Who Will Get Top Job If Congress Wins Chhattisgarh? TS Singh Deo Says...

With almost every exit poll giving the Congress an edge in Chhattisgarh, the state's Deputy Chief Minister, TS Singh Deo, said while the numbers have come as a relief, he believes the party will win 60 of the state's 90 seats.

In an exclusive conversation with NDTV on Thursday, Mr Deo was asked about the possibility of him becoming chief minister if the numbers come down significantly from the 68 the party had won last time. He said all the leaders of the party sat together and decided not to leave any room for speculation. 

The senior leader, who had a feud with Bhupesh Baghel over the chief minister's post, also candidly spoke about the problems that the party had faced because of it. 

"There will be a one-line resolution to the high command and we will be together behind whoever they decide to give the responsibility as chief minister. We will not fall into this trap of speculation and groupism. We suffered on this count in the last five years... this two-and-a-half, two-and-a-half turned out to be a big burden. It was very difficult to deal with the situation and led to many situations which were unpalatable. We don't want a repeat of that," he said. 

Mr Deo was referring to a claim that the Congress high command had agreed to a rotational chief ministership when the party had won in 2018. After he was appointed the deputy chief minister in June, however, the leader had said he had never spoken of a rotational formula and that it was a creation of the media. 

Corruption Allegations

On allegations of corruption highlighted by the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi -  especially related to the Mahadev App case - and whether they may have contributed to exit polls showing that the BJP is likely to get at least 30 seats as opposed to the 15 it won in 2018, Mr Deo said the opposition party's tally in the last elections was "an unusual number".

"That is not the true picture of the BJP in Chhattisgarh, but they somehow managed to get just 15 seats. That was the way the numbers played out eventually. This time, I was expecting the BJP to be around 35 (seats) because that is the vote share that we have had over the years," he said.

"Whether it is the Lok Sabha or state elections, both parties enjoy a minimum vote share of 30-32% and it is the 10% floating vote share that gives the majority to either party in any election. That will be the deciding factor, where this vote goes. We will wait for that," the deputy chief minister said.

Census

Asked about the Caste Census being pushed for by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and most members of the INDIA alliance, the deputy chief minister said Chhattisgarh has not been affected much by caste or religious politics. 

"For us, the OBC census is a medium through which we can frame our policies. If we don't know what the real demographic is in society, how do you target developmental projects? So, that is the basic commitment that the Congress party has undertaken.... It was done in 1931 and then we went away from that for various reasons. It was done again in 2012, but those figures were not released. Why should we not have those figures," he asked.

Mr Deo also said that, based on the feedback he has got, the Congress should win 130 of 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh and form a government there.

On exit polls, Mr Deo pointed out that every agency is putting out a different figure. "I, personally, don't take it at face value. It is not a common number that comes through various channels, and everybody will say they did it scientifically... We should wait. It gives you a trend, it gives you an idea," he said.

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Opinion: The Long, Agonising Adoption Process In India

There are three crore orphaned children in India, but only 3,500 to 4,000 children are available for adoption in a year and some 30,000 prospective parents have to wait for three years to bring home a child.

Taking note of this discrepancy, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud observed recently: "Why are they (Central Adoption Resource Authority) stalling adoptions? Why is CARA not doing it? Hundreds of children are awaiting adoption in the hope of a better life." The remarks were made when the Supreme Court was hearing two petitions flagging gaps that were delaying adoptions and making the entire process a sham. The practical difficulties of adoption were also highlighted in the court, with one of the judges bringing out the humane and human aspect and cost to the society.

CARA, a statutory body of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, functions as the central body for adoption of Indian children and is mandated to monitor and regulate in-country and inter-country adoptions. CARA primarily deals with the adoption of "orphan, abandoned and surrendered" children through its associated and recognised adoption agencies.

Due to red tape and lack of transparency, several thousand children are being deprived of home and the love of parents. With each month's delay, the children grow and age, and their chances of adoptability and adaptability diminishes. The prospective parents, too, lose their precious years doing cumbersome and complicated paperwork. Their financial condition suffers as they scout and wait their turn and are made to visit different adoption centres in the country.

The conditions of the shelter homes where these children are placed are also not hygienic, with funds and staff both short.

