New Delhi: The series of resignations at the Adani-acquired NDTV doesn’t seem to halt at the moment as another senior executive of the channel Kawaljit Singh Bedi announced his resignation on late Tuesday evening.

The announcement came hours after reports of the Executive Editor of the channel Nidhi Razdan’s resignation came out.

In a tweet, Bedia wrote “You and I have memories. Longer than the road that stretches out ahead. 23 years and some change. Time to say goodbye. Thank you @ndtv”

NDTV has been marred with a series of resignations ever since the Adani group took over the channel earlier in December last year.

Journalist Ravish Kumar and NDTV Group president Suparna Singh are among others who quit. NDTV founders Prannoy Roy and Radhika Roy also left the company’s board in December 2022.

On December 30, the Adani group said it has acquired a 27.26% equity stake in NDTV from the Roys, founders of the news broadcaster. A week before that, the NDTV board also appointed two nominee directors of the richest Asian Gautam Adani-run conglomerate on the board – Sanjay Pugalia and Senthil Sinniah Chengalvarayan.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran Uma Bharti

Bhopal: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran Uma Bharti on Tuesday sought to link rise in cases of crime against women in Madhya Pradesh, ruled by her party, to consumption of alcohol and pushed for converting liquor outlets which are being operated in violation of rules into cow shelters.

Ending her four-day-long stay at a temple in Bhopal, Bharti announced the launch of “Madhushala Me Gaushala” (cow shelters in place of liquor outlets) programme in support of her demand for a “controlled” liquor policy in the state.

On Saturday afternoon, the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister reached a temple located near a liquor shop in Ayodhya Nagar trisection of the state capital and announced she will stay there till January 31, awaiting announcement of a new liquor policy by the government.

She ended her four-day-long stay at the temple on Tuesday as the state government has delayed its liquor policy announcement.

Addressing the media here, Bharti claimed a liquor shop located near the famous Ram Raja Sarkar temple at Orchha in Niwari district, located around 350km from Bhopal, was illegal.

“Without waiting for the liquor policy, I will start converting liquor shops, which are being run in contravention of rules, into cow shelters,” she said.

Bharti said she has told people to arrange 11 cows to be put up outside the “illegal” liquor shop in Orchha.

“Will see who dares to stop me… will feed these cows and arrange water for them at the liquor shop,” said the former Union minister.

Governments are being formed in the name of Lord Ram, but a liquor shop has been allowed to come up near the Ram Raja Sarkar temple in Orchha, she said.

Quoting an unnamed report, Bharti said the BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh is leading in crime against women and liquor consumption was one of the reasons for this disturbing trend.

Bharti said the BJP is winning elections due to the “magic” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“People have the choice to elect good or bad people in a democracy When one has a choice between bad and very bad, the people elect the bad, which is not an achievement… Forming a government is not a big deal but the big thing is to develop a healthy society and ensure protection of women and the future of children,” the BJP leader maintained.

She alleged a section of the BJP has been trolling her over her drive against liquor consumption and linking it to her political ambitions.

Bharti said she has held the post of CM, served as a Union minister and now only the position of Prime Minister is left to be achieved, but very few politicians can occupy that top office.

“Will I get that post (of PM) due to liquor prohibition agitation? A section of the BJP is spreading such things,” she said.

Bharti also threatened that she will start now revealing what the ministers, MPs and MLAs talk to her during as such people are continuously meeting her.

The senior BJP leader said during a meeting with Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the latter agreed to her suggestion to come out with a “controlled” liquor policy.

Earlier, addressing a gathering, Bharti claimed women don’t want schemes like the recently announced Ladli Bahina Yojana (targeted at women from financially weaker section) but they instead want a controlled liquor policy.

Bharti said women roam freely at night in Gujarat like “lioness of Gir” and eat ‘bhelpuri’ (a street snack) at midnight because prohibition is in force in the adjoining state.

Muzaffarnagar (UP): A wall of a mosque collapsed killing an imam in Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, police said on Wednesday.

The deceased was identified as Tahir Kasmi, 60, the general secretary of Muzaffarnagar City Jamiat Ulema Hind.

The wall of the mosque in the Kotwali police station area of the district collapsed Tuesday evening, trapping the imam under the debris.

