Blog

Tamannaah Bhatia has been named brand ambassador for Mysore Sandal Soap.

The Congress-led government signed a two-year, Rs 6.2 crore contract.

Critics argue a local actress should represent Karnataka’s cultural identity.

The first Mysore Sandal soap was manufactured in 1916. Nearly 110 years later, a political and cultural dispute has emerged in Karnataka over who should be the main promoter of the iconic soap brand. At the heart of this controversy is Mumbai-born Bollywood actress Tamannaah Bhatia, who has been appointed as the brand ambassador of Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL), the government-owned company that manufactures Mysore Sandal Soap.

The Congress-led Karnataka government has signed a two-year contract with Ms Bhatia for a reported sum of Rs 6.2 crore. The move has drawn sharp criticism from pro-Kannada groups, local activists, and opposition leaders, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) questioning the decision. 

The controversy has triggered a debate over regional identity and representation. Critics argue that the government should have chosen a Kannada actress to represent a brand that is deeply rooted in Karnataka’s cultural legacy.

Political Fallout

Activists have formally written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, demanding that the appointment be revoked. In a social media post, Narayana Gowda, State President of the Karnataka Defence Forum, described the decision as “unethical, irresponsible and disconnected from the sentiments of Kannadigas.”

An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Srinagar faced severe turbulence due to a hailstorm. The pilot sought permission to use Pakistani airspace to avoid it, but the request was denied. The plane landed safely, with no injuries reported.

Aviation watchdog DGCA on Friday said the crew of IndiGo flight from the national capital to Srinagar on Wednesday had sought permission to enter the Pakistan airspace to avoid turbulence but the request was rejected.

In a detailed statement about the incident, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said there was no injury to any passengers who were on the flight and that the aircraft’s “nose radome” was damaged.

The incident of the aircraft encountering turbulence is being probed by the DGCA.

On Wednesday, IndiGo’s A321 neo aircraft operating flight 6E 2142 encountered hailstorm and severe turbulence near Pathankot.

“As per crew statement, they requested Northern control (IAF) for deviation towards left (International Border) due to weather on the route, however, it was not approved.

“Later crew contacted Lahore to enter into their airspace to avoid the weather but the same was refused too,” DGCA said.

According to the regulator, the crew initially attempted to return back but as they were close to the thunder storm cloud, they decided to penetrate the weather.

“Subsequently, they encountered hailstorm and severe turbulence. Crew chose to continue at the same heading to exit the weather by the shortest route towards Srinagar,” the statement said.

On Thursday, PTI reported that the Lahore ATC had rejected the flight pilot’s request to use the Pakistan airspace to avoid turbulence. 

The senior counsel submitted that the officer had served over 13.5 years in service but was impacted by a 2019 policy that denied her permanent commission and forced her to conclude her service after a month.

The Supreme Court asked Centre and IAF to retain Wing Commander Nikita Pandey

She claimed discrimination over being denied a permanent commission

The court noted uncertainty in service is detrimental to armed forces officers.

The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Centre and the Indian Air Force not to release from service a woman officer, who was part of Operation Balakot and Operation Sindoor but was denied permanent commission.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh sought responses from the Centre and the IAF on the plea of Wing Commander Nikita Pandey who claimed discrimination for being denied permanent commission.

The bench called IAF a professional force and said the uncertainty on service was not good for such officers.

“Our Air Force is one of the best organisations in the world. Officers are very commendable. Quality of coordination they have exhibited, I think it’s unparalleled. Therefore, we always salute them. They are a big asset for the nation. They are the nation, in a way. Because of them, we are able to sleep at night,” Justice Kant said.

The bench noted a “tough life” for Short Service Commission (SSC) officers began following their recruitment, which called for some incentive after 10 or 15 years to grant them permanent commission.

“That sense of uncertainty may not be good for the Armed Forces. It’s a layman’s suggestion, because we are not experts. On minimum benchmarks, there can’t be a compromise,” Justice Kant said.

Senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy, appearing for the officer, said her client was an expert fighter controller, who participated as an expert in the Integrated Air Command and Control Systems (IACCS), which were deployed in Operation Sindoor and Operation Balakot.

The senior counsel submitted that the officer had served over 13.5 years in service but was impacted by a 2019 policy that denied her permanent commission and forced her to conclude her service after a month.

