Latest news with #RajatSharma
India Gazette
25-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Rajat Sharma recalls
Noida (Uttar Pradesh) [India], June 25 (ANI): Senior journalist Rajat Sharma, who was jailed for 10 months during the Emergency, recalled the 'dark night' when it was imposed and senior political leaders arrested, the struggles he endured and his attempts to keep up the flame of democracy and flow of information by bringing out a 'cyclostyled newspaper' that was then delivered to homes of people. In an interview with ANI, Rajat Sharma recalled being part of Jayaprakash Narayan's student protest. The senior journalist, who is Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of INDIA TV, recounted facing police sticks after arrest but not having fear in his mind. 'I still remember that particular dark night almost 50 years ago when Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency to save her chair. We were all a part of Jayaprakash Narayan's student protest. We got to know that all big leaders of the country, including Jayaprakash Narayan, Morarji Desai, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Prakash Singh Badal, Chaudhary Charan Singh, Raj Narayan, LK Advani, all of them were arrested and sent to different places in the country, like Ambala, Rohtak, Bengaluru,' Rajat Sharma said. 'Our leader at the University was Arun Jaitley. He was the president of DUSU. When police reached his residence, his father helped him escape. I was just 17 years old and was a student of 1st year at the University. When Arun ji reached the University, he was unaware that the police were after him and that he shouldn't go to the university. We took out a procession in the University and raised slogans of 'Tanashahi Murdabad', 'hamare netaao ko riha karo'. Our university had a coffee house, and Arunji was giving us a speech by climbing on a table. We saw the police approaching us to arrest us,' he added. Rajat Sharma said the Station House Officer (SHO) was a friend 'to us all and whispered to us to leave the place'. 'We all left the place, but Arun Jaitley was arrested as the person on whose scooter he was to go, had left. He was sent to a jail in Ambala. Vijay Goyal and I were together and late in the night we got to know that we would not receive newspapers tomorrow because censorship had been imposed, and there was no freedom of expression. Doordarshan and All India Radio were under the government. We had no resources for the news. We got to know through the BBC that Emergency had been imposed in the country. Later, Indira Gandhi announced the Emergency on All India Radio,' he added. Sharma recalled how he and his friend Vijay Goyal, a BJP leader, brought out the cyclostyled newspaper named 'Mashaal' 'For two days, we kept moving, sleeping at shops and houses. The police were searching for us at our homes. Because of censorship, people were unaware of the events in the country. I and Vijay Goel decided that we would release a cyclostyled newspaper and named it 'Mashaal'. I used to write news with my hands. We used to write that our leaders are in jail and about strikes and put this cyclostyled paper in the houses of the people,' he said. Rajat Sharma said he was caught after the police raided the place from where they brought out the cyclostyled newspaper. 'Vijay Goyal ran away, but I was caught and was sent to jail. The police handcuffed me. The police tied me and beat me. They beat me up with sticks.... I was bleeding. They were also questioning me and asking me about the whereabouts of Vijay Goyal,' he said. 'The police told me 'You have no legal rights' and we can shoot you right here''. But there was no fear in my mind because we had been in protests earlier...' 'The next day, I was sent to a Magistrate, who did not listen to my plea. The only thing I was sad about was that outside the Tis Hazari Court, my father was present among the people outside. Even though he wanted to come and meet me, the police wouldn't allow that,' Rajat Sharma recalled. He said when he was brought to Tihar jail, he was sent to the teenager ward, known as 'Munda Khana', instead of the political ward, as he was 17. 