Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], February 25 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said earlier the term ‘Neta’ used to denote respect but due to the unruly behaviour of some leaders it has gradually become an offensive term.
While addressing the state assembly on Thursday, Adityanath lashed out at the opposition members who make noises during the session. Yogi said, “If someone thinks that they will be praised if they are unruly in the Assembly and shout in the House, then I think they are mistaken. People don’t take it positively. It is the duty of all of us to set an example with our conduct.”
He further added that before independence, the term ‘Neta’ used to denote respect but gradually after independence it started feeling like an offensive term. “Everyone is responsible for that,” the chief minister said. (ANI)

Kollam (Kerala) [India], February 25 (ANI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday took a dip in the Arabian Sea with fishermen during his visit to Kerala’s Kollam district to campaign for the upcoming assembly elections.
“Every morning our nation’s fisherfolk work tirelessly to provide for millions of Indians. The work they do is difficult and painstaking but incredibly rewarding. It was an honour and a privilege to spend time with them and experience just a fragment of the hard work they put in,” he wrote on Instagram.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Congress leader slammed BJP-led central government and LDF government in Kerala and said the party will come up with the “people’s manifesto” for the forthcoming assembly which will reflect the voice of the residents of the state.
Gandhi has also courted controversy with his ‘MP in North’ statement, with several ministers, including Union Minister Prakash Javadekar, BJP president JP Nadda and Union Minister of State for Finance, Anurag Thakur hitting out at the Wayanad MP for his statements and have accused him of creating a ‘north-south’ divide.
Kerala is likely to face assembly elections in April-May this year. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], February 25 (ANI): The new guidelines issued by the government of India on Thursday mandated a grievance redressal system for over the top (OTT) and digital portals in the country.
Briefing the media about the development, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that though the government welcomes criticism and the right to dissent, “but it is very important for the users of social media to have a forum to raise their grievance against the misuse of social media.”
He said that concerns have been raised over the years about rampant abuse of social media, and the Ministry has held widespread consultations and prepared a draft in December 2018.
“There’ll be two categories, intermediary which can be social media intermediary and significant social media intermediary. They will have to have a grievance redressal mechanism, you will also have to name a grievance officer who shall register the grievance within 24 hours and disposal in 15 days,” he said.
“If there are complaints against the dignity of users, particularly women – about exposed private parts of individuals or nudity or sexual act or impersonation etc – they will be required to remove that within 24 hrs after a complaint is made. This is designed to respect the dignity of women,” he added.
Prasad said that significant social media has to do three things, “First, they will have to have a chief compliance officer residing in India responsible for ensuring compliance of the act and the rules. Second is a nodal contact person who should reside in India for 24X7 coordination with law enforcement agencies. Also, they have to appoint a resident grievance officer who shall perform the grievance redressal mechanism as indicated. They also will have to publish a monthly report about the number of complaints received and the status of redressal,” he stated.
Talking about OTT platforms, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said that the government has decided to have a three-stair mechanism for OTT platforms.
“OTT and digital news media will have to disclose their details. We are not mandating registration, we are seeking information. There should be a grievance redressal system in OTT platforms and digital portals. OTT platforms will have to have a self-regulating body, headed by retired Supreme Court or High Court judge or very eminent person in this category,” he said.
Content on OTT platforms has recently fuelled controversy, leading to public outcry and the booking of makers of some programmes.
Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar on January 31 announced that the Ministry will soon release guidelines on OTT platforms as it had been receiving a lot of complaints against some serials available here. (ANI)

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], February 25 (ANI): Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Thursday condemned the brutal killing of a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker at Vayalar in Alappuzha by an armed group.
“Condemn the brutal killing of @RSSorg Swayamsevak Nandu R.Krishna at Vayalar in Alappuzha by an armed group with direct links to PFI. The Jihadi – Left nexus is fueling extremism & costing valuable lives. ,” he said.
He also urged Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to take strict action and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“@vijayanpinarayi Kerala must take strict action and bring the perpetrators to justice. @BJP4Keralam will fight these extreme elements and make Kerala a better place for all. GoI views this alarming situation seriously & will take the required steps to counter it,” he added.
An RSS worker was allegedly killed by Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) members after a clash erupted between two groups in Cherthala, Vayalar yesterday night.
Police have arrested eight SDPI workers in connection with the murder of an RSS worker on Wednesday.
According to the police, the deceased was identified as Rahul Krishna alias Nandu, a native of Vayalar.
Three RSS workers and six SDPI workers were also injured in the clash that took place around 8 pm. There is a heavy deployment of police in the area following the incident.
A fund collection by SDPI activists on Tuesday was questioned by RSS workers and both organisations on Wednesday took out separate marches which ended up in the violence. (ANI)

Nagaon (Assam) [India], February 25 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday slammed the Congress party and said the presence of the party in Assam is only felt during elections.
“Congress has a system, they are seen only when elections approach. In other times they roam around the lanes in Delhi, but when elections come they are seen in Assam,” Shah said while addressing a rally in Nagaon district.
The Home Minister during his trip also recalled that the Congress had fired bullets on the youth of the state during Assam Movement and now they are contesting under different names to cut into Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) share of votes.
“To make Congress win, agitators are contesting under different names to cut into BJP’s votes. Their aim is to make Congress win. Everyone knows that they cannot form a government, but it is sad that they are trying to reduce BJP’s vote share to make Congress win,” Shah further said.
Meanwhile, he praised Congress leader Tarun Gogoi for his contribution in the state and said: “Congress leader Tarun Gogoi had also made great contributions. He was given Padma Bhushan in the regime of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
Shah also visited Bordowa Satra – the birthplace of Srimanta Sankardev, in the district. Earlier in the day he had visited Maha Mrityunjay Temple in the district for the ‘Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav’ and offered prayers. (ANI)

Rajkot (Gujarat) February 25 (ANI): Amid a controversy over a cricket stadium in Gujarat being renamed after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Wednesday clarified that the name change involves only the Motera stadium and the sports complex where it is located will continue to be named after Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Hitting out at Congress, he said, “We are building a sports complex on a 233-acre land and have named it as Sardar Patel Sports Complex. Only the cricket stadium has been named Narendra Modi Stadium. So Congress has no right to criticise.”
Earlier taking a dig, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi again invoked his ‘Hum do humare do’ jibe, claiming that the truth was out with the stadium having the Prime Minister’s name.
“Beautiful how the truth reveals itself. Narendra Modi stadium — Adani end — Reliance end. With Jay Shah presiding,” Gandhi tweeted, with the hashtag ‘HumDoHumareDo’.
“Maybe they just realised the stadium was named for a Home Minister who had banned their parent organisation! Or maybe this is advance booking to ensure the next visiting Head of State is hosted here, like Trump? Or is this the beginning of a legacy-creation-thru-labelling spree?” Congress leader Shashi Tharoor tweeted.
The newly-built Motera Stadium was renamed the Narendra Modi Stadium on Wednesday ahead of the pink-ball Test between India and England. Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju were also in attendance on the occasion. (ANI)