Focus

Gurugram, Oct 14 (IANS) A woman gave birth to a boy inside a car on the way to Civil Hospital in Sector-10 of Gurugram.

Meenakshi, mother-in-law of the woman, said her daughter-in-law Hemlata had experienced labour pain and had left the house located in Jacobpura in Gurugram around noon on Thursday along with her and a neighbour named Raja.

"We got stuck in traffic on way to a government hospital for about half an hour. I asked Raja to park the car in a street located near Prem Mandir and around 12.30 p.m. Hemlata delivered the baby boy after I helped her inside a car," Meenakshi said.

Both the mother and the child are in healthy condition, and were admitted to the government hospital after delivery.

The distance of the government hospital from the Jacobpura area is around 3 km. The woman took 45 minutes to reach the hospital.

The family said they were stuck for around 30 minutes in traffic and the baby was delivered inside the car.

"The doctor at the hospital told us anything could have happened, had we been late in reaching the hospital, and advised us not to take any risk in such a situation in future," Hemlata said.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Oct 14 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh will go to elections on November 12 and an opinion poll indicates that the ruling BJP seems set to retain the state.

The opinion poll conducted by CVoter for ABP News reveals that the ruling party is all set to return to power by winning a projected 46 per cent vote share and 42 seats in an assembly of 68 members. The sample size for the tracking poll was 6,245 respondents.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi is proving to be a decisive factor, there are clear indications that a generational change of leadership seems to be an ongoing process in the state.

The absence of a strong new generation of leaders seem to be affecting the prospects of the Congress that should have benefited from strong anti-incumbency sentiments in the state.

Besides, the departure of the tall Congress leader Virbhadra Singh from the political scene seems to have let the Congress without a strong regional leadership.

According to the CVoter survey for ABP News, 31.9 per cent of the respondents stated that current Chief Minister and BJP leader Jairam Thakur is their preferred choice as Chief Minister. He was a surprise choice of the BJP when the party had wrested power from the Congress in 2017 and many had thought former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal would once again become the CM.

While 17.9 per cent of respondents prefer Pratibha Singh, widow of Virbhadra Singh, as the next Chief Minister, another Congress leader Mukesh Agnihotri gets 6.2 per cent of the vote.

The surprise package is Union Minister Anurag Thakur who is the preferred choice as CM for 25.7 per cent of the respondents. For a leader to be so close to the sitting CM in preference patterns of voters indicates the shape of things to come in the future.

--IANS
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By Narendra Puppala
Bengaluru, Oct 14 (IANS) With Kannada movie 'Kantara' scoring big at the box office and taking other markets by storm, the southern film industry continues its winning streak in the pan-India market. But what sets 'Kantara' apart from other recent southern blockbusters like 'Pushpa' or 'RRR', is its refreshing take on the age-old conflict between man and nature.


"The human-nature conflict is present all over the world. This conflict is present ever since humans appeared on the scene. This is what I set out to tell," the movie's director and lead actor Rishab Shetty told IANS.

After bringing in Kannada audiences in droves to theatres, 'Kantara' is repeating its success story in other languages too. Rishab Shetty confessed that while he knew he had a winner on his hands, he definitely did not anticipate the scale of success it clocked.

"I have always strongly believed that the more local we go, the more rooted our stories are, the more universal they become."

Interestingly, the story of the movie has its genesis in a real-life incident that happened thirty years ago in his hometown. Shetty stumbled upon the seed of his story in the course of random conversation he had about organic farming to with his friend during the Covid lockdown. Locking the subject immediately, he delved into his own memories from younger days, and 'Kantara' was born.

"In coastal Karnataka region, agricultural land is not merely land, it involves divinity. Every aspect of life is associated with that earth. I looked at agricultural land as a bridge between man, god, and beliefs. I felt that it's also important to tell the outside world about our culture and traditions," Rishab explained.

The movie is also from the Hombale Films banner which has produced the hugely successful KGF series, starring Yash.

After making his presence felt with interesting movies made on modest budgets, Rishab Shetty is happy that 'Kantara' which was made on a relatively high budget has made its mark at the box office.

