New Delhi: After Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, India’s largest mobile operator Reliance Jio on Sunday announced up to 21 per cent hike in its prepaid tariffs from the next month.
Despite the increase in rates, Jio has kept the price of plans lower than Airtel and Vodafone Idea’s which is expected to continue pricing competition in the industry.
The company still has kept its lowest rate for 28 days validity plan at Rs 91 for Jiophone users which is the lowest among private telecom operators. Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea have increased the entry level plan with 28 days validity to Rs 99.
The tariff hikes entail JioPhone Plan, Unlimited Plans, and data add on, and range between 19.6 per cent and 21.3 per cent.
“In line with its commitment to further strengthen a sustainable telecom industry, where every Indian is empowered with a true digital life, Jio today announced its new unlimited plans. These plans will provide the best value in the industry,” Reliance Jio said in a statement.
The statement further said: “Upholding the Jio promise of providing the best-quality service at the lowest price globally, Jio customers will continue to be the biggest beneficiaries”.
The new unlimited plans will go-live on December 1, 2021, and can be opted from existing touchpoints and channels.
The company announced tariff hikes across 15 plans which include one for JioPhone users, 11 in unlimited category and three in data top up category.
In the unlimited plan category, Jio has increased the price of its cheapest plan with 28 days validity to Rs 155 from Rs 129.
The cheapest unlimited category with 84 days validity will be priced at Rs 395 instead of 329 at present.
The popular unlimited category plan offering daily 1.5 GB daily data usage with 84 days validity will go up by about 20 per cent to Rs 666 from Rs 555 at present.
The company has announced that its annual unlimited category plan offering 2 GB daily data usage at 4G speed will be priced at Rs 2,879 instead of 2,399 at present.
Airtel and Vodafone Idea last week announced up to 25 per cent hike in their prepaid plans tariffs to improve financials.
Several market analysts had said that the final assessment of the impact can be done only when Jio opens up its card on price hike.
Airtel and VIL have been maintaining that average revenue per user needs to go up in the range of Rs 200 to Rs 300 per month for sustaining business but they have been unable to hike tariff due to competitive pressure.
Jio ARPU in the second quarter ended September 30, 2021 was Rs 143.6 while that of Bharti Airtel and VIL in the same quarter was Rs 153 and Rs 109, respectively.
Over 75% women in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka justify beating by husbands: NFHS Survey
New Delhi: Over 30 per cent women from 14 of the 18 states and Union Territories that were surveyed justify men beating their wives under certain circumstances, while lesser percentage of men rationalised such behaviour, according to the recent National Family Health Survey (NHFS).
According to NHFS-5, over 75 per cent women justified men beating their wives in three states — Telangana (84 per cent), Andhra Pradesh (84 per cent) and Karnataka (77 per cent).
Manipur (66 per cent), Kerala (52 per cent), Jammu and Kashmir (49 per cent), Maharashtra (44 per cent) and West Bengal (42 per cent) were the other states and Union Territory where a large number of women justified men beating their wives.
To a question by the NFHS, “In your opinion, is a husband justified in hitting or beating his wife…?”, over 30 per cent women from as many as 14 states and Union Territories said, “yes”.
The survey put forward the probable circumstances under which a husband beats his wife: if he suspects her of being unfaithful; if she disrespects in-laws; if she argues with him; if she refuses to have sex with him; if she goes out without informing him; if she neglects the house or the children; if she doesn’t cook good food.
The most common reasons given by the respondents to justify beating were neglecting the house or children and showing disrespect to in-laws.
Of the 18 states, women respondents in 13 — Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Manipur, Gujarat, Nagaland, Goa, Bihar, Karnataka, Assam, Maharashtra, Telangana, Nagaland and West Bengal — cited ‘disrespect to in-laws’ as the main reason to justify beating.
The lowest population of women that justified beating by husbands was in Himachal Pradesh (14.8 per cent).
Among men, 81.9 per cent respondents from Karnataka said such behaviour is justified as against 14.2 per cent in Himachal Pradesh.
Ushasree, director of ‘Roshni’, a Hyderabad-based NGO which provides counselling and other services to those in emotional distress, said her organisation has seen a rise in sexual abuse and domestic violence during COVID-19.
“Some men appear to vent their frustration, caused by loss of income and other reasons due to the pandemic, on their family members,” she said.
“There is an increase in the number of calls we received because friction has grown among family members as they stay confined within four walls round-the-clock due to the pandemic,” she said.
Though the number of calls is on the decline of late, women are generally facing domestic violence, she said.
