Focus

Bengaluru, Oct 5 (IANS) Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to take part in the state executive committee meeting scheduled to be held on October 7 at the Palace Grounds here, said sources in the BJP.

The crucial meeting was postponed multiple times because of the flood situation in the state. The party has now finalised the date and approached the office of the Home Minister for his participation in the meeting.

Though a final confirmation is yet to come, Shah has responded positively to the invitation, BJP insiders said.

BJP's Karnataka in-charge Arun Singh, state unit chief Nalin Kumar Kateel, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, national general secretary C.T. Ravi and others will take part in the meeting.

The BJP in Karnataka is strategising to counter Congress' 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' led by Rahul Gandhi. The padayatra is evoking good response in the state, and interim Congress President Sonia Gandhi is also scheduled to take part in it on Thursday.

The saffron party has also planned a series of conventions and state-wide tours. Chief Minister Bommai has announced that he would take up a state-wide tour along with Yediyurappa after the Dasara festivities, which concluded on Wednesday.

The BJP is also organising a mega rally for other backward classes in Kalaburagi on October 30, in which it expects five lakh people from all over the state to participate.

--IANS
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Hyderabad, Oct 5 (IANS) The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), formerly the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), will make a beginning from Maharashtra to expand its activities nationwide, party President and Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said on Wednesday.

He said the party would pick up Maharashtra as the first field of activity by launching the farmers' wing of the party from there.

Rao stated this during his speech at the general body meeting of the TRS, which unanimously passed a resolution to change the party's name to the BRS.

KCR, as Rao is popularly known, also made it clear that while continuing as the Chief Minister, he would visit all parts of the country. "We will not leave the ground. No one should have any doubts about this," he told party leaders.

KCR's remarks came amid speculations in political circles that his son K.T. Rama Rao will take over as the Chief Minister while he will focus on national politics.

The TRS founder called for developing a bright India. "If resources of our country are used within the country, we can develop better than America. We still have time. We will expand across the country," said KCR, who has his eyes set on 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

The Chief Minister also stated that if good happens to the country because of Telangana, this would go down well in the country's history.

KCR also revealed that Dalit, farmers', and tribal movements would be carried forward as the main agenda. He vowed to remove social and political disorders across the country. "Telangana has already shown this to the country. We will take stock of the evolving situation from time to time and move forward," he said

He called for taking the country forward just as the Telangana movement was carried to victory. He claimed that Telangana ensured development of every community. He said both the rural and urban areas in the state have developed and the awards announced by the Centre were a proof of this.

He recalled that the TRS made a beginning 21 years ago. " Within a short time after achieving Telangana state, we moved forward rapidly by implementing development programmes in all sectors including agriculture, electricity, irrigation and drinking water. The neighbouring states are wonderstruck by seeing programmes in Telangana state. All this was possible because every action is being executed with utmost commitment."

KCR said that in the 75 years of Independent India, parties that ruled the country have done nothing for the country except coming to power or leaving power. He claimed that politics is a task for the TRS, while for other parties it is only a game.

"We worked with commitment as activists for the development of Telangana. Due to hard work, great achievements have been made. The per capita income of Telangana was only Rs one lakhA when the state came into existence but today it has increased to Rs 2.78 lakh. Telangana's GSDP was Rs 5. 6 lakh crore in 2014 and today it has reached to Rs 11.50 lakh crore," he said.

KCR called for working hard and collectively for the country's development on the lines the TRS strove for the development of Telangana state.

"It is not a hasty decision to float a national party. India is a union of states. Comprehensive development is possible only if the states and the country develop together. Telangana's GSDP is originally supposed to be Rs 14.5 lakh crore. But Telangana is not able to achieve the development it deserves due to the short-sighted and irrelevant policies adopted by the Union Government. Many of the sacrifices made for the independence of this country remain unfulfilled."

