PM invites famed Odisha sand artist to train Gujarat youth
Puri: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday invited internationally acclaimed sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik to train the youth of Gujarat in sand art. “The prime minister invited me to train the youngsters of Gujarat in sand art. I have promised the prime minister to go to Gujarat and open a sand art training institute and train the youngsters there,” Pattnaik said in a statement. During Modi’s visit to the Jagannath temple in Puri on Sunday, Pattnaik presented him a photo of a sand sculpture of Lord Jagannath created by him. Pattnaik, who created a sand art welcoming Modi to Odisha, said it was a great honour for him to meet the prime minister. He said the prime minister praised him for his sand art on current topics and social issues. The Padma Shri recipient artist has participated in more than 50 championships and festivals around the world and won many prizes for the country. (IANS)
‘Feni should be promoted as medicinal brew’
Panaji: King Momo Shalom Sardinha of the ongoing Goa Carnival has said state’s popular drink ‘Feni’ should be promoted as a brew with medicinal value and not just as a hard drink. King Momo’s appeal to Goans comes after the state government decided to classify Feni as a ‘heritage drink’. Sardinha, who heralded the Carnival float parade in Panaji yesterday, appealed people to promote the local brew “as a drink with medical and heritage value” and just as liquor. “Don’t look at Feni as a liquor or a drink to get drunk. It is a unique drink with medical value and these properties of the brew are passed from one generation to another,” Shalom told PTI today. He said the carnival festivities with a message of “eat, drink and be merry” goes well with the concept of encouraging state’s indigenous products. Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar had recently announced that feni would be classified as ‘heritage brew’, providing it market outside Goa. The Goa Cashew Feni Distillers and Bottlers Association has said the government should promote feni through the popular carnival. “We are happy that King Momo is endorsing Feni during the carnival. This will be a great push for this brew,” association’s President Mac Vaz said. Vaz, whose company has recently launched feni product ‘Lembranca’ branding of which was done by famous cartoonist Late Mario Miranda, said it is the “spirit of the soil” that is promoted during such festivities. (PTI)
2013 Muzaffarnagar riots case: Muslim clerics want appeal filed
Muzaffarnagar: Muslim clerics have demanded that the Uttar Pradesh government should file an appeal in the high court against the acquittal of 10 people in connection with 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots case. Several clerics met here yesterday and expressed concern over “poor pleading” by the prosecution leading to acquittal of 10 people in connection with the killings of a woman and a boy during 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots, Vice President of Uttar Pradesh Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind Maulana Jamaluddin Qasmi said today. “They also demanded the Uttar Pradesh government should file an appeal in the high court against the acquittal of 10 people,” he told reporters here. On February 5, a Muzaffarnagar court had acquitted the 10 people in connection with the burning of a 30-year-old woman and a 10-year-old boy at Lank village due to lack of evidence. District president of Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind Mufti Bin Yamin Hashmi, Shahi Imam of Muzaffarnagar Idgah Maulana Zakir and other leaders from various organisations attended the meeting. (PTI)
Nine Hyderabad civic officers attend mujra party, suspended
Hyderabad: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) on Sunday suspended nine of its officers after they were caught red handed at a ‘mujra’ party. GHMC commissioner and special officer Janardhan Reddy suspended the officials including three tax inspectors and ordered an inquiry by the additional commissioner. The officers along with others including six women were arrested late on Saturday night during a police raid on a mujra party at Khanmet under Madhapur police station limits of Cyberabad police commissionerate. Police said the raid was conducted following a tip-off about the party being held in a private building. Dancers brought from Mumbai were among those arrested. Liquor bottles were also seized from the premises. Taking a serious view of the incident, the GHMC commissioner suspended the officials. (IANS)
