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Chennai, Oct 21 (IANS) Director Prem's upcoming pan-Indian film, featuring Kannada star Dhruva Sarja in the lead, has been titled 'KD - The Devil' , its makers have announced.

KVN Productions, which is producing the film and which has been at the forefront of the Kannada film industry, delivering back-to-back hit projects, unveiled the title teaser of the film in a grand way at Orion Mall in Bangalore on Thursday.

The event was attended by a host of celebrities including Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, Sandalwood actor Dhruva Sarja, director Prem, Producer Suprith, Kannada film actress Rakshitha and music director Arjun Janya.

The title teaser offers a glimpse into the vintage world that is shown in 'KD - The Devil'. The teaser showcases the first look of the notorious 'Kaali', played by Dhruva Sarja. The title teaser features a violent setup with adrenaline pumping action.

The title teaser of the film has voice overs by superstars from the Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam film industries.

While director Prem has lent his voice for the Kannada version, Sanjay Dutt, Vijay Sethupathi and Mohanlal have lent their voices for the Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam versions respectively.

Speaking at the event, Director Prem said: "Wherever good exists, bad exists too. For example, when Rama existed, Ravana existed too. The film is on similar lines. The film is not only a bloody gory story but it has a romantic and moral line to it."

Hero Dhruva Sarja said: "Sanjay Dutt is a legendary actor. The KD teaser might be visually strong but it caters to the family audience. I'm confident about KD and the verdict will be delivered by the audience."

Sanjay Dutt said: "I'm really looking forward to the film and I wish the team and KVN Productions all the best. I feel I'm going to work more in South Indian films!"

Actress Rakshitha, who is also director Prem's wife, said: "The event wouldn't be complete without Sanjay Dutt sir. The support of Mr. Anil Thadani is immense. This film will be a new beginning for Dhruva Sarja."

Suprith, Head - Business and Operations, KVN Productions, said: "The film is high on content. Prem sir has been thinking in a very big manner for this project. We couldn't have asked for a more dedicated actor than Dhruva Sarja."

While KVN Productions will be the presenters of the Kannada version, the Hindi version will be presented by AA Films headed by Anil Thadani. The Telugu version will be presented by Vaaraahi Chalana Chitram, headed by Sai Korrapati and the Tamil version will be presented by Red Giant Movies, headed by Udhayanidhi Stalin. The Malayalam version will be presented by Aashirvad Cinemas, headed by Antony Perumbavoor.

--IANS
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Mumbai, Oct 21 (IANS) Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana has been burning the midnight oil as he is juggling between shooting for 'An Action Hero', 'Dream Girl 2' and his brand commitments.

The actor has been working double shifts to ensure he finishes everything on his platter before he travels to his hometown, Chandigarh to celebrate Diwali with his parents.

It will be a two-day trip that Ayushmann is looking forward to.

Talking about the same, Ayushmann shared: "Diwali is one of my favourite festivals and I truly look forward to it. I have been in a hectic shooting schedule for Dream Girl 2 and An Action Hero but I have somehow managed to get 2 days off during which I am planning a quick trip to my hometown, Chandigarh."

He further said: "I am looking forward to relishing food cooked by my mother, all the mithais and spending time with my whole family."

He thoroughly enjoys this time of the year and likes going back to the house he grew up in. He basks in all the festivities and spends quality time with his loved ones.


--IANS
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Islamabad/New Delhi Oct 21 (IANS) Exaggeration and dramatics are Pakistans traits. So, it is hardly surprising when a fleeting, off-the-cuff remark of US President Joe Biden was greeted with hysteria.

The US envoy in Islamabad was summoned for a dressing down at the Foreign Office. Political parties vied with each other in denouncing Biden for describing Pakistan as one of the "most dangerous nations" in the world.

These theatrics looked like a bad joke because for the past few months Pakistan has been sending its senior ministers and the Army Chief to Washington for "resetting ties".

The US has since issued a clarification on Biden's statement which said nothing about the country being among the "most dangerous nations", but expressed satisfaction about Pakistan's capability to make its nuclear arsenal safe from the hands ofterrorists.

The clarification is an indication of US desire to let bygones be bygones and not to continue with the controversy over the safety of Pakistani nukes. the fourth largest in the world.

Like always, the naive Americans have conveniently overlooked the fact that while the Pakistan army may have the keys to the nuclear stockpile, many Pakistani scientists working on its nuclear programme (as also the middle order in the Army) are sympathetic to Islamists and their extreme views.

