Mumbai, July 7 (IANS) Author Amish Tripathi has come out in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that his fluency in Hindi is a strength, not a weakness.

Reacting to the recent trolling over the Prime Minister’s English, Tripathi criticized those who mock leaders for not speaking in English and urged people to take pride in Indian languages. In an exclusive interview with IANS, Amish Tripathi acknowledged that English has become essential in today’s job market and society but stressed that it should not come at the cost of one’s self-respect or pride in native languages. He expressed concern over the pressure to speak English and criticized the mindset that looks down upon those who choose to communicate in Hindi or other Indian languages.Amish Tripathi stated, “I’m not against English. In a way, learning English has become mandatory. If you want a good job, you have to learn English. In our family, our generation is the first generation to go to an English-medium school. Our parents studied in a Hindi-medium school. So let me repeat, I’m not against English. And I’m not against the influence of English.”Using PM Modi as an example, the celebrated author said it’s wrong to mock someone for not speaking English fluently, especially when they weren’t educated in English-medium schools. “He speaks fluently in Hindi without notes. That should be appreciated. If he wants to speak in English, fine—but mocking him for it is simply not right.” He also compared India to other countries, where leaders proudly speak in their native languages—whether it’s French President Emmanuel Macron, Russian President Vladimir Putin, or leaders from Japan and China. “No one makes fun of them for not speaking English. So why should we do that here?”Amish Tripathi concluded by reinforcing his belief that while the influence of English can be positive, the pressure to speak it should not come at the cost of one’s self-worth or national pride. “It’s time we get rid of the pressure and take pride in our own languages,” he said.Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was trolled by a section of people on social media for not speaking fluent English during the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada. This wasn’t the first time he faced such criticism—at several past events too, the Prime Minister has been mocked by some for choosing to speak in Hindi or for not using English in formal international meetings.–IANSps/

New Delhi, July 7 (IANS) In a sharp reaction to the ongoing voter roll revision process in Bihar, RJD MP Manoj Jha on Monday voiced serious concerns over what he termed as a mass-scale disenfranchisement plan targeting the poor, Dalits, Muslims, and backward communities.

His remarks came as Opposition parties, including his Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), moved the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) first phase of voter list revision in the state.“This concern is not personal – it is collective,” Jha told IANS.”This is the concern of every poor person who is being targeted for eviction from the electoral list.”Jha criticised the ECI’s approach as exclusionary and said it is especially unjust in a state like Bihar, which he described as “document-deficit.”He pointed out that demanding 11 specific documents within just 25 days makes it nearly impossible for many, especially those living outside the state, to comply.“You’re revising rolls after 22 years and giving just 25 days. You know Bihar lacks easy access to certificates. You know 20 per cent of people live outside the state. Where will they get these documents from? How can they return, collect them, and submit them within this narrow timeframe?” Jha told IANS.The RJD lawmaker alleged that the entire exercise violates Article 326 of the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act, which promotes voter inclusion.”But this entire campaign is focused on exclusion. Even the public notices published in newspapers have only sown confusion. You are giving excessive powers to local officials – Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) – who can now arbitrarily add or remove names. This is deeply worrying.”He added that this is not just a legal or technical issue but a democratic one.”Today, every major newspaper in Bihar has written about it. People from every caste and religion are afraid. There was no consultation with stakeholders, no transparency. In such a situation, approaching the Supreme Court was the only option.”The opposition INDIA bloc has called for a Bihar Bandh on July 9, opposing the voter list revision. The alliance claims the exercise could disenfranchise nearly 20 per cent of the state’s 8 crore voters, disproportionately affecting marginalised groups.”Who are the ones being excluded? The poor, the backward, the Dalits, the Muslims. This isn’t just about documentation — this is about trust in the system. The ECI must remember that it’s not the custodian of suspicion, it is the custodian of free and fair elections.”Jha also raised concerns about the recent ‘Sanatan Mahakumbh’ held at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan, where Bageshwar Dham leader Dhirendra Krishna Shastri called for a ‘Bhagwa-e-Hind’ and demanded the creation of a Hindu Rashtra.”We are people of the Constitution. We believe in Ambedkar, in Gandhi, in Nehru. India is a multi-religious, multi-lingual nation with diverse traditions. Our flag is tricolour, not monochrome. One-nation-one-religion thinking doesn’t fit the soul of India.”The RJD MP also responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks at the BRICS Summit, where the PM called terrorism “the most serious challenge facing humanity” and said it must be condemned unequivocally.”This platform has always had global significance, and the Prime Minister’s message was indeed meaningful. But when the US President Donald Trump makes threatening statements about BRICS and its potential currency initiatives, we should have responded strongly to assert our independence and challenge American hegemony.”Jha suggested India must take a principled stance in this evolving geopolitical environment and not appear passive in the face of economic intimidation.In a social media post, Trump warned of a 10 per cent tariff on any country aligning with what he called BRICS’ “anti-American policies”. He had earlier threatened a 100 per cent tariff if BRICS moves forward with proposals to reduce dollar dependence in global trade.–IANSjk/vd

