New Delhi: In an effort to encourage female participation in various sectors, the government has decided that the Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path will see participation only by women in march pasts, tableaux and other performances.
The Defence Ministry, in this regard, has written a letter to the armed forces and other government departments associated with the parade, stating that the marching contingents, military bands accompanying the marching contingents and tableaux will have only women participants.
The letter comes as a surprise for several senior military officers and has also created confusion. Many believe that there aren’t enough women available in forces for this. The current situation is that some marching contingents consist of men only.
Significantly, the armed forces have taken several measures, including assigning command roles to women, grooming them for future leadership roles and allowing them to join artillery regiments, to promote gender equality.
According to information, the decision to encourage women’s participation in the parade was taken during a meeting held on February 7. The meeting, chaired by Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, was attended by senior representatives from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ministry of Culture, and Ministry of Education.
About a month after the meeting, the Defence Ministry formally issued a letter to participating forces, ministries and departments on March 1.
In the letter, emphasis was laid on the role of women in the parade to be held next year.
The letter noted that after detailed deliberations, it has been decided that the contingents (marching and bands), tableaux and other displays during the parade on the Kartavya Path will have only women participants.
All the participating ministries, departments and organisations have also been asked to initiate preparations for the same and share the progress made with the Defence Ministry from time to time.
Some senior officials believe that the government will do what is practical, and for the time being it is difficult to have only female participants in all marching and band contingents.
Significantly, the marching contingents of the infantry in the Republic Day parade constitute the largest number of personnel. Officials argue that women have not yet been included in the infantry. Officers who lead marching contingents consist of personnel below officer rank (PBOR) and the Army has the PBOR cadre women personnel only in the Military Police Corps, they assert.
However, it is not that women have no representation in force or that women are marginalised. They are being assigned roles equivalent to men in all three services – they fly fighter aircraft, serve on warships, are inducted into the PBOR cadre, are eligible for permanent commission, are assigned command roles, and also women officers are undergoing training at the National Defence Academy. Despite this, infantry, tanks and combat positions still do not have that participation of women.
According to the Indian Army, Colonel Geeta Rana has recently become the first woman army officer to command an independent unit in the sensitive Ladakh region bordering China. Apart from this, for the first time, the army has deployed a woman officer Captain Shiva Chauhan in the world’s highest and coldest battlefield Siachen this year itself. The army has also deployed its largest contingent of 27 women peacekeepers to the disputed region of Abyei in Sudan.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke like a “pradhan sevak” during the 100th episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ and there is no politics in the radio broadcast, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Sunday, countering the Congress’ criticism of the programme.
Now if the Congress is “obsessed” with talking about the agenda set by its first family, it’s up to the party, she said.
Earlier in the day, the Congress took a swipe at Modi over his 100th ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio broadcast, saying there was much fanfare in the run-up to the episode but it was “maun ki baat (silence)” on critical issues such as the border dispute with China, stock manipulation allegations against the Adani Group, “increasing” economic inequalities and the wrestlers’ protest.
Hitting back, Sitharaman said, “He (Modi) talks about everything. Now if the Congress is obsessed with talking about the agenda that the first family of the party sets, it’s up to the party.”
“There is no politics in Mann Ki Baat… There is positivity in the spirit of Mann ki Baat,” the finance minister told reporters after listening to the radio broadcast with BJP leaders and others in Preet Vihar here.
In the 100th episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’, Sitharaman said, Modi spoke to the people like a ‘pradhan sevak’ and not a prime minister, and the common people also spoke confidently about the core issues.
“So, I am very much impacted, inspired and feeling humbled,” she said.
“Such a pradhan sevak is leading our country despite problems that arose due to the spread of COVID-19 in 2020 and the Russia-Ukraine (conflict) later. All of us are safe under his leadership and India is the fastest growing economy today,” the minister added.
On Congress leaders calling Modi names, Sitharaman said “abusing” the prime minister is “part of the Congress DNA”.