Roshni is a member of Befrienders Worldwide, an international organisation. It has two helpline numbers, 040-6620 2001 and 040-6620 2000, she said.
In Telangana, where as much as 84 per cent women justified beating by their husbands, the government runs various schemes, some with the support of the central government, for protection and empowerment of women.
The schemes include Sakhi – One Stop Centre, Women Helpline – 181, Swadhar Greh and Ujjwala Homes, Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG) and Mahila Shakti Kendras, official sources said.
Amita Pitre, lead specialist, Gender Justice: Oxfam India, said the organisation’s work in five states shows that harmful gender social norms help justify violence against women and girls.
“They are the tools of patriarchy and women are as much a part of the patriarchal society as men. In fact, women are trained in society to be strict guardians of these norms, especially for daughters and daughters-in-laws, and that is one of the most common ways they are perpetuated,” Pitre told PTI.
“All the reasons cited to justify violence on women are a product of these norms: if she neglects the house or children, if she refuses to have sex with the husband, if she doesn’t cook food properly… all these define how women should behave in society. It is as important that women move away from such thinking as men if gender-based violence against women has to stop,” she said.
Laughter is costing comedians more & more: Kunal Kamra after Munawar Faruqui’s show gets cancelled
New Delhi: Popular stand-up comedian and activist Kunal Kamra on Sunday said the laughter is costing comedians more and more with every passing year. His statement comes on a day comedian Munawar Faruqui’s show in Bengaluru was called off by the organisers after the city police served them notice.
In their letter to the organisers of the show, the Bengaluru Police had cited the law and order situation in the city while also claiming that Munawar was a controversial comedian who had complaints registered against him for hurting the religious sentiments of people.
The cops had also cited that several organisations in the city were against the show and the comedian was banned in several states of the country.
Reacting to the development, fellow comedian Kunal Kamra shared a note through a Facebook post stating that laughter was costing comedians more and more with each passing year.
“With every passing year I feel laughter is costing comedians more & more. It’s costing them their spontaneity and its costing them their impulse. I have even heard some comedians telling jokes to their lawyers and showing their video to a legal team before they release it online,” (SIC) he wrote in his post.
“The impulse of any artist to be so calculative, a move in itself is the slow death of the art from. Laughter is beautiful, honest & most spurred by spontaneity – if a comedian is calculating what should they present to the audience for the audience to laugh at, the audience will also soon think what should they laugh on.” (SIC) he added.
He then quoted a Zen master and further wrote “A zen master once quoted “when you’re laughing you can never be in the past or the future”. That immense, confounding, timeless beauty of laughter is being penalised & criminalised. Imagine you reaching out to a comedian for a quote and comedian is not even trying to joke & is giving a serious calculated response, not a ephemeral, human reaction.” (SIC) he further added.
Govt to review decision on restarting international flights, SOP for incoming passengers
New Delhi:he government on Sunday decided to review the decision on resuming scheduled commercial international passenger services as well SOP on testing and surveillance of incoming passengers, especially from countries identified as ‘at risk’, in the wake of the emergence of the new COVID-19 variant of concern ‘Omicron’.
The decisions were taken at an urgent meeting chaired by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and attended by various stakeholders, an official spokesperson said.
The meeting was held a day after a high-level review by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the new COVID-19 variant of concern ‘Omicron’.
After a long hiatus of more than 20 months, the government had on November 26 announced the resumption of scheduled international commercial flights from December 15.
The home ministry spokesperson said at the meeting, chaired by the home secretary, the overall global situation in the wake of the Omicron virus was comprehensively reviewed and various preventive measures in place and to be further strengthened were discussed.
The government will review the decision on the effective date of resumption of scheduled commercial international passenger services as per evolving global scenario, the spokesperson said.
The new, potentially more contagious B.1.1.529 variant was first reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) from South Africa on November 24 and has also been identified in Botswana, Belgium, Hong Kong and Israel.
It was on Friday designated as a “Variant of Concern” by the WHO, which named it Omicron. A variant of concern is the WHO’s top category of worrying COVID-19 variants.
“Government to review Standard Operating Procedure on testing and surveillance of incoming international passengers, especially for those countries identified ‘at risk’ category,” the spokesperson said in a series of tweets.
The government has also decided that the genomic surveillance for variants will be further strengthened and intensified and Airport Health Officials (APHOs) and Port Health Officials (PHOs) will be sensitised for strict supervision of testing protocol at airports and seaports.
“Decision on effective date of resumption of scheduled commercial international passengers service, to be reviewed, as per evolving global scenario,” the spokesperson said.
A closer watch on the emerging pandemic situation within the country will be maintained, the spokesperson said.