The officer ranked second in the merit list of expert air fighter controllers in the country, Guruswamy added.

The bench asked Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre and the IAF, the reason for not granting the officer permanent commission.

Ms Bhati revealed she belonged to an armed forces background herself, therefore, being receptive of the predicament of such officers but argued that the petitioner was found unfit by the selection board.

She said the officer directly moved the apex court without filing any representation and informed the bench that a second selection board would be considering her case.

The bench ordered Pandey not to be released from service till further orders and posted the hearing on August 6.

The top court, however, said no equity would be created in her favour and left open all the contentions in the case.

Ms Bhati had no objections in the officers continuing in service as most of the officers in the armed forces were brilliant officers but ultimate question related to the comparative merit and the need for keeping the forces young.

She said a “steep pyramidal structure” was followed by IAF which requires that certain officers go out of the service after serving 14 years and new officers come in their place.

Justice Kant told Ms Bhati that armed forces should have the capacity to accommodate all SSC officers in the permanent commission, highlighting women officers performed exceedingly well.

“Due to the lack of permanent commission for women officers after a long duration, Short Service Commission recruitment are taking place. That is the reason that inter se competition arises after 10, 12 and 15 years. You can have a policy of taking that many SCC officers, who can be accommodated in the Permanent Commission, if they are found suitable. If you have 100 SCC officers, you should have the capacity to take 100 of them to the permanent commission,” the judge said.

Ms Bhati replied that normally out of 100 officers considered for the permanent commission, almost 90-95 per cent officers were found fit but some lost out only on account of comparative merit.

“There are a limited number of posts, it’s a very steep pyramid structure,” she said.

Gen Munir was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal on Tuesday for his role in the recent conflict with India, becoming the second top military officer in the country’s history to be elevated to the position.

Army chief Gen Asim Munir should have given himself the title of “king” instead of field marshal as Pakistan is currently governed by the jungle law, jailed former premier Imran Khan said on Thursday.

Gen Munir was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal on Tuesday for his role in the recent conflict with India, becoming the second top military officer in the country’s history to be elevated to the position.

“MashaAllah, General Asim Munir has been made Field Marshal. Though frankly, it might have been more fitting to give him the title of ‘King’ instead — because right now, the country is ruled by the law of the jungle. And in the jungle, there is only one king,” Khan posted on X.

Khan, who has been in jail since August 2023 in multiple cases, also said that rumours of a deal being made with him are entirely false. “No deal has taken place, nor is any dialogue underway. These are baseless lies.” He, however, openly invited the military establishment to have talks with him if it truly cared about Pakistan’s interests and future.

“The country is facing external threats, a surge in terrorism, and an economic crisis. We must unite. I have never asked for anything for myself before, nor will I now,” he said.

Khan also cautioned the Shehbaz Sharif government about India’s another attack and said they must be prepared for any such situation.

An IndiGo flight from Delhi to Srinagar faced severe turbulence due to a hailstorm. The pilot sought permission to use Pakistani airspace to avoid it, but the request was denied. The plane landed safely, with no injuries reported.

Aviation watchdog DGCA on Friday said the crew of IndiGo flight from the national capital to Srinagar on Wednesday had sought permission to enter the Pakistan airspace to avoid turbulence but the request was rejected.

In a detailed statement about the incident, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said there was no injury to any passengers who were on the flight and that the aircraft’s “nose radome” was damaged.

The incident of the aircraft encountering turbulence is being probed by the DGCA.

On Wednesday, IndiGo’s A321 neo aircraft operating flight 6E 2142 encountered hailstorm and severe turbulence near Pathankot.

“As per crew statement, they requested Northern control (IAF) for deviation towards left (International Border) due to weather on the route, however, it was not approved.

“Later crew contacted Lahore to enter into their airspace to avoid the weather but the same was refused too,” DGCA said.

According to the regulator, the crew initially attempted to return back but as they were close to the thunder storm cloud, they decided to penetrate the weather.

“Subsequently, they encountered hailstorm and severe turbulence. Crew chose to continue at the same heading to exit the weather by the shortest route towards Srinagar,” the statement said.

On Thursday, PTI reported that the Lahore ATC had rejected the flight pilot’s request to use the Pakistan airspace to avoid turbulence. 

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing!