THE HEADLINES::
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address Nari Shakti Vandan Sammelan in New Delhi this morning.
- President Droupadi Murmu to be on a four-day visit to Gujarat and Maharashtra beginning today.
- Last rites of legendary singer Asha Bhosle to be performed with full state honours at Shivaji Park in Mumbai this afternoon.
- US military to start maritime blockade of Iranian ports today, following President Trump’s orders to block Strait of Hormuz.
- And in IPL Cricket, Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Mumbai Indians by 18 runs in Mumbai.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address Nari Shakti Vandan Sammelan in New Delhi today. The National level conference is being organised to reinforce the commitment towards greater participation of women in shaping India’s development trajectory. It will highlight the increasing role of women in governance and leadership across all levels, from Panchayats to Parliament. The programme will also underscore the importance of enhanced representation of women in decision-making processes.
“Women achievers from diverse fields will attend the event, along with representatives from different sectors such as government, academia, science, sports, entrepreneurship, media, social work and culture. The Sammelan will highlight the role of women in India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047. In September 2023, Parliament passed the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’ to enhance women’s representation in legislative bodies. The Act provided for reservation of one-third of seats for women in Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. With a focus on implementation of women’s reservation across the country, a Parliament session will be convened from the 16th of this month. AKSHIT VAIDYAN, AKASHVANI NEWS DELHI.”
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Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has said that promises to India’s women cannot become politics of postponement. In a social media post, Mr Rijiju said that today, when it is time to deliver the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, hesitation and questions are being raised. He said that he has written to senior Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition, Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, placing the facts on record and reiterating the urgency of moving forward.
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President Droupadi Murmu will be on a four-day visit to Gujarat and Maharashtra beginning today. The President will attend the first convocation ceremony of AIIMS Rajkot in Gujarat today. On this occasion, around 50 students from the first batch of AIIMS Rajkot will be awarded degrees.
“President Droupadi Murmu will attend the first convocation ceremony of All India Institute of Medical Sciences- AIIMS Rajkot this afternoon. she will participate in the ‘Samajik Samarasata Mahotsav’ at Lok Bhavan, Gandhinagar tomorrow to mark the birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. On the same day, the President will also attend the fifth convocation ceremony of the Rashtriya Raksha University in Gandhinagar. MAYUR SOLANKI, AKASHVANI NEWS, AHMEDABAD.”
On Wednesday, the President will attend the second convocation ceremony of AIIMS Nagpur and later will be present at the valediction ceremony of the 78th batch of Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax) Officer Trainees at the National Academy of Direct Taxes, Nagpur. On the 16th of this month, President Murmu will attend the sixth convocation ceremony of Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya at Wardha.
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The last rites of legendary singer Asha Bhosle will be performed at Shivaji Park in Mumbai at 4 PM today with full state honours. She passed away yesterday at a Mumbai hospital at the age of 92. Asha Bhosle was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital on Saturday evening due to chest infection and exhaustion. Ashatai, as the legendary singer was popularly known, was a recipient of the Padma Vibhushan and Maharashtra Bhushan awards. People can pay their last respects to her at 11 am today at her home Casa Grande, Lower Parel, where she lived.
“In a splendid career spanning over eight decades, Asha Tai, as she was fondly called, worked with numerous composers and carved her niche in the Hindi film industry. Remarkably, in the first decade of her career, Asha Bhosle sang more songs than any other playback singer. Renowned composer O. P. Nayyar is credited with giving her a big break with Tumsa Nahin Dekha and Naya Daur in 1957. She also worked extensively with stalwarts including Ravi, S. D. Burman, Jaidev, Shankar-Jaikishan, Ilaiyaraaja and Bappi Lahiri for both film and non-film songs. The 1970s saw her collaboration with composer R. D. Burman, marking the birth of a legendary combination. Composer Khayyam revealed a more lyrical side of her voice. Their collaboration in Umrao Jaan earned Asha Bhosle her first National Film Award.She remained active in playback singing and later collaborated with A. R. Rahman. Asha Bhosle’s swift and splendid transition across genres, languages and styles made her the true queen of versatility. Ankita Apte, Akashvani News, Mumbai.”
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As campaigning intensifies ahead of the West Bengal assembly elections, Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah will be on a whirlwind campaign trail today across Birbhum and Paschim Bardhaman. Mr Shah will begin campaigning at 12 noon with a public meeting at Pally Mangal Club Ground in Sainthia, Birbhum. He will also address another gathering at Khayrasole in the same district at Gosto Dangal Maidan Ground. After this, he will address another rally at Khandra Football Maidan Ground in Paschim Bardhaman. In Durgapur, Mr Shah is scheduled to participate in a road show.
On the other hand, Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee is also scheduled to hold multiple campaign programs across the state today. According to the party sources, she will hold a rally at Suri in Birbhum district at around 11:30 in the morning. Later, she will hold a rally at Galsi in Purba Bardhaman. Ms Banerjee is also scheduled to lead a march in support of her candidates in Bankura.
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Campaigning has intensified for Tamil Nadu assembly elections. In our series of constituency profiles, today we take a look Bodinayakanur assembly seat in Theni district of Tamil Nadu. The district itself had the privilege of electing three Chief Ministers of the state. Bodinayakanur is a town nestled at the base of the Western Ghat Hills and is known as India’s cardamom capital.