He was taken to a hospital where doctor pronounced him dead on arrival, Kotwali police station SHO Mahaveer Singh said.

KOLAR: Kicking off its election campaign, the Congress laid out a non-vegetarian meal for Vokkaliga leaders and prominent persons from the community in the Kolar assembly segment. It was the first such meeting for Vokkaliga leaders, with former minister Krishna Byre Gowda, MLA K Srinivasa Gowda, K Y Nanje Gowda, MLC Anil Kumar and former Chintamani MLA Dr Sudhakar appealing to voters to support Siddaramaiah in the upcoming election.

The meeting was held on the outskirts of Vemgal and chaired by Congress leaders from the Vokkaliga community. The meeting could also be the first such in Kolar by the Congress. Those who addressed the meeting targeted the JDS, particularly the Deve Gowda family, claiming that they are keen to promote their family interests and were not in favour of Vokkaligas. Instead of choosing a Vokkaliga leader for the Mandya election, the party fielded Kumaraswamy’son Nikhil, they claimed.

The leaders said that Kolar MLA K Srinivasa Gowda, who won on a JDS ticket and has joined the Congress, was neglected, his seniority was forgotten, and so was his contribution to the party. They appealed to the gathering to ensure support for the Congress in the upcoming election and elect Siddaramaiah, which will benefit the entire district.

HAIFA: The Adani Group on Tuesday acquired the strategic Israeli port of Haifa for USD 1.2 billion and vowed to transform the skyline of this Mediterranean city as part of its decision to invest more in the Jewish nation, including opening an artificial intelligence lab in Tel Aviv.

Gautam Adani, whose business empire was rocked by allegations of fraud by US short-seller Hindenburg Research, appeared alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the signing of the deal to takeover Haifa Port and spoke of investment opportunities.

Prime Minister Netanyahu described the Haifa port deal with the Adani Group as an “enormous milestone”, saying it will significantly improve connectivity between the two countries in many ways.

The Port of Haifa is the second largest port in Israel in terms of shipping containers and the biggest in shipping tourist cruise ships.

“I think this is an enormous milestone. Over 100 years ago, and during World World I, it was the brave Indian soldiers who helped liberate the city of Haifa. And today, it’s very robust Indian investors who are helping to liberate the port of Haifa,” Netanyahu said.

The Prime Minister said that he discussed with his “good friend” Indian counterpart Narendra Modi this vision of “having connectivity between our countries in many ways, transportation lines and air routes and sea routes and it’s happening today.”

He said what is happening today has historic importance because “What we see there is a tremendous boost for peace.”

Netanyahu said the region will become an entry point and an exit point for a vast number of goods that reach the Mediterranean and Europe directly without having to go around the Arabian peninsula without having to go through three choke points.

“This is an unequivocal expression of confidence in the Israeli economy,” he said, adding that privatisation of the ports and the entry of new investors strengthen Israel’s economic strength, lower the cost of living and create new opportunities for import and export and strengthens ties between India and Israel.

On his part, Adani said his group will also develop real estate at the port to transform the Haifa skyline.

The 60-year-old Indian tycoon did not make any mention of the Hindenburg row that has already wiped out over USD 70 billion in value from his group stocks.

“We have initiated several dozen technology relationships wherein we have offered the entire Adani portfolio of companies to be a giant sandbox for us to learn together,” he said in his speech.

“We are also in the process of setting up an Artificial Intelligence lab in Tel Aviv which will work in close collaboration with our new AI labs in India and the US.”

In the last six years, Adani group has struck many critical partnerships with companies such as Elbit Systems, Israel Weapon Systems, and Israel Innovation Authority.

Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd in partnership with local chemicals and logistics group Gadot in July last year won an Israel government’s tender to buy the Haifa Port, a major trade hub on Israel’s Mediterranean coast, for about USD 1.2 billion.

Adani’s company has no holdings in the West, so its entry into Israel is a signal for increased maritime traffic between Asia and Europe, and the major Asian players’ need for a hub in the Mediterranean.

“The acquisition of the Haifa port also comes with a significant amount of real estate. And I promise you that in the years to come we will transform the skyline we see around us,” said Adani, the founder and chairman of the group.

