Archives for April 2023

PUNE: Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar on Saturday said he cancelled his programmes for Friday as he was unwell after long tours across Maharashtra over the past few days and asked the media to not speculate on such issues as it caused confusion.

“I was unwell so I cancelled tours and events scheduled for Friday. Over the past few days, I have travelled across Maharashtra and have not got enough rest. Due to lack of proper sleep, pulmonary irritation was also on the rise. I took medicines and took rest at home as advised by the doctor,” he said.

“I too am human and might face health issues. The media must stop speculating during such times and verify before publishing any news. We are public figures but it is wrong to defame us in this manner,” he added.

He was speaking after inaugurating a jewellery shop in Pimpri in Pune district on Saturday along with his wife.

When NCP chief Sharad Pawar was asked by media about Ajit Pawar’s “absence” and not being reachable on phone, he said, “What does that mean? Supriya Sule may not be reachable to you but she is at home.”

Pawar’s cancellation of programmes and the fact that he was unreachable on phone gave rise to speculation on Friday about his next move among some political circles.

MUMBAI: Rohit Sharma will like to get his act together both as a batter as well as skipper, when his star-studded Mumbai Indians take on an astute Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings in what could be safely billed as a Saturday night IPL blockbuster.

Rested well for a week after their their crushing loss against RCB in season-opener, Mumbai Indians will certainly be under additional pressure in front of their passionate home fans here at the Wankhede Stadium.

More so, given how ruthlessly they were blown away by Royal Challengers Bangalore in a one-sided game with Virat Kohli taking the MI attack to cleaners.

But to their advantage, inexperience of Rajvardhan Hangargekar and Tushar Deshpande, both warned by their skipper Dhoni for bowling wides and no-balls, will find the batting-friendly Wankhede track very challenging.

How well spinners Moeen Ali and Mitchell Santner bowl will also decide CSK’s fate against the five-time champions.

There will be however be a case for Sisanda Magala, who is known to nail wide yorkers for South Africa might replace Santner in the playing XI.

The focus will be a little extra on Mi skipper Sharma, who hasn’t exactly set the IPL stage on fire for a few seasons.

The Indian skipper has had his share of blazing starts but a big knock has eluded him for quite some time now.

In a small ground with short side boundaries, how well Jofra Archer bowls will hold key for MI as the likes of Arshad Khan, Cameron Green could be lambs for slaughter for in-form Ruturaj Gaikwad or Devon Conway.

Sharma has fronted questions over Bumrah’s absence consistently but Mumbai Indians have also looked to plug in the holes by roping in Australian quick Riley Meredith in place of the injured Jhye Richardson, and Sandeep Warrier replacing the Indian star gives them another option.

The fresh track at the Wankhede can be expected to have some initial assistance for fast bowlers and as home team, Mumbai Indians would certainly want to make the most of it, especially given that CSK themselves have struggled in this department in their last two games.

MI will also be anxious about how their other batting star Suryakumar Yadav front up against an inexperienced attack.

Young Tilak Verma waged a lone battle to save the blushes against RCB for MI with the bat and Punjab lad Nehal Wadhera was also impressive on debut.

But the team will look to put up a collective batting effort starting from the top-order.

In Chennai line-up, Gaikwad’s imperious form with the bat and his pairing with the indomitable Convway is best attack weapon for the ‘Yellow Brigade’.

With two fifties in as many games, Gaikwad has lit up the IPL stage in the best way possible and his side would only wish that the right-hander is able to carry the momentum from one game to the next.

Conway missed out on a half-century against Lucknow Super Giants but he put on a century stand with Gaikwad to announce his return to form.

Shivam Dube and Moeen Ali are vital cogs for CSK in the middle-order, for whom the venerable Ambati Rayudu and Dhoni have also fired at important junctions, making them look like a better batting line-up in comparison to MI.

In bowling department, Deepak Chahar has looked subdued on comeback following a long injury lay-off but the India and CSK seamer will hope to make the most of conditions if some underlying moisture is there on offer.

For what it is worth, Mumbai Indians can also draw confidence from the fact that they have 20 wins in 34 meetings against Chennai Super Kings in a head-to-head battle in 13 out of the 15 editions where the two teams locked horns.