Deepak Sharma, Trustee, Udayan Care, an NGO for Child Rights, says there is no dearth of funds for his organisation but some shelters in India face financial challenges due to their location and the resources available. "Funding comes from a combination of sources. There is government funding in Mission Vatsalya for funding institutions, mostly funds come from donations from individuals, corporations, and other charitable entities or even from international organisations and foundations or corporate social responsibility," Mr Sharma explains.

In India, adoptions are governed by two laws - the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956 (HAMA) and the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act, 2015. Both laws have their separate eligibility criteria for adoptive parents. Those applying under the Juvenile Justice Act need to register on CARA's portal, after which a specialised adoption agency carries out a home study report. When it finds the candidate eligible for adoption, a child declared legally free for adoption is referred to the applicant.

Under HAMA, a court order, 'dattaka hom' ceremony or an adoption deed is sufficient to obtain irrevocable adoption rights. Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs are legalised to adopt kids under HAMA.

CARA carries out the tedious process to safeguard adoptive children from abuse at the hands of adoptive parents.

The Parliament passed the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) 2021, in order to amend the JJ Act, 2015. The crucial changes include authorising District Magistrates (DMs) and Additional District Magistrates to issue adoption orders under Section 61 of the JJ Act by striking out the word 'court'. These changes were carried out "in order to ensure speedy disposal of cases and enhance accountability," per the government statement.

However, the very purpose of these amendments has not been met as no time limit has been set up for the transfer of all pending adoption cases before the courts to the District Magistrates, which may end up in longer delays. Moreover, prospective parents are also not clear about the legality of an executive order on the adopted child's entitlements on succession and inheritance rights.

In August 2022, a parliamentary standing committee had expressed serious concerns over the decline in the number of children coming to adoption agencies over the years, saying it pointed to trafficking or a thriving illegal child adoption market. It's a fact that many unregistered adoption agencies are flourishing in the country; illegal and unregulated adoptions are being carried out. Some are involved in child trafficking or exploiting vulnerable children and their biological and adoptive parents.

Typically, there is a shorter queue for older children, children with special needs, or sometimes, even children from some regions. CARA has even introduced a new category of "Children for Immediate Placement" where the wait time may be considerably less.

Mr Sharma says generally, there is a demand for newborn and younger children, particularly infants and toddlers, in the adoption process. "Many adoptive parents prefer younger children as they desire to experience the early stages of a child's development and form strong bonds from the start. But now CARA is advocating for adoption of older children also," he adds.

A young single woman (name withheld) in Bengaluru has been in the queue for adoption for three years. She has completed all the paperwork, but her wait has been stretched by the adoption agency, where she is registered. She thinks that her adoption agency is giving preference to candidates who are better off than her financially. "My waiting time has been constantly increased without any reason. The counsellors are also of little help. Except for guiding us about the papers and forms to be filled, they have hardly been of any assistance in understanding the process or how it works," she says.

There is an urgent need to streamline the adoption process, simplify paperwork, transparency, and reduce the time limit, to the benefit of both the child and the adoptive parents. Loopholes, doubts, and ambiguities in current legislation must be plugged. Unless this happens, thousands of children will languish in shelter homes bereft of love, care and education.

(Bharti Mishra Nath is a senior journalist)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author

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"A Performance To Be Remembered": Katrina Reviews Vicky's Sam Bahadur

Katrina Kaif turned cheerleader for her husband Vicky Kaushal at the screening of Sam Bahadur on Wednesday night. A day after, the Tiger 3 star, in her review of the film, praised husband Vicky for his "flawless" performance. On Thursday, Katrina Kaif shared a poster from Sam Bahadur alongside a moving note for her husband, who plays Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw in the film. She began her note by praising director Meghna Gulzar as she wrote, "Maghna Gulzar, such a poetic beautiful classic film, was transported to another era .. you can see your passion to telling his story and attention to detail in every shot."

She then went on to review her husband Vicky Kaushal's performance and wrote, "And SAM !!!!…..GRACE, HEROISM , GRIT. What a performance, flawless, I'm just astounded , you are too inspiring , true to your craft in the most brilliant integral way , was so proud to watch you shine your way across the screen . I've seen you this last year pour yourself into this film and transform into sam. A performance to be remembered."

