Latest news with #Jai
Indian Express
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
In Telangana, row over CM Revanth Reddy's question – ‘how many Rafales were shot down, PM?'
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy kicked up a political storm this week when he asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare how many Rafale fighter planes 'were shot down by Pakistan' in the recent border standoff. Speaking at the Jai Hind Sabha — a meeting called to congratulate the Indian armed forces for their valorous contributions in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack of April 22 — Thursday, Revanth said: 'The soldiers of this (Secunderabad ) Cantonment were part of the war. The war planes manufactured in Telangana safeguarded the respect for our country. Rafale aircraft brought by Narendra Modi were shot down by Pakistan. There is no discussion on how many Rafales were shot down. Narendra Modi should answer how many Rafale aircrafts were shot down by Pakistan during the recent war. You give us the account for this'. This comes on a day when both Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the contributions of the armed forces during India's retaliatory strikes in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan during 'Operation Sindoor'. On May 10 – after three days of escalating tensions at the border – India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire. In his speech, Reddy went on to say that despite all parties — including the Congress — pledging support to the prime minister in the fight against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, he was not able to deliver justice to the Pahalgam victims. 'Why was the war called off hurriedly within four days after the first military strike on Pakistan? Why wasn't an all-party meeting called to seek the opinions of different parties before declaring a ceasefire?' Reddy asked. He added: 'Only a leader with courage and determination can prepare war strategy. Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had given a stern warning to the US when it tried to mediate between India and Pakistan in the 1971 war. It was Indira Gandhi who taught a befitting lesson to Pakistan by dividing the enemy country into two halves during that war,' the chief minister said. Reddy took strong exception to the war being called off 'at the behest of US President Donald Trump'. He added: 'War is not your business. It is an important issue of national security'. The BJP sharply responded to the speech Friday, with its national leader Sambit Patra saying during a press conference referencing the Bollywood film 'Sholay' (1975). He said: 'Rahul Gandhi, Jairam Ramesh, Revanth Reddy are asking how many Rafales were shot down. These people who are 'Babbars' of Pakistan are the 'Gabbars of India'. Continuing with the analogy he added: 'Because of India's Jai and India's bravery, Gabbar's defeat is certain. Rahul Gandhi did not ask how many Pakistani air bases were destroyed, how many terrorists were killed. He asked only how many Indian planes were shot down'. Meanwhile, the Telangana BJP too latched on to Reddy's comments Friday evening stating, Reddy referred to Pakistan as 'Mana Pakistan' (Our Pakistan) in Telugu. This address reflected Revanth Reddy's true feelings for Pakistan, the party leadership alleged. In a post on X, the BJP criticised the Congress for consistently opposing surgical strikes and the military's Agnipath short-term recruitment policy. The party targeted Reddy saying: 'Stick to Miss World photo ops, Revanth. National security isn't your stage'. The Miss World pageant is being held in Telangana's Hyderabad this year.
India Gazette
29-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Jai Hind Sabha is nationwide message of respect for our soldiers: Pratibha Singh
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], May 29 (ANI): The Congress party is organizing Jai Hind Sabha to honour and pay homage to soilders and armed forces. The Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee is all set to hold honour the war veterans, families of martyrs and soilders. Speaking to ANI, Pratibha Singh, President of the Himachal Pradesh Congress, explained the national objective behind the event. 'After the terrorist incident in Pahalgam, a war-like situation emerged and many of our young soldiers lost their lives. The All India Congress Committee has decided to hold Jai Hind Sabha events across the country to honour them and to send a clear message of respect to our armed forces,' she said. 'We will honour all veterans and those who have served in previous wars. Rajni Patil and Ajay Maken are both attending this important event in Shimla. The purpose is to express our heartfelt gratitude and respect for those who have risked their lives for national security.' She added. Refuting any political motivation behind the programme, Singh clarified that this event would be purely to honour our armed forces. 