Concern or gimmick? All about Mamata Banerjee's surprise home visits

At the administrative meeting, she lambasted her party legislators and ministers for the neglect of the slum. 'Why should I have to do your work?' she asked minister Arup Roy, who hails from Howrah district, at the administrative review meeting that was aired live on TV channels and social media. In the evening, the Chief Minister went to a village in the neighbouring East Midnapore district and sat at a panchayat members' home to listen to the villagers. On August 21, she paid another unscheduled visit to the tribal-dominated Duttapur village along the border of West Bengal and Odisha after convening the administrative review meeting for East Midnapore district. This time, she sat on a chair at an open space, inquired from the locals about their needs and problems, distributed candies among the children and then surprised the locals all the more by entering a tea stall and pouring out tea for several persons present at the spot. On August 26, it was the turn of the residents of Baikunthapur village in East Burdwan district to be surprised. She went there straight after holding the administrative review meeting for the district. True to her style, she mixed freely with the villagers sitting at their homes, sipped tea and distributed the biscuits they offered her with the tea to those who are stood around her. So, what is the logic, politics or math behind these trips? Elections, pressure on officials and gimmicks are some of the explanations one hears, but the opinion is divided. The Trinamool Congress leaders, all of whom spoke on condition of anonymity, had various views. A Trinamool Congress minister close to Mamata Banerjee said that though a massive public outreach campaign is currently on in the state under the 'Didike Bolo' and 'Grame Chalo' campaigns, the chief minister herself wants to understand the psyche of the common people, a good number of who have moved away from the ruling party, as was evident in the Lok Sabha elections. Didike Bolo allows aggrieved persons to lodge a complaint directly with her using a tollfree phone number and an email id. Under the Gramey Chalo campaign, elected public representatives are visiting villages, spending the whole day and night, listing people's grievances and distributing the phone number and email id among the public. 'Even the phone number and email have filters. The complaints received through Didike Bolo are scrutinised by the members of a special team and only the very serious issues are taken to her. Here, she is getting to hear everything by herself,' said the TMC minister. 'She is taking the Didike Bolo campaign to a different level,' said a TMC member of the Lok Sabha on condition of anonymity. According to a TMC legislator of Hooghly district, 'She is keeping party leaders under pressure. Her sudden visits are surely aimed at keeping party leaders and administrative officers on their toes.' Political analysts consider this as an extension of the Didike Bolo programme. According to them, the idea that TMC wants to portray now is that even if other TMC leaders fail the people, there is Mamata Banerjee who can turn everything around. 'The message that TMC wants to spread now is that if things did not go well in the past, it was because the issues were not coming to her attention. In short, the TMC-appointed political strategist Prashant Kishor's present focus is on building a larger than life image of the TMC chief and to spread the message that there is no alternative to Mamata Banerjee,' said psephologist Biswanath Chakraborty, a professor of political science at Rabindra Bharati University. Kishore was roped in by TMC in June. His team has designed and is overseeing the public outreach campaign. Amal Mukhopadhyay, former principal of Presidency College, thinks that Banerjee is resorting to gimmicks because she has no explanation for her failures, especially in job creation. 'This is her desperate attempt to recover her party from the bad image that it earned for its members' highhandedness and indulgence in corruption. Its student wing earned notoriety for the college elections and the party earned widespread hatred for turning the 2018 panchayat elections into a mockery. Now, she is trying to impress people by showing how down-to-earth and accessible she is,' Mukhopadhyay said. 'I, though, doubt if it is going to do her any good unless she focuses on the core issues of development, including job creation,' Mukhopadhyay added. BJP leaders were acerbic. 'The chief minister is trying to mislead the people by giving an impression that she is one of the common people and empathise with their cause,' said BJP vice-president of the state unit, Jay Prakash Majumdar. ... DailyhuntDisclaimer: This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by Dailyhunt. Publisher: Hindustan Timeshttps://www.intensedebate.com/people/rutheenguthm

In UP, chief minister Yogi Adityanath's reputation is above the welfare of children