Squads: Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma (captain), Suryakumar Yadav, Tim David, Dewald Brevis, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Tristan Stubbs, Vishnu Vinod, Cameron Green, Arjun Tendulkar, Ramandeep Singh, Shams Mulani, Riley Meredith Nehal Wadhera, Hrithik Shokeen, Arshad Khan, Duan Jansen, Piyush Chawla, Kumar Kartikeya, Raghav Goyal, Jofra Archer, Jason Behrendorff, Akash Madhwal.

Chennai Super Kings: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain and wicketkeeper), Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ambati Rayudu, Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, Ravindra Jadeja, Ajinkya Rahane, Sisanda Magala, Shivam Dube, Dwaine Pretorius, Ajay Mandal, Nishant Sindhu, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Mitchell Santner, Subhranshu Senapati, Simarjeet Singh, Matheesha Pathirana, Mahesh Theekshana, Bhagath Verma, Prashant Solanki, Shaikh Rasheed, Tushar Deshpande.

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday dismissed as “completely false” the allegations of PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter Iltija that she was being “pressured to withdraw her petition” in the high court after she was issued a “country-specific passport” for two years.

Without naming Iltija in its response to her allegations, the police said security verifications preceding the issue of passports is a high-value public service and the alertness of the force has detected as many as 54 young boys who were wrongly given passport service during 2017-18.

In a statement, the police said a quick internal audit was conducted following the allegation of pressure on the litigant and dismissed it as “completely false”.

It is “unfortunate” that the public person has apparently projected her “personal grievance” as also to be the grievance of the public in general in Kashmir, the police said.

A day after she was issued a “country-specific passport” for two years to allow her to study in the United Arab Emirates, Iltija asked on Friday, “Am I a terrorist or an anti-national?” The 35-year-old had moved the Jammu and Kashmir High Court in February after her application for a passport was not cleared following an adverse report by the J-K Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Her passport had expired on January 2 and she had applied for a fresh one on June 8 last year.

She asserted that she would continue to fight her case in the court despite “pressure to withdraw her petition”.

In its statement, the police said, “On learning that accusations have been made that the CID of J&K Police has pressurised a litigant to refrain from litigating in the High Court in connection with her passport related grievances, a quick internal audit was carried out.

“J&K Police can affirm that the claim of such pressure is completely false. Nevertheless, officers are being detailed to approach the aggrieved person and ascertain details who pressurized, when, where and under what circumstances so that the quick internal inquiry if found inadequate can be expanded to take suitable disciplinary action against the delinquent,” it said.

It said that, unfortunately, the public person has apparently projected her personal grievance as also to be the grievance of the public in general in Kashmir.

“This is very problematic,” it said.

“J&K Police and its affiliates are public institutions and designed to serve public interest. Denigrating the community’s own institutions for grievances that are personal on the basis of false accusations is self harm,” the police said.

Giving a breakup of its passport verification works, the police said out of 77,686 passport verifications received in 2020, 77,644 (99.95 per cent) were cleared, while out of 75,714 passport verifications received in 2021, 75,176 (99.68 per,cent) were cleared.

Similarly, in 2022, out of 1,34,315 passport verifications received, 1,28,939 (99.61 per cent) were cleared.

It said the J&K Police is committed to speedy and hassle-free clearance for more than 99 per cent of the applicants who are “clean and green” and a professional filtering of those who should be prevented from availing the service — some in their own interest and others in the interest of the public.

“Security verifications preceding the issue of passports is a high value public service.

J&K Police has detected as many as 54 young boys who were wrongly given passport service during 2017-18,” the statement said.

The police said all of them went to Pakistan, were taken to terrorist camps, trained in arms, ammunition and explosives, many of them pushed back into J&K through the Line of Control and 26 of them died while either crossing or during encounters in the hinterland.

“Lives of 12 of these young boys could be saved by the CID after their return from Pakistan by bringing them under preventive custody so that terrorist-separatist syndicates do not succeed in pressuring them to join terror ranks.

“Eventually all of the 12 have been handed over to their families. Today they are alive and happily live amidst their mothers, sisters, brothers, fathers and friends. Unfortunately, 16 of them are still across and trapped in camps under control of hostile agencies,” the police said.

The statement said it is heartbreaking to know that in some cases even parents had no idea that passport services have been extended to these boys of tender age.

“Intelligence and investigation has confirmed that in each and every case the visa to Pakistan was arranged at the behest of one or the other leader of a constituent party of (separatist) Hurriyat Conference,” the police said, adding CID is committed to help the parents of vulnerable young persons in not falling prey to the death traps.

