Latest news with #NupurSharma
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
I&B panel OKs 'Udaipur Files', but no SC nod yet
Udaipur Files NEW DELHI: The I&B ministry's special committee on Monday cleared the release of the film 'Udaipur Files: Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder' with a new disclaimer, replacing the name 'Nutan Sharma' (representing Nupur Sharma in true story) and the line 'maine toh wohi kaha hai jo unke dharm grantho mein likha hai (I said what is written in their religious books)". But the film, whose screening was objected to by Maulana Arshad Madani and the main accused Mohd Javed who beheaded the tailor at Udaipur for sharing a controversial post by Nupur Sharma on the Prophet's marriage, would not be released in theatres as a Supreme Court bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi asked the petitioners to file their objections to the committee's Monday order. The bench posted the matter for hearing on Thursday.
India Gazette
15-07-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Appeal filed by Maulana Arshad Madani before IB Ministry seeking halt of 'Udaipur Files'
New Delhi [India], July 15 (ANI): A petition was filed by Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind President Maulana Arshad Madani before the Delhi High Court seeking a ban on the Hindi movie 'Udaipur Files', which is based on tailor Kanhaiya Lal Teli's murder in Udaipur. The film was scheduled to be released on July 11. A day before its release, the Delhi High Court stayed the release of the film 'Udaipur Files' till the Centre decides the revision plea of the petitioners, including that of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind President challenging the grant of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) certification. Following the High Court's direction to file an appeal regarding the stay on the screening and reconsideration of the certificate issued by the Censor Board, Maulana Arshad Madani's lawyers on Monday submitted an appeal before the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. It is expected that the Ministry may hold a hearing on this application in the coming days. Meanwhile, the film's producer, Amit Jani has challenged the Delhi High Court's decision in Supreme Court of India. On the request of the film producer's lawyer, Senior Advocate Gaurav Bhatia, Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi assured that the petition will be heard. Maulana Arshad Madani also filed a caveat in Supreme Court. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, will represent Maulana Arshad Madani in Supreme Court. In the petition submitted to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on behalf of Maulana Arshad Madani, it has been stated that films like 'Udaipur Files' promote division within society and that the promotion of such a film will tarnish India's image globally. The petition further states that Hindus and Muslims have lived together peacefully in our country for centuries, and therefore, the screening of such films could pose a serious threat to communal harmony. It is emphasized that the entire film is based on hatred, and its exhibition could disturb the peace and harmony of the nation. The Government of India has also been reminded that in the past, India faced international embarrassment and condemnation due to the remarks made by Nupur Sharma. At that time, the Government of India had issued a diplomatic statement affirming that India respects all religions and communities and removed Nupur Sharma from her position as spokesperson as a consequence of her remarks. It was due to these actions that some of the mistrust toward India on international platforms was reduced, and the country's image saw a relative improvement. The Government of India has also been informed that the past and present conduct of the filmmaker, Amit Jani, is filled with instances of incitement and disruptive behavior. Secondly, the film presents fabricated content that has no connection with reality. It also depicts the character of Nupur Sharma, whose controversial statement sparked nationwide protests and international outcry. The petition further states that despite the removal of 55 scenes, the film still appears largely unchanged. It is argued that the promotion of this film could incite violence in the country. The petition emphasizes that this film is not in the national interest, and therefore, the certificate granted for its screening should be revoked. As per the Delhi High Court's directive, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting must hear Maulana Arshad Madani's appeal and deliver a decision within one week. In the meantime, the ban on the film's release will remain in effect. (ANI)
News18
29-04-2025
- Politics
- News18
Congress Deletes 'Gayab' Post Targeting PM Modi Amid Massive BJP Backlash: 'Under Pressure...'
