Karnataka Caste Census Submitted Before Polls, Irks Lingayats, Vokkaligas

A socio-economic survey report, submitted today, has set off a political row in Karnataka, even though its contents are yet to be made public. The survey, ordered by the previous Siddaramaiah government in 2017, has upset the politically dominant Lingayat and Vokkaliga castes, who now want it to be shredded.

The 2017 socio economic survey report was submitted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today by Jaiprakash Hegde. The Chairman of the OBC Commission walked into Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru at 2.45 pm today -- the last day of his tenure -- and met Mr Siddaramaiah briefly, before addressing the media.

"We have submitted the report. The CM said he will table it in the next Cabinet and decide," he said. The Chief Minister concurred, refusing to comment any further.

Sources said the findings could challenge the dominance of the Lingayat sect and the Other Backward Caste Vokkaliga community as the largest voting blocks in the state.

According to sources and reports published over the last few years, the survey puts Scheduled Castes as the most populous, followed by Muslims. Lingayats come next, followed by Vokkaligas and then other castes.

The report, therefore, has faced stiff opposition. A backlash from the Lingayat and Vokkaliga groups, which claimed the report as unscientific, has made publishing the caste data fraught with risk.

Even state Congress chief and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who belongs to the Vokkaliga caste, had expressed his opposition earlier. The BJP, dominated by Lingayat leaders, is also on the same page.

Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, BJP MLA from Karnataka, said, "This survey is not scientific. This has displeased the Lingayats and Vokkaligas. We will oppose this. We will request the Congress government to redo this survey by going door-to-door and then we will accept it."

In face of criticism from Lingayat and Vokkaliga leaders of the Congress as well, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has suggested that the report be discussed in the cabinet first. Legal advice and the opinion of experts would be taken if there are anomalies, he promised.

HK Patil, Karnataka's Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, said, "I have no comments to make either on the report or on the comments made by our colleagues. Everything depends on whether we accept it or not. We may receive it. We may take some time to study it. Anything might happen."

During the survey, 54 questions were asked to 5,90,00,000 people from 1,30,00,000 families. The survey was first ordered in 2014 by then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Rs 169 crore was spent on the project.

Though the report was ready in 2017, it was not accepted due to technical glitches, and successive Chief Ministers delayed accepting it.

The caste census in Karnataka is a delicate and tricky issue. With Vokkaligas and Lingayats raising a banner of revolt, it is not sure if the Congress government would be willing to publish it ahead of the Lok Sabha election.

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"In Cricket...": Blunt Shastri To Kishan, Iyer After BCCI Contract Axing

Former India coach Ravi Shastri on Wednesday backed the duo of Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan to come back stronger after they were excluded from the BCCI central contracts for ignoring the board's directive of playing in the Ranji Trophy. The BCCI Wednesday unveiled its centrally-contracted players for this year. While skipper Rohit Sharma, star batter Virat Kohli, pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and premier all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja retained their places in the top bracket, Iyer and Kishan were not considered in any category.

"In the game of cricket, comebacks define the spirit. Chin-up, @ShreyasIyer15 and @ishankishan51! Dig deep, face challenges, and come back even stronger. Your past achievements speak volumes, and I have no doubt you'll conquer once again," Shastri tweeted.

In the game of cricket, comebacks define the spirit. Chin-up, @ShreyasIyer15 and @ishankishan51! Dig deep, face challenges, and come back even stronger. Your past achievements speak volumes, and I have no doubt you'll conquer once again.

— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) February 28, 2024

The 25-year-old Kishan did not turn up for Jharkhand throughout the team's campaign in Ranji Trophy despite not being on national duty since leaving from the tour of South Africa in December last, citing personal reasons.

He has instead focussed on preparing for the IPL next month.

Iyer did not make himself available for Mumbai's Ranji quarterfinal against Baroda after being excluded from the Indian team following the second Test against England.

He, however, has been picked for the Ranji semifinals starting March 2.

Lauding the board, Shastri said, "Big applause to @BCCI and @JayShah for the game-changing move with 'fast bowling' contracts. A crucial step in gearing up for Down Under later this year. The emphasis on Test Cricket and Domestic Cricket is a powerful message, setting the right tone for the future of our beloved sport!" Meanwhile, former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar too praised the BCCI for rewarding players who are willing to put in the hard yards in the Test format.

"Well done to @BCCI for rewarding players who want to play the tough cricket and only for one reason…to face the 'acid test' as cricketers," Manjrekar tweeted.

While announcing the central contracts, the BCCI once again advised all the Indian cricketers to play domestic games when not on national duty.

The exclusion of Iyer and Kishan can be seen as a stern message to young players unwilling to put in the hard yards in first-class cricket, while chasing white-ball glory and lucrative IPL contracts. 

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Bridge Too Far? Meant To Be Linked, 2 Mumbai Flyovers Have A 6-Foot Gap

Aligning and linking two important flyovers has proven to be a bridge too far for the Mumbai civic body, which is now facing ridicule for leaving a vertical gap of nearly six feet between them. The misstep has also sparked a political row, with the opposition asking the government whether it expects Mumbaikars to make a long jump in their vehicles to reach the other flyover. 

One arm of the all-important Gokhale Bridge, which connects Andheri East and West was thrown open to vehicular traffic on Monday evening, with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) calling it an architectural marvel and claiming that it was built over the "country's busiest railway tracks" without disrupting local and long-distance train services. The BMC is currently run by an administrator, who reports to the state government. 

A portion of the bridge had collapsed in 2018, killing two people, and it was demolished in 2022 to be reconstructed. Before it was taken apart, the bridge linked to the Barfiwala Flyover, which is used by traffic from the area to head towards Juhu and then proceed to key suburbs like Bandra. 

When news of the Gohale Bridge being opened surfaced, commuters welcomed the possibility of their travel time being cut short again. The joy gave way to shock, however, when it turned out that the Barfiwala Flyover was not joined because of the height difference and the bridge would not serve the purpose that a majority of vehicles used it for. 