See what Katrina Kaif posted:

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A post shared by Katrina Kaif (@katrinakaif)

Not only Katrina, but others from the film fraternity also complimented Vicky in their reviews of the film. Abhishek Bachchan, who previously worked with Vicky Kaushal in Manmarziyaan, wrote in his review, ""Saw #SamBahadur last night. The enormity of all that #FieldMarshalSamManekshaw did and achieved is overwhelming! And so beautifully told on celluloid by my favourite @meghnagulzar. It's a huge responsibility to portray one of India's greatest sons and she does it wonderfully. To…the entire cast and crew, you should be very proud and thank you for telling this story. @fattysanashaikh @sanyamalhotra07.My veerey, @vickykaushal09, what do I even say about you… you continue to set the bar so high for all of us and then so effortlessly jump over it as only Sam can. All I can say is “Well done, sweety."

Read his review below:

Saw #SamBahadur last night. The enormity of all that #FieldMarshalSamManekshaw did and achieved is overwhelming! And so beautifully told on celluloid by my favourite @meghnagulzar. It's a huge responsibility to portray one of India's greatest sons and she does it wonderfully. To…

— Abhishek 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧 (@juniorbachchan) November 30, 2023

Sunny Kaushal, who attended a special screening of Sam Bahadur, wrote an elaborate note, praising his sibling for his acting prowess. He wrote, "What a film..what an amazing film this is @meghnagulzar thank you so much for making Sam Bahadur.. it is truly remarkable how you have so beautifully managed to show the life, the character, the love this man had for his country and uniform in 2.5 hours.. it made me laugh, cry, inspired and most importantly it made me realise what great courage and character means.”

The screening of Sam Bahadur was attended by some of the biggest stars in Bollywood. Vicky Kaushal's cheer squad included his wife Katrina Kaif, parents Sham and Veena Kaushal and brother Sunny among others.

See some pictures from last night:

Sam Bahadur, by Meghna Gulzar, will open to theatres on December 1. Vicky Kaushal plays the titular role in the film, which is based on the life of India's first Field Marshal, Sam Manekshaw. Fatima Sana Shaikh is also part of the movie.

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"From Today, We Are One": Randeep Hooda Posts Wedding Pics With Lin Laishram

Attention folks, the wait is finally over, Randeep Hooda has posted pictures from his intimate wedding with Lin Laishram. The pictures were shared by Randeep Hooda on Wednesday night, hours after the wedding ceremony in Imphal. In the pictures, the couple can be seen dressed in traditional Manipuri outfits. Randeep Hooda can be spotted in a white kurta while bride Lin can be seen wearing gold jewelery with her wedding attire. The photos give glimpses of the couple's jaimala among other rituals. "From today, we are One," read Randeep Hooda's caption.

Take a look at the post below:

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A post shared by Randeep Hooda (@randeephooda)

Earlier, an inside video from their wedding went viral in which the couple can be seen performing their wedding rituals. Take a look at the video below:

Lin re-shared pictures from her pre-wedding festivities shared by her friends and families on her Instagram stories. One of the clicks, captioned "Pre wedding glimpse," features the couple along with their families and friends. Take a look here:

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A post shared by पाल सिंह (@iampallsingh)

Randeep announced in an Instagram post that he would get married to Lin Laishram in an intimate ceremony in Imphal on November 29. The post read, "A date with Destiny. 29.11.2023. Taking a leaf out of Mahabharata where Arjuna married Manipuri Warrior princess Chitrangada, we are getting married with the blessings of our families and friends. We are filled with immense joy to share that our marriage will take place on the 29th of November 2023, Imphal, Manipur, followed by a reception in Mumbai. As we set to embark on this journey, we seek your blessings and love from this union of cultures, for which we are forever indebted and grateful. In love and light, Lin and Randeep." Take a look at the post here:

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A post shared by Randeep Hooda (@randeephooda)

Randeep Hooda is known for films like Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai, Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster, Heroine, Murder 3, Sarbjit, Baaghi 2, Radhe while Lin is a model, actor and businesswoman from Manipur.

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Kapil Sharma Slams IndiGo Over Delayed Flight, Calls Them "Shameless"

Actor and television host Kapil Sharma was not happy with his recent IndiGo flight experience. The comedian took to social media to express his frustration with the airline, highlighting a considerable delay and a surprising excuse that the pilot was stuck in traffic.He voiced his discontent with the delayed departure and expressed concern about the airline's reliability.

Mr Sharma wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, "Dear IndiGo, first you made us wait in the bus for 50 minutes, and now your team is saying pilot is stuck in traffic. What? Really ? We were supposed to take off by 8 pm and it's 9:20. Still, there is no pilot in the cockpit. Do you think these 180 passengers will fly in Indigo again? Never #indigo 6E 5149 #shameless."

Dear @IndiGo6E first you made us wait in the bus for 50 minz, and now your team is saying pilot is stuck in traffic, what ? Really ? we supposed to take off by 8 pm n it's 9:20, still there is no pilot in cockpit, do you think these 180 passengers will fly in indigo again ? Never…

— Kapil Sharma (@KapilSharmaK9) November 29, 2023

Mr Sharma later shared a video of passengers deboarding the plane, revealing that they were informed about a change of aircraft, necessitating a return to the terminal for security checks.

"Now they are deboarding all the passengers and saying we will send you on another aircraft, but again, we have to go back to the terminal for a security check," he wrote.

Now they r de boarding all the passengers n saying we will send you in another aircraft but again we have to go back to terminal for security check 👏👏👏👏👏 #indigo👎 pic.twitter.com/NdqbG0xByt

— Kapil Sharma (@KapilSharmaK9) November 29, 2023

He additionally posted another video where numerous passengers were seen inquiring about the flight delay, expressing their desire to witness some remedial action. However, all of them appeared visibly upset and frustrated over the prolonged delay.

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Opinion: What Higher Voter Turnout Could Mean For Rajasthan

The marginally high voter turnout in the Rajasthan assembly election is being claimed as a victory by both the BJP and the ruling Congress. While the BJP believes it's a sign of change, the Congress considers it popular support for its welfare schemes. The final voting percentage for 199 assembly seats in Rajasthan stood at 75.45 per cent (including postal ballots). The highest polling was recorded at Jaisalmer's Pokhran with an 88.23 per cent turnout and the lowest in the Ahore assembly seat at 61.24 per cent. More women (74.72 per cent) voted than men (74.53 per cent) this time. Rajasthan voted on November 25. The results on December 3 will decide whether the Congress retains power, defying the state's tradition of voting out the incumbent, or the BJP topples the Ashok Gehlot government. 

In the last assembly election in 2018, Rajasthan recorded a voter turnout of 74.72 per cent (including postal ballots). This year's voting is 0.73 per cent more than the last time. This trend of increasing voter turnout in assembly elections was also witnessed in other states like Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Mizoram, where elections were held at the same time.

In Rajasthan, the main fight is between the BJP and the ruling Congress. The BJP contested on all seats while the Congress left one seat - Bharatpur - for its ally Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD). In 2018 too, the Congress had set aside this seat for the RLD. Other parties in the contest are the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), CPI (M), Bharatiya Adivasi Party, Rashtriya Loktantrik Party and AlMIM. These parties may manage to win a few seats.

K Subrahmanya, a political analyst and journalist who has reported on Rajasthan elections in the past, cautions against reading too much into the higher turnout. "This largely static turnout figure may be suggestive of a kind of competitive mobilisation by rival contenders for power. The polling figure neither suggests a decisive anti-incumbency vote nor a pro-incumbent vote. Probably, it signals a much closer fight. The gap between the winner and the loser could be relatively narrow," says Mr Subrahmanya.

The election campaign revolved around appeasement politics, corruption, welfare schemes of the state and Centre, women's safety, and the demand for a caste census. Both the Congress and the BJP were plagued by rebels even though most sitting MLAs were renominated. In about 31 seats, rebels from both parties were instrumental in turning the contest into a triangular one.

What does it mean for political parties?

The Congress is relying on the support of its traditional social base - the minority, Scheduled Castes (SCs), Mali, and the Meena communities - and the party sees the higher turnout as proof of support from these communities. Both the BJP and the Congress claim the support of the Mali community, which voted for the Congress in 2018.

For the Congress, there may not be any anti-incumbency against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, but it is a different story for its sitting MLAs. The party has fielded as many as 97 sitting MLAs, which may backfire.

People came in large numbers to vote in districts of northern Rajasthan like Jhunjhunu and Churu, Sikar, and Nagaur, which are Jat-dominated areas.

The Congress claims its share of Jat votes, based on farmer welfare measures like loan waivers and electricity subsidies by the Gehlot government.