But acting and directing the movie certainly put him under pressure, he confessed.
"Directing a scene and jumping in to enact my role was certainly tough. But I never let the others sense it. Looking back I don't think I can go through it again."

--IANS
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Jaipur, Oct 14 (IANS) Three days ahead of the voting for the election of the Congress President, a major controversy has erupted here after Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot sought votes for candidate Malkarjun Kharge flouting guidelines of the party's Central Election Authority which clearly has said that no leader can campaign for any candidate while being in office.

Gehlot on Thursday shared a video message on social media appealing for Kharge's win. This is being considered open campaigning in favour of Kharge, whereas according to the guidelines of the Congress Election Authority (CEC), no candidate can do this while holding the position of leader of the legislature party.

The CEC Chairman, Madhusudan Mistry, had issued a 7-point guideline on September 30 regarding the election of Congress president. According to this guideline, the general secretary in-charge, secretary in-charge, national office-bearers, leader of the legislature party, spokesperson of the party cannot campaign for any candidate for the post of president. If they want to campaign for a candidate, they have to leave the post first. Despite this guideline, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has openly campaigned for Kharge.

The Rajasthan CM in the video said, "Congress President should be the one who keeps in touch with the organisation, leaders and workers with experience. His position should be such that he can negotiate with all opposition parties. The Speaker should be such a person who has the ability to take everyone along. Seeing his merit, we became his proponent.

"I wish Kharge sahib to be successful with huge votes. Mallikarjun Kharge sahib is rich and experienced personality. He has more than 50 years of experience including being nine times MLA and two times MP. We have become his proponents. Kharge is such a person who has imbibed the policies, ideology and programs of the Congress. Have command in Hindi and English," he added.

These statements of Gehlot had come at a time when another presidential candidate for Congress Shashi Tharoor had alleged that the state presidents and office-bearers of Congress in the states were giving more importance to Kharge. Tharoor had raised questions on not being given a level playing field.

The response of the Central Election Authority in this matter is now awaited. If Shashi Tharoor or any leader complains, then action can be taken for violation of guidelines, said sources from the party.

--IANS
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Mumbai, Oct 14 (IANS) A biopic on the RSS Founder Dr K.B. Hedgewar is in early works. The first of its kind film, it will trace the journey of Dr Hedgewar and will be made in three languages - Hindi, Marathi and English.

Padma Shri recipient Anup Jalota along with Jasveer Singh, Dr Rahul Joshi, L. Nitesh Kumar and Jayanand Shetty will lend their vocals to the song 'Tufan Hai Tera Rakt Aab' from the film. The music of the song has been directed by Dr Sanjayraj Gaurinandan and has been written by Shiv pujan Patwa and Sorabh Bharat.

Commenting on the occasion, Anup Jalota said in a statement: "I am honoured to be associated with the film. It is an amazing subject. People, especially our youth, should be aware of our freedom fighters. 'Tufan Hai Tera Rakt Aab' signifies his ideologies"

The film will be produced by Jayanand Shetty and Akshay Shetty Memorial Foundation, and will be directed by Sunny Mandavarra.

Producer of the film Jayanand Shetty, said in a statement: "Our film is a tribute to his journey, his struggles & his movements. His foresight and capability is established by the fact that the RSS today is one of the world's largest social organisations. Even today, Dr Hedgewar is a much revered figure in the Nationalist Movement of India."


--IANS
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Mysuru, Oct 14 (IANS) Two more minor victims have lodged a POCSO case against rape accused Lingayat seer Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru of the Chitradurga Murugha mutt, who is currently under judicial custody, police said on Friday.

According to police sources, an FIR has been booked in Nazarbad police station of Mysuru city following the direction by the Child Welfare Committee (CWC).

The two new victims, aged 12 and 14, had approached the CWC in Mysuru on Thursday and have submitted their complaint against the accused seer.

The arrested seer is presently in judicial custody till October 21.

The girls were staying at the Akkamahadevi hostel run by the Chitradurga mutt. They had approached the Odanaadi NGO and later the matter was brought before the CWC.

The Odanaadi NGO Mysuru was instrumental in lodging of case against accused seer by two minor victims of sexual assault earlier.

