Category: India

The prime minister’s address comes a day after the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 failed to clear Lok Sabha amid a united front from the Opposition.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday lashed out at the Opposition over what he claimed was the “bhrun hatya” or foeticide of Centre’s “honest attempts” at providing equality to women.

PM Modi was addressing the nation a day after the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 failed to clear Lok Sabha amid a united front from the Opposition.

“This was an attempt to give more voice to every state in the Parliament. Whether states are small or big, whether they have more population or less, this was an attempt to ensure equal distribution of power. But the Congress and its allies committed foeticide of this honest attempt in front of the whole country. They have committed foeticide,” PM Modi said in the video address.

He said opposition parties that opposed the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in Parliament were taking women’s power for granted.

Hitting out at the Opposition, PM Modi said parties like the Congress, TMC, SP, and DMK are culprit of this foeticide.

“They are the culprits of the Constitution and the Nari Shakti. Congress hates the subject of women reservation,” he said, adding that the women of our country will give befitting reply to Congress and its allies.

“Congress has always spread falsehoods about necessary reforms, delayed every reform, while it ruled,” he added.

He further said that women had seen how parties like the Congress, the TMC and the DMK “celebrated their selfish politics” against women’s empowerment.

“The opposition has committed a sin by opposing women’s reservation, and they will surely be punished for this. Opposition parties have insulted our Constitution by defeating the bill,” he said.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/art-culture/step-inside-worlds-largest-cafe-bengaluru-rameshwaram-cafe-bommasandra-90000-sq-foot-area-south-indian-temple-adiyogi-101776502129108.html

Nida’s defence lawyers said she has been falsely implicated in the case and does not have any record of any kind of criminal activity.

Nida Khan, 26, the allegedly absconding employee of the BPO linked to Tata Consultancy Services in Nashik, moved the Nashik Sessions Court for anticipatory bail on Saturday.

Khan is one of eight accused in the case relating to alleged sexual harassment and religious coercion at the BPO in Nashik. While seven of the accused have been arrested, Khan eludes law-enforcement authorities, although her family says she is not absconding. All eight employees have been suspended.

Nida’s defence lawyers, Rahul Kasliwal and Baba Sayyed, said the court is expected to take up Khan’s anticipatory bail application for hearing on Monday.

“She has been falsely implicated in the case. She does not have any record of any kind of criminal activity,” said Kasliwal.

The Nashik city police have registered nine FIRs against eight employees of the TCS-linked BPO, including one FIR against Khan. The FIRs were registered in Nashik between March 26 and April 3, following complaints from nine employees, who accused senior colleagues, including team leaders, of alleged sexual abuse, other kinds of harassment and religious coercion.

In the FIR against Khan, registered at the Devlali police station, one of the victims has accused her of hurting religious sentiments, making objectionable comments about a Hindu deity.

Although initial media reports had claimed that Khan was the HR manager at the BPO, TCS has since issued a statement saying she did not occupy that post and was a “process associate”.

Khan’s uncle also told HT on April 17 that after she got married last year, Khan moved to Mumbai in January this year to be with her husband. She had been working at the company’s BPO in Malad, in Mumbai, until her suspension on April 9, her uncle claimed, adding that she is pregnant.

The police have set up three teams in Mumbai to trace and arrest Khan, whose family insists she is not absconding.

Meanwhile, a four-member fact-finding team of the National Commission for Women (NCW) has started investigations into the high-profile case, which began as an inquiry into workplace misconduct but rapidly expanded in its scope following multiple complaints.

One of the commission’s members, Monika Arora, said they would speak to all stakeholders in the case as a part of the investigation. The team is likely to visit the firm’s office in Nashik on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the court of additional chief judicial magistrate R C Narwadiya, on Saturday extended the police custody of two accused, Raza Memon and Shafi Shaikh, till April 20.

In her order on Saturday, the judge observed, “After perusing the case diary and FIR it appears that there is a progress in investigation.” She said that the mobile phone of Memon had been seized by the police and the investigation officer also collected WhatsApp chats of the complainant. “….therefore it clearly indicates that the accused persons tried to outrage the modesty of victim by sending such obscene messages,” the judge said.

Extending the police custody, she said that with the help of cyber experts of the forensic department, it would be necessary to collect the data from the accused’s mobile phone. For that reason, the judge said, the police custody of the accused was justified.

Assistant public prosecutor Aniket Avhad, said the prosecution had sought five more days of police remand as the Special Investigation Team (SIT) needed to secure access to the passwords of the mobile phones, personal computers and social media accounts of the two accused, to access their emails, chats and text messages.

In the FIR lodged on April 2, the two accused were booked under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for sexual harassment, outraging a woman’s modesty and using words or gestures to outrage a woman’s modesty. However, in their remand application, the prosecution said it had added section 78 (stalking) of the BNS because the accused had followed the complainant to her home.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/recipe/chef-kunal-kapur-healthy-high-protein-kala-chana-dosa-recipe-comes-with-a-spicy-and-delicious-twist-101776507062014.html

Kiren Rijiju says defeat of the Constitutional amendment bill to expand seats and fast-track women’s reservation is a loss for women

The Constitutional amendment bill to increase the overall number of seats in the Lok Sabha not being passed in Parliament should not be seen as a failure of the Union government, but as a loss for women who have been denied participation in decision-making, Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said on Saturday.

The minister went on to say that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while chairing the Union Cabinet meeting, also pointed out that the Opposition, particularly the Congress, will have to face the consequences of denying women their rights.gfx

Govt bill to expand seats in LS fails

A day after the central government’s bid to push a Constitution amendment bill to expand the size of the Lok Sabha and fast-track 33% reservation for women failed, the minister doubled down on blaming the Opposition.

“The bills not getting passed is not a failure of our government, or our party. We are sad because it is a loss for women who have been denied participation in decision-making. But the opposition will have to face the consequences as well,” he said.

The minister said the Congress in particular will have to face women who are aggrieved and angry by the development. “They are celebrating women’s defeat, which is proof of their anti-women mindset,” he told media persons.

Congress hits back

The Congress, for its part, has accused the government of conspiring to alter the federal structure of the country by introducing the delimitation bill. The government, however, asserted that its proposal to increase the seats by 50% would have ensured that the proportional representation of the states remained intact.

Rijiju slammed the Congress for suggesting that the government declined to discuss the issue with its opponents and said he reached out to leaders of all the major parties to seek their support for the proposed bills.

“I spoke to the Congress several times. They wrote letters (Kharge had urged the government to hold an all party meeting) but did not attend any meeting. They refuse to come and then claim there was no discussion…” he said.

The minister also explained that he chose to meet the leaders individually as he wanted to address their concerns.

“How we should approach different parties will be decided by us. How can they dictate that we should follow a certain path of consultation? We met individually so we could discuss in detail the nitty gritty…We wanted to negotiate and the meetings (with other parties) were fruitful,” he said.

