Latest news with #Amethi
India Today
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Smriti Irani on her comeback to TV, political future and more
In an exclusive interview with Aaj Tak's Managing Editor, Anjana Om Kashyap, actor-politician Smriti Irani talked about her comeback to TV with Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, her political future and a slew of issues. She confirms that this is not a retirement from public life, stating, "Politics will always be in my veins." The interview covers her journey from being a TV actor to a Union Minister, her electoral battle in Amethi, including the 2019 victory over Rahul Gandhi, and her tenure handling ministries like HRD and Women & Child Development. Irani also addresses controversies surrounding the revision of NCERT history textbooks and accusations of bias against the Election Commission.
Time of India
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
CM for focus on protection of local livestock breeds
1 2 Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said agriculture and livestock were mutually connected and asserted the importance of focusing on local breeds. "Prosperity cannot come without the prosperity of the farmer. Agriculture and livestock have been interconnected in India. The farmer who provides food will have livestock in his house, and the livestock owner will also be connected to farming. Considering their interrelationship, significant steps have been taken in this sector in UP. The energy of the double-engine govt has benefited UP, making it the number one state in milk production in the country," he said. The CM was addressing the 'Development of Animal Breeds in India' workshop at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan on Saturday. He also inaugurated the Artificial Insemination Training Institute of Gorakhpur and three projects in UP (Amethi, Bareilly, and Mathura) under the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund. Adityanath also called for the preservation of local livestock breeds, praising those who employ indigenous methods for breed improvement. "Many local breeds are on the verge of extinction. By paying attention to them, we can provide a permanent source of prosperity for livestock farmers," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Upto 15% Discount for Salaried Individuals ICICI Pru Life Insurance Plan Get Quote Undo Yogi said the Centre has assured its help in meeting the challenges of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in the livestock. "By making livestock FMD free, the state govt will contribute to bringing prosperity to the lives of livestock farmers," Yogi said. The Chief Minister asserted that when his govt assumed office in 2017, it faced the challenge of inadequate improvement in the breed of livestock, which was eventually left to roam freely on roads and fields or was sent to slaughterhouses. "There was trouble for farmers' fields and accidents on the roads," he said adding that today more than 14 lakh cows were being taken care by govt's cow shelters or govt-aided cattle keepers. The CM said the Gauseva Commission in UP has been given the responsibility to ensure proper upkeep of destitute cow shelters. "Campaigns are being run for breed improvement. Farmers are also being trained to connect the destitute cow shelters with natural farming," he said. The CM said various milk producers were working in UP, including Balini of Jhansi, Gorakhpur, Agra and Varanasi. "Lakhs of women are associated with this, who achieve the goal of milk collection, self-reliance through committees, and also take care of a good breed of animal husbandry. Value addition through milk collection can contribute to bringing prosperity to the lives of farmers and animal breeders," he said. Yogi said in the current situation, excessive use of chemicals, pesticides and fertilisers is giving rise to new diseases, and it was important to adopt to natural farming. For this, the CM said, his govt launched a special campaign to promote natural farming in 27 districts. "Natural farming is also being encouraged in all seven districts of Bundelkhand. Efforts have been started to increase the importance of cow-based farming. This will contribute to increasing the income of farmers," he said. Yogi said UP was among the leading states in fish production and has also taken a big leap in egg production and poultry farming. He said the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) signed an MoU with the UP govt and is taking care of three dairies (Gorakhpur, Kanpur, Kannauj). Ambedkar Nagar's fodder production centre has also been given to NDDB.
News18
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Tulsi Virani Returns After 25 Years. But Why Is This Congress Leader Being ‘Thanked'?