The local court had rejected the bail petition by the accused for five times and also denied any special treatment to him in the prision.

The arrested Lingayat seer is accused of sexually exploiting the minor girls studying at hostels run by the mutt over two decades.

--IANS
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Mysuru (Karnataka), Oct 14 (IANS) The Karnataka police have registered an FIR against 17 state forest Department officials in connection with the death of a tribal man in Mysuru district, police said.

The FIR had been booked against the Reserve Forest Conservator of Gundre Reserve Forest Amruthesh, Deputy Range Forest Officer (DRFO) Karthik Yadav, staffers Anand, Bahubali, Ramu, Shekaraiah, Sadashiva, Manju, Umesh, Sanjay, Raja Naik, Sushma, Mahadevi, Ayyappa, Somashekar, Tangamani and Siddique Pasha in the Antharasanthe police station.

The complaint had been booked in connection with the death of 41-year-old Kariyappa, a resident of Hisahalli Haadi near the Gundre Reserve forest.

According to police, the forest Department officials had taken Kariyappa and two others on Monday and kept them in illegal custody, alleging that they had killed a deer in the reserve forest.

The 41-year-old tribal man was allegedly assaulted by the forest Department officials in custody. When he became sick, he was admitted to K.R. Hospital in Mysuru, where he succumbed to injuries.

The local tribals alleged that Kariyappa's death was a murder and staged a protest before the forest Department.

The family members of the deceased have said that the forest Department officials came to their house and threatened that if they told anyone about the whereabouts of Kariyappa, they would shoot all of them and burn down their house.

The family members have also alleged that the forest Department officials hurled abuses in front of their women and dragged them.

Later, Kariyappa was taken into custody. The family had told police that they received a phone call from the DFRO Karthik Yadav to come and take Kariyappa home on Tuesday.

When the family members found that Kariyappa was serious after being assaulted in custody, they had refused to take him to home. Later, the forest Department officials had shifted him to the hospital.

H.D. Kote tehsildar, Ratnambika had visited a mortuary in Mysuru following the death of a tribal man and received information about it on Thursday.

She said that she was instructed by higher authorities to gather information on the incident and to pacify the family members of the deceased.

If post-mortem report confirms assault on the tribal man, action will be initiated against the forest department officials, she added.

--IANS
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Ballari (Karnataka), Oct 13 (IANS) The final verdict on the hijab row is very important as its impact is not restricted to Karnataka, but for the whole country, and we must wait for it, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said on Thursday.

Talking to reporters in Huvinahadagali here, he said the court was seized of the Hijab controversy and the Supreme Court bench has given a split verdict - with one judge backing the ban and the other quashing it.

Bommai said that he will give his reaction only after going through the judgement.

"There were a lot of dimensions for the hijab row. The demand of students is different and the government order is different. Since it involves national and international issues, the government is expecting a clear verdict from the court," he said.

Education Minister B.C. Nagesh stated that they welcome the Supreme Court verdict. "We will wait till the final order. It was expected that the verdict would honour the liberty of women. But, a different verdict has come," he said.

"The government will wait for the final order. Until then, there is no provision in Karnataka government schools and colleges to practice any religion as per the Education Act. The government and other schools will run as per the act," he said.

The Hijab ban will continue in Karnataka, the minister added.

"Until the final order is made, we will ensure status quo in the state. There is no provision to display religious symbols," he said.

He maintained that the apex court would uphold the verdict of the Karnataka High Court. "That does not mean I am speaking against the Supreme Court," he stated.

On assault of RSS workers by some miscreants in Haveri, CM Bommai said arrangements had been going on for last one week and those who went to see the procession route were assaulted. The police have arrested 20 persons in this connection.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Oct 13 (IANS) Supreme Court judge Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia, in the split verdict on Karnataka hijab ban, on Thursday said by asking girls to take off their hijab before they enter school gates is an invasion of privacy, attack on dignity, and denial of secular education.

He said this is the time when children should learn not to be alarmed by our diversity but to rejoice and celebrate this, and also this is the time when they must realise that diversity is our strength.

