Manipur Government: Won't budge on 'sovereignty', says pro-talks group of Manipur rebels | India News

GUHAWATI: The Myanmar-based anti-talks section of Manipur’s oldest separatist outfit United National Liberation Front (UNLF) headed by Koireng issued a statement on Saturday, describing as a “death trap” the recent peace agreement signed by its breakaway group led by Pambei with the Centre and the state government.
“The UNLF hereby inform our people that Pambei group has deviated from the time-tested fundamental political principle of UNLF…is tantamount to total betrayal of the goal of UNLF…The attempt of India govt to give the impression that by signing the peace talks agreement with the breakaway group of UNLF can only be described as ignorance of the dynamics of our national liberation struggle,” stated the anti-talks faction commanded by RK Achou Singh alias Koireng.
According to the UNLF anti-talks faction, the government has never agreed to include “sovereignty and independence” in any talks with separatist groups. “This is the stand India govt took on holding talks with NSCN and ULFA. This is precisely the reason ULFA (Paresh Baruah faction) of Assam has not accepted to hold talks with India govt till today,” it stated.
The pro-talks faction, led by chairman Khundongbam Lanjingba alias Pambei, asserted Saturday that they had not compromised on the demand for “restoration of Manipur’s sovereignty” & would not lay down arms until the final peace accord is signed.
Manipur CM N Biren Singh expressed optimism about a smooth process at a felicitation event hosted by the state government in Imphal, where 500 cadres and workers of the pro-talks group were present. “The peace agreement has already been signed, and now there will be the (ceasefire) ground rules, which will be finalised soon by the Centre and UNLF with involvement of the state government. Under ground rules, the weapons will be kept locked. I think everything will sail smoothly,” Singh added.
During the event, pro-talks UNLF leaders made their stand clear. The faction’s acting chairman Moirangthem Nongyai said: “The people shouldn’t interpret that UNLF has laid down arms. We’ve only started the peace process.”
Formed in November 1964, UNLF aimed to establish an “independent socialist Manipur”. Chabungbam Naba Chandra, group’s general secretary, asserted: “We expect an amicable solution. If the expectation isn’t reached, we won’t put down arms. The Centre realised our fight for freedom, which is why we have come for talks. We are doing this for the restoration of sovereignty of Manipur.”

Explained: What UNLF peace accord means for the future of Manipur

While this faction engages in peace talks, the Centre and Manipur are yet to involve six remaining Imphal valley-based insurgent groups – People’s Liberation Army, People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak, Kangleipak Communist Party, Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup, Coordination Committee, and Alliance for Socialist Unity Kangleipak – in the peace process.

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Aditya-L1 sheds light on mysteries of solar wind | India News

NEW DELHI: In a boost for India’s Solar mission, Isro’s spacecraft Aditya L1 has started sending data that is shedding light on the mysteries of solar wind as the Aditya Solar wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX) payload on board the satellite has “commenced its operations and is performing normally”, an Isro statement said.
ASPEX, comprising two cutting-edge instruments – the Solar wind Ion Spectrometer (SWIS) and SupraThermal and Energetic Particle Spectrometer (STEPS), is operating seamlessly.While the STEPS instrument became operational on September 10, theSWITZERLAND instrument was activated on November 2 and had exhibited optimal performance, an Isro statement said.
“The SWIS instrument has demonstrated optimal performance in measuring solar wind ions, notably protons and alpha particles. With two sensor units providing a remarkable 360° field of view each, SWIS operates in perpendicular planes, offering detailed insights into solar wind behaviour,” Isro said. The agency said a sample energy histogram from November showcased variations in proton (H+) and alpha particle (He2+) counts, providing a comprehensive snapshot with nominal integration time.
The spacecraft is currently on its way to Lagrange Point L1, where it is likely to reach in January. From the L1 point, the spacecraft will constantly observe the Sun without any occultation or eclipses. Before solar wind, Aditya-L1 captured high energy X-ray glimpses of solar flares in November for the first time after its launch from Sriharikota on September 2.
The directional capabilities of SWIS payload enable precise measurements of solar wind protons and alphas, contributing significantly to addressing longstanding questions about solar wind properties, underlying processes, and their impact on Earth.
The change in the proton and alpha particle number ratio, as observed by SWIS, holds the potential to provide indirect information about the arrival of coronal mass ejections at the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point L1. Enhanced alpha-to-proton ratio is often regarded as one of the sensitive markers of the passage of interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) at the L1 and hence considered crucial for space weather studies, the statement said.
As researchers delve deeper into the collected data, the international scientific community eagerly awaits the wealth of knowledge that Aditya-L’’s ASPEX is set to unveil about the enigmatic solar wind and its implications for our planet. Researchers are optimistic that these findings will contribute significantly to our understanding of solar phenomena and enhance space weather forecasting capabilities.

