Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Pakistan to withdraw state support to terror groups?' that was published in Newsband

Pakistan to withdraw state support to terror groups?

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) monitors countries on action taken against terror-financing and money-laundering. FATF has decided to place Pakistan back on its watch list. This is owing to Pakistan’s failure to crack down on groups banned by the Security Council 1267 sanctions committee.

Both the LeT and JeM, which continue to praise and claim credit for terror attacks in India, have grown their bases in Pakistan. By doing this, successive Pakistani governments have jeopardised ties with India.

The International Cooperation Review Group had made recommendations to reach the consensus needed to list Pakistan. The U.S., U.K., France and Germany proposed the resolution against it. The initial support for Pakistan came from China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. This is cause for concern in New Delhi,

The hope is that such sanctions will persuade Pakistan to stop state support for these terror groups. Pakistan has three months to show its progress, and China is sure to turn-around and support Pakistan's new actions. Pakistan did not change before, and it might not change now also. China also needs Pakistan's full support to engage the USA through Taliban in Afghanistan, and terrorists to engage India in Kashmir. And, for GCC, Muslim brotherhood is more important than strategic relationship.

Pakistan has yet to take decisive actions against terrorists, according to U.S. Gen. Joseph Votel. Pakistan will continue to face a freeze in U.S. security assistance as it is yet to take “definitive action” against militant groups like the Taliban and the Haqqani network. The U.S. has stepped up pressure on Pakistan to do more in its fight against terrorism. The U.S. withdrew about $2 billion in security assistance to Pakistan, accusing Islamabad of harbouring terror groups.

The U.S. pressed its serious concerns about the country’s provision of sanctuary and support to militant and terrorist groups that target the U.S. personnel and interests. Although most security assistance for Pakistan is currently suspended, since 2002 Pakistan has been among the largest recipients of U.S. provided Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and International Military Education and Training (IMET).

The U.S. uses ground and air routes in Pakistan to deliver materiel to Afghanistan although they also have options to utilize routes through the other Central Asian nations. The pressure that the Trump administration has put on Pakistan has contributed to the recent positive response from Islamabad.

Dinesh Kamath's news 'Confirmation Letter and Birthday Celebration at TGB Movies, Belapur' that was published in Newsband

Confirmation Letter and Birthday Celebration at TGB Movies, Belapur

By Dinesh Kamath

NAVI MUMBAI: Assistant’s Confirmation Letter has been given under the banner of The Great Banjara Group and Jeejaau Production House which presents Hindi Movie “Yuvapidhi”. The event was held on 26^th February 2018. TGB Movies celebrated Birthday Bash of Assistant Director along with Confirmation Letter at CBD Belapur Office. The whole direction team celebrated the birthday. Birthday Girls are Mohini Kale and Varsha Singh. The Confirmation Letter was received by the Creative Producer Sant Kumar Singh & Chief Associate Director Sudhir Shingre, D.O.P Milind Kothavale To Artist Deep Chahande, Assistants Utkarsha Palve, Mohini Kale, Pranali Patil, S. Krishna, Geetanjali Rathod, Suresh Prasad, Salahuddin Shaikh, Mahesh Gavali And Rohit on the same day. Hindi Film “Yuvapidhi“ pre-production work is in progress in TGB Movies Office At CBD Belapur Navi Mumbai. The Writer, Director, Editor, Producer and Distributor of the film is Shivaji Baburao Rathod. 

Dinesh Kamath's news 'Sunny Leone will debut in Tamil movie'

Sunny Leone will debut in Tamil movie

Former adult film actress Sunny Leone had joined the Hindi film industry in 2012. And now the Indo-Canadian actress will make her debut in a Tamil film. She expects south Indian films to help her grow as a person and an actress. Sunny Leone will now try her luck in South film industry.

Sunny will be launched in the Tamil film industry with the upcoming film "Veeramdevi". She agrees that working in a South Indian film will help to broaden her reach. She enjoys learning about a completely different culture. In this film she will play a warrior princess.