“But they never seem to realise that every time they abuse Prime Minister Modi, people recognise him much more for his positive and constructive work in building India. It doesn’t benefit them in any way or win them any brownie points but they still want to do it because they are full of hate,” she said.
“Despite Rahul Gandhi going around setting up ‘mohabbat ka dukan’, his own party’s president is spewing venom. He is talking about a poisonous snake. So, you understand where Rahul is going and where his party is. Rahul is talking about something that his party doesn’t believe in,” she added.
It is the “nature” of the Congress to abuse those it cannot defeat but people’s support is with Prime Minister Modi.
“The more they accuse the prime minister, the more people will bless him,” she added.
Through ‘Mann Ki Baat’, Sitharaman said, the prime minister has brought out the good in Indian citizens.
If you’re new to the idea of rummaging around for preowned possessions it can be difficult to know where to start. Professional hunter Natalia Rawley sells exclusively on Instagram, where a loyal following of buyers – including well-known interior designers – scroll her feed for reasonably priced, pre-loved pieces.
Rawley specialises in house clearances but suggests a local auction house is less intimidating for beginners. “You can pick up amazing bargains” she says. “I’m talking £60 for a wonderful chest of drawers or £50 for a quality sofa. You just need to register yourself, go to the viewing and be there to bid on the day, either in person or online.”
Big antique markets are also Rawley’s idea of fun: “Go with a friend, turn up at 6am with a tape measure and an empty car.” Ardingly and Shepton Mallet (iacf.co.uk), and Kempton and Sandown (sunburyantiques.com), are where you see all the big dealers (“or their minions”). Rawley also recommends tracking down a copy of The Antiques Guide – a little-known listings guide that is published every three months and can be picked up from most vintage shops. “It lists antique markets, village fetes and car boot sales by county,” she says. “It’s £1.50 and it’s absolutely brilliant.”
For Rawley, “physically rooting around like a truffle pig, finding gems among the rubble” is a huge part of the appeal of upcycling. But for those shopping online, eBay and Facebook Marketplace are good places to start, as is the-saleroom.com – a curated auction site representing over 700 auction houses.
“I cannot stand brand new, insipid, bland furniture,” declares Rawley. “It simply doesn’t have the same character or charm as a second-hand piece. Think about the lovely patina of a piece of brown wooden furniture,” she says. “It’s got so much soul and energy – it’s got a story.”
Brown furniture is the first thing Rawley suggests upcyclers look out for. Made from solid dark wood, such as walnut, mahogany, rosewood or teak, “it can be picked up for absolutely nothing”. Pine is more porous – and therefore more susceptible to stains – but is similarly inexpensive.
If you’re looking to rehome an upholstered chair or sofa, always check for signs of moth damage: “You absolutely do not want moths in your life,” says Rawley. “And avoid anything with modern legs,” she suggests. “Look for a solid, heavy frame and lovely turned wooden legs, or squat, bun feet.” And don’t be put off by the fabric – “as long as you’re prepared to spend a minimum of £300 to get it reupholstered”.
Avoid anything broken. “If there’s a leg missing, or drawers that don’t run smoothly, don’t buy it because it will annoy you forever,” cautions Rawley. “But I definitely wouldn’t say if it’s too cheap, it’s too good to be true. I’ve picked up things for four quid that have given me endless joy. That’s where real happiness lies: in picking up inexpensive pieces you love.”
Once I’ve bought it, how do I make it look better?
If you’ve unearthed a bargain that needs sprucing up, there are some basic remedies you can try at home that don’t involve sanding or stripping. Ellie Pyke and Rhys Morgan specialise in sourcing and selling vintage furniture via their online shop, @pkyeandcovintage. “The pieces that we source always have warmth and character,” explains Pyke. “There’s no point attempting to make it look brand new.”
