December 29, 2022 - Short Post

All Politics

BJP Sees A Plot In AK Antony's Call To Mobilise Hindu Votes

Senior Congress leader AK Antony is one man who is averse to stirring any controversy and found himself in the middle of one. Speaking his mind on the Congress Foundation Day, he urged party strategists to make efforts to win back Hindu voters at least for winning the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. It was failure to mobilise the Hindu votes adequately that had led the Congress-led UDF to flounder in 2021 Kerala assembly polls. “The Congress should bring together the majority and minority if it wants to defeat the BJP”, he declared. He also added that the majority of the people in India are Hindus, and this community should be marshalled in the “fight against Narendra Modi”. Reacting to Antony’s speech, BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi recalled how this former Defence Minister who was asked by his party to prepare a report on its 2014 defeat had similarly blamed the Congress rout for its pro Muslim bias. “It just shows that Congress indulges in such theatrics to get support of Hindus and once it gets Hindu votes it dubs them as terrorists or as Pakistani, Talibani or Boko Haram.” He felt that just to come to power, leaders like Salman Khurshid would even call Rahul Gandhi “Lord Ram”. Meanwhile, Khurshid stoked more controversy by asserting that “main Congress leaders were from Gandhi family and Kharge ji was our national president”.

Post By Lakshmi Iyer

All Politics

Shinde Visits RSS Headquarters, Faces Uddhav Sena’s Attack

Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde’s clear signal about his future plans indicated by his visit to RSS headquarters at Nagpur on December 29 has turned volatile since the Shiv Sena (Uddhav) has criticised him with choicest words. Shinde and deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis visited the Reshimbaug RSS complex. Shinde’s visit has assumed political overtones as it signifies his total alignment with the BJP. At Reshimbaug, Shinde paid respects to RSS founder Dr K B Hedgewar and second chief M S Golwalkar, known as Guruji. He said his party would be hand in hand with the BJP. This statement will force Maha Vikas Aghadi partners to rethink their strategy, especially in view of the BMC elections which are likely to take place in early 2023. Shinde recalled that he used to be a RSS worker in childhood. Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray said, “Shinde’s mentality is dirty. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat should check if Shinde had gone there to claim that complex.” His remark was in reference to Shinde faction’s efforts to acquire various Sena offices in Mumbai and elsewhere as its own. Uddhav’s caustic remark has the backdrop of a whispering campaign that the Shinde faction could attempt to take over Shiv Sena Bhavan, the party’s Dadar headquarters in the near future. Sena MP Sanjay Raut said, “Let their father dare to touch Sena Bhavan, developed by Balasaheb. Such a talk can vitiate Maharashtra’s atmosphere.”

Post By Dilip Chaware

All Business

Uttarakhand Govt To Build An International Airport?

Uttarakhand may soon have an international airport. The state government is set to submit a proposal to the Union civil aviation ministry for setting up an international airport for which it has already identified two locations measuring 1,200 hectares and 1,100 hectares. A pre-feasibility for upgrading the Pantnagar airport, located near the Jim Corbett Park, to an international airport is also said to be ready. The BJP government is making a pitch that an international airport is needed in the state, considering its spiritual, historical and strategic importance. Better connectivity will boost tourism and bring in the revenue that the hill state needs.

Post By Business India

All Politics

In Discovering India, Rahul Rediscovers Himself

As the Bharat Jodo Yatra reaches its last leg, people are increasingly seeing a different Rahul emerge, from that tentative, inarticulate Rahul Gandhi of his most forgettable years. He almost seems to readily accept the Pappu moniker, as if to say, yes, I needed to connect with India’s reality and my own inner strength. Enough has been said about his winter clothing — a T-shirt, his spontaneous responses to the variety of people and places, about his “Shraddha tinged Tapasya”. When someone asked what kind of a girl would be his choice for a life mate? Prompt came the response. An amalgam of my mother and my grandmother, Indiraji! A tall order, may be even impossible to replicate two of the most strong-willed women of the clan. When he was reminded about his Pappu nickname and how he planned to delete it permanently, an unexpected and stunning response from a normally reticent Rahul. “Oh, I don’t mind Pappu. I remember they referred to my grandmother as Goongi Gudiya. See where she reached?” Clearly, Rahul has prised open several secret doors to his latent self, discovering some unexpected strengths in himself. Rahul is emerging as a new avatar — the way of water, earth, space, fire and wind. The Pancha Bhutas, elementary to all in kinetic form.