'It could accommodate four but there were 12 people there. Some of them, I learnt, were there because of theft or murder days later, I was sent to the political ward. Those two days were very painful. I thought it was my end. I used to hear all sorts of things that frightened me, I used to feel scared but but I did not lose hope,' said Sharma. He said criminals used to say things like all the people in the prison would be taken to the Siberian desert through an aircraft and would be left there and that Indira Gandhi would make all the prisoners taken to the middle of the ocean in a ship and drown them. The Emergency, imposed on June 25, 1975, by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, lasted for 21 months and is remembered for severe restrictions on civil liberties, censorship of the press, and the arrest of political opponents. The Union Cabinet on Wednesday observed a two-minute silence to pay tributes to those whose constitutionally guaranteed democratic rights were taken away and who were then subjected to 'unimaginable horrors' during the Emergency. The Union Cabinet paid tributes to their exemplary courage and valiant resistance to the Emergency's excesses. Briefing reporters after a meeting of Union Cabinet, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that a resolution was adopted on 50 years of Proclamation of Emergency. The Indira Gandhi government had imposed the Emergency on June 25, 1975. The day is observed by the government as 'Samvidhan Hatya Divas'The meeting of the Union Cabinet was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Union Cabinet resolved to commemorate and honour the sacrifices of countless individuals who valiantly resisted the Emergency and its attempt 'at subversion of the spirit of the Indian Constitution, a subversion which began in 1974 with a heavy-handed attempt at crushing the Navnirman Andolan and Sampoorna Kranti Abhiyan'. 'The year 2025 marks 50 years of the Samvidhan Hatya Diwas - an unforgettable chapter in the history of India where the Constitution was subverted, the Republic and democratic spirit of India was attacked, federalism was undermined, and fundamental rights, human liberty and dignity were suspended,' the resolution said. (ANI)
NDTV
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Aamir Khan To Those Who Question His Patriotism: "My Film Sarfarosh Was The First To Take Pakistan's Name Directly"
New Delhi: Aamir Khan came under public scrutiny when he reacted to the Pahalgam terror attack (April 22) almost a week after the incident. Aamir Khan's official statement came just 12 hours before the trailer of his film Sitaare Zameen Par released. Ahead of the film's release, Aamir Khan defended his patriotism during an interaction with Rajat Sharma on his show Aap Ki Adalat. During the chat, Aamir Khan revealed his 1999 release Sarfarosh was the first film in the Indian film history where Pakistan and ISI's names were uttered without using any substitutes. What's Happening Aamir Khan's patriotism was questioned as he didn't speak about the Pahalgam terror attack just after the incident happened. Defending his patriotism, Aamir Khan shared an anecdote from his film Sarfarosh during an interview with Rajat Sharma. Aamir Khan emphasized that Sarfarosh scripted history as the first Indian film where Pakistan and ISI's names were uttered clearly, without using any other names. "If you pick India's film history, we have never been allowed to take their name, we had to use the term 'padosi mulk (neighbouring country)'. My film Sarfarosh was the first one ever in history, in which we have taken Pakistan and ISI's names without hesitation. John [Mathew Matthan, Director] said that the Censor Board won't pass this. I said, 'Why won't they? We will explain it to them'. When Advaniji can call their name in the Parliament publicly that they are doing wrong to us and spreading terrorism, then why can't we?," Aamir Khan recalled on Rajat Sharma's show. "We got permission to use the names on that basis. So many films released after that were using Pakistan's name. People say that I don't say anything against them, but sabse bada naam toh unka maine hi liya hai, aur kisi ne nahi. After Sarfarosh, I got many negative comments from Pakistan for attacking them in the film," he added. 🚨 MASSIVE REVELATION by Aamir Khan! Before 1998, Censor Board banned naming Pakistan as a terror sponsor in films — filmmakers were forced to say "Padosi Mulk"! 😱 🇮🇳 1999's Sarfarosh was the FIRST to break the silence — under PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee! — Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) June 16, 2025 Aamir On His Late Response To Pahalgam Terror Attack During the same interview, Aamir Khan defended that the Sitaare Zameen Par trailer releasing just 12 hours after his official statement was a mere coincidence. "The trailer was supposed to release much earlier. I cancelled it because of the attack on our nation. I cancelled the premiere of Andaz Apna Apna that day," explained Aamir. His 1994 cult Rajkumar Santoshi's Andaz Apna Apna was re-released in cinemas on April 25. Aamir also defended Islam by saying that it doesn't endorse violence. "No religion asks you to kill people. I don't consider these terrorists Muslims because it's written in Islam that you can't kill any innocent human, can't strike a woman or a child. They're going against the religion by doing what they are doing," said Aamir. In A Nutshell Aamir Khan defended his patriotism on Rajat Sharma's show and claimed Sarfarosh was the first Indian film where Pakistan and ISI's names were uttered directly.
