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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Modi’s ‘Melody’ diplomacy stuns the world

Overjoyed investors buy shares of a wrong company after the PM’s gift Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday gifting his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni 'Melody' toffees, reviving the light-hearted "Melodi" wordplay associated with the two leaders on social media. Meloni thanked Modi and shared a video on the social media in which she could be heard saying, “Prime Minister Modi brought as a gift, a very, very good toffee - Melody.” Modi, who was also seen in the video, burst...

Modi’s ‘Melody’ diplomacy stuns the world

Overjoyed investors buy shares of a wrong company after the PM’s gift Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday gifting his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni 'Melody' toffees, reviving the light-hearted "Melodi" wordplay associated with the two leaders on social media. Meloni thanked Modi and shared a video on the social media in which she could be heard saying, “Prime Minister Modi brought as a gift, a very, very good toffee - Melody.” Modi, who was also seen in the video, burst into laughter as Meloni jokingly referred to the "Melody" toffee while showcasing the gift. The hashtag "Melodi", a blend of Modi and Meloni's names, was coined by the Italian prime minister during the COP28 in Dubai in 2023 and later went viral on social media following the warm interactions between the two leaders at global events. Modi, who arrived in Rome on Tuesday, is on the final leg of his five-nation tour to the UAE, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy from May 15-20. Modi’s gift not only floored the social media, but also earned gushing gratitude from the manufacturer of the sweet candy, Parle Products, in Vile Parle, Mumbai. “Thank You. Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for taking Parle Melody to the global stage. A proud moment for all of us at Parle Products to see an Indian favourite being shared across borders,” said a social media post from @ParleFamily, a 97-year-old company. Parle Products describes Melody: “Parle Melody brings to you an irresistible layer of caramel on the outside & a delightful chocolate filling inside. Open & pop it in your mouth & relish the unique experience. It won't be too long before you start asking yourself the age-old question "Melody Itni Chocolaty Kyun Hai?”.” Cong Attacks Modi Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and several other Congress leaders also attacked Modi saying he continues his PR even when the economy is suffering. However, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal hit back at Gandhi, accusing him of "hating India" and refusing to tolerate the "global respect" the country has garnered under Modi's leadership. Gandhi, who is on a visit to his constituency Raebareli and Amethi, said on X, "This isn't leadership, it's a gimmick." At a time farmers, labourers, traders and others in the country are all in tears, the prime minister is laughing and making reels while BJP folks are clapping along, the former Congress president said in his post in Hindi. "An economic storm is raging over our heads, and our prime minister is busy handing out candies in Italy!" he said. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge attacked Modi over issues of "rising" prices, unemployment, paper leaks, "dampening" investment and "sinking" Rupee, saying the prime minister continues his PR even as the economy is suffering. Shares turn sweet but the company was mistaken Shares of Parle Industries Ltd saw frenzied buying on Wednesday, surging five per cent to hit the upper circuit limit after Meloni posted the video. Investors wasted no time and flocked to the counter to buy the stock. Shares of the firm jumped to Rs 5.25 - the highest trading permissible limit for the day - on the BSE. On volume terms, 8.57 lakh shares of the firm were traded on the BSE during the day. But, there is a catch! Investors mistook Parle Industries for the maker of Melody toffees. Parle Products, the FMCG major, is the manufacturer of Melody toffees and is not listed on the stock exchanges. Parle Industries Ltd is a diversified commercial services provider, engaged in the business of infrastructure & real estate, and paper, waste paper and allied products. The history of swadeshi toffee is entwined with the country’s Independence and the company, House of Parle was founded in 1928 by Mohanlal Dayal Chauhan, a tailor from Pardi near Valsad, then part of the Bombay Province. As the country was flooded with imported sweets and confectionery, he decided to give it a ‘desi’ touch and flavour, and with a band of 12 workers, he launched the Parle products from a musty old warehouse near Vile Parle east station, when large parts areas of Vile Parle west were still marshes dotted with a few old bungalows and chawls. Later, he visited Germany to master the art of confectionery and returned with machinery worth Rs 60,000 to churn out simple sweets, toffees and locally flavoured Indian confections at affordable prices – willy-nilly challenging the imported British offerings. It was in 1983 that the chocolate Melody toffee. -WITH PTI

It’s all in the DNA

Updated: Oct 21, 2024

It’s all in the DNA

Forensic DNA evidence, often hailed as the gold standard for identifying individuals, plays a crucial role in crime investigations and legal proceedings. It is instrumental in connecting suspects to crime scenes, exonerating the wrongly convicted, and establishing or excluding paternity. The reliability of forensic DNA evidence surpasses many other types of crime scene evidence, thanks to its high discrimination power, stability, and sensitivity. DNA tests are considered nearly infallible due to precise accuracy.

The pioneering work of Sir Alec John Jeffreys, a British geneticist, led to the development of genetic fingerprinting and DNA profiling techniques. These advancements are now globally utilized in forensic science to aid police investigations, resolve paternity disputes, and address immigration issues.

In India, forensic DNA evidence was first recognised in the criminal justice system by the Madras High Court in 1985. The landmark case of Kunhiraman v. Manoj (1991), adjudicated by the Kerala High Court, marked a significant milestone. The court upheld the admissibility of DNA evidence under Section 45 of the Indian Evidence Act, which permits expert opinions in legal matters. This ruling established that DNA evidence, like the opinions of chemical analysts or fingerprint experts, could decisively determine paternity.

Several high-profile cases in India have since relied on DNA evidence for crucial breakthroughs:

Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case (1991): DNA fingerprinting was used to identify both the victims and the attacker.

Naina Sahni Murder Case (1995): DNA evidence confirmed that the burnt remains were those of Naina Sahni, leading to the conviction of Sushil Sharma.

Beant Singh Assassination Case (1995): DNA fingerprinting revealed that one of the victims was Babbar Khalsa operative Dilawar Singh, confirming suspicions of a human bomb attack.

Priyadarshini Mattoo Case (1995): DNA evidence played a key role in the conviction of Santosh Kumar Singh, with the Delhi High Court sentencing him to death in 2006 based on DNA evidence found on the victim’s undergarments.

Shiney Ahuja Rape Case (2009): The actor was convicted after DNA samples from the victim matched his. Nirbhaya Gangrape Case (2012): DNA evidence, along with the victim’s dying declaration, led to the death sentences of all accused.

Hyderabad Blasts Case (2013): DNA samples from a house linked to the accused helped the National Investigation Agency secure convictions.

Mumbai Shakti Mill Gang Rape Case (2018): DNA evidence was crucial in identifying the victim through personal belongings, leading to the conviction of the accused. Interestingly, DNA profiling has even been utilized in anti-corruption cases. For instance, a bribe taker who swallowed tainted currency notes was forensically implicated when DNA profiling of saliva on the recovered notes confirmed his guilt.

In essence, DNA evidence serves as a biological GPS for the accused—a divinely notified Aadhaar card, ensuring justice is served. Just as in cricket where catches win matches, in crime, DNA matches win convictions.

(The writer is a retired IPS officer and a forensic expert. Views personal.)

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