Jasprit Bumrah Captain? Shubman Gill His Sidekick!

With India’s armed forces engaged in the battle front against Pakistan, no way the Tata-IPL-18 could have continued, and the BCCI has rightly stopped all action (entertainment) for a week. It’s a matter of conjecture, even though a ceasefire has been called, as to when play will resume to complete season-18. Until the call was taken to bring the league to a halt, the interest and focus — apart from the performances of the 10 teams — was on the homegrown talents leading the teams like Axar Patel, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Rajat Patidar, Shubman Gill, Rituraj Gaikwad (replaced by MS Dhoni), Sanju Samson (replaced by Riyan Parag)  and Ajinkya Rahane. It was great to see so many Indians trying to show their leadership qualities, but only two or three could be said to be in contention for the leadership role for the five-Test series in England, even after Rohit Sharma called it “quits” from Test cricket.

The notable absentee from this group was Jasprit Bumrah who was not a starter for Mumbai Indians this IPL, but he breathed fire soon after joining the MI ranks. Gill, Iyer and Patidar earned some brownie points and the Gujarat Titans captain Gill will get a role in England. But can the selectors ignore the claim of Bumrah who stunned one and all with his captaincy in Australia, in the first Test in Perth that India won with consummate ease. With the experience of playing nine Tests in England and bowling 357 overs there, Bumrah ought to be the captain for the tour of England. Gill can only be Bumrah’s sidekick. The selection committee has plenty to mull over.  (By G Viswanath)

As Pak Army Worries Post Operation Sindoor, Rajnath Singh’s Stock Up

Pakistan’s army is presently in a state of shock and awe. Gen Asim Munir failed to understand how Indian missiles and drones entered 100 km deep inside Pakistan and his army did not have a whiff about this attack. How his air defence system failed.  Gen Munir is deeply worried about this major gaffe. The terror hideouts that were destroyed were located in high-security zones. Prime Minister Modi had warned in advance that our armed forces would strike in a manner that Pakistan would never imagine. Terror headquarters of Hafiz Saeed, Masood Azhar and Syed Salahuddin were closely guarded by the Pakistani army near the cantonments and located in congested residential localities. Pakistan expected that many civilians would die in Indian attacks, but the precision bombs fell only on terror camps. Pakistan’s air defence systems were supposed to be strong near these nine sites. These targeted attacks have unnerved Islamabad. The attacks clearly show that the Pakistani generals have no idea about the efficiency and operational capabilities of the Indian armed forces. Meanwhile, it is being said “Operation Sindoor” was a tightly kept secret even within the Union Cabinet. PM Modi involved only Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Other members of the Cabinet Committee on Security — Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman — were kept in confidence. So, Rajnath’s importance has gone up. Modi wanted everything to be kept top secret. Within 25 minutes on May 7, our Army and Air Force destroyed terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) by launching missiles and drones. The headquarters of terror masterminds Hafiz Sayeed and Masood Azhar were reduced to rubble, deep inside Pakistani territory. Masood Azhar lost his sister and nine other family members in the air strike. It was Modi who took the big powers into confidence in advance to control the after effects of this action. Three people were selected to brief the media. They mentioned the sins of Hafiz Saeed, Masood Azhar and Hizbul chief Syed Salahuddin.   India has avenged the Pahalgam killings.  (By Lakshmi Iyer)

TAFE Pulls A Surprise On AGCO, Gives Up Board Position

In the fast-evolving environment, the winning strategy is defined by smartness. How else could one describe this move by Tractors and Farm Equipment (TAFE).  The Chennai-based tractor company has been engaged in a legal row with its U.S. Partner AGCO Corporation. Both have cross-holding in each other. TAFE is the largest shareholder in AGCO. They have been partners for over six decades. Yet, AGCO has chosen to raise an avoidable dispute with TAFE over the ownership of Massey Ferguson brand. The U.S. company, it may be recalled, confirmed the termination of its commercial agreement with TAFE. Even as the dispute has taken a legal route, TAFE is understood to have decided that it would not nominate its representative to the board of AGCO. TAFE, being the largest single shareholder with over 16% stake, has the right to have a nominee on the board of AGCO. But, it has chosen not to have its nominee on the board. Well, this should give the Chennai-based tractor company quite an elbow-room to chalk out an independent course in the marketplace. How will this strategy play out? One has to wait and watch. In the meanwhile, TAFE has voluntarily agreed to extend its `standstill commitment’ till June this year. The agreement essentially is about freezing TAFE holding in AGCO. The termination of the commercial agreement with TAFE is interpreted as a move by the U.S. firm to force TAFE to sign a permanent `standstill agreement’. In a new normal environment, Indian firms aren’t shying away. Indeed, they are out to establish their multi-national aspiration. (By KT Jagannathan)

What Went Wrong With Tamil Film Star Ravi Mohan-Aarti’s Marriage Of 18 Years?

It was in 2004 when the Tamil movie M. Kumaran Son of Mahalakshmi pole-vaulted a vanilla hero to fame in Kollywood. Ravi Mohan, credited as Jayam Ravi (to identify his lineage with Jayam Productions), was signed for many a family theme film that had little violence but much sentiment and romance. Suddenly he announced that he would be known now as Ravi Mohan despite his 25 years established brand name – Jayam Ravi. Simultaneously, he said that he is separating from wife Aarti of 18 years and started divorce proceedings. Name change and wife change? Yes …Ravi Mohan confidently walked into the lavish wedding of Producer and Vel’s Group Chairman, Isari Ganesh’s daughter Preetha. What set off the jungle drums was Ravi and escort Kenisha Francis were twinning in identical cream coloured attire. This was the moment for Aarti to go into a public lament and tear fest…“I kept silent all these days not because I am weak, but for the sake of my 14 and 10 year old sons and their emotional well-being. But Ravi has not only abandoned his family, but his responsibility as a father”. Was this the moment when Ravi Mohan reminisced about his very first movie where his mother, played by gorgeous Nadia boldly takes on her role as single mother, even as husband abandons his family? Trolls apart, the real reasons for Ravi Mohan wanting a divorce are not out in the open …only veiled talk in social media about Aarti’s mother Sujatha Vijayakumar’s overwhelming influence on the marriage. Now that Ravi Mohan has openly brought out his new choice, the pending case should take its natural course. Ah! Kollywood and its filmi, fragile marriages.  (By Padma Ramnath)

Kerala-Based Dinesh Beedi Up In Smoke

Dinesh Beedi Workers’ Co-operative Society, an institution born out of a labour movement in Kerala in 1969, is struggling to keep its core business of beedi making afloat. The Kannur-based society which used to employ 42,000 women workers, today has only 2000 workers. As part of its survival strategy, many branches are being merged in Azhikode and Kannur into a single entity. During the best of its time, Dinesh had 16 branches under which 82 small scale units existed. Supporting the beedi manufacturing cause were 18 primary societies spread over Kannur and Kasargod generating a turnover of Rs 60 crore. Interestingly, working at Dinesh Beedi was considered as good as a government job, according to a beedi worker Savithri PV Dinesh used to pay Rs 50 for every 1000 beedis rolled. Today the competition is paying Rs 75 for 1000 beedis. Things took a turn for the worse in 1990 after increased health awareness, ban on tobacco promotion, smoking ban at public places, beedi being considered inferior and easy availability of cheaper brands from West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. Foreseeing an alarming future, the primary co-operative board of directors — all of whom were beedi rollers, chalked out an expansive diversification with the launch of Dinesh Foods in 1997. This was followed by Dinesh Information Technology Systems, Dinesh Umbrella, Dinesh Auditorium, 2001, Dinesh Apparels 2007 and Cafe Dinesh 2015. Almost all the beedi rollers who lost their jobs, found employment in garments and umbrellas making units, running cafes and upgrading their skills to IT. The diversifications are taking shape but it will take time to make up the loss of Rs 60 crore turnover from beedi rolling.  (By Our National Editor)