Last Updated: The social media post of Congress made headlines in Pakistan and the BJP drawing parallel to calls of 'sar tan se juda' during Nupur Sharma's controversy Congress on Tuesday deleted a controversial post on X after a massive controversy with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) calling the grand-old-party a supporter of Pakistan, which orchestrated the Pahalgam terrorist attack through one of its proxies. The post portrayed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a leader missing in action was slammed by the BJP, which alleged that it was a 'sar tan se juda' imagery and an attempt to weaken India. BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said that Congress deleted the post 'under pressure" from the people of India. 'Under Pressure from people of India the Congress party deletes it's 'Sar Tan Se Juda" imagery tweet! This will not hide the Anti National Pro Pakistan Charactersitic of Congress!" Bhandari wrote on X. Under Pressure from people of India the Congress party deletes it's 'Sar Tan Se Juda" imagery tweet!This will not hide the Anti National Pro Pakistan Charactersitic of Congress! #PehelgamTerrorAttack — Pradeep Bhandari(प्रदीप भंडारी)🇮🇳 (@pradip103) April 29, 2025 The social media post of Congress came under BJP's lens after a Pakistan's former minister reshared the poster with hashtag 'Naughty Congress". Reacting to the post, AICC Chairperson Social Media & Digital Platforms Supriya Shrinate said that the post was inspired by the poster of a film, 'Gayab', which starred Tusshar Kapoor. Congress leaders have been asked to follow the party's line that is to back the Government of India to take action in the wake of Pahalgam terror attack. However, some Congress leaders have been speaking out of line, creating trouble for the party. Earlier today, PM Modi held a high-level security at his residence in New Delhi where. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Services (CDS) General Anil Chauhan, Indian Air Force (IAF) Air Chief Marshal (ACM) AP Singh, Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, and Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi were present. The Prime Minister said that Indian armed forces have complete operation al freedom to decide on the mode, targets, and timing of the nation's response to the Pahalgam terror attack were 26 tourists were killed. The PM said that it is our national resolve to deal a crushing blow to terrorism. He expressed complete faith and confidence in the professional abilities of the Indian armed forces, government sources said. First Published:
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Pahalgam attack: Why India needs a three-pronged approach to fight Pakistani info war
Dr. Manjari Singh focuses on contemporary Middle Eastern affairs and is the author of 'India and the Gulf: A Security Perspective' In a commendable and much-needed move, India has banned several Pakistani YouTube-based news channels — such as Dawn News, Geo TV, ARY News, and Samaa TV—from broadcasting or disseminating their content within Indian digital and media spaces. This step comes in the wake of the tragic Pahalgam killings that targeted innocent civilians mostly tourists, further exposing Pakistan's relentless information warfare strategy against India. The government's action underscores an important realisation that narratives, if left unchecked, can be as dangerous as bullets. The decision to crack down on propaganda channels is not about limiting press freedom; it is about defending national stability against hostile disinformation. The Pakistani military's media wing, the Directorate General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DGISPR), has long turned information warfare into an institutionalised weapon. Several studies, including one by the Oxford Internet Institute in 2020, have documented that Pakistan runs one of the most organised state-sponsored disinformation campaigns in South Asia, targeting India consistently. Whether it was during the 2019 Pulwama-Balakot crisis, the Nupur Sharma controversy, the farmers' protests, or even the CAA-NRC demonstrations, DGISPR's digital machinery pumped a steady stream of fabricated content into Indian social media spaces, amplifying discord. During the farmers' protest (2020–21), data from EU DisinfoLab revealed that over 750 fake news outlets were used to portray India negatively, many operating out of Pakistan. Similarly, after the Nupur Sharma episode in 2022, more than 300 fake accounts were traced by Indian intelligence agencies to Pakistan, which were involved in fuelling communal sentiments and mobilising protests across the Arab world against India. Today, amidst tensions following the Pahalgam attack, the same toolkit is active again. Fabricated reports have emerged, including claims that The Resistance Front (TRF), a Pakistan-backed proxy, had its communication systems 'hacked' by Indian security forces and was thus 'framed' for the attack. Shockingly, some Indian electronic media channels and social media accounts picked up these falsehoods without verifying the sources, thereby lending inadvertent credibility to Pakistan's narrative. Recognizing the risks posed by such information leaks, India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued strict advisories to Indian media houses to refrain from sharing sensitive operational details, avoid