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Chennai, July 7 (IANS) In a major step towards fostering social equity and unity among the youth, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced that all student hostels run by various government departments across the state will now be known as ‘Social Justice Hostels’.This move, the Chief Minister said, reflects the core principles of the Dravidian Model government and is aimed at creating a strong foundation for an egalitarian society.“The renaming is not just symbolic,” CM Stalin said, “but part of our broader effort to root out caste-based discrimination and foster a spirit of unity among the younger generation.”The decision was taken based on the recommendations of the Justice K. Chandru Commission, a one-man panel set up by the state government to examine ways to eliminate caste markers in educational institutions.The Commission had proposed removing caste-based names and symbols and recommended the introduction of a curriculum that encourages inclusive education. Acting on these recommendations, the government has decided to rename all 2,739 hostels catering to school and college students as ‘Social Justice Hostels’.These hostels currently house around 1,79,568 students from various communities, many of whom come from marginalised and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. “While we are transforming the names and purpose of these hostels, the government remains committed to supporting students through existing welfare schemes,” CM Stalin said.“Financial assistance, scholarships, and other forms of aid will continue as before. This renaming is a step forward in our resolve to create a discrimination-free learning environment, “ he said.Hostels that have already been named after prominent leaders will retain their names, but the phrase ‘Social Justice Hostel’ will be appended to them, the Chief Minister clarified.Over the years, the state has implemented several initiatives aimed at improving the educational outcomes of students from marginalised communities. The Chief Minister noted that while these schemes have enhanced opportunities and capabilities, the time has now come to address deep-rooted societal biases directly.“This is not just a policy decision,” CM Stalin said, “but a step in building a socially just Tamil Nadu, where every student has the right to dignity, equality, and opportunity.”–IANSaal/dpb

Mumbai, July 7 (IANS) Bollywood actress Raveena Tandon took to social media to call out a crew member for invading Shraddha Kapoor’s privacy. The actress expressed her disappointment over the incident and urged people to respect personal boundaries. Shraddha was recently spotted travelling with her rumoured boyfriend, writer Rahul Mody. While the couple was seated together on a flight, an airline crew member secretly recorded a video of them. In the clip, the actress was seen showing something on her phone to Rahul as they chat. The crew member, smiling at the camera, then turned it toward the couple. The video, which went viral on social media, ended with a close-up shot of Shraddha.Responding to one of the videos, Raveena Tandon criticized the incident in the comment section, calling it a total invasion of privacy. She stressed that it’s important to ask for consent before filming anyone. The ‘Mohra’ actress wrote, “This is a breach of privacy. The crew should know better than to do this. Consent must be taken. Not expected from crew members to do this.”The viral video sparked mixed reactions online. While some viewed it as a fan moment, others criticized it as a clear violation of privacy.Meanwhile, Shraddha Kapoor recently posted a fun video of herself showcasing quirky dance moves. In the clip, netizens noticed Rahul Mody in the background, capturing her on camera. The Stree actress captioned the video, “Who maykal can stop my bhankas (Who can stop my nonsense)???”Shraddha and Rahul were first seen together publicly at Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s pre-wedding celebration in Jamnagar last year.For those who may not know, Rahul Mody is the writer of films like “Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2,” “Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety,” and “Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar,” which starred Shraddha Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor. He and Shraddha reportedly met during the shoot of “Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar,” where their friendship gradually blossomed into a relationship.–IANSps/

New Delhi, July 7 (IANS) Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Chairman, Tuhin Kanta Pandey, said on Monday that SEBI has all the powers to act against manipulative trading activities in the matter related to New York-headquartered trading major Jane Street Group, which is very evident from the interim order that has been issued to ban the global giant from the Indian stock market.When asked whether there is a need to have more regulations to act against such entities, the Sebi Chairman quipped that the need was for enforcement and surveillance rather than more regulations and the “order in the Jane Street case speaks for itself.””Within the regulations only we have bought it. So, with regulations remaining the same it is enforcement and surveillance that can actually help. Excess regulations do not mean excess regulation. Those are two different things,” Pandey remarked.He highlighted that a great deal of analytical work went into the Jane Street case, as manipulative activities were done in many ways”Manipulative practices can be worked out by different players in different ways. There is no one particular way in which you have to assess. Our regulations very clearly mention that manipulative and fraudulent practices are not allowed in the market and within the regulations SEBI has all the powers to investigate and act,” Pandey explained.”Obviously surveillance both at exchanges level and SEBI level will continue, and we will also upgrade those surveillance measures,” said Pandey.Jane Street has been barred by SEBI from the Indian stock market for indulging in manipulative trading practices that allegedly enabled the company to make unlawful profits.Jane Street indulged in aggressive trading in the derivatives (futures) segment, where the firm executed trades to influence market prices by unfair means for making a fast buck.SEBI described it as “non-neutral trading behaviour”, a strategic attempt to influence prices rather than simply engage with the market. And the tactic wasn’t random; it followed a well-known play in the trading world which is termed “marking the close.”Jane Street is a proprietary trading firm, which means it trades with its own capital rather than managing client funds. The firm allegedly made a staggering Rs 32,681 crore in profits, by manipulating the stock market and repatriating the amount overseas.Jane Street is understood to have used an extended ‘marking the close’ strategy — placing large and aggressive buy or sell orders near the end of the trading session, with the intention of artificially driving up the closing price of a stock or index. It later dumped these stocks with aggressive selling to rake in a quick profit which caused the price to crash and loss to those holding the stocks.–IANSsps/rad

