Latest news with #BalThackeray
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Recreating Bal Thackeray's voice and making Saamana anchor, Sena (UBT) banks big time on AI
From recreating Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray's voice to developing an Artificial Intelligence anchor for its mouthpiece Saamana , the Shiv Sena (UBT) is betting big on AI ahead of the coming civic polls in Maharashtra. The opposition party is likely to use this new-age technology to reach out to a wider section of people, specially youngsters who are tech-savvy. Elections to various civic bodies, including the cash-rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, are likely to be held later this year. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Semua yang Perlu Anda Ketahui Tentang Limfoma Limfoma Pelajari Undo Banking on AI by the Uddhav Thackeray-led party comes at a time when he is facing challenges in his political career, in view of the split in the Shiv Sena and collapse of his Maha Vikas Aghadi government in 2022 as well as poor show in the state polls last year. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Anil Desai told PTI that he uses AI as much as possible, specially for data analysis. Live Events In April, the Shiv Sena (UBT) used AI to recreate a voice resembling Bal Thackeray, in his trademark style, to address party workers at an event in Nashik, in a bid to shore up the Uddhav Thackeray-led outfit's prospects after the state assembly polls debacle last year. The speech tried to create, according to the Shiv Sena (UBT), what Bal Thackeray would have said had he been alive. The AI speech saw attacks primarily aimed at the ruling BJP and the rival Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde . It also tried to have the mannerisms, tone which Bal Thackeray used during his speeches. On Friday, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP and party mouthpiece's executive editor Sanjay Raut unveiled 'Tejasvi AI', claimed to be the first Artificial Intelligence anchor in Marathi media. The AI anchor will read out news on Saamana's YouTube channel, he said. Dressed in a black suit, AI anchor appears to be a man in his late twenties or early thirties with a sharp nose and jawline. Some Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders, including its Lok Sabha member Anil Desai, are even using AI for their day-to-day use. Desai credited Uddhav Thackeray 's son and Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray behind using AI in functioning. The Mumbai South-Central MP said he has been using AI for data analysis wherever possible to understand statistics better. "I try to use the AI as much as possible. But it is not the only tool or source I use," Desai said. Last month, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) digitally recreated the voice of its founder N T Rama Rao (NTR) using AI for an invitation video for its annual conclave in Kadapa district.
Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
There is a line between criticising the government and breaking the law. India's courts have said it many times
It was 2012. Two young girls were arrested by the Mumbai police for expressing their discontent over a complete shutdown of the city after the death of Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray. Despite their subsequent release from custody, it took another three years and a landmark judgment to rule out the legal validity of the grounds for their arrest. The recent arrest of an engineering student from Pune for her Instagram story about Operation Sindoor — she was later granted bail by the Bombay High Court — shows that the needle hasn't moved much since then. Notably, removing the story and tendering an apology shortly after did not offer any relief to the teen, as she spent over two weeks in jail. She was also rusticated from college, barring her from sitting for the examinations. It was only after the Bombay High Court's intervention, which pulled up the police for a 'radical step,' that she got temporary relief. The investigation, however, would go on, and she would not be allowed to leave the state without permission. In the last few years, the constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression has been compromised on many occasions. We tend to forget that criticising those in power is different from breaking the law. The continuous clampdown on political commentary, especially on social media, repeatedly highlights the blurring of such lines. Be it the protests on the JNU campus in 2016, the anti-CAA protests, or one-off social media commentary by individuals, the 'anti-national' label and subsequent police action seem to be predictable consequences. The resort to national security and integrity as a ground for an embargo on free speech makes the 'reasonable restrictions on free speech' doctrine hollow. According to the central government's own submission in Lok Sabha, between 2018 and 2022, there were over 8,000 arrests for anti-government activities. Under the erstwhile Indian Penal Code, the colonial-era Section 124A was used to prosecute any expression or activity that led to disaffection towards the government. The lack of clarity of this provision, which led to numerous wrongful detentions, was acknowledged by the government itself. However, in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the government replaced it with Section 152. This section punishes people for 'words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or by electronic communication or by use of financial means' which endanger the unity, sovereignty, and integrity of India. The retention of the core principles of sedition in Section 152 makes the intention of the government clear. However, the Indian judiciary, time and again, has come up with strong guardrails against any abuse of law. One of the most controversial provisions — Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, often misused to arrest people — was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in Shreya Singhal vs Union of India in 2015. This landmark judgment also impacted the interpretation and application of sedition laws. It denounced arbitrary restrictions on speech by highlighting the three-fold test of 'necessity, proportionality, and legality'. The court stated that mere expression that does not entail a clear and imminent incitement of danger or harm cannot be held as a ground for curtailment of speech, let alone criminal prosecution. Recently, in the case of Tejender Pal Singh vs State of Rajasthan (2024), the Rajasthan High Court echoed this sentiment and said that Section 152 should not be used to stifle dissent. The court also urged the state to distinguish between mere advocacy or discussion and a causal link between the expression and its consequences. The latter lays the ground for criminality; the former falls within the realm of freedom of speech and expression. Arbitrary and excessive restrictions do little to preserve public order and integrity; rather, they undermine the basic fabric of a democratic society. If the state doesn't show restraint, its radical reaction is bound to have consequences. The writer is Outreach lead at Nyaaya, an initiative of Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy
NDTV
26-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Had Balasaheb Thackeray Been Alive He Would've Hugged PM Modi For Op Sindoor: Amit Shah
Nanded: Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Monday that had Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray been alive, he would have hugged Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the success of Operation Sindoor. Addressing a public event in Maharashtra's Nanded, Mr Shah slammed the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), saying it mocked the multi-party delegations visiting partner countries to convey India's message of zero tolerance against terrorism as "baraat" (wedding party). "Had Balasaheb Thackeray been alive, he would have hugged Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the success of Operation Sindoor," he said at a public event in Maharashtra's Nanded. The Centre has sent seven multi-party delegations to visit 33 global capitals to reach out to the international community on Pakistan's designs and India's response to terror. "I don't know what has happened to the Uddhav Sena. They are calling the delegations a baraat even though their own members are a part of it," said Shah, who is on a two-day tour of Maharashtra. Later, Ambadas Danve of Sena (UBT) retorted that Bal Thackeray would not have allowed those who "betrayed" the Shiv Sena even to his doorstep. "Bal Thackeray would have asked, 'Where are those six (terrorists) who killed Hindus by asking their religion?'. He also would have asked when the country was united, who put pressure to declare a ceasefire with Pakistan," he wrote on X. The Shiv Sena and the BJP were allies in the state for decades before parting ways in 2019. After the Sena split in 2022, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde got the name and symbol. While the Shiv Sena under Shinde is a part of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, the Uddhav faction is a partner in the opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi.
New Indian Express
26-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Amit Shah says Bal Thackeray would've hugged PM Modi over Op Sindoor; Sena (UBT) hits back
Union Home Minister Amit Shah claimed on Monday that had Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray been alive, he would have hugged Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the success of 'Operation Sindoor'. Addressing a public event in Maharashtra's Nanded, Shah slammed the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), saying it mocked the multi-party delegations visiting partner countries to convey India's message of zero tolerance against terrorism as 'baraat' (wedding party). "Had Balasaheb Thackeray been alive, he would have hugged Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the success of Operation Sindoor," he said at a public event in Maharashtra's Nanded. The Centre has sent seven multi-party delegations to visit 33 global capitals to reach out to the international community on Pakistan's designs and India's response to terror. "I don't know what has happened to the Uddhav Sena. They are calling the delegations a baraat even though their own members are a part of it," said Shah, who is on a two-day tour of Maharashtra. Later, Ambadas Danve of Sena (UBT) retorted that Bal Thackeray would not have allowed those who "betrayed" the Shiv Sena even to his doorstep. "Bal Thackeray would have asked, 'Where are those six (terrorists) who killed Hindus by asking their religion?'. He also would have asked when the country was united, who put pressure to declare a ceasefire with Pakistan," he wrote on X. Danve also targeted Shah for mentioning the Marathwada Water Grid during his address. "The file concerning the project was sent to the Centre for approval. Shah forgot to tell what happened with this file later. For the past ten years, the BJP has been speaking about getting water from the Konkan and Krishna basin to Marathwada. But not a single drop has come to the region," Danve added. The Shiv Sena and the BJP were allies in the state for decades before parting ways in 2019. After the Sena split in 2022, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde got its name and symbol. While the Shiv Sena under Shinde is a part of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, the Uddhav faction is a partner in the opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi.