That is something that she always wanted to do. A lot of effort has gone into this character. Sunny is more than excited and very eager to start shooting. She will be taking riding lessons in Los Angeles and in India. She will be attending workshops to learn Tamil.

The actress does not want to limit herself to Hindi and South Indian films. She is interested in working in other regional language films as well. If a role comes her way that is interesting, then she definitely will consider playing it.

Earlier Sunny had won the hearts of the audience with her stint in the reality TV show "Bigg Boss 5". She later featured in films like "Jism 2", "Ek Paheli Leela", "Mastizaade", Kuch Kuch Locha Hai" and "Tera Intezaar".

The actress has never shied away from exploring unknown territories. And this could be just her first step towards doing more films in regional cinema. 

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Sridevi was a National Star' that was published in Newsband

Sridevi was a National Star

Sridevi Kapoor Ayyappan passed away on Saturday, Sridevi as a child artiste and Amitabh Bachchan, more than 20 years her senior, faced the camera for the first time at the same time. She packed into her short life of 54 years almost 300 films and a career spanning five decades. She is known for the diversity of roles she played not restricted by linguistic or territorial boundaries. She acted with several generations of heroes.

Her first adult role happened at the age of 13, opposite Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth. The Hindi remakes Solva Sawan (1979) and Sadma (1983) forced the Hindi film industry to take note. She managed to display her enormous range in Hindi films too. She comfortably swung between parallel streams of critical and commercial hits in Hindi. Chandni, Mr. India, Chaalbaaz and Lamhe showed her versatility — drama, emotion, dance, comedy, even action. The only sad thing is that she could not cross over to international projects.

She was an excellent artist and good entertainer. No other actor has dominated both Tamil and Hindi movie worlds. Her demise is a great shock to her fans all over the world. She was a versatile artist. But her talent, specially in the 'art ' movies has been under-utilised. Her performance would have been at the peak under more intensive directors like Shyam Benegal or Mrinal Sen.

Sridevi is called a National Star. She did not have a normal childhood. She grew up hopping from one set to another, closely guarded by her mom and lawyer-father. In an era when actresses could not vouch for author-backed roles or choose between the parallel cinema wave and mainstream cinema Sridevi’s career encompassed a healthy mix of both. She didn’t complain about the damsel in distress-parts in films The poorly crafted roles that are often written off as ‘commercial’ ones enjoyed new sheen when she essayed them. Her personality was a director’s dream — the mettle, the dances and her comic timing.

What is appreciable is the sincerity with which she played her roles, her live-wire self on screen was a treat to watch. She was a woman assured of her space, stardom and a pay cheque that matched male stars’. She had set a standard that no other heroine could match.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Indo-Canada relations' that was published in Newsband

Indo-Canada relations

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrived for an eight-day state visit to India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a decision to stick to protocol, and not welcome Mr. Trudeau as effusively as he has tended to do for many foreign visitors.

Now India and Canada have much in common as two pluralistic, diverse democracies with very strong people-to-people ties: there is an Indian diaspora of 1.3 million in Canada, besides 100,000 Indian students. India and Canada need to go back to the drawing board and urgently repair ties. Canada needs India, inasmuch as India too would need Canada, as years pass by. The Potential for the Two large nations (in terms of area of the States) to cooperate and collaborate are enormous.

India has a grudge against Canada because it has been lukewarm in its handling of Khalistani separatists for a long time. Their kid-glove treatment of the AI-182 bombers is a case in point. The investigation itself was slow and painfully laborious and in the end there was very little conviction. After Justin Trudeau took over power, he has single-handedly tried every means to harm the otherwise good state-to-state relationship between us and them. He has included several vocal pro-Khalistani splittists in his Cabinet much against Indian weariness. Then, in April last year, the Ontario provincial assembly passed a 'genocide' resolution over the 1984 incidents moved by Trudeau's party member. A month later, a retired CRPF Sikh officer and a frequent visitor to Canada was suddenly denied entry at Toronto for having 'served a force that committed widespread and systemic human rights abuses". Trudeau, in his youthful exuberance it seems, is deeply hurting the India-Canada relationship. A course correction is immediately needed.

The Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s ill-timed and poorly planned visit to India was a big embarrassment and did not achieve much as far as bilateral relations are concerned. The Canadian and Indian governments should have removed the irritants before deciding on the itinerary of visit. The PMs do not visit foreign countries just for sight-seeing with families but do serious business and sign bilateral agreements on which officials of concerned countries work very hard beforehand. There are surely lessons to be learned for both the countries.

Out of around 400 Video Films that Dinesh Kamath has made, around 100 Video Films are become 'HIT' in his Blog

Out of around 400 Video Films that Dinesh Kamath has made, around 100 Video Films are become 'HIT' in his Blog.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Two Stars make entry into politics' that was published in Newsband

Two Stars make entry into politics

Both Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, two stars with wide fan bases and who could deliver one blockbuster after another, have made entry into politics. Both Rajinikanth and Haasan are vying to fill the same political space, the vacuum created by the death of Jayalalithaa. They are hoping to take over the AIADMK’s vote bank. Karunanidhi’s DMK remains in serious contention for power. The actor-politicians will therefore have to fight for their share from the rest of the pie.

Unlike Rajinikanth, Haasan has been more forthright in expressing his political views, through tweets, press conferences, public speeches and columns. At the very least, Haasan appears willing to articulate a political programme with a vision and stated goals, in marked contrast to Rajinikanth who did not go beyond vague generalities while announcing his entry into politics. Winning over voters in different regions with different livelihood concerns and social identities is no easy task.

Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth and a secret meeting in a car. Kamal Haasan says he held a “secret” meeting with his contemporary and friend Rajinikanth about his entry into politics and decided to maintain dignity even if they became rivals later. While Haasan launched his party Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) in Madurai on February 21, Rajinikanth announced his political entry in December 2017. Hassan wanted his one time co-star to be in the know about his decision to enter politics before the others knew about it.

Haasan will be the president of his newly launched MNM. According to him, He is neither left nor right (in ideology). That’s why he has ‘maiam’ (centre) in his party (name) which means his party will absorb all good things from whichever direction they come.

He promised to strive to offer quality education for all, end propaganda on caste and religious lines, provide uninterrupted electricity supply and eradicate corruption. He also aspired to forge ties among the southern States as a federal concept. “Today is the day to speak up (against corruption) and tomorrow is for action,” he said to loud cheers.

Kamal Haasan pledges to work for people till last breath. In Rameswaram, hoisted his party’s flag in front of a mammoth gathering here. He was cheered among others by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who saw in the actor the potential to dislodge the Dravidian parties. Explaining his party flag – a white background with six human hands, three each in black and red, forming a circle with a big black star and a smaller white star within it – the actor said, the six hands represented the “new South India”, the six southern States, (including Union Territory of Puducherry) and the star denoted the people. He also said he had a solution to resolve the Cauvery dispute through “proper dialogue” and stoking the humanness among the people of Karnataka.

Hope Kamal Haasan would stick to his promises and help transform TN and India. Wish anti-corruption sentiments in India bring about a silent revolution and give India the place it deserves as world leader. The depth of knowledge of Kamal Haasan and his passion to bring about change is impressive.

It is only in the state of TN that the route to the post of the CM is through the tinsel because of the popularity they gain in their profession that easily serve as a base and stepping stone. People should think of giving support to Kamal Hassan for a change from the monolithic and obscurantic misrule of the Dravidian parties who made corruption and bribery legal and amassed wealth that would last for generations of the descendants. In the next election they deserve to be shown the gate. In the name of Dravidian and Tamil culture, they have spoilt the social life of the people in Tamil Nadu.