'We have made no political statements. This is purely about honouring the brave hearts, be it from the Army, Indian Navel force or Air Force who have risked their lives to protect India. We salute them.' Singh said. 'Jai Hind Sabha is about nation, not politics,' she added further. In further comments to ANI, Chetan Chauhan reiterated that the purpose of the Jai Hind Sabha is not political. 'Shimla will witness participation from our AICC Treasurer Ajay Maken, Himachal Congress in-charge Rajni Patil, Chief Minister Sukhu, and state party chief Pratibha Singh, along with hundreds of Congress workers and ministers.' Chauhan said. He criticized the BJP for allegedly using national security for political gain. 'This is not the first time BJP has politicised a military operation. Be it Pulwama or Pahalgam, they have done nothing to ensure justice for the fallen soldiers. Now they're trying to use Operation Sindoor as a political tool, just like their earlier stunts like the 'Tiranga Yatra' or now sindoor distribution. Instead of clarifying the truth about the ceasefire and internal security, they are engaged in high-pitched political drama,' he alleged. 'Rahul Gandhi has rightly said a special parliamentary session should be held on these issues. But instead, BJP ministers make indecent remarks about brave officers like Colonel Qureshi and fan religious divisions,' he added. The Congress party, through this event and its statements, is clearly drawing a line between 'respect for the armed forces' and 'political opportunism on national security.' Chauhan added (ANI)
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Operation Sindoor hailed in Kashi with tricolour fervour
1 2 3 4 Varanasi: People from various sections of society joined a grand Tiranga Yatra in the city on Saturday evening and pledged support for Indian Armed Forces that executed successfully the Operation Sindoor . Initiated by BJP to connect citizens from across communities and sections of society, the event aimed to spread message of patriotism, solidarity and respect for Indian armed forces. The yatra witnessed large-scale participation of students, NCC, NSS, scouts and guides, civil defence, sportspersons, Anganwadi and Asha workers, traders, social and voluntary organisations, and officials of district administration and police. NDRF, CRPF, PAC personnel, bands of 39 GTC and police and ex-servicemen too joined the march. Preparations for the mega event began several days ago, resulting in the grand congregation of participants at Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth's sports ground 3pm onwards. Cloudy conditions kept weather favourable for participants, unlike scorching heat and humidity over past three days. Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya and BJP state president Bhupendra Chaudhary reached Lahurabir crossing to garland statue of Chandrashekhar Azad and later Maldahiya crossing to garland the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The trio then reached the MGKV ground and in the presence of other UP ministers, public representatives, Vice Chancellors of MGKV Prof Anand Kumar Tyagi and SSU Prof Bihari Lal Sharma, along with officials including divisional commissioner S Rajalingam. Tiranga Yatra was flagged off at 4.55pm, led by a girl dressed as Bharat Mata on a chariot. Maurya and Chaudhary joined the yatra, led by NCC, NSS and scouts & guides songs were played on DJ consoles, adding enthusiasm among the participants, who chanted slogans like 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'. The procession passed through Lohamandi, Lahurabir and Jagatganj before cultminating at Sampurnanand Sanskrit University.
The Print
24-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Poetry and powerful music: Army's sharp social media tactic hammers in Op Sindoor message
At 1:44 am that day, the government, in a statement, underlined that India has demonstrated 'considerable restraint' in the selection of targets and method of execution and that 'no Pakistani military facilities have been targeted'. India decimated nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir under Operation Sindoor with precision strikes early on May 7 in response to the dastardly April 22 Pahalgam massacre. New Delhi, May 24 (PTI) It is the message delivered that matters. While Operation Sindoor showcased India's military prowess and firm stand against terrorism, the armed forces put out sleek social media posts and videos, one with rock renditions of lines from Dinkar's ballad 'Rashmirathi', to drive home the point. Shortly after, the Indian Army's social media handles carried a poignant message with a poster that has now become a defining image of Operation Sindoor. Along with the message '#PahalgamTerrorAttack Justice is Served. Jai Hind!' the Indian Army's 1:51 am X post carried a poster that was concise in words but heavy on symbolism. The poster had 'OPERATION SINDOOR' written on it with a small bowl carrying vermilion (worn by married Hindu women) forming the first 'O' of the second word while the second 'O' had a