To further enable Indian micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to access global markets, the India SME Forum (ISF) on Saturday launched a new initiative to help them export in just eight weeks. The programme, titled ‘Start Exporting in Eight Weeks’, will work with e-commerce export leaders like Amazon to promote ‘Make in India’ products. Shobha Karandlaje, Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment and MSMEs, said that MSMEs play a crucial role in contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, and their success is essential to our nation’s journey towards becoming a developed and self-reliant India.

“In today’s highly competitive landscape, skilling and upskilling are critical, and it is vital that our products meet international, export-quality standards,” said the minister at an event. Through platforms like the ‘India SME Forum’ along with its partners like Amazon and UPS, etc and the new initiative launched today, our entrepreneurs will be connected to global markets, opening up new avenues for growth and collaboration. Let us utilize these opportunities to the fullest and continue striving for global excellence,” Karandlaje explained. The programme will offer comprehensive guidance, resources and networking opportunities free of cost to MSMEs aspiring to explore international market opportunities and expand their reach.

Vinod Kumar, President, India SME Forum, said that e-commerce has become a game-changer, breaking down traditional trade barriers and allowing even the smallest enterprises to reach international customers with ease. “By harnessing digital platforms, MSMEs can bypass many of the logistical challenges of traditional exporting, making global trade more accessible than ever before,” Kumar added. The ‘Start Exporting in Eight Weeks’ initiative is a movement towards transforming Indian MSMEs into a powerhouse of global trade.

–IANS

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The post Initiative To Help Indian MSMEs Start Exporting In Just 8 Weeks Launched appeared first on The Commune.

Social media is abuzz with propaganda against the BJP. This time it is in “response” to comments made by Karnataka BJP MP and Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, who mentioned individuals trained in Tamil Nadu (Krishnagiri) coming here (Bangalore) engages in bomb planting. However, these criticisms seem to lack an understanding of the context of Karandlaje’s speech and appear to be primarily aimed at fostering an anti-BJP sentiment in Tamil Nadu.

In a viral video circulating on social media, Shobha was recorded expressing at the heat of the moment that, “People from Tamil Nadu come here, get trained there (Krishnagiri), and plant bombs here. They placed a bomb in the cafe.” This statement pertained to the explosion that occurred at Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru on 1 March 2024.

Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje says “people from Tamil Nadu come here, get trained there and plant bombs here. Placed bomb in cafe”.

What evidence does she have to accuse Tamilians of planting bombs in Karnataka ? pic.twitter.com/KdWI3vby2I

— Arvind Gunasekar (@arvindgunasekar) March 19, 2024

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, MK Stalin, expressed his disapproval through his official X platform, “Strongly condemn Union BJP Minister@ShobhaBJP’s reckless statement. One must either be an NIA official or closely linked to the #RameshwaramCafeBlast to make such claims. Clearly, she lacks the authority for such assertions. Tamilians and Kannadigas alike will reject this divisive rhetoric of BJP. I also urge for an appropriate legal action against Shobha for causing threat to peace, harmony and national unity. From the Prime Minister to cadre, everyone in the BJP should stop engaging in this dirty divisive politics at once. ECI must take note of this hate speech and initiate stringent action immediately.”

Strongly condemn Union BJP Minister @ShobhaBJP's reckless statement. One must either be an NIA official or closely linked to the #RameshwaramCafeBlast to make such claims. Clearly, she lacks the authority for such assertions. Tamilians and Kannadigas alike will reject this… https://t.co/wIgk4oK3dh

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) March 19, 2024

Countering the narrative set by TN Chief Minister Stalin, Shobha Karandlaje in her official X handle elaborated on her previous statement, expressing concerns and accused MK Stalin, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, of empowering extremist factions within the state. “Mr. Stalin, What has become of Tamil Nadu under your rule? Your appeasement politics have emboldened radical elements to attack on Hindus & BJP workers day and night. Frequent Bomb blasts bearing the hallmarks of terror outfits like ISIS explode while you turn a blind eye. FYI, the Rameshwaram bomber was trained in Krishnagiri forests under your nose. Tamil makkal has a long history of harmonious relations with Karnataka. They have been an integral part of Karnataka’s social fabric, contributing immensely to the state. We have close cultural bonds and shared history.”