In fact, soon after the US invasion of Afghanistan at least two top pro-Taliban nuclear scientists of Pakistan were sacked to please the White House. Pertinent to point out that America's inability not to look beyond the nose is paving the way for Pakistan's exit from the 'grey list of the FATF, the UN agency on money laundering and terrorism financing.

The number of religious extremists in the Pakistan army can be assumed to be large. For one thing, the so-called professional army of Pakistan has Jihad in its curriculum. A clearer indication has come from the on-going tussle between former Prime Minister Imran Khan and the establishment, which is a euphemism for the GHQ. Although Khan is depicted as a critic of the army the fact is that he has problem only with the top brass.

Reports in public domain say middle level officers and the soldiers are pro-Imran because of his anti-American rhetoric. Some of these officers would soon be elevated to higher posts and be able to have a decisive say in matters that the army decides, including the destiny of the civilian rulers.

It is not difficult to guess as to whether the promotion of the pro-jihad army officers would make Pakistan less or more 'dangerous'. It will certainly mean a step closer to Islamisation of Pakistan Army, a project initiated by dictator, Zia-ul-Haq, in the wake of Afghan jihad against the Soviet Army, and in pursuit of his own plan to make India bleed for its sin of facilitating the Bengali speaking East Pakistan emerge as a sovereign Bangladesh.

Pakistan appeared to be wilting after ties with the US had plummeted to the bottom, following 9/11 but it was a short phase. Because, post-pullout of Afghanistan with bruised ego, the US has begun to again see Pakistan as an indispensible ally in the region. Mending fences with the 'epicentre of global terrorism' (Pakistan) has again become US priority with or without the Biden guffaw.

The US overtures are eagerly awaited by Pakistan even as anti-Americanism thrived in the country, especially after the former cricketer became the Prime Minister. He has since been ousted but anti-Americanism has only grown further, somewhat to the embarrassment of the present ruling dispensation, which is willing to walk the extra mile to please Washington and be rewarded with trophies like F-16s.

Imran is very clear in claiming that Pakistan doesn't need the US because of its all-weather friendship with China. He is going around the country telling the people that the US is keen on befriending Pakistan because of "our influence over the Taliban lords" presiding over the destiny of the Afghans.

The anti-American backlash instigated by Imran is popular but may not threaten the incumbent Shehbaz Sharif regime in the short run at least. It will undoubtedly upset the regime, which wants to restore ties with the US to the old level. It is not sure if total dependence on China will serve Pakistan's interests. But such is the pressure of public opinion in Pakistan that repairing ties with the US will have to be done cautiously.

The onus of improving mutual ties seems to lie on the US from a Pakistani perspective. And the US appears to share such a perception.

This is clear from the 'pro-Pakistan statements in two days', according to a front-page headline in Karachi daily, The News International, on October 20. "The US has in a couple of days issued statements expressing confidence in Pakistan's commitment and ability to secure its nuclear assets", the report said and quoted the State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel as saying: "The counterterrorism effort is part of our common interests."

Put differently, the Biden-Speak that Pakistan "may be one of the most dangerous" countries in the world because it has "nuclear weapons without any cohesion", is lost in transit. And the hope of US insisting that Pakistan give up its terrorism export as a trade off is lost.

This has led to US looking the other way as nearly bankrupt Pakistan continues to flirt with the India-centric terror outfits, aiding and training them.

For Pakistan it is a signal that the US military aid, frozen by Donald Trump, would be resumed.

Apparently, the US has no second thoughts about sharpening the Pakistan military machine even when it considers the country to be among the 'most dangerous nations' in the world. Sounds somewhat strange!

--IANS
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Lucknow, Oct 21 (IANS) Over 7,000 unrecognised madrasas have been identified in Uttar Pradesh in a recent survey carried out by the state government. The survey is being done to provide recognition to unrecognised madrasas once they meet the government mandated requirements.

The final list of unrecognised madrasas will be released only after the district magistrates submit their reports by November 15.

Iftikhar Ahmed Javed, Chairman, Uttar Pradesh Board of Madrassa Education said that the process to identify the actual numbers will still take time, but we have estimated around 7,500 such madrassas which were surveyed by teams in 75 districts by Thursday evening.

"In Uttar Pradesh, there are 16,513 recognised madrassas, out of which 560 are given government grants (salary to employees, including teaching and non-teaching ones). There are 350 madrassas with less than 15 students. The teaching staff of 560 madrassas have pay scales similar to those in central government-run secondary schools...," he said.

Under the madrasa modernisation scheme, 744 madrassas are given grants for shiksha mitra, and a scholarship is given to meritorious students of all registered madrasas.