dash of the powder around it. Since then, the Indian Army has come up with several thematic short videos on social media platforms that have been widely shared and appreciated. All these videos were made in-house, by the Social Media Section of the Indian Army's Additional Directorate General of Strategic Communication, sources in the military establishment said. The songs were carefully chosen, each based on the content and theme, they added. But a video that has stood out for its lyrical appeal and arresting visuals, is the one that was played just before the press briefing of the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) on Operation Sindoor on May 12. As the video rolled, a powerful rendition of a key verse from 'Krishna ki Chetavani', a part of Ramdhari Singh Dinkar's timeless classic 'Rashmirathi' echoed. It was a metaphor-laden message delivered to Pakistan by the Indian military with poetic precision. In the video, the rock music style rendition was juxtaposed with the images of the Indian military assets — missiles, naval platforms, weapon system, air defence system — with subtitles. The Hindi lyrics that played along with the video roughly translates to 'When doom hovers over a man, the first thing that vanishes is wisdom… you did not heed wise words, did not recognise the value of friendship… announcing the last resolve. There will be war and not pleading, glory to life or death it will be'. The subtitles of the video carried the words 'prepared', 'each move detected', 'every step watched', 'tracked', 'monitored'. 'The song was specially composed using the specific lines relevant for the theme. The rock music theme was chosen for the effect. The song was created by an in-house team using the latest technology available,' a source in the defence establishment told PTI. A collage of images of the wreckage of Pakistani drones destroyed by the Indian armed forces under Operation Sindoor and a montage of videos showcasing India's military's prowess in all three domains — land, air and sea — played on a large screen along with music. Following the May 7 strikes by India, Pakistan attempted to counterattack on May 8, 9 and 10, but the Indian forces thwarted waves of aerial incursions efficiently. 'The message intended to be conveyed through these music and videos for the audience was that the Indian Army is prepared, ready and capable of using decisive force against India's adversaries. 'Those with nefarious designs against the nation should not lose sight of the Indian Army's might, reach and valour,' another source in the defence establishment told PTI. Before the briefing by the military on May 11, Shiva Tandava Stotram was played on the big screen, setting the tone for the press conference. A montage of images showing damage inflicted by the Indian military under Operation Sindoor played with subtitles such as — 'heed our advice', 'terrorism will have a cost for Pakistan', 'heavy', 'inevitable', 'unaffordable'. India and Pakistan reached an understanding on May 10 to end the military confrontation after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes. PTI KND NSD This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Los Angeles Times
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Is the teahouse the future of nightlife in L.A.?
Teahouses built for spending extended time in, open until the wee hours of the night, are popping up all over the city. Some are elusive, hidden in plain sight or only accessible via a mysterious membership. Others have gone viral on TikTok and have cover charges and waitlists to attend. Some reference East Asian tea ceremony culture, others lean California cool and bohemian. Why the surge in places to drink tea? It might be because young people are consuming less alcohol (a 2023 study from Gallup found the number of people under 35 who drink has dropped 10% over the last two decades). Or maybe it's due to the fact that the city has lost a sizable chunk of restaurants open past 10 p.m. — LAist reports nearly 100 since 2019 — leaving fewer places to sit and chat that aren't bars or clubs. At the same time, activities centered on wellness and reflection, like gratitude groups, journaling or even reading silently in public, are being embraced by people of all ages looking for third spaces and activities outside of the standard dinner-and-a-movie. Salanya Angel Inm was inspired to open Jai in Koreatown after years of feeling that Los Angeles lacked late-night spaces not oriented around alcohol. She wanted to create an alternative for her community of creatives, a place they could spend long hours loosening up outside of a bar environment. Lydia Lin, co-founder of Steep in Chinatown, which does serve alcohol along with plenty of tea, wanted a place that was open late but was peaceful enough that she could hear her friends while having a conversation. Enter the rise of the teahouse. Despite their design and menu differences — some have a dozen herbal blends, others opt for dealer's choice with a rotating set of three