Dinesh Kamath’s column ‘New movies released in Navi Mumbai’ (Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, Welcome to New York and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) that was published in Newsband

New movies released in Navi Mumbai

By Dinesh Kamath

Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety

Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety is an Indian Hindi romantic comedy film directed by Luv Ranjan. Ranjan also produced the film with Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, and Ankur Garg. This is the fourth collaboration between Luv Ranjan and the lead actors Kartik Aaryan and Nushrat Bharucha after having worked together in Pyaar Ka Punchnama, Akaash Vani and Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2 previously.

Titu (Sunny Singh) is getting married to a girl named Sweety (Nushrat Bharucha) who comes across as a perfect woman, but Titu's friend Sonu (Kartik Aaryan) finds her too good to be true. While Titu and his family are impressed with everything that Sweety does, Sonu on the other hand finds her behaviour suspicious and develops a doubt over her true intentions. This leads to a conflict between Sonu and Sweety with both trying to outdo each other in order to achieve their goal. Thus 'Sonu ke Titu ki Sweety' explores the new age version of the same belief where "Marriage" is a marriage between two friend circles. Sonu and Titu are childhood friends. Titu has always been a naïve lover, who falls in love easily and Sonu has always had to step in to save him. But Sweety is the perfect bride and Titu is head over heels in love with her. Sonu's instinct to protect Titu at whatever cost, makes him feel that she's too good to be true. What ensues is a war between the best friend and the bride to be. While Sweety is trying to impress Titu and the family alike, Sonu is out to sabotage the utopian romance and Sonu doubts Sweety's character and tries to break the marriage while Sweety tries to do opposite, which leads to war between Bromance and Romace.

The film has Kartik Aaryan as Sonu, Sunny Singh as Titu, Nushrat Bharucha as Sweety, Alok Nath as Ghasite, Deepika Amin, Ayesha Raza Mishra, Virendra Saxena, Pawan Chopra, Rajesh Jais and Sonu Kaur.

The music of the film has been composed by Rochak Kohli, Yo Yo Honey Singh, Amaal Mallik, Zack Knight, Saurabh-Vaibhav, Guru Randhawa and Rajat Nagpal while lyrics have been penned by Kumaar, Yo Yo Honey Singh, Swapnil Tiwari, Zack Knight, Guru Randhawa, Singhsta and Oye Sheraa. The film has songs like "Dil Chori", "Subah Subah", "Chhote Chhote Peg", "Bom Diggy Diggy", "Kaun Nachdi", "Lakk Mera Hit", "Tera Yaar Hoon Main" and "Sweety Slowly Slowly".

Welcome to New York

Welcome To New York is an Indian 3D Comedy film, directed by Chakri Toleti, produced by Vashu Bhagnani and Jackky Bhagnani, and starring Diljit Dosanjh, Sonakshi Sinha, Karan Johar, Riteish Deshmukh, Lara Dutta and Boman Irani.

Teji (Diljit Dosanjh), a sloppy recovery agent, and Jeenat Patel (Sonakshi Sinha), a fashion designer, become part of a big Bollywood event in New York - and chaos ensues. This is India's first 3D comedy. Welcome To New York boasts of a massive ensemble line-up. It started with Karan Johar 'leaking' a video chat of the A-lister star cast. The hilarious video which ends with the poster of Welcome To New York is indeed a unique way to place the comedy into the minds of the people. The video shows a phone call between Diljit and Sonakshi that turns into a conference call with more and more cast members joining in and proclaiming the film to be theirs. Diljit Dosanjh starts off the whole banter with Sonakshi Sinha and then Karan Johar joins in followed by Lara Dutta, Boman Irani and Riteish Deshmukh. The entire conversation comes to a stall when their chat is interrupted by Salman Khan. The film is being touted as a heartfelt comedy that tells the story of two unlikely youngsters living in India in search of a better life for themselves. An unexpected trip to New York City sets them off on a comedic adventure that changes their lives forever.