JAIPUR: A three-day Rashtriya Sewa Sangam of the RSS began in Jaipur on Friday and was inaugurated by RSS leader Mohan Bhagwat. During his address on Good Friday, Bhagwat emphasised that the service provided by Hindu saints to Indian society is way better than that of Christian missionaries.

The RSS has often criticised Christian missionary schools and institutions for their alleged efforts to convert people. Bhagwat noted that members of the missionary society were providing services by running hospitals and schools worldwide. However, after observing the work done by Hindu saints across the country, he realised that the saints were doing an excellent job, even better than the missionaries.

“When we talk of services, common people mention the names of missionaries who run schools and many organizations across the world. However, the service rendered by Hindu saints are no less. It came to my notice that the services of the saints who are engaged in spiritual works in four states of south India are many times more than the service of the missionaries put together.”

“There cannot be any measure of service, it is not a matter of competition, it is a natural expression of man. If India wants to grow, then every person of India has to bring himself to give service with a smile. When people started serving the Sangh, they came to know that many people were doing many types of service in our country”. Bhagwat said India’s society is of real human beings, they have compassion, not just sympathy.  Compassion is one of the four legs of society.

He further mentioned that Sangh has been serving society since inception, and everyone has the potential for service, which needs to be awakened. The Sangh is currently striving to create a healthy society through service. Bhagwat stressed the importance of considering everyone as equal and providing strength to weaker individuals in society.

GUWAHATI: Shikhar Dhawan and Prabhsimran Singh smashed classy half-centuries before Nathan Ellis’ exploits with the ball guided Punjab Kings to a nervy five-run victory over Rajasthan Royals in an IPL match, here on Wednesday.

Young Prabhsimran (60) and veteran skipper Dhawan (86 not out) pummelled the Rajasthan Royals attack to propel Punjab Kings to a challenging 197 for 4 after being asked to bat.

The Royals were then blown away by Ellis (4/30) before Shimron Hetmyer (35) and young ‘Impact Player’ Dhruv Jurel (32 not out off 15) stitched a 62-run partnership to get Rajasthan back in the game.

But IPL’s costliest overseas recruit Sam Curran, justified his top billing, by brilliantly defending 15 in the last over to restrict the Royals to 192 for 7.

Pacer Arshdeep Singh provided the early breakthrough as accounted fro both openers.

The Royals sent Ravichandran Ashwin to open in place of Jos Buttler, who had walked off the filed grimacing after taking Shahrukh Khan’s catch earlier on.

Yashasvi Jaiswal was first to go as he sent the ball straight the fielder. The Ashwin experiment also failed as the senior spinner perished for a duck.

Coming at No.3 Buttler, hit an 11-ball-19. He was dropped in the third over but couldn’t much as he became Ellis’ first victim of the night.

Skipper Sanju Samson (42 off 25) looked in good nick as he timed the ball well. He smacked Harpreet Brar for back to back boundaries before greeting Ellis with twin fours.

Rajasthan were 89 for 3 at the halfway mark. But the Punjab bowlers managed to dry out the boundaries and with the required run rate increasing Samson succumbed under the pressure and mistimed a a cross seamer by Ellis.

Ellis then sent back local favourite Riyan Parag (20 off 12) who played a quick cameo and Devdutt Padikal (21) packing before Hetmyer and Jurel hit a flurry of sixes and fours to bring the equation down to 15 off the last over.

Earlier, Prabhsimran, who hit seven fours and three sixes, mercilessly punished the Rajasthan bowlers during the first 10 overs to bring up his IPL maiden fifty off 28 balls as Punjab was off to a rollicking start.

He and Dhawan added 90 runs for the opening stand off just 61 balls.

On the other hand, Dhawan, switched gears effortlessly as he was 30 off 30 balls at one stage playing second fiddle to Prabhsimran.

Once his opening partner was dismissed, Dhawan upped the ante as he scored 56 off next 26 balls that he faced.

The Punjab Kings skipper was dropped on 50 and made most of his reprieve as he played the role of sheet anchor, ensuring his team had enough runs on the board with dew setting in.

His inning was studded with nine fours and three maximums that came in the second half.

Prabhsimran started by smacking Trent Boult for lacerating drive in the first over, making his intentions clear.

He followed that up by slapping a six over backward square off KM Asif in the second over.