She also provided an article from The Hindu detailing the recent operations conducted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Tamil Nadu and Telangana, targeting the activities of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group. The NIA carried out raids at 31 different locations, aiming to disrupt the radicalization and recruitment efforts of the IS. During these raids, digital devices, documents, and other evidence were confiscated, alongside a significant amount of cash. The investigation uncovered a plot to radicalize young individuals through various means such as Arabic language classes, online platforms, and social media, with connections to previous terrorist incidents. Notably, one of the locations searched was the residence of a DMK ward councillor named M. Mubrera in Coimbatore’s Kottai area, among the 22 sites targeted by the anti-terrorism agency.

Mr. Stalin,
What has become of Tamil Nadu under your rule? Your appeasement politics have emboldened radical elements to attack on Hindus & BJP workers day and night.
Frequent Bomb blasts bearing the hallmarks of terror outfits like ISIS explode while you turn a blind eye.
1/3

— Shobha Karandlaje (@ShobhaBJP) March 19, 2024

Shoba later expressed regret and withdrew her remarks, clarifying that they were not aimed at innocent citizens but specifically targeted radicals, “To my Tamil brothers & sisters, I wish to clarify that my words were meant to shine light, not cast shadows. Yet I see that my remarks brought pain to some – and for that, I apologize. My remarks were solely directed towards those trained in the Krishnagiri forest, linked to the Rameshwaram Cafe blast. To anyone from Tamil Nadu effected, From the depths of my heart, I ask your forgiveness. Furthermore, I retract my previous comments.”

linked to the Rameshwaram Cafe blast. To anyone from Tamilnadu effected, From the depths of my heart, I ask your forgiveness. Furthermore, I retract my previous comments.

— Shobha Karandlaje (@ShobhaBJP) March 19, 2024

The BJP MP’s statement was seized upon by the ruling DMK government and its IT wing for propaganda against the BJP. This move is seen as a retaliation for previous accusations leveled against the DMK regarding drug prevalence and corruption charges in Tamil Nadu, which the DMK had been unable to counter effectively before.

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The post “Rameshwaram Cafe Bomber Trained In Krishnagiri,” Says BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje, Apologizes And Says That Her Comments Were Not Directed Against Tamils appeared first on The Commune.

Featured Image: A scene from the film 'Pogaru' insulting Brahmins | Credits: Twitter

Makers of the Kannada film Pogaru have been panned by audiences in Karnataka over the film’s scenes that insult and demean Hindu rituals and the Brahmin community.

The film contains scenes where a rowdy insults a Brahmin priest performing a ritual and places his foots on the priest’s shoulder in a degrading manner. The protagonist of the film too indulges in such insulting scenes in the film, where, in one scene, he hangs a Brahmin upside down from a crane, assaults him and then proceeds to abuse him and the Hindu deities, and mocks the tradition of Hindus having darshan of deities in temples.

Furthermore, in another scene, the protagonist insults a Brahmin who is carrying water for puja by aggressively accosting him and using that water to wash his face; whereas, in other scene, he makes insensitive remarks about the vegetarian diet consumed by Brahmins.

The state’s Brahmin community is up in arms over the film’s offensive scenes that insult Hindu traditions and the Brahmin community.

Written and directed by Nanda Kishore, and produced by B. K. Gangadhar, the film had earlier run into controversy over a song-and-dance sequence glorifying physical abuse, sexual harassment and eve-teasing. In the song-and-dance scene, the lead character, played by actor Dhruva Sarja, harasses his love interest, who is played by Rashmika Mandanna. To get her attention, the lead character and his henchmen burn motorcycles, vandalise shops and beat up people. The lead then proceeds to hug her inappropriately as she visibly squirms in his arms. In the dance sequence, the protagonist also threatens to cut her up with a knife and electrocute her using live wires. All this, while the henchmen watch and cheer on.

BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje too raised objections to the scenes in the movie on social media platform Twitter, and called for the screening of the film to be stopped.