Attacking the Maharashtra government led by Eknath Shinde - who had split the Shiv Sena in 2022 and led to the toppling of the Uddhav Thackeray government - Shiv Sena (Udhhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Aaditya Thackeray said the height difference was a result of a corrupt regime and that the ministers had inaugurated a "half ready, embarrassingly delayed bridge".

Shocking what the @mybmc under the BJP sponsored khoke sarkar and the corrupt administrator has fallen to.

Yes truly first in India, probably the world that the 2 bridges that were to be joined have a difference of 6 ft in height between the 2!

The guardian ministers have… https://t.co/o7rChOLvQW

— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) February 27, 2024

"Yes truly first in India, probably the world that the 2 bridges that were to be joined have a difference of 6 ft in height between the 2!" the former minister posted on X. 

Team Uddhav leader Anand Dubey pointed out that the Gokhale Bridge had been shut for nearly 16 months, since November 2022, and was still misaligned. 

"Is there no coordination between the BMC, the railways and the contractor? There is a height difference of 1.5 meters between the bridges. What does the government want? Do they expect Mumbaikars to make a long jump and reach the flyover? The state government is not only careless, but has also cheated Mumbaikars," he alleged.

'Railway Directive'

The Shinde faction of the Sena has, however, claimed that the misalignment occurred because of the Railways' new policy, which necessitated raising the Gokhale Bridge by an additional 1.5 meters because it was being built over railway tracks.

"During the construction of the bridge, due to the new policy of the Railways, the height of the bridge had to be increased by 1.5 meters. When the bridge was first constructed, its design was prepared along with the Barfiwala Flyover. But because the height of the bridge was increased, the flyover is now below it. We will seek help from the IIT and the Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI) and construct a ramp if necessary," said Team Shinde leader and local MLA Amit Satam.

Sena Spokesperson Krishna Hegde said, "By December this year, all the improvements will be completed and the bridge will be completely opened."

Commuters, however, aren't convinced. "We had to endure long traffic jams because the bridge had been shut. It used to take five minutes to get from Andheri East to West but the duration went up to nearly an hour when the bridge was demolished. Now that the bridge has finally been constructed, they have made such a big mistake. Even if they construct a ramp, can it be done without closing off the bridge again," asked a local resident.

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Congress 3, BJP 1: Rajya Sabha Election Results Out For Karnataka

The ruling Congress in Karnataka won three seats and the BJP one in the Rajya Sabha elections in Karnataka on Tuesday, which were marred by cross-voting in a setback to the saffron party.

Ajay Maken, G C Chandrasekhar and Syed Naseer Hussain, all from the Congress, and Narayansa K Bhandage of the BJP got elected to the Upper House in the polls in which elected MLAs were the voters.

Five candidates, including D Kupendra Reddy of the JD(S) who lost the election, were in the fray for the four seats.

According to official sources, the value of each MLA's vote is 100 and the number of votes sufficient to secure the election of a candidate is 4,441.

Maken, Hussain and Bhandage got 4,700 votes each and Chandrashekhar 4,500. Reddy got only 3,600 votes and therefore did not make the cut.

BJP MLA S T Somashekar voted for Mr Maken, while another party legislator A Shivaram Hebbar abstained.

The BJP said it was exploring the possibility of taking legal action them and lodging a complaint with the Speaker U T Khader seeking their disqualification from the assembly for violating the whip issued to them to vote in favour of the party candidate.

"We have got the information that Somashekar has done cross-voting. I consulted with advocate Vivek Reddy who is our state legal cell president and a high court lawyer. We will ask the Speaker to initiate action (of disqualification) against him (Somashekar) and explore the possibilities to take steps in accordance with the law," Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly R Ashoka said.

Mr Somashekar had earlier quit the Congress and joined the BJP. He served as a minister in the previous BJP government and was made the Mysuru district in-charge minister back then.

In recent months, Mr Somashekar and Mr Hebbar had distanced themselves from the BJP and increasingly began identifying with the Congress.

The BJP (66 MLAs) and the JD(S) (19 MLAs) combined had fielded Kupendra Reddy though they did not have the requisite votes to get him elected. 

The NDA partners said they were expecting "conscience votes", apparently from the rival Congress camp, in favour of Mr Reddy.

The Congress has 134 members in the assembly. There are also four others members, including two independents.

Mr Somashekar said he heard the "voice of his conscience" and voted in favour of the Congress, "which built schools and carried out developmental works in his constituency". Hebbar too said he abstained from voting adhering to his conscience.

"This is not 'atma sakshi' (conscience) but 'atma droha' (self betrayal)," BJP MLC N Ravi Kumar said, commenting on Somashekar's and Hebbar's actions.

The BJP and JD(S) workers staged a demonstration in Bengaluru against Mr Somashekar. Raising slogans, they burnt his effigy.

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress chief, ridiculed the BJP and the JD(S) saying, "'Conscience vote seekers' have become 'conscience vote givers'." "I don't know about cross-voting. I haven't seen the votes of others and independents. Ask the BJP, who spoke about conscience votes," Mr Shivakumar quipped.

Asked if there is legal support for those who have cast conscience votes to Congress candidates, he said, "Let's talk about it when it happens. I am not aware of any complaint filed with the Speaker regarding cross-voting.

"Mr Somashekar has cast his vote as per his conscience. It's a vote against the unholy BJP-JD(S) alliance. The general public, graduates, and teachers have rejected the alliance. Let's see what the legislators think." Chief Minister Siddaramaiah earlier hit out at the JD(S), alleging that the party had sought to lure and threaten its MLAs.

"JDS needs 45 votes (for their candidate) to win. Do they have that many votes? Even though they don't have enough votes, they still fielded the candidate and are luring our MLAs. Do they have a conscience?" the chief minister asked.

"An FIR has been lodged regarding the threat to us," Siddaramaiah said.

