Veteran Bollywood lyricist Javed Akhtar, who is known for his outspoken views on religion and politics, on Friday said ‘Jai Siya Ram’ is the “finest example” of love and unity. Mr Akhtar also added that Lord Ram And Sita are the “ideal” husband and wife.

The Bollywood legend’s remarks came at a Deepotsav event organised by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray in Mumbai.

“There are many deities, but when we talk about the ideal husband and ideal wife, Ram and Sita come to mind… ‘Jai Siya Ram’ is the finest example of love and unity,” Mr Akhtar said.

#WATCH | Mumbai: Lyricist Javed Akhtar says, “There are many deities, but when we talk about the ideal husband and ideal wife, Ram and Sita come to mind… ‘Jai Siya Ram’ is the finest example of love and unity…” (09.11) pic.twitter.com/3q7ePovJCC

— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2023

He also stressed the cultural importance of Hinduism and raised concerns about the dwindling freedom of expression.

“There are some people who have always been intolerant. Hindus are not like that. Their specialty is that they are generous and large-hearted. This is Hindu culture, this is civilisation. It has taught us democratic attitudes. That’s why there is democracy in this country. Thinking that we are right and everyone else is wrong is not the work of Hindus. Whoever taught you this is wrong,” Mr Akhtar said.

The lyricist added that Lord Ram and Sita are not only Hindu gods and goddesses but the cultural heritage of India. 

Air quality across Delhi remains in the “poor” category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), a day after rain in the national capital and surrounding areas washed away the toxic haze, bringing some relief to residents and improving air quality marginally. 

The Air Quality Index (AQI) today in Anand Vihar, RK Puram, Punjabi Bagh, and ITO was recorded at 282, 220, 236, and 263, respectively.

Delhi was gasping for air after a week of suffocating pollution, with levels of harmful particles up to 100 times the World Health Organization’s safe limit. The city was the world’s most polluted last Thursday.

To reduce pollution in Delhi and ensure adherence to anti-pollution measures, the Delhi Police inspected trucks carrying non-essential goods at the Ghazipur and Tikri borders on Friday night, as part of the GRAP 4 regulations.

Delhi’s air pollution control plan (GRAP Stage IV) only allows CNG, electric, and BS VI-compliant vehicles from other states to enter the city, except for essential services.

Delhi Police inspected trucks entering the city at the Ghazipur border on Friday night, enforcing GRAP 4 regulations that permit only CNG and electric trucks to enter. Another team of Delhi Police at the Tikri border checked the trucks entering the national capital.

The weather department forecasts partly cloudy skies with mist or shallow fog in the mornings on Sunday and Monday, followed by mainly clear skies with shallow fog in the mornings on Tuesday and Wednesday.

An IMD official said following the passage of the western disturbance, wind speeds are expected to increase from the current 5-6 kmph to around 15 kmph on November 11. This anticipated increase in wind speed could help disperse pollutants and improve air quality ahead of Diwali. The weather department has predicted “mainly clear skies with shallow fog” for today. 

Delhi-NCR’s air quality plummeted over the past week due to falling temperatures, stagnant winds that stifled pollution dispersion, and a surge in post-harvest paddy stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana.

Delhi’s air quality is one of the worst among capital cities globally, with a University of Chicago report finding that air pollution reduces life expectancy by almost 12 years.

At least four people were killed after an oil tanker hit a car and a pickup van near Sidhrawali village in Gurugram on the Delhi-Jaipur Highway on Friday night, police said.

According to the investigation officer of Bilaspur police station, Vinod Kumar, an oil tanker coming from Jaipur broke the divider and hit a car. The passengers inside were probably travelling to Jaipur, said the police. The car was engulfed in fire due to the CNG cylinders inside it.

The accident killed all three passengers due to fire following the collision.

The police further informed that after hitting the car, the oil tanker collided with a pickup van on the highway, due to which the driver of the van died on the spot.

“We received information regarding the accident that occurred on the Delhi-Jaipur Highway. When we reached the spot, we found that a car was gutted with fire, and three people were killed. Later, we also found that the oil tanker had collided with a pickup van due to which the driver of the van died on the spot,” IO Kumar said.

“However, the accused driver of the oil tanker fled away, and efforts are underway to catch him,” he added.

Further investigation into the matter is underway.