News18
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Aamir Khan Says He's A 'Proud Muslim', Condemns Terrorism: 'Unko Islamic Maanta Hi Nahi'
Last Updated: Aamir Khan, in an interview, declared himself a proud Muslim and Indian. He condemned terrorism, stating it goes against Islam, which preaches against harming innocents. Aamir Khan, in a rather bold confession, said that he is a 'proud Muslim" and a 'proud Indian". The actor also clarified his stance on Islam and terrorism, and asserted that his religion preaches against killing others or harming women and children. He boldly expressed that he doesn't consider terrorists to be Muslims. Aamir Khan spoke about being a Muslim at an interview with Rajat Sharma on Aap Ki Adalat. He said, 'Main Muslim hoon aur mujhe bada garv hain ke main Muslim hoon. Main Hindustani hoon aur mujhe bada garv hain ke main Hindustani hoon. Ye dono baatein apni jagah sahi hain (I am a Muslim, and I am very proud to be a Muslim. I am an Indian, and I am equally proud to be an Indian. Both these things hold true in their own right)." He further added, 'Koi bhi mazhab ye nahi kehta ke aap innocent logon ko maaro. Aur ye terrorist jo kar rahe hain, main unko Islamic maanta hi nahi hoon. Main toh unko Muslim nahi maanta hoon. Islam mein likha hain ke aap kisi bhi innocent aadmi ko nahi maar sakte. Aap auraton pe haath nahi utha sakte, baccho pe haath nahi utha sakte. Ye saari cheezein hamare Islam mein hain. Ye jo kar rahe hain, wo mazhab ke khilaaf jaa rahe hain, galat kar rahe hain wo (No religion teaches us to kill innocent people. And what these terrorists are doing – I don't consider them Islamic. In fact, I don't even consider them Muslims. Islam clearly states that you cannot harm an innocent person. You cannot raise your hand against women, or against children. All of these principles are part of our faith. What these people are doing goes against religion – they are doing wrong)." The conversation emerged after the ghastly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists. In retaliation, Indian forces targeted nine locations in Pakistan and PoK, known terror hotbeds, at 1:44 AM on May 7, in a mission dubbed Operation Sindoor. This four-day campaign ended after Pakistan sought a ceasefire. However, New Delhi made it clear to the world that it will not seek anyone's permission to defend its people whenever need be. First Published:
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Metro surpasses 50k ridership in 3 days
Indore: Indore's newly inaugurated Metro Train became an instant sensation, running 'overloaded' with thousands of enthusiastic citizens flocking to stations for a 'joy ride' on the city's latest mode of transportation. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In just three days since its launch, the Metro comfortably surpassed the 50,000 ridership mark, a clear indication of the overwhelming public excitement. However, the current surge in ridership is expected to see a considerable drop after June 7, when the initial 'Joy Ride' period, offering free rides, comes to an end. Despite recording over 15,000 daily ridership between 8am and 8 pm, a significant number of travellers are eagerly awaiting the extension of the Metro. Currently, the Metro operates on an approximately 6 km-long 'Super Priority Corridor' on the Super Corridor. However, citizens are keen for its expansion to the approximately 17.5 km-long 'Priority Corridor' that will reach Radisson Square. Many believe this extended route will provide a "suitable" transportation option due to the comfort, hassle-free nature, economical fares, and its pollution-free, eco-friendly ride. Among the hundreds of passengers enjoying the Metro's maiden run were employees of a major IT company located on the Super Corridor. "I reside near Bapat Square and currently commute to the office on my bike," shared Rajat Sharma, an IT professional. He expressed his eagerness for the Metro's extension, hoping for an economical, weather-proof, and comfortable ride directly between his colony and the IT company's entrance. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Sharma's colleague, Akshita, who lives near Chandragupta Maurya (MR-10) Square, highlighted her daily commute challenges. "The bus service recently stopped, and now every day, I have to somehow manage to reach the office," she told a local daily. "However, this will not be the case once the Super Priority Corridor of the Metro is commercially operational and extended." Madhu Mishra, an MBA student who also works part-time in Vijay Nagar, echoed the sentiment for a longer commercial run. "Apart from offering all these facilities and comfort, the Metro Train's fare is very reasonable," she added, emphasising the affordability of the new transport system. The initial overwhelming response clearly indicates Indoreans' readiness for a modern, efficient, and sustainable public transportation system. The true test and sustained success of the Indore Metro, however, will likely hinge on the timely completion of its extended corridors, promising a more comprehensive and impactful service for the city's commuters. Talk of The Town Overwhelming Enthusiasm: Despite light to moderate rains, thousands, including families, friends, and groups of children, flocked to the Indore Metro for its "Joy Ride," showcasing immense public excitement. Safety Measures & Awareness: While some excited passengers, mostly children, were seen pushing panic buttons, hanging on handlebars, or not maintaining distance from doors, security guards promptly educated them on rules and regulations, including penalties for violations. MPMRCL PRO Himanshu Grover stated no formal violations were registered, adding that over 150 security guards and extensive CCTV coverage ensure close monitoring. Big List of Do's, Don'ts and Violations with Penalties: MPMRCL issued a guideline for the passengers, which are pasted on all the stations and inside the Metro Train, to follow. Besides, information is also available to the public about the violations that can lead to penalties, imprisonment, or both. Free Rides Drive Initial Ridership: Many families and friends joined the "Joy Ride" due to the free travel offer. However, working professionals anticipate a significant drop in ridership once ticketing begins. Reasonable Fare Structure: Travellers have generally found the Metro's fare structure to be reasonable. For the current 5-station 'Super Priority Corridor' (Gandhi Nagar to Super Corridor-03), fares range from Rs 20 to Rs 30. The broader Yellow Line, eventually covering 28 stations, will have fare slabs from Rs 20 to Rs 80, depending on travel zones. Promotional Discounts: To encourage public adoption, MPMRCL launched a three-month promotional discount scheme: free QR tickets until June 7, followed by 75% off in the second week, 50% in the third week, and 25% off up to the third month. Impressive Initial Ridership: MPMRCL officials reported approximately 26,000 passengers on the first day, and around 16,000 each on Monday and Tuesday, highlighting the strong initial public interest. |