Speaking to reporters here, Siddaramaiah lashed out at the JD(S), saying, "When JD(S) does not have 'atma' (soul), how can it have 'atma sakshi' (conscience)? They call themselves Janata Dal (Secular) but whom did they join with?". He was referring to the JD(S) forming an alliance with the BJP.

Former chief minister and JD(S) second-in-command H D Kumaraswamy said the FIR against Kupendra Reddy and his aides was registered at Vidhana Soudha police station.

Mr Kumaraswamy said the complainant MLA did not say that he was lured, but that some other MLAs were "approached".

"Melukote MLA Darshan Puttannaiah of Karnataka Sarvodaya Paksha too had said that it's true that his vote was sought but no one had lured him," the JD(S) state chief claimed.

Mr Kumaraswamy said the BJP and JD(S) had decided to field Kupendra Reddy on the basis of the votes of the 19 JD(S) MLAs and the additional BJP votes after its first preferential votes.

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

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Watch: German Woman's 'Achyutam Keshavam' Rendition In Front Of PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday met German singer Cassandra Mae Spittmann, whom he earlier mentioned in one of the episodes of his monthly radio broadcast 'Mann Ki Baat', and her mother in Palladam, Tamil Nadu.

PM Modi earlier appreciated Cassandra Mae for her passion for Indian music and culture.

During the meeting, Cassandra Mae also performed the song 'Achyutam Keshavam' and a Tamil song in front of the Prime Minister. At the same time, PM Modi was also seen enjoying the bhajan.

A video of this has also surfaced, in which Cassandra could be seen singing in front of PM Modi and he appreciated it.

#WATCH | PM Modi today met the German singer Cassandra Mae Spittmann and her mother in Tamil Nadu's Palladam

Spittmann was mentioned by the PM in one of his 'Mann Ki Baat' radio programs. She sings songs, especially devotional songs in many Indian languages.

Today, she sang… pic.twitter.com/1DA9JV2aZw

— ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2024

Earlier in September 2023, in his address to the nation, PM Modi said, "Indian culture and Indian music are now global. More and more people worldwide are getting attracted to them."

The Prime Minister played an Indian song sung by Cassandra Mae.

"Such a melodious voice...and every word reflects emotions. We can also feel her attachment to God. You would be surprised to know that this voice is of a daughter from Germany. Her name is CassMae. 21-year-old Cassmae on Instagram is quite famous these days. German national Cassmae has never visited India. But, she is extremely fond of Indian music," PM Modi said after the song presentation.

Calling the German singer's passion "inspiring," the Prime Minister further added, "Such interest of someone who has never visited India, is inspiring. Cassmae is visually impaired since birth. But this challenge could not stop her from achieving this extraordinary...her passion for music and creativity was such that she started singing in childhood itself."

PM Modi said that Cassandra does not only sing in Hindi but in various other Indian languages as well.

Notably, Cassandra Mae Spittmann became well-known for singing several Tamil song covers, particularly devotional songs, and has won praise for her accuracy and nearly flawless enunciation of the language's lyrics.

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

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70-Year-Old Woman Killed In Bengaluru, Body Chopped Up In Pieces

A 70-year-old woman's body has been found in KR Puram area in Bengaluru. The dismembered body was put in a drum, which was dumped at a vacant lot near an abandoned house.

The woman has been identified as Sushilamma, who was living with her daughter in a rented flat near Nisarga Layout, close to KR Puram. "The victim was living with her daughter and 2-3 relatives. All their relatives live nearby," Raman Gupta, the Additional Commissioner East, told reporters.

The police said the perpetrators had cut off the woman's arms and legs, which are missing.

The body was discovered after the locals complained to the police about the foul smell emanating from the place.

"The incident may have happened yesterday. I am here with senior officers to examine the spot," Mr Gupta said.

"All necessary investigation will be conducted by our officers. We are actively pursuing the investigation, and we aim to catch the perpetrators as soon as possible," he added.

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"Unfortunate": Minister As Akali Dal Leader Raises Farmers' Issue At Event

In a veiled attack on Shiromani Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, after attending the inauguration of AIIMS Bathinda, on Sunday said that "seasoned politicians" should resist the temptation of injecting their own "political frustration" in these type of occasions.

This comes after Shiromani Akali Dal leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal raised the issue of protesting farmers after the virtual inauguration of AIIMS Bathinda by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"In this function that I attended virtually, I heard one particular person made a highly political speech. I don't think an occasion like the dedication of a medical facility..... They take an oath and they are totally committed to human life and they're apolitical...Look, the government of the Prime Minister is dealing with those problems in a manner no government has done before," Mr Puri told news agency ANI.

He further said that the event was not the right time and platform to raise other demands and called it "unfortunate."

"The MSP has gone up several times with more coverage and more benefits to the farmers and what the farmers are being paid every three months (under PM Kisan Samman Yojana). The reference to politics in today's programme was unfortunate. I thought seasoned politicians should resist the temptation of injecting their own political frustration into occasions like this," he added.

This comes after PM Modi inaugurated five All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rae Bareli (Uttar Pradesh), Rajkot (Gujarat), Mangalagiri (Andhra Pradesh), Bathinda (Punjab) and Kalyani (West Bengal), Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he has completed the guarantee given to the people of Rae Bareli.

During the last round of talks, which ended past midnight on February 18, the panel of three Union ministers made an offer to buy five crops --moong dal, urad dal, tur dal, maize and cotton--from farmers at MSP for five years through central agencies.

However, the protesting farmers turned down the demand and returned to their protest sites.

The SAD and BJP became alliance partners in 1996, but the controversy over the Centre's now-repealed agriculture laws led to the SAD one of the BJP's oldest allies breaking away from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in 2020.

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

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"Helmet Pehen Le": Delhi Police's Road Safety Post Has Rohit Sharma Twist

Delhi Police is known for its amusing posts and witty responses to sensitise people about various issues. Their social media posts are always on point when it comes to relaying hard-hitting messages and cracking you up at the same time. On Sunday, Delhi Police yet again demonstrated their social media prowess by sharing a road safety with a twist. 