The meeting was held with various experts including V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, Vijay Raghavan, Principal Scientific Adviser to Prime Minister, senior officers from Health, Civil Aviation and other Ministries.
Ruling BJP sweeps Tripura civic polls
Agartala: The ruling BJP on Sunday swept the civic body elections in Tripura, having won all the seats of the 51-member Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) and clinching several other urban local bodies.
The opposition TMC and CPI(M) failed to open their account in the AMC.
The saffron party secured all the wards in the 15-member Khowai Municipal Council, 17-seat Belonia Municipal Council, 15-member Kumarghat Municipal Council and nine-member Sabroom Nagar Panchayat, state election commission officials said.
The party made a clean sweep in the 25-ward Dharmanagar Municipal Council, 15-seat Teliamura Municipal Council and 13-member Amarpur Nagar Panchayat, they said.
Sonamura Nagar Panchayat and Melaghar Nagar Panchayat became opposition less with the BJP having won all the 13 seats each. It also bagged the 11-member Jirania Nagar Panchayat.
The party secured 12 seats of Ambassa Municipal Council, while the TMC and the CPI-M won one seat each and another went to an independent candidate.
The BJP also won 16 seats of Kailashahar Municipal Council and the CPI(M) got one.
In Panisagar Nagar Panchayat, the BJP emerged victorious in 12 seats, and the CPI (M) bagged one.
The saffron party had fielded candidates for all the 334 seats of Agartala Municipal Corporation, 13 municipal bodies and six Nagar Panchayats in the state where its nominees won in 112 places uncontested. Elections to 222 seats were held on November 25.
The ruling BJP is locked in a battle with the Trinamool Congress, which is foraying into the North east and elsewhere to establish itself as a national party, and with the CPI(M), which the saffron camp had dethroned from power in the state some years ago.
The TMC, which alleged vote-rigging and intimidation in the elections, had demanded countermanding of the entire polls. The CPI(M) had sought fresh elections in five municipal bodies. including the AMC.
Both parties had claimed that the authorities remained silent spectators as BJP supporters attacked political rivals and rigged the elections. The saffron camp, however, stoutly denied the charges.
Reacting to the impressive performance by his party in the elections, BJP vice president Dilip Ghosh said in Kolkata that the results of Tripura civic polls have exposed the “hollowness” of TMC’s claims of having made inroads into the northeastern state. He said people there have faith in the saffron party.
Describing TMC workers campaigning in Tripura as “hired people”, Ghosh told reporters his party shares a “strong bond” with the residents of that state.
“The civic poll results are on expected lines. The TMC did not have any chance to open its account in Tripura, they only made noises. This verdict shows hired people from West Bengal cannot help a party create a base in a state, which has faith in the BJP,” Ghosh added.
Karnataka seeks travel ban on passengers coming from nations hit by Omicron COVID variant
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has requested the Centre to impose a travel ban on passengers coming from South Africa, Hong Kong and Botswana in view of the detection of the new variant of COVID-19 -‘Omicron’, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said on Sunday.
“A new strain of the COVID-19 has appeared abroad, which is mainly seen in South Africa, Hong Kong and Botswana. European nations have imposed restrictions and the WHO has also raised an alarm against this new variant by calling it a matter of concern,” Bommai told reporters here.
“We have also requested the Union government to ban travellers from the three countries (South Africa, Hongkong and Botswana),” he added.
Stating that there were no details available about the impact of the new variant, Bommai pointed out that he has learnt that it is a super spreader and hence, India is on the alert.
“India is on the alert. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had convened a meeting and given a slew of directions. Keeping that in mind, we too had convened a meeting on Saturday in the state. So far we have not come across the new strain in the state,” the Chief Minister said.
Bommai said he has ordered restrictions at the airport for people coming from countries, which are in contact with people from nations where the new Omicron variant has been detected.
“The travellers will be let go only if they test negative for the COVID-19 or else they will be sent to the containment zone. Earlier, there was a system that the travellers were allowed to go after collecting samples and then they were quarantined after testing positive,” Bommai said.
Underlining that there was high prevalence of COVID among people coming from Kerala, the Chief Minister said he has ordered precautionary measures in Dakshina Kannada, Madikeri, Chamarajanagar and Mysuru districts bordering Kerala, which will be in effect round-the-clock.
“People coming from Kerala will be let in people only after they test negative for COVID-19. They should have taken two doses of COVID-19 vaccine. This way we have given direction for round-the-clock monitoring in these districts,” the Chief Minister explained.
He also said people who came from Kerala in the last 14 days will have to undergo tests again.