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Militants: Militants abduct 3 from Assam quarry

SILCHAR: Suspected National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Khaplang) militants abducted three persons at gunpoint from a stone quarry at Joypur in Assam‘s Cachar district on Saturday.
Sources said the militants fired shots in the air at the quarry at 7.30am and abducted two drivers of excavators and a trucker while they were engaged in excavating and carrying stones from a riverbed.
After the news of the abduction spread, cops from Udharband and personnel of Assam Rifles rushed to the spot and launched an operation to rescue the trio, a police official said.
Cops, however, failed to disclose the identity of the victims till the time of going to press. Security was also tightened along the Cachar-Dima Hasao inter-district border.
This part of Cachar and Dima Hasao district of southern Assam was once a hotbed of militancy where Dimasa, Hmar and Naga militants were engaged in abductions, extortion and killings.
However, following the surrender of major militant outfits over the past years, this region has been witnessing a sense of peace, a police officer said.

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Selfie Points: Set up selfie points with PM image in background: UGC | India News

NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission has asked universities and colleges across the country to set up ‘selfie points’ at strategic locations in their campus to raise awareness among youngsters about India’s achievements in various fields. The selfie points are to be created “in accordance with approved designs in 3D layouts shared by the ministry of education“.
The UGC has shared samples of the selfie points which has PM Narendra Modi’s photo along snapshots of the government’s achievements in the fields of education and innovation. As per the UGC letter, the institutions have been asked to set up selfie points on themes that encompass a broad spectrum of national initiatives such as ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshth Bharat’ and major thrust areas of the New Education Policy, 2020.
According to UGC chairman M Jagadesh Kumar, the initiative has been taken to create awareness among the youth about India’s excellence in areas such as space exploration, sports excellence, infrastructure development, women-led development, etc. Sustainable rural development, IT, digital connectivity, and much more can be exhibited through these selfie points, he added.
UGC secretary Manish Ratnakar Joshi said UGC has shared samples of selfie points which has PM Modi’s photo along with snapshots of India’s achievements. “These selfie points will not only serve as a source of pride, but enlighten every citizen about the transformative initiatives that have propelled India’s growth on the global stage. Students and visitors should be encouraged to capture and share these special moments on social media platforms, fostering a sense of collective pride,” he said.
“There is a unique opportunity to harness the energy and enthusiasm of youngsters, moulding their minds with inspiration drawn from India’s progress in diverse fields. The selfie points will emerge as a dynamic and engaging place to instil a sense of national pride,” he added.

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Mantri Son: Mantri son refuses to be political heir, set to take up a peon's job | India News

CHATRA: Dynasty politics may have gained acceptability in India despite the negative buzz around it, but a Jharkhand minister’s son has no desire to tread that path. He is all set to take up a peon’s job at Chatra civil courtdespite his father’s vehement opposition.
Mukesh Kumar (28), son of RJD MLA and labour & employment minister Satyanand Bhokta, is not willing to become his political heirand says there’s no way he will allow his father to dissuade him from joining.
“There is nothing wrong in taking up a peon’s job. Once the date for joining is notified, I will take up the job,” Mukesh said. An arts graduate, Mukesh said he and his cousin Ramdev Bhokta had applied for the job and appeared for an interview. While Mukesh found his name among the 19 successful candidates, Ramdev was placed on the waiting list.
Mukesh said his father might be in politics, but that doesn’t mean he, too, will walk the same path. “People of Chatra elected him and now he is a minister. I will work as per my capabilities,” Mukesh told TOI.
The father and son, as per sources, can’t see eye to eye. Their relationship took a beating when Mukesh was asked to marry a SC girl a few years ago, which was seen as a move to save the Chatra seat, which is reserved for SCs, for Satyanand, who belongs to the tribal community.
Mukesh said he was not ready to take any questions about his family and his father. The minister, too, did not take phone calls. Mukesh’s decision to work as a grade IV employee might be an act of defiance. However, among Satyanand’s four sons, only the eldest one, Binod, is in active politics. The two others have also not taken the political plunge so far.
Satyanand Bhokta was in BJP and quit the party in 2014 after being denied a poll ticket. In 2019, RJD fielded him from Chatra and he only won, but was also made a minister in the Hemant Soren government.