Amid the ongoing India vs England Test Series, Indian captain Rohit Sharma warned  Sarfaraz Khan to wear a helmet before fielding. The incident took place when he was requested by Rohit to stand beside batsman Shoaib Bashir. However, the young player forgot to put on a helmet. At that moment, the captain urged Sarfaraz to put on the gear and also stopped Ravichandran Ashwin from delivering the ball. "Aye bhai, zyada hero nahi banne ka idhar, helmet pehen le (Hey brother, don't try to be a hero. Wear a helmet)," Rohit Sharma was heard on the stump mic. This instantly went viral on social media and also caught the attention of the Delhi Police who used the same footage to urge people to wear helmets while driving a two-wheeler.

Two-wheeler par hero nahi banne ka!

Hamesha helmet pehenne ka!#INDvENG#INDvsENG#RohitSharma#RoadSafety pic.twitter.com/NsXB80tF56

— Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) February 25, 2024

"Two-wheeler par hero nahi banne ka! Hamesha helmet pehenne ka!" the police department wrote in the caption of the post on X.

Since being shared, the post has amassed over one lakh views and seven thousand likes.

"Good one," said a user.

A second user added, "Rohit Sharma should be the brand ambassador Delhi police"

"My Captain Spreading Awareness," remarked  a person.

"Absolute genius delhi police always convey there informative messages through unique way of currently happening..." commented an X user.

"Well done Skipper @ImRo45. Every traffic police should use this snippet to educate people to always wear helmets. Road accidents are worse than pandemics which kills more people. @MumbaiPolice," added a person.

A person wrote, "Rohit Sharma truly sounds like a policeman from Mumbai"

"Just Rohit Sharma casually dropping new gems, every single day of play," stated a user.

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Maharashtra Revokes Licence Of McDonald's Outlet After Action Over Cheese

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has revoked the licence of a McDonald's outlet in the state's Ahmednagar district after taking action against it over cheese, an official said on Saturday.

The eatery belonging to the fast food giant had faced FDA scrutiny for allegedly using a "cheese-like" product in their dishes without indicating that it was actually a cheese substitute, thereby misleading customers, he said.

Following an inspection and subsequent objections, the licence of the outlet was suspended, but it was revoked recently after the chain filed a compliance report confirming that they had removed the word 'cheese' from product names.

"In October 2023, we visited the outlet in Kedgaon and discovered that the names of food items displayed at the outlet included American Cheese Burger, American Cheese Nuggets, Cheese Burger, Italian Cheesy Lava Burger, and Blueberry Cheese Cake. All these names are their brand names for their products," said Rajendra Bade, a food safety official from FDA-Ahmednagar.

After analysing, Bade said, they found that instead of pure cheese, the joint was using a cheese-like product. "Technically, this is called a cheese analogue or cheese substitute. While pure cheese contains milk fat, the cheese analogue contains both milk fat and vegetable fat," he said.

FDA then sought the fast food giant's clarification over the presence of milk fat and vegetable fat in products advertised as containing cheese.

"Since their clarification was unsatisfactory, we suspended their licence in November last year. They appealed against the suspension before the FDA commissioner in Mumbai. The commissioner heard arguments from both sides and instructed the fast food restaurant chain that they cannot use the word 'cheese' in their product names if they are not using real cheese," he said.

In the order, FDA Commissioner Abhimanyu Kale directed McDonald's to revise their labelling and prominently tag the products as "cheese analogue nuggets" or "non-dairy cheese nuggets" in a font size and colour that is easily visible and distinguishable from regular cheese products.

The order also required the outlet to list the ingredients on the packaging, ensuring that the terms cheese analogue or non-dairy cheese are prominently displayed.

McDonald's was further told to keep customers informed about the use of cheese analogues in certain products through signage, handouts, and explanations regarding the reasons for using cheese analogues.

In their compliance report, Bade said, the American company said that they had amended the labels. "Upon receiving their compliance report, a decision was made to revoke the suspension, and they have been granted permission to resume business as before," Bade said.

Hardcastle Restaurant, a subsidiary of Westlife Foodworld Ltd, which has the franchisee rights to own and operate McDonald's restaurants in west and south markets in India, said in its compliance report to the FDA that it had renamed certain products by removing the word 'cheese'.

It listed the items as Cheesy Nuggets (now Veg Nuggets), Mc Cheese Veg Burger (now Cheddar Delight Veg Burger), Mc Cheese Veg Non Veg Burger (Cheddar Delight Non-Veg Burger), Corn and Cheese Burger (American Veg Burger), Grilled Chicken and Cheese Burger (American Non Veg-Burger), Blueberry Cheese Cake (Blueberry Cake), Cheesy Italian Veg Burger (Italian Veg Burger) and Cheesy Italian Chicken Burger (now Italian Chicken Burger).

Meanwhile, Hardcastle Restaurant said on Friday that it was engaging with the "competent authorities" in the FDA matter.

"We are actively engaging with the competent authorities on this issue and awaiting their final clarification. We have always been adhering to stringent food standards and are fully compliant with all applicable food laws," said a statement from McDonald's India (West & South) shared on BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange) by Westlife Foodworld.

"Amid recent reports about the removal of 'Cheese' from our menu at McDonald's locations in Maharashtra, we want to assure our valued customers that only genuine, high-quality cheese is used in all our cheese-containing products," the statement said.

It further said, "Collaborating with suppliers adhering to global standards ensures top-quality cheese in our product offerings and not cheese analogues or any substitute." McDonald's India (West & South) said, "Our commitment to transparency in our ingredients and dedication to providing delicious, high-quality meals to our customers remains unwavering." 

