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The Print
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Print
Ex-IAS officer Abhishek Singh's journey from UP secretariat to Cannes. Next stop: Jaunpur politics
The 42-year-old accepts that he is planning to take the political plunge, but doesn't say when or with which party. This week, the front pages of Hindi newspapers in Uttar Pradesh were flooded with an advertisement featuring Singh at the Cannes Film Festival for his film 1946: Direct Action Day, triggering speculation in Uttar Pradesh's political and bureaucratic corridors that he was preparing to enter the political fray from Jaunpur. Lucknow: It's a long way from the red tape of the Lucknow Secretariat to the red carpet at Cannes. But former IAS officer Abhishek Singh has made the leap. And now, he's gearing up for his next stop. 'The image of politicians in Purvanchal is very different from my personality. I want to change the perception that only a muscleman image or a person with a specific caste can do politics there,' Singh told ThePrint. 'Now, time is changing; people are giving a chance to new politicians also. Though I am not in a hurry, for sure I will enter politics.' But for now, he's focused on his acting career. Singh, who hails from Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur district, claims he's the first former Indian civil servant to walk the prestigious red carpet at Cannes, where his film premiered. Singh plays the lead character along with actress Raima Sen in the historical political drama that delves into one of the most turbulent chapters of pre-Independence India. How did he make the leap to the world of cinema? 'After deciding to enter into cinema, I was trying to meet film directors and producers on a regular basis. Last year, I went to meet famous film producer Ram Gopal Verma, where I met Vivek Kuchibhotla, a co-producer of this movie. He introduced me to the producer T.G. Vishwa Prasad, who took my look test,' he said. 'Once they found me suitable for the role, they offered me to work with them,' he added. 'This movie reveals an important chapter of our history, which wasn't talked about much.' Singh made his acting debut with a short film, Char Pandrah, in 2020. He also played a role in the Netflix series Delhi Crime Season 2. The 2011 batch's former office is quite popular on social media, with almost 5 million followers on Instagram. He has featured in several music videos for singers B Praak and Badshah, and also shot a music video with actress Sunny Leone. Entering Purvanchal politics While Singh might be focused on his movie at the moment, he's also working on his political plans. He has a team of volunteers organising awareness camps for government schemes and reaching out to weaker sections for their help. Singh was reluctant to share which party he wanted to join. But according to sources in the Uttar Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Singh had contacted some top party leaders for a Lok Sabha ticket in the 2024 elections. However, by then, the party had decided to field former Congress leader and former Maharashtra minister Kripahankar Singh from the Jaunpur Lok Sabha seat. Singh's close aides in Jaunpur claim that although a section of local BJP leaders were expecting a former IAS officer to enter the party, Singh doesn't want to close the door on opposition parties either. Now, Singh is focusing on the 2027 assembly polls. Until then, he's busy mobilising support among people. Last year, he hit headlines when he launched a free bus service from Jaunpur to Ayodhya for people visiting the newly constructed Ram Janmabhoomi Temple. He also organised volunteer camps to help residents get Ayushman Vay Vandana cards for the government's free healthcare scheme in the villages of Jaunpur. He even launched a campaign called 'Jaunpur Seva Star', rewarding those who helped the maximum number of people get PM-JAY cards with daily prizes. As he gears up for his political debut, Singh also organised an event to celebrate Holi and Eid together. Ups and downs in bureaucratic career Singh's bureaucratic career went through many ups and downs. In 2015, he went on deputation with the Delhi government for three years. In 2018, the deputation was extended for two years, but during this time, he also went on medical leave. The Delhi government later sent him back to his parent cadre, Uttar Pradesh, on 19 March 2020. He joined Uttar Pradesh on 30 June 2022, but within a few months, he was embroiled in controversy. In November 2022, Singh was in the news after he was removed from the post of general observer during the Gujarat assembly elections for posting pictures of himself with his official vehicle on social media. According to media reports, Singh was relieved of his duties as general observer and was barred from any election-related duty until further orders. In February 2023, the Yogi government suspended him for going on leave without official sanction. Later, when the suspension was revoked, he resigned in October of the same year. According to Uttar Pradesh government sources, Singh's resignation