Pak And Hamas Backers Rear Head In Pune, BJP Demands Action

Known as Maharashtra’s cultural capital and fountainhead of many social reform movements, Pune has been shaken over the past few days owing to two daylight incidents of publicly supporting Pakistan and Hamas. More shocking is the fact that the pro-Hamas activity has taken place in Karve Nagar, an elite locality in Pune. When local BJP workers learnt that a group of youngsters was distributing pamphlets in support of Hamas in that area, they rushed to the spot and tried to prevent the effort. There was a free for all and the BJP group has demanded urgent appropriate action against the Hamas backers. The police have assured them that no anti-national activity will be permitted and those breaching social amity will face action. In the other incident, a young girl, said to be an engineering student, has been sent into police custody for posting slogans like Pakistan Zindabad on social media. It is alleged that she recently visited her relatives in Srinagar. After some organisations declared that they would stage a demonstration against her, the police took adequate precautions while producing her in court. In recent months, intermittent news reports have appeared about the objectionable developments in certain Pune pockets. The police have intensified their campaign to identify and arrest illegal immigrants, especially those from Bangladesh. Pune is considered a BJP stronghold and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar is its guardian minister. As these incidents took place amidst the height of Operation Sindoor, more follow up actions are anticipated. (By Dilip Chaware)

After Making Inroads In JNU, ABVP Eyes Left-Controlled Jadavpur University

In a notable shift in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student politics, the RSS affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) made significant gains in the recent student union elections. While the Left retained key positions, ABVP hailed its performance as “historic”. It now aims to expand its presence at Jadavpur University (JU). Aniruddha Sarkar, ABVP’s South Bengal State Secretary, called the JNU outcome a mandate for ideological change and declared the time had come to replicate it in JU. He emphasised that ABVP had disrupted Left dominance in JNU and would challenge the “Left ecosystem” in JU as well. ABVP has accelerated its activities at JU. Recently, it organized a Ram Navami puja at the university’s engineering gate placing a Hanuman image beside murals of Marx, Lenin, and Mao. While such acts had earlier triggered strong opposition, this time there was little protest, partly due to the Sunday holiday. Nonetheless, the event marked a symbolic assertion of right-wing presence in a traditionally Left-dominated campus. Srijan Bhattacharyya, an SFI All India leader and JU alumnus, who also contested the Lok Sabha Election 2024 on CPI(M) ticket, dismissed comparisons with JNU. He said JU’s ideological identity is fundamentally different and that a handful of non-Bengali-speaking engineering students would not enable ABVP to take over. He maintained that ABVP would remain on the periphery. However, ABVP leaders viewed the Ram Navami event as a breakthrough. One said it had given them the “oxygen” they needed and vowed to go further, framing future plans as a “surgical strike” on JU’s Left bastion — signalling a deepening ideological contest on Bengal’s premier campuses. (By Tanya Bagchi)

Will ‘Housefull 5’ Score For Sajid Nadiadwala?

As the release date of Housefull 5 approaches on June 9, renowned producer Sajid Nadiadwala finds himself at a crucial juncture. This highly anticipated instalment of the successful franchise is expected to be a litmus test for both Nadiadwala and the current state of the Indian film industry, particularly amidst the backdrop of rising political tensions between India and Pakistan. The challenges posed by these tensions could impact audience turnout and overall box office performance. Nadiadwala, who recently faced a string of disappointing releases — including Sikandar, Chandu Champion and Bachchan Pandey — has invested significantly in acquiring the rights to the trending song “Lal Puri” hoping it will resonate with audiences. The recent underperformance of his films, coupled with a generally lacklustre box office climate, has raised questions about the viability of his production house, Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment. Housefull 5 boasts an impressive ensemble cast featuring Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, and more, making it one of the biggest films in recent times. The film’s success is not just vital for Nadiadwala; it could also serve as a bellwether for the exhibition sector in India, gauging whether audiences are ready to embrace cinema again after a period of uncertainty. As the film aims to capture the essence of what the Housefull franchise represents—comedy, entertainment, and escapism—its reception will be closely watched. Will it manage to overcome the prevailing sentiment and deliver a blockbuster experience, or will it join the ranks of recent flops? For Nadiadwala, Housefull 5 is not just another film; it’s a pivotal moment that could redefine his career and the future of Bollywood in these testing times. (By Girish Wankhede)