The film has Diljit Dosanjh as Teji, Sonakshi Sinha as Jeenal Patel, Riteish Deshmukh as Riteish, Lara Dutta, Karan Johar as Karan and Arjun, Boman Irani as Mr. Garry, Rana Daggubati as Rana, Sushant Singh Rajput as Sushant, Aditya Roy Kapur as Aditya and in Cameo Appearance are Disha Patani, Neha Dhupia, Preity Zinta, Tapsee Pannu, Kriti Sanon, Shahid Kapoor, Suneil Shetty, Tiger Shroff, Salman Khan, Mohit Sinha and Katrina Kaif.

The music of the film is composed by Sajid-Wajid, Shamir Tandon and Meet Bros while lyrics have been penned by Kausar Munir, Kumaar, Charanjeet Charan, Sajid Khan and Danish Sabri. The film has songs like "Ishtehaar", "Nain Phisal Gaye", "Pant Mein Gun", "Meher Hai Rab Di" and "Smiley Song".

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is a 2017 drama film written, produced, and directed by Martin McDonagh. It stars Frances McDormand as a mother who rents three billboards to call attention to her daughter's unsolved murder. Woody Harrelson and Sam Rockwell appear in supporting roles.

After months have passed without a culprit in her daughter’s murder case, Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand) makes a bold move, painting three signs leading into her town with a controversial message directed at William Willoughby (Woody Harrelson), the town's revered chief of police. When his second-in-command Officer Dixon (Sam Rockwell), an immature mother’s boy with a penchant for violence, gets involved, the battle between Mildred and Ebbing's law enforcement is only exacerbated.

The film has Frances McDormand as Mildred, Woody Harrelson as Willoughby, Sam Rockwell as Dixon, Abbie Cornish as Anne, John Hawkes as Charlie, Peter Dinklage as James, Caleb Landry Jones as Red Welby, Kerry Condon as Pamela, Darrell Britt-Gibson as Jerome, Lucas Hedges as Robbie, Željko Ivanek as Desk Sergeant, Amanda Warren as Denise, Kathryn Newton as Angela, Samara Weaving as Penelope, Clarke Peters as Abercrombie and Brendan Sexton III as Crop-Haired Guy.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'The achievements and failures of AAP government in Delhi' that was published in Newsband

The achievements and failures of AAP government in Delhi

There is a need for AAP government to repair its relationship with the bureaucracy. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s government in Delhi has had a history of conflict and confrontation with the police and the bureaucracy. Aam Aadmi Party MLAs have been accused of assaulting the Chief Secretary in his presence. This has led to the arrest of one AAP MLA and a display of solidarity within the bureaucracy,

It is well known that Kejriwal’s discomfiture with the bureaucracy is a result of having to deal with officers who report directly to the Lt. Governor. Kejriwal and his party would do well to work within the existing institutional arrangement.

Some say that the BJP, the AAP’s main rival, is attempting to stymie its attempts to govern Delhi effectively. The AAP has for long complained that the Centre is paralysing its executive functions through the Lt. Governor and that the bureaucracy is refusing to obey government orders.

In the long run, the party’s political future will depend more on how it governs Delhi and less on how aggressively it protests about its lack of administrative power.

CM Kejriwal’s to do list in the coming year will include construction of roads and drains in unauthorised colonies, installation of CCTV cameras and completion of the Mohalla Clinics project. There will be massive investment in roads. Within a year, roads and drains in all unauthorised colonies would be constructed. As far as the free WiFi service is concerned, the entire budget for the service would be allocated in 2018-2019.

Kejriwal admits that there has been a lot of investment in infrastructure over the years in Delhi, but 70% to 80% of Delhi has been left out. His vision is that Delhi becomes a vibrant, pollution-free and smart city. Kejriwal complains that “fake cases” had been filed against AAP MLAs and Bills passed by the Delhi Assembly, including the Jan Lokpal Bill, were kept pending by the Centre.