The Chief Minister attributed the rapid development achieved by Telangana to out-of-box thinking and innovative programmes implemented in the state. He spoke about one such programme Dalit Bandhu aimed at upliftment of the Dalits.

Stating that agriculture is one of the neglected sectors, KCR said BRS would highlight the problems of farmers as the main agenda and try to influence the politics of the country to address them.

He claimed that leaders of many parties across the country were coming forward to join hands with him.

He said former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav have assured him that they will attend the historic programme of launching of the BRS.

He recalled that former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda strongly supported the Telangana movement, and his JD-S announced its support to the national party.

The TRS meeting was attended by Deve Gowda's son and former Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Tamil Nadu's VCK party founder-leader Tholkappiyan Thirumavalavan.

KCR revealed that he already had discussions with many economists and experts in various fields and took their advice for the formation of the national party.

--IANS
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Nagpur, Oct 5 (IANS) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat has expressed concerns over the population imbalance and said that India has suffered severe consequences of deteriorating population balance in history. He called for a comprehensive policy to check population rise, and underlined the need for all sections of society to abide by it.

Bhagwat said that the balance of population was also getting disturbed due to conversion and infiltration, "which is very worrying".

Addressing RSS Swayamsevaks on the customary Vijayadashami celebration here on Wednesday at the sprawling Reshimbagh ground, Bhagwat said that due to population imbalance, many other countries of the world also broke up and separated from them, East Timor, South Sudan and Kosovo, were formed.

Bhagwat demanded the government should bring a holistic control policy of population. "The population policy should be prepared after serious brainstorming and should be implemented on all. No one should be exempted from this overall policy," he said.

Bhagwat also strongly advocated for women empowerment in the country, and said that men and women are equal in every aspect and respect, have equal potential and capabilities.

Bhagwat pointed out that women, who are regarded as "jagat janani (mother of the universe)", but at home they are treated as "slaves". The empowerment of women should begin at home and they should be given their rightful place in the society, he said.

Bhagwat underlined the importance of women's role in realizing the vision of India once again becoming a 'vishwa guru' (world leader). "If we want to build a vishwa guru Bharat then equal participation of women is also required," he said, and added that changes were also reflected in the society.

The RSS chief was speaking on women empowerment in front of its chief guest, Padma Shri Santosh Yadav, an acclaimed mountaineer, who was invited for the Vijayadashami function, the first woman chief guest for such a programme in the 97-year-old history of RSS.

He reminded that it was not the first time that a woman was invited in the RSS function, the veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister Amrita Kaur and first Lok Sabha member from Nagpur Anusuabai Kale and others were also invited in the RSS programmes.

Bhagwat said that India was fast recovering from the economic crisis due to Covid and and India's role during the Sri Lankan political crisis and also during the Ukraine war was laudable. "Our political weight has gone up in the world due to these two situations, Bhagwat asserted", he said.

The RSS chief said the dialogue with the members of minority communities will continue and it has been going on for years. The violent incidents have been condemned even by the prominent Muslim leaders in the country. "We are in favour of living in peace and harmony," said Bhagwat.

--IANS
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Hyderabad, Oct 5 (IANS) Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has said that within a short span of time Telangana has achieved development to emerge as a role model for the entire country.

In his message to the people on the occasion of Dussehra, he wished that the country would march ahead on the path of progress with the spirit of Telangana.

KCR, as Rao is popularly known, said the state government put Telangana on the forefront.

He said that the Dussehra festival was being celebrated across the country as a sign of the establishment of Dharma and as Vijayadasami which brings victories.

It is a great tradition that people spot Palapitta (Indian Roller bird) and worship the sacred Jammi tree as an auspicious sign on Dussehra festival day, he said.

KCR noted that the specialty of Dussehra festival is exchange of Jammi leaf like gold, seek the blessings of elders and participate in Alai Balay to express love and affection.

He prayed that on the Dussehra day, which is a sign of success, all the tasks undertaken yield fruitful results. He stated that the spirit of Vijaya Dashami will continue. He wished all the people to prosper with happiness and peace

Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan also extended greetings to people on the joyous occasion of Vijaya Dasami.