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

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Watch: On Gujarat Visit, PM Modi Holds Mega Roadshow In Jamnagar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a massive roadshow from Jamnagar airport on Saturday night after arriving in Gujarat. A large number of people lined up on both sides of the illuminated road holding saffron flags, and chants of 'Modi, Modi' and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' filled the air as the PM's cavalcade moved towards the Circuit House.

During the two-km journey, PM Modi greeted people from his vehicle by waving at them.

At one point, the prime minister came out of his vehicle to wave at the enthusiastic supporters which included women and children.

#WATCH | Gujarat: A large number of people gathered to see the roadshow by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Jamnagar. pic.twitter.com/oWtMhWWKDz

— ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2024

The PM will halt at the Jamnagar Ccircuit House for the night. He is scheduled to attend two functions in the Devbhumi Dwarka and Rajkot districts in Saurashtra region on Sunday.

Earlier, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, state BJP president CR Paatil, and other leaders received the prime minister at Jamnagar Air Force station upon his arrival.

The PM is scheduled to inaugurate Gujarat's first All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rajkot on February 25.

He will also inaugurate the four-lane cable-stayed bridge between Okha and Beyt Dwarka in Devbhumi Dwarka district.

As per a government release, the prime minister will arrive at Rajkot AIIMS on Sunday afternoon and address a rally at the Race Course ground in the city later in the evening.

He will take part in a kilometre-long road show from the old airport to the venue of the public rally, it stated.

During the function, the prime minister will also virtually inaugurate four other newly-built AIIMS, located in Mangalagiri (Andhra Pradesh), Bathinda (Punjab), Rae Bareli (Uttar Pradesh), and Kalyani (West Bengal).

PM Modi will also inaugurate and perform ground-breaking for projects of Rs 48,000 crore of different state and Central departments, such as NHAI, Railways, Energy and Petrochemicals, Road and Building, Ports and Health and Family Welfare.

Of these, projects of Rs 35,700 crore are for Gujarat, while the remaining are for other states.

The prime minister will launch key projects, including power generation projects in Kutch, ground-breaking for the new Mundra Panipat crude-oil pipeline project, a new cardiology hospital in Vadodara and doubling of the Rajkot-Surendranagar railway line, among others.

On Sunday morning, he will offer prayers at the Shri Beyt Dwarkadhish Mandir and then inaugurate the four-lane cable-stayed bridge between Okha and Beyt Dwarka island.

"The 2.32 km bridge, including 900 metres of central double span cable-stayed portion and a 2.45 km long approach road, was constructed at a cost of Rs 979 crore. The four-lane 27.20 metre wide bridge has 2.50 metre wide footpaths on each side," as per an official release.

The bridge, which was known as 'Signature Bridge', has been renamed as 'Sudarshan Setu' or Sudarshan Bridge.

Beyt Dwarka is an island near Okha port, which is nearly 30 km from Dwarka town, where the famous Dwarkadhish temple of Lord Krishna is situated.

At present, devotees visiting the temple at Beyt Dwarka can travel only during the day by boat, while the construction of the bridge will allow them to travel at all times, officials said.

The PM will also visit Dwarka town and offer prayers at Dwarkadhish temple before addressing a large gathering nearby.

From the venue, he will inaugurate or perform groundbreaking of several projects in Jamnagar, Devbhumi Dwarka and Porbandar districts, according to the official release.

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

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US Spaceship Odysseus On Moon "Alive And Well", Images Expected Soon

The first American spaceship on the Moon since Apollo is "alive and well" following a drama-packed touchdown, the company that built it said Friday as it worked to download data and images from the uncrewed robot.

Odysseus landed near the lunar south pole Thursday at 6:23 pm Eastern Time (2323 GMT), after a nail-biting final descent when ground teams had to switch to a backup guidance system and took several minutes to establish radio contact after the lander came to rest.

"Odysseus is alive and well," Intuitive Machines, which achieved the first lunar landing by a private company, posted on X on Friday morning. "Flight controllers are communicating and commanding the vehicle to download science data."

The Houston-based company's stock price soared by 40 percent in early trading before paring back to 20 percent. 

Engineers are working to learn the robot's precise coordinates in the Malapert A impact crater and its tilt, as the landing phase was carried out by the robot autonomously, using its instruments to navigate the Moon's terrain.

The company said Odysseus, which is the size of a large golf cart, is upright -- a relief after the Japanese space agency's SLIM lander, which touched down in January, ended up upside-down. 

Private enterprise

Intuitive Machines pledged to soon downlink the first images taken by the lander, while "EagleCam," a camera could also soon release pictures from an external perspective after the device was shot out of Odysseus in the final seconds of landing.

Odysseus is the first success for a new fleet of NASA-funded lunar landers designed to carry out science investigations that pave the way for the return of American astronauts to the Moon later this decade, under the Artemis program. 

NASA, along with international partners, are planning to develop long term habitats in the south pole, harvesting ice there for drinking water and for rocket fuel for eventual onward voyages to Mars.

A moonshot by another American company last month ended in failure, raising the stakes to demonstrate that private industry had what it took to repeat a feat last achieved by US space agency NASA during its manned Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

Underscoring the technical challenges inherent in the task, Intuitive Machines' own navigation system failed and Odysseus instead flew the final leg of its trip using an experimental laser guidance system developed by NASA.

Confirmation of landing was supposed to come seconds after the milestone, but instead nearly 15 minutes passed as announcers mused whether the hexagon-shaped craft had come down "off angle."

Finally, the company's chief technology officer Tim Crain confirmed "our equipment is on the surface of the Moon and we are transmitting," as applause broke out in mission control.

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

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Aamir Khan Meets Dangal Actor Suhani Bhatnagar's Parents After Her Death

Days after Dangal actor Suhani Bhatnagar's death, Aamir Khan met her parents and relatives in Faridabad around 6 pm on Thursday. Upon meeting Suhani's parents, Aamir Khan inquired about the actor's illness and condoled her death . Suhani's uncle Navneet Bhatnagar confirmed the news of Aamir Khan visiting her place to NDTV. Suhani Bhatnagar, who played the young Babita Phogat in Dangal, died last Friday at 19. Suhani was suffering from dermatomyositis, a rare inflammatory disease that causes skin rash and muscle weakness. After her death, Suhani's father Sumit Bhatnagar told PTI, "Her lungs got damaged due to an infection and accumulation of excess fluid".

