QWrap: Kathua Rape Protests Intensify; National Award For Sridevi
Here are top 5 stories of the day.
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Video Editor: Mohd Ibrahim
1. Protests Against Kathua, Unnao Rape Intensify, BJP MLA Detained
Bharatiya Janata Party MLA and Unnao rape accused Kuldeep Singh Sengar was detained for questioning by the CBI on Friday, 13 April. The agency later filed three cases against him.
In Kathua, the father of the eight-year-old rape victim spoke to the media, demanding capital punishment for the accused.
After a call by Congress President Rahul Gandhi, thousands flocked to the midnight candle march at India Gate in New Delhi on Thursday night to protest the brutal Kathua and Unnao gangrapes.
In solidarity with the protesters in Delhi, Mumbai saw people gathering at Azad Maidan to protest.
Not only on the streets, the BJP government is facing a lot of heat online as well.
Activists, journalists, celebrities as well as the common folk are demanding answers from the government.
2. National Awards: Vinod Khanna, Sridevi Recognised Posthumously
Doffing its hat to mainstream stars Vinod Khanna and Sridevi, the 65th National Film Awards on Friday, 13 April, recognised the duo’s contribution to the Indian cinema by honouring them posthumously with the Dadasaheb Phalke and Best Actress awards, respectively.
Sridevi, whose filmography spanned across 50 years, was recognised for her role of an angry mother seeking justice for her daughter in rape revenge drama, ‘Mom’.
‘Newton’, a dark comedy on Indian democracy, was named the best Hindi film and a special mention went to its actor Pankaj Tripathi for his portrayal of a cynical CRPF officer Atma Singh.
‘Baahubali: The Conclusion’ won Best Popular Film, Best Action and Best Special Effects; Best Choreography was taken by Toilet: Ek Prem Katha's song ‘Gori Tu Laath Maar’.
3. Dear FM, Your Promise That Electoral Bonds Are Anonymous is False
In a major exposé, an investigation by The Quint revealed that electoral bonds have hidden alphanumeric codes printed on them to track down the link between donors and political parties.
This apparent outmaneuvering by the government poses a critical question – in the name of more ‘transparency’ in political funding, following the introduction of electoral bonds, are we being subjected to an unprecedented secret surveillance?
Electoral bonds were promised to be anonymous as no one other than the donors themselves are supposed to know which political party they are contributing to.
4. Congress to Communists: “Frankly Comrades, We Don’t Give a Damn”
India’s communists are caught in a conflict. The Prakash Karat/Kerala faction is keen to revert to “hard anti-Congressism”, while the Sitaram Yechury/Bengal faction is pushing for an “open, transparent alliance” with the Congress for the 2019 polls.
But I honestly can’t figure out what the fuss is all about! Because what in heavens can Rahul Gandhi’s “new Congress” gain from this alliance?
Check out what The Quint's Editor-in-Chief Raghav Bahl has to say about it.
5. ‘October’ is a Fresh Coming-Of-Age Film With Powerful Performances
October takes us to places where Bollywood rarely treads.
While moving about in gated hotel lobbies, gliding on shiny floors and lounging under humongous chandeliers, Shoojit Sircar’s October shows us what most of us would otherwise ignore — the everyday rigmarole of working in the hospitality industry: the cleaning, ever-increasing laundry piles, double shifts, demanding guests and hard to please duty managers.
Check out the full review here.
Video Producer: Hera Khan
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