Akhil Chaudhary, a Rajasthan-based lawyer and a member of the Congress, attributes the higher voter turnout to the popularity of pro-social security schemes of the government. "Rajasthan was the first state to bring a separate budget for the farming community. The seven guarantees promised in the manifesto have appealed to voters. One of the guarantees was a pension scheme of Rs 10,000 to the woman head in the family. This time too, like 2018, female voters were more than male voters," says Mr Chaudhary.

In the absence of any chief ministerial face, the BJP chose to fight the elections under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The party leadership seemed to tell the voters to trust the symbol and allow the party's democratic process to identify the chief ministerial candidate. During the last days of campaigning, veteran leader and former chief minister Vasundhara Raje was seen in meetings because the party's top brass realised she was still a force to reckon with. But the message is clear. The party is seeking new leadership and Ms Raje is out of favour.

There are many chief ministerial aspirants, including Rajsamand MP Diya Kumari, who is fighting from Vallabhnagar in Jaipur district. Alwar MP Mahant Balaknath Yogi - the 'Adityanath Yogi' of Rajasthan - was asked to contest from Tijara. Some union ministers from Rajasthan are also in the race for the top job if the BJP comes to power. Not naming a presumptive chief minister could go either way for the BJP.

A higher turnout of voters has been reported in eastern Rajasthan, which has a considerable presence of the Gurjar community. The community may have voted for the BJP in large numbers as they were upset with the Congress over the perceived diminished status of their leader Sachin Pilot. The Gurjar and Meena belt of eastern Rajasthan had voted for the Congress in 2018.

"On the ground closer to the polling were three factors - a high degree of the consolidation of their respective social/caste coalitions behind the Congress and the BJP; unpopularity of quite a significant number of sitting Congress MLAs who are in the race; and enthusiasm amongst sections of the voters for Gehlot's poll-oriented freebies to the voters," says Mr Subrahmanya.

Experts also say smaller parties like Rashtriya Loktantrik Party of Jat leader Hanuman Beniwal, Mayawati's BSP, Bharatiya Adivasi Party, Jannayak Janata Party and Azad Samaj Party of Chandrashekhar Azad may influence the voting pattern in at least 30 constituencies.

In this closely fought election in Rajasthan, predicting a clear winner is tricky as both the Congress and the BJP are evenly positioned and the smaller parties may end up playing a larger role in the government formation.

(Bharti Mishra Nath is a senior journalist)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author

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Box Office: Keeping Up With Salman Khan's Tiger 3

Tiger 3 minted ₹ 2.60 crore (all languages) on day 16 at the domestic box office, as per a Sacnilk report. The total collection of the Salman Khan-Katrina Kaif film stands at ₹ 273.8 crore. Tiger 3, directed by Maneesh Sharma, witnessed a jump in its collection figures for day 15. The film made ₹ 6.75 crore, the report added. The third instalment of the Tiger franchise opened to theatres on November 12 (Diwali day). In the spy-thriller, Salman and Katrina reprise their roles as Avinash Singh Rathore aka Tiger and Zoya. Emraan Hashmi is also part of the project. 
 

Tiger 3 has become “the highest-grossing Diwali release in the history of the Indian cinemas.” The film has collected ₹ 447 crore (worldwide). The makers, Yash Raj Films, have announced the super hit news on Instagram. Along with the poster, the makers wrote, “Catch the high-octane action unfolding in cinemas now. Watch Tiger 3 at your nearest big screen in Hindi, Tamil & Telugu. Book your tickets.”

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A post shared by Yash Raj Films (@yrf)

After Tiger 3's worldwide success, Katrina Kaif expressed her gratitude towards fans. In a conversation with news agency ANI, the actress said, “The Tiger franchise has only given me love since 2012! So, it is an amazing feeling to have received so much warmth for over a decade now. Ek Tha Tiger, Tiger Zinda Hai and now Tiger 3 are films that have been a part of my cinematic journey and growth as an artist and it's something that I cherish greatly.”

Katrina added that each instalment of the Tiger franchise has challenged her “physically and mentally.”

Tiger 3 also saw Shah Rukh Khan aka Pathaan. The actor featured in a cameo appearance. Speaking about the experience, Salman Khan said, “Our off-screen chemistry is better than our on-screen chemistry. When the on-screen chemistry is so good, you can understand the off-screen chemistry.”