After Suhani's death, Aamir Khan's production house issued a statement that read, "We are deeply saddened to hear about our Suhani passing away. Our heartfelt condolences to her mother Poojaji and the entire family. Such a talented young girl, such a team player, Dangal would have been incomplete without Suhani." It added, "Suhani, you will always remain a star in our hearts. May you rest in peace." Reacting to the post, Aamir's daughter Ira Khan wrote, "Oh no!!!" Take a look:

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In an interview with E24, Suhani's mom talked about the bond Suhani shared with Aamir Khan. She said, "Aamir Sir has always been in touch with her. He is a nice person. We never shared this with him. We actually didn't inform anyone. We were so disturbed by this." She added, "Definitely, if we had messaged him, he would have immediately been there for us. In fact, even during his daughter's wedding, he invited us. And in fact, he personally called us to be a part of his big day."

Speaking of Suhani, her mom said, "She was performing very well in college; she even topped in the last semester. She was brilliant at everything and wanted to excel at whatever she wanted to do. Our daughter has made us very proud."

The 19-year-old actor was admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences on February 7 and died on February 16.

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"Different Rules?" Ex India Star Blasts Those Missing First-Class Cricket

One of the biggest talking points in Indian cricket these days is players missing domestic cricket. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah recenty made it clear that all centrally contracted cricketers, who are not with the national team, will have to mandatorily play red-ball cricket in the domestic circuit and the management will not tolerate any kind of excuses in the matter. The statement came amidst the controversy surrounding Ishan Kishan and reports that suggest that BCCI has asked him to play for Jharkhand in Ranji Trophy.

Shah mentioned Kishan during the interaction but quickly added that the announcement was not targeted towards him and this rule will apply for all cricketers who are not part of the national team.

"All contracted players have been told on phone and I'll be writing to them too. If chairman of selectors, coach & captain want you to play red-ball cricket then you gotta play. ‘Nakhre Nahi Chalenge' (no tantrums). And as far as Ishan Kishan is concerned, he is young, I am not saying this specifically about him as it will be applicable for all the players uniformly," Jay Shah told reporters.

"Everyone will have to play, otherwise, the chairman of the selection committee has given me his suggestions and I am going to give him a free hand to let him take his own calls freely."

In the midst of this, on Thursday came a report by Indian Express about Shreyas Iyer making himself unavailable for Mumbai's Ranji Trophy quarterfinals citing injury concerns but the National Cricket Academy (NCA) has said that he has no 'fresh injuries'. The report cited an email from Nitin Patel, the head of sports science and medicine at the NCA, who told selectors that Iyer was 'fit'. It also quoted Mumbai Cricket Association sources saying that Iyer had cited back pain as the reason behind missing the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal match against Baroda which will begin on Friday.

"Shreyas Iyer was fit and available for selection as per the handover report of the Indian team after the 2nd Test match against England. There are currently no fresh injuries reported as well after his departure from Team India,” Patel wrote in his email according to the report.  

Now, Irfan Pathan posted an intersting comment on X on Thursday. "Is there a different rules for different players for not playing Indian first class cricket in the name of looking after the body?" Irfan Pathan wrote.

Is there a different rules for different players for not playing Indian first class cricket in the name of looking after the body?

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) February 22, 2024

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IPL's "Digital Rating 130 Million, PSL's Is...": Najam Sethi's Bold Claim

The eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) ended on Saturday with Lahore Qalandars emerging as the winners. The Shaheen Afridi-led side defeated Multan Sultans by 1 run in a thrilling summit clash. Opting to bat first, the Qalandars posted a huge total of 200/6 in 20 overs with Abdullah Shafique smashing 65 off 40 balls and Shaheen playing a quick knock of 44* off just 15 balls. Later, the Sultans were restricted at 199/8 as the Qalandars lifted their second PSL title. As the thrilling T20 league of Pakistan is now over, the fans are gearing up for the 16th edition of Indian Premier League (IPL), which will kick-start from March 31. 

IPL is regarded as the richest and the most loved T20 league in the world, due to it's massive fan-following and nail-biting action. However, Pakistan Cricket Board Chief Najam Sethi has now come up with a shocking opinion regarding the two leagues and stated that PSL is a bigger success than IPL in terms of digital ratings. 

"Let's talk about digital. PSL was only at the half stage, so I asked about our digital rating. Najam Sethi show used to have a 0.5 rating on TV, whereas PSL is getting a rating of more than 11. So, it would be 18 or 20, when it completes," Sethi said in a press conference ahead of the PSL final. 

"Over 150 million people watched it digitally. It is not a small thing. At the same stage, IPL's digital rating was 130 million and PSL's is more than 150 million. So this is a great success for Pakistan", he added.

Talking about IPL, the first match of the cash-rich league will be played between the defending champions Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

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Plans afoot to digitalise KYC

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"India Is Standing Against A Bully": Top Bureaucrat On Situation At LAC

India is standing against a "bully" in a very "determined fashion", Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane said on Wednesday, referring to the situation arising out of China's military assertiveness along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh.

His remarks came while replying to a question during an interactive session at the INDUS-X Summit.

India and the US can play a pivotal role in shaping the geopolitical landscape of the Indo-Pacific, promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the region, Mr Aramane said.

"The possibility that we may encounter a similar situation to what we faced in 2020 is keeping us active all the time," he said.

Aramane was asked about challenges India is facing along the LAC and New Delhi's expectations from Washington to deal with common challenges.

"One thing which helped us very quickly is the intelligence, the situational awareness which the US equipment and the US government helped us with. So that is one single most important area ...," he said.