was accepted in February 2024. Family background Singh's wife, Durga Shakti Nagpal, is a 2010 batch IAS officer and currently a district magistrate in Lakhimpur Kheri. She came into the limelight in 2012 after launching a massive drive against corruption and illegal sand mining within her jurisdiction of Gautam Budh Nagar as joint magistrate. But in July 2013, she was suspended by the state's Akhilesh Yadav-led government for allegedly demolishing a mosque wall in Jewar (Greater Noida), which led to severe opposition, as it was perceived to be based on flimsy grounds. Following growing demands from various political parties and activists on social media, the government revoked her suspension and transferred her to Kanpur. According to close aides, Singh and Durga met during UPSC preparations in Delhi. Durga was allotted the Punjab cadre after getting selected in the UPSC in 2010. But after getting married in 2012, she was transferred to the Uttar Pradesh cadre. Singh's father, Kripa Shanker Singh, is a retired IPS officer. Singh says he shuttles between three different places: Mumbai, Jaunpur and wherever his wife is posted. Wherever he may be, the former bureaucrat is rarely far from the spotlight. The question many are asking is: when will Singh take the political plunge? (Edited by Sugita Katyal) Also Read: Who is Sanjay Prasad, Yogi's data man, tech-savvy taskmaster & UP's most powerful IAS officer today
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Business Standard
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
India needs entrepreneurship 2.0 with risk-taking, visionary founders
India, in fact, was a major exporter to West Asia, where two large empires - the Safavid and the Ottoman - provided a lucrative marketing area Premium Nitin Desai Listen to This Article The entrepreneurship that India requires must have two key characteristics. First, it must be willing to be innovative in the sense that it takes on new products and processes as part of its business. Second, it must be global in its marketing orientation so that it can compete with foreign suppliers in India and in global markets. This was the case in the past. A very readable book by Lakshmi Subramanian provides useful information about entrepreneurship in the pre-Independence era. In Mughal times, innovation was not prominent, as it was a pre-Industrial Revolution era. What mattered was finance, where the
Hans India
6 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Sivakasi fireworks industry seeks GI tag to preserve legacy and boost exports
The century-old fireworks industry in Tamil Nadu's Sivakasi has formally applied for a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in a bid to protect its legacy, enhance credibility, and open new avenues for exports. The application for the GI tag under the "manufactured goods" category was submitted to the Geographical Indications Registry by the Tamil Nadu Fireworks and Amorces Manufacturers Association (TANFAMA), through advocate and IPR attorney, P. Suganthi. Often referred to as the 'fireworks capital of India,' Sivakasi, and its surrounding regions like Vemkottai, Virudhunagar, Sattur, Srivilliputhur, and parts of Kovilpatti, produce over 80 per cent of the country's fireworks. The industry thrives in Sivakasi's dry climate, which is particularly well-suited for firework manufacturing. The sector has a market value of approximately Rs 6,000 crore, growing at a rate of nearly 10 per cent annually. "There are many illegal and unregulated units operating not just in Sivakasi, but across the country. We are the pioneers of this industry, and a GI tag will help distinguish authentic Sivakasi-made fireworks. It will also enable us to seek financial support and expand into international markets," a TANFAMA representative said. Intellectual Property Rights attorney P. Sanjai Gandhi emphasised that a GI tag could help curb the menace of counterfeit and substandard fireworks in the market. "A GI tag lends credibility and acts as a safeguard against duplicate products," he said. The industry has long struggled with safety concerns, as illegal manufacturing units have contributed to frequent accidents involving fires and explosions. By securing a GI tag, the association hopes to reinforce quality control and improve safety standards. According to the GI filing, Sivakasi-made fireworks are used beyond celebrations. They are utilised by the armed forces for training purposes, and certain airports use Sivakasi rockets to deter birds and prevent bird strikes. The history of this industry dates back to pre-Independence days, with three pioneering firms—National Fireworks (chain crackers), Kaliswari Fireworks (fire pots), and Standard Fireworks ('Lakshmi' bombs). By 1980, the number of factories had surged to 189, employing over 75,000 people. Today, the region houses more than 1,000 units. Despite its growth, the industry faces challenges, including environmental concerns and a lack of interest among the younger generation to join the family trade. Manufacturers hope that a GI tag will revitalise interest and secure the future of this iconic industry.
