Politicians, writers unite against move to honour Shivaji’s chronicler

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Shiv Sena government’s decision to confer the prestigious Maharashtra Bhushan (Pride of Maharashtra) award on Babasaheb Purandare, a right wing chronicler of King Shivaji, has raised a political storm in the State. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition has also been filed in the Bombay High Court.

The award function is to be held on August 19 at the Governor’s residence.

Mr. Purandare, known as Shivshahir (Shivaji’s poet), is accused of distorting the ‘secular’ history of Shivaji and his family. He has also drawn flak for assisting the controversial American author James Laine, whose book Shivaji: Hindu King in Islamic India had objectionable references to the king’s mother Jijabai and trainer Dadoji Kondadev.

Russia backs India’s bid for a permanent UNSC seat

After the United States, Russia too has clarified that it is open to supporting India’s bid for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). In an interview to the news agency TASS, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that while Moscow supports the candidature of India and Brazil for permanent membership in the U.N. Security Council, it also feels that the presence of an African country in this structure is also necessary.

Russia’s explanation comes days after it was made known that along with the U.S. and China, Moscow was opposed to negotiations to reform the U.N. body, which would have paved the way for India’s inclusion in the group with the P-5. While Mr. Lavrov told TASS that the expansion of the UNSC was being discussed, Russia envisions a Security Council of not more than 20 members. “We support this process. We think that developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America are under-represented in the U.N. Security Council. That is why we support applications of India and Brazil,” Mr. Lavrov was quoted as having told TASS. The Russian Minister’s interview comes on the heels of the U.S. Ambassador to India, Richard Verma, asserting that there has been no change in his country’s position on the expansion of the UNSC.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview comes on the heels of the U.S. Ambassador to India, Richard Verma, asserting that there has been no change in his country’s position on the expansion of the UNSC and on India’s bid for candidature for a permanent seat.

However, despite the assertions of public support for India’s candidature, neither the U.S. nor Russia has explained why their letters to U.N. General Assembly president Sam Kutesa did not include their support. These countries have also made it clear they woldn’t support veto power for India or any other country.

China too remains a big roadblock as it has neither clarified its position on support for India nor is it expected to support the adoption of the UNSC expansion process if it comes to a vote by September 15, when the current UNGA session ends.

AI arm launches non-stop Varanasi-Sharjah service

State-owned Air India’s budget arm Air India Express on Monday commenced direct non-stop flights from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi to Sharjah.

Air India Express flight IX 183, a 186-seater Boeing 737-800 aircraft will depart from Varanasi thrice a week at 1700 hours and arrive in Sharjah at 1930 hours.

On the return leg flight IX 184 will depart from Sharjah at 1050 hours and arrive in Varanasi at 1600 hours, a statement from the airline said. The non-stop flight will operate on Monday, Thursday and Saturday, it added.

There is also a hub and spoke service on offer from Varanasi. AI said this would provide convenient links to many destinations in the Gulf, Jeddah, Moscow, Tokyo, Singapore and Hong Kong by connecting the passengers to/from Air India flights.

Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State, Independent charge, Culture and Tourism launched the service from Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, which took off with 170 passengers.

Haryana teen tops AIPMT

Vipul Garg, a 17-year-old from Haryana’s Jind district, topped the All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) entrance examination 2015, the results for which were announced on Monday. Vipul, who is the first in his family to go to medical school and has mostly relied on scholarships so far to get ahead, scored 695 marks out of 720.

INS Vikramaditya to undergo first refit in 2016

Aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya will undergo its first refit in 2016 and it is likely to be carried out at Pipavav shipyard.

Defence sources said that the first refit of the ship will be done after the International Fleet Review in February 2016.

While the Russians, being the original manufacturer, will carry out the refit, the sources said it will also involve Indian engineers and workers.

Details of all the repairs required to be carried out at Pipavav have been received and a budgetary quote is being prepared, the sources said.

The refit is expected to take four months.

Vikramaditya is a modified Kiev-class aircraft carrier, which was purchased by India from Russia for the Navy and joined the fleet in 2013.

Vikramaditya, a floating airfield, has an overall length of about 284 metres and a maximum beam of about 60 metres, stretching as much as three football fields put together.

Land for temple in Abu Dhabi

The UAE on Sunday decided to allot land for building a temple here, the first in the Emirati capital as Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his two-day visit to the strategic Gulf nation. The Prime Minister thanked the UAE leadership for this “landmark” decision.

While there are two temples in Dubai, one of Lord Shiva and another of Krishna, there is none in Abu Dhabi.

S.P. Misra among three recommended for Dhyan Chand Award

Former Davis Cup captain S.P. Misra, India volleyball captain T.P.P. Nair and Olympian hockey goalkeeper Romeo James have been recommended for this year’s Dhyan Chand Award.

The award selection committee, headed by ex-India hockey captain Zafar Iqbal, picked these three sportspersons out of 60 applicants at a meeting held here on Monday.

Misra, who is also the chairman of the current All India Tennis Association (AITA) selection committee, was the Davis Cup captain of the country for a long time.

Nair led the Indian team which bagged a bronze medal in the 1958 Tokyo Asian Games and a silver medal in the next edition at Jakarta.

Known for his acrobatic saves under the bar, James represented the country in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics where India finished fifth.