Speaking about the rising cases in some clusters in Dharwad, Bengaluru and Mysuru, he said precautionary measures have been taken.
“We are conducting tests in SDM Medical College. We are conducting tests on doctors, nurses, patients and others. We have stopped the entry of outpatients,” Bommai said, referring to the outbreak of COVID among students and staff of SDM Medical College in Dharwad.
Sources in the Health department said on Sunday said that 25 more COVID infected people were detected. With this, 306 people have found COVID infected out of 3,973 people who underwent tests. The infected are said to be asymptomatic or having mild symptoms.
Stating that the government is keeping a close watch on the developments, Bommai said not only more tests are going on but also treatment to COVID infected people is given.
The Chief Minister also said that his government will seek permission for giving booster doses to the health workers.
Along with it, the government will make sure that people working in malls, public places and government offices took double doses of COVID-19, Bommai said, adding the state also plans to arrange vaccination camps in malls and government hospitals.
To a query on restrictions on new year celebrations, Bommai said no decision has been taken regarding it.
However, the government will wait for a week to take a stand on the issue after watching the COVID-19 related developments, he added.
Asked about restrictions during the MLC election campaign, the Chief Minister said though the gathering will not be huge, he has given directions to abide by COVID appropriate behaviour such as wearing masks and social distancing.
Regarding COVID-19 vaccine stock, Bommai said the state has 80 lakh vaccines.
According to him, Karnataka’s first dose coverage is 91 per cent, which is reaching saturation.
“Now we are focusing on second dose. We are aiming to achieve 70 per cent vaccination by December-end. Presently we have reached 58 per cent,” he added.
Salman Khan appeals to fans to not burst crackers inside theatres, not waste milk on film posters
Mumbai: Sharing a video of fireworks being set off during the theatrical screening of his latest film “Antim: The Final Truth”, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has urged his fans to steer clear of such activities that can cause a “huge fire hazard”.
Khan took to Instagram on Saturday night to appeal to his ardent followers to not put anyone’s life in danger.
“Request my fans to not take fire crackers inside the auditorium as it could prove to be a huge fire hazard thereby endangering your lives and also others (sic)” the 55-year-old actor wrote in the caption of the clip he posted on Saturday night.
Khan also asked the theatre owners to not allow firecrackers inside the auditorium.
“My request to theatre owners to not allow fire crackers to be taken inside the cinema hall and security should stop them from doing so at entry point (sic)” he said.
“Enjoy the film by all means but please please avoid this is my request to all my fans… thank u (sic)” the actor added.
Later in the day, Khan posted another video on Instagram, this time of his fans bathing his poster from “Antim” with milk.
The actor urged them to avoid such wastage and instead donate the milk to children in need.
“There are so many people who don’t even have water to drink and you are all wasting milk like this. If you want to do something, I request all my fans to use this milk to feed all those poor children who don’t get to drink milk,” he wrote alongside the clip.
“Antim” is an action thriller directed by Mahesh Manjrekar and also stars Aayush Sharma, Mahima Makwana and Sachin Khedekar.
Remake of the 2018 hit Marathi crime drama “Mulshi Pattern”, “Antim” is billed as a tale of two powerful men with polar opposite ideologies; one a cop and the other a gangster.
The film released theatrically on November 26.
‘I’m done! Goodbye!’: Comedian Munawar Faruqui reacts after show cancelled in Bengaluru
Bengaluru:The Bengaluru police have denied permission to Munawar Faruqui’s stand-up comedy show in the city on Sunday amid protest by the Hindu right wing outfits who alleged that the artist had hurt the Hindu sentiments in one of his shows.
“Yes, we have denied him permission. He will not perform any public show today,” a senior police officer told PTI on condition of anonymity.
Faruqui also shared a statement on social media confirming that his Bengaluru show that had sold “600 plus” tickets was cancelled Sunday in the wake of the “threats to venue vandalism” and said he was “done”.
“My name is Munawar Faruqui. And that’s been my time, you guys were (a) wonderful audience. Good bye, I’m done,” he said.
The proceeds from the show were supposed to be donated to late Kannada star Puneeth Rajkumar’s charitable organisation.
In the same statement, the 29-year-comic said they initially did not want to reveal that the show was for charity.
“Putting me in jail for the joke I never did to cancelling my shows which has nothing problematic in it. This is unfair. This show has gained so much love from people in India irrespective of their religion. This is unfair (sic)” he added in his Twitter statement.
Faruqui claimed that his 12 shows were called off in the last two months because of the threats to the venue and audiences.