The Navaratri festival renews our spirit of joy and jubilation. The main message of the festival is the triumph of good over evil and this message has an everlasting relevance, she said.

"Truth alone triumphs is our national credo and while celebrating the festival, we have to collectively endeavour to fight all evils, including environmental hazards and to create greener and tidy neighborhoods," she said.

--IANS
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Srinagar, Oct 5 (IANS) Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address a large public rally in J&K's Baramulla town on Wednesday where he is expected to announce regularisation of hundreds of daily wagers whose future has been in lurch for over three decades.

All security arrangements are in place for Shah's Baramulla public rally which is his first such exercise in the Valley after the abrogation of Article 370.

A large number of people from different parts of Baramulla, Uri, Handwara, Tengdhar, Trehgam and other places have already reached Baramulla to attend the rally.

After he addressed a historic public rally in Rajouri on Tuesday, where he assured reservations to the Pahari community of the UT, Shah is likely to announce regularisation of hundreds of daily wagers in J&K whose future is in lurch because successive governments in the state promised them permanent jobs without any results.

Shah chaired the core group meeting of the BJP on Tuesday where he told the party leaders to gear up for the Assembly elections which would be held soon.

He enjoined upon the party leaders to carry the Prime Minister's message of a new, progressive J&K to the voters.

"After the Centre did so much for every section of the local society, it is now the duty of the people to vote in large numbers to strengthen democracy in J&K," he told the BJP core group meeting.

He is also scheduled to inaugurate many developmental projects, including the hydraulic entry and exit gates of the spill channel in the World famous Hokersar wetland bird reserve.

He will also inaugurate 15 water supply schemes under the Jal Jeevan mission, 94 roads of 580.92 kms length, 7 power transmission projects, new building of sub-district hospital in the Hazratbal area of Srinagar city, 11 urban development projects in Kashmir division, 74 roads with 434.37 kms length and 7 bridges, 20 power distribution/transmission projects, in patients block in sub-district hospital Bijbehara, transit accommodation (864 BHK) at Baba Daryadin in Ganderbal, Allowpora in Shopian and Odina in Sumbal Bandipora.

He will also chair a high level security review meeting in Srinagar before he leaves for New Delhi in the evening.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Oct 4 (IANS) The Union Home Ministry on Tuesday declared a total of 10 individuals including commanders of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) and other terrorist outfits involved in terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir "terrorists" under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), officials said.

"Shaukat Ahmed Sheikh, Imtiaz Ahmed Kandu and Basit Ahmed Reshi have been declared terrorists under the UAPA," the Ministry said in a statement.

Besides, under the UAPA, seven other individuals -- Habibullah Malik, Bashir Ahmad Peer, Irshad Ahmed, Rafiq Nai, Zafar Iqbal, Bilal Ahmad Baig and Sheikh Jameel-ur-Rehman have also been declared terrorists.

All of them have links with Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen, Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen, Harkat-ul-Jihad-e-Islami, and Jammu and Kashmir Islamic Front.

Sheikh a.k.a. Shaukat Mochi hails from Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district, and is said to be currently residing in Pakistan.

He is the 'Chief Launching Commander' of HM, and is tasked with spreading terrorist activities in the region by coordinating in infiltration, and recruiting terrorists through his network of allies in Kashmir.

Basit Reshi, also from Baramulla, was last reported to be residing in Pakistan.

Charged with coordinating targeted killings, he had planned and executed a terrorist attack on the police post of Baba Ali Raina Mazar in Sopore on August 18, 2015 which led to two fatalities.

Reshi has been involved in arranging arms and ammunition from across the border, and motivating the youth to join terrorist activities, officials said.

Imtiaz Kandu a.k.a. Sajad a.k.a. Fayaz Sopore, originally from Jammu and Kashmir's Sopore, is currently residing in Pakistan.