“Theni district has four Assembly constituencies and one Lok Sabha Constituency. The hilly district has Kolukkumalai, the highest tea estate in the world. The Kurangani region is uniquely rich in biodiversity. The legendary Mangala Devi Kannagi temple is situated here. The district has Andipatti, Periyakulam, Bodinayakanur and Cumbum Assembly constituencies. AIADMK founder MGR was elected from Andipatti in 1984. Late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa was elected from Bodinayakanur in 1989. Former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam who was an interim Chief Minister for three times was also elected from Bodinayakanur thrice. Presently he is a sitting MLA. The 75 year old leader OPS, as he is favouritely called, was the Organising Secretary of the AIADMK apart from a Chief Minister. He was expelled from the party, his 52 year old travel with the AIADMK came to a sudden close on February 27th this year. This will be the first time that he faces the election as a DMK contestant. AIADMK’s V.T.Narayanasamy and All India Puratchi Thalaivar Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam contestant are in the fray. JOY, AKASHVANI NEWS, CHENNAI.”
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Nation pays homage to hundreds of those innocents who were brutally killed by the British Officer Reginald Dyer today in the year 1919 at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, Punjab. That massacre had further ignited the India’s independence movement.
Our Correspondent reports that Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Trust is observing the 107th martyrdom day in their memory.
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The US military will start maritime blockade of Iranian ports today, following President Donald Trump’s orders to block Strait of Hormuz. According to the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), the blockade will apply to all ships going in and out of Iranian ports and coastal regions. However, ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz to non-Iranian ports will be allowed. In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has warned that any attack or mistake by the US or its allies would face a strong reaction. Iran also claimed it has full control over the Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump has ordered immediate blockade of Strait of Hormuz, after collapse of peace talks with Iran. Mr Trump described the move as necessary to stop Iran’s extortion and nuclear ambitions, and predicted Tehran would soon return to negotiations on American terms.
“Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian later said Tehran remains ready to reach a balanced and fair agreement to ensure lasting peace and security, but added that “double standards” by the United States remain the main obstacle to a deal. The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, with roughly a fifth of global oil and significant volumes of liquefied natural gas passing through the narrow corridor each day. Any blockade or military escalation in the area could disrupt global energy supplies, push up oil prices, and raise insurance costs for shipping companies. On the ground, Israel reported carrying out a targeted raid on a hospital in the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil, saying armed Hezbollah operatives were inside. The Israeli military said around twenty fighters were killed. Israeli airstrikes also continued across southern Lebanon, with Lebanese authorities reporting civilian casualties. Vinod Kumar for Akashvani News from Dubai.”
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Global oil prices jumped above 100 US dollars a barrel as energy markets reopened in Asia after US announced blockade of Iranian ports. Global benchmark Brent crude is up by 8.5 percent at 102.37 US dollars a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate is 9 percent higher at 105.34 US dollars a barrel. Major stock indexes in Asia slipped in trade today. The Nikkei 225 in Japan fell by 0.8 percent, while South Korea’s Kospi was down by 1.8 percent.
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In IPL Cricket, Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Mumbai Indians by 18 runs in a league-stage match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai last night. Chasing a huge target of 241 runs set by the RCB, the MI managed to score 222 runs at the loss of 5 wickets. For Mumbai, Sherfane Rutherford’s unbeaten innings of 71 runs off just 31 balls went in vain. For RCB, Suyash Sharma bagged 2 wickets.
In today’s fixture, Sunrisers Hyderabad will take on Rajasthan Royals at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. The match will begin at 7:30 PM.
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TODAY’S NEWSPAPERS HEADLINE,
- “Talks fail, TRUMP says US will block HORMUZ” is the headline in the Hindustan Times, while the Pioneer headlines ” No US-Iran deal after talks in Pak; Trump vows, US to block Hormuz, the Tribune headlines ” Strait to crisis; Trump orders Hormuz block as talks sink”.
- TMC backing plot to cut off Siliguri corridor link says PM is a lead story in the Asian Age, while a story in the Hindu says ” TMC backs tukde tukde gang in parliament and streets says PM. The papers add that PM Modi said the TMC is intentionally keeping the region under-developed.
- All newspapers have on their front page the passing away of Asha Bhonsle at 92. “Haan yahi kahenge hum sada, ki dil abhi nahin bhara” headlines The Times of India. The paper adds that she sang over 12,000 songs in 20 languages since 1947.
- Paying tributes to the legendary singer in an editorial, The Indian Express says, “She enriched the idea of the female voice”. The paper comments, Versatility, more often than not, is considered proof of competence, but not of greatness. For years Asha Bhonsle worked in the shadow of her elder sister Lata Mangeshkar’s fame. The route to prove her mettle took her through the leftovers unwanted by other singers.
- And finally, most newspapers carry the story of Army Havaldar Sawan Barwal breaking the 48 year old marathon record on his debut.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN,
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address Nari Shakti Vandan Sammelan in New Delhi this morning.
- President Droupadi Murmu to be on a four-day visit to Gujarat and Maharashtra beginning today.
- Last rites of legendary singer Asha Bhosle to be performed with full state honours at Shivaji Park in Mumbai this afternoon.
- US military to start maritime blockade of Iranian ports today, following President Trump’s orders to block Strait of Hormuz.
- And in IPL Cricket, Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Mumbai Indians by 18 runs in Mumbai.
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