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Supreme Court indicates mandatory registration of waqfs began in 1923, not 2025
The Supreme Court on Thursday said a requirement to mandatorily register waqfs dated back to 1923, and did not start with the Waqf (Amendment) Act of 2025. Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, heading a Bench comprising Justice A.G. Masih, asked why waqfs across the country, including waqfs by user, had not bothered to register themselves all these years. The Centre had argued that registration had been made mandatory with the pre-Independence Mussalman Wakf Act of 1923. Post-Independence, the 1954 Waqf Act had retained the provision for mandatory registration of waqfs. The Waqf Enquiry Committee had noted the 'persistent issue' of unregistered waqfs and recommended stricter measures. Even the Waqf Act of 1995 had reiterated the mandatory registration policy, including for waqf by user. Section 4 had empowered State governments to conduct a 'comprehensive survey' of waqf properties to identify unregistered ones. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, leading the rejoinder for the petitioners, said the lack of registration till 2025 was due to the failure of the State governments to do their job. 'Now the community is going to be punished for the failure of the State governments? The onus was on the States to conduct a survey of waqf properties since 1954. So far only one State has completed the survey. Whose fault is this? So, will the community be deprived because State governments did not do their jobs?' Sibal asked the Court. He noted that, though the previous Waqf Acts had made registration mandatory, they had also statutorily recognised waqfs by user, which constitute roughly half of the more than eight lakh waqfs in the country. 'The government's argument that 'waqf by user' was created by legislative policy and can be taken away by legislative policy is wrong. The law cannot act like the Lord, giving and taking. The law had only recognised an essential Islamic concept like 'waqf by user'. The law did not create 'waqf by user', it only recognised this concept in Islam,' senior advocate A.M. Singhvi argued. The petitioners have argued that the 2025 Act will deprive unregistered waqfs of their status, including centuries-old waqfs by user such as mosques and burial grounds. CBI files chargesheet against former J&K Governor Satyapal Malik, 7 others in Kiru hydel corruption case The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a chargesheet against former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik and seven others in connection with alleged corruption in the award of ₹2,200-crore civil works for Kiru hydropower project, officials said Thursday. The agency has filed its chargesheet after three years of probe before a special court naming Malik and his two aides Virender Rana and Kanwar Singh Rana, they said. The other persons named in the chargesheet included the then Chenab Valley Power Projects Private Limited (CVPPPL) managing director M.S. Babu, its directors Arun Kumar Mishra and M.K. Mittal, managing director of construction firm Patel Engineering Limited Rupen Patel and private person Kanwaljeet Singh Duggal, the officials said. In a message on 'X' on Thursday, Malik said he was admitted in the hospital and not in a condition to talk to anyone. The former Governor said he was getting calls from many well-wishers which he was unable to take. The CBI had conducted searches at the premises of Malik and others in connection with the case in February last year. The case pertains to the alleged malpractices in the award of the contract worth about ₹2,200 crore of civil works of the Kiru Hydro Electric Power (HEP) Project to a private company in 2019, the CBI had said after the registration of the FIR in 2022. Malik, who was the governor of Jammu and Kashmir from August 23, 2018 to October 30, 2019, had claimed that he was offered a ₹300-crore bribe for clearing two files, including the one pertaining to the project. Malik said his residence was raided by the CBI instead of investigating the people he had complained about and who were involved in corruption. 'They will not get anything except four-five kurtas and pyjamas. The dictator is trying to scare me by misusing government agencies. I am a farmer's son, I will neither be afraid nor bow down,' he had posted online. 'Sindoor turned into barood': PM Modi's message to Pakistan in Rajasthan's Bikaner Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asserted that the country's enemies have learnt what happens when 'sindoor' becomes gunpowder, and lauded India's armed forces for creating such a trap that Pakistan was forced to go down on its knees. In his first public address in Rajasthan after Operation Sindoor that was launched in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, the Prime Minister slammed Pakistan, and said in response to the attack, 'we destroyed nine biggest terror hideouts in 22 minutes'. 