The Print
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Print
As Senas squabble over Bal Thackeray, a group of cartoonists is quietly preserving his other legacy
According to the president of the outfit, Sanjay Mistry, the event, held every year in different cities of Maharashtra, is meant to be 'a tribute to the caricature and cartoon art, and his mentor, Balasaheb, a master of excellence at it'. Last week, the Cartoonists' Combine, which comprises cartoonists from across Maharashtra, held its annual 'Cartoon Mahotsav' at a banquet hall in Mumbai's suburban Santacruz to mark World Cartoonist Day, which is observed annually on 5 May. Mumbai: Ever since the Shiv Sena split in 2022, Uddhav Thackeray, Eknath Shinde and even Raj Thackeray have been in a tug of war over party founder Bal Thackeray's political legacy. Meanwhile, a group of veteran cartoonists is doing its best to preserve and further his artistic legacy through the Cartoonists' Combine—an outfit founded by Bal Thackeray himself in 1983. This year, the Cartoonists' Combine had to limit the number of activities at the event, especially the competition segment, to save on the prize money. Not that the funding was hard to come by, it was just that the members of the organisation always choose to conduct the event with their modest individual contributions. And, they would not encourage funding from politicians, Mistry said. 'As cartoonists, we draw courage to show the mirror to the powers that are,' Mistry told ThePrint. 'How could we take their help?' In the same breath, he laments that in the current times, the cartoon art is dying. 'Not because there is a dearth of competent artists, it has to do with the curtailed freedom available to the artists to express themselves,' he said. But the organisation manages to find support from friends and well-wishers in every city. This year, Sandesh Chavhan, founder-director of Ola Vakola Banquet where the event was held, stepped in to cover the logistical arrangements. 'Art unites,' he told ThePrint. A student of the cartoon art, he took it upon himself to personally attend to visitors at the exhibition and lead them to the cartoons displayed on the well-lit walls of the banquet hall. Chavhan was, in fact, listed as one of the co-organisers in the invitation for the Cartoon Mahotsav. Bal Thackeray began his professional career as a cartoonist with the English-language daily The Free Press Journal, but he left over political differences with editors and went on to form his own political weekly Marmik in 1960. Marmik was most popular for its caricatures and cartoons on social and political issues of the times. According to Mistry, Cartoonists' Combine was started by the Shiv Sena founder to meet the rising demand for creative cartoonists at Marmik. Today, Cartoonists' Combine maintains that it is not politically affiliated. However, this year's Cartoon Mahotsav was held with support from Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Potnis, and had Subhash Desai, senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and close aide of Bal Thackeray's son Uddhav, as special guest, according to the invite for the event. Mistry emphasised that their presence did not make the platform political. 'They are friends from old times,' he told ThePrint. The Cartoon Mahotsav For the event, Cartoonists' Combine had sought entries from cartoonists all over India through newspapers and social media, inviting them to express their thoughts and emotions on social issues. A total of 100 cartoon images were on display, revealing truth through subtle variations of form of characters. Techniques such as symbolism, exaggeration, satire and humour, all hallmarks of Bal Thackeray's own style, attempted to convey hard-hitting social malaise and political chaos through mere lines and curves. Each display on the wall spoke of the issues of the time, yet some rang as eternal truths. For instance, Mangesh Tendulkar's work showing a family of five crammed on a scooter, complete with the pet dog leashed behind, while a beggar from the street looks on. Then there was a caricature of Bal Thackeray himself drawn by none other than his nephew, Raj Thackeray, showing his uncle waving at supporters. Mistry said Cartoonists' Combine had sent invitations to both Uddhav and Raj, but they could not make it due to other commitments. 'Balasaheb would always be present for the annual Cartoonists' Combine events and he encouraged artists to express themselves with boldness and courage. He also offered suggestions on improvement by touching up their artwork himself,' he explained. Entries depicting last month's Pahalgam tragedy had also been invited, and some thoughtful responses were received. A terrorist with trails of footprints from Pakistan was one. The wall of images was colourful and digitised, in stark contrast to the pencil sketches of the veterans. 'Plagiarism has become easy nowadays,' Mistry said. 'People tend to lift any image of another artist and post it out with their signature.' The cartoon art being an intellectual activity, a combination of skill, sensitivity and deep thinking, needed to be encouraged, he asserted. With hard work and passion for their art, cartoonists would survive and even flourish in any society, he added. Komal Talwalkar, a graphic designer who visited the exhibition, was impressed with the images on display. 'Social and political issues have been dealt with humour and satire. You see them with a pinch of salt—a punch,' she told ThePrint, adding that her focus is on trying to understand how the mind of a cartoonist works. Mistry is already planning the next event of Cartoonists' Combine. The topic, he said, will be unity. 'Only artists and writers can break the big walls of divisions in society. They have strong weapons of brushes and pens,' he said. Chitra Anand is an intern who graduated from ThePrint School of Journalism. (Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui) Also Read: Politics through cartoonists' lens & no one to 'stand with real Bajrang devotees'
