On his part, Mr Sidhu too was left with little choice as he had already exhausted his political options with the BJP and AAP. New Delhi: The Congress on Sunday got a major shot in the arm with former cricketer and BJP politician Navjot Singh Sidhu joining the party following a final round of discussions with party vice-president Rahul Gandhi..The Akalis were quick to criticise Mr Sidhu’s joining the Congress, saying he had joined the "party and family” which had "attacked the Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple)”, a reference to Operation Bluestar in 1984. In a statement, the Punjab Congress chief said: "Besides being the party’s choice for contesting the Amritsar East seat, Sidhu, who is known for his wit and humour, besides being strongly nationalist, is the star campaigner in the Punjab Assembly polls for the Congress. On the front foot.There had initially been some speculation that the Congress wanted Mr Sidhu to contest against chief minister Parkash Singh Badal from his traditional stronghold of Lambi, but it’s now certain he will stand from Amritsar East, which was earlier represented by his wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu on a BJP ticket.

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Rakesh Varma will now be joining the BJP to contest from the same seat.Akhilesh Yadav has also held back tickets to sacked ministers Shadab Fatima and Narad Rai, and both are expected to join the BSP in a day or two.The chief minister had not uttered a word on Aparna Yadav’s seat, and sources said that he would not pressure the Congress to give up its claim on the seat."If seniors are treated shabbily by the new leadership, people will obviously move out of Samajwadi Party, and by the time the new leaders realise their mistakes, it will be too late”, said Ambica Chaudhary. The China Printing Toilet Seats Manufacturer SP will contest 298 seats, of the 403, under the arrangement.But an exodus also began from the party with leaders belonging to the Mulayam faction opting for greener pastures after being denied tickets. He will contest as an independent.Two other SP MLAs — Guddu Sharma and Mukesh Sharma — have joined the RLD after being denied tickets, while SP MLA Kuldeep Sengar has already managed a ticket for himself from the BJP. We have been with Samajwadi Party since its inception, and now we are being targeted because we are loyal to Mulayam Singh Yadav”, said one of the disgruntled legislators..In other names announced, Rakesh Varma, son of SP MP Beni Prasad Varma, has been replaced with UP minister Arvind Singh Gope as the candidate from Ramnagar seat in Barabanki. However, it is learnt that on Mulayam Singh Yadav’s insistence, the SP leadership managed to convince the Congress to leave the Lucknow Cantt seat for Aparna Yadav, wife of Mulayam Singh Yadav’s second son, Prateek Yadav. Beni Prasad Varma termed it a battle between "Ram and Ravana”, and said he would take the support of "Ram to defeat Ravana.Former MP Shafiqur-Rehman Warq has also quit the SP and joined the AIMIM after his grandson Ziaur Rahman Barq was denied a ticket form Sambhal.There was uncertainty about Aparna Yadav’s ticket since Lucknow Cantt, from which she had been declared a candidate by Mulayam Singh Yadav, is held by the Congress with which the Samajwadi Party announced a poll pact Sunday.Two days ago, former minister Ambica Chaudhary had joined the BSP, and three other MLAs — Rampal Yadav, Ashish Yadav and Ramvir Singh — also quit the SP to join the Lok Dal.According to sources, in the past two days, about 50 members from Mulayam Singh Yadav’s list met him after they were denied tickets by the CM.UP’s SP president Naresh Uttam said on Monday that a fresh list would now be issued in view of the seat adjustment with the Congress."Akhilesh Yadav has left no choice for us.Congress’ Lucknow Cantt MLA Rita Bahuguna Joshi, who recently joined the BJP, will contest from the same seat. He is allowing personal vendetta to guide his decisions.Congress’ Lucknow Cantt MLA Rita Bahuguna Joshi, who recently joined the BJP, will contest from the same seat. Mulayam SIngh's daughter-in-law Aparna Yadav Lucknow: Samajwadi Party president and UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav averted a potential family crisis on Monday when he finally announced a ticket for Aparna Yadav, younger daughter-in-law of his father and party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav.Sources said that those whose tickets were being cancelled would contest as rebel candidates or join another party. Mulayam Singh Yadav expressed his helplessness on the issue, and is said to be upset at the fact that "seniors are being driven out of the party because they are loyal to me”. The party released its fourth list, comprising 37 candidates, for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party will now cancel the tickets of about 42 candidates after the alliance with the Congress.”Vijay Misra, another sitting MLA, resigned from the SP on Monday, and threatened to "expose” party leaders.

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A maximum of C1 category toilets are found in the M east ward, which comprises Govandi and Mankhurd areas. A community toilet collapsed in Bhandup area. (Photo: ANI) Mumbai: In the backdrop of recent community toilet collapse incidents in the city, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has carried out the structural audit of 1,706 public toilets, of which 554 toilet blocks were found to be of C1 or extremely dilapidated category needing immediate demolition. The Solid Waste Management (SWM) department, which heads this work, has ordered the contractors to demolish these toilets and provide temporary ones before the monsoon.A maximum of C1 category toilets are found in the M east ward, which comprises Govandi and Mankhurd areas. In recent such incidents of community toilets collapsing, people lost their lives after falling into septic tanks.Last year in February in Mankhurd Mandala, three people died and in August at Bhandup’s Sai Sadan Chawl, two people died after falling deep into the septic tank.The toilet seats they were using to relieve themselves suddenly collapsed, taking them in. Ashok Khaire, deputy municipal commissioner (SWM), said, "The public toilets whose structural audit we have carried out are owned by the BMC. The public toilets under Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) are not inspected by us. There are a maximum of C1 toilets in slum areas and we have ordered that China Plastic Toilet Seat they be demolished at the earliest and temporary toilets be provided at those places. New toilet seats will be constructed at those places but it will take a few months.”"The toilet seats will be built under the ongoing BMC project of building public toilets. Thus, the contractors have already been appointed to build new toilet seats,” Mr Khaire added.

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Senior officials of railways told PTI that the need for a review of the pay and use toilet policy was felt after reports that adequate number of toilets were not being built under the Swachh Bharat Mission and that people were not using these toilets at small rural railway stations.However, most pay and use toilets charge one rupee to Rs 2 for urinals and Rs 15 to Rs 20 for bathing. They can build them through NGOs or self-help groups which can either charge a nominal fee for their use or nothing at all.Presently, the &China Glitter Toilet Seats39;pay and use' toilet policy allows the contractors who build such toilets to fix its usage rates, albeit at market price."In many areas, especially at small stations, people were not using the pay and use toilets and instead choosing to defecate in the open..According to the new policy, the Divisional Railway Managers have been empowered to decide if they want these toilets to be paid for or keep them free for use of the public.The official said that the DRMs also have been given the power to assess how many toilets need to be built in their areas under the Swachh Bharat Mission."Now, DRMs can decide, depending on the kind of stations they are catering to, and see if the pay and use system is commercially viable or not", said a senior official of the ministry.Presently, the 'pay and use' toilet policy allows the contractors who build such toilets to fix its usage rates, albeit at market price.While pay and use toilet tariffs at railway stations differ from place to # place, according to a 2012 guideline for such toilets, the railways has fixed up to Rs 2 for latrine and Rs 5 for using bathroom or both bathroom and latrine."DRMs are empowered to make location specific assessments to decide whether construction, operation, maintenance of the pay and use toilets should be taken up as an 'earning contract' or a service contract," said a letter dated February 7 from the Railway Board to all zonal railways after the Board's meeting on February 2.Officials say that this policy will be reviewed in a month's time. In a service contract, the toilets would be free or a nominal fee would be charged from the user. (photo: Representational | File) New Delhi: Using toilets at railway stations could soon be cheaper or even free at smaller railway stations, according to a new proposal by the Railway Board.The DRMs have been allowed to sign MOUs with non-profits which specialise in such toilets under the new policy. It levied no charge for urinals.In a service contract, the toilets would be free or a nominal fee would be charged from the user.