Kejriwal’s government has taken some positive steps. It committee approved construction of bus depots. Projects worth a total of ₹1,250 crore that cover healthcare, transport and flood control have been cleared by the Delhi government’s Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC). The setting up of 94 polyclinics, enhancing the number of beds at seven hospitals and construction of five new bus depots were approved. The committee also cleared a proposal of the Irrigation and Flood Control department for the construction of a concrete wall along the Najafgarh pond drain.

So these are the achievements and failures of AAP government in Delhi. 

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'The culprits in PNB fraud case should be punished' that was published in Newsband

The culprits in PNB fraud case should be punished

The ₹11,500 crore fraud at Punjab National Bank is become a big news. The fraud seems to have happened due to the breakdown in internal control mechanisms in the supervisory failure at the banks.

In the case of the Punjab National Bank fraud, letters of undertaking were issued bypassing the bank’s reporting system; the three-tier audit failed to detect the malfeasance.

Rather than routinely reiterate the importance of strengthening corporate governance in public sector banks and promising to infuse greater professionalism, transparency and accountability, it is time the Centre, the major shareholder in these institutions, takes serious steps to translate this intent into action.

There is urgent need to empower bank managements and secure their independence from political interference while enforcing strict accountability for lapses. To restore the depositor’s faith in the banking system, the government, the RBI and the judiciary must ensure that prompt and salutary action is taken.

The Centre opposed a PIL seeking investigation to be launched against the “top management” of the Punjab National Bank (PNB) and to deport diamond merchant Nirav Modi, who is at the centre of an alleged ₹11,000 crore banking loan fraud, in two months.

Chief Justice Misra said the court would want to know in detail as to why the government was opposing this PIL. The issue was of utmost urgency as a “few influential and connected businessmen have decamped with thousands of crores of public money”

The “common factor” found among those like Lalit Modi, Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi was that they all had seemed “very close to the power corridor.”

The CBI has arrested a general manager-rank officer of the Punjab National Bank posted at the bank’s head office in New Delhi in connection with the alleged ₹11,400-crore fraud involving billionaire jewellers Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi,

Bankers were found lacking in being able to check delinquents, says the Finance Minister.  Arun Jaitley squarely laid the blame on the country’s bankers and auditors, observing that they had both abdicated their responsibilities. The Finance Minister also took financial auditors to task, suggesting that the regulatory body for chartered accountants should introspect on what possible action could be taken in the wake of the fraud.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India last week said it would review the fraud to probe whether there were lapses on the part of auditors and has sought information from investigation agencies as well as from the markets regulator SEBI.

Jaitley is absolutely right when he says that these kinds of developments have a cost to the country and to the tax payers.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Indo-Iran talks were substantive and productive' that was published in Newsband

Indo-Iran talks were substantive and productive

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani visited India. He met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India and Iran signed agreements and memorandums of understanding on a wide variety of issues.

Iran awarded India the contract to operate the Chabahar Shahid Beheshti port terminal after the project is completed. There were discussions on enhancing trade and investment and ease of doing business between India and Iran. India announced it would allow Indian investment in Iran to be done in rupee terms like in Bhutan and Nepal,

Modi called the talks “substantive and productive”, and thanked Rouhani for his leadership on regional connectivity. Rouhani endorsed India’s bid for a permanent seat at the UN Security Council with the veto, and praised India as a “living museum of religious diversity”. There were tough language used on the “sanctuaries for terrorism”,

The visit came amid uncertainty over the U.S.’s next move on Iran, given the Trump administration’s line on the Iran nuclear deal. India, while dealing with Iran, must maintain ties with the U.S. and its recently upgraded relations with Israel.

Iran is a key source of energy, India, Iran have a common stance on combating terrorism through culture and the exchange of information and experience, The two sides deliberated on a range of pressing bilateral, regional and international issues but did not disagree on even a “single topic”. The issue of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir figured in the deliberations.