According to officials, he has been involved in providing financial aid to terrorists, supplying arms and ammunition and smuggling narcotics.

Kandu has allegedly coordinated attacks on security forces and civilians, which have resulted in several fatalities.

Habibullah Malik a.k.a. Sajid Jatt belongs to Pakistan Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)/The Resistance Front (TRF).

Officials said he was one of the key handlers of the terrorists that attacked Indian troops at Bhata Dhurian in Poonch district. He had also been the mastermind in many terrorist attacks in the Kashmir Valley.

Bashir Ahmed Peer a.k.a. Imtiaz Alam belongs to Jammu and Kashmir, and is currently residing in Pakistan's Rawalpindi.

He is the launching commander of Hizbul Mujahideen.

He was tasked with providing logistics to HM terrorists, especially for infiltrating into Kupwara, and coordinating with other terrorist groups for terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

Irshad Ahmed a.k.a. Idris, currently living in Islamabad, is also the launching commander of HM who has been involved in its launching activities, coordinating the terrorist organisation's training operations.

Rafiq Nai a.k.a. Sultan is also living in Pakistan and is the launching commander of Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen/Jammu and Kashmir Ghaznavi Force.

According to officials, he is involved in arms smuggling and infiltration of trained Pakistani terrorists into Indian territory to revive terrorist acts in Jammu and Kashmir.

Zafar Iqbal a.k.a. Salim hails from Poonch district and is currently living in Pakistan.

Iqbal is the Operational Commander of the Harkat-ul-Jihad-e-Islami/Jammu and Kashmir Ghaznavi Force.

Apart from smuggling of narcotic substances and weapons, he is also involved in funding and infiltration of terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.

Bilal Ahmed Baig a.k.a. Babar belongs to Srinagar, and is currently living in Rawalpindi.

He is the head of the Jammu and Kashmir Islamic Front (JKIF). He is involved in the smuggling of arms in Jammu and Kashmir. Bilal Ahmed Baig.

Sheikh Jameel-ur-Rehman a.k.a. Sheikh Sahab belongs to the district Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir.

He is currently living in Pakistan and is the head of Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen.

He was also involved in smuggling of explosives made in Pakistan and movement of terrorists from Pakistan to India.

He was also involved in the conspiracy to attack religious places in Poonch.

--IANS
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Indore, Oct 4 (IANS) A scintillating maiden T20I century from Rilee Rossouw led South Africa to a convincing 49 run win over India in the third and final T20I and helped them avoid a clean sweep in the three-match series at the Holkar Cricket Stadium, here on Tuesday.

With the win in the first two T20Is, India won the three-match series 2-1. On the other hand, the win in the last game will give the Proteas momentum heading into the upcoming ODI series and also some confidence ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in Australia.

A brilliant century from Rossouw (100 not out off 48) and a fine fifty by Quinton de Kock (68 off 43) powered South Africa to 227/3 in 20 overs, after being invited to bat first. Apart from Rossouw and De Kock, Tristan Stubbs (23 off 18) and David Miller (19 not out off 5) also played valuable knocks for South Africa, who were also helped by India's sloppy fielding.

Chasing a mammoth total, India were off to a poor start, losing the wickets of Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer early. Rohit, while trying to drive off the back foot, got out for a duck on the second ball of the innings to Rabada. On the other hand, Iyer was trapped in front of the wicket by left-armer Parnell.

Despite the wickets, Pant, who opened the innings and Karthik, who came to bat at No 4, dealt in regular boundaries to get India going in the chase. Pant slammed two sixes and two fours off Ngidi in the fifth over but got out soon after, handing a catch to Stubbs at cover-point to depart for a 14-ball 27.

However, Karthik ensured that India had a profitable powerplay. He hit six, four, six off Parnell in the sixth over as India managed 39 off the last two powerplay overs and reached 64/3 after six overs.