Last Updated: Smriti Irani is reprising her role as Tulsi Virani after 25 years in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2. Smriti Irani is returning as Tulsi Virani after 25 years. The former Union Minister shared the first look of her iconic character from Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 on social media, which gained widespread attention. In no time, fans rushed to the post to celebrate the comeback of one of Indian television's most iconic roles. But beyond the excitement, her return also triggered political reactions online. Several Congress leaders and supporters used the announcement to take a swipe at Irani after her defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Amethi. Thank you @KLSharmaINC JiGood luck @SmritiIrani Ji. Wishing you a great acting career ahead! — Congress Kerala (@INCKerala) July 7, 2025 Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput also shared a post in Hindi, saying that Congress is helping people return to their original professions. 'The Congress Party will ensure everyone gets their original jobs back. Those that the BJP had taken away from them, this is just the beginning, no one will remain unemployed! Smriti Irani returns in the avatar of 'Tulsi'! The first look of Smriti Irani's 'Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' – 2 has been revealed," he wrote on X. Along with Congress leaders, some social media users have also shared similar posts mocking her. One person wrote, 'Smriti Irani returns as Tulsi. Courtesy: Kishori Lal Sharma." Smriti Irani retuns as Kishori Lal Sharma🗿 — Mohit Chauhan (@mohitlaws) July 7, 2025 'Heartfelt thanks to the people of Amethi and Kishori Lal Sharma ji for showing Smriti Irani ji her rightful place. The Congress knows how to remind everyone of their status and place both," wrote someone else. स्मृति ईरानी जी को उनकी सही जगह दिखाने के लिए अमेठी की जनता और किशोरी लाल शर्मा जी को दिल से धन्यवाद।कांग्रेस हर किसी को उसकी औकात और जगह दोनों याद दिलाना जानती है..🙏🏼😁 #Amethi #KishoriLalSharma #स्मृतिईरानी #smritiirani Smriti Irani is returning to "Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi" show. Kishori Lal Sharma — Narundar (@NarundarM) July 7, 2025 Kishori Lal Sharma is a veteran Congress worker and one of the most trusted aides of the Gandhi family. His political journey in Amethi began in 1983 when he was brought in through a Youth Congress programme launched by then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Sharma was placed in charge of the Tiloi Assembly segment under the Amethi Lok Sabha constituency and remained closely involved in the party's work across Amethi and Rae Bareli. After Rajiv Gandhi's death in 1991, Sharma continued to serve the Congress in the region. He played an important role in Sonia Gandhi's first electoral campaign from Amethi in 1999 and later helped manage constituency work in Rae Bareli as well. Amethi and Rae Bareli have historically been strongholds for the Congress and the Gandhi family. But in 2019, the party suffered a major setback after Rahul Gandhi lost Amethi to Irani. In the 2024 general elections, the Gandhi family did not contest from Amethi for the first time in decades. Kishori Lal Sharma was fielded by Congress in what was his debut election. Backed by his decades-long presence and organisational work in the region, Sharma contested from Amethi and won, which helped Congress reclaim the seat. Speculation Over Smriti Irani's Political Future Irani's return to television led to renewed speculation about her future in politics, especially after she was left out of the Modi 3.0 cabinet and lost the Amethi seat in the 2024 general elections. Many questioned whether the acting comeback marked a shift away from her political career. But this is not the first time the Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi reboot was considered. Irani had earlier shared that the show was originally planned in 2014 but was delayed due to her ministerial responsibilities. 'There were two projects that I had walked away from. One was a movie that I was doing with the late Rishi Kapoor, and another one was Kyunki 2. The set was ready, but there was a phone call from the Prime Minister's office that you had to take an oath. So, I walked away from both of them. I remember Rishi Kapoor telling me to leave now because to serve your country is a greater service than just doing a movie or doing television," she said as quoted by Economic Times. 'I'm A Full-Time Politician, Part-Time Actor': Smriti Irani In a recent interview, Irani directly addressed the assumptions around her return to acting. She stated clearly that acting is only a side project and that she continues to work actively within her party organisation. 'I am working in Amethi. You're given assignments within your organisation. My last assignment was in Bikaner. Before that I was dispatched to Ranchi, Jharkhand. So the organisation keeps giving you work and you have to work according to whatever your leadership decides," she said in an interview with NDTV. She further said, 'I am a full-time politician and a part-time actor. It is a side project. For most consumers, the project is not one individual. It's always a group of actors coming together, a group of writers coming together. I am very humbly so the most recognisable face out of that mix of people, but I'm a full-time politician, a part-time actor — just like many politicians are part-time lawyers, part-time teachers, part-time journalists." Drawing a comparison with fellow leaders, she added, 'The only difference between me and my other political colleagues is they are part-time lawyers and there's no videographer along with them. There's no makeup person along with them. There's no scriptwriter. It's just that we all are from different vocations. I'm just the one in the spotlight." top videos View all Smriti Irani Is Known As a Powerful Orator Irani has been recognised for her strong presence in Parliament. Over the years, she became one of the BJP's most prominent women leaders and was often praised for her sharp debating style. Like the late Sushma Swaraj, Irani emerged as one of the standout orators in her party. About the Author Buzz Staff A team of writers at bring you stories on what's creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. News18's viral page features trending stories, videos, and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : entertainment Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 smriti irani viral news view comments Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: July 09, 2025, 11:26 IST News viral Tulsi Virani Returns After 25 Years. But Why Is This Congress Leader Being 'Thanked'? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Print