Although investigation has exposed the culpability of the school authorities and the headmaster - some villagers, too, have said that their children often say they get rice and salt, and a parent-cook was earlier asked to keep mum about the practice by the headmaster himself - a tangled yarn of a made-up scene of the mid-day meal validating the guilt of the journalist and the villager has been spun by the administration.It is now apparently normal to use law as a weapon to silence, threaten and punish in extreme measure - criminal conspiracy, if proven, leads to death or life imprisonment - with no account taken of the act in question. There does not have to be a crime, or even a minor offence. All it needs is a journalist doing his job, a commentator making a critical comment about any ruling Bharatiya Janata Party government in a state or at the Centre, a citizen protesting against injustice or the abuse of a system, or a teacher, artist or writer disagreeing with false beliefs being shoved down people's throats for the law, once used for grave matters, to close its trap. The mindset of New India's rulers is revealed by their questions regarding the journalist: what right had he to film when he works for a printed newspaper? Why did he make the video public instead of going to the administration? Apparently, the government wishes to define the limits of all professions in the country; it is psychologically an occupier. Children do not matter; they do not vote. 1702250 DailyhuntDisclaimer: This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by Dailyhunt. Publisher: The Telegraphhttps://www.intensedebate.com/people/numanalokhe

http://www.magcloud.com/user/dunemshesee

Chhichhore movie review: Sushant Singh Rajput, Shraddha Kapoor deliver relevant film with important message

Sushant Singh Rajput (Annirudh) and Shraddha Kapoor (Maya) play a divorced couple, and they have a reunion of sorts with their college buddies, though in rather unwanted circumstances. Together, they recall and relive their old college memories, the good and bad days spent almost 20 years ago. The screenplay takes a trip down memory lane through college hostels, sports grounds and canteen conversations; switch to present day and you see the same camaraderie in their friendship that was forged in college. the Chhichhore trailer here Brilliant writing loaded with comic punches, one-liners and genuinely funny jokes makes Chhichhore a winner. Full credit to the writers for ensuring that the humour is not even remotely slapstick. For instance, when Varun Sharma's character compares spotting a girl in an engineering college to Halley's Comet that is visible every 75 years, it isn't demeaning women but proof of clever writing. Keeping the storytelling simple, Nitesh made an intelligent move to weave flashback sequences into the present day, and keep audiences attentive. Though mostly predictable, the build-up towards the climax manages to look intriguing. Among the cast, you see Varun Sharma (Sexa), Tahir Raj Bhasin (Derek), Naveen Polishetty (ACID), Tushar Pandey (Mummy) and Saharsh Shukla (Bevda) aptly fitting in their respective parts and doing full justice to their screen-time. The way each character is introduced in the film with minute detailing and individual traits, it makes you sit up and take notice. There are performances that stand out without screaming from the rooftops. From playing Chucha in Fukrey to Sexa in this film, Varun nails it with an impressive performance, yet again. So comfortable with his body and style of dialogue delivery, he knows when and how to throw his weight around, quite literally. Sushant looks good as a young college student but in his '40s, he is rather unconvincing and a misfit. Shraddha's character, it seems, has been written with least amount of interest. Although her screen presence is felt each time she's in the frame, she hardly gets any dialogues and you ask yourself 'was she even needed in the film'? Even the chemistry between Sushant and Shraddha is unconvincing and their scenes together flirting or comforting each other look rather juvenile. Prateik Babbar, who delivered an intense performance as the popular guy and a baddie in college, could have been given a little more screen time. There is an extensive use of prosthetic makeup to show the characters ageing onscreen. While some are shown going half-bald, others decide to grow their tresses. There's one guy with an American accent too -- he has stayed in New York for 20 years, after all. However, in Shraddha Kapoor's case, the only transition that shows her going from her 20s to 40s is midi-dresses turning into cotton suits and saris. Sadly, so little imagination there! the Chhichhore video review here Thankfully, Pritam's music and background score by Sameer Uddin does not sound forced at any point and beautifully blends with the narrative. The song Fikar Not in the end credits is a refreshing change from the high-pitched item songs or over dramatized romantic numbers and is brilliantly choreographed. A must-watch with your college friends, Chhichhore is relatable and relevant. it for its uncomplicated screenplay, gripping narrative and some stellar performances that leave you in stitches. DailyhuntDisclaimer: This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by Dailyhunt. Publisher: Hindustan Timeshttp://realstate.0and1.com/UserProfile/tabid/42/userId/93501/Default.aspx