Justice Dhulia said: "By asking the girls to take off their hijab before they enter the school gates, is first an invasion of their privacy, then it is an attack on their dignity, and then ultimately it is a denial to them of secular education. These are clearly violative of Article 19(1)(a), Article 21 and Article 25(1) of the Constitution".

The judgment was delivered by a bench comprising Justices Hemant Gupta and Dhulia. While Justice Gupta dismissed the appeals challenging the Karnataka High Court judgment, Justice Dhulia set aside the high court judgment and quashed the Karnataka government order dated February 5.

The petitioners had moved the apex court, challenging the Karnataka High Court verdict refusing to lift the ban on hijab in educational institutions of the state.

Justice Dhulia said there shall be no restriction on the wearing of hijab anywhere in schools and colleges in Karnataka. He added that the unfortunate fallout of the hijab restriction would be that they would have denied education to a girl child.

"A girl child for whom it is still not easy to reach her school gate. This case here, therefore, has also to be seen in the perspective of the challenges already faced by a girl child in reaching her school. The question this court would put before itself is also whether we are making the life of a girl child any better by denying her education merely because she wears a hijab!" he said.

He added that the constitutional scheme, wearing a hijab should be simply a matter of choice and it may or may not be a matter of essential religious practice, but it still is, a matter of conscience, belief, and expression.

Justice Dhulia said if a girl wants to wear hijab, even inside her class room, she cannot be stopped, if it is worn as a matter of her choice, as it may be the only way her conservative family will permit her to go to school, and in those cases, her hijab is her ticket to education.

In a 73-page judgment, he said, "fraternity, which is our constitutional value, would therefore require us to be tolerant, and as some of the counsel would argue to be, reasonably accommodating, towards the belief and religious practices of others. We should remember the appeal made by Justice O. Chinnappa Reddy in Bijoe Emmanuel -- our tradition teaches tolerance; our philosophy preaches tolerance; our Constitution practices tolerance; let us not dilute it."

He emphasised that the Government Order dated 5 February, 2022, and the restrictions on the wearing of hijab, also goes against constitutional values of fraternity and human dignity.

Justice Dhulia said: "Liberty, equality, fraternity, the triptych of the French Revolution is also a part of our Preamble. It is true that whereas liberty and equality are well established, properly understood, and recognised concepts in politics and law, fraternity for some reasons has largely remained incognito. The framers of our Constitution though had a different vision. Fraternity had a different, and in many ways a much larger meaning with the main architect of our Constitution, Dr Ambedkar".

He added that schools, in particular our pre-university colleges are the perfect institutions where children, who are now at an impressionable age, and are just waking up to the rich diversity of this nation, need to be counselled and guided, so that they imbibe our constitutional values of tolerance and accommodation, towards those who may speak a different language, eat different food, or even wear different clothes or apparel!

"This is the time to foster in them sensitivity, empathy and understanding towards different religions, languages and cultures. This is the time when they should learn not to be alarmed by our diversity but to rejoice and celebrate this diversity. This is the time when they must realise that in diversity is our strength," he said.

--IANS
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Ahmedabad, Oct 13 (IANS) Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Thursday appealed to voters to ensure that Congress does not come to power in the poll-bound Gujarat.

Addressing a gathering after flagging off the 'Gaurav yatra' from Zanzarka village here, Shah said, "Congress people are smartly trying to divide voters on caste and creed lines, one should be aware about such evasive plans and not get trapped."

Reminding people how women select a water pot (mud pot), the same way before voting for any party, electorate too should check its credentials and worthiness.

"Congress has never delivered development work; it has always indulged in caste politics and grabbed power on divide and rule policy," he claimed.

Shah enumerated the development work done by the BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and how he first led Gujarat on the growth path.

The Union Home Minister assured people that the development work will continue in the state.

After flagging-off the 'Gaurav Yatra' from Zanzarka, Shah, along with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and BJP state unit president C R Patel, flew to Unai in Navsari, where he flagged-off two 'Gaurav Yatras', of which one will cover tribal belt and another Surat, Bharuch and other parts of Central Gujarat.

--IANS
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