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"Sign Of A Champion Batter": R Ashwin On India Star. It's Not Shubman Gill

Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin applauded Shreyas Iyer and said that playing spin and taking them down is the right-handed batter's speciality. Speaking on his official YouTube channel, Ashwin called Iyer a standout performer for the 'Men in Blue'. He also added that people don't appreciate him much instead they ask him not to do it more often. "Batting against spin and taking them down is Shreyas' speciality, and he is a standout performer. Chasing excellence is a rare commodity in sports. If somebody does something unique, people, instead of appreciating it, tell them not to do it," the 37-year-old spinner said on his YouTube channel.

Ashwin added that Iyer chases excellence and takes a note to grasp the pull shot.

The number one Test bowler added that the 28-year-old smashes the pacers over mid-off which is a sign of a champion batter.

"What I love about Shreyas is that he chases excellence; he took a note to master the pull shot and worked on it. He got out on it but look at the number of balls he put away to the boundary. Balls were sent to the mid-wicket region and behind the square, which shows he is ready for that ball. He hit fast bowlers above mid-off, definitely the sign of a champion batter developing for India," Ashwin added.

In the recent ODI World Cup, Iyer appeared in 11 matches in which he scored 530 runs with a strike rate of 113.24. He slammed two consecutive centuries and three fifties in the prestigious tournament.

Iyer made his India debut in the T20 format in 2017 following that he scored 1043 runs after taking part in 45 innings and has a strike rate of 135.98.

In the ODI format, the Mumbai-born player scored 2331 runs after appearing in 53 innings for the 'Men in Blue' with a strike rate of 101.

In Test cricket, the middle-order batter scored 666 runs following his 16 innings. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Respiratory Illness In China Due To Common Viruses": AIIMS Doctor

Amid rising cases of respiratory illness in China, a senior doctor from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences has said that viral infections are common in winter and there is no possibility of another pandemic like Covid yet.

A notable surge has been reported in respiratory illness in children in northern China in recent weeks.

Dr SK Kabra, Head of Department, Mother and Child Block, AIIMS, told ANI, "The reports coming from China now show that there has been a sudden increase in respiratory infections between October and November and they have observed that it is more common in children. Mycoplasma has been seen. They have not seen any new or unusual viruses. There is no indication yet that this is a new organism and it is difficult to say whether it can cause a pandemic like Covid. This possibility is not there yet."

He further said that common viruses in the winter season have been seen in the reports coming from China.

"Now experts have discussed this and, according to them, there could be 2-3 things due to which it has increased. Firstly, virus infection is more common in winter and the main ones are influenza, adenovirus and mycoplasma. Till now, the same viruses are visible in the reports of the organisms spreading in China and there is nothing new. People are very worried because the pandemic has just passed whether a new virus has arrived," Dr Kabra said.

Dr Kabra also said that cases of respiratory illness may be increasing in China because of the strict lockdown which had been imposed.

"See, the lockdown in China was very strict. It was lifted in December last year and, since then, this is the first winter there. As far as we know about infection in children, every child under 5 years of age gets a viral infection 3-8 times a year and with each infection, he becomes immune to it," he said.

"Then after the age of 5, the rate of infection reduces. So the children in China who are not able to come out of their houses due to lockdown, their immunity has not developed due to which they have become susceptible to the infection," he added.

"There is a hypothesis that the children who have not had this infection in 2-3 years during lockdown, the infection will now occur. If one child gets it, it will infect 10 more, due to which the cases will increase suddenly," he asserted.

He urged people to practice hygiene and use sanitisers.

"If a child has an infection, do not send him outside until he recovers. Generally, influenza lasts for a week. One can use a mask and follow social distancing. Everyone should also take care of hygiene, and use sanitisers. The phase that China is facing now, we have already faced it last year, so there is no problem," the doctor said.

"We are now more knowledgeable than before about how a pandemic is managed. The ministry has told doctors to investigate if such cases are coming. If any abnormality is seen, then inform them so that appropriate action can be taken," he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Madhya Pradesh Teen Raped In Car By Man She Befriended On Social Media

A 17-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a youth who had befriended her on social media and his three friends in a car in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior, police said on Monday.

Police have invoked provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act since the victim is a Dalit, an official said, adding that nobody has been arrested so far.

The incident occurred on November 21 but a complaint was lodged four days later as the girl kept mum because she was threatened by the accused against disclosing the incident, an official said.