The defence secretary said the strong resolve that both India and the US support each other in the face of a common threat is going to be of critical importance.

"India is giving a face-off to our neighbour in almost all the fronts we have with them, wherever there is a mountain pass, we are stationed there... and wherever there is a road we have to be there. So that way we are there standing against a bully in a very determined fashion," he said.

Mr Aramane said India expects friends like the US to be supportive.

"We expect that our friends in the US will be there with us in case we need their support," he said.

"We greatly appreciate the support and resolve from our friends in supporting us during such an event, basically the information, the intelligence and any support by way of equipment will be of great use to us," he said.

The Indian and Chinese troops are locked in a standoff in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh even as the two sides completed disengagement from several areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks.

In his address at the summit, Mr Aramane stressed that India and the US are key stakeholders in the Indo-Pacific bounded by shared values and common interests.

"Today, we are witnessing a pivotal moment in the history of the Indo-Pacific region. The Indo-Pacific, with its vast expanse of oceans and strategic waterways, stands as the crossroad of global commerce, geopolitics, and security," Aramane said.

"In navigating the complex dynamics of this region, India and the US find themselves as key stakeholders, bound by shared values and common interests," he said.

Noting that the robust defence partnership between the two countries is rooted in mutual respect and strategic convergence, Aramane also cited the launch of Initiatives on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) as a key measure to bolster ties.

"A pivotal aspect of our burgeoning relationship is the iCET that aims to establish 'Innovation Bridges' across key sectors," he said.

On the bilateral partnership in the aerospace and defence sectors, Aramane said, "Our bilateral relationship is flourishing, with India increasingly turning to the US for cutting-edge equipment and technology. The US in turn, sees India as a key partner in its Indo-Pacific strategy, leveraging India's growing defence capabilities." He also talked about the multilateral engagements where both the countries are stakeholders.

The defence secretary underscored the "success stories" of India's defence production, ranging from shipbuilding, including aircraft carriers, to the development of advanced platforms such as Tejas multi-role fighter aircraft.

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

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Indian Restaurant Manager Killed While Cycling Home In UK

A 36-year-old Indian restaurant manager was killed in a road collision while cycling home in the UK leading to a murder investigation by the British police, who have made eight arrests in the case this week.

Vignesh Pattabhiraman was cycling back from his work place at Indian restaurant Vel in Reading, south-east England, on February 14 when he was in a collision with a vehicle at the Cadugan Place junction in the city.

Thames Valley Police said he was declared dead after being rushed to the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

Shazeb Khalid, aged 24, arrested on suspicion of the murder has since been charged and appeared at Reading Magistrates Court on Wednesday. Seven men, aged 20, 21, 24, 27, 31, 41 and 48, all from the same city arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender have all been released on bail.

“Our thoughts remain with the family of Mr Raman, who are being supported by specially trained officers,” said Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Brangwin, of Thames Valley Police's Major Crime Unit.

“We are continuing our investigation into the circumstances of his death, and arrests have now been made. I would like to take this opportunity to again appeal to anybody who has any information to please get in touch with Thames Valley Police,” he said.

The Major Crime Unit officers have said there will continue to be a visible police presence in the area while their investigation continues to address any public concerns on site.

Meanwhile, a Just Giving charity initiative set up by Pattabhiraman's friends and family to help with repatriation costs and support for his grieving wife Ramya after the “senseless tragedy” has raised over GBP 39,000 within days.

“Vignesh was a committed restaurant manager at Vel, where he poured his heart and soul into his work, earning recognition for his exceptionally warm nature , customer service and work ethics. His dream of reaching a senior management position in the hotel industry was within reach, with an exciting opportunity awaiting him at Hyatt Regency Mayfair London,” reads the page.

“We are rallying together to support Vignesh's grieving family during this unimaginably difficult time. Your generous contributions will provide much-needed financial assistance to help cover repatriation cost, funeral expenses, support his grieving wife, Ramya, and ease the burden on his family as they navigate this profound loss,” it adds.

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

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"Made Me Watch Porn For Spiritual Growth": Ex Nuns On Renowned Priest

Two former nuns said Wednesday that a world-renowned artist priest made them take part in threesomes and watch porn so they would "grow spiritually".

Slovenian mosaic artist Marko Rupnik, 69, is accused of sexually and psychologically abusing at least 20 women for nearly 30 years at a religious community in Slovenia.

"He took me to pornographic theatres to help me 'grow spiritually'," Gloria Branciani, who was a member of the community until 1994, told journalists at a press conference in Rome.

"He said that I would not grow spiritually if I did not meet his sexual needs," she said, describing how he sexualised religious concepts.

"We had another nun have sex with us because he said it was like the Trinity," Branciani said, referring to the central Christian doctrine of three persons within one God.

Rupnik was briefly excommunicated in 2020 for absolving someone of having sexual relations with him, but was reinstated after he formally repented.

He was finally expelled from the Jesuit order -- of which Pope Francis is a member -- last June.

In October, Francis waived the statute of limitations on the offences, opening the way for potential disciplinary proceedings.

Anne Barrett Doyle, co-director of the abuse tracking site Bishop Accountability, which documents abuse within the Catholic Church, described Rupnik as a "powerful cleric who was protected at the highest levels of the Church and the Vatican."

The press conference comes five years after an unprecedented summit at the Vatican on sexual abuse in the Church, at the end of which Francis promised a "zero tolerance" approached.

"The Rupnik case shows that little has changed," said Barrett Doyle, who called for an independent investigation and the publication of its findings.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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Tech Millionaire Claims He Reversed His Hair Loss Using 3 Tactics

Bryan Johnson, the 46-year-old software billionaire, who is on a quest to reverse his biological age, recently claimed in a video that he has beat both balding and graying. In a video posted on YouTube on February 9, he revealed 3 tactics he uses to keep his hair looking healthy and luscious. This routine forms part of his Project Blueprint initiative to stay forever young.