Dhawan joined the party briefly with back-to-back fours in the next over. But the young opener was brutal on Asif, whom he hammered for three fours and a six in the fourth over.

He also didn’t spare Boult and Ashwin. The 22-year-old first smacked a length ball over mid off before cutting one behind point for a second boundary.

He followed that up with a short-arm pull over the midwicket region for a maximum.

The introduction of spin didn’t bother Prabhsimran either as he continued his boundary hitting spree, hitting Ashwin to two consecutive fours as Punjab raced to 63/0 in the Powerplay.

With a half-century in his kitty, Prabhsimran welcomed back Boult for his second spell with a flat-batted six down the ground.

His fabulous innings came to an end, courtesy Jason Holder and Buttler, who took a sensational catch, diving forward from long on.

Punjab were handed another blow as Dhawan’s powerful drive hit the big-hitting Bhanuka Rajapaksa in his right arm, forcing the Sri Lankan to retire hurt on 1.

A spectator for most part of Prabhsimran’s innings, Dhawan upped the ante as he played some well-timed shots to get to his half century in 36 balls.

Jitesh Sharma showcased his batting proweress in his 15-ball 27 that included in 89m monstrous six off Boult.

Spinners Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal were able to stem the run flow momentarily as they picked the wickets of Jitesh and Sikandra Raza in quick succession.

Holder (2/29) then took a wicket and conceded just seven runs to restrict Punjab under the 200-run mark.

NEW DELHI: Many historians and academicians slammed NCERT over removing references to the dislike of Hindu extremists for Mahatma Gandhi’s pursuit of Hindu-Muslim unity, banning of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) after his assassination and dropping the word ‘Brahmin’ of his assassin Nathuram Godse. 

Historians and academicians alleged that this is an attempt to politicise education.

Reacting to the move, CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury said communal rewriting of history intensifies,” while the Congress Party Jairam Ramesh called it “whitewashing with a vengeance.”

Speaking to the TNIE, Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and author of  Let’s Kill Gandhi!: A Chronicle of His Last Days, the Conspiracy, Murder, Investigation, Trials, and the Kapur Commission, said that he is not surprised that the NCERT has deleted references to Gandhi from the political science textbook of Class 12. “It is an expected move by the Sangh Parivar. I am not surprised.”

“They are writing history that is convenient to them. This is a tragedy. They are politicising education. It is a tragedy and a matter of concern for all of us. They are tarnishing India’s image globally and are making India a laughing stock in front of the world.” 

He further said that it is “laughable” and “childish” how they remove references to RSS and Godse from the chapter on Gandhi.

“Now, they are in power, so they are utilising this to give velocity to their agenda. This will further increase. They have been campaigning that India’s image is being tarnished. But they are tarnishing India’s image globally. This move paints an inferior image of India internationally. Gandhi is a respected figure historically and internationally. This rewriting of history will not be seen well,” Gandhi said.

Ashis Nandy, a noted sociologist and clinical psychologist, said “One of the most dangerous things of the 20th century is interfering with history. It began in the 1930s with Nazi Germany, and where it reached the level of book burning. What is happening now is deeply disturbing as similar attempts are being made.”

“There is an attempt to manipulate history. Nazi Germany attempted that there will be one history. The same attempt is being made now. The attempt is to present a history verified by the state,” he told the TNIE.

Prof Mridula Mukherjee, who taught history at the Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), for over four decades, said that the NCERT “quietly” deleted references to Gandhi, the role of RSS, and banning of RSS. 

“They (NCERT) had last year circulated what they had deleted. But these deletions have suddenly cropped up as part of the effort to rationalise the syllabus. There could be many more deletions. We will now have to compare line by line. This shows that NCERT can’t be trusted. They did it quietly without circulating the changes made to the textbooks. This is a serious matter.”

Prof Irfan Habib, historian, and author, added that this is not rationalisation, but politics. “This has more to do with present politics than history. This is blatant. This is rubbish. You are teaching the present generation a disconnected past. They are dividing history into Muslim and Hindu lines. They don’t know history is interconnected. Removing portions on Gandhi will have a global impact.”

Describing the move as an “old game” of the BJP, Prof K N Shrimali, a retired history professor from Delhi University, said this happens every time. “I am not surprised. It is their notion of presenting skewed history.”

However, Prof. Makkhan Lal, archaeologist, and historian, who taught at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), said, “incorrect history was being presented till now, and now the correct step has been taken in the right direction, but it came too late.”