“It has become a fashion to humiliate Hindus & take a ride on our sentiments. Whether they have guts to portray other religions in this manner? Screening of #Pogaru film has to be stopped until such objectable scenes are censored. Hurting Hindu emotions can’t be ignored [sic]”, she tweeted.

https://twitter.com/ShobhaBJP/status/1364159215695130624

Journalist Chiranjeevi Bhat too criticised the film for portraying Brahmins in a derogatory way and insulting the whole community. He objected to the scenes in the film in a video, which he uploaded on Twitter and YouTube.

ಸಿನಿಮಾ‌‌ ಪೊಗರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣರನ್ನು ಬಯ್ಯೋ ಬದಲು,‌ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣರ ಬಳಿಯೇ ಭಿಕ್ಷೆ ಕೇಳಿ.. ಧಾರಾಳವಾಗಿ ಕೈ ಎತ್ತಿ ಕೊಡುತ್ತಾರೆ. In fact, ಸಿನಿಮಾ‌ ಕಲೆಕ್ಷನ್‌ಗಿಂತಲೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಹಣವನ್ನ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣರೇ ಕೊಡ್ತಾರೆ ನಿಮಗೆ. ಅದರ ಬದಲು ಜಾತಿ ನಿಂದನೆಯೇಕೆ?

ಪೊಗರು ಸಿನಿಮಾ ವಿಮರ್ಶೆ. ಪೂರ್ತಿ ವಿಡಿಯೊ: https://t.co/c92dXFsxqF#ಪೊಗರುಬೇಡ pic.twitter.com/TU626BHRLj

— Chiru Bhat | ಚಿರು ಭಟ್ (@mechirubhat) February 22, 2021

Soon after, the journalist received several death threats via phone-calls from one Shekhar, an admirer of the lead actor Dhruva Sarja, asking him to take down the video, otherwise he would “do what needs to be done”.

After releasing this video opposing cinema crew who had done a Anti Brahmin Kannada movie called "Pogaru", I am now getting life threat calls from fans. They're saying they'll come to my place and "do what needs to be done."@DCPSouthBCP @BlrCityPolice @drashwathcn @blsanthosh https://t.co/LPcJ44J5UI

— Chiru Bhat | ಚಿರು ಭಟ್ (@mechirubhat) February 23, 2021

After releasing this video opposing cinema crew who had done a Anti Brahmin Kannada movie called "Pogaru", I am now getting life threat calls from fans. They're saying they'll come to my place and "do what needs to be done."@DCPSouthBCP @BlrCityPolice @drashwathcn @blsanthosh https://t.co/LPcJ44J5UI

— Chiru Bhat | ಚಿರು ಭಟ್ (@mechirubhat) February 23, 2021

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The post Pogaru: Kannada film panned for insulting Hindus and Brahmins appeared first on The Commune.

82 fishermen from Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu, who had gone to Udupi and got stranded due to the nation-wide lockdown, are set to return home.

3 buses have been arranged by the Karnataka government that will transport them to Ramanathapuram.

BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje, who represents the Udupi Chikmaglur Lok Sabha constituency, oversaw the efforts and sponsored food, water bottles, and other supplies for the journey. She thanked the fishermen for their cooperation.

Member from BJP Tamil Nadu Unit thanked the MP for going out of her way in helping the stranded people from Tamil Nadu.

உடுப்பியில் ஊரடங்கால் சிக்கிய 82 தமிழக மீனவர்களை 3 பிரத்யேக பேருந்துகளில் தமிழகம் அனுப்பி வைத்துள்ளது #BJP @BSYBJP கர்நாடக அரசாங்கம். நேரடியாக சென்று அனைவருக்கும் நன்றி தெரிவித்து, உணவு, தண்ணீரை தானே வழங்கி வழி அனுப்பியுள்ளார் உடுப்பி பா.ஜ.க எம்.பி @ShobhaBJP ! நன்றி சொல்லலாமே! pic.twitter.com/nK4DlADYgb

— Dr.SG Suryah (@SuryahSG) May 8, 2020

Along with them, fishermen from Srikakulam, Nellur and other parts of Andhra Pradesh left in 6 busses from Udupi to their respective districts.

The post MP Shobha Karandlaje helps TN fishermen stranded in Udupi to return home appeared first on The Commune.