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Strategy: BJP to recalibrate its 2024 strategy with takeaways from today’s verdict | India News

NEW DELHI: The assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Chhattisgarh may not exactly be semi-final for the 2024 contest, but the outcome on Sunday will have important takeaways for BJP, Congress and other contestants. BJP had lost state polls in the four states in 2018 but in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections went on to sweep all seats in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, won 28 of 29 seats in Madhya Pradesh and, in a first, four seats in Telangana where it had won just one assembly seat a few months earlier.
However, BJP did not disregard the message delivered by the voters in the states and came out with measures like reservations for “general” category and Kisan Samman Nidhi, cash assistance for crores of farmers, which helped it in the 2019 contest.
The party is certain to pay heed to the message of the current round to strengthen its platform, which has Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity, the lure of his vision of a “strong and prosperous” India, welfare schemes and Hindutva as the planks.
The exit polls are divided about Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, but party leaders are confident of winning both the states and doing better than predictions in Chhattisgarh even as the party pundits are not optimistic about winning more than 8-10 seats in Telangana,where the saffron party continues to explore its foothold.
Congress, which is in power in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, and BJP, which is ruling Madhya Pradesh, are locked in a straight fight in these three states, while K Chandrashekhar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is hoping for a hat-trick in Telangana.
BJP is seeking to replicate the winning streak of Gujarat (where it has been in government since 1998) in Madhya Pradesh with four-time CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan hoping to form government again. The party is also keen to win back Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh as it seeks to regain its hold in Hindi heartland states ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
However, in case of win, the immediate challenge for the saffron outfit will be to decide the next chief ministers as the party has not projected any one as its face in any of the four states.

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CJI hails dissent, says state must support weaker population | India News

NEW DELHI: Underscoring the importance of dissenters in society, who challenge and question prevailing majoritarian views, the Chief Justice of India on Saturday said dissent nourishes democracy and a society will fail and not progress if dissent is suppressed.
Speaking on ‘Democracy, Debate and Dissent’ at the conclusion of the Justice Keshav Chandra Dhulia Memorial Essay Competition, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said dissents, even those which are unpopular and unacceptable, give us windows to the future and a servile and subservient population weakens democracy.

CJI Chandrachud unmasks internet’s threat to free speech in Tarkunde lecture

The CJI said the State must side with the weaker population which may be a numerical or a social minority and they must have a say in the decision-making process.
“Dissent emerges from profound questions about the working of the society. Abolition of slavery, annihilation of caste, emancipation of gender minorities, and religious harmony were all once dissenting opinions. However, these dissents hold the power to fundamentally restructure our society by sparking an important conversation. These dissents emerge not from thin air but from a democratic culture of fierce debates. Therefore, a society which does not encourage its citizens to critically think, question the powers that be, and engage in nonconformist democratic discourse will fail to progress because it will fail to create dissenters,” the CJI said.

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Vicky Kaushal And Sachin Tendulkar: Vicky Kaushal is elated as his childhood hero Sachin Tendulkar watches 'Sam Bahadur' with family and lauds the film - Pics inside

Vicky Kaushal is receiving overwhelming praise from fans and celebrities for his recent release, ‘Sam Bahadur,’ which is delivering a compelling movie experience and holding its ground against the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer ‘Animal.’ The latest to join the chorus of accolades is cricket legend Sachin Tendulkarwho shared his thoughts about the movie and Vicky’s performance on social media.
Sachin Tendulkar attended a recent screening of the film, where he not only watched the movie but also posed for pictures with Vicky and shared his review. Vicky Kaushal had a memorable weekend as Sachin Tendulkar, accompanied by his wife Anjali Tendulkar, watched ‘Sam Bahadur’ in Khar on Saturday. Former cricketers Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar were also present for the screening, and Vicky joined them to witness their live reactions.