bespoke infusions; some are places to debut a trendy outfit, a few ask visitors to remove their shoes — they each come from a desire to challenge a typical consumer experience. These are spaces meant for lingering long after tea has been purchased, or even finished. Below are four teahouses in different neighborhoods of Los Angeles. Located above Thai Angel, known for its DJ sets and late-night noodles, newly minted teahouse Jai offers a quieter, more intimate space to spend weekend nights. The spot is owned and operated by Thai Chinese American model and breathwork and reiki practitioner Salanya Angel Inm, who co-owns Thai Angel with her mom and brother. She began tinkering with the idea of opening a teahouse in May 2022. In January 2024, construction began, with a soft opening following in March 2025. Jai is housed in a one-room attic on top of Thai Angel. It's cozy, with space for two dozen people at most. The room glows in yellow-orange light from a neon art piece fixed to the ceiling and is lined with brightly colored custom floor cushions made of fabric from Thailand. On a Saturday night in March, seven guests removed their shoes and sat for a storytelling event, ticketed at $10. This was the second installment of the event; Inm had selected the theme 'Lucky to be alive.' Some guests recited poetry, while others freestyled between sips of tea. The group exchanged stories and lounged until 3 a.m. Jordan Collins bought a ticket for storytelling at Jai after hearing about it on Inm's social media. Upon arrival, he ordered a herbal elixir featuring Asian botanicals from the brand Melati. It's one of three premade nonalcoholic tonics (the other two are 'Awake' and 'Calm' by California-based brand Dromme) that Jai serves room temperature for $9. A fan of art shows and experimental music performances, Collins described himself as always on the lookout for new community spaces. 'I think that was the first time I pulled up to anything completely solo with no expectations, with the full intention to yap for however long to a room with complete strangers,' he said, likening his experience to a night spent chatting with friends into the morning. The current menu at Jai consists of hot tea, sold by the glass or pot, along with the herbal elixirs — one invigorating, one calming and one berry. Tea drinkers can choose between more than a dozen herbs, from butterfly pea to white chrysanthemum, to create a custom blend prepared by Inm, starting at $15 per 25-ounce pot or $6 for a single serving. Behind the tea bar, she offers customers guidance based on their mood and needs. She may expand the menu going forward but plans to keep costs low. 'I really don't like the idea that people can only access things that are good for them if they have a large amount of money to invest in themselves. I want people to feel like, 'Yeah, I can swing that for this experience' and it not be this obstacle,' said Inm. Koreatown149 N. Western Ave., Los Angeles, CA (upstairs)Soft opening, see Instagram for hours Only 45 customers can enter Tea at Shiloh per evening, and those hoping to visit should plan ahead: Reservations, which are required, can be made through the website, and Tea at Shiloh fully books nearly every night. As each attendee enters and takes off their shoes and adds them to the disorganized pile near the front of the door, a host asks them their intention for the evening. Patrons of the Arts District teahouse know what they're getting into and answer the question with ease. The space attracts a metaphysically minded, wellness-oriented community. Some are there to journal, others to spend time with old friends. A few want to get out of their comfort zone; they come on dates, join with friends and arrive alone. The concept for Tea at Shiloh came to owner Shiloh Enoki (who goes by the mononym Shiloh) in 2019. Shiloh, who was born in Utah and is of South American descent, found herself unfulfilled working for a record label in Hollywood. She underwent a personal transformation that led to her quitting her job and legally changing her name. After a visit to a teahouse in San Francisco that closed in the afternoon, she couldn't stop thinking how nice the experience would have been at night. She found herself looking for late-night teahouses back home in Los Angeles on Google Maps. To her surprise, she couldn't find any. 'I couldn't believe that something that was in my brain didn't exist on Google. I was like, 'It has to be somewhere. It has to be somewhere in L.A.' I live in one of the biggest cities in the world and nothing … I became obsessed,' she said. Shiloh began exploring herbalism and hosting friends and strangers at her home for tea, then decided to create a business that would provide what she'd been searching for. She opened the space in 2022. Tea at Shiloh is inside an industrial loft. Brick walls and exposed piping contrast with wooden furniture, white couches and floor cushions and the warm glow of Noguchi lampshades. Surfaces are covered in books, tarot cards, clay and other art supplies to make use of. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., laptops are welcome. For the evening shift, which goes from 7 to 10 or 11 p.m., the lights go down and laptops are banned (with an exception for Monday's piano lounge events). Both time slots require prepaid reservations, which, day or night, start at $37 and include unlimited access to the only thing on the menu, a rotating selection of three custom tea blends by Shiloh's herbalists. On some nights, there's live music; others feature workshops in journaling, ceramics and other mind-body activities and performances. 'It's not a singular experience. There's something for everyone,' Enoki said. After discovering the space on TikTok, Cooper Andrews took his partner to 'cosmic jazz' (an eclectic mix of saxophone, keys, and abstract vocal looping) night at Shiloh to celebrate her birthday. He was looking for something other than just another fancy dinner, and for him, the $47-per-person cover charge was well worth it. 'I see the fee as a cover charge. It's like going to a museum,' he said. Arts District2035 Bay St., Los Angeles, CA 90021Reservation only Friends Samuel Wang and Lydia Lin come from cultures that take tea seriously. Wang, an industrial designer, is Taiwanese, while Lin, a marketing MBA working in the legal field, is Cantonese. In 2019, they separately went on trips to Asia to visit their families and discovered how modernized traditional teahouses had become. '[In China] people our age were going to teahouses instead of bars or clubs. It was somewhere that wasn't home to just hang out and be able to have a conversation,' said Lin. 'Why didn't this exist in L.A.?' the friends asked themselves. Within six months, thanks to the help of their Chinatown community, Lin and Wang — who didn't quit their day jobs — opened Steep in the fall of 2019. Opening night was the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, Lin remembers, an important and auspicious day. The minimalist tea lounge hides in the back of a plaza in Chinatown. There's space inside for a few dozen guests and a handful of outdoor tables for when weather permits. Inside, there's a beautiful marble bar, wood tables, a cozy couch and long tables with tea leaves in jars to smell and discover. By day, Steep serves 10 rotating teas, all sourced from China and Taiwan. Customers can order a glass of cold-brewed tea or fresh-brewed tea, but Lin encourages a tea ceremony, which comes with a pot and up to four cups. Baristas walk guests through the steps of brewing and pouring the tea, providing a timer for the perfect steep. By night, Steep is the only business open in its plaza. Inside, soothing R&B plays. And, unlike the other teahouses that have popped up recently in Los Angeles, Steep serves alcohol. After 5 p.m., the space shifts from cozy teahouse to experimental mixology bar, serving boozy concoctions that all feature tea as an ingredient. Take the Yuanyang Martini, an espresso martini with black sesame and black tea or Red Robe, featuring cognac, bourbon, oolong tea and white miso. At 9 p.m. on a Thursday in March, nearly every seat was filled. Half of the guests enjoyed cocktails, while the rest shared pots of tea. Chinatown970 N. Broadway #112, Los Angeles, CA 9001211 a.m.-11 p.m. daily; closed Tuesday There's no information about NEHIMA online except for an email address. The invite-only, membership-based Japanese teahouse opened in Los Feliz in 2022. It's more exclusive than any Soho House, San Vicente Bungalows or Bird Streets Club. So much so that its founders, Miho Ikeda and Richard Brewer, also co-owners of New High Mart, an equally exclusive Japanese home goods boutique, agreed only to speak about their latest venture via email. 'Serving tea to-go is to miss the entire point of tea. Tea is time. An excuse to enjoy a moment, a pause, a rest — either with oneself or the company of others,' said Brewer. The space has a strict no-technology policy. Even smartwatches are required to be checked in lockers along with phones. At NEHIMA, all tea is served made-to-order, tableside, in pieces from the owner's collection of Japanese ceramics. There are no matcha, lattes or novelty drinks on the menu, only loose-leaf tea sourced from Japan. NEHIMA is careful to distinguish that while the space and experience recall Japanese tradition, the club does not offer an official tea ceremony. 'That term is thrown around too easily these days and should be reserved for describing the very specific event, 'Cha-No-Yu,'' said Brewer. The founders said the average visit is between three and six hours. Where most members clubs try to offer a luxurious experience for the wealthy through elevated design, upscale food and posh clientele, taking time to relax and enjoy a pot of tea is what NEHIMA sees as the ultimate luxury. 'In this busy demanding world, time is the new flex, and real wealth is taking time to stare into a bowl of tea,' said Brewer. Los Feliz4650 Kingswell Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027Members only