The comedian also claimed they have a “censor certificate of the show”, which proves there was “nothing problematic” in the stand-up act.
Faruqui, however, found support in actors Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub and Swara Bhasker.
Ayyub urged the comic to not lose hope.
“And WE Failed once again as a society . looking forward to see you back on stage..” he tweeted.
Bhasker described the turn of events as “heartbreaking and shameful” and apologised to Faruqui.
“A project of hate & bigotry will always hate an articulate, rational, educated, charming, talented & funny Other’ who connects beyond identity with a heterogeneous public.. make no mistake Munawwar, Umar Khalid & other such articulate Muslims are a huge threat to Hindutva,” she wrote on the microblogging site.
“Also.. it’s heartbreaking & shameful how we as a society have allowed bullying and gaslighting to become normalised. I’m sorry Munawwar!” she said in a follow-up tweet.
According to reports, Faruqui had planned a performance ‘Dongri To Nowhere’ on Sunday evening. The show was organised in Bengaluru by Vishal Dhuria and Siddharth Das of New Delhi-based Curtain Calls Event.
However, various right wing organisations including Sriram Sena and Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, had lodged a complaint with the Bengaluru city police Commissioner against the comedian charging him of hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus by allegedly insulting Hindu Gods.
The inspector of the Ashokanagar police station in the city under whose jurisdiction the Good Shepherd Auditorium falls wrote a letter to the organisers on Saturday to call off the event as the comedian is a controversial figure.
“It is learnt that Munawar Faruqui is a controversial figure….. Many states have banned his comedy shows. It is learnt that a case has been registered against him in the Tukoji police station in Indore of Madhya Pradesh,” the inspector said in his letter.
He also stated that many organisations are opposing his show, which may cause chaos, disturb peace and harmony and create a law and order problem.
“Therefore, it is suggested that you should cancel Faruqui’s stand-up comedy show,” the letter said.
Earlier this year, Faruqui was arrested by the Indore Police in a case for allegedly hurting religious sentiments and was in jail for almost a month. The comic, who has alleged heavy trolling against him on social media in the past, was released from the Indore central jail on February 7 after the Supreme Court granted him bail in the case.
Faruqui and four others were arrested on January 1 following a complaint by a BJP MLA’s son that objectionable remarks about Hindu deities and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were passed during a comedy show at a cafe in Indore on New Year’s day.
Constitution has played an important role in unification of India: CM Bommai
Parmesh Jain
Constitution has played an important role in unification of India,Chief Minister,Basavaraj Bommai said.
The Chief Minister in his address after reading the preamble of the Constitution as part of the ‘Constitution Day’celebration lauded Indian constitution as the best in the world.
Our constitution guarantees freedom of speech, religion and expression. It upholds the principles of equality and fraternity. “
While the Constitution guarantees many rights for its citizens, it is the responsibility of the citizens to discharge their duties for the nation.
Anarchy would reign if the citizens ignore their duties.Citizens should be vigilant and responsible to preserve democracy in India, he said.
Ambedkar is the Father of Modern India
Reminding Ambedkar’s contribution in drafting the constitution, Bommai said, he was a great humanist inspired by saint philosophers like Budha and Basava,He incorporated their ideals into the constitution.
Ambedkar is the Father of Modern India as the Conscience of the nation is still alive despite the influences of privatisation,globalisation and liberalisation over the last 75 years.
The conscience is alive only because of the strength of our constitution.Ambedkar,who empowered the weakest to raise their voice to assert their right is truly the Father of Modern India,” Bommai said.
Those who had faith in the constitution should adhere to it in letter and spirit.
Indian constitution has life as it has provision for amending it in accordance with the needs of the changing times, he said.
MLA Ravindranath is a model for the young generation: CM Bommai
Paresh Jain
Davanagere MLA and Former minister S A Ravindranath is a model for the present young generation,Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said here on Friday.
Bommai,who felicitated Ravindranath as part of the celebration of latter’s 75th Birthday and released a book ‘Krishi Kanmani’,described him as a rare leader who maintained high standards of honesty and commitment for social cause in his public life.
The Chief Minister,recalled Ravindranath’s agitation to get Bhadra canal waters to irrigate the fields of farmers in Mayakonda.
He was always in the forefront to fight for the interest of farmers without any selfish expectations.
Ravindranath is a political statesman who worked with a vision for the welfare of the next generation unlike the ordinary politicians who work for immediate political gains,Bommai said.
Bommai appreciated Ravindranath’s plan to develop a layout to provide housing for 20,000 poor families in Davanagere.
It needs a big heart and we will provide necessary cooperation to realise his noble plan,” Bommai said.
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