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Last year as well, the two films that collected the most money at the box office — Sultan and Dangal — were both based in rural to semi-rural areas. Take Salman Khan in Sultan, Aamir Khan in Dangal or Akshay Kumar in Toilet: Ek Prem Katha. However, this is far removed from reality. People from small towns and villages are just as layered as people in metros. We had the picture of the sir pe gagri rakhke chalne wali rural woman. But this is not the reality of things and now we are looking at the nuances and complexities of the rural-based character. "Look at most of Hema Malini’s characters, or Rekha chewing ganna and throwing it at Amitabh Bachchan in Mr Natwarlal.Screenplay writer Himanshu Sharma, whose deft words crafted Raanjhanaa, is glad that Bollywood has stopped romanticising poverty through its movies. They don’t want to see anything like the idea certain big films have. "We had this typical picture of a man who works in the field and comes home to have his wife serve him roti and pickle.What’s different about these films though, are the central characters, who no longer conform to the hackneyed small-town archetype. It is a natural progression in cinema and a welcome one,” he states.Rajkumar Rao busted a number of small-town stereotypes in Newton. In fact, the women of India’s villages are the strong breadwinners and leaders of revolutions like the white revolution, on which the film Manthan was made. Now, we are just going back to those roots,” Omar points out. Keshav (Akshay Kumar) of Toilet: Ek Prem Katha endeavours to set up a sanitation system in rural India and Newton (essayed by Rajkumar Rao) defies the age-old socio-political set-up around his town in Chattisgarh. We will find our feet, we just need some world class writing,” he concludes. The result of course, can be seen in the box office. There is a certain western romantic vibe that is not clicking.Last year as well, the two films that collected the most money at the box office — Sultan and Dangal — were both based in rural to semi-rural areas. We are trying and there is a lot going on.— With inputs from Uma Ramasubramanian.The director says, "Bollywood has been one of the biggest culprits when it comes to perpetuating stereotypes — whether it is the comical Bengali or Bihari character, or the conservative small-town character.Indeed, one reason why these actors may be ready to step into the shoes of rural characters is that these homegrown films have been resonating well with the audience. We need to make better films.Indeed, many of India’s traditional heroines were strong characters from rural set-ups. People want to see more rooted romantic stories. "It is a complete misconception to think that people from villages are conservative. Just this year, there were films based in smaller hamlets and sleepy tier-two cities like Newton, Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, Bareilly Ki Barfi, Anarkali of Aarah — the list goes on. "And all of these characters are multifaceted characters that go against the typical stereotype of a rural personality,” Avinash points out. Secret Superstar’s protagonist, Insu, played by Zaira Wasim, follows her dream and takes a risk by pursuing a career in singing at a young age. "Even superstars are taking up the mantle of ordinary small-town people.Film critic Omar Qureshi says that the breaking down of stereotypes was inevitable and people just needed to realise that it is in the villages that many social revolutions begin. Saif Ali Khan admits that people are no longer interested in exotic locales with larger-than-life characters. China Glitter Toilet Seats Secret Superstar poster Aamir Khan’s upcoming film Secret Superstar is just one in the latest wave of films that are being based in rural area or small towns of India. It is much later that Parveen Sultana and Zeenat Aman changed the image of the Indian heroine. "People want to see Indian stories. So, it’s a really good thing that we are beginning to step out of the stereotypes of small-town and big city people,” he explains, adding that it is probably the realistic depiction that Bollywood is now giving its characters that has led to this tendency to break small-town character moulds. So now people are going back to telling these real-life stories, because the hinterlands are much more than just thakurs, and dacoits,” he explains.Another positive sign for rural-based films is the fact that even superstars have started to act in them, says Avinash. Director Avinash Das portrayed his erotic folk dancer as a fierce women’s rights crusader, who stands up for herself when she is molested.Perhaps one of the earliest such films made this year was Anaarkali of Aarah.

