrendering” to China, after the prime minister claimed that no Chinese troops had intruded into Indian territory. A few days later, the Congress leader tweeted a graph showing that Chinese imports had risen since 2014, when the Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party government came to power.

With inputs from Scroll.in

PTI

New Delhi: Paying tributes to the 20 Army men killed in a violent face off with Chinese troops in east Ladakh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the bravery shown by the soldiers has sent a message about the strength of India

Addressing Army, Air Force and ITBP personnel during his surprise visit to Ladakh, he said India’s resolve for ‘atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) becomes stronger because of you and your strong resolve

He told the personnel that their will power is as strong and firm as the Himalayas and the whole country is proud of them.

PTI

New Delhi: Days after a violent face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in East Ladakh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday reached Leh with Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat.

Modi reached Leh around 9.30 am, sources said.

The prime minister is presently at one of the forward locations in Nimu and is interacting with personnel of the Army, Air Force and ITBP, official sources said.

Located at 11,000 feet, Nimu is among the toughest terrains, on the banks of river Indus and surrounded by the Zanskar range.

PTI

Mumbai: Renowned choreographer Saroj Khan, the name behind some of the most famous songs in Bollywood such as Dhak Dhak and Ek Do Teen , died of cardiac arrest early on Friday morning. She was 71.

Choreographer Saroj Khan | Photo Credit: Facebook

The three-time National Award winner was not keeping well for some time.

She was admitted to Guru Nanak Hospital in Bandra on June 20 after she complained of breathing issues. She had tested negative for COVID-19.

“She passed away due to cardiac arrest at around 2.30 am at the hospital,” Khan’s nephew Manish Jagwani told PTI.

Khan is survived by son Raju Khan and daughter Sukaina Khan.

Her funeral was held on Friday morning at a cemetery in suburban Malad.

“We buried her at around 7 am. The prayer meeting will be held after three days,” Sukaina told PTI.

Mourning her death, superstar Akshay Kumar said Khan made dance look easy and accessible.

“Woke up to the sad news that legendary choreographer #SarojKhan ji is no more. She made dance look easy, almost like anybody can dance, a huge loss for the industry. May her soul rest in peace,” Akshay tweeted.

Actor Suniel Shetty called Khan a true guru.

“You are loved… You are irreplaceable… A true Guru,” he wrote.

Director Hansal Mehta wrote, “An era is over. RIP Saroj Khan.”

Director Kunal Kohli, who worked with the choreographer on “Fanaa”, remembered Khan as someone who stood up for people’s rights.

“She stood up for the rights of people. Never bothered who was a star or not. She said her bit unadulterated and from the heart. Brought biryani on every song and fed the whole crew so lovingly.We gossiped, we worked. Thank you for the memories masterji. Saroj Khan love you always,” he tweeted.

In a career spanning over four decades, Khan, who was known as Masterji, choreographed more than 2,000 songs.

Khan’s best work was with actors Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit, the prominent dancing stars of the 80s and 90s.

Her parents migrated to India after the Partition. She started her career in the film industry as a child artiste at the age of three and later worked as a background dancer.

The choreographer, who was born as Nirmala and later converted to Islam, learnt dance while working under film choreographer B Sohanlal. They got married when she was 13 and he was 41.

Khan got her first break as an independent choreographer with Geeta Mera Naam in 1974 but it took Sridevi’s Hawa Hawai song in 1987 film Mr India for her to receive acclaim as a dance choreographer of repute.

There was no looking back for Khan after the success of the song. She choreographed Sridevi in films such as Nagina and Chandni .

But it was her work with Madhuri Dixit that made her famous.

Starting with Ek Do Teen in Tezaab , she choreographed Madhuri in Tamma Tamma Loge in Thanedar and Dhak Dhak Karne Laga in Beta and “Dola Re Dola” from Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Devdas”. She also choreographed Kareena Kapoor in “Ye Ishq Haaye”.

She last choreographed for “Tabaah Hogaye”, featuring Madhuri from filmmaker Karan Johar’s production “Kalank” in 2019.

Khan’s death comes at a time when the film industry is already grappling with the loss of Irrfan Khan, Rishi Kapoor, Basu Chatterjee and Sushant Singh Rajput in recent months.

People will give a befitting reply to govt, he says

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused the Union government of ‘snatching away the lifeline of the poor’ by announcing plans to allow private players to run passenger trains.

The people of the country would give a befitting reply to the government, he said.

“Railways is the only lifeline of the poor and the government is taking it away from them. Snatch whatever you want. But do remember that the people of the country will give a befitting reply to this,” he said in a tweet in Hindi.

On Wednesday, the railways formally announced plans to allow private entities to operate passenger trains by inviting request for qualifications (RFQ) for participation on 109 pairs of routes through 151 modern trains.

Singhvi’s poser

At an official Congress briefing, Rajya Sabha member Abhishek Singhvi not only questioned the move but also its timing.

“Does common sense tell everybody that the best time to get to the bids for individual lines is bang in the middle of corona? So are you squandering state largesse and throwing away valuable Indian resources by picking a time of this kind, it is absolutely mind-boggling why this time has been chosen” he said.

Describing the railways as the seventh largest employer in the world, Mr. Singhvi said the move had serious implications for 1.5 core employees, movement of cargo and common passengers.

“Why this mad rushing hurry? Could you not have waited to at least convene Parliament? I have said earlier and I am repeating, you should pass a parliamentary law. We could have had virtual Parliament,” he said.

Though the government had not used the word privatisation but as public-private partnership (PPP), the move amounted to privatising the railways, he added.

PTI

Tamil Nadu: A missing seven-year old girl was sexually assaulted and killed allegedly by a man in a village near here, following which he has been arrested, police said here on Thursday.

The crime coming close on the heels of a killing of a 13 -year old girl in this district, has led to an outrage and Chief Minister K Palaniswami assured stern legal action against the accusedinvolved in the ghastly crime.

The child went missing on June 30 evening and after unsuccessful searches, her family lodged a police complaint the next day.

During investigation, police said they spotted the body of the child in a deserted location near her village and it was also found that the child was last seen with a neighbour.

“A youth, living near the child’s house had taken her to a temple and local people also had seen them together.

Later, this man had taken her to a secluded place where he sexually assaulted and killed her,” a police official told PTI.

The 25-year-old man was arrested today and during questioning, he confessed to his crime of sexual assault and murder, the official said adding the body of the victim, which bore signs ofassault and injuries was sent to a government hospital forpost-mortem.

Asked on the findings of autopsy, he said: “the report corroborates the confession of the accused.”

A case of rape and murder under IPC sections, the POCSO Act for aggravated penertrative sexual asault and the SC/ST Act has been filed.

The family of the victim has still not accepted her body protesting against the crime, the assailant and seeking government intervention.

The ghastly crime against the child has outraged people and several in the social media sought justice and condemned crimes against women and children.

In May, a 13-year old girl was killed by her father “to get prosperity,” on the basis of “advise of a woman black magician.”

Four people including the victim’s father, the black magician and her assistant were arrested.