Category: India

The RJD has questioned Nishant Kumar’s educational qualifications after details from his election affidavit surfaced. The disclosure has sharpened Bihar’s political debate over public image, education and dynastic politics.

A fresh political row has erupted in Bihar after the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) questioned the educational qualifications of Nishant Kumar, the son of former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

The controversy centres on claims made by the opposition party that Nishant Kumar, long referred to by many as an engineer, never completed his engineering degree and is not a graduate. According to the RJD, Nishant is only Class 12 pass, having left his engineering course midway.

The issue gained traction after details from Nishant Kumar’s election affidavit came into the public domain. As per the affidavit, he completed his Class 12 education from Patna Science College in 1998 and subsequently enrolled in the Bachelor of Engineering programme at Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra, Ranchi.

However, the affidavit reportedly states that Nishant did not complete the course. He is said to have studied only five of the eight semesters required for the degree before leaving the programme in 2001. The document also records that he is not a graduate.

Seizing on the disclosure, the RJD launched a sharp attack on Nitish Kumar and the Janata Dal (United), accusing them of allowing a misleading public image to persist.

In a post on X, the party said: “Son of Nitish Kumar, whom people kept calling an engineer, has turned out to be only Class 12 pass. In his election affidavit, he himself has stated that he is not a graduate. The layers of people who spent their entire life doing drama in the name of opposing dynastic politics will now be exposed.”

जिस नीतीश कुमार के बेटे को लोग इंजीनियर बताते नहीं थकते थे वह 12वीं निकला। चुनावी हलफनामें में स्वयं बताया कि वह ग्रेजुएट नहीं है। ताउम्र परिवारवाद के विरोध की नौटंकी करने वाले बेईमान लोगों की सारी परतें खुलेंगी। इंतजार कीजिए।

— Rashtriya Janata Dal (@RJDforIndia) June 9, 2026

The opposition argues that the issue extends beyond educational qualifications and raises questions about the image cultivated around Nishant Kumar over the years. Several JD(U) leaders had publicly referred to him as an engineer, while neither Nitish Kumar nor Nishant Kumar had publicly disputed those descriptions.

The controversy has acquired political significance in a state where the educational backgrounds of political leaders have frequently become subjects of public debate.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/engineer-or-just-class-12-pass-rjd-targets-nishant-kumars-educational-qualification-2924354-2026-06-10

 

The all-women police force named ‘Singappen’ to enhance the safety of women and children in public spaces will function under the direct supervision of the Chief Minister.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay on Tuesday inaugurated a special all-women police force named ‘Singappen’ to enhance the safety of women and children in public spaces. The force, aimed at strengthening preventive policing across the state, will function under the direct supervision of the Chief Minister.

Launching the initiative in Chennai, Vijay said the newly formed unit would focus on preventing crimes before they occur. The word ‘Singappen’ translates to “a woman as brave as a lioness”.

The force will specifically target offences such as stalking, sexual harassment, attempted abductions, public obscenity, harassment in crowded places and public transport, and other forms of violence against women.

“For me, the complete success of a government does not lie solely in infrastructure growth or economic development. The true success of a government lies in whether women and children live with dignity and respect,” Vijay said during the launch event.

Describing the initiative as “very close to my heart”, the Chief Minister said ensuring the safety of every “mother, sister and girl child” was not merely an election promise, but a sincere commitment.

“We have zero tolerance towards crimes against women. Those who think they can harass women and escape will not be tolerated. Strict punishment will be ensured and charge sheets will be filed rapidly,” he warned.

Linking women’s safety to the issue of narcotics, Vijay said crimes against women, the spread of drugs and law and order issues were interconnected.

“When we analysed why such crimes happen, the root cause repeatedly pointed towards drug abuse. This problem has existed for years because it was ignored for a long time,” he said, in remarks seen as an indirect attack on previous DMK and AIADMK governments.

Women’s safety was one of the key poll planks in Vijay’s campaign, and he had repeatedly attacked the previous DMK government over crimes against women.

The special unit will be headed by Inspector General of Police K Bhavaneeswari and operate under the Chief Minister’s direct supervision.

As part of the first phase, the Tamil Nadu government has allocated over Rs 354 crore for the initiative. The government will also create 2,545 new posts exclusively for the force, including inspectors, sub-inspectors and constables. Personnel recruited for the unit will undergo special training.

Initially, 70 units of the force will begin operations across Tamil Nadu with 140 sub-inspectors and 420 constables. Each patrol vehicle will have an all-women team comprising one sub-inspector, two head constables and a driver.

The Singappen personnel will wear a special uniform consisting of khaki trousers and blue shirts. Vijay also unveiled the unit’s insignia featuring the image of a lioness and a policewoman, and flagged off patrol vehicles for the force. The Chief Minister also drove one of the patrol vehicles for a short distance within the venue.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/tamil-nadu/story/singappen-special-police-force-launched-in-tamil-nadu-for-womens-safety-vijay-2924329-2026-06-09

The Maharashtra DFSL has launched a forensic probe into the suspected killing of Mikey, a community dog from Madh’s Raheja Exotica, Malad. Actor Sanket Kadam and Manjari Phadnis reported prior abuse and hostility by society staff, while CCTV footage was missing. Blood samples collected by the forensic team are under analysis.

Maharashtra’s state forensic team has been deployed to investigate the suspected killing of a stray dog, which went missing from a high-profile residential enclave in Malad. The incident marks the first time the Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratories (DFSL) has initiated a field forensics probe into an alleged stray dog murder in the city.

Forensic deployment

The investigation centers on a community dog named Mikey, who went missing from Madh’s Raheja Exotica housing society – a coastal neighbourhood home to several prominent Bollywood and television personalities. On Saturday, actor Sanket Kadam, a resident of the society, submitted a written complaint to the Malvani police station, on the basis of which a first information report (FIR) was registered.

According to Kadam’s statement, he was informed on May 29 by Manjari Phadnis – an actor and resident of the society – that Mikey was missing from the society. He claimed that both of them actively circulated missing alerts on the society’s WhatsApp groups, urging anyone with information to come forward but did not receive any lead. However, he alleged that the society’s secretary offered vague answers when asked about the dog’s whereabouts while the society’s manager and housekeeping supervisor refused to show the CCTV footage, claiming that it had been “formatted.”

FIR registration

The matter was raised in 2024 by VMC councillors, two days after his election as a Member of Parliament from the Baharampur constituency in West Bengal on a Trinamool Congress ticket.

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court on Monday came down heavily on former Indian cricketer Yusuf Pathan in an alleged land encroachment case.

The court while adjourning the hearing for next week orally told Pathan’s lawyer to be “ready for damages (rent)” for encroaching upon the public land without any formal order of allotment.

The division bench of chief justice Sunita Agarwal and justice D N Ray was hearing Pathan’s petition challenging a single judge’s order passed last year which had held him as an “encroacher” of a residential plot in Vadodara and directed the civic authorities for the removal.

“How could you occupy this plot? There is no allotment in your favour. You have not paid a single penny of allotment. This was only a proposal for allotment which was sent to the state govt for approval which was rejected. How can you enter into it? This is sufficient to reject…” the bench orally stated.

The land in question is an open residential plot located next to Pathan’s bungalow in the Tandalja area. In 2012, he approached the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) to allot the plot to him at market price citing family security.

The civic body carried out a valuation and forwarded a proposal to the VMC commissioner to allot the plot to Pathan. The commissioner then referred it to the state government. In 2014, the government rejected the proposal.

However, Pathan continued to retain possession of the plot. Pathan claims that he was not communicated in any manner about the rejection until 2024.

The matter was raised in 2024 by VMC councillors, two days after his election as a Member of Parliament from the Baharampur constituency in West Bengal on a Trinamool Congress ticket.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/gujarat/how-could-you-occupy-plot-without-order-gujarat-hc-to-yusuf-pathan-in-land-encroachment-case-4032047

The Trinamool Congress faces a deepening internal revolt as rebel MPs move to back the NDA, challenging Mamata Banerjee’s authority and raising fresh questions about the party’s future and unity.

The Trinamool Congress’ internal crisis has spilled from the West Bengal Assembly to Parliament, with a group of rebel MPs openly challenging Mamata Banerjee’s leadership and moving closer to the BJP-led NDA.

The latest flashpoint comes days after a revolt by TMC legislators in the Bengal Assembly. Now, dissident MPs claim they have the numbers to chart an independent political course, raising questions about Mamata Banerjee’s grip over the party at a time when she is attempting to reposition herself at the national level through the INDIA bloc.

On a day when Mamata Banerjee and party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee attended an INDIA bloc meeting in Delhi, Lok Sabha MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, who has emerged as the face of the rebellion in Parliament, said a group of MPs had decided to formally declare support for the NDA.

“Nearly twenty TMC MPs, including me, have decided to write to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and formally support the NDA,” she told PTI.

“We have accepted the people’s verdict and believe that our future political course should be aligned with the NDA,” Ghosh Dastidar said.

The TMC currently has 28 Lok Sabha MPs, with one vacancy following the death of Basirhat MP Haji Nurul Islam. If the rebels indeed command the support of 20 MPs, they would cross the two-thirds mark often cited in discussions surrounding anti-defection provisions.

Sources said the dissident camp plans to argue before the Speaker that Ghosh Dastidar continues to be the party’s chief whip in the Lok Sabha.

The TMC leadership, however, rejected the claim. Party leaders said Mamata Banerjee had already communicated the removal of Ghosh Dastidar as chief whip and the appointment of Kalyan Banerjee in her place through a letter sent to the Lok Sabha Secretariat in May.

Party MP Kirti Azad backed the leadership’s position and questioned the rebels’ political motives.

“The question is for how long the BJP will keep hoodwinking the people?” he said.

Rebels Test Legal Limits, TMC Questions Morality

According to sources, the rebel MPs are not planning to immediately resign from the TMC or join the BJP. Instead, they intend to function as a separate bloc that supports the NDA, a strategy that they believe could help them avoid disqualification under anti-defection provisions.
The TMC, however, insists the rebels’ reading of the law is flawed.

“As per the law, even if two-thirds of MPs wish to leave a party, the only choice they have is to merge with another political party. There is no provision for a separate group,” a senior TMC leader said.

The leader also questioned the ethics of remaining elected on a TMC ticket while backing the BJP-led alliance.

“Since all these MPs got elected on TMC ticket they should do what Sukhendu did — resign instead of getting into a situation where they will support BJP from the backdoor. If they wanted to fight the BJP they should fight now,” the leader said.

“They’ve all been elected on the TMC symbol, opposed to BJP policies. None of them can form another bloc even if they get two-thirds. It is a legislative party, not a political party. Lawyers have told us they have no case. It’s illegal, unconstitutional and unethical,” the person added.

Meanwhile, the political messaging from the rebel camp has become increasingly public.

A group of dissident MPs reportedly met senior BJP leader Bhupender Yadav in Delhi. Photographs circulating online showed Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Shekhar Ray alongside several TMC parliamentarians. Sources also claimed that around 20 MPs attended a separate strategy meeting in the national capital, where concerns were raised over the party’s parliamentary leadership structure.

Not everyone in the TMC appears ready to switch sides.

Veteran MP Sougata Roy dismissed speculation of a mass exodus and revealed that he had rejected overtures from the BJP.

“I have heard that some MPs held a separate meeting last night. Only they can say what transpired in the meeting. I was not contacted by them,” Roy said.

“I told them I will remain with the TMC. At this age, it won’t be possible for me to change camp,” the 78-year-old four-term MP told PTI.

The government cut subsidized gas cylinders for poor households from nine to four, citing rising costs and efforts to control fuel subsidies.

The government has reduced the number of subsidised cooking gas cylinders that 105 million poor households get under a popular welfare scheme from nine to four, a top petroleum ministry officer said Monday, a day after the reduction was communicated almost as an aside in a statement justifying the ₹29 increase in the price of a 14.2 kg cyclinder that was announced on Sunday.

Praveen M Khanooja, an additional secretary in the petroleum ministry justified this by pointing to the fact that state-run oil companies are still losing ₹700 on every 14.2 kg LPG refill, ₹6 per litre on petrol, and ₹30 a litre on diesel.

He added that all cooking gas customers (about 333.7 million) are still getting LPG refills cheaper by ₹700 per cylinder compared to market rates. In addition the beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) , around 105 million poor households, get a ₹300 per cylinder subsidy up to four refills in a year.

His clarification came a day after a petroleum ministry statement on the price hike said: “A PMUY beneficiary will additionally receive the direct benefit transfer of ₹300 a cylinder on the first four refills each year — broadly the average consumption of a typical Ujjwala household…”

That was the first sign that the government had officially reduced the number of subsidised cylinders from nine to four. In August 2025, the Union Cabinet had approved the subsidy for nine cylinders a year.

PMUY was first launched in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh in 2016 as a scheme to give free connection to clean fuel (LPG) with no installation charges for deprived households. From August 2021 (Ujjwala 2.0), each connection also included the first free LPG cylinder and a stove. Some states gave add-on free cylinders along with the centre’s scheme.

During the Covid-19 pandemic (under under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana), the government provided three cylinders to Ujjwala beneficiaries for free. From May 2022, the government started giving a targeted subsidy of ₹200 per 14.2 kg cylinder for PMUY beneficiaries for up to 12 refills a year for years 2022-23 and 2023-24. In October 2023 the targeted LPG subsidy was raised to ₹300 for up to 12 refills per annum.

On August 8, 2025, the Cabinet approved the targeted subsidy of ₹300 per 14.2 kg cylinder for up to nine refills per year to Ujjwala beneficiaries for 2025-26. Now, the number has been reduced to four with a subsidy cap of ₹300 per 14.2 kg cylinder.

The government’s efforts saw a jump in consumption of domestic LPG. As per a statement issued by the Union cabinet on August 8, 2025, average per capita consumption of PMUY consumers, which was only about three refills in 2019-20 and 3. 68 refills in 2022-23, improved to about 4.47 in 2024-25.

Experts said the reduction in number of subsidized cylinders from nine to four is to check the ballooning fuel subsidy bill despite two rounds of price hikes. Global energy markets have been roiled by the war in West Asia. Khanooja did not give an estimate of LPG subsidy outgo in 2026-27 under a volatile international energy scenario.

According to the petroleum ministry’s June 7 statement, over 333.7 million consumers get two types of price protection, one of the under-recoveries incurred by the OMCs for all consumers and the other is an additional ₹300 per cylinder subsidy to 105.8 million Ujjwala beneficiaries.

“The under-recovery is the gap between the international cost of the molecule and the regulated retail price; it is absorbed by the public sector marketing companies and compensated in part by the exchequer,” the ministry said in a statement.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/govt-reduces-lpg-subsidy-under-pmuy-to-4-per-year-101780945348024.html

A vacation bench of justice Neena Bansal Krishna observed that these heritage and open spaces serve as vital “breather” for Delhi residents.

The Delhi High Court on Monday questioned the Centre’s move to take over nearly 200-year-old properties, including the iconic Delhi Gymkhana Club, Delhi Race Club, and Jaipur Polo Grounds, purportedly for “public purpose”.

A vacation bench of justice Neena Bansal Krishna observed that these heritage and open spaces serve as vital “breather” for Delhi residents in a city grappling with pollution, and replacing them with high-rise structures could cause the Capital to “suffocate” and eventually render it unfit for its inhabitants.

“What are you going to do with all these heritage structures? Even Gymkhana is a heritage structure. What are you going to do? Make 20-storey buildings? Delhi will suffocate. You do all that you want to. [That area] is a little breather we have. That is all also going to go. All of us will suffocate and die,” the court remarked to the Centre’s standing counsel Ashish Dixit.

“Delhi people, please go to some small mountain and stay there. Delhi will not be fit for anyone for us. You all know how much we are choking because of pollution. The small lung that we have, do you want to take that away also? No, no, take it away. Ensure that people stop coming to Delhi,” the court said.

It added, “We have only high-rises all over. And you are saying, NDMC colony, we all had two-storey houses, now we have 20-storey houses… and if this is how you want Delhi to live, then God save us.”

The court also questioned the timing of the government’s decision, asking why the need to take over these properties that had remained in existence for centuries without any such intervention.

“They have existed for more than 200 years. Government never felt the need of the land… Defence requirement for what? This has been going on for years. We don’t know what you are going to make Delhi into.”

The observations were made while the court was hearing a petition filed by the Indian Polo Association (IPA) challenging an eviction order issued on May 20 under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act. The order directed the vacation of the 15.20-acre Jaipur Polo Grounds by June 4.

IPA sought a stay on the eviction order, contending that although it had informed the trial court that coercive action was likely to be taken after June 4, the court neither considered its appeal nor its request for interim protection, merely issuing notice and adjourning the matter to June 9.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/all-of-us-will-suffocate-and-die-high-court-to-centre-on-delhi-gymkhana-eviction-notice-101780966592085.html

 

Former India opener Sadagoppan Ramesh criticised the Ajit Agarkar-led BCCI selection committee’s decision to re-include Harshit Rana in the Indian T20I squad.

India’s T20I squads for the upcoming tours of Ireland and England, as well as for the Asian Games 2026, have been announced. Pacer Harshit Rana, who suffered a lengthy injury just ahead of this year’s T20 World Cup, has been included in all three squads, despite not playing a single match since. Former India cricketer Sadagoppan Ramesh blasted the Ajit Agarkar-led BCCI selection committee’s decision to bring Harshit straight back into the side, claiming that it would send a wrong message to players like Mohammed Shami.

“How have you selected Harshit Rana? I don’t think he has played any domestic cricket after knee surgery. Nobody knows the answer to this. Just imagine Shami’s mind voice now, or even the others’ mind voice,” Ramesh said in a video on his Instagram handle, as quoted by Sportskeeda.

Ramesh claimed that the selection committee had already set the precedent for players to prove their fitness in domestic cricket, but not followed it in Harshit’s case.

See more

“Whether it was a Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma, the management said they had to play domestic cricket to be considered for selection. Even when Hardik Pandya got injured, he was asked to prove his fitness for selection. For Shami, they questioned if he could bowl longer spells after injury and asked him to prove himself after injury,” Ramesh explained.

“The current T20I skipper, Shreyas Iyer, himself was asked to prove his fitness before the New Zealand ODIs by playing the Vijay Hazare Trophy. There are many such examples like this. So they’ve set the precedent that if a player has to come back into the Indian team, especially after injury, he must prove himself and his fitness in domestic cricket,” he added.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/ajit-agarkar-slammed-for-going-against-bccis-precedent-in-england-tour-selection-nobody-knows-11608200?pfrom=home-ndtv_lateststories

 

Several Indian workers were killed on Monday when a minibus collided with a truck that had stopped in the middle of a road in Dubai, the authorities said.

Several Indian workers were killed on Monday when a minibus collided with a truck that had stopped in the middle of a road in Dubai, the authorities said.

“Deeply saddened by the tragic road accident in Dubai that claimed the lives of several Indian workers,” the Indian Consulate in Dubai said in a post on X.

The mission said that it is working closely with local authorities to provide all possible assistance and support.

Brigadier Juma Salem bin Suwaidan, Director of the General Department of Traffic at Dubai Police, said that preliminary investigations showed the truck had stopped suddenly in the middle of the Emirates Road due to a technical fault.

“The bus driver, who allegedly failed to pay attention and keep a safe distance, then rammed into the truck from behind,” he said in a statement.

“The accident resulted in seven fatalities and nine injuries, including five serious and four moderate injuries. All injured were transported to the hospital for treatment,” he added.

The officials from the Indian mission visited the hospital and met the injured Indians.

“Our heartfelt condolences and prayers are with the grieving families during this difficult time,” the mission said.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/several-indian-workers-killed-in-dubai-after-minibus-collides-with-truck-11608906?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

While the recent dispute may have been triggered by the removal or installation of posters, there is a long backstory to it

The controversy surrounding coaching centres in Bihar’s Patna shows no signs of subsiding even after six days. Developments keep emerging one after another. While Raushan Anand of Gyan Bindu Coaching is in jail, Khan Sir faces the looming threat of arrest.

What lies at the heart of the conflict between two prominent coaching centres – Khan Global Studies, and Gyan Bindu GS Academy – located in Patna’s Musallahpur coaching hub? How did this entire dispute begin? NDTV investigated the matter.

Over the past few days, NDTV spoke with teachers, staff and educators associated with both Khan Sir and Gyan Bindu Coaching, residents of Musallahpur and students. These conversations revealed many versions of the story behind the dispute.

The investigation traced the root of the conflict to the results of the Bihar Police recruitment examination. Both coaching centres claimed credit for a large number of successful candidates, one claiming 12,000 and the other 10,000. Tension escalated as associates from both institutes tore down each other’s posters, eventually leading to physical fights.

The results for 24 forest range officer posts were declared in February. Abhishek Kumar alias Abhishek Patel topped the list. Immediately, after the results were announced, both coaching centres claimed him as their student and even produced records to back their claims. Khan Sir asserted that 18 of the 24 successful candidates were from his institute. Raushan Anand also laid claim to the topper.

On March 28, Abhishek Patel visited Khan Sir to be felicitated, an act that angered Raushan Anand and which prompted him to make public his WhatsApp chats with Abhishek Patel in which the student was seen discussing the course with him. Raushan Anand accused Khan Sir of “buying” the topper for Rs 10 lakh.

Abhishek Patel has denied the allegations. While this particular dispute garnered significant media attention, it was not the only conflict between the two. Every year, following the declaration of the Bihar Police sub-inspector exam results, a debate intensifies regarding the toppers and the number of successful candidates.

Battle For Control

An area by the name ‘Kisan Cold Storage’ which acts as a campus lies at the heart of this entire controversy. Located in Musallahpur, Kisan Cold Storage has long been known as a coaching hub. Until 2018-19, the campus housed around 20 coaching centres of various sizes. Gyan Bindu Coaching Centre and Khan Global Studies also operate from there. Many shut down after the COVID-19 pandemic. By that time, Khan Sir had already gained significant popularity.

FRO Rank-01 ( Abhishek Patel) को 10 लाख में खरीदकर दिखा रहा 🤑 | Forest R… https://t.co/hoqGqqH14G via @YouTube

— Prabhanshu Ranjan (@prabhanshu_1994) June 7, 2026

He expanded his coaching operations, constructing buildings on the campus and renting out halls and offices of coaching centres that had shut down. Consequently, a majority of classrooms and halls at Kisan Cold Storage are now under the control of Khan Global Studies.

Adarsh, a teacher at Gyan Bindu Coaching, claims Khan Sir wants total control of the campus. Currently, only six coaching centres remain on the campus. The site is renowned and serves as an excellent location for running coaching institutes in the area covering Bazar Samiti, Mahendru, and Musallahpur Haat. Khan Sir reportedly enjoys the support of the campus owner.

What Campus Owner Told NDTV

Do the campus owners actually favour Khan Sir? To find out, NDTV spoke to the owner, RB Prasad. He refuted the allegations. “We simply want this place to produce the maximum number of successful candidates; we hold no enmity towards anyone, nor do we favour any specific individual.”

Locals, however, alleged Khan Sir pays them a hefty sum as rent and has expanded the campus, which is why the campus owner is inclined to favour him.

Hostels hold significant sway in this area of Patna, which serves as a coaching hub. These hostels frequently make headlines for the wrong reasons; raids often uncover bombs and explosives on the premises. Residents have faced accusations ranging from physical assault to murder. For students living in hostels like Saidpur, Patel, and university campus hostels such as Minto and Jackson, Saraswati Puja serves as an opportunity to display their strength.

Donations are collected from coaching centres for these events. A hostel tends to favour the coaching centre that contributes the most funds, and some hostel residents pledge their support to specific coaching centres.

Raushan Anand has repeatedly alleged that Khan Sir conspires against him using certain residents of Patel Hostel. In 2023, Gyan Bindu Coaching Centre was attacked; everything from display screens to the office furniture was vandalised. Raushan Anand accused Khan Sir at the time, claiming the attackers were from Patel Hostel and had been supplied with hockey sticks and clubs from Khan Sir’s office.

Khan Sir has also accused Raushan Anand of orchestrating bomb attacks and instigating assaults on his staff through students from other hostels. In March 2021, Khan Sir accused Raushan Anand, his brother Prince, and others of barging into his classroom, engaging in violence and causing vandalism. A police complaint was filed.

Both teachers have frequently made crude or undignified comments about each other without explicitly naming one another. In 2023, Khan Sir appeared on ‘The Kapil Sharma Show’. Following this show, during a class, Raushan Anand claimed that Khan Sir had paid a public relations agency lakhs of rupees to appear in the programme.

“There is a difference between reel and real. Forget the reel persona; connect with the real one” – Khan Sir’s rival would say in class.

Khan Sir is popular on social media and is labeled as a “reel teacher” by rivals. It is also a sentiment Raushan Anand has frequently echoed. Even his students also describe Khan Sir as a “reel teacher.”

Khan Sir accuses Raushan Anand of trying to gain popularity by riding on his coattails. Many refer to Raushan Anand’s coaching centre as the “Daroga Factory” (Sub-Inspector Factory). Khan Sir’s students recount him saying, “Don’t go to the factory. If you go to a factory, you’ll become a labourer. Think about it. Do you want to be a labourer or an officer?”

This was seen as a dig at “Daroga Factory,” or Gyan Bindu. In interviews, he has indirectly accused Raushan Anand of orchestrating attacks against him. At the heart of these conflicts lies a struggle for supremacy in the online and offline markets.

Rishabh, who is in Patna preparing for competitive exams, says, “Khan Global reigns supreme in online coaching, whereas in the offline market, Gyan Bindu has more students than Khan Global Studies.”

This is precisely why thousands of students rallied in support of Raushan Anand. Both teachers aim to establish their dominance in the segment where the other holds sway. Both coaching centres have operated from the same campus since 2017. A staff member on the campus said clashes between the staff of the two coaching centres happen frequently, every three-four months. In an incident, while an exhaust fan was being installed at the Gyan Bindu Coaching Centre, a piece of brick fell from the wall on Khan Sir’s car. The two clashed at that time.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/the-inside-story-of-rivalry-between-khan-sir-and-raushan-sir-of-gyan-bindu-coaching-11608131?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

 

Amid the shifting dynamics that saw the Congress come up on top with Kerala under its belt and a driving seat in Tamil Nadu, the overriding message of unity came from the Grand Old Party.

Hard talk, airing of grievances and a message of unity – this was the big takeaway from the INDIA bloc meeting — held today in the aftermath of a series of setbacks. While key leader Mamata Banerjee’s party was crumbling by the hour, the DMK was absent. Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party had distanced itself and the CPM was upset over Congress criticism of its former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Amid the shifting dynamics that saw the Congress come up on top with Kerala under its belt and a driving seat in Tamil Nadu, the overriding message of unity came from the Grand Old Party.

“United we stand, divided we fall,” sources quoted Rahul Gandhi as saying, pointing to the bigger national picture during the three-hour meeting at Delhi’s Constitution Club. He warned allies against “pulling down each other” and urged them to fight together against the BJP “for the sake of the country and the Constitution”.

He also attempted to address the CPM’s grievances, saying remarks were made in the context of local political circumstances. His intention was neither to launch a personal attack nor to disparage the party’s ideology, sources quoted him as saying.

His comments came as CPM leader John Brittas raised his objections about the statements Gandhi made during the recent Kerala assembly elections, accusing then Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the CPM of colluding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP.

Sources said that Brittas made it clear that CPM cadres were deeply upset by these remarks.

Comments that smacked of criticism also came from Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, who raised the defection of the DMK and AAP from the Opposition ranks, sources said.

Yadav said as the largest party, the Congress bears a significant responsibility to take along the regional parties and ensure coordination within the alliance.

Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee – who many leaders hoped will spearhead the Opposition bloc one day — raised questions regarding the role of the Election Commission and central security forces during the Bengal Assembly elections.

The resounding defeat of Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress has been followed by an impending exodus by party MPs while in Bengal, 58 of the party’s 80 MLAs are claiming to be the “real Trinamool”.Faced with multiple setbacks, Banerjee has urged alliance leaders to visit Bengal and meet the victims of post-poll violence, sources indicated. The Bengal leader, who greeted Sonia Gandhi with a hug and a 10-minute conversation, was also deeply in favour of avoiding criticism — a departure from her earlier questioning of the Congress’s ability to lead the alliance — sources said. The INDIA allies should “try not to criticise each other”, sources quoted her as saying.

The meeting also included discussions on the Constitutional Amendment Bill related to delimitation.

In his opening remarks, Mallikarjun Kharge noted that on April 17, the Opposition had united to defeat the Modi government on the delimitation bill in the Lok Sabha.

Although the strength of the INDIA alliance has been somewhat diminished due to the absence of the DMK and the rift within the Trinamool, the Opposition coalition remains confident that if the government reintroduces the bill during the monsoon session, the DMK will not support it, he had added.

The ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ (CJP) also came up for discussion at the meeting.

Forward Bloc leader G. Devarajan described it as an expression of the youth’s resentment towards the government. After creating a stir on social media, the CJP had staged a protest at Jantar Mantar last Saturday, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak.

Five decisions were taken during the meeting.

Announcing them after the meeting, Mallikarjun Kharge said a letter would be written to the Chief Justice of India regarding irregularities in voter lists and concerns over the fairness of elections.

Citing the NEET paper leak and irregularities related to CBSE examinations, Kharge demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

He also demanded that the government convene an all-party meeting to discuss economic issues.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-bloc-buries-hatchet-recalibrates-announces-5-point-plan-11609154?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Eknath Shinde was not invited to the Shivaji statue unveiling at Navi Mumbai International Airport. The omission prompted protests from his camp, opposition jibes and CMO notices over protocol.