The unrecognised madrasas will now be recognised by the Board of Madrassa Education once they meet government mandated requirements such as providing basic facilities for running madrassas, such as a classroom, table, bench, chairs for students, proper lights fans, toilets, and others.

Further, they can also apply for wages for teaching and non-teaching employees.

According to a government spokesman, there are 150 unofficial madrassas in Gorakhpur, 100 in Lucknow, Azamgarh, Varanasi, and Mau, while Aligarh has 90, Kanpur (85), Prayagraj (70), and Agra (35).

--IANS
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Panaji , Oct 19 (IANS) Reacting to Goa BJP President Sadanand Tanavade's statement that the party will win
both Lok Sabha seats in the 2024 general elections even if opposition unites, the Congress on Wednesday attacked saffron party stating if that was the case, then why it did not ask defectors to resign and contest on BJP symbol.

"Even if the opposition unites and come together to fight against us, we will win both seats. It is proven in all elections," Tanavade had claimed on Tuesday.

Responding to Tanvade's claim, GPCC president Amit Patkar said: "Arrogance is at full display in BJP President Sadanand Tanawade's statement downplaying opposition's strength for Lok Sabha elections. He needs to remember that 67 per cent of Goans are against BJP and Pramod Sawant's government is full of defectors."

"If he (Tanavade) is so confident about the double engine government's so-called development, why did not he ask the eight defectors to resign and contest on BJP symbol," Amit Patkar asked.

On September 14, former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, Michael Lobo, Delilah Lobo, Kedar Naik, Sankalp Amonkar, Rajesh Faldesai, Aleixo Sequeira and Rudolf Fernandes merged the state Congress legislature party into the BJP, reducing Congress' strength to three MLAs in the 40-member House.

"Sadanand Tanawade should show his arrogance with the Chief Minister and compel him to provide 50,000 jobs to the deserving unemployed youths of Goa as promised by BJP," Patkar said.

"He should use his rudeness with the corrupt Ministers and put an end to the 'Mission Commission' of the BJP Government," Patkar said.

Patkar alleged that BJP in Goa, ever since coming to power, has always tried to suppress the voice of the people. "The double engine government is all out to destroy Goa. People will teach them a lesson," Patkar alleged.

--IANS
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Bengaluru, Oct 18 (IANS) The Karnataka government is preparing to take the ordinance route to raise the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Schedule Tribe (ST) reservation quota.

The state's Transport and Scheduled Tribes Welfare Minister B. Sriramulu on Monday said that an ordinance will be promulgated for the SC/ST reservation soon.

Once the ordinance is in place, reservation for SCs will go up to 17 per cent from the present 15 per cent, while ST reservation quota will increase to 7 per cent from the 3 per cent at present.

The move to increase the reservation for SC/STs by the state government will mean that reservation will cross the Supreme Court's 50 per cent limit judgement and touch 56 per cent in Karnataka.

Sriramulu added that the process has begun and the ordinance will be promulgated in a day or two.

"In order to ensure legal protection for the quota hike, the state government will recommend bringing it under the 9th Schedule of the Constitution," he said.

The state government opted for the ordinance route instead of the original plan of implementing the quota hike through an executive order and gazette notification.

--IANS
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Bengaluru, Oct 17 (IANS) The president of the Bengaluru chapter of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Mohan Dasari, on Monday lashed out at the BJP government in the state for 'denting' the image of Karnataka, as the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a fine of Rs 2,900 crore on the state government for failing to dispose of solid and liquid waste.

Speaking at a presser, Dasari said, "Even though the Supreme Court in 2014 had suggested many measures regarding waste management, the government has not followed them.

"So now the government has to pay a huge fine of Rs 2,900 crore. Add to that the fine imposed earlier for the defacement of Chandapur lake, the total comes to Rs 3,400 crore. Taxpayers' money is being wasted by the incompetent BJP government."

"An average of 15,000 tonnes of solid waste are generated in the state every day. Out of this, around 6,000 tonnes of waste are not adequately disposed of. They are dumped in the open. In addition to that, about 1,400 liters of untreated sewage enters water sources every day," Dasari said.

AAP lawyers' unit member Gangadhar said, "Garbage management has turned into a business worth over Rs 1,500 crore in the state, especially in Bengaluru.

"Because of this, Karnataka had to be reprimanded by the NGT. The NGT has not only fined the state government, but also ordered it to inform in detail what steps will be taken for garbage disposal. This shows that the NGT has lost faith in the state government," he said.

"Chief Minister Basavaraja Bommai himself is in-charge of Bengaluru Urban Development Department. He should calrify to the people of the state immediately," Gangadhar added.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Oct 17 (IANS) The Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, on Monday termed the excise policy case as "completely fake and fabricated".