Their approach to upcycling is simple yet effective: “It’s surprising how far a good clean goes,” says Pyke. “Start with a vacuum cleaner with a nozzle attachment to remove dust, cobwebs and debris from all surfaces inside and out. Then, using warm, soapy water and a well wrung-out, soft cloth, remove any grime from the exterior surfaces. Wipe down with a soft, dry cloth afterwards. (If you’re faced with any particularly stubborn greasy marks, you can wipe the existing finish down with a soft, clean rag and some white spirit.) Then, using warm, soapy water, thoroughly clean the inside, underneath and rear of the piece. Your cloth can be a bit wetter here – just make sure you rinse out regularly as it will become very dusty and dirty. Repeat if necessary and watch out for splinters when handling the backs of drawers and the rear of furniture.”
If your piece smells musty, Pyke recommends spraying white vinegar on the inside surfaces and leaving it to air dry. “The vinegar will neutralise most smells. If not, try leaving a small bowl of soda crystals or bicarbonate of soda inside the drawers for a few days to absorb any odours.” Avoid purchasing anything which smells like cigarettes, advises Pyke. “It really lingers and can transfer to any items you might want to store inside the piece.”
Once your piece has been freshened up, a coat of wax buffed to your preferred level of shine will provide extra protection. “Apply sparingly in the direction of grain using ultra fine wire wool 0000, a wax brush or a soft, lint-free cloth,” says Pyke. “Leave for 20 minutes or so (check the instructions) and buff off with a clean, lint-free cloth. Wax and buff small areas at a time and apply the wax sparingly: a little goes a long way.”
Even with these simple home remedies, the following safety rules apply: “Give yourself space and time to work,” says Pyke. “Wear protective gear (a mask, gloves and goggles) and protect the surfaces surrounding your project with newspaper or a dust sheet. Ensure you’re working in an area with good ventilation and make sure you dispose of any rags containing white spirit and wax as these will be flammable.”
If you’re keen to find out more about furniture restoration, Pyke recommends enrolling on a course, rather than experimenting with potentially dangerous chemicals at home: “We attended an excellent refinishing course at OP Woodcraft. You can take your own piece of furniture with you and refinish it, which is fantastic and so satisfying.”
A rapid painting project
“The thing is, people think they’re not artistic, or they can’t paint,” says Annie Sloan, an authority on colour who has experimented with paint for over 50 years. “They probably had some awful disaster years ago with a tin of gloss paint and have been put off for life.”
Beginners should start with a small item of furniture, suggests Sloan: “Look for something affordable and solid, such as a pine sidetable. By painting it, you’ll transform it from something invisible to something that really stands out in its environment.” Sloan suggests beginners opt for a mid-colour such as blue: “You can’t go wrong with blue: it goes with anything and everything. If you’re already fairly confident with colour,” she continues, “then why not go for a deep, gorgeous green. If you hate it – just paint over it. That’s the beauty of working with paint.”
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An upcycle workshop at the Africa Centre, Southwark, London. Photograph: Jeff Gilbert/Alamy
Make sure the piece you’re painting is clean and cobweb free, then simply start applying the paint. To make life easier for upcyclers, Sloan has developed a range of “disaster-proof” Chalk Paint that can be applied to just about any surface without the need for sanding or priming. “It’s made for people with no experience and it gives really good results very, very easily.” To get even coverage, Sloan recommends “painting all over, every which way – don’t worry about painting up and down in neat lines. You want the paint to spread out evenly without brush marks.” Once you’ve given it a first coat, wait half an hour, then apply a second. Then allow it to dry thoroughly for a couple of hours. Finally, Sloan recommends applying a top coat of clear wax using a brush or lint-free cloth to give the paint a protective layer. Wipe away the excess and allow it to dry thoroughly before use.
“The other thing to mention about upcycling is that it’s incredibly therapeutic,” adds Sloan. “You have to concentrate on the task at hand, which takes your mind away from everything. You get in the zone without it becoming stressful, which is just a lovely feeling. And, at the end of it, you feel good about the piece you’ve created.”