He said the Congress had been dialling other parties to not attend the meetings called by the government to discuss the issue.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/tamannaah-bhatia-fitness-trainer-says-besan-cheela-is-the-worst-vegetarian-breakfast-shares-3-hacks-for-extra-protein-101776481512428.html

In his address to the nation, the PM expressed deep ‘pain’ at seeing Opposition leaders ‘clapping and thumping their desks’ at the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill’s defeat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation at 8.30pm on Saturday, delivering a deeply personal and politically charged response to the legislative collapse of the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill. Speaking just 24 hours after the bill failed to secure a two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister framed the defeat not as a procedural setback but as a “betrayal of Nari Shakti” (women’s power) by dynastic political interests.

In a rare public apology, the Prime Minister stated that despite the government’s “most sincere and clean intentions”, it was unable to secure the required mandate. He vowed, however, that while the government may have lacked the 66 per cent support in Parliament, it carries “100 per cent of the country’s women” with it, signalling that the battle for the 850-seat expansion and women’s quota is now moving to the people’s court.

The ‘Betrayal’ Narrative and Parliamentary Conduct

The Prime Minister’s address focused heavily on the optics of the Lok Sabha proceedings on Friday night. He expressed deep “pain” at seeing Opposition leaders from the Congress, DMK, TMC, and Samajwadi Party “clapping and thumping their desks” as the bill’s defeat was announced. By highlighting these celebrations, the Prime Minister effectively branded the Opposition as “betrayers of the Constitution and women’s empowerment”.

He argued that these parties were not voting against a technical delimitation exercise but were instead protecting their own “dynastic fiefdoms”. According to the Prime Minister, these groups are “afraid” that common women from panchayats and local bodies would eventually overshadow established leaders if the 33 per cent reservation were operationalised through the proposed seat expansion to 850.

Deconstructing the Opposition’s ‘Delimitation Trap’ Charge

Addressing the primary criticism from the INDIA bloc—that the bill was a “Trojan horse” designed to reduce the representation of Southern states—the Prime Minister offered a firm rebuttal. He claimed the legislation was aimed at “equal growth for every state” and accused the Congress of historically creating hurdles for women’s reservation.

He described the Opposition’s focus on the North-South divide as a “diversionary tactic” used to mask their “parasite-like politics”. For the Prime Minister, the 131st Amendment was the “need of the hour” to modernise India’s 55-year-old electoral map and ensure that the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, passed in 2023, does not remain a “paper law”.

The Roadmap to 2029 and ‘People’s Punishment’

While the speech lacked a new legislative announcement—such as a joint session—it served as an unmistakable campaign launch for upcoming state polls and the next general elections. The Prime Minister warned that those who “insulted the sentiments of the framers of the Constitution” would face “the people’s punishment”. This rhetoric suggests that the BJP intends to make the bill’s defeat a foundational theme for the West Bengal and Tamil Nadu assembly polls.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/betrayal-of-nari-shakti-pm-modi-turns-lok-sabha-bill-defeat-into-national-battle-cry-10043221.html

PM Narendra Modi vows to clear the Women Reservation Bill, accuses Congress of an anti-reform mindset, assures women his government will remove all obstacles.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his half-hour address to the nation by vowing to continue fight for the Women Reservation Bill.

“I know that today the mothers, sisters, daughters of my country… all of you are grieving. I too am grieving in your grief. But our effort will not stop, our effort will not falter, our inner strength is invincible. More opportunities will come our way ahead as well. We must fulfill this resolve for the dreams of half the population, for the future of the country,” PM Modi said in a televised address to the nation.

“This is not just a fight over one law, but a larger battle against Congress’s anti-reform mindset, driven by negativity. I have no doubt that the daughters of this country will give a strong answer to this thinking. I said in Parliament, give half the population their rightful share, and I would credit the opposition for it. Yet those who view women through a regressive lens remained stuck in their position and refused to move beyond it,” he said.

PM Modi has slammed Congress, TMC, DMK and SP for doing “sefish politics” by opposing the Women Reservation Bill.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/effort-wont-stop-pm-modi-vows-to-continue-fight-for-women-reservation-bill-ws-l-10043193.html

Naveen Jindal has expressed support for Vedanta Chairman Anil Agarwal amidst the ongoing investigation into a boiler blast at Vedanta’s Chhattisgarh plant, which resulted in 23 fatalities.

Industrialist and BJP MP Naveen Jindal on Saturday backed Vedanta Group Chairman Anil Agarwal in the Chhattisgarh power plant blast case, saying responsibility should be fixed only after a proper investigation and based on evidence. Agarwal has been named in an FIR registered by Chhattisgarh police in connection with the April 14 boiler blast at a Vedanta plant in Sakti district that has claimed 23 lives so far.

He has been booked under stringent IPC sections, including causing death due to negligence.

In a post on X, Jindal expressed grief over the loss of lives and called for support to affected families. “The tragedy in Chhattisgarh is deeply painful. 20 families have lost everything. Proper compensation, livelihood support for the families, and a thorough investigation are non-negotiable,” he said.

He, however, questioned naming Agarwal in the FIR at an early stage. “But naming Shri @AnilAgarwal_Ved Ji in the FIR before any investigation raises serious concerns. Investigate first. Establish responsibility based on evidence. Then act.” Jindal said Agarwal had no role in the plant’s operations and described him as a self-made entrepreneur.

Jindal further questioned about setting the responsibilities of a Chairman when such incidents take place in PSU plants.

“When accidents happen in PSU plants or Railways, do we name the Chairman? We do not. The same standard must apply to the private sector too.” India’s Viksit Bharat vision needs people like Anil Agarwal to keep investing and building. That happens only when investors trust the system, Jindal said.

The blast occurred in a steel tube carrying high-pressure steam from the boiler to the turbine at the Vedanta Ltd power plant in Singhitarai village. According to officials, four workers died on the spot, while several others later succumbed to burn injuries in hospitals over the next few days. Twelve injured workers are still undergoing treatment. The incident has triggered scrutiny over industrial safety and accountability.

In another post on X, the Jindal Steel Chairman wrote, “Industry chambers @FollowCII, @ASSOCHAM4India, @ficci_india, @phdchamber and @ICC_Chamber, you have a responsibility beyond conferences and policy papers. When due process is bypassed and investor confidence is threatened, as in the case of the baseless FIR filed against Shri Anil Agarwal Ji, your silence is not neutrality. It is a failure of your core mandate.”

“Speak up for justice and what is right. That is what you exist for,” he added in the post.

Replying to his post, Paras Group of Companies Chairman, Pravesh Jain wrote, “Mr. Navin Jindal, where is your heart? Twenty families in Chhattisgarh are shattered, fathers, husbands, sons blown to pieces in Anil Aggarwal’s plant, their lone earners gone forever. Yet you tweet in defence of the billionaire instead of picking up the phone to your own government’s CM if you are so much concern for Anil Aggarwal? This is not corporate solidarity, this is betrayal of the blood on the factory floor.”

He added, “Routine FIRs against chairmen exist for a reason: lives were lost due to criminal negligence. While your fellow industrialists flee with thousands of crores in NPAs, looting taxpayers, you stay silent. As an MP and industrialist, have you ever wept for the millions of workers dying daily for rupees 10,000 and 12-hour shifts? Never.”

“Anil Aggarwal’s legal army can fight his battles. Stop painting this as a corporate turf war. Stand with the widows and orphans, Mr. Jindal, or forever be remembered as the MP who chose profit over grieving mothers. Workers’ blood is not your PR prop. I don’t see you crying or protesting for millions of poor workers. Just enjoy your glass of wine with your rich friends in Air conditioned Drawing room. Good luck to you.”

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Industry chambers @FollowCII, @ASSOCHAM4India, @ficci_india, @phdchamber and @ICC_Chamber, you have a responsibility beyond conferences and policy papers.

When due process is bypassed and investor confidence is threatened, as in the case of the baseless FIR filed against Shri… https://t.co/4toxlKkCTW

— Naveen Jindal (@MPNaveenJindal) April 18, 2026

Another user wrote on X, “Naveen Jindal, your concern for Anil Agarwal is noted. But where is your concern for the workers who died inside Vedanta Limited’s plant? A boiler blast. 20 families destroyed. And your focus is on why his name is in an FIR?”

“When lives are lost, accountability starts at the top. That’s how systems work. This isn’t about public vs private.. it’s about responsibility vs silence. And right now, your priorities are speaking louder than your words (sic),” the user added.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/chhattisgarh-boiler-blast-naveen-jindal-backs-vedanta-group-chairman-sparks-outrage-online-article-154108802

 

A viral video from Chhattisgarh shows a man staging an unusual protest by scattering almonds on a government officer’s desk over a property file missing for over a year.

An unusual protest inside a government office in Chhattisgarh is drawing attention online after a young man used a symbolic gesture to highlight alleged administrative negligence. A video of the incident has gone viral, showing him scattering almonds across an officer’s desk, an act meant to send a pointed message about a “missing” file.

The incident occurred at the Tifra Housing Board office, where the individual, identified as Tarun Sahu, alleged that his property mutation file has been missing for more than a year. Despite making several visits and repeated follow-ups, he claimed officials consistently informed him that the documents could not be located and were presumed “lost.”

According to a report by India Today, Sahu had purchased an EWS flat through resale around a year ago. However, the mutation process, crucial for confirming legal ownership, has yet to be completed due to the missing file. As a result, he has been left without proper documentation, making multiple visits to the office without any progress.

Frustrated by what he described as inaction, Sahu staged a quiet but striking protest. By spreading almonds, often associated with improving memory, across the desk of a Sub-Registrar (Deputy Registrar), he attempted to symbolically suggest that the department needed to “refresh its memory” to locate his file. He also recorded and shared the moment on social media.

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The video quickly gained traction, with many users interpreting the act as a reflection of the frustrations faced by ordinary citizens dealing with bureaucratic delays. Several comments highlighted larger concerns about inefficiency, lack of accountability, and the challenges of navigating public offices for essential services.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/viral/improve-your-memory-man-throws-almonds-at-officer-desk-over-missing-property-file-in-chhattisgarh-viral-video-article-154108313

 

The number of auto and cab drivers from outside the state is increasing rapidly in various cities of the state, including in Bengaluru

Citing the Maharashtra government’s recent move mandating proficiency in Marathi for auto and taxi drivers, KPCC spokesperson A N Nataraj Gowda has urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to implement a similar policy in Karnataka.

In a letter to the CM, Gowda requested that the state follow the Maharashtra model, where starting May 1, all commercial vehicle drivers must be able to read, write and speak the local language (Marathi) to hold a license.

The number of auto and cab drivers from outside the state is increasing rapidly in various cities of the state, including in Bengaluru. Since they do not speak Kannada, local Kannadigas are struggling to communicate in their own state. He also expressed concern over the rising incidence of Kannadigas facing harassment owing to the language gap in cabs. Rules should be framed to suspend or cancel the commercial licence of vehicle drivers who refuse to learn Kannada. Strict disciplinary action should be taken against transport officials who flout language rules and issue licence through corruption. He asserted that it is the duty of anyone who earns a living in Karnataka to learn and respect the land, water and language of the state.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/make-kannada-mandatory-for-auto-cab-drivers-3972079#google_vignette

The driver suddenly lost control while manoeuvring the 13th hairpin bend. It crashed into a two-wheeler and an autorickshaw.

At least nine people in Tamil Nadu’s Salem district died, and several were left injured after a State Transport Corporation bus had a head-on collision with multiple vehicles on the Salem-Coimbatore national highway. All those who lost their lives in the tragedy were teachers by profession, news agency ANI reported.

As per a statement shared by the District Collector’s office, the bus, which was heading to Salem from Coimbatore, suddenly veered off the road after the driver lost control while manoeuvring the 13th hairpin bend. It crashed into a two-wheeler and an autorickshaw, which was carrying nearly 10 passengers, and subsequently plunged into the 9th hairpin bend.

The bus was carrying 13 tourists from Kerala’s Perinthalmanna. Out of these 13, eight people (1 male and seven females) died immediately on the spot. The five injured, which included the driver, two male juveniles aged between 17 and 18 years, and two females, were immediately rescued and taken to the government hospital in Pollachi. One of the injured later succumbed to their injuries.

The state authorities in Tamil Nadu reacted swiftly to the incident. Upon learning about the accident, two senior police officers rushed to the spot and supervised the rescue and relief operations. Fire and Rescue Services personnel were also deployed to ensure a prompt evacuation of the injured.

PM, KERALA CM CONDOLE DEATHS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief over the loss of lives.

“Distressed to hear about the mishap in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. I extend my heartfelt condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in the mishap. Prayers for the speedy recovery of those injured,” the Prime Minister’s office shared on X.

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தமிழ்நாட்டின் கோயம்புத்தூரில் நிகழ்ந்த விபத்தை அறிந்து மிகுந்த வேதனையடைந்தேன். இந்த விபத்தில் தங்கள் அன்புக்குரியவர்களை இழந்தவர்களுக்கு எனது ஆழ்ந்த இரங்கல்களைத் தெரிவித்துக்கொள்கிறேன். காயமடைந்தவர்கள் விரைவில் குணமடைய பிரார்த்திக்கிறேன்: பிரதமர் @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 17, 2026

Kerala Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, also expressed his condolences over the death of the Kerala citizens.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/tamil-nadu/story/tamil-nadu-bus-accident-eight-dead-several-injured-in-salem-district-2897991-2026-04-17

 

Home Minister Amit Shah took a dig at Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha, asking him to “learn the art of speaking” from his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday took a swipe at Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha, telling him to “learn the art of speaking” from his seniors, including sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

The remark came during Shah’s reply to the debate on the Women’s Reservation Bill and the Delimitation Bill, wherein he criticised Rahul Gandhi’s tone and language in recent speeches.