real-time coverage during terror incidents, and prevent any broadcast that could assist the adversary. This corrective action is a vital lesson learned from painful past experiences. During the 2008 Mumbai attacks, live coverage by certain Indian TV channels inadvertently provided tactical information to handlers operating from Pakistan, allowing them to adjust terrorist movements accordingly. Instances like the live telecast of NSG commandos' movements at the Taj Hotel, or the real-time reporting of security positions, significantly compromised operational security. More recently, during the 2016 Pathankot airbase attack, media outlets were found broadcasting strategic information that could have jeopardized military operations. Similarly, during the Pulwama attack aftermath, premature, speculative reporting without verification created panic and confusion. Today, the need for media restraint is even greater as information warfare tactics grow more sophisticated. This highlights a dangerous vulnerability in a democracy where freedom of speech is sacrosanct, misinformation can seep in and get legitimised domestically if not properly countered. Therefore, India must develop a three-pronged approach to tackle this multidimensional information warfare. First, in strategically addressing external containment. India must continue to identify and ban Pakistani propaganda channels, websites, and social media handles that manufacture and amplify false narratives. For instance, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting recently blocked 16 YouTube-based news channels, many operating from Pakistan, to counter anti-India fake content. Second, in efficiently handling internal vigilance. Indian media houses and social media users must adopt a culture of verification before amplification. Whether it is in the case of TRF's dubious denial or claims regarding the Indian government's 'hidden role' in the recent violence, unchecked spreading of false narratives within India serves the enemy's purpose. Media literacy and accountability must be enhanced—media regulatory bodies like the Press Council of India should penalise reckless dissemination of unverified news, and major newsrooms must set up dedicated fact-checking units. Third, India must actively invest in nurturing and strengthening communal resilience to safeguard its social fabric against divisive narratives. Information Warfare thrives on exploiting societal divisions, particularly communal ones. Efforts must be made at every level—political, educational, and civil society—to reinforce India's pluralistic ethos. Hate speech and communal rumour-mongering should be treated with zero tolerance. Meta's Threat Report 2023 highlights that a substantial percentage of misinformation targeted at India had communal overtones, underlining the urgency of addressing this internal threat. It is worth noting that the anatomy of information warfare is no longer linear—it is decentralized, fast-moving, and increasingly psychological. In this context, data is the new oil, and narrative is the new weapon. Therefore, strengthening cognitive resilience among citizens is crucial. Media literacy must become a part of school and college curricula, teaching young Indians how to discern fact from fiction, how to verify sources, and how not to become unwitting carriers of enemy propaganda. While it exists as a specialised segment in few universities in the country, it is important to make the subject compulsory for all. Moreover, initiatives like public awareness campaigns, mandatory fact-checking workshops for journalists, state-sponsored counter-narrative content promoting unity in diversity, and community-based digital literacy drives can bolster India's societal immunity against such hybrid threats. Workshops conducted by Google News Initiative and Meta Journalism Project and educational campaigns by Media Matters for Democracy and Boom FactCheck are necessary and commendable steps taken towards this direction. An interesting case that underscores this necessity is the recent false report aired by some Pakistani outlets claiming that India 'engineered' floods in Pakistan's Punjab region by 'releasing excess water from dams.' However, hydrological data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department and the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) showed no evidence of India's deliberate action. The monsoon overflow and Pakistan's own mismanagement of its water resources, particularly aging canal systems and poor flood management infrastructure, were identified as the primary causes. While the Indian government can—and must—exercise its tools of regulation, the larger responsibility lies with us, the netizens. Consuming information cautiously, verifying before forwarding, and resisting the emotional pull of provocative but dubious content is the civic duty of every connected citizen. Understanding the anatomy of information warfare means recognizing that wars are no longer only fought on battlefields but also on newsfeeds and WhatsApp groups. Every click, share, and comment shapes public perception and, ultimately, national security. India must rise to this challenge with wisdom and unity. As the Pahalgam killings tragically remind us, the threats are real and present—not only at our borders but also within our digital walls. 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