Addressing the media at his residence on Monday evening after nine hours of interrogation by the CBI at its headquarters here in connection with the case, Sisodia said, "During questioning, I understood that this is not a case about excise policy or corruption. The case is only aimed at making 'Operation Lotus' a success in Delhi."

Sisodia also alleged that he was pressured to quit the Aam Aadmi Party and join the BJP at the agency headquarters.

"I was pressured to join the BJP. 'These cases will go on like this... They will make you CM', I was told," Sisodia said, adding that the officials even suggested that in case of a switch, he would be offered the Chief Minister's post.

The Deputy CM added, "I told them that I find joy when a rickshaw puller's son joins the IIT. Today, I understood that the CBI is not investigating any scam... the case against me is just meant to make Operation Lotus a success here," he said.

"The BJP keeps saying that there was a scam of Rs 10,000 crore, but no scam happened. Today I understood that the whole case is fake and fabricated," he added.

Refuting Sisodia's allegations, the CBI said in a statement, "Some sections of the media have aired a video in which, after leaving the CBI office, Manish Sisodia has stated on camera that during his questioning, he was threatened to leave his political party and similar such insinuations.

"The CBI strongly refutes these allegations and reiterates that the examination of Shri Sisodia was carried out in a professional and legal manner strictly as per the allegations against him in the FIR. The investigation of the case will continue as per law."

The statement also said: "Manish Sisodia was today examined by CBI in connection with the ongoing investigation into Delhi excise policy case. He was examined strictly on the allegations in the FIR and the evidence collected so far during the course of investigation. His statement will be verified in due course and further action be taken as per the requirements of the investigation."

--IANS
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Mumbai, Oct 17 (IANS) In a major last-minute political development, Maharashtra's ruling ally Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday stepped out of the fray in the by-elections to the Andheri East Assembly constituency.

This paves the way for a smooth election for Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray party nominee Rutuja Ramesh Latke on November 3.

Hours after the announcement by state BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule, candidate Murji Patel withdrew his nomination papers on Monday evening - the last date for withdrawal.

Bawankule also assured that Patel would not contest as an independent or rebel, while Latke welcomed the development.

The BJP's change of heart came after appeals from a MLA of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray, and other leaders from different parties.

Latke thanked the BJP, NCP MNS and others for the move, saying that after the elections, she would work wholeheartedly for the development of Andheri East and fulfil her late husband Ramesh Latke's dreams.

State Congress President Nana Patole, NCP President Jayant Patil, Shiv Sena spokesperson Sushma Andhare and others took jibes at the BJP for deciding to withdraw from the contest.

Patole wondered whether it was linked with the ensuing BCCI elections, Patil said that the BJP was scared of defeat, and Andhare claimed Latke's victory was guaranteed prompting the BJP to leave the contest.

However, Raj Thackeray thanked the BJP for its move saying it will uphold the old political traditions in Maharashtra.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that after getting the requests from various quarters, he discussed the matter with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Bawankule and other state and central BJP leaders before deciding to bow out.

He and other BJP leaders dismissed the Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders' contentions and emphatically said that its nominee (Patel) would have romped home to victory by a huge victory margin.

--IANS
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Kolkata, Oct 17 (IANS) Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, on Monday advised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to offer the chair of brand ambassador of the state to former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly replacing Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan.

Adhikari's advice on this count comes just within an hour after the Chief Minister on Monday lambasted Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over the "unceremonious" exit of Ganguly as its President, saying that she would talk to Prime Minister Narendra Modi so that Ganguly can contest for the chairmanship of International Cricket Council (ICC) as the Indian representative.

"Mamata Banerjee should first remove Shah Rukh Khan as the brand ambassador of the state. There is no reason for Khan to be in the chair. Instead, that chair should be offered to Sourav Ganguly. The Chief Minister should first do that instead of doing unnecessary politics on each and every issue," the Leader of the Opposition told media persons on Monday.

He said that Mamata Banerjee had a late realisation that Sourav Ganguly is the pride of West Bengal. "Had she realised it before, she would have made him the brand ambassador of West Bengal much before instead of Shah Rukh Khan," Adhikari said.

However, he clearly said that his comments on making Ganguly the state's ambassador had no links with the earlier connection of Ganguly as the first captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), where Shah Rukh Khan is a principal stakeholder. However, Ganguly was later removed as the captain of KKR which erupted whispers of a subtle tiff between Ganguly and Khan.

Meanwhile, Ganguly himself has already announced that he will be contesting for the post of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) President which is scheduled on October 31. On the same day, there will be the annual general meeting of CAB.

--IANS
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