Post-screening, Sachin praised the film. He said that it’s a good movie and he was super impressed by Vicky’s acting. He further added that, It truly felt like Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw was present. The body language was incredible. It’s an important film for all generations to watch, to know the history of our country. Sachin also told the paps after watching the movie that everyone should watch it.

Overjoyed by Sachin’s positive response, Vicky expressed his happiness on Instagram, sharing a picture with the cricket legend. The caption read, ‘My childhood hero saw my film today! #IAmOk!!! Thank you @sachintendulkar Sir for your kind words. I’ll cherish them for a lifetime. #SAMबहादुर IN CINEMAS!!!’

‘Sam Bahadur’ revolves around the life of India’s first Field Marshal, Sam Manekshaw, whose military career spanned over four decades and included participation in five wars. The film highlights his crucial role in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, which led to the creation of Bangladesh. Alongside Vicky, the film features Fatima Sana Shaikh as former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Sanya Malhotra as Sam’s wife. It’s directed by Meghna Gulzar.

Sam Bahadur Movie Review: Did this Vicky Kaushal led biopic create an impact?

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Rabies: Bitten by pet cat, UP man & son die of rabies | India News

KANPUR: A teacher at a government school and his son died within a span of a week due to rabies infection after they were bitten by their pet cat in Akbarpur town in Kanpur, reports Faiz Siddiqui.
District officials said the cat was earlier bitten by a dog, which was infected with rabies, sometime in September.
A health officer said the victim, Imtiazuddin, 58, was headmaster and had a pet cat, which was bitten by a rabies-infected dog.”About a fortnight ago, both Imitiazuddin and his son Azeem Akhtar, were bitten and scratched by the cat,” he said. “Instead of getting an anti-rabies vaccine, both of them got tetanus injection. On November 21, the family left for Bhopal to attend a wedding where Azeem’s health started deteriorating,” the officer added.

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'The Archies' star Khushi Kapoor says she is no longer letting negative comments on social media impact her | Hindi Movie News

Legendary actress Sridevi’s daughter Khushi Kapoor is going to make her bollywood debut in Zoya Akthar’s ‘The Archies’. Ahead of the film’s release, she has gained a substantial following on social media. At the same time she faces negativity and trolling from the same platform.
In a recent interview with NDTV, Khushi shared her experience navigating the challenges of social media, which she has been exposed to since a young age.She revealed that over time, she has developed a resilient attitude, no longer letting negative comments impact her as much. Khushi acknowledged that she’s exposed to a lot of it from a very young age and she had been kind of desensitized to a lot of it.

She explained her changed mindset, quoting, she learns to differentiate when you read something, whether it stems from someone else’s insecurity. Now, she has learned not to take it so much to heart. She doesn’t really go through everything and overthink it as she used to do before.she admits that she values other people’s opinions more who mean more to her, as long as it is coming from a better place.

Playing the role of Betty Cooper in the upcoming film, Khushi shared that the character taught her to be kinder to herself. Betty’s sweet and sensitive nature inspired her to ease self-imposed pressure and be more compassionate during the shoot.

Suhana Khan, Agastya Nanda and Khushi Kapoor groove to ‘Va Va Voom’ at ‘The Archies’ event

Zoya Akhtar‘s ‘The Archies’ is a film based on the popular American comic book series. It features the debutant Suhana KhanAgastya Nanda, Vedang Raina, and more. The movie is set to premiere on OTT on December 7.

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Lin Laishram Wedding Outfit: Randeep Hooda, Lin Laishram drop NEW pictures from their wedding festivities as the couple glows in yellow - See Pics

Randeep Hooda and Lin Laishram recently tied the knot in an intimate wedding. It was a traditional Meitei wedding in Imphal. The simple looks of the bride and groom look created a buzz and people loved how they chose to stick to their roots. The couple, who tied the knot on November 29, has now shared charming post-wedding celebration pictures, radiating joy in coordinated golden outfits.
Randeep donned a white and gold sherwani with a dhotiand traditional dupatta, while Lin looked stunning in a mustard yellow outfit paired with an intricately embroidered silk dupatta.The newlyweds expressed their happiness, captioning the photos with, ‘From ‘I’ to ‘We’ in a happily ever after.’