Upholstery for beginners
According to the sustainable designer and upholsterer, Micaela Sharp, it’s possible for beginners to get to grips with an upcycling project that involves upholstery. “I always recommend starting with a headboard,” she says. “It sounds like a really big task, but it’s no more complicated than recovering a drop-in dining seat. Both are flat, rectangular shapes with four corners that follow exactly the same method, but with a headboard you only have to do it once instead of four, or even six, times! Plus a headboard will have a much bigger impact on a room …”
Headboards can be picked up from charity shops or online auction sites for very little. Look for something with a weighty frame and a simple shape. In terms of tools, you’ll need to invest in a staple gun, a tack remover, a mallet, a sharp pair of scissors and pinchers to remove the existing tacks. “All of these can be found in DIY stores for less than £10 an item,” says Sharp.
“As your headboard won’t be subject to the same wear and tear as an armchair or sofa, you can be quite adventurous with your choice of fabric,” explains Sharp. “You could use a vintage throw or pair of curtains – just make sure you add a fire retardant interliner between the fabric and the foam.” Alternatively, Sharp suggests searching outlet stores selling end-of-roll fabrics direct from suppliers, such as Fabric Outlet. “They sell designer fabrics for a fraction of the price,” explains Sharp. “They usually only have a few metres in each design, but a headboard will only require two to three metres of fabric anyway.” (Sharp also recommends Camira for sustainable fabrics and Linwood for UK-made, stain-resistant and fire-retardant fabrics.)
Begin by carefully detaching the old fabric using your tack remover and pinchers. “The most important thing to remember when upcycling a piece of upholstered furniture, is to keep hold of the old fabric,” Sharp explains. “Don’t be tempted to cut or rip into it because you’ll need to use it as a template for your new fabric.”
Micaela Sharp: ‘For a headboard, you can be quite adventurous with your choice of fabric.’ Photograph: Deborah Panes/Deborah Grace Photography
“Depending on the size and width of your headboard, you may need to sew your fabric together or you can run the fabric lengthways – it just depends on the pattern that you’re going to use,” says Sharp. “You also need to make sure the foam is in good condition. If you need to, you can add a new layer of Dacron or polyester wrap. Both can be boughtsays online and attached with glue spray.”
Once you have cut out your design, you’re ready to tack on your new fabric. “Start by putting temporary staples into the wood,” explains Sharp. “These are done at an angle, so they are easily removed if your fabric isn’t straight or the pattern is running the wrong way. Start with opposite edges at the top and bottom so you can keep the pattern straight. Lastly, tack on the sides. Once you’re happy with the position of your fabric, you can adjust the tension of the fabric. You want to really pull your fabric as tight as possible,” says Sharp. “Any wrinkles or creases will make the headboard look amateur.
“Keep the tension even all the way along and really take your time when you get to the corners,” advises Sharp. “Use your scissors to cut away as much of the excess fabric as possible between the pleats. Any bulky corners will prevent the headboard from sitting flush against the wall.
Lastly, Sharp urges upcyclers to make their project as bespoke as possible. “You don’t want people to mistake your handiwork for something that’s been mass-produced or bought on the high street – you want it to stand out as something totally unique. Go for an unusual pattern or bright colours. Be bold: that’s the most fun part of upcycling.”
Annie Sloan’s Furniture Painting Masterclass and Micaela Sharp’s A Complete Guide to Modern Upholstery are both available now from createacademy.com
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( With inputs from : www.theguardian.com )
Ed Sheeran played the chord progression to his hit song Thinking Out Loud and sang on the witness stand in Manhattan federal court on Thursday, during a trial over whether he copied Marvin Gaye’s classic Let’s Get it On.
Testifying as the first witness in his own defense to a packed courtroom, the British singer-songwriter described his process for writing the song about everlasting love in 2014, shortly after he began a new romantic relationship and after his grandfather died.
“I draw inspiration from a lot from things in my life and family,” said Sheeran, saying the song was inspired by the love he observed between his grandparents.
The 32-year-old is being sued by heirs of songwriter Ed Townsend, Gaye’s co-writer on the 1973 song.