Mumbai, July 7 (IANS) Bollywood actor Sidharth Malhotra is remembering the Kargil war hero Captain Vikram Batra on the day he attained martyrdom.
On Monday, the actor took to his Instagram, and shared a picture of Captain Vikram Batra in which he can be seen standing against the backdrop of the Himalayas.He wrote in the caption, “To Captain Vikram Batra, your story continues to move and inspire us. Thank you for showing us the meaning of true strength. Remembering you today, on the day you gave everything for the nation”.Sid essayed the role of Vikram Batra in the 2021 film ‘Shershaah’. The biographical war film was based on the life of Captain Vikram Batra. The film was directed by Vishnuvardhan in his Hindi film debut and written by Sandeep Shrivastava, and also starred Sid’s wife Kiara Advani.Captain Vikram Batra joined the Indian Military Academy (IMA) at Dehradun, in June 1996 in the Manekshaw Battalion, named after India’s war hero Sam Manekshaw. He completed his 19-month training course, and later graduated from the IMA on December 6, 1997. He was commissioned as a lieutenant into the Indian ArmyHe was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, the highest Indian military decoration, for his actions during the Kargil War, on 7 July 1999. He fought valiantly during the Kargil War, and was martyred while fighting Pakistani troops around Area Ledge, Point 4875, in the Kargil district of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir.Meanwhile, Sid was last seen in the film ‘Yodha’. The film is inspired by the various aircraft hijackings in Indian history, particularly Indian Airlines Flight 814 in 1999.He also has ‘Param Sundari’ in the pipeline. Produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films, the film is set to release on July 25, 2025.–IANSaa/

Taipei, July 7 (IANS) Typhoon Danas made landfall at Taiwan and exited to sea early Monday morning, leaving two people dead and 334 injured, according to local media.It has caused power outages in over 660,000 households and led to class and work suspensions in more than 10 counties and cities, said local authorities.Danas was centred about 130 km north of Taipei as of Monday noon, with the maximum wind speed near the centre around 90 km per hour, the local meteorological authority said, adding that while the main island of Taiwan is now outside the typhoon’s storm circle, the northern coastal waters remain under threat.With a rare track that brushed the island’s densely populated west coast, Danas became the first typhoon to make landfall in Chiayi in 120 years.As of 8 a.m. Monday, the typhoon had caused a total of 2,270 incidents of damage, most involving basic infrastructure and fallen trees in Tainan, Chiayi, Kaohsiung and Yunlin, according to the local disaster response centre.As of 10 a.m., the island had cancelled 176 flights, the region’s aviation authority said, adding that flights are expected to resume gradually in the afternoon.Due to the influence of the typhoon’s outer circulation, heavy to torrential rain is still expected in Tainan, Kaohsiung and Pingtung on Monday. The meteorological authority reminded the public to stay away from mountainous areas to prevent accidents, Xinhua news agency reported.East China’s Zhejiang Province has elevated its typhoon emergency response to Level III at 10 a.m. Monday, as Danas, the fourth typhoon of this year, moves closer.According to the province’s meteorological observatory, the centre of the typhoon made landfall along the coast of Taiwan’s Chiayi City in the wee hours on Monday. After making landfall, Danas continued to move northward.At 7 a.m., its centre was located over the sea, approximately 258 km southeast of Wenzhou, Zhejiang. It is expected to make landfall again along the coast between Taizhou in Zhejiang and Fuzhou in neighbouring Fujian Province, sometime between the afternoon and night of July 8.From July 7 to 9, central and southern Zhejiang, as well as nearby coastal regions, are expected to receive total rainfall of 60 to 90 mm due to Danas, with precipitation in some areas potentially exceeding 350 mm.Zhejiang has urged all coastal regions and departments to closely monitor the typhoon’s path, strengthen joint consultations, and implement prevention measures in line with the contingency plan. These include sheltering ships, suspending sea routes and halting construction projects.China’s national observatory also renewed a yellow alert for Typhoon Danas as it is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rain.–IANSint/jk/vd

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