'The world and the enemies of the country have seen what happens when 'sindoor' turns into 'barood' (gunpowder),' he said at the public meeting in Palana in Rajasthan, adding, 'Those out to wipe out 'sindoor' were reduced to dust'. 'Not blood but sindoor runs in my veins,' the Prime Minister said amid applause from the audience. In a strong message to Pakistan, PM Modi said that if India faces a terrorist attack, a strong retaliation will follow. 'The time and methods will be decided by our armed forces,' he said. PM Modi said India will not be intimidated by nuclear threats and will not see the perpetrators of terrorism and the state patronising terrorism separately. Lauding the armed forces for carrying out Operation Sindoor, he said 'Our government gave free hand to all three armed forces. Together they created such a trap that Pakistan was forced to go down on its knees'. Noting that Pakistan had tried to target the Nal air base in Bikaner but could not cause any damage to it, he said in contrast 'No one knows when Pakistan's Rahimyar Khan air base will open again. It is in ICU. The attack has destroyed it'. 'Pakistan can never win a direct fight against India. Whenever there is a direct flight, Pakistan has to face defeat again and again. That is why Pakistan has made terrorism a weapon to fight against India,' he said. Supreme Court stays ED probe in TASMAC liquor 'scam' in Tamil Nadu The Supreme Court on Thursday orally criticised the Directorate of Enforcement for 'crossing limits' and stayed investigation conducted by the Central agency following raids on the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) offices. 'How can a corporation commit an offence? The ED is crossing all limits,' Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai addressed Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, appearing for the Central agency. Chief Justice Gavai said ED's actions against the State corporation had breached the federal structure of the country. 'You are totally violating the federal structure of the country,' CJI Gavai remarked. The court was hearing a petition filed by the State of Tamil Nadu and TASMAC against a Madras High Court order in April, rejecting to stay the ED investigation and raids on the corporation. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, for TASMAC, said the phones of the employees have been cloned. 'There is something called privacy,' Rohatgi submitted. Sibal, for Tamil Nadu, said the State itself had registered 41 FIRs against liquor outlet operators over allegations of corruption. The ED had entered the scene in 2025 and proceeded to raid the headquarters of TASMAC to confiscate the phones and devices found there. 'How can a criminal offence be made out against the corporation. You may register FIRs against the individuals, but against the corporation, in a criminal matter?' CJI asked. Raju defended that the investigation involved a fraud committed to the tune of ₹1000-crore. He said politicians were involved in the case. But the court asked why the ED had to intervene despite the State having filed multiple FIRs. The Bench queried about the predicate offence involved which had prompted the ED to swoop in. Raju sought time to file a detailed response. He was given a fortnight's time to file his reply. India-Pakistan understanding on cessation of hostilities reached bilaterally: Jaishankar The India-Pakistan understanding on cessation of hostilities was arrived at following direct negotiations between the two sides, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has said, against the backdrop of U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that Washington played a role in brokering the truce. In an interview to Dutch broadcaster NOS, he said that the government was very clear that 'if there is such an attack, there will be a response'. In his remarks, EAM Jaishankar said the arrangement on cessation of hostilities was firmed up by the Indian and the Pakistani sides. 'When two countries are engaged in a conflict, it is natural that countries in the world call up and try to sort of indicate their concern,' he said. EAM Jaishankar added: 'But the cessation of firing and military action was something which was negotiated directly between India and Pakistan.' 'We made one thing very clear to everybody who spoke to us, not just the U.S. but to everybody, saying if the Pakistanis want to stop fighting, they need to tell us. We need to hear it from them. Their general has to call up our general and say this. And that is what happened.' Following the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan, Trump repeatedly claimed credit for it saying that he played a role in brokering the 'ceasefire' between the two sides. EAM Jaishankar also said that India will again hit terrorists in Pakistan in response to any future terror strikes like the one in Pahalgam, suggesting that it was the reason why Operation Sindoor has not been concluded. In his comments, EAM Jaishankar described the April 22 Pahalgam attack as 'barbaric' and said the terrorists 'murdered' the innocent civilians in front of their families after ascertaining their 'faith' with an aim to to create 'religious discord'. "It was imperative that we have a response because the lack of impossible in such a situation," he said. EAM Jaishankar said India is willing to hold talks with Pakistan on the return of the illegally occupied part of Kashmir by that country to New Delhi, and on terrorism. In brief: Indus Waters Treaty will remain in abeyance till Pakistan stops cross-border terrorism: India India on Thursday once again asserted that the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan will remain in 'abeyance' until Islamabad 'credibly and irrevocably' abjures support to cross-border terrorism as 'water and blood' cannot flow together. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that any bilateral talks with Islamabad will only be on vacation of illegally occupied territories of Kashmir by Pakistan. 'It will remain in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism. As our prime minister has said, 'Water and blood cannot flow together',' he added. Kishtwar encounter: One soldier dead, operation continuing, says Army One Army soldier was killed on Thursday in an ongoing operation against terrorists in Kishtwar district in Jammu and Kashmir's Chenab Valley. 'During the ongoing operation, fierce gunfight is continuing. One of our Bravehearts sustained grievous injuries in the exchange of fire and has succumbed despite best medical efforts,' the Army said. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation on Thursday in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district after an exchange of fire with suspected terrorists, officials said. Additional troops have been deployed, and the operation is ongoing to neutralise the terrorists, it added. Evening Wrap will return tomorrow.
Hindustan Times
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘Two shores of the sea, never shall they meet': Owaisi on RSS' Muslim outreach
AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi has dismissed RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's placatory statements towards Muslims as hypocritical "cheap talk", saying "never shall the Twain meet" because the Hindutva organisation only wants to destroy India's diversity. "You may be making these conciliatory statements but it is your own people who are doing this (anti-Muslim) tamasha. If you think they are wrong, why are you not stopping them?" Owaisi said in an interview to PTI Videos on Saturday. Also Read: '220 million honourable Muslims in India': Owaisi's message to Turkey on backing Pakistan He was asked to comment on Bhagwat's remarks that the DNA of Hindus and Muslims is the same, and one should not be looking for a Shivling under every mosque. This was in reference to disputes that have emerged in recent months surrounding pre-Independence, Mughal-era or earlier mosques, which some Hindus believe were built by destroying existing temples. Also Read: Owaisi joins Centre's anti-terror all-party delegations to foreign countries: 'Will reveal Pakistan's motives' "Are all these people who are going to courts and filing cases (seeking investigation of mosques' origins) not Mohan Bhagwat's acolytes?" said Owaisi, a five-time MP from Hyderabad and the sole representative of his party in Parliament. Besides Parliament, his All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen party has only seven seats in the 119-member Telangana Assembly. Despite his minor role in national and regional politics, Owaisi has emerged as a powerful voice of Muslims across the country because of his staunch defence of Muslim rights. His known antipathy towards RSS and BJP as well as vocal criticism of others among opposition parties add to his appeal among Muslims. Also Read: 'Confront Pak but adopt Kashmiris': Owaisi's message to PM Modi, Shah over protests in J&K after Pahalgam attack When challenged that perhaps it is these very people that Bhagwat is trying to control, Owaisi said: "The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Make them stop. That means they are not listening to you. Are you helpless to stop them? No, that's also not so. It is in your control. It is happening on your orders. It is happening with your acquiescence." He noted that soon after Bhagwat's comments, another senior RSS functionary issued statements saying Bhagwat did not mean what he said. "This is the theory of confusion of RSS. Bhagwat's statements are hypocritical. This is just cheap talk, loose talk, meant to send a message to America or Gulf Muslim countries," he said. When told that he could simply meet Bhagwat and seek a clarification on his stand, Owaisi said: "I am not anxious to meet him. (Mere pet me dard nahi hai)". "I know RSS well. We know what its ideology is. RSS wants to destroy this country's pluralism and diversity, and create a theocratic country. This has been said often by their leaders, whether it is Dr Hedgewar or Golwalkar, Deoras, Bhagwat or Rajju Bhaiya. "Them and us are the two shores of the sea. How can they come together? Never can the Twain meet. RSS is an ideological creature. RSS will never give up its ideology." Bhagwat has also met Muslim community leaders and intellectuals as part of the RSS outreach.