Townsend’s heirs are seeking a share of profits from Thinking Out Loud, saying that the syncopated chord progression was copied from Let’s Get It On.
Sheeran testified for nearly an hour on Thursday, explaining how his friend and collaborator Amy Wadge started strumming the chords for the song during a visit to his home in England, and how they had collaborated on the lyrics.
On the stand, he sang the phrase “I’m singing out now”, which he said he sang during his songwriting session with Wadge. He said the phrase sounded like, “I’m thinking out loud”, which ultimately became the title.
“When I write vocal melodies, it’s like phonetics,” Sheeran said.
He then picked up a guitar from behind the witness stand, played the chord progression to the song, and sang the opening words: “When your legs don’t work like they used to.”
Sheeran told the court that he preferred to work quickly, with most of his songs written in a day, or even a matter of minutes. He said he had written up to eight or nine songs in a single day in the past.
Thinking Out Loud went to No 1 in the UK and No 2 in the US, and won a Grammy award for song of the year in 2016.
Lawyers for Townsend earlier this week showed a video of Sheeran transitioning seamlessly between Thinking Out Loud and Let’s Get it On, in a live performance they said amounted to a confession that he had ripped off the song.
In court, Sheeran replied: “Most pop songs can fit over most pop songs … if I had done what you’re accusing me of doing, I’d be a quite an idiot to stand on a stage in front of 20,000 people and do that.”
The trial was interrupted on Wednesday when one of the plaintiffs, Townsend’s daughter Kathryn Griffin Townsend, collapsed and had to be carried out of court.
Griffin Townsend fainted just as Sheeran team’s began to cross-examine a musicologist who had been brought in to testify that there was a substantial similarity between the two songs.
Griffin Townsend previously appeared as a witness, saying she intended to “protect my father’s legacy”, but added that she had brought the case reluctantly and described Sheeran as “a great artist with a great future”.
She is one of three plaintiffs, along with Townsend’s sister Helen McDonald and the estate of Ed Townsend’s ex-wife Cherrigale Townsend.
Townsend died in 2003. Gaye died in 1984.
The trial is expected to resume on Monday.
Reuters contributed to this report
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#Sheeran #sings #court #part #Marvin #Gaye #plagiarism #case
( With inputs from : www.theguardian.com )
Ed Sheeran played the chord progression to his hit song Thinking Out Loud and sang on the witness stand in Manhattan federal court on Thursday, during a trial over whether he copied Marvin Gaye’s classic Let’s Get it On.
Testifying as the first witness in his own defense to a packed courtroom, the British singer-songwriter described his process for writing the song about everlasting love in 2014, shortly after he began a new romantic relationship and after his grandfather died.
“I draw inspiration from a lot from things in my life and family,” said Sheeran, saying the song was inspired by the love he observed between his grandparents.
The 32-year-old is being sued by heirs of songwriter Ed Townsend, Gaye’s co-writer on the 1973 song.
Townsend’s heirs are seeking a share of profits from Thinking Out Loud, saying that the syncopated chord progression was copied from Let’s Get It On.
Sheeran testified for nearly an hour on Thursday, explaining how his friend and collaborator Amy Wadge started strumming the chords for the song during a visit to his home in England, and how they had collaborated on the lyrics.
On the stand, he sang the phrase “I’m singing out now”, which he said he sang during his songwriting session with Wadge. He said the phrase sounded like, “I’m thinking out loud”, which ultimately became the title.
“When I write vocal melodies, it’s like phonetics,” Sheeran said.
He then picked up a guitar from behind the witness stand, played the chord progression to the song, and sang the opening words: “When your legs don’t work like they used to.”
Sheeran told the court that he preferred to work quickly, with most of his songs written in a day, or even a matter of minutes. He said he had written up to eight or nine songs in a single day in the past.
Thinking Out Loud went to No 1 in the UK and No 2 in the US, and won a Grammy award for song of the year in 2016.
Lawyers for Townsend earlier this week showed a video of Sheeran transitioning seamlessly between Thinking Out Loud and Let’s Get it On, in a live performance they said amounted to a confession that he had ripped off the song.