Veteran Karthik also struck two sixes off Maharaj in the seventh over, but he got out to the spinner bowled for a 21-ball 46 after failing to execute a reverse shot. Suryakumar Yadav, couldn't do much and got out to Pretorius after striking a six, with Stubbs taking an excellent diving catch running in from deep extra cover, leaving India in deep trouble at 86/5 after 8 overs.

Thereafter, Harshal Patel (17) and Axar Patel (9) had a brief partnership of 22 runs for the sixth wicket but they too got out in quick succession. Having struck two fours and a six, Harshal got out to Ngidi as he found Miller at long-off while Axar got out for 9 off 8, getting an under edge off Parnell to hand wicket-keeper a catch. Ravichandran Ashwin (2) also couldn't do much and got out to Keshav Maharaj as India slipped further to 120/8 in the 13th over.

It was Deepak Chahar, who did some good hitting, smashing two fours and two sixes and helped India to the 150 mark in the 16th over while Umesh also scored a couple of boundaries during their partnership.

The 48-run stand for the ninth wicket came to an end when Chahar, after striking a six off Pretorius, fell in his attempt to score another, departing for 31 off 17, leaving India at 168/9 in the 17th over. Siraj was the last to depart, getting out to Pretorius as India were bowled out for 178 in 18.3 overs. Dwaine Pretorius 3/26, Keshav Maharaj 2/34) were the most successful bowlers for Proteas.

Earlier, put into bat first, De Kock gave Sri Lanka a flying start, smashing all India pacers Siraj and Chahar for boundaries and sixes. However, skipper Temba Bavuma was struggling at the other end. Umesh, introduced into the attack in the fourth over, struck off his first ball to end Bavuma's struggle, leaving South Africa to 30/1 after 4.1 overs.

Rilee Rossouw, who came to bat next, started his innings on a positive note, hitting a four to leg side boundary off Umesh and followed it up with another four a little finer. He then went over deep midwicket off Ashwin for his first six as South Africa ended the powerplay at 48/1.

Even after the end of powerplay, both South African batters continued their aggressive intent. De Kock reverse-sweeped Ashwin for a six and in the same over, Siraj put down a catch to give Rossouw a reprieve and a six. Soon, De Kock brought up his fifty in 33-balls with a six off Umesh. In the same over, Rossouw went past fine leg for a four as South Africa moved to 96/1 after 10 overs.

Both Rossouw and De Kock were holding the South Africa innings firm and Indian bowlers had no answers. It was eventually Shreyas Iyer's bullet throw which brought some respite for India, when De Kock attempted a quick second but got run out, leaving South Africa to 120/2 in 12.1 overs.

De Kock's wicket didn't affect South Africa much as a barrage of fours and sixes continued, with Umesh and Axar taken to the cleaners. With a six off Axar, Rossouw brought up a 27-ball fifty and then hit six off Harshal as South Africa moved to 154/2 after 15 overs.

Young Tristan Stubbs was also complementing Rossouw well from the other hand with timely boundaries as South Africa were racing towards a strong finish. Rossouw got to his maiden T20I ton - off 48 deliveries - with a single off Chahar in the first ball of the last over. The pacer then dismissed Stubbs in the next ball, which brought dangerous David Miller to the crease.

Miller then hit three sixes off Chahar as South Africa got 24 off the final over to finish with a mammoth total of 227-3 in 20 overs. Umesh Yadav (1/34) and Deepak Chahar (1/48) were the wicket-takers for India.

Brief scores: South Africa 227-3 in 20 Overs (Rilee Rossouw 100 not out, Quinton de Kock 68; Umesh Yadav 1/34) beat India 178-10 in 18.3 Overs (Dinesh Karthik 46, Deepak Chahar 31; Dwaine Pretorius 3/26, Keshav Maharaj 2/34) by 49 runs

--IANS
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Visakhapatnam, Oct 4 (IANS) A temple in Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam has been decorated with currency notes and gold ornaments worth Rs 8 crore as part of Navratri celebrations.

