Category: India

On Thursday, 59 students and one woman felt sick after smelling bad fumes from a tank at a company in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra. Police said the tank belonged to JSW Energy’s thermal power plant, but the company claimed nothing had happened on their property. The students, from Jaigad Vidya Mandir school near the plant, started to feel unwell after the fumes spread. Out of 250 students at the school, 53 boys, six girls, and one woman were taken to hospitals because they had eye irritation, felt restless, and felt sick to their stomachs.

Three of the students were put in the ICU, but thankfully, they are stable. They have been feeling more restless, nauseous, and reported a worse stomach ache than the others. Health officials stated the students are being carefully watched and may go home on Friday afternoon, after doctors check them thoroughly.

The bad smells were caused by ethyl mercaptan, a colorless and smelly liquid that helps to easily detect gas leaks and is used in making plastics and some insecticides. JSW Energy reassured the public, stating, “We care about the safety of our workers and the community. We follow strict safety rules and always check our work to keep people safe.” They emphasized their commitment to preventing any incidents that could harm anyone in the area

The Supreme Court of India made an important decision on Thursday. They told all courts in the country not to allow any new requests to check if there are temples under mosques. The court said that no surveys or actions should be taken in any current cases about this issue, too.

This decision came while they were looking into challenges to the Places of Worship Act. This law protects all religious places by making it illegal to change them back to how they were before August 15, 1947. Some people are saying this law takes away the rights of Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs to reclaim their religious sites that were destroyed.

The Supreme Court team, which includes Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justices P.V. Sanjay Kumar and K.V. Vishwanathan, is reviewing the rules and details of the 1991 law about places of worship. They have asked the government to respond to the challenges against this law within four weeks.

Sadhguru, a well-known spiritual leader, has shared his thoughts on the protests happening in the Indian Parliament about the Adani business scandal. He believes that people who create jobs and earn money for the country should not get caught up in political arguments. Sadhguru emphasized that Indian businesses are crucial for the country’s growth and future.

He said, “It’s disappointing to see fights in our Parliament, especially when we want to show the world how democratic we are. People who make money and create jobs in India shouldn’t be used as political tools. If there are problems, they should be resolved through the law, not through politics. The most important thing is that Indian businesses need to succeed. That’s how India can become a great nation.”

As Parliament sessions started, Congress party members wanted to discuss the charges from the U.S. Department of Justice against Adani Green’s leaders. On Thursday, several opposition MPs protested inside the Parliament building, holding signs that together said, “We will not let the country be sold.” They were demanding a thorough investigation into the Adani issue.

This protest is part of a series of demonstrations by Congress over the Adani matter. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, along with other party members, gathered at a specific location demanding that the issues, including the Adani case, be discussed in Parliament.

Meanwhile, the Adani Group responded by saying that Gautam Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani, and senior executive Vneet Jaain are not involved in any bribery activities.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court said on Wednesday that while protecting tiger habitats is crucial, we also need to consider the feelings of people who visit temples. The Court asked the Rajasthan government to create a committee to look into the concerns of pilgrims going to a temple inside the Sariska Tiger Reserve. This comes before a plan to stop private vehicles from entering the sanctuary by March 2025, which aims to help protect the tigers.

Private vehicles have led to pollution and made it easier for poachers to reach the area. The Rajasthan government wants to replace these vehicles with 20 electric buses for the pilgrims. However, the Hanuman Pandupole Temple Trust believes this plan is not enough for the thousands of visitors, especially on busy days.

Justice Bhushan R. Gavai, who led the bench, said that while it’s important to protect the tiger reserve, the feelings of the devotees also matter. Advocate Ashok Gaur, representing the Trust, claimed the ban could stop 6,000 to 7,000 visitors from fulfilling their religious duties.

The bench, which also included justice K.V. Viswanathan, called for a practical solution to avoid any issues. They instructed the creation of a three-member committee, headed by the Sariska collector, to work out a gradual ban on private vehicles while caring for the needs of the pilgrims.

Due to the short time until the March 2025 deadline set by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), the Court extended this date to March 2026. The committee will seek a balanced way to protect the tiger reserve and still support the devotees.

The Court discussed a similar situation at the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, where a Ganesh temple is located, suggesting that similar actions may also be needed there. Rajasthan’s additional solicitor general, Aishwarya Bhati, told the Court that the state understood the pilgrims’ concerns and would try to make it easier while also keeping the environment safe.

Senior advocate K. Parmeshwar, who helped the Court, noted that poachers had taken advantage of the lack of restrictions in Sariska. The CEC suggested closing one entrance to help reduce poaching, a suggestion the bench agreed with, making it clear genuine pilgrims should not be harmed in the process.

The CEC also recommended changing how the Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH) in Sariska is arranged so that it aligns with the breeding patterns of the tigers. The Court allowed the state to follow this advice by adhering to the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, while also considering opinions from environmentalists and private miners affected by the sanctuary’s plans. However, any changes to the sanctuary’s boundaries will need the Court’s final approval.

This year marks 100 years since the birth of Raj Kapoor, a famous Indian filmmaker. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Raj Kapoor’s family, including his daughter Reema Jain and daughter-in-law Neetu Kapoor, to celebrate this special occasion. Modi encouraged them to create a documentary about Raj Kapoor’s impact on other countries and how he helped spread Indian culture, even before the term “soft power” was known.

Modi praised Raj Kapoor’s films, mentioning that they have touched many lives, including a story about two former prime ministers, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and LK Advani. After they lost an election, they watched Raj Kapoor’s movie “Phir Subah Hogi” (1958), which lifted their spirits. Modi also shared how Raj Kapoor’s tunes are loved in China.

Ranbir Kapoor, Raj Kapoor’s grandson, expressed his excitement about meeting Modi and shared a story about how a taxi driver in Russia didn’t charge him, saying he was the grandson of a beloved star. Reema Jain thanked Modi for honoring their family and highlighted Raj Kapoor’s role as a cultural ambassador.

Riddhima Kapoor Sahni and Alia Bhatt, who were also there, talked about their love for yoga and Hindi songs. Modi mentioned that wherever he goes, people respect Indian culture, particularly yoga. Reema’s sons are making a movie about their grandfather, which makes their family proud.

The Kapoor family invited Modi to their upcoming Raj Kapoor Film Festival, which will show Raj Kapoor’s movies in many cities from December 13 to 15. Ranbir thanked Modi for his warmth and friendliness during the meeting, making them feel comfortable. Kareena Kapoor Khan shared her happiness about meeting the Prime Minister on such a significant occasion. Alia Bhatt and Karisma Kapoor also praised Modi’s positive energy and love for their grandfather.