Additional Superintendent of Police Niranjan Sharma said the girl and her family lodged a complaint.

"The girl became friends with a youth on Facebook last year. On November 21, her male friend took her to a deserted forest area in a car where he and his three friends raped her and also threatened to kill her," he said.

A case was registered under sections 376 (Punishment for rape), and 377 (unnatural act) among others, along with the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

According to sources in police, the victim has claimed that one of the accused is a close relative of a politician.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Citizenship Amendment Act Final Draft Likely By March-End: Union Minister

Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra on Sunday said that the final draft of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA is expected to be ready by March 30 next year.

The BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh, while addressing a gathering of the Matua community at Thakurnagar in North 24 Parganas district, asserted that nobody can snatch citizenship rights from Matuas, who had fled religious persecution in Bangladesh.

"The process to roll out CAA has gained momentum in the last couple of years... some issues are being sorted out. Nobody can snatch citizenship rights from the Matuas. By March next year, the final draft of the CAA is expected to be ready for coming into force," he said, sharing dais with local BJP MP and Union minister Santanu Thakur.

The CAA seeks to grant Indian citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan entering India before December 31, 2014.

Reacting to the claim, Trinamool Rajya Sabha MP Santanu Sen said, "The BJP remembers Matuas and the CAA only during elections. The saffron party will never be able to roll out CAA in West Bengal".
"The BJP's false claims are becoming clear to the Matuas and others. The saffron party will be rejected by all in next year's elections," he said.

Mr Sen said the Trinamool Congress has ensured the rights of Matuas as citizens of the country.

"We will continue to work for the community throughout the year, unlike the BJP will only gives false promises," he added.

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Inside Salim Khan's Birthday Special Famjam: Salman, Helen And Others

Salim Khan celebrated his 89th birthday on Friday. Salim Khan's daughter Arpita Khan shared an inside picture from the celebrations and it's a blockbuster one. The entire Khan family can be seen posing together for a grand frame. In the picture, Salim Khan, his first wife Salma Khan, Helen, Sohail Khan's elder son Nirvan, Arbaaz Khan's son Arhaan can be seen seated in the first row. In the second row, Salman Khan can be seen posing with brothers Arbaaz and Sohail, sisters Alvira, Arpita and brothers-in-law Atul Agnihotri and Aayush Sharma. Arpita-Aayush's children Ahil and Ayat can also be spotted in the picture. Arpita Khan wrote in the caption, "Happy 89th birthday Dad."

Sohail Khan also shared an inside picture with the birthday boy. In the picture he can be seen posing with his two sons Nirvan, Yohan and Arhaan and Salim Khan. He wrote in the caption, "Happy birthday cowboy, we exist because of you." Take a look:

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Salman Khan wished his father with a heartwarming note on Friday. Salman Khan shared a picture with his father in which they can be seen relaxing in a garden-like area. The father and son can be seen wearing similar coloured shirts as well. Salman Khan wrote in the caption, "Happy Birthday My Tiger." Salman Khan's third film of the Tiger franchise Tiger 3 is running in theatres and the film already crossed the ₹ 250 crore mark at the box office. It's not difficult to understand that Salman who plays the character of Tiger on-screen looks up to his father and calls him "My Tiger" in the caption. Cricketer Harbhajan Singh wrote in the comments section, "Happy Birthday." Sarod player Amaan Ali Khan wrote, "Precious moments." Take a look at the post here:

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Veteran Salim Khan is best-known for writing superhits like Zanjeer, Seeta Aur Geeta and Sholay among many others. Salman Khan was last seen in Tiger 3. The first film Ek Tha Tiger released in 2012 and was directed by Kabir Khan. The second film of the franchise Tiger Zinda Hai released in 2017. It was directed by Ali Abbas Zafar. Both the films did well at the box office. Salman Khan recently attended the special screening of Farrey, which marked the debut of his niece Alizeh Agnihotri. Alizeh is the daughter of Salman's sister Alvira and Atul Agnihotri.

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"You Have Violated...": Poll Body Issues Notice To Telangana Minister KTR

The Election Commission on Saturday issued a notice to ruling BRS working president and IT Minister K T Rama Rao for allegedly visiting a government institution here and using the platform for political activities and sought a reply from him by Sunday afternoon.