Post By Our Roving Editor

Rohit Shetty and his winning’ team

All Entertainment

Cirkus: First Setback For Rohit Shetty, Man With The Midas Touch

Poor response to Rohit Shetty’s latest film Cirkus seems to have shocked the Bollywood fraternity. Generally his movies generate Rs 100 crore in the first week of release but Cirkus managed only Rs 21 crore in the first three days. It is a setback, perhaps for the first time, for the man known for his Midas touch. Forty-eight year old Rohit known for his action, comedy and masala films has worked with all top stars and given hits like Golmaal, Singham... Sure, he has his favourites – Ajay Devgn with whom he has done 10 films. So what went wrong with Cirkus? Analysts say that Rohit went wrong with the trailer; the audience did not like it so decided not to watch the film. Movie critic Taran Adarsh who gave it two stars rating, tweeted “Cirkus: Outdated”. Sure, one flop does not damage the equity of a large-hearted filmmaker like Rohit Shetty. He shot Cirkus deliberately during the lockdown so that hundreds of technicians, junior artistes could keep their kitchen fire going. Joint Commissioner of Mumbai Police Vishwas Nangare-Patil has gone on record saying Rohit paid off the hospital bill totaling Rs 97 lakh of policemen who were being treated for Covid-19. Cirkus has failed but it is a minor blip in Rohit’s illustrious career. Given the goodwill he enjoys across all classes of people Brand Rohit is here to stay for a long time.

Post By Entertainment Editor

TRENDS & VIEWS

Editor’s Note: Big Punch In Small Pack

It is the Third Anniversary of Short Post and as a news media startup launched during the Covid-19 pandemic it certainly feels better than good to find ourselves where we are today. Here, I must cite the unstinted support of our seasoned contributors, all senior editors in the country, who brought a great degree of maturity and sagacity to the Short Post newsroom. But for them, our tagline “Authentic Gossip”, an Oxymoron, would not have matured viably. Our user numbers may be small but our stories have created the desired impact among people who matter — decision makers and influencers. We offer a big punch in a small pack and Short Post with its 225-word stories has been punching above its weight category. Having posted close to 3,000 stories in the last 36 months, Short Post, I feel, is an idea whose time has come.
And this is vindicated by our two marquee advertisers – IDFC FIRST Bank and ICICI Lombard. Both believed in our story and have supported us from Day one. A big thank you to both.
If you look at the media landscape – print, TV and digital — it is a mixed bag. There are job losses as some outfits have closed down while a lucky few were bailed out by large corporate houses. Yes, there is a lot of action in the digital space. However, the entry of corporate houses has raised the question of independence of news media outfits. Sadly, there are just a handful of independent media outfits in the country that are highly respected for their neutrality. At Short Post, our credo is not to take sides, prejudge issues or be biased but, informing readers of behind-the-scenes happenings. In essence, Short Post strives to be a neutral editorial platform — neither anti-establishment nor pro-establishment.
As I said last year, disruptions in the media world are moving at a fast and furious pace. Technology is playing a very big role in how content is generated and consumed. But, we are neither alarmed nor perturbed as it is all a part of the evolution process. What gives us comfort is that AI is unable to create original gossipy content. And that is the news arena where we have achieved a distinction.

TRENDS & VIEWS

Editor’s Note: Big Punch In Small Pack

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