There will be stepping up of cooperation in a number of key areas including oil and gas as well as on crucial connectivity projects like development of the Chabahar port. There was also a great deal of discussion on facilitating economic relations, preferential trade tariffs, better banking relations, visa relations and facilitating travel between the two countries for business purposes,

The two pledged to work for peace and stability of both the countries. It was decided that the various issues of the region, especially in Syria, Iraq and Yemen, would be resolved through political initiatives,

India, Iran inked nine pacts after ‘substantive’ talks between Modi and Rouhani. This shows how the two sides want to deepen cooperation in key areas, including connectivity. Both the sides discussed in detail the threats posed by terrorism, drug trafficking and other challenges.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Implement the Court Verdicts' that was published in Newsband

Implement the Court Verdicts

The sources of income of candidates should be compulsorily disclosed. Supreme Court has imposed an additional disclosure norm for candidates contesting elections. SC has ordered to include the sources of their income, and those of their spouses and dependants, to investigate any unexplained or disproportionate increase in the assets of legislators during their tenure. This is aimed at preserving the purity of the electoral process. SC has also ordered the striking down of a clause that saved sitting legislators from immediate disqualification upon conviction.

It is a fundamental right that states that voters are required to be informed of all relevant details about a contestant. Candidates should furnish details of any criminal antecedents, educational qualifications and assets. Lawmakers amassing wealth or gaining unusual access to public funds and loans are concerns that need to be addressed. Non-disclosure of assets and their sources would amount to a “corrupt practice”.

The idea to collect data about the assets of legislators and periodically examine them is laudable, but it is not clear which authority will run it. A fully informed electorate and transparent candidature will be key components of future elections in India.

The court directive is a positive effort but our leaders have ingenious ways of hoodwinking public by keeping large amounts of assets outside the country that can't be detected easily. Hence, there is a lot more that has to be addressed. Verdict of Supreme Court must be implemented on ground.

It would be too good if the Judges follow their own thinking and make compulsory for judges to declare their own assets.

Also, anyone who is a founder or head of a political party should also be required to disclose his annual income along with sources.

We notice that all parties often incur expenses much beyond limits prescribed by law and ECI cannot do much about such violation of law. This is not a very happy scenario. Hence a vital reform that is required is regarding use of unaccounted money in elections. There must be a compulsory audit of accounts of all political parties which will have to be done by a professionally qualified Accountant and then report submitted to ECI. After such audit, over a period of time role of money in political activities and particularly our elections will certainly be curtailed

Dinesh Kamath's news 'Mahurat of film ‘Yuvapidhi’ held at Belapur' that was published in Newsband

Mahurat of film ‘Yuvapidhi’ held at Belapur

By Dinesh Kamath

NAVI MUMBAI: The Muhurat of Hindi Feature Film ‘Yuvapidhi’ was held at Belapur on 8^th February 2018. The film is produced By Jeejaau Production and TGB Movies under The Banner of The Great Banjara Group. The Event was attended by all Crew and Cast. The Film is based on ‘The Lifestyle and Culture of Today’s Yuvapidhi or Generation’. The story is written by Shivaji Rathod (Writer and Director) Milind Kothavale (DOP). Music is by J. K. Vishwakarma and Yogesh Ji, Choreographers are Ganesh Aacharya and A. Shreyash. Associate Director is Sudhir Shingre and Chief Santkumar Singh. Star Cast Of Yuvapidhi consists of Kartik Aryan, Anupam Kher, Sayaji Shinde, Dilip Prabhavalkar, Farida Jalal, Nayan Pawar, Deep Chahande, Huma Qureshi, Raza Muraad, Devandru Sharma, Vijay Gite, Atul Parchure, Narendra Jadhav and some new faces. .Yuvapidhi will start shooting soon in Spain. Pre- Production Work and on the verge of finalizing the rest of the cast, including the actors, which will be done in the few coming days.