http://theseasonedcook.com/UserProfile/tabid/42/UserId/1070633/Default.aspx

It: Chapter Two earns 91 million dollars in first weekend

Jeff Goldstein, who oversees domestic distribution for Warner Bros., called the debut 'sensational' and isn't concerned that Chapter Two didn't hit the heights of the first. 'How many movies open to 91 million dollars? That was lightning in a bottle,' Goldstein said. 'You don't get lightning in a bottle twice. You get close though.' Based on Stephen King's novel, It: Chapter Two brings the Losers Club back to Derry 27 years later to take on the demonic clown Pennywise and stars James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain and Bill Hader as a few of the adult 'losers.' The sequel cost around 79.5 million dollars to make. Reviews were a little more mixed than for the first — 86% versus 64% on Rotten Tomatoes — but audiences were consistent. Both films got a B+ CinemaScore. 'Andy Muschietti does an incredible job of scaring the stuffing out of audiences,' Goldstein said. 'I think our team, starting with New Line in making this and our marketing team in bringing it to audiences around the globe, have hit the mark right on. They nailed it.' Comscore senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian noted that, unlike most horror films which tend drop off significantly after opening weekend, It: Chapter Two, like its predecessor and some of the recent high-quality horror films could have 'incredibly long playability.' It: Chapter Two is also a big win for Warner Bros., which had a few disappointments this summer with The Kitchen and Shaft, but also have a few films that could really take off, including Joker, out Oct. 4, and another King adaptation, Doctor Sleep, out Nov. 8. The rest of the top 10 was populated by holdovers: Angel Has Fallen took a distant second with $6 million and 'Good Boys' placed third with 5.4 million dollars. In limited release, the documentary Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice performed well in its first weekend, grossing $115,500 from seven locations. After a down summer for the industry as a whole and a year that is still running 6% down, It: Chapter Two is a promising start to the fall movie season, which runs from the day after Labor Day weekend through November. 'It's really important to have a movie to get the momentum going,' Dergarabedian said. Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to Comscore. Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday. 1. It: Chapter Two, 91 million dollars (94 million dollars international). 2. Angel Has Fallen, 6 million dollars (7.6 million dollars international). 3. Good Boys, 5.4 million dollars (2.3 million dollars international). 4. The Lion King, 4.2 million dollars (13.4 million dollars international). 5. Overcomer, 3.8 million. dollars 6. Fast & Furious Presents Hobbs & Shaw, 3.7 million dollars (15.7 million dollars international). 7. The Peanut Butter Falcon, 2.3 million dollars. 8. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, 2.3 million dollars (701,000 dollars international). 9. Ready or Not, 2.2 million dollars (2.3 million dollars international). 10. Dora and the Lost City of Gold, 2.2 million dollars (2.3 million dollars international). ___ Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at international theatres (excluding the U.S. and Canada), according to Comscore: 1. It: Chapter Two, 94 million dollars. 2. Fast & Furious Presents Hobbs & Shaw, 15.7 million dollars. 3. The Lion King, 13.4 million dollars. 4. Once Upon a Time In Hollywood, 13 million dollars. 5. Ne Zha, 8.1 million dollars. 6. Angel Has Fallen, 7.6 million dollars. 7. Toy Story 4, 4.9 million dollars. 8. The Angry Birds Movie 2, 4.4 million dollars. 9. Free Solo, 3.3 million dollars. 10. 2.0, 2.6 million dollars. DailyhuntDisclaimer: This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by Dailyhunt. Publisher: The Indian Expresshttps://anotepad.com/notes/86nk4g

INS Valsura signs MoU with university

DailyhuntDisclaimer: This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by Dailyhunt. Publisher: The Indian Expresshttps://www.intensedebate.com/people/lumenkhones eora was considered close to Rahul Gandhi and had hinted at taking up a central role. DailyhuntDisclaimer: This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by Dailyhunt. Publisher: The Telegraphhttps://vimeo.com/user101616308

http://frankstout.com/UserProfile/tabid/42/userId/51509/Default.aspx

National Towheeth Jamaath, the group suspected to be behind Sri Lanka blasts: All you need to know