The official wedding pictures unveiled earlier showcased Randeep in a white kurtadhoti, headgear, and a white shawl, while Lin graced the occasion in a beautiful traditional wedding ensemble. Shedding light on their decision to embrace Lin’s Manipuri traditions, Randeep shared that it feels nice. He felt that it’s only respectful to come and marry in the bride’s tradition and he wanted to experience his partner’s culture.
The couple was spotted at the Mumbai airport a day after their wedding, arriving hand-in-hand, exuding the post-wedding glow. As per their Instagram update, it looks like the couple is gearing up for a reception in Mumbai, heightening the excitement around their joyful celebration.

Newlyweds Randeep Hooda, Lin Laishram make FIRST appearance at Mumbai airport, couple greets the paps

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Lok Sabha: On session evening, Congress writes to Speaker in Mahua's support | India News

NEW DELHI: Just ahead of the winter session of Parliament beginning on Monday, Congress’ leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury wrote to Speaker Om Birla on Saturday in support of TMC member Mahua Moitra in the ‘cash for query’ case, questioning the jurisdiction of the ethics panel to “recommend” the MP’s expulsion from the House.
In his letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Chowdhury referred to the action purportedly referred to by the Lok Sabha Ethics Panel against Moitra as “extremely serious punishment” that has “very wide ramifications”.He said Birla must re-examine the rules and processes followed by parliamentary committees while dealing with matters concerning the interests and rights of MPs.

At the all-party meeting called by the government on Saturday, TMC leaders Sudip Bandopadhyay (Lok Sabha) and Derek O’ Brien (Rajya Sabha) questioned how the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee‘s report “recommending” Mahua’s expulsion had been made public “brazenly” before being tabled in the House.

Cash-for-query: Ethics Panel to table report in Lok Sabha seeking expulsion of TMC’s Mahua Moitra

The House is slated to take up the report on the opening day of the session and the two TMC leaders sought a discussion on the issue before the report is tabled.
Demanding that no “injustice” be done to Moitra, Chowdhury pointed out that there is no clear definition of what qualifies as “unethical conduct” by MPs and that a formal ‘Code of Conduct’ for MPs in LS does not exist. He said: “Expulsion from Parliament, you will agree is an extremely serious punishment and has very wide ramifications.”
The Congress leader was also not sure whether procedure had been followed and money trail established in the case against Moitra. The procedure followed left some “grey areas”, he added.
Citing past records of the ethics committee, Adhir said the House panel had previously dealt with only a few cases where punitive action recommended was limited to admonition, reprimand or a short suspension from its sittings.
Accusing the panel of flouting the rules of confidentiality & passing “judgement” when investigations by the committee – such as depositions by businessman Darshan Hiranandani for his claims of paying Moitra for asking questions on his behalf – were still not complete, Chowdhury emphasised the need for Speaker’s intervention to “processes relating to jurisdiction & procedures followed” and to take “remedial measures… towards streamlining of the functioning”.

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Sunday Suspense: Parties gear up for 'semifinal' results | India News

NEW DELHI: The political class and the country at large heads to a Super Sunday when results for the “BJP vs Congress” battle in the Hindi heartland will determine if the post-Karnataka resilience of Congress has prevailed over anti-incumbency, or if BJP has regained its mojo to knock the out arch-rival.
With a new turf, Telangana, in play for Congress, its outcome along with those of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan will set the tone for the Lok Sabha polls to come six months later.

As per the last lap of the campaign and also the exit polls, the fight appears to have tightened from the time the countdown was sounded for the five states, with Congress as the clear frontrunner.

Congress has been confident about defending Chhattisgarh and wresting Madhya Pradesh from BJP, while chief minister Ashok Gehlot has made a determined bid to turn the three-decade-old pattern of Rajasthan voting out the incumbent.
The party, riding the energy and messaging from Karnataka triumph, pulled out all stops to challenge the ruling BRS in the neighbouring Telangana, and seems to have done well.
In contrast, PM Narendra Modi-led BJP carpet-bombed the battlegrounds, with a mix of personalised campaign and attack on Congress, coupled with strong focus on Hindutva. The party is seen to have made a match of it in MP and Chhattisgarh, and is snapping at the heels of Congress in Rajasthan.
Watch Exit Poll Results: BJP leads in MP & Rajasthan, Congress holds strong in Chhattisgarh & Telangana

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