In court, Sheeran replied: “Most pop songs can fit over most pop songs … if I had done what you’re accusing me of doing, I’d be a quite an idiot to stand on a stage in front of 20,000 people and do that.”
The trial was interrupted on Wednesday when one of the plaintiffs, Townsend’s daughter Kathryn Griffin Townsend, collapsed and had to be carried out of court.
Griffin Townsend fainted just as Sheeran team’s began to cross-examine a musicologist who had been brought in to testify that there was a substantial similarity between the two songs.
Griffin Townsend previously appeared as a witness, saying she intended to “protect my father’s legacy”, but added that she had brought the case reluctantly and described Sheeran as “a great artist with a great future”.
She is one of three plaintiffs, along with Townsend’s sister Helen McDonald and the estate of Ed Townsend’s ex-wife Cherrigale Townsend.
Townsend died in 2003. Gaye died in 1984.
The trial is expected to resume on Monday.
Reuters contributed to this report
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#Sheeran #sings #court #part #Marvin #Gaye #copyright #case
( With inputs from : www.theguardian.com )
White House chief of staff Jeff Zients said on Twitter that Harris was “an invaluable, relentless voice for the American people.”
Harris also had some public stumbles early on in the administration. The vice president faltered in early interviews and was given tricky portfolio items, such as stemming migration to the southern border. She also saw a number of top aides leave her office.
Klain, who was President Joe Biden’s chief of staff for two years before resigning earlier this year, told Swisher that he thinks Harris “takes a lot of grief unjustifiably.”
“Because this is a country that always thinks dubiously about someone who’s the No. 2,” Klain said. “We’re a No. 1 kind of country. I lived with that when Al Gore and Joe Biden were vice president. She makes a major contribution to the administration, and I think, hopefully, she’ll get more and more recognized for that.”
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#Ron #Klain #Sexism #racism #part #problem #Harris #criticism
( With inputs from : www.politico.com )
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Sriharikota: Ahead of the 2024 General Elections, the Indian space agency ISRO will launch the first uncrewed test rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) as a part of the Gaganyaan Mission – India’s human space mission.
The Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) S. Somanath said here on Saturday the space agency is planning to send up the first uncrewed GSLV rocket in February 2024 as part of the Gaganyaan Mission. The human module will land in the sea.
He was speaking to reporters here after the successful launch of two Singaporean satellites – TeLEOS-2 and Lumilite-4, with the rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
Somanath said prior that there will a test of Gagayaan Mission in June this year where the rocket will go up to 12-14 km and test its safety systems.
Queried about the next step in ISRO developing a reusable rocket – similar to the USA’s Space Shuttle, Somanath said the space agency will send up a Oribital Recovery Vehicle. The vehicle will be in the space for some days and come back.
On forthcoming space missions of ISRO, he said the space agency will send the Aditya L1, Navigation satellites, a commercial launch with the heavier rocket GSLV and a mission with Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV).
According to D. Radhakrishnan, Chairman and Managing Director of NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL) – the commercial arm of Department of Space, there is emerging demand for SSLV rocket for orbiting small satellites.
Similarly after the successful launch of 72 OneWeb satellites – for a fee of over Rs 1,000 crore- with ISRO’s LVM3 rocket, there is a good business potential for that rocket as well, Radhakrishnan said.
He said the NSIL is planning to build communication satellites and launch the same.
Be that as it may, speaking about the Saturday’s successful PSLV rocket mission, Somanath said the space agency did some re-engineering to cut costs without compromising on its performance.
The ISRO officials are also upbeat about using the PSLV rocket’s upper stage as a stablised orbital platform on which small payloads are fitted to carry out experiments.
The upper stage of PSLV-C55 rocket that went up on Saturday had seven experimental payloads.
According to M. Sankaran, Director, U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), the thought of using the upper stage came four years ago as it will be in the space for a long time.
Sankaran said the space agency took steps to stabilise the upper stage in space and then upgraded the same.