The management committee of the Vasavi Kanyaka Parameswari temple decorated the walls and floor with the currency notes of Rs 3.5 crore and jewellery.

Wads of notes of various denominations ranging from Re 1 to Rs 2,000 were kept around the deity, on the floor, pasted to the walls and even hung from the ceiling.

According to the committee of this 135-year-old temple, the currency notes and gold ornaments are contributions from devotees and the same will be returned to them after the festivities.

This is not the first time that a temple in Andhra Pradesh has been decorated in this fashion to mark Dasara celebrations. Last year, the deity at Vasavi Kanyaka Parameswari temple in Nellore district was decked up with currency notes worth Rs 5.16 crore.

The organisers had adorned the deity with garlands and bouquets of origami flowers made from the currency notes of various denominations like Rs 2,000, Rs 500, Rs 200, Rs 100, Rs 50, and Rs 10 and colours.

A large number of devotees worship the deity in the avatar of 'Dhanalakshmi', the goddess of riches, during the Navratri celebrations.

Earlier, Kanyaka Parameswari temple in Telangana's Jogulamba Gadwal district was decorated with currency notes amounting to Rs 1,11,11,111.

In 2017, the temple committee had made the offering in a similar arrangement with the currency notes amounting Rs 3,33,33,333.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Oct 4 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday said it has attached movable and immovable properties worth Rs 6.03 crore in connection with a money laundering case lodged against K.N. Marzook, the former Chairman and Director of Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI), and others.

An ED official said the attached properties consist of various movable and immovable properties in the form of bank accounts, lands and residential and commercial space in Kerala Trade Centre (KTC) building situated in Ernakulam, in his name as well as in the name of Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and Cherupushpam Films Private Limited.

The ED initiated money laundering investigation against Marzook and others on the basis of the FIR filed by Central Police Station, Ernakulam district, Kerala.

The ED learnt in the investigation that Marzook had been misusing his official position.

The official said that by misusing his official power, he made the KCCI enter sale agreements with buyers of KTC and received money from various buyers for selling the building space of the Kerala Trade Centre in cash.

During the course of investigation, it was revealed that Marzook received huge cash amounts from the prospective buyers and had diverted money received from the sale of KTC building space to start a private TV channel namely India Middle East Broadcasting Network (IMBEN).

This TV channel was banned from operations by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting due to involvement of Marzook.

The ED learnt that crores of rupees were diverted from KTC accounts to KCCI and IMEBN accounts by Marzook.

--IANS
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Mumbai, Oct 4 (IANS) Actor Amit Sadh, who is known for his work in 'Kai Po Che!: Brothers...For Life' and the streaming series 'Breathe', recently made Golden Globe Award winning Hollywood actor Jeremy Samuel Piven during his ongoing holiday in the USA. Amit is quite inspired and influenced by the American actor-comedian-producer.

The actor even shared a picture of himself with Jeremy on his Instagram and also penned down his experience of interacting with him.

Amit wrote in the caption: "Jeremy Piven's portrayal of Ari Gold (Entourage) is one of the first few performances that inspired me when I started my acting career. It continues even today after meeting him, I find him bold, and he has the fortitude and courage to push through life's ordeals. He has greatly influenced me so much that it helped me to understand that there is a great message under the mess we come across in our life (sic)."

Expressing his gratitude, he further mentioned: "Thank you brother for opening up to me. I cherish the stories of your life, which you shared with me. I look forward to your next film and can't wait to see you tap dancing. This friendship shall continue. @borncarioca Thank you for making this happen - and for the shadow that lurks on this image, says it all."

Jeremy is best known for his role as Ari Gold in the popular comedy series 'Entourage', for which he won a Golden Globe Award and three consecutive Emmy Awards.

Meanwhile, Amit, who recently completed shooting for season 3 of 'Breathe', will be portraying a photojournalist in his forthcoming short film titled 'Ghuspaith - Beyond Borders'.

--IANS
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