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Print
Congress mocks Smriti Irani's return to TV. ‘Everyone returning to original professions'
A former Star employee shared a nostalgic post about how the show ruled every home. Congress handles have, however, used it as an opportunity to mock the former minister. Priti Gandhi, a political analyst for the BJP, wished Irani on her return to acting after two decades. 'Even after 25 years, Tulsi Virani continues to hold a special place in people's hearts,' she wrote on X. New Delhi: Former education minister Smriti Irani is reprising her role as Tulsi Virani in Ekta Kapoor's magnum opus Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi after 17 years. Her return to acting was announced through a promotional video on Instagram. The video immediately started circulating on social media, with fans, other actors, and even politicians reacting to the upcoming show. The official X account for Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee posted a cheeky reaction to Irani's announcement, even while wishing her 'a great acting career ahead'. The post thanked Kishori Lal Sharma, who defeated Irani in Amethi, indicating that her loss prompted the former minister to return to TV. Surendra Rajput, the National Media Panelist of Congress, also took a dig at Irani. He wrote in Hindi that Congress is helping everyone return to their original professions, which the BJP had taken away from them, adding that no one would remain unemployed. A former BJP social media strategist shared a pointed response to those mocking Irani's new stint. 'Trolls & opposition memes can't dim the light of a woman who rose on her own merit,' wrote Shobhit Agarwal. Also read: Partners today seek dopamine from phones, not each other: Anurag Basu A 25-year-long relationship The promotional video starts with a family dining and debating whether Irani will return to the show, as the title track of the serial plays on a TV. The viewers then get a glimpse of Irani watering a tulsi plant. She smiles, looks into the camera, and says: 'Zaroor aaungi, kyuki humara 25 saalon ka rishta jo hai. Waqt aagaya hai apse phir milne ka (I'll definitely come because we have a 25-year-long relationship. The time has come to meet you again).' It has over 23 lakh views and 70,000 likes on Instagram. 'Kya aap abhi bhi vishwaas nahi kar paa rahe? 25 saal ke baad, Tulsi Virani laut rahi hai, ek nayi kahaani ke saath (Are you still not convinced? After 25 years, Tulsi Virani is returning with a new story),' read the caption. Irani's return has created anticipation among TV actors too. Actor Hiten Tejwani, who played the role of Tulsi's son in the serial, wrote 'Super' under the Instagram Reel. 'This show is legacy and pure childhood memories,' wrote TV actor Shivya Pathania, who played Sita in the series, Ram Siya Ke Luv Kush. Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi also featured Amar Upadhyay, Apara Mehta, and Mouni Roy. Created by Ekta Kapoor in 2000, the serial aired for right years, with over 1,800 episodes. The show will return to Star Plus on 29 July. (Edited by Prasanna Jayraj Bachchhav)
Hindustan Times
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
In Lucknow, emotions enrich tales of success, hard work for new UP Police recruits
The mood was joyous and the atmosphere festive for the newly recruited police personnel at the Defence Expo Ground in Lucknow's Vrindavan Yojana on Sunday. Tears of happiness, smiles of satisfaction and acknowledgement of gratitude punctuated the tales of hard work and perseverance of the diligent young men and women who realised their dreams of a better life on the path of duty, albeit with a khaki tinge and opened a new chapter of hope and transformation. From Awadhesh Prasad of Shravasti to Sukhdev Verma of Mahoba and Akhilesh Yadav of Amethi, thousands of young people came forward to receive their appointment letters — most of them the first in their families to join government service. This milestone event was not just about employment, it marked a societal shift towards empowerment, education, and dignity. Ashish Gautam, a Dalit youth from Deoria whose parents are daily wage labourers, said, 'I worked hard, and today, I've become a constable in UP Police. There's no room for discrimination now — only talent matters.' Rajkumar Yadav from Harirampur village in Deoria turned emotional as he recalled his late father, Ram Adhar Yadav. 'If my father were alive today, he would have been proud. People used to say one has to sell land to get a government job — but today, I've received this opportunity without spending a single rupee,' he said. 'No one in our family has ever had a government job. From form submission to selection, not a single rupee was spent. The process was completely transparent,' said Roshni from Hardaspur village in Firozabad district. Her father, Amir Singh, is a farmer, and her mother, Meera Devi, is a homemaker. Roshni has two brothers. Preeti Yadav from Marka village in Banda district said, 'It was like a festival at home when I shared the news.' She, too, is the first government job-holder in her family. Her father, Dinesh Yadav, works in the private sector, and her mother, Rajpati, is a homemaker. 'Earlier people used to say government jobs were impossible without money, but this myth has been shattered today,' she said, expressing gratitude to chief minister Yogi Adityanath for a corruption-free opportunity. The recruitment process began in December 2023 and concluded successfully despite numerous challenges like paper leaks. The recruitment process was completed under Rajeev Krishna as the director of the UP Police Recruitment and Promotion Board (UPPRPB) after the removal of Renuka Mishra following the question paper leak of the written exam held on February 17 and 18, 2024. The state government cancelled the written examination on February 24. The written examination was then successfully conducted in August 2024 under heightened security. The recruitment process was conducted using high-tech systems, including biometric verification and CCTV surveillance, to ensure complete transparency.