The EC in its notice said it had received a complaint from Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala, wherein it was alleged that Rama Rao, a star campaigner for BRS visited the office of 'T-works' and interacted with a large number of youth employed in the office on November 20.

The Commission obtained a factual report on the matter from the Telangana Chief Electoral Officer (CEO).

Referring to the provisions of MCC that the ministers shall not combine their official visit with electioneering work and shall not also make use of official machinery or personnel, the Commission in its notice observed that, Rama Rao, is not only a contesting candidate in the upcoming assembly election but also a start campaigner of the BRS.

"Whereas, the Commission is, prima facie, held that that by visiting to a Government Institution and using the platform of T-works for political activities and combining your official visit with political/private visit, you have violated the instruction of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC)," the Commission said in its notice.

The Commission asked Rama Rao to explain his stand in respect of the visit and use of a Government Institute for political purposes by 3 PM on November 26.

In the event of no response from Rama Rao's side within the stipulated time, it will be presumed that he had nothing to say in the matter and that the EC will take appropriate action or decision in the matter without making any further reference to him.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Animal Promotions: Ranbir Kapoor And Bobby Deol's Bromance Stole The Show

Ranbir Kapoor and Bobby Deol's off-screen bromance is making all the right noises. The two actors will share screen for the first time in Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Animal. Ranbir and Bobby attended the music launch event of Animal in Mumbai today and their camaraderie stole the limelight. Several videos from the event went viral in which Ranbir Kapoor can be seen dancing to the hit numbers from Bobby Deol's films. Ranbir Kapoor was asked at the event which song Bobby Deol dances to in the shower. Ranbir can be heard saying in the video, "I don't know about him. But I definitely do..." Ranbir Kapoor then performs the hook steps of Love Tujhe Love Main Karta Hoon. The song is from Bobby Deol's debut film Barsaat. Ranbir Kapoor also shows the hook steps of Becheniya Betabiyan from Bobby Deol's Gupt. Bobby Deol can be seen smiling at Ranbir's performance. Take a look at the video:

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Ranbir Kapoor and Bobby Deol also burnt the dance floor with their killer moves to the song Duniya Haseeno Ka Mela. This song is from Bobby Deol's film Gupt starring Kajol and Manisha Koirala. Take a look at the viral video here:

Lord Bobby and #RanbirKapoor dancing at Spotify event #AnimalTheFilm pic.twitter.com/plf0Npk27o

— Lakeer Ka Fakeer (@arthwrites) November 24, 2023

Ranbir Kapoor and Bobby Deol also danced to Ranbir's hit song Badtameez Dil from the film Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. Ranbir Kapoor and Bobby Deol gave the shutterbugs a picture-perfect moment to capture when Ranbir Kapoor sat on the lap of Bobby Deol. The two actors looked dashing at the event. While Ranbir Kapoor rocked an all-black look, Bobby Deol wore a denim jacket at the event. They won the hearts of fans present at the event. Take a look at the pictures from the event:

ICYMI, this is the trailer of Animal. The trailer shows Ranbir Kapoor's complicated relationship with his father Anil Kapoor which drives him to seek revenge when the latter is shot. The root of Ranbir's obsession with father lies in his childhood days only. His troubled relationship with his father affects his love relationship with Rashmika Mandanna as well. "You are fighting a ghost in your head," Rashmika tells Ranbir at one point and he replies, " I don't fight with a ghost. I just eat it up." Ranbir Kapoor and Bobby Deol can be seen fighting fiercely in the trailer. Take a look:

About their connection, Ranbir Kapoor and Bobby Deol spoke at the trailer launch event. Bobby Deol said about Ranbir Kapoor, "I am a huge fan of this man out here. I have worked with many people, stars, superstars, but haven't seen such a humble and down-to-earth person. I would get lost in his eyes while working with him. He is so mesmerising as an actor. There was a lot of hard work involved as I had to go bare with my body." Praising Bobby Deol, Ranbir Kapoor said, "We both are Punjabis, so there was an instant connection. We were shooting shirtless in London in minus 4 degree temperature but there was so much warmth between us... This is a bond that we will cherish for the rest of our lives."

Directed by Arjun Reddy director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, Animal stars Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol and Triptii Dimri in pivotal roles. The teaser gave us a glimpse of an abusive father-son relationship (played by Anil Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor respectively) that only became darker and murkier in the course of the film. The film will release in theatres on December 1.

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