“The Haifa of tomorrow – will look very different from the Haifa that you see today. With your support – we will deliver on this commitment and do our part to transform this city.”

He expressed confidence in transforming the entire port landscape.

“We realize that there will be competition from others, but our confidence comes from our belief in the people of Israel and therefore our belief in the Israel Growth story.”

“Our intention is to make the right set of investments that will not just make the Adani Gadot partnership proud but will make the whole of Israel proud,” he said.

Stating that the Israeli spirit makes all the difference, he said his group also aims to establish collaborative relationships with local colleges like the University of Haifa to be able to capitalise on the deep technology expertise available in this city.

Adani said India-Israel friendship dates back to September 23, 1918, when soldiers from the Indian cities of Mysore, Hyderabad and Jodhpur battled here for the freedom of Haifa.

“And earlier today, I had an opportunity to visit the cemetery where our soldiers were put to rest. It was a moving moment for me to reflect on the fact that the port we now share – is part of the same city – where soldiers from both our countries – fought side by side for the ultimate shared cause that we all call — Freedom,” he said.

He went on to state that Israel has always motivated him.

“You have rewritten the rules of what a country with a population of less than ten million can achieve. You have rewritten the rules by proving what a country with very few natural resources can achieve. And you have rewritten the rules by showcasing what a country with self-belief can achieve.”

The elasticity of Israel makes it the world’s most resilient nation.

“Your pace of innovation across multiple sectors amazes me. Your drive for innovation makes me wonder how we can learn from you. You have focused on sustainable growth far before the world was talking about sustainability,” he said.

NEW DELHI:  Even as unease continues in the state due to the sinking of land in Joshimath, Uttarakhand got a reason to cheer on Monday. The state’s tableau bagged the top spot for the first time at the Republic Day Parade this year. The tableaux of Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh stood second and third, respectively.

The Army’s Punjab Regiment Centre contingent was declared the best marching contingent among the three services, while the Indian Air Force won the first spot in the online public poll conducted by MyGov. From among Central Armed Police Forces(CAPF) and other auxiliary forces, the Central Reserve Police Force was named as the best marching contingent.

The Uttarakhand tableau, titled Manaskhand, depicted the proposed Manaskhand corridor project that will link all major temples of the Kumaon region and develop them along the lines of the Char Dham in the Garhwal region. It showcased the famous Jageshwar Temple, besides other elements like the rich wildlife of the state. Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh had also created their presentations with a religious theme.

Maharashtra presented the three-and-a-half Shaktipeeths of Adishakti the Mahalakshmi Temple of Kolhapur, Sri Kshetra Tuljapur of Tuljabhavani, Renukadevi of Mahur, and Saptshringi Devi of Vani. The tableau of Uttar Pradesh showcased the three-day Deepotsava celebrated in Ayodhya.

Congratulating the people of the state, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami tweeted, “This achievement is a proud moment for all of us. Garhwal has been described as Kedarkhand and Kumaon as ‘Manaskhand’ in the Skanda Purana.

Jageshwar Temple too has a lot of religious belief.” Gujarat won the first spot in an online public poll conducted by MyGov, for its tableau on green energy. The second spot went to Uttar Pradesh, followed by Maharashtra. “Three panels of judges were appointed for assessing the performance of marching contingents from three Services, marching contingents from Central Armed Police Forces and other auxiliary forces and tableaux” said the ministry of defence.

Online poll was conducted for citizens to vote from January 25 to 28 on MyGov webpage. The ministry of tribal affairs tableau on ‘Eklavya model residential schools’ bagged the top position in the panel of judges section among ministries and departments. The home ministry’s presentation on CAPFs clinched the top spot in the popular choice category. A special prize went to Central Public Works Department on biodiversity conservation.

Online poll was conducted for citizens to vote
Online poll was conducted for citizens to vote from January 25 to 28 on MyGov webpage. The ministry of tribal affairs tableau on ‘Eklavya model residential schools’ bagged the top position in the panel of judges section among ministries and departments. The home ministry’s presentation on CAPFs clinched the top spot in the popular choice category. A special prize went to Central Public Works Department on biodiversity conservation.