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Anurag’s Jagga Jasoos and now Imtiaz Ali’s Jab Harry met Sejal were not shown to the critics until the morning of the film’s release. Akshay Kumar is starring opposite Bhumi Pednekar in Toilet: Ek Prem Katha Bollywood producers have discovered a new way of protecting their films from being ravaged by unkind critics before release."It is the new trend, rapidly catching on in Bollywood, and we are all for it. The decision to not screen Toilet: Ek Prem Katha for critics Printing Toilet Seats until Friday was taken by Akshay and we concurred happily, In fact, some production houses like Fox Star and Yash Raj Films have followed the no press screening until Friday policy for years.The makers are hoping that the audience won’t get influenced by unfavourable reviews and boycott films right from its opening weekend. Film critic Raja Sen explains, "What’s the point of making films if you’re scared of showing them? This contraband-like treatment for cinema is happening all over the world now, and it’s shameful.Now, other production houses are following the same pattern, ” says a producer of the film on condition of anonymity. There are no more screenings for the press, until Friday, till the movie is finally released to the public. In the last three weeks, two major films have adapted a conspiracy of secretiveness to combat unfavourable press.”.The makers are hoping that the audience won’t get influenced by unfavourable reviews and boycott films right from its opening weekend.The cloak of secrecy hasn’t always the films find a wider audience. Now Akshay Kumar and the producers of Toilet Ek Prem Katha have taken a collective decision to refrain from screening the film to media persons until Friday morning. If you don’t have the confidence to let critics watch a film in advance then your film is probably on shaky grounds.In fact, the secrecy is a sure sign of insecurity on the filmmakers’ part.

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Going against the spirit of "Clean India Campaign”, the Vasundhara Raje government is allegedly using coercive methods to force people to build toilets but at the same time failing to provide the financial support as promised. Jaipur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s "Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan” has turned into a nightmare for millions of poor, disabled and elderly people across Rajasthan.Rajasthan takes coercive steps to be open-defecation free.According to Punia, the pressure is not just on villagers but on public representatives too. Despite a crippled right hand, Chunni Lal somehow managed to dig a pit but lack of money came in way of building toilet but without toilet he cannot get wheat from the government ration shop. "What would I do with two daughters if pension was stopped,” she said. The campaign has set off a blind race to become first open defecation free state in the country, especially among the BJP-ruled states.These are just some examples from a vast majority of underprivileged villagers from a detailed field survey by the Rajiv Gandhi Panchayati Raj Sangthan, which is affiliated to the Congress. "Sarpanch is being forced to give in writing that their panchayat have become ODF whereas the ground reality is that even where toilets have been built people are not using them for lack of water or sewage line,” he alleged. Basanti too ran out of money after spending Rs 12,000 on hiring JCB machine to dig a pit.For the physically challenged Chunni Lal Dangi and Basanti, it was a double whammy.As shown in a video clip prepared by Punia and his team, villagers alleged that threats are not limited to block ration or pension but many other benefits under welfare schemes and even electricity.One of the villagers in the state, Narbada Devi, said she doesn’t have money but didn’t have a choice other than digging a pit because she was told she wouldn’t get pension and other benefits. Convenor Amit Punia said that he and his team spent 22 days and nights in 40 villages of Ghodach and Rama gram panchanyats of Rajsamand and Udaipur districts. China Hingess Toilet Seats Manufacturer The authorities have been threatening with police case, stopping ration under public distribution system, blocking pensions.Instead of encouraging people to stop defecating in open, the state authorities have been threatening with police case, stopping ration under public distribution system, blocking pensions and even going to the extent of ostracising their children in schools.

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