Somanath said commercial electronics are used in the upper stage to make it as an orbital platform and hence its life span will be short.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of UP police recreated the murder scene in Colvin Hospital, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh on Thursday.
Gangster-turned-politician Atiq and his brother were shot dead amid heavy police security and press persons by three people on April 15 while they were being taken for a medical checkup.
Lovelesh Tiwari, Arun Maurya and Sunny Singh shot the brothers at point-blank range leading to their instant deaths. Their murder was captured on LIVE TV spurring widespread condemnation by opposition parties and raising law and order questions by the Yogi Adityanath-led state government.
The murder led to the suspension of five police officers, including Shahganj police station in-charge Ashwani Kumar Singh, a sub-inspector and three constables.
The state government formed a three-member judicial commission to investigate the killings. The commission, headed by retired Justice Arvind Kumar Tripathi of Allahabad High Court, retired district judge Brijesh Kumar Soni, and retired IPC officer Subesh Kumar Singh, has been asked to submit a report in two months.
On Thursday, the Uttar Pradesh police officials recreated the scene where two men in white kurta-pyjama and a headscarf surrounded by police personnel are being taken to the Colvin Hospital. Just like the day of the murder, they are surrounded by media personnel.
The interaction with the media continues for a few minutes when two men (who were standing nearby) came up to them and opened fire. The two men pretend to lie dead. The whole scene was videographed.
Additional Director General of Police (ADG) Bhanu Bhaskar, Police Commissioner Ramit Sharma and Joint Commissioner of Police Akash Kulhari were present when the scene was being recreated. Police said recreating the crime scene is likely to provide clues in the investigation and on the basis of them the accused can be interrogated.
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday strongly condemned the dropping of certain chapters and portions from NCERT class 12 textbooks and alleged that “complete saffronisation” of academic books was the objective behind the move.
Historical facts cannot be denied by just cutting out portions that are inconvenient (to some one) from textbooks, he said in a Facebook post.
Excluding certain portions and chapters from the textbooks with a political motive was not only a negation of history but also a condemnable move. It is evident that the objective behind such actions is the “complete saffronisation of textbooks”, the CM added.
In the hard-hitting post, Vijayan said it was clear whose interest was being served by the omission of portions about the assassination of the ‘Father of the Nation’ Mahatma Gandhi and the subsequent banning of the RSS, from the political science textbook of class 12.
Portions about the Mughal Empire were also cut down from the history textbook of the same class, he pointed out.
“The medieval history of India, excluding the Mughal Empire, is incomplete,” he said, alleging that medieval Indian history had always been an area that the Sangh Parivar had twisted and distorted.
The Kerala CM accused the NCERT of “whitewashing the fake history” created by the Sangh Parivar by excluding these portions.
The Sangh Parivar, through the textbooks, was trying to inculcate the politics of hatred and division into the minds of children, the Marxist veteran further charged.
Accusing the NCERT of supporting the distorted methodology of the RSS in writing history, Vijayan said strong protest needs to be registered against such moves which would otherwise undermine the secular education envisaged by the Constitution.
The NCERT recently dropped from its class 12 history textbook certain portions on Mahatma Gandhi and how his pursuit of Hindu-Muslim unity “provoked Hindu extremists”. It also left out the portion where the government had placed a ban on the RSS after Gandhi’s assassination. The revision of textbooks by obfuscating facts has triggered a row.
“Gandhiji’s death had a magical effect on communal situation in the country”, “Gandhi’s pursuit of Hindu-Muslim unity provoked Hindu extremists” and “Organisations like RSS were banned for some time” are among the portions deleted from the textbook.
Portions referring to the Gujarat riots have also been dropped from the class 11 sociology textbook, months after NCERT removed the reference to the 2002 communal violence in two class 12 textbooks.
The Congress has accused the Centre of “whitewashing” and “distorting” history.
NCERT Chief Dinesh Saklani said the syllabus was “rationalised” in June last year itself, and there has been no trimming of the curriculum this year.