A controversy over an invitation to a high-profile event at Navi Mumbai International Airport has triggered fresh speculation about internal tensions within Maharashtra’s ruling Mahayuti alliance. Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde was allegedly not invited to the unveiling of a 20-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at the airport on Maharashtra Statehood Day, despite his ministry’s direct oversight of CIDCO, one of the key agencies involved in the project.

The event, organised by Adani Airport Authority and CIDCO, was attended by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, former Raigad Guardian Minister Aditi Tatkare and Forest Minister Ganesh Naik. Sources claimed that Shinde was not informed about the programme, while Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar was also left off the guest list.

The omission has sparked political controversy, with leaders from the Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction alleging that the snub was not accidental. State minister Sanjay Shirsat voiced strong displeasure, suggesting that sections of the bureaucracy were functioning under political pressure and attempting to deny due credit for the project.

The issue has also provided ammunition to the opposition. Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Ambadas Danve mocked Shinde’s position within the ruling alliance, using the incident to highlight what he described as growing strains among Mahayuti partners.

Amid mounting criticism, the Chief Minister’s Office moved swiftly to contain the fallout. The CMO issued show-cause notices to both CIDCO and the Adani Airport Authority, seeking an explanation for the alleged violation of official protocol and the exclusion of the Deputy Chief Ministers from the programme.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/maharashtra/story/eknath-shinde-navi-mumbai-airport-shivaji-statue-row-mahayuti-2923807-2026-06-09

SIPRI said India spent USD 92.1 billion on its military in 2025 and held about 190 nuclear warheads at the start of 2026. The report also flagged the severe May 2025 India-Pakistan crisis as part of a wider rise in nuclear risk and military competition.

India was the fifth largest military spender in the world, with an expenditure of USD 92.1 billion in 2025, according to a report by an international think-tank, which also mentioned the “unusually severe military crisis” that erupted between India and Pakistan last year.

In its annual assessment report launched on Monday, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) also said that India has approximately 190 nuclear warheads as of January 2026, compared to Pakistan’s estimated stockpile of 170.

“Key findings of SIPRI Yearbook 2026 are that states are increasingly relying on nuclear weapons as instruments of national power — reversing decades of efforts to reduce the numbers and role of nuclear weapons — even as the risks of miscalculation and escalation are rising,” SIPRI said in a statement.

The Stockholm-based think-tank said India is believed to have once again “slightly expanded its nuclear arsenal” in 2025 and continued development of new types of nuclear delivery systems.

“The modernisation programme is increasingly focused on developing long-range weapons capable of reaching targets throughout China, although planning also continues to be focused on India’s long-standing rivalry with Pakistan,” it said.

SIPRI further said, “Pakistan continued to develop new delivery systems and accumulate fissile material in 2025, suggesting that its nuclear arsenal might expand over the coming decade”.

“The brief armed conflict between India and Pakistan in May 2025 saw India attacking Pakistani air and missile bases that are likely to have nuclear-related roles, but both sides took steps to avoid escalation,” it added.

This edition of the SIPRI Yearbook coincides with the 60th anniversary of its founding in 1966.

At the start of 2026, nine states — the US, Russia, the UK, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel — together possessed approximately 12,187 nuclear weapons, of which 9,745 were in military stockpiles and considered to be potentially operationally available, the report said.

Overall, the number of nuclear warheads in the world continues to decline, but this is only due to the US and Russia “dismantling retired warheads,” the report said.

According to the report, the US remained by far the largest military spender in the world; its expenditure of USD 954 billion in 2025 (7.5 per cent lower than in 2024) accounted for 33 per cent of total global spending.

China is the second largest military spender (USD 336 billion), while Russia stands at the third (USD 190 billion).

Germany was the fourth largest military spender, and India was at the fifth spot, with an expenditure of USD 92.1 billion in 2025, an increase of 8.9 per cent over the last year, according to data shared in the report.

“Taken together, the 15 largest military spenders accounted for 80 per cent of the world’s military expenditure in 2025 (USD 2304 billion),” it said, noting that many of them were involved — either directly or indirectly — in the wars in Gaza and Ukraine in 2025.

The estimated global military expenditure rose for the 11th consecutive year in 2025, to reach USD 2.9 trillion — or 2.5 per cent of the world’s GDP — pushing world spending to the highest level recorded by SIPRI, the report said.

SIPRI said several critical regional flashpoints remained “at risk of escalating into major interstate armed conflicts; for example, an unusually severe military crisis erupted between India and Pakistan in May 2025”.

The think-tank said it has identified 162 states as recipients of major arms in 2021–25. The five largest recipients were Ukraine, India, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Pakistan, which together accounted for 35 per cent of total arms imports in the period.

It further said cyber operations continued to evolve as an integral component of modern conflict over the year, citing Russia and Ukraine as notable examples.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-fifth-largest-military-spender-sipri-says-190-nuclear-warheads-2026-2923818-2026-06-09

C Joseph VIjay’s first month as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister: Thalapathy has had his mass entrance, closed 717 liquor shops, and packed his own lunch. The stumbles have been real, but so has the intent. The second reel looks promising.

In Tamil cinema, the hero’s introduction scene is sacrosanct: thunderous, inevitable, larger than life. When C Joseph Vijay was sworn in as Tamil Nadu’s ninth Chief Minister on May 10, the real-world version was no different. The actor-turned-politician had toppled the Dravidian duopoly that had governed the state virtually without interruption since 1967, riding a mandate that would have looked implausible in a script. A month on, however, the interval has arrived early: genuine ambition on one side of the ledger, a handful of significant stumbles on the other.

ORDER AT THE TOP
Perhaps the most remarked-upon aspect of Vijay’s early tenure had nothing to do with policy. The Chief Minister arrives at the Secretariat precisely on time, his sharply tailored black suit and white shirt, a deliberate departure from the white veshti of Tamil political tradition, making a quiet statement before he has said a word.

Vijay spends a full seven hours at his desk from Monday to Friday, has made administrative punctuality a non-negotiable for officials reporting to him, and reportedly brings his own lunch, eating quietly in his cabin. These are the kinds of gestures that are easy to dismiss as theatre, but harder to ignore in a system where signals from the top often matter.

LIQUOR AND WOMEN’S SAFETY
Among the most consequential early decisions was the directive to shut 717 state-run TASMAC outlets located within 500 metres of places of worship, educational institutions, and bus stands. The move, involving 276 outlets near religious sites, 186 near schools and colleges, and 255 near bus terminals, fulfilled a central TVK manifesto commitment and was completed within the stipulated fortnight.

It directly affected 3,474 employees, though the government moved quickly to redeploy most to other TASMAC locations. Critics, however, note that with over 4,700 TASMAC shops still operational across the state, the closures address proximity rather than the broader problem of liquor availability, a tension Vijay will have to navigate carefully given TASMAC’s substantial contribution to state revenue.

On women’s safety, Vijay has moved from announcement to deployment. The Singapenne (Lioness) Special Task Force, formally launched on June 9, is a dedicated police unit focused on crimes against women and children, headed by senior IPS officer K. Bhavaneeswari. Personnel are now being deployed across all districts. Whether the unit delivers in practice what it promises in name will be the real test.

TAKING ON THE CONTRACTOR NEXUS
One of the more politically brave moves of the new administration has been its stated zero-tolerance policy on kickbacks in public infrastructure contracts. Explicit directives were sent to the Public Works Department and the Highways sector, warning contractors and officials alike against the commission system.

Contractors’ Association President Gunamani publicly acknowledged that the new government had instructed contractors not to pay bribes to ministers or government officials, and went a step further, alleging that the previous administration had routinely extracted a 15 per cent commission on contract approvals.

Whether this directive translates into structural change, or remains a statement of intent, will depend on sustained follow-through.

THE VISION DOCUMENT
Vijay’s cabinet has anchored its early governance around the Vetri Tamizhagam Vision Document – a 436-point administrative blueprint distributed across 35 state departments. The document provides a framework for measurable accountability, though its sheer breadth invites the familiar risk of over-promising. Accompanying it is a clear anti-corruption mandate: the Chief Minister has explicitly warned that corrupt officials will face swift penalties regardless of their proximity to the party leadership. In his first address as Chief Minister, he also pledged to eliminate parallel power centres – the informal intermediaries who have historically extracted operational bribes from contractors and citizens – in favour of a single-window clearance system.

REVIVING THE AMMA UNAVAGAM
Within his first fortnight in office, Vijay ordered a comprehensive revamp of the 620 Amma Unavagam canteens operating across Tamil Nadu – 383 under the Greater Chennai Corporation and 237 across other municipalities and town panchayats. Following a review of their condition, the Chief Minister directed local bodies to replace damaged utensils, modernise kitchen facilities, upgrade sanitation standards, and establish mechanisms to address public complaints swiftly. Funding for the renovation and fresh provisions is to be drawn directly from municipal corporation general funds.

The canteen network, which provides affordable meals to daily-wage workers, the urban poor, and low-income families, had fallen into visible disrepair in several locations; the directive signals at least an intent to restore it to functional dignity.

EARLY STUMBLES

The first month has not been without embarrassment. The government’s initial appointment of an astrologer as Officer on Special Duty drew swift and withering criticism from opposition parties and from within the ruling coalition itself, including Congress, the VCK, and the Left. The appointment was revoked within 24 hours – a responsiveness to public pressure that some read charitably, and others as evidence of poor vetting.

A second early controversy involved a water tank tender in Kancheepuram, in which a six-hour submission deadline drew allegations of the process being designed to favour a particular contractor. That tender too was withdrawn, marking back-to-back government order rollbacks within the first week.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/tamil-nadu/story/vijay-tamil-nadu-chief-minister-one-month-hits-misses-thalapathy-2924035-2026-06-09

The announcement comes two days after the party, which originated as a satirical protest movement against the establishment, warned that it would take its agitation nationwide if Pradhan does not step down.

Aafter drawing national attention with its protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, the Cockroach Janta Party is now set to take its agitation to Pune on June 11.

The party has announced a peaceful protest on the campus of Savitribai Phule Pune University at 4 pm on June 11, seeking the Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over the NEET paper leak and alleged irregularities in the CBSE examination process.

The announcement comes two days after the party, which originated as a satirical protest movement against the establishment, warned that it would take its agitation nationwide if Pradhan does not step down.

“We are giving the government seven days. Either Dharmendra Pradhan should resign respectfully, or Prime Minister Narendra Modi should sack him. If his resignation does not come within seven days, this movement will spread across the country,” the party said on June 6.

Earlier in the day, party founder Abhijeet Dipke had urged Pradhan to resign by 5 pm, after which organisers announced a seven-day deadline for action by the minister or the government.

Scores of students, parents, and young professionals had gathered at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Saturdat for the first major on-ground mobilisation of the CJP, turning a satirical online movement into a street protest over alleged examination irregularities and recruitment issues, and demanding the resignation of Pradhan.

Wearing cockroach masks and carrying books, flowers, and the national flag, protesters had assembled under tight security in the heart of the capital. Dipke had accused the government of ignoring student concerns while suppressing dissent online.

The demonstration, which drew participants from multiple states, came after weeks of growing online mobilisation over alleged irregularities in exams including NEET, CBSE, CUET, and SSC recruitment tests.

The protest marked a key moment for CJP, which began as a satirical online movement and quickly expanded into a youth-led nationwide campaign.

Originally launched as a satirical response to remarks made by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, the movement has since broadened its focus to issues such as examinations, recruitment processes, unemployment, and accountability.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/neet-paper-leak-cbse-irregularities-cjp-pune-protest-dharmendra-pradhan-resignation-2923774-2026-06-08

Kerala has intensified surveillance after a child died, and fresh Shigella cases surfaced in Wayanad. Ministers and officials have ordered inspections, monitoring and precautionary measures amid reports from multiple districts.

Kerala has reported one death and two other cases of Shigella infection, prompting health authorities to intensify surveillance and preventive measures across the state.

A four-year-old girl, Nila, a native of Kozhikode, died following a Shigella infection. Three children were reported to have been infected with the disease. A 10-year-old child has been discharged from hospital, while the condition of a two-year-old child remains stable.

Kerala Minister T Siddique, who is also the state agriculture minister and MLA of Kalpetta, told reporters that a high-level meeting would be convened on Tuesday to assess the situation and review measures to prevent further spread of the disease.

Considering the possibility of transmission, health authorities have issued precautionary advisories to people who came into contact with the affected children, he said.

Shigella, also known as shigellosis, is a bacterial infection that affects the digestive system, particularly the intestines. It is caused by a group of bacteria known as Shigella. The bacteria can enter the body through contaminated food or water and lead to diarrhoea. The disease is highly contagious and can affect both children and adults.

Siddique said Health Minister K Muraleedharan would visit the district on Tuesday to directly assess the situation and review response measures on the ground.

Speaking in Thrissur, Muraleedharan said 25 students are currently admitted to Sultan Bathery Taluk Hospital and none of them is in serious condition.

He said a medical team from Kozhikode has been deployed in Wayanad to assist local health authorities.

“Some students are also undergoing treatment in private hospitals. There are around 800 students in the school,” the minister said.

Muraleedharan said health authorities are also monitoring students who have already been discharged from hospitals.

“Currently, there is no cause for concern. However, we must remain cautious about this disease. Directions have been given to the food safety commissioner to conduct inspections across the state,” he said.

The minister said Shigella spreads primarily through contaminated water and poor hygiene.

“Currently, the situation is under control. Directions have been given to medical officers in all districts to take precautionary measures and closely monitor the situation. The disease can spread in unhygienic conditions,” he said.

Muraleedharan added that Shigella infections mostly affect children.

“Instructions have been issued to closely monitor people presenting symptoms of Shigella infection. Directions have also been given to ensure adequate stocks of medicines,” he said.

Apart from Wayanad and Kozhikode, authorities have also reported Shigella cases in Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta districts.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/kerala/story/shigella-cases-in-kerala-death-wayanad-school-infections-prompt-tighter-surveillance-test-positive-2923780-2026-06-08

Israel is preparing to erect a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the Jewish country, and bringing to spotlight an overlooked historical connection between Jews and India. The story stretches from the villages of Maharashtra to the armies and navies that helped shape India’s history.

“Proud and historic,” wrote Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, in a post on X, announcing that the Consulate General of Israel in Mumbai has announced plans to install a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the Jewish country. The announcement was made on the occasion of Shivrajyabhishek Din, which is the anniversary of the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It was over 350 years ago, on June 6, 1674, that Shivaji was coronated.

At a time when Jews were facing threats from the outside world for centuries, India was among the few countries where they lived without facing persecution, preserving their faith while also contributing to the local society.

From the Marathi-speaking Bene Israel of the Konkan coast to the Jewish merchants who travelled along India’s western shores, the relationship between India and the Jewish people stretches back thousands of years, but the 16th century is an important chapter in the history of the friendship between the two.

Dipke posted a video on X where he said that if the Education Minister does not resign till Saturday, June 13, 2026, the agitation will go on a wider scale.

Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of the Cockroach Janata Party has said that they will protest in multiple states and cities if Education Minister Dharmendra Pradesh does not resign.

Dipke posted a video on X where he said that if the Education Minister does not resign till Saturday, June 13, 2026, the agitation will go on a wider scale.

“Going in that direction, if Pradhan won’t resign, I will personally go to different cities and states and undertake protests with a demand for his resignation,” he said.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/cjp-will-protest-in-multiple-states-cities-if-education-minister-dharmendra-pradhan-doesnt-resign-dipke-4030946#google_vignette

Police in Vadodara have busted an alleged fake call centre that targeted US citizens with bogus loan approvals. Investigators say the accused copied methods shown in web series and are tracing the scale of the fraud.

A fake international call centre allegedly inspired by web series plots has been busted in Gujarat’s Vadodara, where four men were operating a sophisticated online fraud network targeting US citizens. The accused allegedly posed as loan agents, luring victims with promises of approved loans before extracting fees ranging from $150 to $200.

The Vadodara Local Crime Branch (LCB) Zone-2 uncovered the operation during a raid at an apartment in the city’s Akota area. Investigators found that the suspects were running the call centre without any licence or official authorisation and were making international calls to American citizens as part of an organised scam.

According to police, the callers informed victims that their loans had been approved through a company called “City Credits” and then demanded processing charges. To complete the fraud, they allegedly collected debit card details, including card numbers, expiry dates and CVV codes, before charging victims between $150 and $200.

During the raid, police seized seven mobile phones, eight laptops, a fibre Wi-Fi router, cash and other equipment used in the operation. Authorities said assets and materials worth around Rs 35 lakh were recovered from the premises.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-2) Manjita Vanjara said one of the accused is a stock market expert, another previously worked in a call centre, while the remaining two were skilled callers with strong English-speaking abilities. Investigators believe the group obtained contact details of potential victims through the dark web and had been operating the fraudulent call centre for the past two months.

Police identified Karan Lokwani and Jonathan Das as the alleged masterminds behind the operation. The duo reportedly recruited and trained two other associates, teaching them how to carry out the scam and interact with foreign victims.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/gujarat/story/vadodara-fake-call-centre-bust-web-series-inspired-scam-targeted-us-citizens-2923362-2026-06-08

The chief minister further alleged that demographic changes in the state had become a major political issue and said infiltration from Bangladesh was a key plank of the BJP’s successful campaign in the recent Assembly elections.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday said around 4,800 illegal immigrants have been deported to Bangladesh from holding centres set up in the state’s border districts, while 836 more are currently awaiting repatriation.

Addressing a preparatory meeting for the BJP’s special training camp, Adhikari said tackling illegal immigration and securing the India-Bangladesh border remain key priorities for his government.

The chief minister said the state has already handed over land to the Border Security Force (BSF) for fencing nearly 100 km of the border, out of the 556 km stretch that still requires barriers. “We have handed over around 100 km of land to the BSF and prioritised the Chicken’s Neck corridor in north Bengal,” Adhikari said.

The Siliguri Corridor, popularly known as the Chicken’s Neck, is a strategically sensitive stretch connecting the northeastern states to the rest of India.

BORDER FENCING, CENSUS AND DEMOGRAPHY IN FOCUS

Highlighting his government’s deportation drive, Adhikari said illegal immigrants who do not fall under the ambit of the Citizenship Amendment Act are being handed over directly to the BSF in accordance with Union government regulations.

He alleged that while similar provisions had been implemented elsewhere in the country, the previous Trinamool government had failed to act, allowing illegal immigrants to remain in state facilities at public expense.

“Around 4,800 illegal immigrants have been sent back from holding centres in border districts, while 836 are awaiting deportation,” he said.

Referring to movement at the Hakimpur border in North 24 Parganas district, Adhikari claimed that many undocumented immigrants had already left voluntarily following the government’s enforcement measures.

The chief minister further alleged that demographic changes in the state had become a major political issue and said infiltration from Bangladesh was a key plank of the BJP’s successful campaign in the recent Assembly elections.

He also said the state had initiated census-related work and that a house-to-house survey would be conducted from August 1 to August 15. According to Adhikari, the census exercise will be completed by the end of February next year and will be followed by delimitation.

50 LAKH WOMEN RECEIVE ANNAPURNA BENEFITS, SAYS CM

The chief minister also highlighted welfare initiatives undertaken by his government since assuming office. He said 50 lakh women have received Rs 3,000 each under the Annapurna Yojana, launched as part of the BJP’s election promise to increase financial assistance provided under the previous government’s Lakshmir Bhandar scheme.

According to Adhikari, more than 28 lakh women received benefits on the first day of the scheme’s rollout.

Defending the extensive verification process for beneficiaries, he said government funds must be distributed only after proper scrutiny. Adhikari alleged that around 27 lakh names among Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries were not found on electoral rolls and claimed that nearly three lakh men had also availed benefits under the women-only scheme.

Calling the alleged irregularities “dangerous corruption”, he said the verification exercise would ensure transparency and strengthen the welfare delivery system in the long run.

CORRUPTION CHARGES AGAINST PREVIOUS REGIME

Adhikari accused the previous Trinamool government of widespread corruption, claiming investigations had uncovered irregularities across multiple sectors.

He said numerous criminal cases had been registered against Trinamool leaders and public representatives since the change of government, leading to the arrest of several sitting and former MLAs, councillors and other party functionaries.

“It seems the Brigade Parade Grounds will have to be turned into a jail,” he remarked, alleging that corruption had surfaced wherever investigations were carried out.

HEALTHCARE, WELFARE AND DA IN UPCOMING BUDGET

Taking a swipe at opposition claims that Bengal’s fish-loving population would suffer under a BJP government, Adhikari announced that subsidised fish meals priced at Rs 5 per person would be introduced from next week.

He said several additional welfare measures would be unveiled during the presentation of the state Budget on June 22.

The chief minister also highlighted cooperation between the state and the Centre, saying all Union ministries were extending support to West Bengal at the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Adhikari announced that the state would sign an agreement with the Centre for the Ayushman Bharat scheme on Monday at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi. He said around 1.46 crore families, covering nearly 6.5 crore people, would receive Ayushman Bharat cards providing health insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh annually.

He added that the Union Health Ministry had sanctioned Rs 4,500 crore for West Bengal under the National Health Mission, of which Rs 527 crore had already been released.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/west-bengal-deportation-4800-illegal-immigrants-sent-bangladesh-836-awaiting-repatriation-cm-suvendu-adhikari-2923372-2026-06-08

Despite a massive multi-agency search involving helicopters, drones, sniffer dogs and specialized mountain rescue teams, 23-year-old MBA student Babita Pandey from Nainital remains missing since May 29 after disappearing from Goi Base Camp during a trek to Dayara Bugyal in Uttarkashi.

A woman from Ramnagar in Uttarakhand’s Nainital district, identified as 23-year-old MBA student Babita Pandey, has remained missing since the night of May 29 after she disappeared from Goi Base Camp during a trek to Dayara Bugyal in Uttarkashi district. Despite an intensive search and rescue operation that has continued for several days, authorities have not found any trace of her so far.

A massive search operation was launched after Babita went missing under mysterious circumstances during the trek. Police registered a case and detained her two travel companions for questioning following a complaint filed by her family.

According to the police, Babita had travelled to Uttarkashi with her two friends, Harmanpal Singh of Udham Singh Nagar district and Harmanpreet Singh of Uttar Pradesh’s Shahjahanpur district. After visiting Harsil, Gangotri and nearby tourist destinations, the three stayed in Raithal village on May 28. CCTV footage last captured Babita with her friends in Raithal village.

On May 29, the trio began their trek from Raithal to Dayara Bugyal and spent the night at Goi Base Camp. Police said Babita went missing from the campsite around midnight.

During the initial phase of the operation, the police administration sought assistance from the Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). A 150-member search team comprising personnel from the Army, ITBP, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), police, forest department and disaster management authorities was deployed after the incident was reported on May 30. However, the Army and ITBP teams have now been withdrawn from the operation.

The district administration has since revised its strategy and deployed a specialized team from the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) to continue the search. Officials said the NIM team is specially trained for high-altitude Himalayan search and rescue operations and has extensive experience in difficult terrain. Multiple teams are currently carrying out intensive searches across the area.

Despite extensive manual searches, sniffer dog deployments and drone surveillance across a five-kilometre radius covering dense forests, steep slopes, trekking routes and caves, investigators have not found any clues regarding Babita’s whereabouts. Search operations are now focusing on a lake near the Goi campsite, where a six-member SDRF diving team equipped with modern equipment has been deployed.

The administration also launched an aerial search operation on Sunday with the help of a helicopter to scan Dayara Bugyal and nearby inaccessible regions for any possible clues. Authorities continue to investigate all possible angles and assess Babita’s potential location.

Uttarkashi Superintendent of Police Kamlesh Upadhyay said police registered a case under Section 140(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and detained Babita’s two companions for questioning. Investigators are examining the possibility of a personal dispute or any other suspicious activity. Trekking guides and individuals associated with the trekking agency are also being questioned.

Meanwhile, Uttarkashi District Tourism Officer KK Joshi said inquiries revealed that no valid digital permits had been issued for Babita or her companions on the official tourism portal, ‘Explore Uttarkashi’.

The investigation found that the trekking agency allegedly bypassed government revenue regulations and the daily cap of 150 trekkers by pasting the names of Babita and her friends onto an expired physical permit.

Officials said scanning the QR code on the permit retrieved details of previous trekkers, indicating that a forged permit had been used. According to Joshi, the forgery initially delayed efforts to identify the trekkers and the agency responsible for handling them.

Following the findings, authorities suspended the registration of the Raithal-based trekking agency, Pro Mountain, with immediate effect. The tourism department said the agency sent the group on the trek using a forged permit and suspended its registration on charges of fraud.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/uttarakhand-mba-student-missing-uttarakhand-nim-team-helicopter-search-dayara-bugyal-2923294-2026-06-07

According to a viral social media post attributed to Rahul RK Meena, a barrage of gunfire was unleashed at the alleged hideout of Gurpreet Singh Gill in Vila Nova de Milfontes, Portugal. None of the claims made in the social media post have been independently verified.

India’s gang wars appear to have spilled far beyond its borders, with an associate of the Sunil Meena gang claiming responsibility for two shooting incidents in Portugal that allegedly targeted an Indian national.

According to a viral social media post attributed to Rahul RK Meena, a barrage of gunfire was unleashed at the alleged hideout of Gurpreet Singh Gill in Vila Nova de Milfontes, Portugal. Unverified reports circulating online claim that between 15 and 20 rounds were fired during the attack.

A video and an audio clip that surfaced on social media purportedly show individuals claiming responsibility for the shooting.

The post further alleged that the Sunil Meena gang was also behind an earlier shooting in Portugal’s Sintra region on May 6, which reportedly targeted Gill. The incidents were described as warning shots aimed at rival groups.

“These firing incidents were just warning shots. Next time, the bullet will hit your head,” the viral post said.

The message also claimed that rival gang members were fleeing Portugal and warned that they would not be able to evade retaliation.

“We will keep chasing you like a shadow across the world. You cannot escape death,” the post added.

Portuguese law enforcement authorities have not issued any official statement confirming either the shootings or the identities of those allegedly involved.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/portugal-shootings-sunil-meena-gang-rahul-rk-claims-attack-gurpreet-singh-gill-2923324-2026-06-07

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee met AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi ahead of the INDIA bloc meeting, with both leaders discussing the opposition’s future course.

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Sunday met Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal in the national capital, a day ahead of a meeting of the opposition INDIA bloc.

The TMC described the meeting as “warm”, and said the two leaders held discussion on “the road ahead.”

Twenty-three political parties of the INDIA bloc will meet on Monday to redraw their strategy to take on the BJP and iron out differences amid changed power dynamics after the defeat of regional anchors TMC and DMK in the recent assembly polls.

“Our Hon’ble Chairperson Smt Mamata Banerjee along with our Hon’ble National General Secretary Shri Abhishek Banerjee met with Shri Arvind Kejriwal Ji today, in Delhi,” the party said in a post on X.

“Following a warm interaction, they held an extensive discussion on the road ahead,” it said.

The TMC also made a call for unity and a “better future” in 2029, in an apparent reference to the next Lok Sabha elections.

“When the people of India unite, no force on earth can stop their march towards justice, dignity and a better future in 2029,” it added.

Mamata Banerjee is in Delhi to attend the INDIA bloc meeting.

The Mamata Banerjee-Kejriwal meeting comes months after AAP announced that it was no longer part of the INDIA bloc.

AAP is unlikely to attend Monday’s meeting.

The INDIA bloc meeting also comes amid strain in ties among some constituents of the opposition alliance, with the DMK set to skip the meeting over what it has described as Congress’ “betrayal” in Tamil Nadu and the CPI(M) expressing its displeasure over allegations by top Congress leaders that the Left had colluded with the BJP in Kerala.

The TMC has continued to maintain direct engagement with Kejriwal and AAP, and leaders of the two parties have met on several occasions over the past two years, including during opposition outreach efforts after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and ahead of key opposition consultations.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/mamata-banerjee-arvind-kejriwal-meet-ahead-of-india-bloc-meeting-aap-tmc-2923340-2026-06-07

Leaders of 23 opposition parties are set to meet in New Delhi today to review strategy, project unity and address differences. The gathering will test the INDIA bloc’s cohesion as it plans for state contests and the 2029 Lok Sabha polls.

The opposition INDIA bloc is set to hold a crucial meeting in New Delhi on Monday, with representatives of 23 political parties expected to participate in an effort to recalibrate strategy, project unity and address internal differences following recent assembly election setbacks.

Top opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge of the Congress, Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, are likely to attend the meeting at the Constitution Club.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said 23 parties have confirmed participation in the gathering, describing it as a meeting of the “INDIA janbandhan” and asserting that the alliance remains united despite ideological and regional diversity.

According to Ramesh, some parties have expressed their inability to attend the meeting but have reiterated their opposition to the Narendra Modi-led government’s policies. The DMK and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are unlikely to participate, while Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is expected to be brought into the alliance fold.

The meeting comes at a time when the opposition alliance is facing changing political dynamics after recent state election results. The alliance is expected to discuss a coordinated strategy for upcoming state elections and the 2029 Lok Sabha polls, while attempting to present a united front against the BJP-led NDA.

Leaders are also likely to deliberate on issues ranging from electoral reforms and alleged misuse of investigative agencies to rising prices, unemployment and economic concerns. The TMC is expected to raise the issue of alleged attacks on its leaders in West Bengal and seek support from other opposition parties.

However, the meeting is also expected to highlight tensions within the alliance. The CPI(M) is likely to seek clarification from the Congress over allegations that Left parties had an understanding with the BJP during the Kerala Assembly elections. CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby has already written to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, saying such accusations were inconsistent with the spirit of cooperation underpinning the opposition alliance.

CPI general secretary D Raja said the formal meeting of the INDIA bloc is taking place after a long gap and that Left parties would raise their concerns during the discussions.

The BJP has used the developments to question the cohesion of the opposition alliance. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said the differences among alliance partners exposed a lack of unity and common direction.

The meeting marks the first official gathering of the INDIA bloc since June 2024, when alliance leaders met ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Opposition leaders had also assembled informally in August 2025 during a strategy dinner hosted by Rahul Gandhi, where concerns over electoral processes, including voter roll revisions in Bihar, were discussed.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-bloc-meeting-delhi-opposition-allies-strategy-unity-tensions-2923347-2026-06-08

The incident has triggered outrage and protests, with BJP leader Parijat Ganguly visiting the victim’s family and demanding stringent action against the accused. He also called for an “encounter” of those arrested, arguing that severe punishment was necessary to deter such crimes.

A 14-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped after being lured from her home, drugged, and taken to a hotel in West Bengal’s Durgapur, police said. Four people, including the woman accused of taking the girl from her residence and a hotel manager, have been arrested, while one suspect remains on the run.

The incident has triggered outrage in the area and renewed concerns over crimes against women and minors in the state.

According to a complaint lodged by the victim’s father, the incident took place on Saturday when a young woman identified as Simran Tamang, allegedly persuaded the 14-year-old girl to leave her home with her.

The father alleged that after leaving the house, the minor was taken in a four-wheeler where she was forced to consume alcohol allegedly mixed with an intoxicating substance. Once she lost consciousness, she was taken to a hotel in the Kaviguru area of Durgapur’s City Centre.

The complaint states that the girl was then allegedly sexually assaulted by multiple accused, including Raj Mallik and Sheikh Azharuddin, along with others present there. After the alleged assault, the accused reportedly abandoned the minor near the bypass and fled.

Later, around 10.30 pm on Saturday, an e-rickshaw driver allegedly found the girl in a distressed condition and dropped her near her home. The family then learnt about the incident and rushed her to hospital. She is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Bidhannagar.

The victim’s father said his daughter had been taken from home around 1.30 pm and was later found in a heavily intoxicated state. “I appeal to the Chief Minister to ensure the strictest punishment for all those responsible. I seek capital punishment for the accused,” he said.

Following the complaint, police launched an investigation and carried out searches in the area. A forensic team visited the alleged crime scene and the hotel, collecting samples and evidence for examination.

According to Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissioner Praveen Kumar, four people have been arrested so far. He said the arrests include two named accused, the woman accused of taking the victim to the hotel, and the hotel’s manager. One more accused remains absconding and search operations are underway to trace him.

The commissioner added that the victim has undergone a medical examination and forensic evidence has been collected as part of the investigation.

BJP LEADER DEMANDS ENCOUNTER OF ACCUSED

The incident has sparked widespread outrage in the area. BJP leader Parijat Ganguly, who visited the hospital and met the victim’s family at the invitation of local party leaders, demanded the strictest possible punishment for the accused from the state government and the police administration.

In a strongly worded statement, Ganguly said that what SK Azharuddin, Raj Mallik and Simran Tamang – whom he described as the mastermind behind the crime – had allegedly done was “beyond tolerance”.

“We appeal to the Chief Minister and the government not to let such rapists sit in jail and enjoy free meals. If the police have arrested them in the morning, they should be killed in an encounter by the afternoon or evening. Until such fear is instilled, criminals will not be afraid of the law,” he said.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/fourteen-year-old-bengal-girl-lured-from-home-drugged-inside-car-gang-raped-hotel-durgapur-bjp-demands-accused-encounter-2923364-2026-06-08

However, under US ethics rules, gifts received by the president and first lady during official engagements belong to the federal government.

Former US first lady Jill Biden has revealed that she considered buying a synthetic diamond gifted to her by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his 2023 state visit to Washington, but abandoned the idea after US officials valued the stone at eight times its stated price.

In her recently released memoir, View from the East Wing: A Memoir, Biden recounts receiving a 7.5-carat lab-grown diamond from Modi, who presented it as a symbol of India’s ambition to become a global leader in the synthetic diamond industry.

Under US ethics rules, gifts received by the president and first lady during official engagements belong to the federal government. However, recipients may purchase such gifts by paying their fair market value as determined by government appraisals.

“In the case of Modi’s diamond, the prime minister said that it had been handmade in his hometown for $2,500. He even had the bill of sale. I thought, Maybe I’ll buy it. Then the State Department appraised it at $20,000, so I did not,” Biden wrote.

“The diamond was gorgeous,” she added.

The former first lady noted that government officials routinely took possession of gifts she received if they were deemed to have more than nominal value.

Although she chose not to purchase the diamond, Biden had it mounted in a ring that she wore during official occasions while serving as first lady. The ring was later returned to government custody. “When we left office, I gave it back. The ring went into a warehouse along with an infinitude of other presidential gifts, many of which are simply destroyed,” she wrote.

India has similar rules for gifts

The account offers a glimpse into the protocols surrounding diplomatic gift exchanges between world leaders. In India, too, gifts received by ministers and government officials are governed by strict rules.

Official gifts are deposited in the Toshakhana, maintained by the Ministry of External Affairs. If a gift is valued at less than ₹5,000, it may be retained by the recipient. If its assessed value exceeds ₹5,000, the recipient can acquire it by paying the difference between the assessed value and ₹5,000.

Elsewhere in the memoir, Biden recalled some of the logistical and cultural considerations involved in hosting Modi’s state visit in June 2023, including the challenges of planning the White House state dinner.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/it-was-gorgeous-ex-us-first-lady-jill-biden-wanted-to-buy-the-diamond-gifted-by-pm-modi-in-2023-101780880121071.html

Senior government sources said Vijay was informed that nearly Rs 102 crore was allegedly being diverted every month through unofficial “party fund” collections embedded within TASMAC operations.

In his first Cabinet meeting on Friday after assuming office, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay is said to have launched a sweeping crackdown on alleged leakages, unofficial collections and “party fund” practices linked to the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC), ordering officials to ensure that every rupee generated through liquor sales reaches the State treasury.

Senior government sources said Vijay was informed that nearly Rs 102 crore was allegedly being diverted every month through unofficial “party fund” collections embedded within TASMAC operations, with government estimates suggesting that nearly Rs 1,600 crore may have been siphoned from the State exchequer over the last five years. This also brings the spotlight and scrutiny on the DMK’s alleged use of TASMAC, sources said.

The Chief Minister reportedly directed officials to immediately dismantle long-running unofficial cash collection systems operating across TASMAC’s wholesale and retail network. There are nearly 4,048 registered outlets.

The reforms are being overseen by Minister for Prohibition and Excise K Vignesh, a 37-year-old first-time minister from a modest background. His parents reportedly ran a tea stall before he entered the cable distribution business and later politics.

“The Chief Minister made it clear in the Cabinet meeting that his government does not need revenue generated through corruption or through the suffering of people. His instruction was simple – arrest leakages immediately and bring back people’s money to the treasury,” Minister K Vignesh told NDTV.

Sources said prohibition officials and distilleries have already been informed that the government intends to scrap all informal collection systems associated with TASMAC operations.

This marks the beginning of a major administrative overhaul of TASMAC operations, from liquor procurement and warehouse dispatch to retail sales, bottle returns and shop-level collections.

Minister Vignesh said the government was working on a “foolproof transparency mechanism” to ensure that all revenue from liquor sales directly reaches the State exchequer.

Rs 100 Crore A Month Allegedly Routed As ‘Party Funds’

According to Excise Department sources, unofficial collections had allegedly become institutionalised within the TASMAC supply chain over nearly two decades. Officials explained that liquor in Tamil Nadu is supplied through standardised cases depending on bottle size:

180 ml bottles are packed in cases of 48

375 ml bottles come in cases of 24

750 ml bottles are packed in cases of 12

Beer cases generally contain 12 bottles

“For every liquor case, around Rs 90 per case was allegedly diverted as ‘party fund’ collections. In beer cases, around Rs 40 per case was collected, while wine cases allegedly contributed Rs 20 per case towards ministerial or political funds,” a senior source said.

Officials claimed these collections operated across warehouses, transport and retail outlets.

“Nearly 88 lakh consumers buy liquor through TASMAC every month. Internal estimates showed that at least Rs 102 crore every month was allegedly moving into unofficial channels,” the source added.

Sources said the TASMAC crackdown is only the beginning of a wider anti-corruption and revenue-monitoring exercise planned by the new government.

“The Chief Minister has asked officials to identify leakages in every department and ensure that government revenues are fully accounted for. TASMAC was taken up first because of the scale of unofficial collections,” a senior source said.

According to sources, the mining department could be the next major sector to face scrutiny as the government expands its review of alleged revenue leakages and unofficial cash flows across departments.

Empty Bottle Scheme Under Scanner

The government is also reviewing the controversial Rs 10 empty-bottle deposit-and-buyback system followed at TASMAC outlets.

Under the current mechanism, customers pay an additional Rs 10 deposit for every liquor bottle purchased, refundable when the empty bottle is returned. Officials believe the system created significant scope for unaccounted cash transactions.

According to internal estimates, nearly one crore liquor bottles are sold every month in Tamil Nadu. “If one lakh bottles were sold, only around 60,000 bottles actually came back into the system. The remaining deposits stayed unaccounted for. That is where a major portion of the corruption was happening,” an official said.

Sources estimate that irregularities linked to bottle return collections alone may have resulted in corruption worth nearly Rs 300 crore every month.

The government is now examining proposals to integrate the Rs 10 deposit into the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) or introduce a digitised refund mechanism to eliminate leakages.

Vignesh confirmed that the government had already decided to operationalise the empty bottle collection and buy-back system through outsourced agencies before the end of June.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/arrest-liquor-shop-tasmac-leakages-tamil-nadu-chief-minister-vijays-big-crackdown-on-party-fund-system-in-1st-cabinet-meeting-11601809?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Ashok Gehlot said the stand-off of September 25, 2022, was not against the Congress high command but Sachin Pilot

The Ashok Gehlot versus Sachin Pilot feud in Rajasthan refuses to die down, emerging from the fault lines every now and then to dominate the headlines.

The latest episode was triggered today by Ashok Gehlot’s comments in Jaipur,

Gehlot had taken on Pilot indirectly, stressing that on September 25, 2022, when he was asked to move to Delhi as party president and make way — as many said — for Sachin Pilot, the stand-off was not against the party high command. The rebellion of the 100 Congress MLAs was against Sachin Pilot, who was being readied to replace Ashok Gehlot, he said.

“The September 25 episode was against the person whose name was doing the rounds to be sworn in as the next Chief Minister, Pilot sahab. A situation was created where 100 MLAs got together and they said ‘Make anyone of us the Chief Minister. We stuck by the party and saved this government but we cannot have someone who went to Manesar and tried to topple our government as the next Chief Minister’. Now this was misrepresented as a revolt against the high command,” Gehlot said.

“If I had revolted against the high command would I have been allowed to continue as the Chief Minister? Sachin Pilot should also understand this. We are not his enemies. We have retained affection for him since he was a child. Whether it is him or my son Vaibhav, they were 2-3 years old then when we were MPs. So I always consider him like that even today, but I don’t know who guides him in politics now,” Gehlot told reporters in Jaipur.

“I said forgive and forget… everyone can make mistakes. He made a mistake and he should admit it. If he had understood my sentiments that day he too, would have followed my advice of forgive and forget,” he added.

Gehlot’s comments come against the backdrop of a Congress ‘chintan shivir’ held in Pushkar last week. Rahul Gandhi had addressed the training camp for district presidents of Rajasthan and Delhi on June 1.

But the camp was marked by Gehlot’s absence. Sources said the former Chief Minister met Rahul Gandhi at the helipad and then cited ill health and left for Jaipur, missing an important meeting on the sidelines of the event.

But sources in the Gehlot camp claimed there was no such incident.

They said apart from the Rajasthan Congress President and the leader of the party in the assembly, no other senior leader was present at the Pushkar camp. No important meeting had happened on the sidelines of the Pushkar camp either. It was merely an informal chat with NSUI workers, youth Congress members and district presidents, they said.

Gehlot had said nothing to Rahul Gandhi at the Kishangarh airport. He was, in fact, unwell and had returned to Jaipur, sources said.

The former Chief Minister’s absence at Pushkar, however, has set off a political buzz in Rajasthan. Sources suggested that the party is considering a leadership change in the state unit ahead of the next election.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/sachin-pilot-should-forgive-forget-ashok-gehlot-talks-of-2022-stand-off-11604566?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

The video quickly sparked debate on social media, with users divided over whether the spending reflected Bengaluru’s soaring living costs or a lifestyle driven by discretionary choices.

A Bengaluru couple’s candid breakdown of their monthly expenses has gone viral, reigniting conversations around the city’s rising cost of living and lifestyle choices. Megha and her husband, Shubham, shared an Instagram video revealing how their family of three spent almost ₹1.66 lakh in the month of May, excluding investments, EMIs, and holiday expenses. The pair, who describe themselves as millennials, gave a detailed insight into their spending habits, with big costs including housing, fitness, childcare, and household support.

Rent and utilities accounted for the largest share of their budget at Rs 68,000 per month. According to Shubham, housing remains their single biggest expense. A significant portion of the family’s spending also went toward health and fitness. Gym memberships, personal training sessions, sports activities, supplements, and fitness gear together cost around Rs 31,000 during the month.

The couple further revealed that they spend Rs 29,000 on domestic help, including a nanny, cook, and housekeeping staff. Groceries added another Rs 18,000 to the monthly bill.

Expenses related to their toddler and pet dog, including diapers, toys, clothing, and pet food, came to nearly Rs 8,000. Meanwhile, miscellaneous costs such as dining out, entertainment, shopping, OTT subscriptions, and transportation totalled around Rs 12,000. Altogether, the family’s expenditure for May stood at approximately Rs 1.66 lakh.

“Everyone says Bangalore is expensive. But how expensive? This is how much we spent in May as a family, and where it went. This doesn’t include our monthly investments or our summer trip as we maintain separate funds for that,” the video’s caption read.

Watch the video here:

See more

The video quickly sparked debate on social media, with users divided over whether the spending reflected Bengaluru’s soaring living costs or a lifestyle driven by discretionary choices. While some argued that the budget was reasonable for a dual-income urban household with childcare support, others questioned the high allocation toward fitness and domestic help, reigniting the broader discussion around what constitutes a comfortable middle-class lifestyle in India’s tech capital.

One user wrote, “Expenses shud always be compared with income… higher the income higher the money spent on convenience and comfort… so as long as it works for u, it’s good.”

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/rent-fitness-nanny-bengaluru-family-reveals-rs-1-66-lakh-monthly-expenses-internet-reacts-11603818?pfrom=home-ndtv_lateststories

 

The user revealed that the approach paid off, as after some back-and-forth, the employer increased the offer by $12,000 to close the gap.

A job seeker has shared how using a high-stakes negotiating tactic landed them a salary bump of $12,000 (around 11.5 lakhs). In a Reddit post, the professional revealed the tactic involved holding firm on salary expectations and letting the employer make the next move, even when it felt uncomfortable. The candidate described it as “a game of chicken”, which in this case was refusing to lower the number first and waiting to see if the company would meet it or walk away. Discussing the “marathon hiring process”, the user revealed that it took nearly six weeks and four rounds of interviews, and when they got to the final call with the recruiter, they were already “exhausted and just wanted to see the numbers”.

“When she finally dropped the offer, it was a classic lowball move,’ the user wrote in the r/jobsearchhacks forum. “It was about fifteen percent lower than the range we discussed in the first screening call. Usually this is where people start stuttering or trying to justify why they deserve more but I decided to try something different this time. I just stayed completely silent.”

The user revealed that the approach paid off. After some back-and-forth, the employer increased the offer by $12,000 to close the gap.

“Companies spend thousands of dollars on these hiring cycles and the last thing a recruiter wants is to lose their top candidate over a few grand right at the finish line. They rely on you being desperate or polite. If you treat the offer call like a technical bug that needs a fix instead of a social interaction, you win,” the user wrote.

“Don’t explain yourself and don’t make excuses for why you need more money. Just shut up and let them realise they are about to lose a month of work because they wanted to save a few bucks on your salary. It is a game of chicken, and the person who talks first usually loses.”

The users must also consider that this kind of negotiation works best when the candidate has strong leverage, like competing offers, in-demand skills, or a critical role to fill. Without that, pushing too hard can risk the offer entirely.

Social media reaction

The story sparked debate online about negotiation norms, with some calling it a smart strategy and others issuing warnings, and alleging that it might backfire. “It is wild how the budget suddenly appears out of thin air once they realise you aren’t desperate. They bank on candidates being too polite to let a silence hang for more than two seconds,” one pointed out.

“The budget for hiring is always greater than the budget for retention. If they only offer a 2-3% increase during the salary negotiation, then they are low-balling. Without a promotion, your hiring salary is going to be your only time to negotiate for higher pay,” another user shared their perspective.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/job-seeker-plays-risky-game-of-chicken-to-push-offer-up-by-12-000-sparks-debate-11605046?pfrom=home-ndtv_lateststories

Not every item marketed as a “superfood” actually offers real benefits. Dr Sood shares a food option that truly lives up to the claims.

The term “superfood” is often used so loosely that it can be difficult to separate marketing hype from genuine nutritional value. While many foods are celebrated as miracle ingredients, only a handful truly stand out for packing an exceptional amount of nutrients into a relatively small serving. These foods deliver a combination of essential vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, and other beneficial compounds that can support multiple aspects of health.

Dr Kunal Sood, an anaesthesiologist and interventional pain medicine physician, is spotlighting a nutrient-dense food that may offer a wide range of health benefits. In an Instagram video shared on June 6, the physician explains why sardines are often considered a true superfood, highlighting their rich nutritional profile that can support cardiovascular health, strengthen bones, and contribute to overall well-being.

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What makes sardines a superfood?

Dr Sood highlights that sardines may be one of the rare foods that genuinely deserve the title of a “superfood”, thanks to the impressive range of nutrients they deliver in a relatively small serving. These oily fish are rich in EPA and DHA, the two most beneficial forms of omega-3 fatty acids, which play a key role in heart and brain health. According to the doctor, regularly including sardines in your diet may help lower triglyceride levels and support overall cardiovascular health, making them a nutrient-dense addition to a balanced eating plan.

The physician explains, “Sardines might be one of the rare superfood claims that actually have some truth behind it because nutritionally they’re doing a lot in a very small package. They’re fatty fish rich in EPA and DHA, which are the omega-3 fats linked to lower triglycerides and better cardiovascular support. When they’re part of an overall healthy diet, that’s where a lot of the heart health messaging actually comes from. It’s not that sardines magically prevent heart disease, but replacing more processed foods with omega-3 rich fish can consistently support a healthier lipid profile.”

Other essential nutrients

Beyond their heart-healthy fats, sardines are also packed with several essential nutrients. Dr Sood notes that they are an excellent source of vitamin B12, a nutrient vital for nerve function, DNA synthesis, and the production of healthy red blood cells.

When eaten with their soft, edible bones, sardines also provide significant amounts of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D, all of which play an important role in maintaining strong bones and supporting overall skeletal health. Another advantage, according to the physician, is that sardines are small fish that tend to accumulate far less mercury than larger predatory fish, making them a safer seafood choice for regular consumption.

He highlights, “They’re also packed with vitamin B12, which matters for nerve function, DNA production, and healthy red blood cells. And if you eat sardines with the soft bones, you’re also getting calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D, all which support bone health. Another underrated benefit is that sardines are small fish, so they tend to be lower in mercury than larger predatory fish.”

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/doctor-shares-a-superfood-that-contains-healthy-fats-vitamins-minerals-and-can-protect-the-heart-and-strengthen-bones-101780759117312.html

 

Justice Vinod Diwakar said the “feudal mindset of politicians and bureaucrats” in the state has long reduced constitutional governance to an instrument of personal dominion rather than public service.

Police officers in Uttar Pradesh are more loyal towards the successive ruling dispensations than the Constitution, the Allahabad High Court observed recently.

Justice Vinod Diwakar said the “feudal mindset of politicians and bureaucrats” in the state has long reduced constitutional governance to an instrument of personal dominion rather than public service.

“The administrative machinery of the state has, over successive regimes, been susceptible to deep political penetration,” the court said.

It flagged transfers, postings, and promotions of officers in UP as instruments of political patronage rather than merit-based governance.

“Officers perceived as loyalists are rewarded with preferred postings — urban commissionerates, lucrative districts – while those demonstrating independence are transferred punitively to inconsequential assignments, a well-known fact,” the bench in a judgment passed on June 3 said.

“The vertical loyalty of officers runs not toward the Constitution but toward the ruling dispensation. Field officers, acutely conscious of the transfer-posting economy, calibrate their conduct to satisfy political superiors. Encounter killings, selective crackdowns and targeted use of the Gangsters Act against inconvenient individuals have periodically attracted judicial notice,” the court said.

In a searing commentary on the police’s functioning and rule of law in Uttar Pradesh, Justice Diwakar said, “A considerable section of the officer cadre treats the rule of law not as a constitutional obligation but as an operational inconvenience. Arrests are effected without due process. Many times, FIRs are registered or suppressed with ulterior motives, and preventive detention provisions are invoked arbitrarily, at the whims of officers.” He said that the procedural safeguards under the Code of Criminal Procedure, and now the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, are routinely bypassed, and judicial orders are complied with in form but defeated in substance.

The judge made the comments while dealing with a case filed by Rajendra Tyagi relating to the Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986.

During the hearing of a petition filed by an accused booked under the anti-gangster law, the court took serious note of the misuse of police powers in the State.

Since the Supreme Court is also considering the issues connected to the 1986 Act, Justice Diwakar refrained from giving any final verdict on the issues he noticed.

The court censured the home secretary and asked the government to independently evaluate the suitability and operational effectiveness of its officers in the department.

“Certain officers who rose to the post of Home Secretary have in practice served as conduits for self-serving interests. Recommendations on postings, approvals of departmental proceedings, and responses to court proceedings have in such instances reflected considerations driven by personal or extrinsic calculations rather than dispassionate and constitutionally informed administrative judgment. This fundamentally compromises the institutional integrity that the position demands,” the judge said.

He said that constitutional governance cannot be held hostage to individual expediency or convenience, and the state apparatus must remain answerable to the law and to the Constitution, not to any ruling establishment.

The court cited a raid carried out in Bikru village to target now-dead gangster Vikas Dubey to illustrate the impunity with which police operate in Uttar Pradesh.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/allahabad-news/up-police-loyal-to-government-not-constitution-allahabad-high-court-slams-feudal-mindset-of-politicians-bureaucrats-11601845?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

The searches, carried out across Bhubaneswar, Balasore, Jajpur and Baliguda, have also uncovered multiple luxury properties, high-value land holdings and other financial assets. The operation is still underway.

In a major disproportionate assets investigation, Odisha Vigilance has launched simultaneous raids at nine locations linked to Baikuntha Nath Behera, Assistant Executive Engineer of ITDA, Baliguda in Kandhamal district, recovering around Rs 2 crore in cash from bank lockers allegedly linked to his family.

The searches, carried out across Bhubaneswar, Balasore, Jajpur and Baliguda, have also uncovered multiple luxury properties, high-value land holdings and other financial assets. The operation is still underway.

Acting on allegations that Behera possessed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income, Odisha Vigilance conducted coordinated searches on the strength of warrants issued by the Special Vigilance Court in Bhubaneswar.

A large team comprising Additional Superintendents of Police, Deputy Superintendents of Police, Inspectors and supporting staff participated in the operation.

The searches covered residences in Chandrasekharpur, Sailashree Vihar, Kanan Vihar, Dharmasala in Jajpur district, Baripada, his official residence in Baliguda and his office chamber.

During the operation, Vigilance officials identified five multi-storey buildings allegedly linked to the engineer and his family members.

Among them is a four-storey building spread over about 10,500 square feet in Niladri Vihar, Bhubaneswar. Investigators also traced four other residential properties in Bhubaneswar and Jajpur district.

Officials have further identified 13 land parcels, including seven plots in prime locations of Bhubaneswar and several others in Jajpur and Baripada.

The investigation took a significant turn with the recovery of around Rs 2 crore in cash from bank lockers allegedly linked to the family. Earlier, cash worth over Rs 2.66 lakh had been seized during house searches.

The valuation of gold ornaments, bank deposits, postal savings, investments and other financial assets is currently underway. Technical experts are also assessing the market value of the properties and land holdings.

According to official records, Baikuntha Nath Behera joined government service as a Junior Engineer in 1999 with a monthly salary of around Rs 6,000. Over the years, he served in various tribal development agencies and engineering assignments before being promoted as Assistant Executive Engineer earlier this year.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/from-rs-6-000-salary-to-rs-2-crore-in-assets-odisha-engineer-under-scanner-11601160?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Senior government sources said Vijay was informed that nearly Rs 102 crore was allegedly being diverted every month through unofficial “party fund” collections embedded within TASMAC operations.

In his first Cabinet meeting on Friday after assuming office, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay is said to have launched a sweeping crackdown on alleged leakages, unofficial collections and “party fund” practices linked to the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC), ordering officials to ensure that every rupee generated through liquor sales reaches the State treasury.

Senior government sources said Vijay was informed that nearly Rs 102 crore was allegedly being diverted every month through unofficial “party fund” collections embedded within TASMAC operations, with government estimates suggesting that nearly Rs 1,600 crore may have been siphoned from the State exchequer over the last five years. This also brings the spotlight and scrutiny on the DMK’s alleged use of TASMAC, sources said.

The Chief Minister reportedly directed officials to immediately dismantle long-running unofficial cash collection systems operating across TASMAC’s wholesale and retail network. There are nearly 4,048 registered outlets.

The reforms are being overseen by Minister for Prohibition and Excise K Vignesh, a 37-year-old first-time minister from a modest background. His parents reportedly ran a tea stall before he entered the cable distribution business and later politics.

“The Chief Minister made it clear in the Cabinet meeting that his government does not need revenue generated through corruption or through the suffering of people. His instruction was simple – arrest leakages immediately and bring back people’s money to the treasury,” Minister K Vignesh told NDTV.

Sources said prohibition officials and distilleries have already been informed that the government intends to scrap all informal collection systems associated with TASMAC operations.

This marks the beginning of a major administrative overhaul of TASMAC operations, from liquor procurement and warehouse dispatch to retail sales, bottle returns and shop-level collections.

Minister Vignesh said the government was working on a “foolproof transparency mechanism” to ensure that all revenue from liquor sales directly reaches the State exchequer.

Rs 100 Crore A Month Allegedly Routed As ‘Party Funds’

According to Excise Department sources, unofficial collections had allegedly become institutionalised within the TASMAC supply chain over nearly two decades. Officials explained that liquor in Tamil Nadu is supplied through standardised cases depending on bottle size:

180 ml bottles are packed in cases of 48

375 ml bottles come in cases of 24

750 ml bottles are packed in cases of 12

Beer cases generally contain 12 bottles

“For every liquor case, around Rs 90 per case was allegedly diverted as ‘party fund’ collections. In beer cases, around Rs 40 per case was collected, while wine cases allegedly contributed Rs 20 per case towards ministerial or political funds,” a senior source said.

Officials claimed these collections operated across warehouses, transport and retail outlets.

“Nearly 88 lakh consumers buy liquor through TASMAC every month. Internal estimates showed that at least Rs 102 crore every month was allegedly moving into unofficial channels,” the source added.

Sources said the TASMAC crackdown is only the beginning of a wider anti-corruption and revenue-monitoring exercise planned by the new government.

“The Chief Minister has asked officials to identify leakages in every department and ensure that government revenues are fully accounted for. TASMAC was taken up first because of the scale of unofficial collections,” a senior source said.

According to sources, the mining department could be the next major sector to face scrutiny as the government expands its review of alleged revenue leakages and unofficial cash flows across departments.

Empty Bottle Scheme Under Scanner

The government is also reviewing the controversial Rs 10 empty-bottle deposit-and-buyback system followed at TASMAC outlets.

Under the current mechanism, customers pay an additional Rs 10 deposit for every liquor bottle purchased, refundable when the empty bottle is returned. Officials believe the system created significant scope for unaccounted cash transactions.

According to internal estimates, nearly one crore liquor bottles are sold every month in Tamil Nadu. “If one lakh bottles were sold, only around 60,000 bottles actually came back into the system. The remaining deposits stayed unaccounted for. That is where a major portion of the corruption was happening,” an official said.

Sources estimate that irregularities linked to bottle return collections alone may have resulted in corruption worth nearly Rs 300 crore every month.

The government is now examining proposals to integrate the Rs 10 deposit into the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) or introduce a digitised refund mechanism to eliminate leakages.

Vignesh confirmed that the government had already decided to operationalise the empty bottle collection and buy-back system through outsourced agencies before the end of June.

717 TASMAC Shops Shut

The TASMAC overhaul is closely tied to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government’s broader anti-addiction agenda.

One of Vijay’s first decisions after taking office was ordering the closure of 717 TASMAC retail shops across the State. According to departmental estimates, shutting these shops could reduce annual liquor revenue by nearly Rs 8,000 crore.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/arrest-liquor-shop-tasmac-leakages-tamil-nadu-chief-minister-vijays-big-crackdown-on-party-fund-system-in-1st-cabinet-meeting-11601809?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

The Cockroach Janta Party thanked Delhi Police after its first Jantar Mantar protest over alleged examination system failures. The group said public frustration was mounting and warned of a nationwide agitation within seven days if no action followed.

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), after their first on-ground protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged failures in the examination system, has thanked Delhi Police for facilitating what it described as a peaceful demonstration.

In a post on X, CJP spokesperson Saurav Das expressed gratitude to the police for extending support to the protest and for taking action against what he described as “anti-social elements”. He said the group’s primary objective was to ensure that the demonstration remained peaceful and orderly throughout the day.

“We would again like to thank the Delhi Police for extending all possible cooperation for this democratic protest! They quickly detained anti-social elements. They ensured things went smoothly,” read his tweet.

WHY THE PUBLIC AGITATION

According to the CJP, the protest was driven by growing public frustration over recurring controversies surrounding competitive examinations and a perceived lack of accountability. The organisation claimed that nearly eight lakh people had already signed petitions seeking the Education Minister’s resignation but alleged that there had been no response from the government.

“This protest is a result of high public frustration and a lack of outlets to register it,” the statement said.

The group also warned that the agitation could expand nationally if its demands are not addressed. “This is the beginning of a movement. If no action is taken within seven days, this movement will spread across the country,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police issued a clarification rejecting reports circulating on social media that claimed an FIR had been registered against the protesters. In a post on social media, the force stated that no such case had been filed and urged people not to spread unverified information.

DELHI POLICE DEPLOY A HEAVY FORCE

The protest prompted an extensive security operation across the national capital. More than 1,000 police personnel, supported by paramilitary forces, were deployed at Jantar Mantar and other key locations, including Indira Gandhi International Airport, major railway stations, interstate bus terminals and border entry points connecting Delhi with neighbouring states.

According to a PTI report, around 40 companies of paramilitary personnel were deployed to assist Delhi Police in maintaining law and order. Security was also heightened around the residence of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan as a precautionary measure.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/cockroach-janta-party-protest-cjp-thanks-delhi-police-debunks-fake-news-2923073-2026-06-07

The NTA chief, Abhishek Singh, said the Indian Air Force will transport NEET question papers for the June 21 exam. Authorities were told to tighten security and counter misinformation after the paper leak fiasco led to the cancellation of previous examination which affected over 22 lakh students.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) will enlist the Indian Air Force (IAF) to transport NEET question papers for the June 21 medical entrance exam, NTA Director General Abhishek Singh said on Saturday, as authorities tighten security following the paper leak controversy that forced the cancellation of the earlier examination.

Singh made the announcement while virtually attending a meeting chaired by Telangana Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao to review arrangements for the examination.

According to a state government release, Singh said enhanced security protocols are being implemented for the examination. He said that, for the first time, the Indian Air Force is being engaged to transport question papers, reflecting the importance being accorded to maintaining the integrity and security of the examination process.

During the meeting, Chief Secretary Rao directed officials to ensure foolproof arrangements for the smooth conduct of the examination. He asked district authorities to work in close coordination with all concerned departments and ensure that candidates are provided a hassle-free environment on the examination day.

State Principal Secretary (Health) Christina Z Chongthu said around 73,000 students are expected to appear for the NEET examination across 208 examination centres in 24 cities in Telangana.

She said authorities are making necessary arrangements related to infrastructure, transportation, security, power supply, drinking water and other essential facilities to ensure the smooth conduct of the examination.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/neet-question-papers-transport-air-force-engaged-first-time-nta-2923044-2026-06-06

Taking a swipe at the Cockroach Janta Party, BJP president Nitin Nabin accused people sitting abroad of attempting to drag Indian youth into negative politics.

Hours after the Cockroach Jantana Party concluded first on-ground agitation, BJP president Nitin Nabin took a sharp swipe at the collective, saying the country’s youth would not become puppets in the hands of those seeking to drag them into negative politics.

Addressing an interaction with intellectuals in Ranchi, Nabin said India’s youth were focused on nation-building and securing their future, asserting that no one could dictate the direction of the country’s young generation, though he did not directly name the Cockroach Party.

“Today’s youth wants to work for nation-building and secure their future. But some people have labelled the youth of this country as anti-establishment. To those who want to drag India’s youth into negative politics, I want to warn them that the youth of this country will engage in positive politics,” he said.

Without naming US-based Cockroach Party chief Abjijeet Dipke, Nabin added, “Some people sitting abroad think they can dictate the direction of India’s youth.”

“But the youth of India will not move forward as puppets in the hands of a few people,” he asserted.

The remarks came hours after the Cockroach Janta Party held its first on-ground protest, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in entrance and recruitment examinations.

See more

Nabin said people had the democratic right to oppose the government, but such opposition must remain within democratic norms.

“We will oppose on the basis of democracy, but we will not allow democratic standards to be destroyed,” he said.

Highlighting the achievements of the youth, the BJP leader said India’s young generation was known for innovation and creation.

“Because of their dedication, hard work and efforts, around two lakh startups have come up. The country aims to become a global IT hub,” he said.

Referring to anti-government campaigns witnessed in neighbouring countries, Nabin said such politics would not appeal to Indian youth.

“The anti-establishment campaigns we witnessed in our neighbouring countries can never be for the country’s youths, who will work in a disciplined manner to build the nation,” he said.

COCKROACHES HIT DELHI STREETS

Hundreds of protesters gathered at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Saturday under the banner of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in examinations and recruitment tests, including the NEET, CBSE, CUET and SSC examinations.

The youth-led political collective emerged through online mobilisation, running campaigns centred on unemployment, corruption and governance issues. The movement is widely seen as a response to remarks by Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant, who had reportedly compared certain confrontational activists and unemployed youth to “cockroaches” and “parasites of society”.

Protesters carrying placards demanding Pradhan’s resignation were seen wearing cockroach masks distributed at the venue. Apart from seeking the minister’s resignation, demonstrators also raised slogans against what they described as the BJP’s “Hindu-Muslim politics” and chanted “Bharat Mata ki Jai”. Several school students were also seen participating in the protest along with their parents.

See more

The protest gathered momentum after CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke called for the agitation and arrived in Delhi from the United States on Saturday morning. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk also joined the protest in Delhi.

At a press conference later, CJP spokespersons announced that they will wait for a week either for the Centre to sack Pradhan or his voluntary resignation, after which they would launch a countrywide protest.

OPPOSITION PARTIES RALLY BEHIND CJP PROTEST

The protest by the youth collective witnessed solidarity and support from activists and several opposition parties, though Congress maintained a cautious distance despite some of its leaders expressing support.

Prominent parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), with which Dipke was associated in the past, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and Left parties, extended support to the Cockroach Janta Party.

“The cockroach movement is an expression of the huge anger and frustration experienced by the youth of this country. Rather than terming them anti-national, Modi govt should address their issues. AAP supports their demands. The Prime Minister must sack the education minister immediately,” AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal said in a post on X.

Dipke was a key member of AAP’s core social media team before moving to the United States for higher education. He played a pivotal role in steering the party’s social media campaign during the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections, which AAP won by a landslide.

Voicing support for the protest, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said, “These voices must reach the arrogant rulers, now that the youth too have sparked a revolution,” while sharing a news clip carrying anti-government voices from the gathering.

In a statement, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray described the CJP protesters as “the destiny-makers and future of the country”.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/cockroach-janta-party-protest-bjp-chief-youth-wont-be-puppets-targets-negative-politics-2923017-2026-06-06

 

 

West Bengal government has initiated a detailed survey of madrasas across the state to gather data on their operations and infrastructure.

The West Bengal government has launched a statewide survey of madrasas, seeking comprehensive information on their functioning, infrastructure and legal status, an official said on Saturday.

All district magistrates were directed to submit detailed reports in this regard by July 5.

Officials said the survey would also help the government verify whether all institutions are operating in accordance with existing rules and possess the necessary documentation.

The development came a month after the BJP came to power in the state, dethroning the TMC which had ruled the state for 15 years.

According to a notification issued by the Department of Minority Affairs and Madrasa Education on June 5, district administrations have been asked to collect data on the location of madrasas, the year of their establishment, registration details, availability of valid documents, and the number of students, teachers and non-teaching staff.

The reports will also have to specify whether the institutions are residential, privately aided or unaided, and provide details of the courses being taught.

A senior official at the state secretariat said the exercise was aimed at creating an updated database to facilitate future planning in the madrasa education sector.

“The objective is administrative in nature. The government wants a comprehensive picture of madrasa education in the state so that future policies, student welfare measures and maintenance-related decisions can be taken on the basis of verified information,” the official told PTI.

The notification stated that the information would be used for reviewing educational facilities, planning developmental initiatives and improving institutional management across the sector.

“The district-wise reports will help us identify gaps, if any, in records and regulatory compliance. Appropriate decisions will be taken on the basis of the findings once the exercise is completed,” the official said.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/west-bengal-madrasa-survey-government-seeks-legal-staff-and-infrastructure-data-2923028-2026-06-06

TMC MP Yusuf Pathan called claims that Mamata Banerjee asked him to resign from Baharampur Lok Sabha seat “completely false” in a social media video. He said neither Banerjee nor any party leader conveyed such a request. Earlier, Sourav Ganguly also denied contacting Pathan on Banerjee’s behalf and urged media to avoid rumours.

TMC MP Yusuf Pathan on Saturday issued a clarification over the allegations of TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee asking him to resign as MP from his Baharampur Lok Sabha seat to contest the by-election from there herself, calling the claim “completely false”.

In a self-made video on social media, Pathan said that former CM Mamata Banerjee never discussed it with him, adding that he has also never been reached out to by any party official regarding the news.

Former Captain of the Indian Cricket Team, Sourav Ganguly, says, “…It was alleged that I had contacted Mr Yusuf Pathan on behalf of Mamta Banerjee, the former Chief Minister of West Bengal and had carried her message that he should step down/resign from his Constitutional post… pic.twitter.com/0RkRsRhYfo

— ANI (@ANI) June 6, 2026

Expressing disappointment over the “unofficial news” and the ongoing deliberation around it, he affirmed that no party leader has asked him to tender his resignation.

“For some time now, news has been going viral that Mamata Banerjee asked me to resign from my MP post from the Baharampur Lok Sabha seat so that she can contest the Lok Sabha election from there. Mamata Banerjee has never told me this; even in our last meeting, she didn’t mention this. Nor has she conveyed this through any official party leader. This claim is completely false, and it saddens me that despite there being no official news, this is being discussed and debated on social media and across all media houses. So, neither Mamata Banerjee nor any party leader has asked me to resign from my MP seat,” he said.

Earlier in the day, former Captain of the Indian Cricket Team, Sourav Ganguly, had denied reaching out to Pathan on Banerjee’s behalf, asking him to resign.

In a letter addressed the all media houses, Ganguly wrote, “It was alleged that I had contacted Mr Yusuf Pathan on behalf of Mamta Banerjee, the former Chief Minister of West Bengal and had carried her message that he should step down/resign from his Constitutional post as the elected representative of the aforesaid constituency in order to enable Ms Banerjee to contest the ensuing by-elections from the said constituency.”

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/neither-mamata-banerjee-nor-any-tmc-leader-has-asked-me-to-resign-from-my-mp-seat-says-yusuf-pathan-video

 

Educator Faisal Khan, known as Khan Sir, will file an anticipatory bail plea in Patna civil court after being named in an FIR over vandalism at Khan Global Studies Institute, his lawyer Arvind Kumar Mahuar told PTI. Mahuar alleged conspiracy, saying Khan Sir will not surrender and has no direct role in the incident.

A lawyer representing educator Faisal Khan, popularly known as Khan Sir, said that his client will file an anticipatory bail petition in Patna civil court as he has been named in an FIR in connection with vandalism at his coaching centre here.

The lawyer, Arvind Kumar Mahuar, alleged that the FIR has been registered against his client as “part of a conspiracy to defame him”.

Patna SSP Kartikeya Sharma had said on Friday that the educator and YouTuber was named in an FIR in connection with the case of vandalism of Khan Global Studies Institute.

Police had detained two guards of the coaching centre for allegedly firing shots on Tuesday night when a group of 15-20 people allegedly tore down the coaching centre’s poster and threw stones at its premises.

“Khan Sir has been named in the FIR as part of a retaliatory measure because his staff had registered a case against another coaching centre’s director. He will not surrender and file an anticipatory bail petition before the court,” said the lawyer.

Mahuar said the anticipatory bail petition is likely to be filed on Monday.

He alleged that there are no actual charges against his client.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/khan-sir-to-file-anticipatory-bail-petition-after-being-named-in-fir-over-coaching-centre-vandalism

Delhi Police detained six individuals during the CJP protest at Jantar Mantar as a precaution against possible clashes. Hundreds of students and young professionals joined the demonstration demanding accountability and transparency in examination and recruitment processes.

Six people were detained by the Delhi Police on Saturday to prevent a possible confrontation between two groups during the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar, officials said.

The detentions were made as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order after police received inputs about the possibility of tensions between supporters and opposers of the online movement, they said.

Officials noted that the preventive detentions were made to help ensure the demonstration concluded peacefully without any major law-and-order issues.

Protest details and demands

The move comes after several students flagged issues in accessing answer books and applying for verification and re-evaluation on the CBSE’s post-result services portal launched on June 2.

The CBSE on Friday extended the last date for submission of applications for verification and re-evaluation of Class 12 answer sheets by one day till June 7.

The move comes after several students flagged issues in accessing answer books and applying for verification and re-evaluation on the CBSE’s post-result services portal launched on June 2.

“In the interest of students, the CBSE has decided to extend the last date for submission of applications for verification and re-evaluation for the Class 12 board examinations, thereby providing students additional time and support to complete the process,” the board said in a post on X.

The previous deadline of June 6 (midnight) has now been extended to June 7 (midnight), it said.

“Students are requested to take note of the revised schedule and submit their applications accordingly,” it added.

The CBSE on Tuesday opened the online portal for verification of issues observed in scanned copies of answer books and re-evaluation of answers for students dissatisfied with their board exam evaluation.

The board had said that for verification of issues in scanned copies of answer books, students can report concerns such as missing pages, missing supplementary sheets, missing maps or graphs, blurred pages, incorrect answer books or evaluation against a different question paper set.

The CBSE has been embroiled in controversy after some Class 12 students claimed that the scanned copies of their answer sheets, uploaded by the board, did not match their handwriting, raising concerns about potential mismatches in the on-screen marking (OSM) system.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/education/cbse-extends-class-12-verification-re-evaluation-application-deadline-till-june-7-4029212#google_vignette

India chess star R Praggnanandhaa climbed a new peak on Friday. The 20-year-old Praggnanandhaa, pitted against some of the best in world chess, came out victorious in the Norway Chess tournament – a first for any Indian

India chess star R Praggnanandhaa climbed a new peak on Friday. The 20-year-old Praggnanandhaa, pitted against some of the best in world chess, came out victorious in the Norway Chess tournament – a first for any Indian. It’s a feat that had eluded even Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand and reigning world champion D Gukesh, among others, since the tournament’s inception in 2013. Competing in Norway Chess for only the second time, Praggnanandhaa endured a slow start in the elite six-player field before gathering momentum in the second half of the event.

His campaign was highlighted by a remarkable achievement — defeating seven-time Norway Chess champion and World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen twice in classical chess — a rare accomplishment that underlined his determination to bounce back from the disappointment of an underwhelming Candidates Tournament in Paphos earlier this year.

Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani termed the win as “fearless, focused, deeply Indian.” “Congratulations to Praggnanandhaa on becoming the first Indian to win the Norway Chess tournament – one of the ultimate tests of endurance, intellect and temperament in the world of chess. To defeat the world’s absolute best on one of chess’s grandest stages is a remarkable feat. But what makes it even more special is the spirit with which Pragg plays. Fearless – Focused – Deeply Indian,” Adani wrote in a post on X.

“@rpraggnachess, you represent the confidence of a rising, youthful India. The entire nation is incredibly proud of you, Pragg.”

Congratulations to Praggnanandhaa on becoming the first Indian to win the Norway Chess tournament – one of the ultimate tests of endurance, intellect and temperament in the world of chess.

To defeat the world’s absolute best on one of chess’s grandest stages is a remarkable… pic.twitter.com/Cm8hncebV5

— Gautam Adani (@gautam_adani) June 6, 2026

Praggnanandhaa ensured that India’s challenge remained alive, ultimately carrying it all the way to the title.

The result was made possible after American Grandmaster Wesley So, who led the standings with 15.5 points heading into the final round, was held to a draw in his classical game against Alireza Firouzja, sending their contest into an Armageddon tie-break.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/chess/fearless-focused-deeply-indian-gautam-adani-on-r-praggnanandhaas-historic-norway-chess-triumph-11598532?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

 

P Harish reiterated that all matters pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir are strictly internal to India, and the Union Territory “is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India”.

In a rejoinder to Pakistan over “unwarranted references” to Jammu and Kashmir, India’s Permanent Representative P Harish said during a United Nations General Assembly session on Friday warned Islamabad against “peddling false and biased narratives”.

Reiterating all matters pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir are strictly internal to India, Harish said the Union Territory “is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India”. “Any assertions to the contrary are baseless, devoid of and inconsistent with historical facts. Empty rhetoric and hollow claims by Pakistan would not change this fundamental reality,” Harish said.

He was responding to Pakistan’s Permanent Representative Asim Iftikhar Ahmad’s references to the Union Territory during a discussion of the Council’s Annual Report to the General Assembly.

Reminding Pakistan of the “huge responsibility” that comes with being a member of the UN Security Council , Harish said, “Pakistan has decided not to spare this forum either from their characteristic misuse of august UN platforms for their divisive political interests.”

Pakistan’s two-year term as an elected member of the Security Council ends this year.

India’s Protest Over Gilgit Baltistan

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) lodged a strong protest over Pakistan’s plans to hold June 7 general elections to the so-called Gilgit-Baltistan assembly, maintaining that the region is Indian territory that has been “illegally and forcibly” occupied.

“The government of India further emphasised that such endeavours by Pakistan cannot mask the underlying issues of grave human rights violations, political repression, economic exploitation and denial of freedom in territories illegally occupied by Pakistan,” it said in a statement.

“The government of India categorically rejects any attempts by Pakistan to bring material change to areas under Pakistan’s illegal occupation, and underlines that such actions cannot hide the fact that Pakistan illegally remains in possession of Indian territories, which it must vacate,” the ministry said.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/false-narrative-indias-sharp-retort-to-pakistan-over-unwarranted-j-k-remark-at-un-11598408?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

A viral video of a vibrant cultural event in Toronto has triggered an intense social media debate regarding immigration and multiculturalism.

A viral video capturing hundreds of people dancing at an Indian cultural event in Toronto has ignited a fierce global debate online. The footage highlights growing tensions surrounding immigration and integration within Western nations. The clip features large crowds enjoying traditional music, food stalls, and energetic dance performances in a public space. However, the joyful celebration quickly became a battleground on social media after a user shared the video with a controversial caption.

The post alleged that Canada has turned into an Indian colony and claimed that local citizens are becoming a minority due to a flood of immigrants.

“Canada has turned into an Indian colony… We cannot let this happen to us.”

Canada has turned into an Indian colony!!!!

Canadians are now a minority in Toronto and the flood of immigrants is larger than ever before.

We cannot let this happen to us. Wake up!!!! pic.twitter.com/TIxnzuLeS7

— Știrile Rezistenței 🇷🇴 🇷🇺 (@RomaniaMare1918) June 2, 2026

The post quickly triggered a psychological hook of cultural anxiety, drawing thousands of polarised reactions. Critics of the event expressed deep frustration, questioning why immigrants replicate their homeland traditions abroad rather than assimilating into local culture. Some commenters even demanded that such celebrations be restricted entirely.

Conversely, a massive wave of internet users rushed to defend the diaspora, exposing the xenophobic undertones of the criticism. Many pointed out the hypocrisy of targeting hard-working communities.

They highlighted that Canada was built entirely on the contributions of immigrants who pay substantial taxes and fill crucial labour shortages. Others defended the festival simply as a display of harmless celebration, asking how anyone could find misery in people having fun.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/canada-has-turned-into-an-indian-colony-viral-toronto-dance-video-sparks-backlash-11594784?pfrom=home-ndtv_lateststories

 

Captain Bharat Bhardwaj’s proposal beside a Cheetah helicopter drew a barrage of split opinions, but a far more important marriage went unnoticed. India still relies on Cheetah helicopters, the 50-year-old military workhorse with a troubling crash record, even as delays stall the arrival of its replacement.

When Captain Bharat Bhardwaj proposed to his fiancee, Aarushi, in a Cheetah helicopter after graduating as an Army Aviation pilot, its viral video drew a barrage of split reactions. Questions of decorum in uniform, often subjective, especially among those who wear it, soon followed. Former military commanders stepped in to defend the Army Aviation Corps pilot. Yet, in the midst of this romantic spectacle, India’s dysfunctional marriage with the ageing Cheetah helicopter slipped into the blind spot of many.

Manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under licence from France’s Aerospatiale, the Cheetah entered service in India in the mid-1970s. After obtaining a license to produce the choppers in 1976, India’s HAL started its production. Now well over 50 years old in operational use, this single-engine light utility helicopter, though prized for its performance in “hot and high” conditions, has been marred by its record of crashes.

Apart from the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force also uses the Cheetah helicopters. The Cheetah helicopter has been a reliable workhorse for troop transport, reconnaissance, casualty evacuation, and logistical support in treacherous terrains where larger aircraft struggle.

Between 1974 and 2022, the Cheetah fleet has been involved in over 60 crashes, resulting in killing dozens of pilots, according to a database on Bharat Rakshak, a website devoted to India’s military.

The latest accident involving the Cheetah helicopter occurred on May 20, when the chopper crashed in the mountainous Tangste region near Leh in Ladakh. On board were three officers, including Major General Sachin Mehta, General Officer Commanding of the 3 Infantry Division, along with a lieutenant colonel and a major who were piloting the aircraft. Miraculously, all three survived with only minor injuries.

Major General Mehta clicked a selfie with his fellow officers near the wreckage of the heavily damaged chopper. But not all who have flown in the Cheetah have been fortunate enough to tell the tale of survival.

Not just the Cheetah, another helicopter used by the Indian military, the Chetak (also manufactured by HAL under licence from France’s Aerospatiale), has had its share of crashes over the decades.

OTHER MILITARY HELICOPTERS ALSO HAVE A POOR SAFETY RECORD

Other military helicopters are also deployed for similar roles, but even their accident rate is a serious concern.

According to data cited by the Army Wives Agitation Group (AWAG) in 2015, 191 Cheetah and Chetak helicopters had crashed over the preceding three decades, resulting in 294 pilot fatalities.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the AWAG said that 31 military pilots had died in accidents involving Cheetah and Chetak helicopters since 2017, and called on the government to speed up the induction of replacement aircraft. “These flying machines have turned into flying coffins as they became obsolete,” the letter said.

Air Marshal GS Bedi (Retd), a fellow at the Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS) and former senior IAF officer, discussed with Sputnik India the planned phase-out of India’s ageing Cheetah and Chetak helicopter fleet.

“…The lack of weather capabilities has prevented the Cheetah and Chetak from flying at higher altitudes over clouds for extended periods of time. Additionally, their autopilots and navigational aids have been insufficient. It was therefore necessary to maintain constant contact with the ground. This was the primary cause of multiple mishaps,” Air Marshal GS Bedi (Retd) told Sputnik India in 2023.

The Indian Army and the Indian Air Force are set to begin phasing out the Cheetah and Chetak helicopters from 2027 after the completion of their Total Technical Life (TTL), still two years away.

The indigenous HAL Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) will be replacing the vintage choppers.

However, the LUH is currently mired in a serious crisis, according to latest reports.

The indigenous 3-tonne class platform, meant to replace the ageing fleets, has been virtually grounded for nearly three months with minimal flights over the past year. A bitter certification deadlock between HAL, the Indian Army, and military airworthiness agencies (CEMILAC and RCMA) has reportedly stalled progress.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/cheetah-helicopter-hal-india-chetak-indian-army-chopper-50-years-accidents-treacherous-terrain-luh-chopper-2922332-2026-06-06

Speaking at a SPIEF session moderated by India Today’s Geeta Mohan, Vladimir Putin said Russia remains ready to jointly develop, produce and supply the Su-57 stealth fighter to India, while stressing that bilateral defence ties are built on trust.

President Vladimir Putin on Saturday renewed Russia’s offer to jointly develop and manufacture the fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57 stealth fighter with India, underscoring Moscow’s willingness to deepen defence cooperation with New Delhi beyond conventional buyer-seller arrangements.

Speaking to India Today’s Group Editor Geeta Mohan on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), Putin said Russia remained open to collaboration on the advanced fighter jet and highlighted the long-standing military partnership between the two countries.

Responding to a question on whether Russia’s offer for collaboration on the Su-57 was still on the table, Putin said that both countries shared a history of close military-technical cooperation dating back to the Soviet era, with a significant portion of the Indian armed forces continuing to operate Russian-origin equipment.

He stressed that bilateral defence ties had evolved beyond procurement and increasingly focused on joint research and development. Citing the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile as a successful example, Putin noted that Indian and Russian experts had worked together on the project from its inception.

“India has traditionally been purchasing our aircraft, both planes and helicopters, from us. The Su-57 is a very good aircraft, probably the most modern one, the most up-to-date in the world as of now, and it is also the most efficient,” Putin said.

The Russian President revealed that Moscow had earlier proposed a joint programme for the fighter aircraft.

“We offered, and I said that to our Indian friends yesterday. We offered we should do that together. Well, it didn’t work out in the past, but we did it on our own, and we stand ready to sell Su-57 even now,” he said.

Putin also highlighted the aircraft’s capabilities, saying, “The Su-57 could be configured with two pilots and could additionally function as a command centre. Russia remained a major player not only in military aviation but also in naval platforms, including submarines and surface vessels”.

Asked whether India would require a waiver from the United States to procure Russian defence systems such as the Su-57 fighter or the S-500 air defence system, Putin said India had consistently acted as a sovereign nation guided by its national interests.

“India always acts as a sovereign country,” the Russian premier said, adding that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, “any potential threats of sanctions would boomerang immediately.”

Recalling a period when Modi was barred from entering the United States, Putin said the Prime Minister had not forgotten those experiences. “Today, all those sanctions have been removed, and India-US relations are developing successfully,” he said.

Defending India’s right to choose its defence partners, Putin said New Delhi was free to procure military equipment that it considered most advanced, suitable and cost-effective. “India is always guided by its national interests,” he said.

Putin also stressed that Russia’s defence ties with India were insulated from political pressures. “Our cooperation with India is not subject to the political environment. Nobody can dictate to us what we should or should not deliver to India. We will always honour our commitments to our partners, especially a partner like India,” he said.

“We are determined to continue working with India in the same spirit and according to the same principles,” the Russian President added.

WHY OFFER MATTERS?

Putin’s remarks came at a time when India is evaluating options to strengthen the Indian Air Force’s fifth-generation fighter capabilities. The IAF currently does not operate any fifth-generation combat aircraft, while concerns have grown over reports that Pakistan could acquire China’s J-35AE stealth fighter.

India’s indigenous fifth-generation fighter programme, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), remains under development and is expected to enter service only in the mid-2030s.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/su-57-fighter-india-russia-defence-deal-putin-renews-offer-5th-generation-aircraft-iaf-2922696-2026-06-06

The incident comes days after three people were arrested in Maharashtra’s Sambhajinagar district for allegedly selling cosmetic products labelled “Made in Pakistan”.

A woman in Pune has sparked a police investigation after claiming that a bedsheet she purchased at a religious fair carried a “Made in Pakistan” label that became visible only after the fabric was washed.

The incident came to light in the Chinchwad area of Pimpri-Chinchwad, where the woman had bought the bedsheet from a vendor during the Sankashti Chaturthi fair held near the Morya Gosavi Temple complex.

According to the woman, she noticed nothing unusual at the time of purchase. However, after washing the bedsheet at home, she discovered a tag attached to the fabric bearing the words “Made in Pakistan”.

Concerned by the finding, she posted a video on social media, questioning how a product allegedly manufactured in Pakistan had reached a local market in Maharashtra. The video quickly went viral, drawing widespread attention and prompting authorities to take notice.

Following the video’s circulation, Pimpri-Chinchwad Police initiated an inquiry into the matter. A special team has been formed to investigate the origin of the product and determine how it was supplied and sold at the fair.

Police have also written to the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, seeking action against vendors found selling such products if any violations are detected.

The bedsheet was reportedly purchased on Wednesday during the Sankashti Chaturthi celebrations, when large numbers of devotees had gathered at the temple premises.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/made-in-pakistan-tag-found-on-bedsheet-after-washing-probe-underway-2922674-2026-06-06

A plumber from Bihar’s Gaya Ji district was left astonished after finding his bank account balance had surged from just Rs 113 to Rs 294 crore. Shocked by the unexpected credit, the plumber approached the police and filed an FIR.

A plumber from a nondescript village in Bihar’s Gaya Ji district was left stunned after discovering that the balance in his bank account had jumped from a mere Rs 113 to Rs 294 crore.

Shocked by the bank balance, Vikash Kumar informed the local leaders of Mastpura village about it on Thursday morning, and on their suggestion, he approached the police.

Station House Officer (SHO) of Bodh Gaya police station, Manoj Kumar Singh, said, “This is a sensitive financial case. Bank records, server logs, transaction IDs and linked accounts are being examined.”

He said police were trying to determine whether the amount credited was a result of a banking error, a technical fault or related to any fraud.

Investigations are underway, he added.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bihar-plumber-bank-account-mystery-credit-police-investigation-fraud-2922665-2026-06-05

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke arrived in India ahead of a proposed protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday, urging supporters to remain peaceful, carry books and the Tricolour and offer flowers to police. The group seeks Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation and education reforms, while activists plan to seek permission for a sit-in demonstration in Delhi today.

Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke announced that he had arrived in India ahead of the proposed protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday. He also appealed to supporters to conduct the movement peacefully, urging them to carry books and the national flag while offering flowers to police personnel.

Landed.

Looking forward to meet you all at Jantar Mantar. Do not forget to carry a book and our Tiranga!

Offer flowers to policemen as a gesture of compassion & gratitude.

We have to lead this movement with love and peace! https://t.co/HgDSf2gX0U

— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) June 6, 2026

“Landed. Looking forward to meet you all at Jantar Mantar. Do not forget to carry a book and our Tiranga! Offer flowers to policemen as a gesture of compassion & gratitude. We have to lead this movement with love and peace!” Dipke posted on X shortly after arriving in the country.

The protest, organised by the youth group founded by Dipke, is aimed at demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and pressing for reforms in the education sector. Hours before Dipke’s arrival in Delhi, the organisation issued a fresh appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to remove Pradhan from the Union Cabinet.

On my way to India…

Leaving my fate in the hands of the Constitution. #JaiBhim

— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) June 5, 2026

Dipke, who is based in Boston and was formerly associated with the Aam Aadmi Party before moving to the United States for higher studies, had earlier posted, “On my way to India… Leaving my fate in the hands of the Constitution. #JaiBhim.”

According to organisers, supporters have been asked to assemble at the Parliament Street Police Station at 9 am, from where Dipke and several activists, including Sonam Wangchuk, intend to seek permission for a peaceful sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar.

CJP Shares Dos & Don’ts Ahead Of Protest

The group has circulated a list of dos and don’ts for participants, stressing that the movement should remain peaceful, disciplined and respectful of public order. Supporters have been encouraged to carry the tricolour and a book, document the proceedings, report any miscreants to the police, stay hydrated, wear caps and sunscreen and avoid engaging with ‘trolls or provocateurs.’

मै सभी से अनुरोध करूंगा कि संयम बनाए रखें,
पूरी IT सेल को CJP को बदनाम करने के लिए एक्टिव कर दिया गया है,
जादातर लोग भ्रम फैलाने की कोशिश कर रहे है,आपको ऐसे लोगों से बचकर रहना है,

CJP हमेशा युवाओं के साथ खड़ी है,हर उस मुद्दे पर खड़ी जो युवाओं से संबंधित है,
एक भी युवा के साथ… pic.twitter.com/Tv4yAw6jSS

— Cockroach Janta Party (@CJP_for_India) June 5, 2026

Organisers had also urged people not to gather at the airport and instead proceed directly to the Parliament Street Police Station. “Tomorrow, we will reset the education system of this country. Make sure that our voices can’t be ignored anymore. We reclaim this democracy and this beautiful nation of ours,” CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said while addressing supporters.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/abhijeet-dipke-has-arrived-cockroach-janata-party-founder-lands-in-india-ahead-of-jantar-mantar-protest-urges-supporters-to-carry-book-tiranga

 

 

Delhi Police deployed more than 1,000 personnel across the capital ahead of a proposed Cockroach Janata Party protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday. Security was tightened at the airport, railway stations, bus terminals and border checkpoints amid expectations of a large gathering. The protest seeks Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation and broader reforms in the education sector.

Security was tightened majorly across the national capital ahead of a proposed protest by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar on Saturday, with more than 1,000 police personnel deployed across New Delhi district and other strategic locations as a precautionary measure.

STORY | Security stepped up across Delhi ahead of Cockroach Janta Party protest call

Security was intensified across Delhi on Saturday, with police deploying additional personnel at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, border entry points, and other sensitive locations… pic.twitter.com/nDRKtkUgxB

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 6, 2026

According to officials, elaborate security arrangements have been put in place at key transit hubs, including the Indira Gandhi International Airport, major railway stations, inter-state bus terminals and border checkpoints connecting Delhi with neighbouring states. Police teams have also been stationed at sensitive locations, busy marketplaces and major intersections to maintain law and order amid expectations of a large gathering.

Security deployed outside Delhi airport ahead of the arrival of the founder of Cockroach Janta Party Abhijit Dipke. He’ll be going to parliament street police station from here to ask for permission to protest. pic.twitter.com/XDXTqW5Pef

— Anushka Garg (@anushkagarg2000) June 6, 2026

Authorities had informed that no formal request seeking permission for the protest had been received so far. However, security preparations are being carried out based on intelligence inputs gathered through social media monitoring and other channels.

CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke Lands In India

The techie shared that just 3 weeks after joining the startup, his colleagues began warning him about his manager’s micromanagement style.

A software engineer who left a comfortable job at an MNC in search of better learning opportunities says he now regrets the decision and wants to return to the corporate world just weeks after joining a startup. He shared his experience in a Reddit post titled, “I recently joined a startup and I’m already regretting it. Tips needed to switch back to MNCs.”

The techie said that he had been working as a Generative AI engineer at an MNC, earning around ₹1.25 lakh per month while working only one to 1-2 hours a day. However, he said that he is concerned about long-term career growth and staying relevant in the tech industry, so he is thinking of making a switch.

“I was working with an MNC until last month as an Gen AI Engineer and I was not working more than 1-2 hrs every day and was making around 1.25L per month. I started looking out as I wanted to learn more in tech and stay relevant when I get to 9-10 years of experience and I got an opportunity. It’s a startup with nearly 600 million dollars valuation,” the techie wrote.

The techie shared that just 3 weeks after joining the startup, his colleagues began warning him about his manager’s micromanagement style. “I had a 1:1 meeting with him 2 weeks ago and found out why others were talking about him like that,” he wrote. He also said that the work itself was disappointing and did not involve the technologies he had hoped to explore.

“This role clearly doesn’t align with my long term career goals and I want to move on. I’m willing to go for a lesser salary, I hate it here,” he wrote.

Reflecting on his decision, the techie admitted missing his former workplace and regretting the move. “I really miss the work culture of my old org and I’ve been regretting every single day on why I left the old job. I realised how important a great manager and a great team is and I feel like an idiot for switching to this new job instead of staying,” he said.

Concluding the post, the techie revealed that he currently earns a package of ₹27 LPA and has 4 years of experience. He also said that he now plans to begin applying for new roles after completing 3 months at the startup.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/techie-quits-mnc-for-startup-now-wants-to-switch-back-despite-rs-27-lpa-salary-i-hate-it-here-101780592745637.html

CJP said a large gathering at the airport could disrupt normal operations and create difficulties for both travellers and security personnel.

Two days before its proposed protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) on Thursday urged supporters not to gather at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi to receive founder Abhijeet Dipke upon his arrival from the United States.

The appeal came after the Boston-educated Dipke had earlier invited supporters to meet him at the airport on June 6, the day of the planned demonstration seeking the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak controversy.

In a post on X, the political satire outfit said the response to the airport call had exceeded expectations. “The overwhelming response from those who want the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan to our call to join us at Delhi Airport was beyond our imagination,” the party said.

‘Not feasible,’ says CJP

CJP said a large gathering at the airport could disrupt normal operations and create difficulties for both travellers and security personnel.

“It is not feasible for so many people to assemble at the airport as it would cause inconvenience to the public and the security forces. So please do not come to Delhi airport,” the party said.

Instead of assembling at the airport, supporters were informed that Dipke would proceed to Parliament Street Police Station to personally seek permission for the proposed protest at Jantar Mantar.

In the video attached to the post, Dipke said the response to his call had been much larger than anticipated, prompting the party to reconsider plans. “We don’t want to create any kind of inconvenience to people or to the security forces,” he said.

Important Update:

The overwhelming response from those who want the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan to our call to join us at Delhi Airport was beyond our imagination.

It is not feasible for so many people to assemble at the airport as it would cause inconvenience to the… pic.twitter.com/VOkd0Fbjmv

— Cockroach is Back (@Cockroachisback) June 4, 2026

Calls for peaceful conduct

The party also urged supporters to maintain order and avoid any actions that could lead to disruption.

Calling for restraint, Dipke said supporters should ensure the campaign remains peaceful and lawful. “We are law-abiding citizens,” he said, adding that opponents were looking for an opportunity to “dismiss” or “defame” the movement and that the party should not give them that chance.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/dont-come-to-delhi-airport-cjp-founders-appeal-ahead-of-june-6-protest-101780591916530.html

 

Mamata Banerjee, who had contested from Kolkata’s Bhabanipur, lost the seat to her former aide and now Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, amid her party’s rout in the recently held state elections.

An expelled leader of the Trinamool Congress has offered Mamata Banerjee a way back to the assembly, in an ironic twist of circumstances. Humayun Kabir, who made headlines with his promise of building a replica of Ayodhya’s Babri Masjid in Bengal, had been expelled by the Trinamool Congress. Now Kabir — who before the election had called for overthrowing the Trinamool and won from two assembly seats — said he would offer one to Mamata Banerjee if she requests him.

Banerjee, who had contested from Kolkata’s Bhabanipur, lost the seat to her former aide and now Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, amid her party’s rout in the recently held state elections. Now she is no longer an MLA and will have to win a by-election to gain entry in the state assembly.

There is no word yet on who in the party would step aside for her.

Instead, Banerjee and her party have been facing a massive split in the party over the question of who will the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly. Fifty-eight of Trinamool’s 60 MLAs are backing Ritabrata Banerjee, an import from the CPM, who has now been expelled.

Humayun Kabir, who has formed his own party – Aam Janata Unnayan Party or AJUP — since expulsion, has stepped into the breach.

Kabir, who won the Nowda and Rejinagar assembly seats in Murshidabad district, said he was ready to offer the second seat to Mamata Banerjee, which will be up for a by-poll once he relinquishes it.

“If Mamata Banerjee comes to me, I can send her to the Assembly from Rejinagar,” Kabir was quoted as saying by news agency Press Trust of India.

“If she contests from Nandigram, she will not win. But if she wants, I will resign and ensure her victory from my constituency,” he added.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/can-send-her-to-assembly-expelled-leaders-offer-for-mamata-banerjee-11592806?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Victim Dimple was allegedly stabbed by her former partner and colleague, Harjinder Singh Mann. The fatal attack was captured on CCTV cameras installed at their workplace.

A woman employed at a private company in Punjab’s Mohali was allegedly stabbed to death by her former boyfriend and colleague, who later attempted to take his own life, police said. The incident took place at the company’s office on Thursday evening and has prompted a police investigation into the circumstances leading up to the attack.

The victim has been identified as 30-year-old Dimple, a resident of Patiala. The accused, Harjinder Singh Mann (39), also known as Harry, was reportedly in a relationship with her for more than three years. The stabbing incident has been caught on CCTV cameras installed at the office.

According to preliminary findings, the two worked together at a private courier company, where their professional association eventually developed into a romantic relationship. However, the couple had ended their relationship some time ago.

Police sources indicated that Harjinder was struggling to come to terms with the breakup and had made repeated attempts to reconcile with Dimple.

Investigators believe his efforts were unsuccessful, leaving him emotionally distressed in the weeks leading up to the incident.

The attack reportedly unfolded late Thursday evening at the company office premises in Mohali.

Authorities said an argument broke out between the two colleagues, following which Harjinder allegedly attacked Dimple with a knife, stabbing hime multiple times as some colleagues tried to intervene and stop the attack but to no avail.

Following the attack on Dimple, Harjinder also stabbed himself and tried to end his life. However, he survived.

Employees present at the office were left shocked by the sudden violence and immediately alerted the police.

Upon receiving information about the incident around 7:40 pm, a police team rushed to the scene and found both individuals critically injured.

Dimple and Harjinder were taken to Fortis Hospital for treatment. Doctors later declared Dimple dead, while Harjinder remains hospitalised in critical condition.

Police have registered a murder case and launched a detailed investigation. Aman Baidwan, Station House Officer of Phase-11 police station, confirmed the woman’s death and said her family had been informed.

Further legal proceedings will continue after the arrival of her parents and the recording of their statements, they said.

Investigators have sealed the crime scene and collected forensic evidence. CCTV footage from the office premises has also been seized and is being examined to reconstruct the sequence of events.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/harjinder-singh-mann-stab-ex-girlfriend-dimple-to-death-inside-mohali-office-attempting-suicide-break-up-2922176-2026-06-05

Vladimir Putin says the US is trying to pressure India over its cooperation with Russia. He says putting pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi is detrimental and unlikely to alter India’s pursuit of its national interests.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has thrown his weight behind India’s foreign policy, saying attempts from the United States to pressurise Prime Minister Narendra Modi over New Delhi’s ties with Moscow would be harmful and ultimately ineffective.

Speaking at a meeting with heads of leading global news agencies in St. Petersburg on Thursday, Putin said Russia sees India as a trusted partner and does not view New Delhi’s growing cooperation with other countries, including the US, as a threat to bilateral ties.

“It is useless to pressure Prime Minister Modi,” Putin said, news agency Reuters reported.

PRESSURE ON INDIA ‘DETRIMENTAL’

He appeared to be referring to Donald Trump’s increasing pressure on India over its purchase of Russian crude oil.

“The US is trying to put pressure on India in some matters, for example, when it comes to cooperation with Russia on some tracks.”

However, according to him, efforts to influence India’s decisions on cooperation with Russia would only damage international relations.

“Everyone has understood that putting pressure on Narendra Modi, that has the largest population in the world, is detrimental for international relations and for bilateral relations,” he said.

The Russian leader did not specify any particular action by the United States, but his comments appeared to refer to Western concerns over India’s continued engagement with Russia in energy, trade and defence. Putin stressed that external pressure has not affected relations between Moscow and New Delhi.

NO IMPACT ON INDIA-RUSSIA TIES

“It doesn’t matter where this pressure comes from. We don’t see any negative consequences,” he said.

Despite India’s expanding strategic partnership with the US, Putin said Russia remains confident about the future of its relationship with New Delhi.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/useless-to-pressurise-pm-modi-indias-relation-with-us-does-not-hinder-ties-with-russia-vladimir-putin-2922122-2026-06-04

Iran’s Ambassador to India, Dr Mohammad Fathali, thanked Indians for standing with Iran during its period of mourning. He said the support from all communities reflected the friendship and mutual respect between the two countries.

Iran’s Ambassador to India, Dr Mohammad Fathali, has expressed gratitude to the people of India for their support and solidarity during what he described as a period of national tragedy for Iran.

Speaking in New Delhi, Fathali said Indians from all communities stood by Iran as the country mourned the loss of two of its leaders. He noted that people across India extended their condolences, shared in the grief of the Iranian people and offered heartfelt sympathy during the difficult period.

“During this severe period of crisis, at a time when we are mourning the loss of not just one, but two of our leaders, the people of this entire country stood by us. They stood shoulder to shoulder with us, expressing their deep sympathy and offering their condolences,” Fathali told ANI news agency.

The ambassador thanked the citizens of India regardless of their religious affiliation, saying their support reflected the strong bonds of friendship and mutual respect between the two nations.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/iran-ambassador-to-india-thanks-indians-for-solidarity-after-loss-of-two-leaders-2922142-2026-06-05

The reported acquisitions come amid efforts by Pakistan to address gaps in its air defence network exposed during the May 2025 conflict. India’s use of BrahMos, Akash, and other stand-off weapons during Operation Sindoor highlighted the need for layered air defence and counter-drone capabilities.

Pakistan is moving to bolster its air defence capabilities with fresh procurement of medium-and long-range missiles from China and unmanned aerial systems from Turkey, following the use of advanced missiles during Operation Sindoor.

Top intelligence sources told India Today that Pakistan Air Force is acquiring China’s HQ-9 long-range surface-to-air missile system along with the HQ-16, HQ-17, and L-17 medium-range air defence missiles. The HQ-9, Beijing’s counterpart to the Russian S-400, has an engagement range of up to 250 km and is designed to counter aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles.

On the unmanned front, Pakistan is reportedly purchasing Karayel UAVs and loitering munitions from Turkey.

The Karayel, a medium-altitude long-endurance drone developed by Turkish firm Vestel, is capable of reconnaissance and precision strikes, while Turkish loitering munitions have seen extensive use in recent conflicts for targeting radar sites and air defence systems.

The reported acquisitions come amid efforts by Pakistan to address gaps in its air defence network exposed during the May 2025 conflict. India’s use of BrahMos, Akash, and other stand-off weapons during Operation Sindoor highlighted the need for layered air defence and counter-drone capabilities.

Chinese systems are likely to be deployed along Pakistan’s eastern border to counter Indian air operations, while the Turkish drones and loitering munitions could be used for both surveillance and offensive roles along the Line of Control.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pakistan-eyes-chinese-missiles-turkish-drones-to-strengthen-air-defences-after-operation-sindoor-2922155-2026-06-05

Jaishankar and Yvette Cooper reviewed the expanding India-UK partnership and launched new joint initiatives. The moves build on the trade pact, defence roadmap and a wider push for resilient supply chains.

India and the UK are well-positioned to construct a new future-oriented and mutually beneficial partnership on the back of their newly firmed-up comprehensive trade deal and the defence industrial roadmap, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday.

He made the remarks during a meeting with visiting British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.

In new initiatives, the two sides concluded a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on setting up the Regional Maritime Security Centre of Excellence, which will help Indian Ocean states to build capacity to address non-traditional maritime security threats. The centre will be set up by King’s College London and the National Maritime Foundation.

India and the UK also announced the launch of Critical Minerals Global Supply Chain Observatory (GSCO) to boost cooperation in critical minerals and support the creation of resilient and secure global supply chains.

Cooper also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Appreciated the deepening of the India-UK partnership in recent times that has unlocked unprecedented growth opportunities for both our countries. India-UK Vision 2035 will continue to guide our partnership and strengthen our joint efforts for global good,” Modi said on social media.

After the meeting, Jaishankar said both sides “reviewed ongoing progress in our cooperation focusing on trade, technology, supply chains, defence, climate, education and people to people ties. Also spoke about new opportunities in clean energy, AI and critical minerals”.

The two sides also exchanged views on global developments including in Ukraine, West Asia and the Indo-Pacific.

In his remarks, Jaishankar highlighted the “remarkable developments” in the bilateral ties in recent months while pointing to Modi’s visit to the UK last July, followed by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s trip to India in October.

Jaishankar highlighted the finalisation of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), the adoption of comprehensive strategic partnership and the defence industrial roadmap as major achievements.

“We are today well positioned to build a new future-oriented and mutually beneficial partnership,” he said.

Jaishankar said CETA addresses many concerns about creating resilient supply chains and addressing concerns in areas of trade, energy, food and economic security.

“Our relationship has moved from being a historical and perhaps cultural connection to being a forward-looking highway of shared economic ambitions and high technology,” he said.

The external affairs minister also made a mention of India-UK Vision 2035 and its five pillars such as growth, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate and clean energy, and education.

He also referred to University of Liverpool’s decision to open a campus in India.

In his remarks, Cooper, said the India-UK partnership has gone from “strength to strength” in recent years and cited CETA as one of the key pillars of economic growth.

Crucially our commitment to economic security reflected in work on critical minerals, she said.

The India-UK Critical Minerals Global Supply Chain Observatory (GSCO) was formally launched by Minister of Coal and Mines by G Kishan Reddy and Cooper.

The launch marks a “significant milestone” in the growing India-UK partnership on critical minerals and supply chain resilience, reinforcing cooperation in securing the resources essential for clean energy transitions, advanced manufacturing, electric mobility and emerging technologies, according to a statement issued by India.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-uk-announce-fresh-initiatives-in-critical-minerals-maritime-security-2922158-2026-06-05

In her statement, the survivour told the police how the accused orchestrated a calculated psychological and religious manipulation campaign, exploiting her vulnerability under the guise of reducing her “mental stress”. She said she was even “convinced” that if she accepted Islam, her mental stress would come down, and that she had slowly started believing in “those things”.

The chargesheet in a TCS sexual harassment and forcible conversion case in Nashik has brought to light an orchestrated plan by the accused in targeting the victims, one of whom said she was made to watch videos of Pakistani Islamic cleric and preacher Tariq Jamil and controversial Indian preacher Zakir Naik.

The videos were shown so that the victim could learn about Islam, she said in her statement that is part of the chargesheet, which was submitted in a Nashik court last week.

In her statement, the victim told the police how the accused orchestrated a calculated psychological and religious manipulation campaign, exploiting her vulnerability under the guise of reducing her “mental stress”. She said she was even “convinced” that if she accepted Islam, her mental stress would come down, and that she had slowly started believing in “those things”.

The chargesheet pertains to the case registered at Deolali camp police station based on a complaint filed by a 23-year-old employee of the IT firm.

Apart from the three arrested accused – Danish Shaikh, Tausif Attar and Nida Khan – the chargesheet also mentions AIMIM corporator Matin Patel from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar as an accused in the case for allegedly sheltering Nida Khan while she was absconding.

As per the chargesheet, Patel had given shelter to Khan so that she could evade arrest, and that he did so despite being aware that her anticipatory bail plea was rejected.

During his questioning prior to Khan’s arrest, when the police inquired about her whereabouts, Patel repeatedly responded: “Imtiaz Jaleel Sahib ko poochna padega (We will have to ask Imtiaz Jaleel (AIMIM’s former Lok Sabha MP).”

However, when interrogated thoroughly, he told the police about the place where he had given shelter to Nida Khan along with her mother, father, brother and aunt, the chargesheet said.

The victim, in her statement, told the police how the three accused orchestrated a calculated psychological and religious manipulation campaign, exploiting her vulnerability under the guise of lowering her “mental stress”. Danish Shaikh, who is married, sexually exploited her on the pretext of marrying her, the statement said.

When the victim feared for her future and family acceptance, he said: “Don’t be afraid, trust me, Allah is with us. Stop listening to Bhagwan songs and going to the temple; your stress will decrease.” Then he told her to recite the Tasbeeh, the statement said.

According to the victim, he (Shaikh) told her, “The more you take Allah’s name, your sins will be forgiven and your good deeds will increase, whether you read Astaghfar, meaning you will ask for forgiveness from Allah and your mental stress will decrease.”

Elaborating further, the woman told the police that Danish asked her to watch the video of Pakistani Islamic cleric, preacher and member of the Tablighi Jama’at Tariq Jamil and listen to his speeches.

The victim said Danish had taken complete information about her bank accounts and the UPI PIN, and that he was aware about the money in her bank.

“Danish had told Tausif and Nida to give me information about Islamic religion. Therefore, Tausif and Nida used to tell me about Islamic religion from time to time. Tausif told me to search for videos of Zakir Naik and Dr Israr Ahmed (Pakistani Islamic scholar) on my mobile on YouTube and listen to them, and I watched them as per his instructions,” the victim said.

The chargesheet mentioned that the victim was subjected to Islamic theology, including stories of Ibrahim, Bakri Eid, Zamzam water, Qurbani, and the concepts of Jannah (heaven) and Jahannum (hell).

“I was convinced that if I accepted the Islamic religion, my mental stress would decrease. I slowly started believing in those things,” the victim said.

The chargesheet includes statements of 106 witnesses, including the complainant, her mother, TCS employees/management, Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) committee members and the investigating officers of the case.

The Maharashtra government had formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) after several women employees at the Nashik unit of the IT major made allegations of exploitation, attempt at forceful conversion, hurting religious sentiments, molestation and mental harassment.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/tcs-conversion-case-chargesheet-alleges-victim-was-made-to-watch-clerics-videos-2922163-2026-06-05

A crane overturned during the construction of the Jewar Airport flyover in Faridabad due to adverse weather conditions, according to police. The crane, mounted on a container, collapsed onto it while four people were inside. Rescue teams saved one injured worker, while the SDRF recovered three bodies. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.

A crane overturned during the construction of the Jewar Airport flyover in Faridabad, officials said, adding that rescue operations are ongoing.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Ballabhgarh, Faridabad, Pratik Agrawal, said the incident occurred due to adverse weather conditions during ongoing construction work.

#WATCH | Faridabad, Haryana: A crane overturned during the construction of the Jewar Airport flyover near Pahneda Khurd. Rescue operations are ongoing. pic.twitter.com/9QpDieefvX

— ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2026

#WATCH | Faridabad, Haryana | Rescue operations continue at the site where a crane overturned during the construction of the Jewar Airport flyover near Pahneda Khurd pic.twitter.com/CmSJ81RKCV

— ANI (@ANI) June 4, 2026

Agrawal said, “Due to adverse weather conditions, the crane, which was mounted on the container, crashed down onto the container itself. Based on the information gathered so far, there were four people inside the container. We have successfully rescued one individual alive, though injured. The SDRF team stationed here has also recovered three bodies.”

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/up-tragedy-3-killed-1-injured-as-crane-collapses-at-jewar-airport-flyover-construction-site-in-faridabad-video

 

Modi said yoga is gaining tremendous popularity across the world.

The 1st World Yogasana Sports Championship 2026 will commence in Ahmedabad on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, confirming his virtual participation in the event.

Modi said yoga is gaining tremendous popularity across the world.

“… on June 4, a very special competition, the 1st World Yogasana Sports Championship 2026, will commence in Ahmedabad. This platform has brought together yoga enthusiasts from around the world. It is a significant milestone on the global sporting roadmap for Yogasana,” he said on microblogging site X.

Modi said he will join the event virtually at 6:40 pm on Thursday.

“My compliments to those who have organised such an innovative event and best wishes to all taking part,” he said.

“Yoga for Healthy Ageing” — the theme of the 12th International Day of Yoga to be observed on June 21, 2026 — reflects the growing global recognition of yoga as a holistic approach to promoting physical, mental and emotional well-being, according to a statement.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/pm-modi-to-virtually-join-inaugural-event-of-1st-world-yogasana-sports-championship-4026630#google_vignette

 

Muzaffarpur District Magistrate Subrat Kumar Sen said firefighters rushed to the spot and have brought the blaze under control.

A massive fire broke out in the ICU ward of Prasad Hospital in Muzaffarpur, Bihar on Thursday at 3 am, June 4, leaving at least five people dead and several others injured, PTI reported.

Muzaffarpur District Magistrate Subrat Kumar Sen said firefighters rushed to the spot and have brought the blaze under control.

“A total of 5 deaths has been confirmed. There are several injured persons, who are undergoing treatment at various hospitals,” Muzaffarpur Municipal Commissioner Rituraj Singh said.

The DM informed that around 13-15 patients were being treated in the ICU, and have now been shifted to other hospitals by their family members.

“We are trying to reach out to the kin of the deceased and other patients. The fire has been brought under control, and necessary legal action is being undertaken,” he added.

According to hospital authorities, the blaze is suspected to have been triggered by a short circuit in the ICU. The fire spread rapidly, hampering evacuation efforts.

Officials informed that rescue operations were launched immediately after the incident.

The hospital management said it was cooperating with the administration and that an inquiry had been initiated into the incident.

Officials said that the casualty toll could rise as details about several patients were still being ascertained.

Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary described the incident as “extremely tragic” and expressed condolences to the bereaved families.

“Instructions have been issued to immediately provide an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the families of each deceased. The local administration is fully alert, and adequate arrangements have been made in district hospitals for the treatment of the injured,” he said in a post on X.

मुजफ्फरपुर के एक निजी अस्पताल में आग लगने से चार व्यक्तियों की मृत्यु अत्यंत दुःखद है।

शोक-संतप्त परिजनों के प्रति मेरी गहरी संवेदनाएँ हैं। ईश्वर दिवंगत आत्माओं को शांति प्रदान करें तथा परिजनों को इस कठिन समय में संबल दें।

मृतकों के परिजनों को अविलंब 4-4 लाख रुपये का अनुग्रह…

— Samrat Choudhary (@samrat4bjp) June 4, 2026

Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary said investigators are looking into the cause behind the fire, and the government will take appropriate action in the matter.

BJP national president Nitin Nabin, too, expressed grief over the loss of lives in the blaze.

“My heart is deeply grieved by the loss of lives due to the fire in a private hospital located in Muzaffarpur. I pray for peace of the departed souls and strength to their families to endure this unbearable pain. I also wish for the swift recovery of all those injured in this accident,” he wrote on X.

बिहार के मुजफ्फरपुर स्थित एक निजी अस्पताल में आग लगने से हुई जनहानि से मन अत्यंत व्यथित है।

ईश्वर से प्रार्थना है कि दिवंगत आत्माओं को शांति प्रदान करें तथा उनके परिजनों को इस असहनीय पीड़ा को सहने की शक्ति दें।

इस दुर्घटना में घायल हुए सभी लोगों के शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की कामना…

— Nitin Nabin (@NitinNabin) June 4, 2026

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/bihar/five-killed-in-fire-at-bihars-muzaffarpur-private-hospital-4026790 

The TMC’s internal turmoil has delighted many in the BJP. But others in the party worry that if the Mamata Banerjee-founded party collapses entirely, the BJP might end up facing the rapidly reviving CPI(M)-led Left Front. Then there could be the Left-Congress combine too.

West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari had a prediction to make on May 4, the day the results of the state’s Assembly polls were announced; the Trinamool Congress (TMC) could disintegrate following its electoral debacle. A month later, while the TMC hasn’t disintegrated, it is facing its biggest internal crisis since its founding. Yet many in the BJP wouldn’t want the TMC to collapse. The reason: if the TMC were to collapse, the BJP might end up facing a more stronger foe in West Bengal, the CPI(M)-led Left Front.

The TMC is now facing its biggest existential crisis since its formation in 1998. On Wednesday, 60 of its 80 MLAs under the leadership of two-time Rajya Sabha MP and Uluberia Purba MLA Ritabrata Banerjee successfully rebelled against Mamata Banerjee’s choice of Leader of Opposition (LoP). The rebel MLAs got Ritabrata elected as the LoP.

While many in the BJP would undoubtedly welcome the TMC falling apart due to the rebellion, others are far less enthusiastic about such a scenario. Their concern is that the TMC’s collapse would create a vacuum that would be used by the CPI(M)-led Left Front alone or in combination with the Congress to mount a serious challenge. The Left Front could repeat what the BJP itself achieved in the 2019 Lok Sabha and 2021 Assembly elections, flipping large segments of the state’s Left-aligned voter base.

Kolkata-based author and journalist Snigdhendu Bhattacharya told India Today Digital that many within the Bengal BJP now fear that a potential Left-Congress alliance could pull off a similar turnaround if the TMC implodes.

The Left Front, led by the CPI(M), was once the dominant political force in West Bengal, ruling the state uninterrupted for 34 years. However, over the course of 15 years of TMC rule, it was reduced to almost a political footnote, losing all representation in both the Assembly and the Lok Sabha from West Bengal.

Yet signs of a Left resurgence are beginning to emerge. For the first time since 2016, the CPI(M) has won an Assembly seat, securing victory in Domkal. Its long-dormant cadre network is reportedly becoming active once again, with social media posts showing party offices being renovated and reopened.

The Left’s affiliate organisations such as the ABTA (All Bengal Teachers’ Association) and the CITU (Centre of Indian Trade Unions) have also become more visible, returning to the streets after years of relative inactivity.

The clearest indication of this revival came in the Falta repoll, where the Left staged an unexpected comeback. The CPI (M) finished second behind the BJP, polling more than 40,000 votes. The CPI (M) comfortably outperformed the TMC candidate, Jahangir Khan, who surrendered at the last minute.

For the BJP, the Trinamool poses a relatively limited threat because it remains primarily a regional force under Mamata Banerjee, with its influence largely confined to West Bengal. While the party has attempted to expand into other states, including Assam, its footprint there remains modest and is unlikely to worry the BJP in the immediate future.

The Congress and the Left, however, present a different challenge. Both are national parties with organisational networks and political relevance across multiple states. What makes their potential revival particularly significant is West Bengal’s political history. The state was governed by the CPI(M)-led Left Front for an uninterrupted 34 years from 1977 to 2011, demonstrating the Left’s deep-rooted cadre base and ideological appeal.

With the CPI(M) showing signs of regaining political space in Bengal, the BJP might be wary that the state could emerge as the launching pad for a broader Congress-Left resurgence. A revival of this alliance in Bengal would not merely affect state politics. It could provide momentum for a national comeback of the Congress-Left combine. Such a development would be far more concerning for the BJP than the continued dominance of a regional player like the TMC.

WHY WOULD THE BJP WANT THE TMC TO REMAIN ALIVE?

According to author and journalist Snigdhendu Bhattacharya, sections within the West Bengal BJP are worried that a rising Left-Congress alliance could fill the vacuum left by the defeated TMC, absorbing a significant portion of its voter base just as the BJP had absorbed traditional Left voters in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the 2021 State Assembly Elections.

In both contests, the BJP successfully flipped more than 20% of the state’s traditional Left-leaning voters, helping it secure a firm foothold in Bengal with 18 Lok Sabha seats and 77 Assembly seats respectively.

This anxiety explains why the BJP in Bengal has so far refrained from trying to absorb dissident TMC MLAs, which would lead to a collapse despite the Mamata Banerjee-founded party being in the midst of a full-blown rebellion.

Ever since the election results were announced on May 4, both BJP and RSS leaders have repeatedly emphasised that TMC workers and leaders must not be easily admitted into the saffron camp.

“The BJP could very easily split the TMC if it wanted to,” Bhattacharya told India Today Digital. “But they are refraining from doing so because a section of the BJP leadership in Bengal wants the TMC to stay. They are worried the Left will repeat what the BJP did.”

This strategy aligns with author and journalist Sayantan Ghosh’s assessment of a new model in which a weakened but surviving TMC faction continues to occupy the opposition space without mounting a direct or effective challenge to the BJP.

“I am not prepared to describe this [the Ritabrata Banerjee-led rebellion within the TMC] as the Maharashtra model [referring to how 40 MLA’s led by Eknath Shinde broke away from the Uddhav Thackrey-led Shiv Sena].” Ghosh noted in a post on X. “What we are witnessing is a completely new model of dealing with an opposition party. The objective appears to be the creation of an opposition formation that does not directly challenge the ruling party—in this case, the BJP—while continuing to claim the political space of the original party.”

The BJP’s capability to fracture the ruling party has been openly confirmed by its own leadership. BJP MP Saumitra Khan recently claimed that approximately 50 TMC MLAs and 20 MPs were very disgruntled and prepared to switch allegiances to the BJP if the party’s central leadership gave the green light.

“If the BJP central leadership says it once, the TMC will not remain a party any more. Everyone is ready to come. Around 50 MLAs are unhappy with the party and 20 MPs are ready to join,” Khan stated, highlighting the delicate balance the BJP is currently trying to maintain in West Bengal.

Yet, this absorption of disgruntled TMC leaders into the BJP hasn’t happened. Party leaders, including State President, Samik Bhattachrya, have, in fact, stated that the doors of the party would remain closed to potential TMC rebels. This was to prevent the “Trinamoolisation of BJP”, he had claimed.

THE ODISHA BJD EXAMPLE FOR TMC IN WEST BENGAL?

In a Facebook post, Snigdhendu Bhattacharya argued that the BJP had helped ensure the survival of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha after the latter’s 2024 electoral defeat to prevent a Congress resurgence in the state. A similar scenario might also play out in West Bengal.

According to Bhattacharya, the BJD had come close to splitting amid tensions within its leadership over the relationship between party supremo Naveen Patnaik and his aide VK Pandian. The party ultimately remained intact, he noted, owing to Patnaik’s firm control over the organisation and the BJP’s decision to stay away from the internal dispute.

“The BJP kept the BJD together to keep the Congress out of Odisha,” Bhattacharya wrote. “Similarly, it will seek to keep the TMC more or less intact in West Bengal.”

CAN THE LEFT STAGE A COMEBACK, POSE A CHALLENGE TO BJP IN BENGAL?

While sections of the BJP are worried about a CPI (M)-led revival of communist parties in West Bengal, does the Left actually have what it takes to pull off such an act?

After its 2011 ouster by the TMC and a massive voter migration to the BJP after 2019, the Left Front is showing its first major signs of a grassroots revival in West Bengal.

The CPI(M) secured the Domkal Assembly seat and polled over 40,000 votes in the Falta repoll. It is actively reviving its cadre base and reopening offices. The Left has become highly visible on the ground, actively leading protests against railway station hawker evictions through organisations like the CITU while the TMC has remained largely absent.

Snigdhendu Bhattacharya told India Today Digital that sustaining this grassroots momentum was absolutely crucial for the Left to regain true political relevance, especially as the TMC grappled with internal fractures that weakened its ability to mobilise people for mass movements.

However, translating these local gains into a credible challenge against the BJP will require a massive strategic shift. To become the principal opposition, the Left must successfully flip a significant portion of the TMC’s voter base, just as the BJP did in recent elections.

Bhattacharya noted that while a potential Left-Congress alliance could credibly syphon away both minority and Hindu voters in southern West Bengal, the Left Front has to stop alienating potential defectors.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/why-bjp-wouldnt-want-trinamool-congress-to-collapse-completely-left-front-cpm-revival-tmc-west-bengal-mamata-2921054-2026-06-04

After graduating in Nashik, Capt Bharat Bhardwaj proposed to his fiancée beside a helicopter at the ceremony venue. The viral moment, though widely praised online, is now under scrutiny over military protocol and decorum.

An Army officer whose helicopter-side marriage proposal to his fiance after a graduation ceremony in Maharashtra’s Nashik went viral on social media may now face disciplinary action, sources said.

Capt Bharat Bhardwaj, who recently completed his training as an Army Aviation pilot, is likely to be issued a show-cause notice, with officials viewing the episode as a possible breach of military protocol and decorum.

The proposal took place shortly after the Passing Out Parade and convocation ceremony at the Combat Army Aviation Training School (CAATS) in Nashik, where trainee pilots were celebrating the completion of their training programme.

VIRAL MOMENT AFTER GRADUATION

Videos and photographs from the event showed Bhardwaj leading his fiance, Aarushi, towards a helicopter stationed at the venue.

As family members, fellow officers and guests watched, he went down on one knee and presented her with a ring.

The proposal took place in front of the helicopter that symbolised the culmination of his years of military aviation training. Aarushi accepted the proposal, drawing applause and cheers from those gathered at the venue.

The couple embraced as spectators celebrated the moment, which quickly spread across social media platforms.

SOCIAL MEDIA PRAISE

The video attracted widespread attention online, with many users describing it as a rare blend of personal joy and professional achievement.

Several social media users praised Bhardwaj for choosing a military graduation ceremony as the setting for the proposal, while others said the moment represented the beginning of two journeys, one in service to the nation and another in his personal life.

Many were also touched by the reaction of those present, saying the formal military atmosphere briefly gave way to a heartfelt celebration.

PROTOCOL QUESTIONS

However, sources said Army authorities are examining the circumstances surrounding the proposal.

Officials are understood to have viewed the act as inconsistent with military protocol and decorum, particularly because it took place immediately after an official military ceremony and involved equipment and premises linked to the graduation event.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/army-pilot-viral-proposal-nashik-capt-bharat-bhardwaj-protocol-action-2921549-2026-06-03

Uttar Pradesh will stop vehicles without a valid PUCC from refuelling at petrol pumps in its NCR districts from October 1. The move is part of a wider push to cut air pollution through stricter monitoring, cleaner transport and tighter industrial checks.

Vehicles lacking a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) will not be allowed to refuel at petrol pumps across Uttar Pradesh’s National Capital Region (NCR) districts from October 1, as the state government steps up efforts to tackle worsening air pollution.

The decision was made during a high-level review meeting on air quality and pollution control chaired by Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary S P Goyal on Wednesday. The state has set an ambitious target of reducing air pollution levels in the NCR region by 30-35 per cent in 2026.

The NCR region in Uttar Pradesh comprises eight districts — Gautam Buddh Nagar, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Baghpat and Shamli. These districts form part of the larger Delhi-NCR region, which continues to face severe air pollution, particularly during the winter months.

Reviewing ongoing and proposed anti-pollution measures, Goyal directed all departments to work in coordination to improve air quality across the region.

“The participation of citizens should also be ensured by creating awareness among them,” the Chief Secretary said, according to a statement.

As part of the upcoming “No PUCC, No Fuel” policy, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras will be installed at 1,041 fuel stations across the NCR districts to identify vehicles that do not possess valid pollution certificates.

The state government is also pushing for the replacement of older polluting vehicles with cleaner alternatives under its “Naya Safar” initiative. The programme promotes BS-VI-compliant vehicles, compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles and electric vehicles.

Officials informed the meeting that around 26.19 lakh end-of-life vehicles have been identified across the NCR districts. Between January and April 2026, authorities scrapped 37,156 such vehicles and seized another 460.

To encourage cleaner public transport, the government aims to deploy 975 electric buses in Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida and Meerut. Currently, 100 e-buses are operational in these cities.

The review also focused on strengthening air quality monitoring infrastructure. Of the 43 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) planned for the Uttar Pradesh NCR region, 25 are already operational. The remaining 18 stations are expected to be installed by October 2026.

Industrial emissions remain another major focus area. Officials reported that 725 polluting industries have been identified, with 613 already connected to the Central Pollution Control Board’s server through Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS).

Air pollution control equipment has been made mandatory for 665 industrial units. Installation has been completed in 179 units, while work is underway in another 100.

To address dust pollution, the state has drawn up plans to redevelop 1,792 kilometres of roads in Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida and Meerut at an estimated cost of Rs 3,666 crore. So far, redevelopment work covering 143.8 kilometres has been completed.

Authorities have also assessed the requirement for 108 mechanised road-sweeping machines. While 45 machines are currently in operation, procurement of 50 additional units is underway.

In the construction and demolition waste sector, 29 of the proposed 37 secondary collection centres are already functional, with work progressing on the remaining facilities. GPS tracking, geo-tagging and Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC)-based monitoring systems are also being introduced for construction sites to improve compliance.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/vehicles-without-pucc-certificates-to-be-denied-fuel-in-ups-ncr-districts-from-oct-1-2921577-2026-06-04

Several critically ill patients have been shifted to nearby hospitals, and authorities are currently verifying their condition and whereabouts. The Civil Surgeon has also reached the spot to oversee the situation and coordinate medical assistance.

A day after a deadly fire at a B&B in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar claimed 21 lives, another major fire incident has been reported from Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district. A blaze broke out at a hospital, with officials saying 4 people have lost their lives in the incident.

As the fire spread, thick and toxic smoke quickly engulfed large sections of the building, leading to chaos inside the hospital premises. Emergency response teams rushed to the spot and launched evacuation efforts to move patients to safety.

Preliminary reports suggest that a short circuit may have caused the fire, though the exact cause is yet to be officially confirmed.

More than 20 patients were reportedly injured in the incident and were safely evacuated from the building. Several of the rescued patients are said to be in critical condition.

The critically ill patients have been shifted to nearby hospitals, and authorities are currently verifying their condition and whereabouts.

The Civil Surgeon has also reached the spot to oversee the situation and coordinate medical assistance.

INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY

Subrat Kumar Sen, DM of the district, informed that four people have died in the incident, while efforts are underway to ascertain the status of all patients who were admitted at the time of the fire. Family members of some patients have approached authorities claiming they have been unable to trace their relatives following the incident.

The victims have been identified as Shashank Kumar, Uday Kumar, Geeta Devi and Brijnand Rai.

“The ICU in-charge of the hospital is also gravely injured. He is also admitted to a nearby hospital. We have to confirm the proper data about how many lives are lost. Currently, four deaths have been confirmed,” Sen said.

Talking about the cause of the fire, Sen said, “At first look, it seems like a short circuit at the oxygen unit and the monitor system. An investigation is underway. We will carry out the necessary procedures to find out the real reason for the fire breakout.”

Relatives of patients present at the hospital have levelled serious allegations against the hospital administration following the fire. One family member claimed that his father, who was admitted to the ICU, died in the incident. He alleged that the hospital authorities failed to hand over the body and that several staff members disappeared from the premises after the fire broke out.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/10-patients-dead-over-20-rescued-after-massive-fire-at-hospital-in-bihars-muzaffarpur-2921583-2026-06-04

A NEET aspirant from Madhya Pradesh died by suicide after the exam she took was cancelled amid the paper leak row. Her family said the uncertainty over the re-test deepened her distress despite months of preparation and financial sacrifice.

A NEET aspirant from Madhya Pradesh’s Mauganj district died by suicide after reportedly falling into depression following the cancellation of the medical entrance examination she had appeared for amid the paper leak fiasco.

Akanksha Chaturvedi left behind a note saying that “she did not have the courage” to appear for the test again.

She was among the lakhs of students who appeared for the NEET-UG exams conducted on May 3. The National Testing Agency (NTA), however, cancelled the examination on May 12 following allegations of a paper leak and announced a re-test on June 21.

According to her family, she had been preparing for the examination and was expecting a score of around 650 marks.

Family members claimed that Akanksha had become deeply distressed in the aftermath of the controversy surrounding the examination and had been under emotional strain in the weeks leading up to her death.

They alleged that the uncertainty surrounding the exam had affected her mental state.

Akanksha’s parents said they had made significant financial sacrifices to support her dream of becoming a doctor.

Despite their modest means, the family reportedly took a loan of Rs 3 lakh through a Kisan Credit Card to fund her coaching in Nagpur.

Her father, Krishna Kumar Chaturvedi, a farmer by profession, also took up work as a cook in Nagpur while his daughter prepared for the examination there.

The family said they were confident she would secure admission to a medical college this year.

The suicide note recovered from the spot reflected her concerns about the future.

“Mummy Papa, you believed your daughter would study and become a doctor. But I do not have the courage to take the NEET exam again. I have ruined both of you,” she wrote.

“There is no guarantee that I will perform well if I appear for the examination again.”

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/madhya-pradesh/story/neet-paper-leak-row-madhya-pradesh-aspirant-dies-by-suicide-after-exam-cancellation-2921588-2026-06-04

Rahul Gandhi claimed that the system that was once “controlled” by PM Modi is collapsing and now providing information about the prime minister and his cabinet colleagues to him.

Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be at the top post in a year’s time. Gandhi warned that an “economic tsunami” is coming, and the system is also revolting due to public pressure.

Rahul Gandhi claimed that the system that was once “controlled” by PM Modi is collapsing. He said that the system is now providing information about the prime minister and his cabinet colleagues to him. He made the remarks while addressing tribal leaders from across the country at an event organised by the Adivasi Congress at the Indira Bhawan in New Delhi.

“In my assessment, Modiji will not be the prime minister in a year’s time,” Rahul Gandhi said, as quoted by PTI.

“From one side, a massive economic tsunami is coming, prices are rising and this is just the beginning. India will witness such an economic crisis that you have never ever witnessed in your lives. This is happening and no one can stop this.”

“On the other hand, there is an institutional revolt happening within India’s system … the Election Commission (EC) is fully controlled…,” Gandhi alleged.

Gandhi claimed that the chief election commissioner is sending messages to him and so are the head of intelligence and members of the senior judiciary. “All are revolting and information is coming to us.”

“So the system of control is collapsing internally. There will be such public pressure that if they continue to follow this path, it will be a risk for them.”

“If people know that the election system is rigged and if public anger comes out due to the economic pressure on them, the EC is also worried about what will happen tomorrow,” he said.

“What may happen is that they may try to suppress the public pressure and impose something like an Emergency. That is possible.”

“We are now entering the second stage, as they were earlier in full control but are now losing control,” he said.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/rahul-gandhi-claims-pm-modi-wont-remain-in-power-beyond-a-year-warns-of-economic-tsunami-article-154456358

IRDAI has tightened transparency requirements. If an insurer rejects a claim, it must explain the reason and point to the specific policy clause.

You pay your health insurance premium every year. Then comes the medical emergency. A hospital stay. A surgery. A sudden illness.

And just when you think your insurance policy will do its job, the real battle begins: getting the claim approved.

For years, this has been one of the biggest pain points for Indian policyholders. Delayed approvals. Endless paperwork. Partial settlements. And in some cases, outright rejections.

Now, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) is trying to change that.

A series of reforms introduced by the regulator aims to make claims faster, more transparent and less stressful. But will they be enough to fix a system that has frustrated millions?

The Problem Is Bigger Than Most People Realise

The numbers tell a troubling story.

According to IRDAI’s Annual Report 2024-25, insurers processed 3.26 crore health insurance claims and paid out Rs 94,248 crore during the year.

But beneath those headline figures lies a worrying reality.

Narendra Bharindwal, President of the Insurance Brokers Association of India (IBAI), points out that the average health claim paid stood at just Rs 28,910, even as medical inflation continues to push hospital bills much higher.

More concerningly, around 8 per cent of health insurance claims were repudiated. In simple terms, nearly one in every 12 people who filed a health insurance claim did not receive a payout.

Consumer dissatisfaction is also rising.

Grievances registered on Bima Bharosa jumped 41 per cent year-on-year to 1.37 lakh in FY25 from 97,503 in FY24. Bharindwal notes that nearly 70 per cent of complaints in the health and general insurance segment were linked to claim rejections, delays, partial payments or documentation disputes.

“That is not a marginal problem – that is a systemic one,” he says.

Why Claims Become A Nightmare

Anyone who has dealt with a health insurance claim knows the experience can be emotionally draining. The stress often arrives at the worst possible moment-when a patient is ready to leave the hospital.

Arun Ramamurthy, co-founder of Staywell.health, says policyholders frequently face uncertainty around pre-authorisations, reimbursement reviews and documentation requirements.

The frustration is not always about money.

Patients and their families are often left waiting for updates, responding to repeated requests for documents, or trying to understand why a medically necessary treatment is being questioned.

Many disputes arise because of technical policy clauses, waiting periods, exclusions, room-rent limits or incomplete disclosures rather than outright fraud, Ramamurthy explains.

The result is confusion, anxiety and a growing trust deficit.

What Has IRDAI Changed?

IRDAI’s latest reforms are designed to tackle exactly these issues. One of the most significant changes relates to cashless claims.

Under the new framework, insurers must process cashless pre-authorisation requests within one hour. Once a hospital sends the final discharge request, insurers must communicate their decision within three hours.

If they fail to do so, they may have to bear additional hospitalisation expenses incurred because of the delay. This could be a game changer for families stuck in hospital rooms simply because paperwork is moving slowly.

Ramamurthy says the reform directly addresses a common problem where patients are medically fit for discharge but remain admitted while waiting for claim clearance.

The regulator has also tightened transparency requirements. If an insurer rejects a claim, it must clearly explain the reason and point to the specific policy clause supporting the decision.

For policyholders, this means fewer vague explanations and greater clarity about why a claim was denied.

Early Signs Look Promising

The initial results suggest insurers are responding.

According to Bharindwal, nearly 87 per cent of pre-authorisation requests and more than 96 per cent of discharge authorisations are now being processed within the prescribed timelines.

This marks a significant improvement from the delays many customers experienced in the past. The reforms have also been welcomed by industry participants.

Pankaj Goenka, Chief Business Officer at InsuranceDekho, says the measures address some of the biggest friction points in the customer journey.

“Measures aimed at faster cashless approvals, standardised documentation requirements, and tighter turnaround timelines directly address the friction points that erode customer trust the most,” he says.

Goenka believes the changes could make it easier for advisors and insurance partners to recommend health insurance products because customers will have greater confidence in the claims process.

But The Biggest Question Remains

While faster approvals are important, experts say speed alone does not solve everything. A claim approved quickly is not necessarily a claim settled fairly.

Bharindwal argues that the deeper issue lies in the gap between what customers expect and what they ultimately receive. Partial settlements due to sub-limits, exclusions, non-medical expenses or policy conditions continue to frustrate policyholders.

People pay premiums expecting protection. When a large part of a hospital bill remains unpaid, trust suffers.

This becomes even more important at a time when insurance penetration in India remains just 3.7 per cent, roughly half the global average.

Every delayed, disputed or partially paid claim can discourage potential customers from buying insurance altogether.

Nevertheless, there is broad agreement that IRDAI has taken a major step in the right direction. The regulator’s reforms aim to make insurers more accountable, reduce uncertainty and bring greater transparency to the claims process.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/business-news/irdai-health-insurance-policy-claim-settlement-medical-expenses-healthcare-11588524?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

Authorities said the accident occurred after Singh failed to stop for law enforcement and led deputies on a high-speed chase that reached speeds of about 100 miles per hour before ending in a collision.

The mother of a pregnant teenager, who, along with her unborn child, was killed in a Range Rover Velar crash in Ohio, United States, has said she wants the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to deport the Indian man charged over the incident. Annette Holmes said she does not want 33-year-old Tarsem Singh to remain in the country.

According to the victims’ family, Singh, an Indian national living in the US illegally, was the father of 17-year-old Ashlee Holmes’ unborn child. Relatives told Newsweek that Ashlee tried to leave the relationship several times but was not successful.

“Nobody should ever deserve to die while pregnant with their first kid,” Annette Holmes, 40, told Newsweek.

“I’m OK with him being kicked out of the country permanently. We came to find out he came here illegally at first. They can send him wherever he is best off because I don’t want him in the States no more,” she added.

How Ashlee Holmes Was Killed

According to the police, Ashlee was a passenger in a Range Rover Velar when the vehicle crashed on February 16. Authorities said the accident occurred after Singh failed to stop for law enforcement and led deputies on a high-speed chase that reached speeds of about 100 miles per hour before ending in a collision.

Citing the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s crash report, Newsweek reported that the Range Rover was initially clocked at 79 mph in a 55 mph zone before accelerating to more than 120 mph during a pursuit. The vehicle failed to negotiate a curve, crossed left of centre, and struck a Jeep before overturning several times.

Ashlee was ejected from the car after it crashed. She suffered fatal injuries, and her unborn child also did not survive, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s crash report.

ICE has, meanwhile, lodged a detainer against Singh, 33. He has been indicted on multiple felony charges, including involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide and aggravated vehicular homicide. Under federal law, Singh — who has a $1 million bond — is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/tarsem-singh-indian-man-33-charged-in-us-crash-that-killed-his-pregnant-17-year-old-partner-11588544?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Companies alter AI usage approach after implementing a credit-based system.

A techie at one of the WITCH (Wipro, Infosys, TCS, Cognizant, and HCL) companies has claimed that the higher-ups are now throttling the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools by telling employees to be ‘mindful’ of it. In a social media post titled, “Companies sudden extended AI usage ask now tending to reduce,” the software developer detailed that ever since the rise of AI tools, the company was pressuring employees to use them to ship the products faster, but after major AI vendors introduced credit-based pricing systems, their strategy had changed.

“I am working in a WITCH company. Last week, they were pressuring and hosting multiple sessions on how to use GitHub Copilot (GHCP) more and more, asking us to use AI tools to increase productivity tenfold and all,” the user wrote in a Reddit post.

The techie explained that the new credit-based system kicked into effect from June 1, and the corporate directive shifted from rapid AI adoption to immediate cost-cutting.

“June 1, the new credit-based system has been applied. Now they are indirectly asking to be “Mindful” to use which model, and saying to reduce opus usage,” the user said.

“Lol, I find this funny but infuriating. Why did these guys even put their foot in without seeing the board of quicksand? I saw this GH scheme change coming a month ago when GitHub released it, and here they were doubling down on this.”

‘Reality Check’

As the post gained traction, social media users highlighted that companies that chased current trends by firing employees in order to save costs were now receiving a reality check.

“Now is a reality check for companies that made people redundant with the hope that LLMs will save money, and they don’t need people,” said one user, while another added: “Happening everywhere. Leadership likes to throw things at developers. You will be questioned both ways – earlier we were asked why your usage is low, and now asking why your usage is high.”

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/pushed-ai-like-crazy-now-asking-to-be-mindful-techie-exposes-companys-u-turn-11588628?pfrom=home-ndtv_lateststories

 

An Indian game developer turns a layoff into a Rs 9.5 lakh monthly profit venture through independent games.

Losing a job can be one of the most humbling experiences of life. While being laid off is stressful, it can often act as a catalyst for exponential growth. A Mumbai-based game developer experienced this firsthand after being laid off in Germany almost four years ago. The firing forced him onto an entrepreneurial path that eventually yielded far greater returns than a traditional career ever could. Anul Agarwal, a game developer who works independently, recently took to social media to share how racism and internal management led to his ouster in Germany.

Agarwal detailed that he transformed a professional crisis into a highly lucrative venture, which proved that the end of employment can also mark the beginning of a new journey.

“I was laid off from my job in Germany as a Game Producer 3.5 years ago. Racism plus internal mismanagement led to this,” said Agarwal in an X (formerly Twitter) post, adding: “Coming from a tier-2 town in India, it was a great opportunity and learning experience, but then I decided to come back to India and build my own games.”

Agarwal said his decision to return to India and focus on independent game development started paying off. He revealed that he was now close to earning $10,000 (approximately Rs 9.52 lakh) a month in profits through his apps, games and content creation efforts.

“And I am close to hitting $10k/mo in profits with my apps/games/content. Building in public earned me good collaborations and freelance work via LinkedIn,” said Agarwal, adding that he had earned close to Rs 4.7 lakh on X as well.

“Building in public is always good if you have an interesting way to tell your stories. Approximately 70 million+ players across my various web/mobile games. Building more solid games this year, stay tuned.”

Check The Viral Post Here:

I was laid off from my job in Germany as a Game Producer 3.5 years ago

Racism +internal mismanagement led to this

Coming from a T2 town in India it was a great opportunity and learning experience but then I decided to come back to India and build my own games

And I am close… https://t.co/OIrfC9VlEz

— anul agarwal (@anulagarwal) June 1, 2026

‘Crazy Comeback’

As the post gained traction, social media users praised agarwal for the ‘crazy comeback’, highlighting that building your own thing is the best way to make money.

“Awesome journey, congrats. Would like to play some of your games,” said one user, while another added: “Crazy comeback. From getting laid off to hitting $10k/mo and 70M players is wild. Respect for turning it around instead of quitting.”

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/laid-off-in-germany-over-racism-indian-man-returns-and-builds-successful-business-earning-rs-9-5-lakh-11583608?pfrom=home-ndtv_lateststories

Sachin Singh and Arijit Das Thakur – two Trinamool councillors arrested on Tuesday – face extortion charges.

First Sachin Singh, then Arijit Das Thakur. The Kolkata Police on Tuesday arrested two Trinamool Congress (TMC) Councillors on charges of extortion. The two councillors represent Wards 106 and 36 respectively of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

On Tuesday afternoon, when police personnel from the Narkeldanga police station went to arrest Singh, locals gathered in front of his house and staged a protest. The residents alleged Singh’s involvement in threatening and beating up opponents.

According to several complaints, Singh had been allegedly extorting money from parking operators and other establishments in the area. Allegations also include demanding kickbacks in connection with several civic and development projects.

Singh is also accused of post-poll violence, after the 2021 state Assembly election results were declared, the police sources told the news agency IANS. In 2021, Singh won the KMC election on a Trinamool Congress ticket for the first time.

“A case was registered on the basis of specific complaints alleging extortion, cheating and unlawful collection of money. Following a preliminary inquiry and collection of evidence, the accused councillor was arrested. Investigation is underway, and all aspects of the allegations are being examined,” a senior Kolkata Police officer told PTI.

Singh will be produced before the Sealdah court in the extortion case.

Later in the day, the police arrested Arijit Das Thakur. He too has been accused of intimidating and extorting money from local real estate developers and shopkeepers.

The arrests come amid the newly elected Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) crackdown on corruption. Ever since the BJP-led government came into power in Bengal, it has started re-opening all previous allegations against TMC leaders.

In the last few weeks, TMC councillors from other municipal corporations have also been arrested.

Earlier in the day, Tarun Chakraborty, a TMC councillor of Ward 87 of Asansol Municipal Corporation in West Burdwan district, was arrested on charges of hoarding relief packages in his house. The police recovered the relief items meant for poor people in the area from Chakraborty’s house on Tuesday.

Chakraborty is also accused of being involved in illegal sand trading, extortion, and extorting money in the name of providing financial assistance to the poor for housing projects.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/2-trinamool-councillors-arrested-for-extortion-amid-bjps-action-on-corruption-sachin-singh-arijit-das-thakur-11583621?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

There is a buzz that K Annamalai’s departure is meant to make way for the launch of his new party. The 41-year-old already runs a non-profit leadership initiative called “We The Leaders”, which may morph into his political project.

The “En Mann, En Makkal (My Land, My People)” yatra, known as the signature statewide tour of K Annamalai, was launched by Amit Shah on July 28, 2023. The 200-day foot march had covered all 234 assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu and ended with a massive public address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 28, 2024.

Back then, no one could have imagined that the dream run of K Annamalai in the BJP would be poised to end so soon.

The former chief of Tamil Nadu BJP has discussed his intention to resign with the party brass in Delhi today, seeking an “amicable” parting.

There is a buzz that his departure is meant to make way for the launch of his new party. The 41-year-old already runs a non-profit leadership initiative called “We The Leaders”, which may morph into his political project.

Annamalai had seamlessly changed into saffron from khaki.

In 2019, he had quit the police force and joined politics, saying he was inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Within weeks, he was appointed the state vice president and a year down the line, the party’s state unit chief.

The 200-day yatra was not so much his launchpad, as the whetstone he sharpened his strategy on. At the end of it, he became a major political figure in the state, known for his fiery rhetoric and aggressive attacks on the ruling DMK.

It also produced dividends in the Lok Sabha election held later that year: From the meagre 3.66 per cent vote in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP voting percentage shot up to 11 per cent in 2024.

But Annamalai’s distance with the party grew over the question of alliance with the Dravidian parties.

The BJP, which never had a toehold in Tamil Nadu, had considered the alliance with the AIADMK its ticket to move forward. Annamalai differed, preferring that the party go it alone. It was his string of remarks against Dravidian idols including J Jayalalithaa that had deeply offended the AIADMK and helped bring down the curtain on the alliance.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/k-annamalais-200-day-foot-march-that-finetuned-bjps-tamil-nadu-blueprint-11582463?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

At least six people were killed and over 20 others injured after a Maharashtra state transport bus caught fire following a collision with another government bus in Gujarat’s Surat district.

At least six people died and more than 20 others were injured after a Maharashtra-registered state transport bus caught fire following a collision with another government bus near Uva village in Bardoli of Gujarat’s Surat district on Tuesday.

According to initial information, two Maharashtra government buses were involved in a major crash on a highway near Uva village. The impact of the collision reportedly caused one of the buses to lose control, jump over the divider, and land on the opposite side of the road, where it caught fire.

Local residents initially claimed that more than three people had died in the accident. However, authorities said they were focusing on rescue efforts and could not immediately confirm the exact death toll. Surat Rural SP Rajesh Gadhvi and Range IG Premveer Singh said the accident occurred after 4 pm and that rescuing passengers and ensuring medical treatment for the injured remained their top priority.

Later, Surat Rural Police confirmed that six people had died in the incident. Officials also said that more than 20 injured passengers were shifted to hospitals for treatment. Most of the passengers involved in the accident are residents of Maharashtra.

Fire department teams rushed to the spot immediately after receiving information about the crash and launched efforts to control the blaze. Rescue teams, police personnel, and local residents worked together to evacuate passengers trapped inside the buses and transport the injured to nearby hospitals.

Authorities said the bus was extensively damaged in the fire, and a clearer picture of the casualties would emerge after the rescue operation and assessment of the vehicle were completed.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/gujarat-bardoli-bus-accident-killed-after-maharashtra-state-bus-catches-fire-surat-2920988-2026-06-02

Huzaifa was arrested in Mumbai in a joint operation by the Maharashtra ATS and Delhi Police Special Cell. Investigators believe he may reveal key details about the alleged ISI-underworld terror network.

In a major development in the investigation into a suspected terror-underworld network, Huzaifa, who allegedly was in close contact with Pakistan-based handler, has been arrested from Mumbai in a joint operation by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the Delhi Police Special Cell.

Investigators believe Huzaifa was in contact with Syed Mudassar Hussain alias Munna Jhingada, a close associate of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, who is believed to be based in Pakistan. Munna Jhingada is alleged to have acted as the handler of several terror suspects arrested earlier in connection with the case.

According to sources, security agencies had been conducting raids at multiple locations in Maharashtra for the past three days in an effort to trace Huzaifa. The operation culminated in his arrest from Mumbai on Wednesday.

Officials view Huzaifa’s arrest as a significant development in the investigation, as he is suspected to possess crucial information regarding the network’s operations, contacts and activities.

The Delhi Police Special Cell is expected to produce Huzaifa before a local court and seek a production warrant to bring him to Delhi for further questioning and investigation.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/isi-underworld-terror-case-huzaifa-arrested-was-in-touch-with-pakistan-based-handler-2921137-2026-06-03

A long political journey reaches its defining moment as DK Shivakumar prepares to take oath as Karnataka Chief Minister, opening a new chapter in the state’s politics after Siddaramaiah’s exit.

A political journey marked by persistence, setbacks and a prolonged tussle for the top post is set to culminate today when Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar takes oath as the state’s Chief Minister, ushering in a new chapter in Karnataka politics.

The 64-year-old Congress leader, will be sworn in at 4:05 pm at the Glass House in Lok Bhavan, where Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot will administer the oath of office and secrecy. Along with Shivakumar, a group of ministers is also expected to take oath in the first phase of cabinet formation.

Though the final list has not been officially announced, sources indicated that around 13 ministers could likely be inducted into the new government.

Shivakumar was elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party last week, days after outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stepped down following directions from the party high command.

For the eight-time MLA and influential Vokkaliga leader, today’s ceremony will mark the fulfilment of a long-held ambition after years of positioning himself as one of the Congress party’s most powerful leaders in southern India.

FROM TROUBLESHOOTER TO CHIEF MINISTER

Known within Congress circles as a crisis manager and organisation man, Shivakumar played a key role in rebuilding the party in Karnataka and safeguarding its governments during periods of political instability.

His elevation comes after a prolonged power struggle with Siddaramaiah, whose resignation paved the way for a leadership transition that had been anticipated for months.

The change of guard is being watched closely both within Karnataka and across the Congress party, where Shivakumar is seen as one of the party’s most influential regional leaders.

DKS SPELLS OUT HIS VISION

On the eve of taking oath, Shivakumar spoke about his journey to the top office and described his elevation as the result of dedication and perseverance rather than a personal ambition.

“It was not a dream. It was a dedication. Dedication with hard work. So it was a tough, troubling time. Though it has been delayed, it was not denied,” he said in an interview.

The Congress leader also spoke about his long association with the Nehru-Gandhi family and credited the party leadership for placing faith in him over the years.

“That is the commitment I had with the Gandhi family, and they believed in me, and they gave me various opportunities,” Shivakumar said.

Praising Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, he said, “Sonia Gandhi sacrificed; she could have become the Prime Minister. Rahul Gandhi could have become the Prime Minister, but they did not.”

Looking ahead to his tenure, Shivakumar promised to work for all sections of society and projected Karnataka as a key driver of India’s growth story.

“The world is seeing India through Bengaluru and Karnataka,” he said.

“I will have to take every section of society together, from the farmer to the woman, to the youth and a new ‘Yuva Yuga’ will start.”

He also acknowledged the challenges ahead, saying, “The faith and the confidence the people of this country have shown me, I am very much obliged. I have to do a lot of hard work and deliver.”

CABINET FORMULA TAKES SHAPE

While Congress has not officially announced the names of ministers, sources said 13 leaders have been cleared for induction in the first phase of cabinet formation.

The likely ministers are Yathindra, G Parameshwara, KH Muniyappa, UT Khader, KJ George, Krishna Byre Gowda, MB Patil, Priyank Kharge, Satish Jarkiholi, Ramalinga Reddy, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Byrati Suresh and Eshwar Khandre.

Among them, Yathindra’s inclusion has drawn particular attention. The MLC and son of outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had earlier expressed confidence about securing a cabinet berth, saying the party high command had assured him of a ministerial position.

Sources said Shivakumar will initially take oath with a smaller cabinet before expanding the ministry at a later stage.

The Karnataka Council of Ministers can have a maximum of 34 members, including the Chief Minister.

PARAMESHWARA LIKELY TO BE SOLE DEPUTY CM

One of the key questions before the oath ceremony was whether Congress would appoint multiple deputy chief ministers to balance competing caste and regional interests.

Sources said senior Dalit leader G Parameshwara is now likely to be the only Deputy Chief Minister in the new government.

Earlier discussions had included the possibility of more than one deputy CM, with Priyank Kharge among the names being considered.

Sources also indicated that senior Congress leader H K Patil is likely to become Speaker of the Karnataka Assembly.

SIDDRAMAIAH GETS NATIONAL ROLE

Even as Shivakumar prepares to take charge of the government, Congress has moved to give Siddaramaiah a larger organisational role by appointing him to the Congress Working Committee, the party’s highest decision-making body.

The announcement, made through a statement issued by AICC general secretary KC Venugopal on Tuesday, comes less than a day before the oath event.

Party leaders see the move as an attempt to maintain organisational balance and ensure close coordination between the Karnataka government and the Congress leadership.

Sources also said the party is considering a coordination committee headed by Siddaramaiah to strengthen links between the government and the organisation.

Senior Congress leaders are also understood to have urged Siddaramaiah to accept a Rajya Sabha berth, though he is said to favour remaining active in state politics.

STAGE SET FOR OATH CEREMONY

Final preparations were underway at Lok Bhavan on Tuesday as workers completed arrangements for the oath ceremony.

In a departure from convention, the main stage at the Glass House has reportedly been reoriented from west-facing to east-facing after Shivakumar expressed a preference to take oath facing east.

Sources said the decision was taken following astrological advice, leading organisers to make last-minute adjustments to seating plans, security arrangements, media enclosures and VIP access routes.

The ceremony was initially planned on the grand steps of Vidhana Soudha before being shifted to the indoor venue.

Sources indicated that concerns over traffic disruption caused by a large influx of Congress workers and supporters contributed to the decision to opt for a more controlled event.

TOP CONGRESS LEADERS TO ATTEND

A host of senior Congress leaders are expected to attend the ceremony.

Among those likely to be present are Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Congress general secretaries KC Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala.

Chief ministers from Congress and INDIA bloc-ruled states, senior political leaders, dignitaries and guests are also expected to attend.

Religious leaders representing major communities and heads of various maths have been invited as part of the broad outreach planned for the event.

Officials said invitees include students from a government school in Doddaalahalli in Kanakapura, Shivakumar’s native village, as well as representatives of farmer groups, labourers, civic workers, women self-help groups and pro-Kannada organisations.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/karnataka/story/dk-shivakumar-oath-ceremony-karnataka-chief-minister-cabinet-ministers-june-3-2921097-2026-06-03

The Supreme Court, while slamming the NTA over the NEET paper leak, praised the UPSC for its ability to conduct large-scale examinations without scandals. What exactly does the UPSC do differently? What do the experts say? Does that mean the UPSC model is foolproof?

There is a running joke in the circles of UPSC aspirants in Delhi’s Mukherjee Nagar and Old Rajinder Nagar. Even if someone managed to get hold of the UPSC Civil Services Examination paper before the exam, there is no guarantee they would be able to solve it. Jokes apart, aspirants and mentors after the 2026 UPSC Prelims paper on May 24 said that the questions were difficult enough to leave even the best-prepared candidates sweating.

The joke highlighting the exam’s difficult and unpredictable nature throws a question that has gained relevance amid a string of paper leak controversies. How has the UPSC managed to conduct some of India’s biggest examinations year after year without finding itself at the centre of such scandals?

The question came up in the Supreme Court last week as the National Testing Agency (NTA) faced scrutiny over examination irregularities. During a hearing before a bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe, the court pointed to the UPSC as an example of how large-scale examinations can be conducted without repeated paper leak controversies.

“UPSC has never been in a situation. You need to learn,” Justice Narasimha observed, while questioning the NTA’s handling of exam security.

The observation has turned the spotlight on the puzzle that has long intrigued students and ordinary people alike.

Every year, the UPSC conducts examinations involving lakhs of candidates across thousands of centres. Yet unlike several recruitment boards and exam agencies that have repeatedly battled allegations of leaks and cancellations, the Commission has largely preserved its reputation for confidentiality and process integrity.

What exactly does the UPSC do differently?

Is it simply a matter of experience, or are there institutional safeguards that make leaks far more difficult?

And can other recruitment agencies such as the NTA or the SSC, learn from not just the UPSC, but also premier institutions like the IITs and IIMs, which conduct high-stakes entrance examinations like the JEE and CAT, on a massive scale?

The answers lie in a combination of secrecy, compartmentalisation of papers, use of technology and decades-old decorum, according to experts and stakeholders India Today Digital spoke to.

“The UPSC has an established strictness, established protocols and institutional decorum that makes any attempt to compromise the examination process far more difficult,” Chandigarh-based UPSC mentor Shekhar Dutt told India Today Digital.

THE SCALE OF THE UPSC CHALLENGE? WHICH EXAMS ARE CONDUCTED BY UPSC?

Every year, the UPSC conducts examinations that determine entry into India’s most coveted services, including the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service and Indian Foreign Service. It is the Civil Services Examination or the CSE, which is among the many exams the Constitutional body conducts.

The CSE alone attracts nearly a million applicants annually. Besides this, the Commission conducts examinations for engineering services, combined medical services, NDA, CDS, Central Armed Police Forces and other recruitment tests.

Yet, unlike many state recruitment boards and entrance examinations that have been rocked by leak allegations in recent years, UPSC has largely maintained a reputation for confidentiality and process integrity.

WHO SETS UPSC CSE QUESTION PAPER?

One of the biggest differences lies in who gets access to the question papers and the nature of the UPSC CSE exam.

UPSC mentor and founder of Sleepy Classes, Shekhar Dutt, told India Today Digital that, “A reason the UPSC is less vulnerable to paper leaks is that most of its flagship examinations are conducted in multiple stages. “When an examination has prelims, mains and an interview stage, the incentive and impact of leaking a single paper are far lower than in a one-shot examination,” Dutt said.

He, however, cautioned against viewing the UPSC as a flawless institution. “It has its own share of issues and criticisms,” Dutt added. We would discuss those in this article later.

Another factor that he pointed out is that the question paper-setting is handled through a tightly controlled network of experts. Multiple subject experts prepare questions independently, while moderators and paper setters work under strict confidentiality agreements, who from that pool of questions make question papers.

Dutt said there is no clear public information on the exact process followed by the UPSC. “However, it is generally observed that a dedicated internal mechanism supervises question-paper preparation and related security protocols,” Dutt told India Today Digital.

Dutt argued that the nature of the UPSC examination itself acts as a deterrent against leaks. “The stakes are extremely high. Officials involved in the process are unlikely to put their careers and reputations on the line for something like this,” he said.

By contrast, he said, one-stage examinations such as NEET or UGC-NET create different incentives for the people who leak question papers. Just leaking the paper once is needed in cases of the single-state exams.

“The incentive for a leak can be much higher. There are millions appearing for these exams. In CSE this year, eight lakh aspirants applied, and just five lakh actually took the exam. In the case of exams like NEET, a leaked paper can help a candidate secure admission to a medical college or another institution. In the UPSC, you are talking about selecting people who will go on to form the country’s steel frame. The scrutiny, accountability and consequences are of a different order altogether,” Dutt told India Today Digital.

Several of the accused and arrested in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case had direct links to the question paper-setting process. The CBI arrested retired chemistry professor PV Kulkarni, who had served on NTA’s expert panel. Another accused, botany professor Manisha Mandhare of Pune’s Modern College, was also among the experts who had access to the paper.

UPSC’s SECURITY LAYER BEYOND QUESTION SETTERS

The printing and movement of question papers are treated as high-security operations.

Papers are printed in secure facilities under surveillance and transported in sealed packets to examination centres. With UPSC examinations, a positive aspect is that the level of government oversight is high, and the process remains largely shielded from private players.

Dutt pointed to another factor that, in his view, makes the UPSC relatively less vulnerable to paper leaks: the location of its examination centres.

“If you look at UPSC centres, they are largely concentrated in state capitals and major cities. Compare that with examinations like NEET, where centres are spread across hundreds of cities, including smaller towns. That becomes a major logistical challenge when it comes to safeguarding the sanctity of question papers,” he said.

A 32-year-old UPSC aspirant, who didn’t want to be named, told India Today Digital, “Over the years, the Commission introduced several technological and procedural reforms aimed at improving the transparency and security of exams. These include changes in seating arrangements, examination-centre management through 5G jamming and the evaluation processes”.

“Many of these practices were adopted by the UPSC first and are now being replicated by state commissions. For instance, measures such as making answer sheets available to candidates in the interest of transparency were introduced by the UPSC and have since been adopted by bodies such as the BPSC,” said the UPSC aspirant, who has one attempt left, and has been appearing for State Commission examinations as Plan B.

The Uttar Pradesh-based aspirant, who has twice faced the UPSC CSE interview boards, said he hoped the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) would take up such positive steps.

Days after the Civil Services Preliminary Examination was held on May 24, the UPSC released a provisional answer key, marking the first time in its history that candidates were allowed to challenge answers before the final key was published. The move is widely seen as a significant step towards greater transparency.

NOT PAPER LEAKS, UPSC HAS OTHER CHALLENGES TO ADDRESS

The absence of major paper leak scandals does not mean the UPSC is immune to malpractice. “Over the years, the Commission has had to contend with a different set of challenges, including impersonation, cheating through electronic devices, forged certificates and candidates allegedly misusing reservation and disability benefits,” Shekhar Dutt told India Today Digital.

Dutt recalled the most high-profile involving probationary IPS officer Safir Karim, who was caught using a Bluetooth device while reappearing for the Civil Services Examination in 2014 in an attempt to improve his rank and secure the IAS.

Investigators alleged that answers were being relayed to him from outside the examination hall by his wife, Joyce Joy. The case drew comparisons with scenes from Sanjay Dutt’s Munna Bhai MBBS.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/upsc-paper-leak-prevention-how-secrecy-stages-tech-keep-exams-secure-2920509-2026-06-03

Rylen Anil (@DarthKermy72747) claimed that the JEE Advanced 2026 candidate result infrastructure had a public cloud storage misconfiguration.

A 16-year-old cybersecurity researcher has flagged a major data security issue on the JEE Advanced 2026 results website, prompting a swift response from the organising institute, IIT Roorkee.

Rylen Anil (@DarthKermy72747) claimed that the JEE Advanced 2026 candidate result infrastructure had a public cloud storage misconfiguration that exposed large volumes of candidate data without authentication.

“JEE Advanced 2026 candidate/result infrastructure ([https://cdata.jeeadv.ac.in/result2026/](https://cdata.jeeadv.ac.in/result2026/)) had a public cloud storage misconfiguration exposing bulk candidate data without auth.

This exposed ~179.6k result records and ~187.3k admit-card PDFs, including candidate names, DOBs and mobile numbers.”

JEE Advanced 2026 candidate/result infrastructure (https://t.co/6mBpjkxH01) had a public cloud storage misconfiguration exposing bulk candidate data without auth.

This exposed ~179.6k result records and ~187.3k admit-card PDFs, including candidate names, DOBs and mobile numbers. pic.twitter.com/NUk4HGwqQP

— Rylen Anil (@DarthKermi72747) June 2, 2026

IIT Roorkee acknowledged the issue and initiated corrective action.

“Thank you @DarthKermy72747 for pointing out the configuration issue in the *cloud storage device*. The same is being plugged on priority. The data stored was read-only and so there was no possibility of any alteration. We applaud your responsible and ethical behaviour,” IIT Roorke wrote on its X handle.

After the corrective action, the student responded too.

“Thank you for the acknowledgment and for addressing the issue swiftly. Glad I could contribute towards improving security and appreciate the response from the team. Looking forward to continuing to support responsible security research.”

IIT Roorkee’s response

Responding publicly, IIT Roorkee said the issue stemmed from a configuration problem in a cloud storage device and assured that the data could not be altered.

“Thank you @DarthKermy72747 for pointing out the configuration issue in the *cloud storage device*. The same is being plugged on priority. The data stored was read-only and so there was no possibility of any alteration. We applaud your responsible and ethical behaviour.”

The disclosure comes at a time when concerns over examination technology systems are already under scrutiny.

CBSE’s verification portal

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Tuesday launched its long-awaited portal for Class 12 students seeking verification of answer sheets and re-evaluation of marks. The rollout, however, was marred by technical glitches, cyberattack claims and an administrative shake-up.

The portal, which opened a day later than scheduled, allows students to seek verification of discrepancies identified in scanned copies of answer books supplied by the Board and apply for re-evaluation of answers. The application window will remain open until midnight on June 6.

Meanwhile, CBSE Chairman Rahul Singh and Secretary Himanshu Gupta were transferred out of the Board on Tuesday, with Prashant Lokhande appointed as the new CBSE chairman.

The sudden changes come amid heightened government scrutiny of the procurement process for the Board’s On-Screen Marking (OSM) system, the digital platform used for the large-scale evaluation of Class 12 answer scripts.

What is happening?

The Union education ministry has ordered an intensive inquiry into the contract awarded to Hyderabad-based Coempt EduTeck and sought a detailed report from the Board.

Separately, a 17-year-old student appeared before a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Tuesday to present allegations of irregularities in the OSM system.

The committee on education, women, children, youth and sports affairs — the same panel that had warned after the 2024 NEET-UG paper leak that the National Testing Agency’s performance “had not inspired confidence” — is currently reviewing the use of OSM in CBSE Class 12 examinations and related issues.

Sarthak Sidhant, who says he was affected by the OSM system, presented his findings to members of the committee at the Parliament House Annexe, according to PTI.

Sidhant, who published his findings on his website after reviewing tender documents available on the Central Public Procurement portal, alleged that CBSE modified tender conditions in a manner that favoured Coempt EduTeck, the company operating the OSM system.

He claimed that a comparison of tender documents revealed “at least 15 discrepancies”, alleging that provisions relating to blacklisting, financial qualifications and eligibility criteria were altered across successive tenders.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/16-year-old-rylen-anil-flags-data-issues-on-jee-advanced-results-site-iit-roorkee-says-thank-you-takes-corrective-action-101780453586849.html

 

India is among 54 economies that, according to the USTR, have failed to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on imports made with forced labour.

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has proposed trade action against 60 economies, including India, after determining that they have failed to impose and effectively enforce prohibitions on the import of goods produced with forced labour.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the USTR said it had concluded under Section 301 of the US Trade Act of 1974 that the acts, policies and practices of the 60 economies are “unreasonable and burden or restrict US commerce”, making them actionable under American trade law.

India is among 54 economies that, according to the USTR, have failed to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on imports made with forced labour. The list also includes countries such as Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, China, Japan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.

“The failure of our most important trading partners to address the importation of goods made with forced labor is unacceptable. This creates a dynamic where American workers are forced to compete globally on an unlevel playing field,” US trade representative ambassador Jamieson Greer said in the statement.

Additional duties proposed

As a result of the determination, the USTR has proposed additional duties on products from the investigated economies and has invited public comments.

According to the agency, economies that have already adopted, or committed to adopt, forced labour import prohibitions could face an additional tariff of 10%, while all others could be subject to a 12.5% duty. A separate textile mechanism has also been proposed for certain apparel and textile imports.

The investigations were launched on March 12 this year. The USTR said it received testimony from nearly 60 witnesses and around 500 comments during the public consultation process before reaching its findings.

According to the USTR, the absence of effective forced labour import bans undermines efforts to eliminate forced labour globally, distorts market conditions by allowing lower-cost production, hurts businesses that do not use forced labour, and enables circumvention of existing restrictions.

India-US trade negotiations on

The development comes at a sensitive time in India-US economic relations, with both countries working towards concluding the first tranche of a bilateral trade agreement. Officials from New Delhi and Washington have held multiple rounds of negotiations in recent months, with market access, tariffs, digital trade and agriculture among the key issues under discussion.

The proposed USTR action also follows months of trade tensions triggered by US President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariff policy. India was among the countries threatened with higher tariffs earlier this year before Washington temporarily paused some of the measures to allow negotiations with trading partners. New Delhi has maintained that it is seeking a balanced and mutually beneficial trade agreement while protecting sensitive domestic sectors.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/chef-kunal-kapur-shares-rich-and-creamy-chocolate-banana-mousse-recipe-see-step-by-step-preparation-101780410404495.html

Mumbai’s water stock has declined to 15.30% of total reservoir capacity, with the useful water reserve in Upper Vaitarna reaching zero. The BMC has already imposed a 10% water cut and secured approval for additional reserve water, while concerns persist over delayed monsoon rains and the city’s long-term water security.

The water stock in the seven lakes supplying Mumbai has now dropped to 2.13 lakh million litres (ML), or 15.30 per cent of total capacity. The BMC has already imposed a 10 per cent water cut from May 15 to ensure supply until August 19, but concerns persist over the delayed monsoon.

Meanwhile, the useful water stock in the Upper Vaitarna lake fell to zero on Tuesday.

Lake levels continue to decline

Mumbai receives around 4,000 ML of water daily from seven lakes—Modak Sagar, Tansa, Bhatsa, Tulsi, Vihar, Upper Vaitarna and Middle Vaitarna.

Civic data as of June 2 shows that the useful water content in Upper Vaitarna has been exhausted, while Modak Sagar stands at 33.89 per cent, Vihar at 45.71 per cent, Tulsi at 27.10 per cent, Middle Vaitarna at 22.21 per cent, Bhatsa at 14.57 per cent and Tansa at 10.58 per cent.

Despite the declining reserves, the overall stock is higher than the levels recorded on the same date in the previous two years—12.89 per cent in 2025 and 7.59 per cent in 2024.

A civic official said that the State Irrigation Department has approved the BMC’s request for additional reserve water stock from supply lakes Bhatsa (1.4 lakh ML) and Upper Vaitarna (93,500 ML).

Water cuts continue amid delayed monsoon concerns

Water cuts have become a recurring measure in Mumbai during years of low lake levels. The BMC imposed a 10 per cent water cut in 2022, 2023 and 2024, while no curbs were required in 2021 and 2025.

The city also witnessed an extended 10 per cent cut between November 2018 and July 2019, while the highest restriction in recent years was a 20 per cent cut imposed for 15 days in August 2020.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-water-crisis-lake-stock-falls-to-153-upper-vaitarna-runs-dry-as-monsoon-delay-raises-concerns

A large number of ministerial aspirants, including former ministers, MLAs, and MLCs, have camped in Delhi to lobby with central leaders for a place in the new cabinet.

Senior Congress leaders held preliminary meetings on Monday to prepare list of candidates for induction into the Karnataka Council of Ministers, ahead of DK Shivakumar’s swearing-in as Chief Minister on June 3.

Caretaker Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, along with former minister KJ George, met Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal to discuss and prepare a probable list of ministers.

Separately, Shivakumar held discussions with Congress General Secretary (in-charge Karnataka) Randeep Surjewala.

Kharge is likely to chair a key meeting on Tuesday morning with Venugopal, Surjewala, Siddaramaiah, and Shivakumar to finalise the composition of the ministry.

It is not yet confirmed whether Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi will attend the meeting Tuesday’s meeting.

As per the current plan, around 10 to 12 ministers will be inducted in the first phase.

The list is expected to include a mix of senior leaders and young faces.

A meeting originally scheduled for Monday evening with Kharge was postponed as Venugopal and Rahul Gandhi arrived in the national capital late at night.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/delhi/congress-leaders-huddle-in-delhi-to-finalise-probable-list-of-ministers-ahead-of-dk-shivakumars-swearing-in-as-cm-newsalert-4023954

People are mocking Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee and have brought protests to his doorsteps. Here’s why the anger, even from TMC leaders, seems mostly directed at bhaipo (nephew), and not at party chief Mamata Banerjee.

A curious scene unfolded outside TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee’s south Kolkata residence on May 11. Two men appeared at the spot, one of them wearing a large photograph of Banerjee over his face and a rope tied around his waist. With his hands folded, the man launched into a mock confession, declaring: “I, Abhishek Banerjee, hereby admit that I stole coal, stole cars, enabled illegal immigration from Bangladesh, authorised atrocities against Hindu women in Sandeshkhali…” The list of alleged admissions went on. He then dropped to his knees and dramatically begged for forgiveness from the small crowd of bewildered onlookers.

The address was Abhishek Banerjee’s four-storey Shantiniketan on Harish Mukherjee street in south Kolkata. The house, unlike Mamata Banerjee’s humble house in Kalighat, had come to symbolise opulence. With half the road barricaded in front and causing inconvenience to passersby, it also became a symbol of TMC’s high-handedness. Then there were Abhishek’s big cavalcades, which shut down entire streets as they snaked through Kolkata in a brazen display of power.

The scene in front of Abhishek’s house unfolded only a week after the TMC was unseated from West Bengal by the BJP in the 2026 Assembly polls. The party, which reigned dominant for 15 years, was reduced to 80 seats in the 294-member state assembly. The BJP, on the other hand, has grown its tally to 208 seats.

Since then, the TMC has entered a state of crisis. The party that once held sway across West Bengal is only a shadow of its former self. Its cadre base is dissolving, its leaders are resigning from their posts and the local strongmen it used to cow down the opposition are being hunted down (and paraded in their underwear) by the police. People and TMC leaders, however, are refraining from blaming the party’s supremo, Mamata Banerjee, for their current state of affairs. Rather, all their anger seems to be directed at her nephew and designated successor, Abhishek Banerjee.

Only a couple of months ago, Abhishek Banerjee was the unquestioned de-facto number-two in the TMC. Having been parachuted into the party’s top brass by his aunt, despite having little experience in the field of politics, Abhishek cemented his role in the party, going as far as to displace several veteran leaders from the party, including current BJP Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari.

In 2026, however, things are different. After the TMC’s crushing defeat, Mamata managed to retain the aura of a leader. Abhishek, however, is drawing sharper backlash as the visible architect of the party’s organisational failures, dynastic overreach, aggressive campaigns, and syndicate-style control.

His lieutenant, Jahangir Khan, conceded the Falta seat, part of Diamond Harbour, without a fight. His name continues to crop up in corruption scandals that many TMC leaders feel destroyed the trust it once enjoyed. Party leaders claim he is responsible for bringing him I-PAC, the political consultancy firm they deem responsible for the TMC’s electoral washout.

The mock confession outside his residence was one of the many ways in which Abhishek Banerjee is being mocked. People, angered by years of the TMC’s misrule and high-handedness, are making Abhishek the target. They have been shouting “chor, chor” (“thief, thief”) to suggest Abhishek’s role in the several scams during the Trinamool regime.

On Saturday, Banerjee was confronted by an angry crowd while visiting the family of a TMC worker allegedly affected by post-poll violence. Protesters shouted “chor, chor” and hurled eggs and stones at him. While the TMC blamed the BJP for “orchestrating” the attack on Abhishek in Sonarpur, people claimed it was the result of public anger.

Clips of Abhishek talking about “public anger” after BJP leader JP Nadda was attacked in Diamond Harbour in 2021 went viral. People suggested that Abhishek, too, was facing “public anger”.

There are several reasons as to why the knives are out for Abhishek, and not Mamata. One, Mamata Banerjee, is still seen as a fighter who built the Trinamool Congress single-handedly. The TMC chief is given the clean chit by most people, though they also fault her for turning a blind eye to the rampant corruption, persecution and the free-run Abhishek has had. While Mamata has successfully projected that she lives a humble life, the taint has reached Abhishek’s doorsteps.

MAMATA BUILT TMC, ABHISHEK WAS PARADROPPED

Unlike his aunt, Mamata Banerjee, Abhishek Banerjee is far from a mass leader. He played little to no role in the Trinamool Congress’s (TMC) decades-long struggle against the then-in power Left Front regime, only joining the party in 2011 after the TMC ousted the CPI(M) in the Assembly polls.

Nevertheless, Mamata rapidly elevated her bhaipo (nephew) to the party’s de facto second-in-command, appointing him as the National President of the All India Trinamool Youth Congress and, later, the party’s General Secretary. Over the course of the TMC’s 15-year rule, Abhishek cemented his authority, bolstered by his tight grip on the Diamond Harbour constituency, which he has represented as a Member of Parliament since 2014.

With the TMC now out of power, members of Mamata’s old guard, who were consistently passed over in favour of Abhishek, are openly attacking the once-untouchable bhaipo (nephew).

A TMC MLA told the Deccan Chronicle that Abhishek’s “arrogance of power” and “blatant nepotism” had “ruined the party”.

This was echoed by former TMC MLA Krishnendu Choudhury, who was reported by Anandabazar Patrika as saying that Abhishek has destroyed the party slowly, bit by bit. He claimed that Mamata knew everything, but she could not do anything. She had no option but to remain like “Dhritarashtra” (turning a blind eye to all wrongdoings).

ABHISHEK’S RISE LED TO BATTLE OF OLD VS NEW IN TMC

While leaders have stopped short of directly blaming Mamata for the TMC’s electoral drubbing, a section of party veterans told the Deccan Chronicle that her “blind affection” for Abhishek hastened the party’s internal disintegration.

A senior TMC leader told the Deccan Chronicle that Abhishek Banerjee’s rapid rise after 2011 widened internal divisions, particularly with the sidelining of Mukul Roy, once regarded as the party’s key organisational strategist alongside Mamata Banerjee. Roy’s marginalisation reportedly fuelled resentment among the old guard. He left for the BJP in 2017, returned after the 2021 Assembly polls, and remained largely inactive due to ill health before his death earlier this year.

The leader also cited the exit of now Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari as a turning point. Then chief of the Trinamool Youth Congress, tensions between Adhikari and Abhishek gradually grew after the latter launched a parallel youth platform.

The rift deepened when Mamata replaced Adhikari with Abhishek as head of the party’s youth wing. Adhikari gradually lost control over key districts such as Malda, Murshidabad and Dinajpur, while also facing pressure from the Narada sting fallout. He resigned as transport minister in November 2020, quit as an MLA the following month before ultimately joining the BJP.

TMC LEADERS BLAME ABHISHEK FOR I-PAC FIASCO

Abhishek Banerjee’s heavy dependence on the political consultancy firm I-PAC, brought in after TMC’s poor 2019 Lok Sabha performance, has emerged as one of the biggest sources of resentment within the party. Many veterans accuse I-PAC of effectively hijacking the Trinamool Congress’s Assembly poll campaign, sidelining old leaders, and imposing a corporate-style approach that damaged the party’s grassroots connectivity.

TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee told Anandabazar Patrika that I-PAC deliberately sowed divisions: “I-PAC hijacked the Trinamool Congress organisation and ruined it. They instigated fights among potential candidates. Those who didn’t get tickets helped the BJP out of anger.” He also criticised Abhishek’s over-reliance on the firm, saying it was never accepted by senior party leaders.

Suspended spokesperson Riju Dutta made even sharper allegations, claiming I-PAC demanded 50 lakh from aspirants for tickets and ran targeted “hit-jobs” against those who resisted. Veteran MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar told India Today TV, “The I-PAC people have no clue about electoral politics. The workers were maligned and left idle.” She claimed her repeated warnings to the top leadership were ignored.

A senior TMC veteran told The Telegraph, “Under the direct patronage of Bhaipo (Abhishek), the party’s soul was outsourced to corporate mercenaries from I-PAC. Mass leaders and street-hardened veterans found themselves placed under the dictatorial supervision of corrupt data analysts and local police chiefs.”

Critics also point to I-PAC’s role in ticket distribution. The party dropped 74 sitting MLAs on the firm’s advice, of whom 51 went on to lose the election.

THE FALIURE OF ABHISHEK BANERJEE’S DIAMOND HARBOUR MODEL IN FALTA

Every politician has a political stronghold. For Abhishek Banerjee, that stronghold was Diamond Harbour. He has represented the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency since 2014, while the Falta Assembly seat within the region had remained a TMC bastion since 2011. Helping maintain that dominance was his trusted lieutenant, Jahangir Khan.

Much of Banerjee’s influence in the area was attributed to what supporters dubbed the “Diamond Harbour Model”—a mix of targeted welfare delivery and tight political control. Critics, however, alleged that the model relied heavily on intimidation to keep opponents in check.

Ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, Banerjee confidently predicted that the TMC would retain Falta. Instead, the election delivered a devastating blow to the party, with the BJP sweeping to power in West Bengal with 208 seats. In Falta, allegations of voter intimidation and EVM tampering during the April 29 polling prompted the Election Commission to order a repoll across all 285 booths.

Khan, the TMC candidate in Falta, withdrew from the contest. The May 21 repoll produced a crushing verdict for Khan, with BJP candidate Debangshu Panda securing a landslide victory.

Though Mamata Banerjee lost the Bhabanipur seat to Suvendu Adhikari, the loss at Falta was seen as the crumbling of Abhishek’s Diamond Harbour Model, which had come to be associated with communal politics and intimidation.

The fallout was immediate. Within 24 hours of the Falta result, nine TMC councillors resigned from the Diamond Harbour Municipality. According to reports, the councillors accused the much-vaunted “Diamond Harbour Model” of enabling corruption and suppressing dissent, alleging that critics were routinely harassed and silenced with police backing.

ABHISEK BANERJEE’S NAME CROPPED UP REPEATEDLY IN TMC-LINKED SCAMS

Many within the TMC have attributed the party’s defeat to allegations of misgovernance and corruption during its 15 years in power in West Bengal.

Among the most notable voices was Ghosh Dastidar, who resigned from a key party post on May 24. In her resignation letter, she wrote, “Some alarming incidents of crime and corruption in West Bengal in recent times have naturally raised questions and apprehensions in the minds of ordinary people. To make democracy stronger, it is necessary to give greater importance to transparency, accountability, commitment, courtesy, responsibility towards the people, and values in politics.”

Former TMC national spokesperson Shantanu Sen publicly expressed discomfort over repeatedly having to defend the party against corruption allegations. “I couldn’t defend it anymore… I was forced to defend huge corruption despite personal discomfort,” he said.

Abhishek Banerjee’s name has repeatedly surfaced in some of the state’s most high-profile corruption investigations, although he has denied wrongdoing and has not been convicted in any of the cases. Mamata, on the other hand, has somehow remained untouched by the taint.

In the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) recruitment scam, central agencies have questioned Abhishek on multiple occasions, including over his past association with Leaps and Bounds Pvt Ltd, a company that figured in investigations involving several key accused.

Investigators have also examined a 2017 audio recording cited in a CBI supplementary chargesheet filed in February 2025. The chargesheet referred to an individual named “Abhishek Banerjee” who allegedly demanded Rs 15 crore in exchange for illegal school appointments. However, the CBI did not explicitly identify the individual as the TMC leader.

Abhishek and his family have also come under scrutiny in the coal-smuggling case, in which investigators alleged that an estimated Rs 1,300 crore was generated through the illegal excavation and theft of coal from leasehold areas of Eastern Coalfields Limited in the Asansol region.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioned Abhishek and his wife, Rujira Banerjee, over allegations that proceeds from the scam were routed through intermediaries and layered through financial channels linked to individuals close to the family. Both have denied the allegations.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/abhishek-banerjee-news-west-bengal-tmc-general-secretary-ipac-west-bengal-assembly-elections-diamond-harbor-model-2920263-2026-06-01

At his first major rally as Chief Minister, Vijay defended his black-and-white suits and attacked the DMK. He used the Tiruchirappalli event to cast TVK as Tamil Nadu’s principal political force.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Monday used his first major public rally after assuming office to push back against criticism of his attire, attack the DMK’s political culture and position the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam as the state’s principal political force.

Addressing a Thanksgiving Rally in Tiruchirappalli, Vijay questioned why his choice of wearing suits had become a topic of political debate and said clothing was not a privilege reserved for those in power.

“Now several people are talking about us wearing suits. Why can’t we wear a suit? Can only those with power wear suits? There is nothing like that,” he told supporters.

Vijay said his clothing carried a message rather than a fashion statement.

“Am I wearing suits in different colours? Only two colours, black and white. It is just to show that Vijay will be black and white in everything. I don’t have to say it, but you all know what that black denotes,” he said.

The remarks came during a rally organised to thank voters following TVK’s maiden Assembly election victory, which propelled the actor-turned-politician to the Chief Minister’s office.

‘I AM YOUR VIJAY’

The Chief Minister also responded to comparisons between his electoral debut and that of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M G Ramachandran, popularly known as MGR.

“They said that even late CM MGR did not secure this much vote share in his very first election. Yet today, you have extended such tremendous support to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. I am not comparing myself to MGR; MGR is MGR, but I am your Vijay, who has come to work in the path shown by MGR, Anna and Periyar,” he said.

Addressing supporters at the St Joseph’s College ground, Vijay thanked voters for backing TVK and described Tiruchirappalli East as a constituency close to his heart despite retaining the Perambur Assembly seat.

“Now, people refer to me as the MLA of the Perambur constituency. That is only in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Election Commission. But as far as I am concerned, the people of the Tiruchirappalli constituency are also very, very close to my heart,” he said.

DMK IN FIRING LINE

Vijay used the rally to sharpen his attack on the DMK, accusing the party of continuing its criticism despite TVK having been in power for only a few weeks.

“Only a few weeks have passed since I assumed office, yet those who claimed they would remain silent for six months could not remain silent even for six days,” he said.

He alleged that the DMK’s family-centric politics had contributed to its defeat in the April 23 Assembly election and argued that voters had chosen a different political path.

“By rejecting the two people who had been taking turns deceiving you for so many years, you chose your Vijay, your elder brother, your younger brother, who came to genuinely work for you, and made him not the Chief Minister, but your first servant,” he said.

Vijay also rejected allegations of horse-trading levelled against him by political rivals and accused both the DMK and AIADMK of attempting to form the government despite the public verdict.

Without directly naming the AIADMK, he suggested there was little political space left between TVK and the DMK.

“Even now, I say this politically: the contest is only between two parties, one is the DMK and the other is the TVK. There is no role or space for anyone else in between,” he said.

TVK’S FUTURE ROADMAP

Projecting confidence about the future, Vijay said TVK had broken barriers of caste, religion and cash-for-votes politics and promised that his government would remain committed to secularism and the rights of Tamil Nadu.

“The people have made me the first sewak, not Chief Minister,” he said.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/tamil-nadu/story/tvk-vijay-black-and-white-suit-remarks-dmk-attack-at-tiruchirappalli-rally-2920440-2026-06-01

Neeraj Dubey, who was made a witness in the Twisha Sharma death case, claimed that four to five men attacked him on May 30 near his beauty parlour in Bhopal’s Katara Hills area and questioned why he was testifying in the high-profile case.

A key witness in the Twisha Sharma death case has alleged that he was attacked by friends of her husband, Samarth Singh, in Bhopal, amid an ongoing CBI probe into dowry harassment allegations raised by the woman’s family.

Neeraj Dubey, who runs a beauty salon near the home of Samarth’s mother, Giribala Singh, in Bhopal’s Katara Hills area, claimed that four to five men assaulted him on May 30 and questioned him about his role as a witness in the high-profile case.

A video accessed by India Today TV purportedly shows Dubey being surrounded by several men in a marketplace in broad daylight. The footage shows the men shouting at and abusing him before a scuffle breaks out. Some of the men appear to be carrying sticks as they try to corner him.

According to Dubey, the group confronted him over his testimony in the case and demanded to know why he was acting as a witness. He alleged that the men then assaulted him and threatened him with serious consequences.

ALLEGES NO ACTION ON POLICE COMPLAINT

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Dubey said he was listed as a witness during the preparation of the panchnama in the Twisha Sharma death investigation.

Dubey further alleged that he has faced repeated harassment and intimidation since being named a witness in the case. He specifically identified Sandeep Bhattacharya as one of the individuals allegedly involved in the attack.

Dubey said he submitted a written complaint to police following the alleged assault and threats. However, he claimed that no action had been taken against those named in his complaint.

According to Dubey, police have assured him that appropriate action will be taken. He further claimed that he was again taken to the police station following developments related to his complaint. The matter falls under the jurisdiction of Katara Hills police station.

CBI RECREATES SCENE IN TWISHA SHARMA DEATH PROBE

The latest allegations come as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) continues its probe into the death of 33-year-old Twisha Sharma, who was found hanging at her matrimonial home in Bhopal on May 12.

On Monday, the CBI conducted a crime scene recreation using a dummy weighing roughly the same as Sharma. Investigators, along with forensic and crime scene experts, took Samarth Singh and his mother Giribala Singh — both currently in CBI custody — to the residence and asked them to reconstruct the sequence of events surrounding the night of May 12.

The agency is attempting to establish a minute-by-minute timeline of what transpired before and after Sharma was found hanging.

According to the FIR, Sharma’s husband told investigators that she had hanged herself at home before being taken to AIIMS Bhopal. Doctors later informed police that she had been brought dead to the hospital.

The post-mortem report concluded that the cause of death was “antemortem hanging by ligature” but also noted multiple ante-mortem injuries, described as simple in nature and possibly caused by a blunt object.

After recording statements from Sharma’s family and examining the post-mortem findings, police registered an FIR on May 15.

Her family has alleged that she was subjected to mental and physical harassment by her in-laws over dowry-related demands after her marriage to Samarth Singh on December 9, 2025. They have accused her husband and in-laws of driving her to take the extreme step.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/twisha-sharma-death-case-witness-neeraj-dubey-alleges-assault-death-threats-husband-samarth-singh-friends-cctv-testimony-2920481-2026-06-01

Thousands of Jammu and Kashmir migrant families living in Delhi could soon receive long-pending relief under relaxed eligibility norms, as the government moves to simplify a scheme that has remained burdened by conditions and paperwork.

The Delhi government has approved a One-Time Amnesty Scheme for 1,832 migrant families from Jammu and Kashmir living in the national capital, easing eligibility conditions under a long-running relief programme and paving the way for direct financial assistance.

The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, which approved key proposals related to the Ad-Hoc Monthly Relief (AMR) scheme for Jammu and Kashmir migrant families.

The move is aimed at providing relief to families who were displaced from Jammu and Kashmir and have spent decades rebuilding their lives while continuing to grapple with the consequences of migration.

RELAXATION IN ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS

As part of the approved amnesty scheme, the Delhi government has waived conditions related to income and ownership of immovable property that were earlier linked to eligibility under the relief programme.

The relaxation is expected to benefit 1,832 migrant families residing in Delhi who may have faced difficulties accessing assistance under the existing framework.

Officials said the objective is to ensure that support reaches eligible beneficiaries in a more dignified and seamless manner.

MONTHLY RELIEF TO CONTINUE

The Cabinet also approved proposals connected to the Ad-Hoc Monthly Relief scheme, under which eligible migrant families receive financial assistance from the government.

The scheme has been in place to support families displaced from Jammu and Kashmir, many of whom have been living in Delhi for years after being forced to leave their homes.

AADHAAR-BASED DIRECT TRANSFERS

To improve transparency and efficiency, payments under the scheme will be made through Aadhaar-based Direct Benefit Transfer mechanisms.

The government believes the system will reduce procedural hurdles and ensure that financial assistance reaches beneficiaries directly.

RS 30 CRORE BUDGETARY PROVISION

The Delhi government has made a budgetary provision of Rs 30 crore for the scheme during the 2026-27 financial year.

Officials said the allocation is intended to support the implementation of the relief measures and ensure uninterrupted assistance to eligible families.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/delhi/story/delhi-government-approves-amnesty-relief-for-1832-jk-migrant-families-2920523-2026-06-01

India has finalised a Letter of Request to France for 114 Rafale fighter aircraft. The proposed deal could expand IAF capability and boost domestic aerospace manufacturing.

India has taken a significant step towards bolstering its air combat capabilities by finalising a Letter of Request (LoR) to France for the acquisition of 114 Dassault Rafale multi-role fighter aircraft in a deal estimated to be worth around Rs 3.25 lakh crore.

The LoR, a formal government-to-government communication under the Intergovernmental Agreement framework, is expected to be sent to France in the coming weeks, initiating negotiations for what is set to become India’s largest-ever fighter aircraft procurement programme.

The development comes as Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, began a three-day visit to France on June 1. His visit coincides with India’s push to acquire the additional Rafale fighters and is being closely watched as New Delhi advances plans for one of its biggest defence purchases.

Under the proposed agreement, nearly 90 of the 114 Rafale jets will be manufactured in India through a partnership between Dassault Aviation and an Indian company under the government’s Make in India initiative. The remaining aircraft will be supplied in fly-away condition from France. Some estimates suggest that 92 aircraft could be built in India, while 22 would be delivered directly from French production facilities.

The programme is expected to feature indigenous content of nearly 50 percent, providing a major boost to India’s aerospace manufacturing ecosystem while supporting the government’s drive for self-reliance in defence production.

The acquisition is aimed at addressing the Indian Air Force’s operational readiness amid evolving regional security challenges. The Rafale is regarded as one of the world’s most advanced multi-role fighter aircraft, capable of carrying out air superiority, ground attack, reconnaissance and strategic deterrence missions.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-114-rafale-jets-france-letter-of-request-rs-3-25-lakh-crore-deal-2920563-2026-06-02

India and the US have finalised most of the first-phase trade deal text, with only minor issues remaining. Signing awaits clarity on Washington’s new tariff regime after legal challenges to Trump’s tariffs.

India and the United States have finalised most parts of the legal text for the first phase of their proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA), Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday. However, the deal will be signed only after there is clarity on how the US plans to impose tariffs once the current 10% levy expires next month.

Negotiations are now focused on minor legal details, while both sides await a clearer picture of the Trump administration’s new tariff framework.

India is seeking assurances that its exports will continue to enjoy a tariff advantage over competing countries. The concern stems from possible US action under Section 301, a trade law under which India is currently facing two investigations along with several other nations.

One investigation relates to alleged structural overcapacity in sectors such as solar modules, processed food, steel and aluminium. The second concerns allegations that some countries have failed to act against forced labour.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is expected to visit India once Washington finalises its new tariff mechanism. The earlier “reciprocal tariffs” introduced by US President Donald Trump were struck down after the US Supreme Court ruled that the emergency powers used to impose them were unlawful.

Officials are working to keep the trade agreement text ready so that tariff rates can be finalised once the new US system is in place.

India and the US had agreed on an interim trade framework in February, but progress slowed after the court ruling. Meanwhile, American trade negotiators are in New Delhi for a three-day round of talks beginning Tuesday.

“…mostly everything is finalised. As you know, US Ambassador Sergio (Gor) said that 99% of the things have been finalised. Discussions are going on about small issues, commas and full stops. While finalising, how will the legal changes that have taken place in the US be reflected in the final agreement, and what kind of changes will be made accordingly. After finalising that, I am fully confident that, with the US, we will conclude the first tranche of the BTA as soon as possible, sign it and start further discussions on how to have a more comprehensive BTA,” Goyal told reporters.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/india-us-trade-deal-99-ready-only-commas-and-full-stops-left-says-piyush-goyal-article-154444502

Candidates who want to apply for the re-evaluation process and verification can find the direct link to do it on the official website of CBSE at cbse.gov.in.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has opened the portal for verification of marks and re-evaluation of Class 12 board examination results after facing multiple delays.

In a post on X, CBSE urged students to carefully watch the instructional video available on the portal before submitting applications. The board has provided step-by-step guidance on the process of applying for verification of marks and re-evaluation.

Dearest Students,

The verification and re-evaluation portal is now LIVE !

Please watch the video carefully for step-by-step instructions on how to apply for Verification of Marks and re-evaluation.

Portal Link: https://t.co/ILQvluZJ7W@EduMinOfIndia @PTI_News @PIB_India… pic.twitter.com/Ydc2wmGEol

— CBSE HQ (@cbseindia29) June 1, 2026

The board had said earlier that it will open the CBSE Class 12 Re-Evaluation portal on June 1.

Candidates who want to apply for the re-evaluation process and verification can find the direct link to do it on the official website of CBSE at cbse.gov.in.

Muliple delays in opening portal

The portal was initially scheduled to reopen on May 29 for candidates who had obtained scanned copies of their evaluated answer books. However, the CBSE deferred the launch to June 1, stating that additional time was required to ensure a transparent and error-free process.

Students were allowed to apply for scanned copies of their answer scripts between May 19 and May 25, but the portal remained inaccessible after May 26.

Under the revised schedule, candidates who have received their answer books can submit question-specific objections if they believe marks were incorrectly awarded or omitted. These objections will then be examined by subject experts through the On-Screen Marking (OSM) system, an Education Ministry official said.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/cbse-class-12-results-2026-how-to-apply-for-re-evaluation-and-verification-of-marks-step-by-step-guide-101780365319361.html

 

Thousands of consumers across South Mumbai have faced repeated power outages over the past two weeks due to cable faults, transformer failures and rising electricity demand. Experts say ageing infrastructure, some dating back to the 1980s, requires urgent replacement as Mumbai’s power consumption recently crossed 4,500 MW amid intense summer heat.

Repeated power outages across South Mumbai over the past two weeks have exposed the growing strain on the city’s ageing electricity infrastructure, leaving thousands of residents and businesses struggling with frequent disruptions.

Areas including Girgaon, Bhuleshwar, Opera House, Thakurdwar, Kalbadevi, Dadar, and Wadala have witnessed multiple outages triggered by cable faults, transformer failures, and rising electricity demand during the ongoing heatwave.

Cable faults and ageing infrastructure under focus

The latest disruption occurred in the early hours of Sunday when electricity supply was interrupted in Girgaon and adjoining localities. BEST engineers restored power gradually by around 11 am after identifying and rectifying a cable fault.

However, officials admitted that the original fault remains difficult to trace as several underground cables pass beneath the suburban railway tracks between Marine Lines and Grant Road. Located nearly 15 feet below ground, these cables are far deeper than standard utility lines and require extensive excavation, railway permissions, and road-digging approvals before repairs can begin.

Residents say the outages have become a daily concern. Apart from darkness and discomfort, many buildings are facing water supply issues as pumps fail to operate during prolonged power cuts.

“We have never experienced such frequent outages in recent years. The impact goes beyond electricity because even water cannot be pumped to overhead tanks,” said Amit Raju, a resident of Girgaon.

Former corporator and Shiv Sena leader Dilip Naik claimed nearly 50,000 consumers in the area have been affected and accused authorities of failing to anticipate rising demand from redevelopment projects and high-rise buildings.

Rising electricity demand adds to pressure

The crisis is not limited to South Mumbai. Last week, faults at the Kingsway Receiving Station in Dadar and a transformer fire at Girgaon Chowpatty disrupted power supply in Dadar, Naigaon, Wadala East, and surrounding areas.

The incidents occurred as Mumbai recorded one of its highest-ever electricity demands, crossing 4,500 MW amid soaring temperatures and widespread use of air conditioners.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/south-mumbai-power-crisis-repeated-outages-expose-ageing-cables-and-rising-electricity-demand

Occupying some of India’s most valuable, government-owned real estate, elite clubs from Delhi to Mumbai are facing uncomfortable questions. The Delhi Gymkhana Club row has sparked a conversation on whether public land should continue to support private privilege. The row has left the elites sweating.

India’s elite clubs have suddenly become a bit uncomfortable. There are questions being asked by both the government and those who denounce the “club culture”, like, can institutions built on public land continue to enjoy extraordinary privileges in a country where every acre is under pressure? The debate has been ignited by the Delhi Gymkhana Club, one of the country’s most exclusive social institutions, after it received an eviction notice from the Union government in May.

The Land and Development Office asked the club to vacate its 27-acre premises by June 5, citing its use for defence infrastructure and other public purposes in the high-security zone just steps away from the Prime Minister’s residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg.

Members of the Delhi Gymkhana Club swiftly challenged the order in the Delhi High Court. But the controversy has already sent ripples through elite clubs across the country. From Mumbai and Bengaluru to Chennai and even smaller cities like Varanasi, several prestigious gymkhanas and membership clubs occupy prime government-leased land in some of India’s most valuable neighbourhoods.

In principle, there is nothing wrong with private clubs. They offer spaces for recreation, networking and community life. But when such institutions operate on publicly owned land at concessional rates, questions are bound to arise – about transparency, accountability and whether these arrangements continue to serve any public interest.

For instance, the Delhi Gymkhana Club sits on 27 acres of prime Lutyens’ Delhi land, leased from the government at a nominal rent of Rs 1,000 a year. Yes, Rs 1,000 a year for 27 acres. Not just that, the club has also drawn attention because of alleged mismanagement and opaque membership procedure.

The Delhi Gymkhana dispute has brought those questions into focus, and elite clubs and gymkhanas across India are sweating over the possibility that the easy access and privileges they have long enjoyed could be snatched away. Privilege, after all, is a difficult thing to give up once one gets used to it.

Even the Delhi Golf Club, spread across nearly 170 acres of government-leased land in the heart of the capital, has come under the scrutiny of the Supreme Court. Although its lease runs until 2050, people have questioned why such a large parcel of prime public land is being used mainly for the benefit of a small, privileged group, while generating relatively little revenue for the government.

The club also houses several heritage monuments, including some under the Archaeological Survey of India, all of which remain inaccessible to the public.

Here is a closer look at similar clubs across India and how, and their actions after the Delhi Gymkhana row.

MUMBAI’S LEGACY CLUBS ON MARINE DRIVE UNDER SCRUTINY