Stalin Keeps A DMK Tradition Of A National Cause Alive

The ruling DMK made its point in Tamil Nadu when it took out a rally to display its solidarity with the armed forces that were actively engaged in the conflict with Pakistan. The ceasefire announcement may have come just as the rally was moving on to the Marina Beach Road, but the DMK has only upholding a tradition of the party supporting the Union government during any external threat to the nation. Carrying the national flag and walking the Marina promenade has been a tradition since the war against China broke out in 1962, which was when the DMK founder Annadurai declared that his party was giving up its separate Tamil homeland (Dravida Nadu) demand in a national Indian cause. The Congress may have run the same kind of rally in Hyderabad and Chennai before chief minister MK Stalin walked to display his solidarity, but the DMK march for a national cause has been something that the party has always revered. So much so, even the Governor RN Ravi lauded the DMK for the rally. Of course, the DMK has come a long way since supporting such causes as Eelam, with a territory covering Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu as a Tamil homeland. Such thoughts are probably only nursed by the likes of Vaiko and other politicians who remain wedded to the romantic notion of a Tamil nation.  (By Tamil Raja)

Will Andhra Police Arrest Former Chief Minister Jagan Reddy In Liquor Scam?

Former Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy finds himself increasingly cornered in the liquor scam case and the buzz in political circles is that his arrest by the Chandrababu Naidu government seems imminent. This rumour is gathering steam following interrogation of key accused K Rajasekhar Reddy alias Raj Kasireddy. So far SIT has identified 29 individuals as accused in the liquor case. Recently, the AP High Court rejected anticipatory bail of Jagan’s two key aides — Dhanunjay Reddy and Krishna Mohon Reddy. Why is the probe not being fast tracked? Sources say the liquor scam probe is being led in slow motion strategically so as to mould public opinion. Allegations are being pushed through the media suggesting that the liquor deals were executed under Jagan’s direct instructions. The AP sources say the objective of the current chief minister Naidu is to prime public attention and their sentiments first, so that any potential arrest does not trigger backlash against his government but rather appears justified. Some political observers say arresting Jagan will serve as a symbolic counter to the arrest of Naidu during Jagan’s regime. Many believe there is no better time to act against Jagan in the next few months. The question now is not if but when! Naidu is assessing the likely impact of Jagan’s arrest in Andhra’s political landscape. One thing that comes out loud and clear is Jagan may once again face jail term. During the UPA regime, he was arrested in May 2012 by the CBI for allegedly amassing huge assets. He walked out of jail after 16 months. (By Sangram Mohanty)

Lone Ranger Sanjay Raut Emerges As The First Voice Of Dissent To Modi Govt

In the post-Pahalgam scenario, while the entire Opposition had initially united in support behind the Narendra Modi government, Sanjay Raut turned out to be the first lone voice of dissent. Not content at just demanding Amit Shah’s resignation for his failure as home minister in preventing the Pahalgam attack, Raut also made snide remarks about state call for mock drills likening it to the call for banging of thalis during Covid. He also got his Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena to abstain from the all-party meet called on April 24. In the absence of Uddhav Thackeray, who is said to be vacationing in Europe, for which he earned some brickbats too for not cutting it short, it was left to veteran leader Sharad Pawar to tame him down. Pawar questioned his absence at the first all-party meet. Subsequently, Raut’s tune changed his tone. Not only did he turn up at the following all-party meet on May 8 chaired by defence minister Rajnath Singh and attended by Shah himself but also briefly muted his criticism of the Modi government. But this ceasefire too didn’t last long. He did a volte face on May 11; strongly demanded Shah’s resignation once again and even daring the PM to address an all-party meet. A considerably weakened Uddhav Thackeray, post the Sena split engineered by Eknath Shinde, is said to have given him a free hand. Despite being criticised, ridiculed and even despised for his daily-morning media bytes, earning him the sobriquet of “morning siren” , Raut has emerged as the lone ranger within his party, his alliance and even in the nation as the post-Pahalgam scenario revealed. (By Hepzi Anthony)

Indian cricketIndian politicsJasprit BumrahOperation SindoorRajnath SinghSanjay RautShubman Gill