Celebrated author, Jnanpith awardee, and Padma Bhushan recipient MT Vasudevan Nair, fondly referred to as MT, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 91 in a private hospital in Kozhikode, Kerala. Widely regarded as one of the most influential voices in Malayalam literature, MT Vasudevan Nair’s illustrious career spanned novels, short stories, screenplays, essays, travelogues, and filmmaking. His contributions left an indelible mark on Indian literature and cinema. According to PTI reports, the Kerala government has declared two days of official mourning on December 26 and 27 to honour the literary stalwart. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also announced the postponement of all government functions, including the Cabinet meeting scheduled for December 26, as a mark of respect. Born in 1933 in Kudallur, a quaint village in Palakkad district’s Anakkara panchayat, MT’s early years were deeply intertwined with Kerala’s cultural and familial traditions, themes that profoundly shaped his works. His literary journey began with a milestone when, at the age of 20, he won an international short story competition organised by The New York Herald Tribune. MT’s first major novel, Naalukettu (Ancestral Home), published when he was 23, earned him the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1958. The novel, along with Kaalam (Time), Manju (Mist), and Asuravithu (The Prodigal Son), explored themes of Kerala’s matriarchal family systems and societal traditions. His magnum opus, Randamoozham (The Second Turn), a retelling of the Mahabharata from Bhima’s perspective, is celebrated as one of the finest works in Indian literature. Beyond his literary brilliance, MT excelled in cinema, penning screenplays for over 50 films and directing seven. He holds the record for the most National Film Awards for Best Screenplay, with four wins for Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (1989), Kadavu (1991), Sadayam (1992), and Parinayam (1994). As per PTI, MT Vasudevan Nair’s contributions were recognised with numerous prestigious honours, including the Jnanpith Award in 1995, the Padma Bhushan in 2005, and accolades such as the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award, Vallathol Award, and ONV Literary Award. In 2013, he received the JC Daniel Award for lifetime achievement in Malayalam cinema. In 2022, he was bestowed with the inaugural Kerala Jyothi Award, the state’s highest civilian honour. MT also served as the editor of Mathrubhumi Illustrated Weekly for several years, further cementing his influence in Kerala’s literary circles. (With inputs from ANI)
26 December,2024 08:00 AM IST | KozhikodePrime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday laid the foundation stone of the Ken-Betwa river linking project in Madhya Pradesh. Speaking at the program at Khajuraho, Modi said that in the 21st century, only the nations with adequate and well-managed water resources can advance. “The major challenge of the 21st century is water security. In the 21st century only those countries who have adequate water resources with proper management will move forward,” he said. The PM on this occasion also inaugurated the Omkareshwar Floating Solar Project in Khandwa district of the state virtually, and laid the foundation stone of the Daudhan Irrigation Project, part of the river-linking project. Union Water Resources Minister C R Patil and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav handed over two kalash (urns) containing water from Betwa and Ken rivers, respectively, to Modi, who poured it over a model of the project to launch the river linking work. The Ken-Betwa river linking will open new doors of prosperity and happiness in the Bundelkhand region, said the PM. The project will provide drinking water to nearly 44 lakh people in 10 districts of MP and 21 lakh people in UP. The estimated cost of the project will be R44,605 crore. Project a threat to Panna Tiger Reserve The Ken-Betwa river linking project poses a serious threat to the biodiversity-rich Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, said Congress leader Jairam Ramesh. He claimed that the project will submerge over 10 per cent of the core area of the tiger reserve. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 December,2024 07:32 AM IST | Khajuraho | AgenciesThe government will continue its focus on improving quality spending, strengthening the social security net and bringing down the fiscal deficit to 4.5 per cent of the GDP in FY26, a finance ministry document said. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to present the Budget for 2025-26 in Parliament on February 1. According to finance ministry statements on the half yearly review under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003, the Union government is committed to pursuing the glide path of fiscal consolidation as announced in the Budget for FY 2021-22 and to attain a level of fiscal deficit lower than 4.5 per cent of GDP by FY 2025-26. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 December,2024 07:31 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesThe Delhi Congress on Wednesday released a 12-point ‘white paper’ targetting the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over their alleged unkept promises and mismanagement on various issues like pollution, civic facilities and law and order. Addressing a press conference, AICC treasurer Ajay Maken lashed out AAP’s national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, saying his party came to power riding on the Jan Lokpal agitation but has failed to set up the anti-corruption ombudsman. “If anyone is the king of fraud in the entire country then it is Kejriwal,” Maken said while releasing the white paper titled “Mauka Mauka, Har Baar Dhoka”. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 December,2024 07:29 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesMaharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday described the Mahayuti alliance's historic success in the state assembly elections as a fitting tribute to late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, on his birth centenary. Speaking at an event in the city, where he was felicitated by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Fadnavis also emphasised that power had never gone to his head, as he recognised that his achievements were solely due to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), reported news agency PTI. In the November 20 Assembly Elections, the ruling Mahayuti alliance registered a landslide victory, with the BJP securing 132 seats, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena winning 57 seats, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) of Ajit Pawar getting 41 seats. Fadnavis, who assumed office as CM for the third time, called the victory a tribute to Vajpayee in the centenary year of both the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the former prime minister, PTI reported. "The strength and perseverance of BJP workers led to this success," Fadnavis said, reflecting on his political journey which began with his involvement in the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in his school days. "Power has never gone to my head. I knew from the beginning that without BJP, I hold no meaning… BJP and its workers mean everything to me," he added. According to PTI, Fadnavis also commented on the challenges faced after the Lok Sabha elections, noting that despite setbacks, the dedication of party workers ensured victory. He highlighted that the slogan 'Ek hain to safe hain (united we are safe)' helped unite the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and women, ultimately securing a substantial mandate. Gadkari, who also spoke at the event, praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Sab ka saath, sabka vikas (together for everyone's development),' calling it the true essence of secularism. Gadkari further recalled Vajpayee's view that India's secularism was founded on the inclusiveness, legacy, and patience of its Hindu community. He pointed to historical figures such as Rana Pratap and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who never demolished mosques to build temples. (With PTI inputs)
25 December,2024 11:06 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat on Wednesday demanded the strictest punishment for the attackers and masterminds behind the murder of Beed Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh after visiting his family. He also called for the case to be fast-tracked in court, news agency PTI reported. Deshmukh was abducted and murdered on December 9, sparking a political uproar, with the Opposition accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti government of failing to take firm action and of shielding an aide of a minister. "The brutal murder of Santosh Deshmukh has shocked Maharashtra and tarnished humanity. The government must act immediately to ensure the strictest punishment for the perpetrators and masterminds behind this heinous crime," Thorat said after meeting the sarpanch's family in Massajog Village of Beed district. According to PTI, Deshmukh’s family demanded "justice" during Thorat’s visit. "The murder is deeply distressing and has shaken the entire state. The murderers and those who orchestrated this act must be immediately apprehended and dealt with the harshest punishment," Thorat added. The former minister called for a thorough investigation to uncover the mastermind behind the crime and those responsible for spreading fear in Beed and across Maharashtra, PTI reported. "Justice must be served swiftly, and the case should be taken up in a fast-track court to ensure that the culprits, regardless of caste or religion, face the full force of the law," he said. The senior leader stressed that lawlessness should not be allowed to go unchecked, as it can deteriorate into very bad consequences. "The fear of law should be instilled in criminals, but the current situation shows that the administration lacks control," he stated. Thorat also claimed that such crimes frequently occur in Beed district, but police fail to register first information reports (FIR), which he deemed "highly unfortunate". "The Congress party