In the clip, he told his followers to start taking precautionary measures before their strands start to thin or shed. ''The best time to work on your hair is before you start losing it,'' Mr Johnson said.

The anti-aging guru revealed he uses red light therapy every morning to maintain a full head of hair. The method requires him to wear a battery-powered red light therapy cap for six minutes, as it ''increases blood flow and also stimulates hair follicle activity''.

He then uses a special topical treatment made up of ingredients like Caffeine, Finasteride, Minoxidil Azelaic Acid, Diclofenac,  Tea Tree Oil, Rosemary, Ginko Biloba, Biotin and Melatonin.

Watch the video here:

Mr Johnson has also been using microneedling and taking specialized platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. To fight off grey hair, he uses GR7, an anti-hair loss and anti-gray treatment which he applies three or four times per week, and Mayraki, a colored herbal extract that he applies once a week. 

''We biopsied my hair, we looked at it under the microscope and we see that the color is being produced beneath the scalp – so it's working,'' he explained. 

People who don't know where to start could begin with using 5% of Romaine or the generic version, Minoxidil, the tech mogul advised. 

Notably, the entrepreneur spends $2 million a year on medical diagnostics and treatments combined with a meticulously crafted regimen of eating, sleeping, and exercise to see if he can slow, and perhaps even reverse, the aging process.

Last year, Mr Johnson claimed that his daily regimen had given him the lung capacity and physical endurance of an 18-year-old, the heart of a 37-year-old, and the skin of a 28-year-old. He goes to bed by 8.30 pm, eats 2,250 calories a day between 6 am and 11 am, and has four to five hours of "concentrated thought". He doesn't drink and swallows a staggering 111 pills a day.

He takes more than 100 supplements a day and undergoes daily body fat scans and routine MRIs, conducted by a team of 30 doctors, as per Fortune. He has also swapped blood with his teenage son. 

Notably, Mr Johnson made his fortune in his 30s when he sold his payment processing company Braintree Payment Solutions to eBay for $800 million in cash.  He is reportedly worth $400 million.

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Farmers Reject Centre's Proposal, To Continue Delhi March From Wednesday

The borders around Delhi are likely to witness a showdown again from Wednesday as protesting farmers have rejected the government's five-year contract to buy three types of pulses, maize, and cotton at the old minimum support price. 

The announcement by the protesting farmers came hours after the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella organisation of farmer unions which is not part of the current protests, also criticised the MSP proposal. 

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Body Of Kota Coaching Student, Missing For 9 Days, Found In Chambal Valley

The body of a 16-year-old IIT JEE aspirant has been recovered from the Chambal valley in Rajasthan following an intense week-long search, police said Monday. This marks the fifth such student death this year.

Rachit Sondhiya, from Madhya Pradesh, was studying at Kota, a coaching hub which draws students from all over India.

The student, missing since February 11, was last seen entering the forest area near Garadiya Mahadev temple in a security camera footage. He left his hostel on the pretext of an exam.

A search operation led by the State Disaster Response Force sniffer dogs and drones yielded no results until this evening when the teenager's body was spotted in an isolated and inaccessible spot of the Chambal valley.

The police suspect the student could have jumped from the hill into the valley below.

Earlier, his parents circulated his posters urging the public to help find their son.

The surge in student suicides prompted the Centre to issue guidelines aimed at alleviating the pressure on coaching students. Directives were issued to coaching institutes and district administrations to safeguard students from depression and stress.

Coaching centres can't enrol students below the age of 16 and admission procedure will be permitted only after successful completion of the secondary school examination, according to new guidelines announced by the Ministry of Education.

Kota has a floating population of nearly two lakh students, some of them away from home for the first time alone and vulnerable.

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Ajay Devgn's Famjam Pic Featuring Kajol, Nysa, Yug And Mother Veena Devgn

Ajay Devgn shared a perfect famjam picture on the occasion of his mother Veena Devgn's birthday on Monday. The picture features Ajay, his mother Veena Devgn, his wife Kajol, daughter Nysa and son Yug. In the picture, Yug can be seen kissing his grandmother on her cheek. Nysa can be seen dressed in an orange outfit. Ajay can be seen posing for the camera while Kajol looks at her mother-in-law. Sharing the picture, Ajay Devgn wrote, "Your love is the guiding light to our family Maa... Happy birthday to you." Take a look:

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A post shared by Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn)

Earlier in the day, Ajay Devgn shared a picture with his mother on his Instagram story. In the picture, Ajay and his mother can be seen twinning in black. Sharing the picture, Ajay wrote, "Your love is irreplacable Maa. Happy Birthday."

Kajol also shared an adorable post for her mother-in-law. Sharing a happy picture with Veena Devgn, Kajol wrote, "A mother by law who took her job seriously .. happy birthday Ma!" Take a look:

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A post shared by Kajol Devgan (@kajol)

Just a couple of days back, Ajay shared a shirtless picture of himself. In the picture, Ajay's trimmed beard and tattoos truly complement his look. Hinting at a beach vacation, Ajay included palm tree, sun, anchor, and sea emojis in his caption. Take a look:

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A post shared by Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn)

Meanwhile, Ajay Devgn will be next seen in Vikas Bahl's Shaitaan. A few weeks ago, the makers dropped the official teaser of the film, which also features R Madhavan and Jyotika. The supernatural thriller revolves around evil spirits and black magic. Lasting nearly two minutes, the teaser begins with R Madhavan's narration, where he seemingly portrays the role of the antagonist. The actor introduces himself to the audience through the narration. The clip concludes with R Madhavan flashing a sinister smile, with a few wound marks visible on his face. Sharing the teaser, Ajay Devgn wrote, "Woh poochega tumse... ek khel hai, kheloge? Par uske behkaave mein mat aana!" Take a look:

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Other upcoming movies featuring Ajay Devgn are Maidaan, Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha, Singham Again, and Raid 2.

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