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Bullish on private banks; 3 stocks to bet on: Rajat Sharma
Rajat Sharma , Founder & CEO, Sana Securities , says he favours private banking, highlighting HDFC Bank , Axis Bank , and Federal Bank . These banks benefit from non-interest income. Sharma is also optimistic about the IT sector, noting attractive valuations for companies like Infosys and TCS . Increased spending in the US will benefit Indian IT firms. He believes these tech giants will remain core portfolio components. Which themes are looking good to you right now? What are you bullish on? Rajat Sharma: Yes, in terms of themes, clearly with it is almost a given that next week there will be a rate cut in the MPC's meeting, so banking of course is one sector that I have been bullish on for a very long time because private banking in particular has already anyways been trading fairly cheap compared to a lot of the other pockets of the market. And with RBI's meeting next week with where inflation is, it is a given that there would be a 25 bps rate cut, so that would be an additional benefit which the banking sector will get. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like War Thunder - Register now for free and play against over 75 Million real Players War Thunder Play Now Undo Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. But the major reason why I am bullish on banking, in particular private banking, is because the Union Budget that we had this year which increased the tax slabs and made income up to Rs 12 lakh tax-free, the benefit of that you will start seeing from the FY26 which is the financial year which has just started. So, while a lot of people are talking about consumption spending going up and discretionary spending going up, a clear beneficiary, the first beneficiary and the biggest beneficiary of this new tax policy would be banking because that is where money will come in the first place. If you talk about things that are working for the bank, the tax policies, the new tax structure is really favourable, repo rate will be revised to 5.75% so more money in the hands of the banks and over the last two-three years also tax policies have been changed in such a way that a lot of the advantage is given to mutual funds where people were taking their money from banks, particularly debt mutual funds which got indexation benefit and 20% tax post that – has been taken away. Gradually, a lot of policies have started favouring banking and I like private banking. The top picks I have in that sector would be clearly HDFC Bank and Axis Bank which also by the way get a lot of their revenue from non-interest income, another area of banking which I am really positive on, HDFC and Axis both get about 18% to 19% of their total income from fee-based income distribution of third-party products, mutual funds, the AMC business, and the other bank I am bullish on is Federal Bank. Live Events You Might Also Like: CA Rudramurthy BV on crucial Nifty levels to watch; 2 stocks to buy So, these three banks and clearly a week before the MPC meeting banking is definitely one sector which I am really bullish on and bullish on for the next three, four, five years kind of perspective. India still remains an underbanked country. What is your view on the IT sector? Do you continue to be optimistic on that one? And also, how do you see Indian IT companies navigating the whole AI transition play? Rajat Sharma: If you look at the history of the Indian IT sector , it always trails the US IT. Whatever happens there both in terms of development and adoption to new technology whether it was digital around a decade back or it is AI now and also in terms of earnings and valuations, so while US tech companies have run up a lot in the last one year or so, Indian tech has been struggling mainly because there was a negative sentiment around Indian IT companies, still relying on cloud and digital and basically the legacy business of programming and not really adopting to the AI revolution. In fact, because of AI, there were a lot of job cuts which we saw at Infosys and stuff. So, my view is that they got affected because there was a curtailed spending in the US on fears of a recession in US markets on account of Trump's tariffs policies or whatever. Now US and European companies have started spending more, a trend which we have started seeing and given where Indian IT companies are, the large IT companies, Infosys and TCS and Coforge and Mphasis a lot of these companies will benefit from increased spending in the US. I was looking at Infosys, the dividend yield is almost close to 2.75%. For tech companies to be trading at 22-24 kind of price to earnings multiple is a very attractive level to buy. These companies are not going anywhere. They are, were, and will always be part of the core portfolio in India. They will be part of Nifty for all times to come, as would a lot of these large tech companies. So, this is one sector which from a valuation perspective is really attractive and things should turn around for them given that the whole tariff business is behind us and there is no fear of a recession in the US as much as there was some time back. 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