Articles by Joy Pillai

Politics

Major CONTROVERSY: Education Minister of this state orders to recite Vande Mataram in madrasas

Jaipur: Education Minister of Rajasthan Madan Dilawar’s recent orders snowballed into a major controversy as he announced that the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ would be sung every day in the state’s madrasas to celebrate its 150th anniversary. The Rajasthan government has decided to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram across all educational institutions throughout the year. What Did Madan Dilawar Say? The Rajasthan Education Minister stated that the decision has been taken with an aim to instil patriotism among students. “Vande Mataram is not just a song; it is the soul of India. It awakens the feeling of patriotism in the heart of every citizen” Dilawar said. Why Has The Decision Drawn Sharp Criticism? The decision has attracted a sharp criticism from Muslim organisations. They said that the decision contravene with their religious freedom. According to Former Rajasthan Waqf Board chairman Khanu Khan Budhwali the state government should not impose any law or rule on what prayers people should recite. “India is a free country where everyone has the right to pray and worship according to their faith. The government should not impose what prayers people should recite” Budhwali said. Budhwali further accused the state government of diverting attention from the real issue which is development and modernisation. Congress Accused BJP Of Playing Politics Amid all this Congress has slammed the BJP accusing it for playing politics over the national song. Party leaders alleged that the state government’s decision is aimed at hurting communal sentiments. Rajasthan’s Madrasas Are Part Of Political Debates This is not the first time madrasas of the state have been pulled into political debates. During Ashok Gehlot government the state government allocated a large budget for the modernisation of madrasas. But the BJP which was then in opposition had criticised the decision and termed it as “Muslim appeasement.” Madan Dilawar And Controversies The Education Minister is known for making controversial statements. Earlier Dilawar ordered the removal of Mughal history from textbooks. “Akbar used to set up Meena Bazaar and abduct sisters and daughters. How can he be great? He fought a war with Maharana Pratap - how can he be considered great?” he then said. He faced major backlash for issuing an order to remove the Class 12 textbook Azadi Ke Post Ka Golden History. The textbook has chapters on the tenures of Congresss prime ministers after independence. He ordered an impractical plantation drive in Rajasthan. As per the order each student had to plant 10 saplings and the teacher 15 saplings every day with an aim of planting nearly 240 crore plants in a month. Rajasthan teachers’ associations staged a protest. Dilawar later issue a clarification that the drive was not mandatory.

Health

3 dead, several injured as portion of building collapses in Odisha’s Cuttack | VISUALS

Building Collapsed: A major accident has been reported from Odisha where at least three people of the same family were killed and two others sustained injuries after a portion of a building collapsed in Cuttack on Saturday evening. The incident took place at Manisahu Chhak in the Buxi Bazar area. As per a report by ETV all the affected persons were staying at an asbestos-roofed house which was close to the old apartment. “The balcony of the apartment fell on our house. My husband son and grandson died in the incident” ETV quoted the woman of the house. The deceased have been identified as 60-year-old Abdul Jalil 30-year-old Abdul Zaheed and 5-year-old Abdul Mujahid. The injured persons were rushed to a hospital and they are undergoing treatment. #WATCH | Cuttack Odisha | Three people of the same family died after a portion of a building collapsed in the Manisahu Chhak in the Buxi Bazar area. (Source: Fire Service) https://t.co/BNXxY6Qqme pic.twitter.com/Gj7R6L968V — ANI (@ANI) November 8 2025 Congress MLA Sofia Firdous also took the stock of the situation. She said “In a very sad and unfortunate incident three members of a family died after a dilapidated building collapsed. Two others are injured. These unsafe buildings should be barricaded to prevent anyone from entering them. I demand immediate action. An inquiry should be conducted to uncover the truth and action should be taken against those responsible for the incident. I also demand that the state government announce a compensation of Rs 20 lakhs to the bereaved family.” #WATCH | Cuttack Odisha | Congress MLA Sofia Firdous says In a very sad and unfortunate incident three members of a family died after a dilapidated building collapsed. Two others are injured. These unsafe buildings should be barricaded to prevent anyone from entering them. I… pic.twitter.com/xm1LXBgyQV — ANI (@ANI) November 8 2025 As per the report Fire officials rushed to the spot and rescued six persons. All six persons were rushed to the hospital where doctors declared three of them dead. The locals said that the authorities declared the building unsafe but despite repeated warnings the structure was neither vacated or demolished. (Note: This is a developing story and further details will be added.)

Technology

Which Royal Ring Cost More? Princess Diana or Camilla Parker Bowles – Who Wore Costlier Engagement Ring from Prince Charles?

Which Royal Ring Cost More? When the British royal family makes an announcement of engagement or marriage it makes headlines across the world. These are the most important and exciting announcements that the royal family makes. In 1981 the then-Prince Charles was all over the news when he revealed that he had proposed to Princess Diana. The blue-blood prince proposed to Diana with a shiny 12-carat sapphire ring. This ring became one of the most famous engagement rings in the world. Prince Charles And Princess Diana’s Separation Charles and Diana’s marriage took place on 29 July 1981. However they separated in 1992. The royal couple officially filed for divorce in 1996. As per reports the reason for Charles and Diana’s separation was the then-prince’s affair with Camilla Parker Bowles. After Diana’s tragic death in 1997 Charles announced that he is in a relationship with Camilla. In February 2005 the duo announced their engagement. Prince Charles Proposed To Camilla Charles’s proposal was not ordinary. He proposed to Camilla with a very special ring. The ring was originally a part of the Queen Mother’s jewellery collection. Charles proposed Diana with a coloured gemstone but when he proposed Camilla for marriage he turned to a classic emerald-cut diamond. Though both rings are iconic but they differ in cut colour carat and price. Let’s take a closer look at how much each one is worth. How Much Did Princess Diana’s Engagement Ring Cost? On February 3 1981 Charles proposed to Diana with a sapphire engagement ring. Notably Diana herself selected the ring selecting it from a Garrard’s catalog. The 18-karat white gold ring has 12-carat oval-cut sapphire surrounded by 14 round-cut solitaire diamonds. The sapphire was originally sourced from Sri Lanka. In 1981 the ring was estimated to cost between USD37500 and USD60000. But the current price of the ring is somewhere around USD520000. The ring’s high value is affected by several factors like - inflation the rarity of its gemstones and its current status as Kate Middleton’s engagement ring. How Much Did Camilla Parker Bowles’s Engagement Ring Cost? On February 5 2005 Charles announced his engagement to Camilla. The then-prince proposed to Camillia with a diamond ring. The ring features a five-carat emerald-cut diamond flanked by three baguette diamonds. Notably the ring was originally part of the collection of Charles’s grandmother. As per reports the ring was a present by King George VI when the Queen Mother gave birth to Charles’s mother - Queen Elizabeth II. The jewel is estimated to be worth approx USD288000.