will always stand firmly with the family of Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh," he added. Beed Sarpanch had tried to stop extortion, say police The sarpanch's murder case is being investigated by the Crime Investigation Department (CID). The arrested accused in the case: Jairam Chate, Mahesh Kedar, and Pratik Ghule were remanded in police custody till January 6 by a court in Maharashtra on Monday. A fourth suspect, Vishnu Chate, is in police custody till Friday. According to the police, Vishnu Chate allegedly demanded Rs 2 crore from an energy company that had installed a windmill in Beed district, threatening to halt its operations if the money was not paid. Deshmukh had intervened to stop the extortion, which led to his abduction. He is believed to have been tortured and killed by the accused. Seven people, including Vishnu Chate, have been booked in the case. Meanwhile, Congress leader and former minister Amit Deshmukh said that the alleged descecration of a replica of the Constitution in Parbhani and the Beed Sarpanch murder were a "stain" on the progressive history of Maharashtra. "We demand the immediate arrest of the culprits behind these two incidents and justice for the victims' families," he said. On December 10, violence erupted in Parbhani after a glass-enclosed replica of the Constitution near Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's statue outside the city’s railway station was vandalised. Somnath Suryavanshi, 35, who was arrested among more than 50 persons in connection with the violence, died at a state-run hospital after falling ill in judicial custody. Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Rahul Gandhi, who met Suryavanshi’s family on Monday, claimed he was "killed" because he was a Dalit and was protecting the Constitution. (With PTI inputs)
25 December,2024 09:31 PM IST | Beed | mid-day online correspondentOne person died and 20 others were rescued after a tourist boat capsized in the Arabian Sea off Calangute beach in North Goa on Wednesday, police said. The incident occurred around 1.30 pm, they said. "A 54-year-old man died and 20 others were rescued and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment after the boat they were travelling in capsized," a senior police official said. Except for two passengers, all others were wearing life jackets, he said. The passengers included children as young as six year old and women, he said. Spokesman of Drishti Marine, a government-appointed lifesaving agency, said the boat capsized around 60 metres away from the coastline, resulting in all the passengers falling off into the sea water. A family comprising 13 members from Khed in Maharashtra were among the passengers on board, he said. On seeing the boat getting capsized, a personnel of Drishti Marine rushed to aid and called for backup, he said. "In all, 18 on-duty lifesavers rushed to the aid of the struggling passengers and brought them to shore safely," he said. The injured passengers were administered first aid, while those who were found to be critical were rushed to a medical facility in an ambulance, the spokesman said. "Of the 20 passengers, two children aged six and seven each, and two women aged 25 and 55 each, were revived and hospitalised," he said, adding that two passengers on the boat were not wearing life jackets. Goa is a popular tourist destination, especially during the Christmas and New Year celebrations. The incident occurred a week after a speeding Navy craft undergoing engine trials lost control and crashed into passenger ferry 'Neel Kamal' off the Mumbai coast, killing 15 persons. The ferry, carrying more than 100 passengers, was on its way from Gateway of India to Elephanta Island, a popular tourist attraction famous for its cave temples. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 December,2024 09:19 PM IST | Panaji | PTIAndhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed issues related to the state. According to sources, Naidu and Modi discussed development issues and pending projects of the state during the brief 30-minute meeting at the prime minister's residence. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders K Ram Mohan Naidu and Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, both ministers in the NDA government at the Centre, and party MP Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu were present in the meeting. BJP MP from Andhra Pradesh and Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma was also there. The TDP is a major ally of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Earlier during the day, Naidu met Union Railways and I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and flagged the state's concerns. The chief minister met with Vaishnaw after attending the NDA leaders' meeting at BJP president J P Nadda's residence here. Naidu also paid homage to former prime minister and BJP founding president Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his memorial, "Sadaiv Atal', on his 100th birth anniversary. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 December,2024 09:08 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIFour people, including a woman and a child, died and 23 got injured after a roadways bus fell into a 1,500 ft deep gorge in Bhimtal's Saldi area on Wednesday. The roadways bus with 27 people on board, including the driver and the conductor bus, was coming from Pithoragarh, Kumaon Commissioner Deepak Rawat told reporters. Four deaths have been confirmed. The injured have been brought in ambulances to Sushila Tiwari Hospital in Haldwani, he said. Those killed have been identified as Khadak Singh (55), his wife Ganga Dhami (48), Surendra Singh Dharmasattu (58) and Daksh Pant (6), an official said. They were from Dharchula, Pithoragarh and Berinag respectively. "The locals were the first to learn about the incident as is often the case. Even I came to know about it from locals," Rawat said. Most of the injured are in the general ward but some of them are also likely to be shifted to the ICU, he said. The vehicle plunged into a 1,500 ft deep gorge, Bhowali Circle Officer Sumit Pandey said. The injured were first rushed to the Community Health Centre in Bhimtal from where they were referred to higher centres. Some of them are in critical condition. Relief and rescue operations were launched with the help of locals, he said. It was difficult for the fire department and SDRF teams to pull the bodies and the injured out of the gorge as the dept to which the bus had fallen was 1,500 feet, Pandey said. They were pulled out of the ditch with the help of ropes, he said. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief over the accident and instructed the district administration to carry out the relief and rescue operations expeditiously. He announced a financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased. An assistance of Rs 3 lakh will be given to the seriously injured and Rs 15,000-25,000 to those who sustained minor injuries, he said. Out of Rs 10 lakh to be paid to the families of those who died in the accident Rs 5 lakh will be given by Uttarakhand Transport Corporation, Rs 2 lakh from Road Safety Fund and Rs 3 lakh from Chief Minister's Discretionary Fund. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 December,2024 09:01 PM IST | Nainital | PTIAAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday accused the BJP of trying to undermine the Delhi government’s recently launched welfare schemes which includes providing Rs 2,100 to women and free treatment for the elderly. Kejriwal's reaction comes after the Delhi government’s Women and Child Development and Health departments issued public notices distancing themselves from the AAP’s promised schemes, triggering a fresh row ahead of assembly polls. Under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana, women are set to receive a monthly allowance of Rs 1,000, which Kejriwal has promised to increase to Rs 2,100 if AAP wins the upcoming assembly elections. Meanwhile, the Sanjeevani Yojana aims to provide free medical treatment for senior citizens above 60 years of age in both government and private hospitals. During a press conference with Delhi Chief Minister Atishi here, Kejriwal accused the BJP of spreading false information and attempting to deny the people of Delhi the benefits of these schemes which he said received a massive public response since their announcement. "The BJP doesn't want the people of Delhi to benefit. Since the registration process began, long queues have formed across the city, with nearly 12.5 lakh women signing up for the Mahila Samman Yojana and 1.5-2 lakh senior citizens registering for the Sanjeevani Yojana," Kejriwal said. The two government departments also cautioned the people against providing personal details to anyone on the pretext of registration for "non-existent" schemes, saying any private individual or political party collecting such physical forms or information is "fraudulent and without any authority". CM Atishi announced that officials involved in publishing false information under BJP's pressure would face administrative and police action. "The notification for the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana has already been issued by the Delhi government. Despite this, the BJP is trying to confuse the public," she said. Regarding the public notices issued by Delhi government departments she said, "Strict action will be taken against Women and Child Development Department officers for issuing public notices against the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana." Notices claiming that these schemes are fake are baseless and the BJP's intention is to mislead the public and block the implementation of these welfare initiatives, she added. Kejriwal further stated that the welfare schemes would be implemented regardless of BJP’s tactics. "The public trusts us because we have delivered on our promises. I will ensure that every woman receives Rs 2,100 and that senior citizens benefit from free medical treatment, no matter what obstacles the BJP creates," he said. Comparing AAP’s record with that of the BJP, Kejriwal said the latter had failed to fulfill its own election promises. "They promised Rs 15 lakh to every citizen, two crore jobs, and concrete houses by 2022, but delivered none of these. In contrast, AAP has delivered free electricity, improved education, water supply, and free bus travel for women." The AAP's counterattack comes as the political battle for public support in Delhi intensifies ahead of the February elections. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 December,2024 08:55 PM IST | New Delhi | PTINorth India continued to endure severe cold wave conditions on Wednesday, although tourists in popular destinations such as Srinagar and Shimla were left disappointed, missing out on a 'White Christmas', news agency PTI reported. While Srinagar recorded a low of minus 7.3 degrees Celsius, Tabo in the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh was the coldest place in the state, with a night temperature of minus 10.6 degrees Celsius. Cold weather conditions persisted in North India in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and parts of Uttar Pradesh, PTI reported. Meanwhile, national capital Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 22.4 degrees Celsius on Christmas Day, two degrees above the season’s average. The minimum temperature in the national capital was recorded at 8.4 degrees Celsius, which is 1.5 degrees below normal. In Kashmir, the minimum temperatures dropped at most locations, with the valley continuing to experience intense cold conditions, leading to the freezing of several water bodies and supply lines in many areas, PTI reported. The weather bureau has predicted a further dip of two to three degrees in minimum temperatures in Kashmir over the next two days. Except for Gulmarg, the night temperatures dropped across all other weather stations in the Kashmir valley. Currently under the grip of ‘Chillai-Kalan’, the harshest 40-day winter period that began on December 21, the valley is experiencing below-normal maximum and minimum temperatures, officials said. Water supply lines freeze in Kashmir The drop in mercury has led to the freezing of water supply lines, with a thin layer of ice covering the surface of several water bodies, including Dal Lake. The city was colder than Gulmarg, a well-known tourist resort in north Kashmir, where the mercury settled at minus 6.6 degrees Celsius, up from minus 7.4 degrees Celsius the previous night. However, tourists expressed disappointment at not experiencing snowfall in Srinagar on Christmas. The summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir has yet to see snowfall this season. "We felt good, we enjoyed a lot. There is no danger, people live together in brotherhood, and we celebrated Christmas," said Poonam, a tourist from Jammu. "It is colder. Kashmir used to have a white Christmas, and it was great, but this year, there has been no snowfall in Srinagar, and people are facing difficulties. We pray for a good snowfall," she added. In Himachal Pradesh, snowfall led to the closure of 226 roads, including three national highways. People endured severe cold as minimum temperatures dropped further in Jot, which received 10 cm of snow in the past 24 hours. The state’s emergency operation centre reported that 123 roads in Shimla district, 36 in Lahaul and Spiti, and 25 in Kullu were closed. Additionally, 173 transformers were disrupted, affecting power supply across the state. Locals and tourists in Shimla were also disappointed as the city was greeted by bright sunshine on Christmas Day, dashing hopes of a white Christmas. The Met office has predicted rain and snow at isolated places in parts of the state, particularly in Shimla, from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon, with precipitation expected to peak on Saturday. In Rajasthan, many areas were shrouded in dense fog as cold conditions persisted across the state. Light rain occurred at one location in eastern Rajasthan over the last 24 hours, while fog and dense fog prevailed at many places. A 'cold day' was recorded in some areas of western Rajasthan. Cold weather conditions also continued in Punjab and Haryana, with Faridkot recording the lowest minimum temperature at 4.2 degrees Celsius. In Punjab, Amritsar recorded a minimum of 5.4 degrees Celsius, Gurdaspur 5.5 degrees Celsius, and Patiala 5.7 degrees Celsius. In Haryana, Narnaul was the coldest place at 5.2 degrees Celsius, while Hisar recorded 6.8 degrees Celsius, Karnal and Sirsa 8 degrees Celsius, and Gurugram 9.3 degrees Celsius. Chandigarh, the common capital of both states, recorded a low of 7.4 degrees Celsius. Weather across Uttar Pradesh cleared up on Wednesday afternoon after two days of rain caused by western disturbances, MeT officials said. The light drizzle on Monday and Tuesday had resulted in fog and a noticeable drop in temperatures, intensifying the cold conditions over the past 48 hours. According to the India Meteorological Department’s forecast, the weather is expected to remain clear on Thursday, with rains likely to resume on December 27. On Wednesday morning, Lucknow recorded 0.5 mm of rainfall, causing a drop of 1.5°C in the day's temperature. (With PTI inputs)
25 December,2024 08:32 PM IST | New DelhiADVERTISEMENT