Follow Sri Lanka bomb blasts LIVE Updates Till now, about 24 persons have been arrested in connection with the eight bombs blasts that left nearly 500 people injured. The National Towheeth Jamaath, which preaches a puritanical form of Islam, was formed in Kattankudy, a Muslim-dominated town in eastern Sri Lanka, in 2014. The group has been pushing for Sharia law in the region and wants women to dress only in burqas. Clear that international elements are involved, says Sri Lankan official While the outfit has no history of mass fatality attacks, it is known for racism and Islamic superiority. It shot into the limelight last year when it was linked to the vandalism of Buddhist statues. It's activities had led to tension between Buddhists (who dominate Sri Lanka), and Muslims. In 2017, members of the National Towheeth Jamaath were prosecuted for making derogatory remarks in a video against Buddha and hurting the sentiments of the Sinhala-Buddhist community in the country. The Jerusalem Post reported that the alleged suicide bomber and mastermind behind the attack on the Shangri La hotel had been identified as Islamic extremist Moulvi Zahran Hashim, who was a lecturer for National Towheeth Jamaath. However, the outfit is not to be confused with the Sri Lanka Towheeth Jamaath, which has condemned the attacks and demanded the highest punishment to the perpetrators. The group also organised a blood donation drive in Kandy on Sunday, and posted photographs of the event on FB, saying that it wanted to do as much as it could to help the nation at this extraordinary time. Interestingly, the Sri Lanka police chief had issued an alert on April 11 regarding suicide bombers belonging to National Towheeth Jamaath planning to target 'prominent churches' and the Indian High Commission in Colombo. Police chief Pujuth Jayasundara had sent the intelligence warning to top officers after India had passed on specific intelligence to the Lankan authorities that a terrorist attack was imminent there. 'A foreign intelligence agency has reported that the NTJ (National Thowheeth Jama'ath) is planning to carry out suicide attacks targeting prominent churches as well as the Indian high commission in Colombo,' said the alert. DailyhuntDisclaimer: This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by Dailyhunt. Publisher: The Indian Expresshttp://www.nasdse.org/UserProfile/tabid/574/userId/228794/Default.aspx

Euro 2020 Qualifiers: Rodrigo, Alcacer put Spain on brink of qualification

"Yes, it's almost done, but not yet mathematically," said Spain coach Robert Moreno when asked if his team had all but qualified with four games to spare. "We must grow as a team by winning all our matches. Of course, the final goal is qualification, but what matters is that the team has the feeling of doing things well." There was a minute's silence before the game in tribute to former coach Luis Enrique's daughter Xana who died of bone cancer aged nine last week. Moreno, who took over as boss from Enrique when the ex-Barcelona coach stepped down in June, made 10 changes to the starting XI which won 2-1 in Romania on Thursday, with only Ramos keeping his place. Spain's fast start The hosts wasted little time in taking the lead as the Faroes buckled under intense pressure in the 13th minute, missing several chances to clear the ball before Mikel Oyarzabal set up Rodrigo for a simple tap-in despite suspicions of offside. Spain struggled to break down their stubborn opponents for the rest of the first half, though, despite away goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen being forced into an excellent save to keep out Thiago Alcantara's spectacular long-range volley. But Valencia striker Rodrigo put the game to bed five minutes into the second half, cutting inside from the right and drilling a vicious left-footed strike into the top corner with the aid of a deflection. Despite having failed to score for his club so far this season and only managing eight goals in La Liga last term, the 28-year-old has netted five times in nine competitive internationals since the 2018 World Cup. Joannes Bjartalid gave Spain a scare with quarter-of-an-hour to play, but David de Gea denied him a famous goal with an excellent save. Instead, substitute Alcacer came off the bench to slot in Thiago's low cross in the 90th minute, before the Borussia Dortmund forward flicked in a near-post header to score his third Spain goal this week. "Do I have a nose for goals? That's not for me to say, I just try to ensure that I take up good positions and then do my job," said Alcacer. Spain next take on Norway in Oslo on October 12, before visiting Solna to face Sweden three days later. DailyhuntDisclaimer: This story is auto-aggregated by a computer program and has not been created or edited by Dailyhunt. Publisher: Deccan Chroniclehttps://issuu.com/subgnehagee

http://benoit.gaillard.aricie.net/UserProfile/tabid/2042/userId/7977/Default.aspx