“I was listening to the Leader of the Opposition’s speech. It is your responsibility to uphold the dignity of this House across the country and the world. The kind of language used will damage that dignity,” Shah said.

Quoting Gandhi’s remarks, Shah added, “What kind of language is this – ‘you are a coward, you are surrendering, you are afraid of me’? Is this how the Leader of the Opposition should behave? The country is listening, and you and your party are being judged.”

He further accused Gandhi of undermining institutions and making provocative statements. “Language should not merely reflect emotions. Learn the art of speaking in the House from your seniors. And if there are no seniors, then Priyanka is the senior — learn from her,” Shah said, drawing reactions from members.

The remarks came after Priyanka Gandhi Vadra delivered a sharp intervention in the House, where she questioned the government’s approach to linking women’s reservation with delimitation, even invoking Chanakya in her critique – a remark that briefly drew a smile from Shah.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra told Shah that had ancient Indian polymath Chanakya been alive today, he would have been startled by the BJP leader’s “political shrewdness”.

“The Home Minister is laughing. He has made this full scheme. Had Chanakya been alive, he would have been startled by your political shrewdness (rajnaitik kutilta). He (Shah) made the whole plan, and he is laughing now. He agrees with me,” he said.

Earlier, Rahul Gandhi himself had struck a lighter note while referring to his sister’s speech, saying she managed to do in “five minutes what I couldn’t in 20 years – make Amit Shah smile,” prompting laughter in the House.

The Constitution Amendment Bill seeking to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures by 2029, along with a proposal to expand the strength of the Lok Sabha, was defeated in the Lower House today.

The legislation secured 298 votes in favour and 230 against, falling short of the required two-thirds majority. Of the 528 members who voted, at least 352 votes were needed for the bill to pass.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/amit-shah-criticises-rahul-gandhi-speech-priyanka-gandhi-speaking-skills-2897941-2026-04-17

As the ED conducted multiple raids on the premises of Punjab cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann lashed out at the central government.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann launched a blistering attack on the BJP-led central government after the Enforcement Directorate conducted multiple raids at the premises linked to Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora on Friday. Accusing the BJP of dismantling democratic practices, Mann further called the raids ‘dictatorship.’

Speaking to the mediapersons, Mann said, “Our country is said to be the biggest democracy in the world, where people elect the government of their choice. But we have seen that the democratic set-up is being rattled. Non-BJP states are targeted, and especially AAP is targeted.”

Taking a further jibe, Mann also referred to the incidents where the central agencies conducted raids at the places linked to the erstwhile Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal and the Deputy Chief Minister, Manish Sisodia.

“They target non-BJP states. Kejriwal and Sisodia were also subjected to all this. If someone stoops in front of them, then all is good. Is this a democracy? This is a dictatorship,” CM Mann added.

BJP WINS ELECTIONS THROUGH ED, CBI, ALLEGES MANN

Bhagwant Mann further accuses the BJP of winning elections in states through the rapid use of central agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the ED.

“Right now, there is an election in Bengal. They do not win elections through people but ED, CBI, and others.”

Mann said that in Delhi, several AAP leaders were threatened with agency raids and were asked to join the BJP.

He also added that the recent raids at properties linked to Arora are nothing but an effort to weaken the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the state.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/punjab-cm-bhagwant-mann-criticises-bjp-for-ed-raids-on-sanjeev-arora-2897918-2026-04-17

A woman passenger on the Korba–Thiruvananthapuram SF Express alleged a disturbing incident in a sparsely occupied sleeper coach, where a man behaved inappropriately and made obscene gestures. The traumatic episode, now viral, has sparked outrage and renewed concerns over women’s safety in reserved compartments of Indian Railways.

A disturbing incident aboard the Korba–Thiruvananthapuram SF Express (Train No. 22547) has raised serious concerns about passenger safety, particularly for women travelling in reserved compartments of Indian Railways. A video of the incident is doing the rounds on the internet.

According to the woman passenger, the incident took place in Sleeper Coach S1, which was reportedly sparsely occupied at the time. She alleged that an unidentified man approached her and behaved in a deeply inappropriate manner. Initially, he allegedly touched her feet without consent. The frightened woman moved towards the window to create some distance between herself and the man.

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भारतीय रेल के स्लीपर कोच S1 अपराधियों का अड्डा बन गया है KRBA TVCN SF EXP (22647) की घटना!

महिला के अनुसार: कोच खाली था, अचानक एक व्यक्ति मेरे पैर छूने लगा। जब मैं डरकर खिड़की की ओर हटी, तो उसने अपने कपड़े उतार दिए, अश्लील हरकतें कीं और शरीर के निचले भाग से बाल नोंचकर सीट पर… pic.twitter.com/YG1DhkOAgM

— Karishma Aziz (@KarishmaAziz_) April 17, 2026

However, the situation took a turn for the worse when the man reportedly removed his clothes, made obscene gestures, and engaged in plucking hair from his lower body and throwing it onto the seat. The incident was described as traumatic and horrifying by the woman, raising questions about how such an act could occur in a reserved coach of Indian Railways.

The incident has sparked outrage and renewed debate over the safety of women on long-distance trains.

About The Delhi Case

 

Retired life wasn’t enough for Dinesh Mahant Thakordas, who now uses his Blinkit earnings to jet-set across the globe.

In a world where most 66-year-olds are eyeing a quiet life on a porch, Dinesh Mahant Thakordas is eyeing his next delivery location. A retired clerk from Ahmedabad, Dinesh spent 26 years working for a life insurance company, successfully raised three children, and secured a comfortable, “settled” life.

Most people in his position would slow down. Dinesh? He signed up for Blinkit.

What started as simple curiosity after spotting a delivery partner in his neighbourhood has turned into a record-breaking two-year streak. Dinesh has completed a staggering 10,220 orders, adhering to a disciplined routine that would put people half his age to shame.

His day starts at 5:00 AM, and by 6:00 AM, he is at the local “dark store.” He wraps up his morning shift by 11:30 AM, earning his way toward his true passion: Travel. Every rupee he makes as a delivery partner goes into a fund for exploring new cities, states, and even countries.

As he puts it: “Experience is the greatest school master.”

India allows feeding stray dogs but only in designated areas set by local authorities, courts bar random feeding in public spots and let housing societies set reasonable rules

If you’ve ever fed a stray dog or seen someone do it, you might have wondered — is this actually allowed? The short answer is yes, but with important conditions.

Under Indian law, feeding stray dogs is not illegal. In fact, courts have recognised that community dogs have a right to food and that people have the right to feed them.

But things have become more structured in recent years.

In 2025, the Supreme Court stepped in to set clearer rules. It said that feeding stray dogs cannot be done randomly in public places like roads, parks or building entrances. Instead, dogs must be fed only in designated feeding areas set up by local authorities.

So the rule now is simple: feeding is allowed, but not anywhere you want.

The idea is to balance two things — animal welfare and public safety. Unregulated feeding in busy areas has often led to complaints about hygiene, dog bites and conflicts between residents. At the same time, completely banning feeding isn’t considered humane or practical.

That’s why the courts have pushed for a middle ground. Municipal bodies are now expected to create specific feeding spots in each area, usually away from children’s play zones, entrances or crowded spaces.

If someone feeds stray dogs in the wrong place, like on the street or inside restricted areas, action can be taken under local rules or court directions.

Courts have even raised concerns about holding feeders responsible in certain situations, especially if safety issues arise.

In housing societies, feeding is still allowed, but it usually has to take place in spots that have been pre-decided. Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) can’t completely ban feeding, but they can set reasonable rules about where it should happen and how hygiene should be maintained.

This is why many societies now have fixed feeding corners.

India’s laws try to walk a fine line here. Stray dogs have protection under animal welfare rules, and the Animal Birth Control (ABC) program pushes for sterilizing and vaccinating them, then releasing them back where they came from.

Source : https://www.news18.com/viral/feeding-strays-is-legal-in-india-but-this-one-mistake-can-get-you-in-trouble-ws-el-10041669.html

India and China hold first SCO bilateral talks after Ladakh thaw, discuss implementing SCO decisions, boosting security, trade and connectivity, agree to continue consultations

Following a recent thaw in relations, India and China conducted their first bilateral consultations under the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Thursday and Friday, aiming to deepen cooperation.

As per the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), discussions focused on how to implement decisions taken by SCO leaders and the organisation’s future direction. Both sides expressed their commitment to sustaining and strengthening collaboration and consultations within the SCO framework.

Engagement between the two countries in multilateral platforms such as BRICS and the SCO has picked up pace after the 2024 resolution of the eastern Ladakh military standoff. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China last year for the SCO summit, while Beijing has extended its backing for India’s current BRICS presidency.

Focus On Security, Trade And Connectivity

Further, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is expected to visit India for the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting scheduled for May 14-15. Additionally, President Xi Jinping is anticipated to travel to India in September for the summit.

“Both delegations jointly called on secretary (west) Sibi George to review cooperation within the SCO framework, including in the areas of security, trade, connectivity and people-to-people ties,” the MEA said in its statement, adding that India and China agreed to continue bilateral consultations in the future.

India has consistently underscored the importance it places on SCO membership, noting that the organisation was created to tackle terrorism, radicalisation, and extremism. It also views the grouping as a key platform for enhancing regional connectivity, provided such initiatives respect sovereignty and territorial integrity, in line with the SCO charter. Connectivity that bypasses sovereignty ultimately loses both trust and meaning, PM Modi had said last year while addressing the summit in Tianjin.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/india-china-step-up-engagement-with-first-bilateral-sco-talks-after-ladakh-thaw-ws-l-10042164.html

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) intensified its attack on the BJP-led central government following two recent ED raids targeting its leaders in Punjab.

With the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducting its second raid in just three days on an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader in Punjab, the party has escalated its attack on the BJP-led Centre, alleging a deliberate crackdown on opposition, a pattern for BJP before opposition ruled state elections, through central agencies. After earlier raids at Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Ashok Mittal and searches now at Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora’s premises, AAP leaders asserted that opposition voices are being selectively targeted while governance issues were being ignored. AAP’s National Convener Arvind Kejriwal alleged that the country was watching how low the Prime Minister was willing to go for power.

Arvind Kejriwal took to X and wrote, “This is the second ED raid in three days at the residence of an Aam Aadmi Party leader. Will the PM tell the country how much black money has been found in the countless raids conducted so far at the homes of AAP leaders? Was even one rupee found? The whole country is watching how low you are willing to stoop for power.”

He further said, “Our country’s economy has now slipped to sixth place. The rupee is continuously weakening, people’s businesses are shutting down, unemployment is rising, but the Modi government has no time except to send ED to the homes of opposition leaders. Is this how the country will move forward?”

Meanwhile, Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said on X, “The BJP ruled central government is continuously trying to murder democracy. Why are ED raids being carried out only in those states where BJP is not in power? Those who raise their voice for people’s rights and work for public welfare are either sent ED notices or put in jail. But the BJP must remember that democracy cannot be crushed through fear and pressure.”

Bhagwant Singh Mann added, “From the revolutionary land of Punjab, I want to make it clear that wherever there is oppression, we will stand firmly there. BJP should stop dreaming of winning Punjab elections with the help of ED, CBI and the Election Commission. A Punjabi may lose his head, but he will never bow out of fear. This fight is not for one individual, but to save our country and Constitution, and this struggle will continue. We will keep serving the country and the people with complete honesty.”

On the other hand, senior AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh stated on X, “Modi ji’s ‘parrots’ have become active again. Before the Punjab elections, these parrots will have to make several visits to Punjab. Action against Minister Sanjeev Arora is dictatorship.”

AAP’s Delhi unit president Saurabh Bharadwaj said on X, “ED has now conducted raids at the premises of Punjab minister Sanjeev Arora. This is a clear pattern. This is how BJP begins its preparations for state elections.”

Meanwhile, senior AAP leader and Delhi Assembly LoP Atishi wrote on X, “This is the second action against party leaders in the last three days. First Ashok Mittal and now Sanjeev Arora have faced ED raids. Targeting AAP leaders before elections shows BJP’s fear of defeat and cowardice. The people of Punjab will answer this dictatorship.”

On the other hand, party’s national media in-charge Anurag Dhanda states, “This is the second ED raid against AAP in Punjab within three days. Now ED has raided Punjab Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora’s premises. The Modi government has crossed every limit of shamelessness. They are no longer even pretending to follow democratic norms. They have openly declared dictatorship.”

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/will-pm-tell-nation-how-much-black-money-recovered-in-raids-on-aap-leaders-asks-arvind-kejriwal-article-154105228

BJP leader Kangana Ranaut criticised Rahul Gandhi’s recent Lok Sabha speech, suggesting he should seek therapy for discussing his childhood traumas.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and MP from Himachal Pradesh, Kangana Ranaut suggested that Rahul Gandhi should go to a therapist as she pointed out the Leader of Opposition (LoP) sharing about his childhood traumas and that he was petrified, in his Lok Sabha speech during the debate on the Women Reservation and Delimitation Bills on Friday. Kangana Ranaut questioned why Rahul Gandhi is subjecting us to all his “childhood traumas” by telling his grandmother stories.

In an exclusive conversation with The Times Group Editor-in-Chief Navika Kumar, when asked what she has to say on Rahul Gandhi’s speech in the Parliament, Kangana Ranaut said that he (Rahul) is taking all of this for granted and made Lok Sabha into some sort of a stand-up comedian show. Kangana also pulled up the LoP over his statements where he told the Lok Sabha Speaker, “Maza Aayega Aapko, Intezaar Toh Karo, Maza Aayega Aapko (You will enjoy it, just wait, you will enjoy it.)” during the Parliament special session. She further suggested that Rahul should join movies… but should not do all of this here in the Parliament.

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Rahul Gandhi should go to a therapist. Why is he subjecting us to all his childhood traumas?: BJP MP Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) tells @navikakumar.

Watch this conversation to know why she said so! pic.twitter.com/2VOBsVBArA

— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) April 17, 2026

In another statement, the BJP MP said, “I always say things about his (Rahul’s) speeches but then I’m questioned. Rather than questioning him, why you guys question me about his speeches and when I tell you heartfelt feelings for his speeches than a controversy is made out of this.”

Speaking on the women reservation amendment act that failed to pass the Lok Sabha test, Kangana Ranaut said, “You know it is such a demotivating, absolutely devastating event that I just witnessed, especially because the hopes were very high and we were 100 per cent sure that eventually and finally the women of this country will get justice, and especially because the women’s reservation bill had got unanimous support in 2023… so spirits were high and all the women, especially the ones who have the ambitions of policy making, leadership, and all that… and I’m feeling that someone has stabbed us from the back… it is very unsettling, and I can imagine the collective meltdown that women of this nation are going through. It was so heartbreaking to see when the bill failed and there were these loud cheers, claps, and hooting from the Opposition side that was kind of heartbreaking, but we should have faith in our leadership, and our Prime Minister will give justice to the women of this country.”

 

Nashik TCS ‘Conversion’ Case: Tata Consultancy Services denies complaints in Nashik unit probe and forms oversight panel

Amid the ongoing police probe into allegations of religious conversion and sexual misconduct at its Nashik unit, IT giant Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) on Friday said that it had not received any complaints through its internal channels on the matter.

“A preliminary review of the systems and records pertaining to the Nashik unit indicates that we have not received any complaints of the nature that are being alleged on either our ethics or POSH (prevention of sexual harassment) channels,” the tech giant said.

The company also announced an oversight panel and engagement of external entities in its internal probe.

Finance industry veteran Keki Mistry, an independent director on the company board, will be chairing the oversight committee, as per the statement.

Police have arrested seven employees, including six men and a woman HR head. Another employee, Nida Khan, is on the run.

TCS Nashik Case: What Are The Allegations

The incident came to light after a woman accused a colleague, Danish Sheikh, of establishing a physical relationship with her after falsely promising marriage in 2022 – when he was already married to another woman.

According to a police report, Nida Khan is the sister of Danish Sheikh. She allegedly made derogatory remarks about the complainant’s faith and attempted to pressure her to change her religion, the report said.

It is further alleged that Khan and another individual, Tausif Akhtar, concealed the fact from the complainant that Danish Sheikh was already married to another woman.

As the police started investigating the matter, seven more women came forward, claiming that their senior colleagues mentally and sexually harassed them, and the human resources department ignored their complaints.

These events reportedly took place between February 2022 and March 2026.

Cops Search For TCS Accused Nida Khan

On Friday, a Nashik police Crime Branch team arrived in Mumbra in Thane district to track down Nida and questioned her husband at his home about her whereabouts.

Her family has said that she is in Mumbai and expecting her first child. She has also approached a local court in Nashik for anticipatory bail, potentially framing her medical condition as a key factor in her application.

Nida Khan Not A TCS HR Manager

TCS in its statement has also clarified that, Khan is neither a HR manager nor responsible for recruitment. She was serving as a process associate and did not hold any leadership responsibilities.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/tcs-nashik-conversion-case-nida-khan-no-complaints-received-through-internal-channels-says-tcs-amid-nashik-probe-11374136?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

The Centre needed a two-thirds majority to get the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, passed.

The bill to amend the Women’s Reservation Bill failed to clear a key hurdle after the Centre could not secure the votes needed for its passage in the Lok Sabha on Friday.

The Centre needed a two-thirds majority to get the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, passed, but fell short of the mark. The proposed legislation saw 298 MPs voting in its favour and 230 voting against.

Two other bills, including one for delimitation and increasing the number of seats in the Lok Sabha, were not put to vote after the first one failed, with the Centre saying they were “intrinsically linked” to the legislation related to women’s reservation.

The Lok Sabha debate, which went on past midnight on Thursday and continued on Friday, saw the Centre making a forceful pitch for the reservation of 33% of seats in the Lower House of Parliament and state assemblies for women.

Leading the charge for the government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought to allay a key fear of the Opposition parties and said he was personally guaranteeing that no injustice would be done to the southern states with the increase in seats in the Lok Sabha.

“Let all of us not miss this important opportunity to give reservation to women. I have come to appeal to you – do not see this from a political lens, this is in national interest,” PM Modi said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also assured the House on both days that the current representation of southern states would be preserved, or increase slightly, once the seats in the Lok Sabha were increased from the current 543 to roughly 816.

Both PM Modi and Shah also accused the Congress and other opposition parties of manufacturing issues to oppose the bill and deprive women of reservation. These parties, the BJP leaders said, would have to pay a price at the hustings for blocking the bill.

Opposition’s Take

Opposing the linking of the bill with delimitation, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi said the government was using the issue of women’s reservation as a smokescreen and was actually attempting to redraw the country’s electoral map in its favour.

“This is not a women’s bill as it has nothing to do with empowerment of women. This bill is an attempt to change the country’s electoral map, using and hiding behind India’s women,” he alleged.

Gandhi also claimed that the government was attempting to bypass the caste census. “They are trying to avoid giving power and representation to my OBC brothers and sisters, and instead take power away from them,” he said.

Reactions

After the legislation failed to clear the Lok Sabha, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the two other bills were “intrinsically interrelated” with it.

“It is a matter of regret that the Opposition did not support such a historic and important bill meant to give respect and representation to the people of the country. You had an opportunity and you squandered it. The Modi government’s efforts and struggle to give rights to women will continue,” he said.

BJP MPs also protested in the Parliament complex.

Home Minister Shah said the Congress, Trinamool Congress, DMK, and Samajwadi Party did not allow the passage of the bill and termed their “celebration” of this “reprehensible”.

“Now, the women of the country will not get the 33% reservation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, which was their right. The Congress and its allies have done this not for the first time, but repeatedly. Their mindset is neither in the interest of women nor of the country,” he posted on X.

“I want to tell them that this insult to Nari Shakti will not stop here; it will travel far and wide. The opposition will have to face the wrath of women not only in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, but at every level, in every election,” he added.

Speaking to reporters, Rahul Gandhi reiterated that the legislation was an attack on the Constitution.

“As I said in the House, this bill was an attack on the Constitution, and we are glad that we have defeated it. This was not a Women’s Reservation Bill, but an attempt to change the electoral map of India. I want to tell the Prime Minister that if the government wants to implement the bill on women’s quota that was passed in 2023, the opposition will support it 100%,” he asserted.

Gandhi also took to X minutes later and called the Centre’s plan an “unconstitutional trick” that failed because the opposition INDIA alliance stayed united.

“Bharat has seen it. INDIA has stopped it,” he wrote.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi, who had also spoken forcefully against linking the reservation bill with delimitation, said, “We can never agree to linking women’s reservation with delimitation based on an old Census that does not include the Other Backward Classes. It was not possible for this bill to be passed, and I believe this is a big victory for our democracy and the unity of our country.”

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/womens-quota-bill-fails-lok-sabha-tst-doesnt-get-two-thirds-majority-11372488?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Sharing the video, Bauddh explained that the guard was performing his duty while sitting under a mosquito net at night.

A video from Hyderabad has caught the attention of many on social media, showing a security guard working under difficult conditions during his night shift. The clip has led to discussions about the situation faced by guards in residential societies.

The video was shared on X by a user named Suraj Kumar Bauddh. In the clip, a security guard is seen sitting on a chair during his night duty while being covered with a mosquito net. A woman can also be heard speaking to him as he continues to stay awake and perform his responsibilities.

Sharing the video, Bauddh explained that the guard was performing his duty while sitting under a mosquito net at night. He also questioned why the guards couldn’t be provided with a safe and comfortable place while the society’s residents live in air-conditioned rooms.

Watch Video Here:

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“Security guard life in India.” 💔

Poor guard is covered under a mosquito
net and doing his duty while awake at night. Society members live in AC; cannot they provide a safe place for their guard?

The real issue is compassion. People have lost their compassion for the poor. pic.twitter.com/aqIweshHeR

— Suraj Kumar Bauddh (@SurajKrBauddh) April 16, 2026

He further stated that the main problem is a lack of empathy among people, and that people are no longer as sensitive to the plight of the poor as they once were.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/security-guard-in-hyderabad-performs-duties-under-mosquito-net-sparks-debate-11374229?pfrom=home-ndtv_lateststories

 

An official said the institute had started measures to review student mental health but the latest incident underlines the need to “strengthen support systems”.

A second-year student was found dead at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Kurukshetra, on Thursday, police said, marking the third suspected suicide at the institute this month and triggering student protests over alleged delays in response by authorities.

Kurukshetra police said the 20-year-old student was from Bihar’s Buxar district. An autopsy was conducted in the presence of the family and the matter is under investigation. “An autopsy was conducted at LNJP hospital… and the body was handed over to the family. We are further investigating the matter,” a police spokesperson said.

An NIT-Kurukshetra official said the institute had already initiated measures to review student mental health but the latest incident underlines the need to “strengthen support systems”.

Protesting students alleged administrative negligence, claiming delays in response. The institute did not address these allegations in its statement to HT.

Students on Friday demanded a comprehensive inquiry, improved counselling services and stronger crisis-response mechanisms. A second-year BTech student cited academic pressure, financial stress and family expectations, coupled with inadequate institutional support, as key factors.

A student council member said assigning faculty as mentors after earlier incidents reflected a lack of seriousness. “They have no professional experience in mental health,” the student said.

Gian Bhushan, in-charge of public relations at NIT, said a student delegation met the director on Friday. He said steps taken after the April 8 case included increased faculty-student interaction, identification of students needing counselling, hostel-level stress management activities, and enhanced surveillance through CCTV cameras and restricted access to vulnerable areas.

The institute has announced “preparatory holidays” from April 17 to May 4. Students questioned the move, noting that classes scheduled until April 22 were cancelled despite incomplete syllabus coverage.

The latest death marks the fourth such case on campus in less than two months. A first-semester student was found dead on February 16, followed by incidents on March 31 and April 8.

A member of a three-member review committee set up by the Union education ministry said the recent incidents have prompted scrutiny of student support systems alongside governance and institutional functioning. The panel is expected to visit the institute next week.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/third-suicide-in-a-month-sparks-protests-at-nit-kurukshetra-admin-announces-prep-holidays-till-may-4-101776475950679.html

TMC has complained to the Election Commission of India against BJP over the launch of the ‘Matrishakti Bhorsa Card’ ahead of West Bengal polls. The party alleges electoral bribery and voter inducement targeting women, seeking action under the Representation of the People Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and demands immediate discontinuation of the scheme reports.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Thursday had complained to the Election Commission of India (ECI) against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for launching Matrishakti Bhorsa Card ahead of the polls scheduled for next week.

“We have written to @CEOWestBengal and @ECISVEEP, demanding immediate action against BJP’s electoral bribery. Suvendu Adhikari, Smriti Irani, and other BJP leaders have launched a scheme called “Matrishakti Bhorsa Card,” promising financial assistance to women, distributing forms across constituencies in the final days before polling. This is textbook voter inducement, targeting economically vulnerable women at the most sensitive stage of the electoral process. It constitutes corrupt practice under Section 123 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and criminal offences under Sections 61(2), 173, and 174 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. We demand show cause notices, immediate discontinuation of the scheme, and stringent action against all those involved. BJP cannot buy Bengal’s women. They have Lakshmir Bhandar. They do not need BJP’s bribe,” wrote TMC on X.

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We have written to @CEOWestBengal and @ECISVEEP, demanding immediate action against BJP’s electoral bribery.

Suvendu Adhikari, Smriti Irani, and other BJP leaders have launched a scheme called “Matrishakti Bhorsa Card,” promising financial assistance to women, distributing forms… pic.twitter.com/3D1ryU91KP

— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) April 16, 2026

TMC MLA and minister Shashi Panja questioned why women of the state will need ‘Matrishakti Bhorsa’ when they have ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’.

Notably, Olympic medallists Leander Paes and Vijender Singh Beniwal on Thursday had launched Yuva Shakti Card in Kolkata.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/tmc-moves-ec-against-bjp-over-alleged-electoral-bribery-through-matrishakti-bhorsa-card-launch-in-bengal

 

The claims describe a conversion syndicate and a sexual harassment network operating inside TCS, one of India’s largest IT firms.

A former employee of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has told NDTV that team leaders at the company’s Nashik office used their desks not for official work but to exploit female colleagues mentally and morally. The claims describe a conversion syndicate and a sexual harassment network operating inside one of India’s largest IT firms.

The employee said the accused used vulgar language when summoning women to the team leaders’ desks.

“All the accused, especially their manner of communication, were completely vulgar. Girls were called to the TL desk and subjected to obscene language unimaginable in any professional or commercial office,” the former employee said.

The main accused, Tausif Attar, is alleged to have targeted Hindu religious practices. The witness said he repeatedly ridiculed female employees during festivals when they wore saris or bindis. “On all festivals, when we wore saris, he would question our attire and religion. As we left, he would make such remarks that we began to question how a team leader could mock another religion so much,” the employee told NDTV.

The former employee claimed that a colleague named Krishna used to wear a Rudraksha rosary to the office and later converted to Islam. Another revelation concerned Nida Khan, who is under investigation. The former employee said Khan was not an HR official but a process associate who was “mysteriously striving for a transfer and a domain change”.

The employee claimed that, in the name of security, staff were required to leave their phones, bags and even lunch boxes outside the office floor so that activities remained “off the record”.

The former employee named two other staff, Danish and Raza, who allegedly booked hotels and resorts for weekends from the office floor and pressured young women employees to join them. The witness described the overall environment as toxic and said she now feels safe after leaving the company.

She questioned why senior management in such a large corporate organisation had no knowledge of what she called a “parallel system”.

The allegations come from one former employee but are part of several claims made by eight female staff at the TCS Nashik office involving sexual harassment and forced religious conversion.

On Thursday, a petition was filed in the Supreme Court seeking directions to the central and state governments to control deceitful religious conversion.

Advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, through advocate Ashwani Dubey, filed the application in a pending case on the same subject.

The petition states that the organised religious conversion in Nashik “has shaken the conscience of citizens throughout the country”. It argues that deceitful religious conversion threatens sovereignty, secularism, democracy, liberty, fraternity, dignity, unity and national integration.

The petition contends that when forced conversion is part of a systematic, organised and coercive campaign.

Police in Nashik are investigating nine complaints of mental and sexual harassment linked to the TCS branch. The complaints were filed by eight women employees and cover the period from February 2022 to March 2026.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/tcs-nashik-conversion-case-wore-rudraksha-later-converted-to-islam-more-claims-in-tcs-nashik-case-11367805?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

BJP MLA Pritam Lodhi said the law must take its course.

In a brazen display of privilege and power, a BJP MLA’s son in Madhya Pradesh’s Shivpuri allegedly rammed five people with his Thar SUV and then blamed them for not clearing the road despite him blaring a siren.

Dinesh Lodhi, the son of Pichhore MLA Pritam Lodhi, allegedly rammed three people on a motorcycle and two woman pedestrians around 7:30 AM.

He was seen arguing with the injured people in a viral video. “When I was sounding the siren, why didn’t you move?” he asked nonchalantly.

Lodhi also threatened bystanders filming him: “Don’t record a video, son.”

The injured – Sanjay Parihar, Ashish Parihar, Anshul Parihar, Sita Verma and Pooja Soni – were rushed to the hospital with injuries to their heads, limbs and shoulders.

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ये बीजेपी विधायक प्रीतम लोधी के सुपुत्र दिनेश लोधी हैं, थार से 5 लोगों को टक्कर मार दी, हादसे में बाइक सवार 3 लोग और पैदल चल रही दो महिलाएं घायल हो गईं … विधायक पुत्र बोले “जब मैं सायरन, हॉर्न दे रहा हूं तो गाड़ी को लहरा काहे रहे थे” pic.twitter.com/PBRnabhAda

— Anurag Dwary (@Anurag_Dwary) April 16, 2026

The three men were on their way to Thanra village for work, while the two women were walking on the road when the speeding SUV hit them from behind.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/i-was-blaring-siren-why-not-move-madhya-pradesh-mlas-son-after-ramming-5-with-thar-11368246?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

 

The Chhattisgarh police on Thursday registered an FIR against Vedanta Group chairman Anil Agarwal and others in connection with the blast at the firm’s power plant in Sakti district that claimed 20 lives, an official said.

The Chhattisgarh police on Thursday registered an FIR against Vedanta Group chairman Anil Agarwal and others in connection with the blast at the firm’s power plant in Sakti district that claimed 20 lives, an official said.

The explosion occurred on April 14 at the Vedanta plant in Singhitarai village when a steel tube carrying high-pressure steam from the boiler to the turbine burst, leaving several workers with severe burn injuries. The incident claimed 20 lives and left 16 persons injured.

A case has been registered at Dabhra police station under sections 106 (causing death by negligenThe Chhattisgarh police on Thursday registered an FIR against Vedanta Group chairman Anil Agarwal and others in connection with the blast at the firm’s power plant in Sakti district that claimed 20 lives, an official said.ce), 289 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Sakti Superintendent of Police Prafull Thakur said.

“Eight to ten individuals, including Vedanta Group chairman Anil Agarwal, have been named in the FIR. If more persons are found responsible during the investigation, their names will be added,” Thakur told PTI.

Investigation into the incident is underway and several reports are awaited, including post-mortem reports of the deceased and findings from the forensic science laboratory and the industrial health and safety department, he said.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/case-against-vedanta-group-chairman-after-blast-kills-20-in-chhattisgarh-11369143?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

After scanning multiple photos from protests in different states and using electronic surveillance, police tracked the three for instigating worker protests.

Police have arrested two people while efforts are underway to apprehend a third accused for “systematically” instigating violence and large-scale arson ahead of last week’s factory workers’ protests, the Noida Police chief said on Thursday, adding that investigators have also filed cases against two social media handles that were “being operated from Pakistan.” The National Security Act will also be invoked against them, she said.

“The suspects have been identified as Rupesh Roy, an autorickshaw driver from Chapra, Bihar; Aditya Anand, a B.Tech graduate from Jamshedpur, Jharkhand and a native of Bihar; and Manisha Chouhan from Gopalganj, Bihar,” said Laxmi Singh, commissioner of police, Gautam Budh Nagar, adding that Roy and Chouhan have been arrested.

After scanning multiple photos from protests in different states and using electronic surveillance, police tracked the three for instigating factory worker protests. “Their involvement was found across multiple states, including Delhi, Hyderabad, and Haryana’s Manesar protest,” Singh said.

Police registered two FIRs against two handles on social media website X at Sector 20 police station. When electronic data was sought from X, it was revealed that “both accounts were created by someone in India, but for the past three months they have been operated from Pakistan,” Singh said, adding that a few elements are trying to harm major industrial hubs and incite violence using social media.

How was the violence planned?

The movements of the three suspects, along with other people, were found in Noida on March 31 and April 1, she explained. Later, on April 9 and 10, after retrieving data from Haryana-based companies’ WhatsApp groups, they created WhatsApp groups of Noida factory workers by sending QR codes. All groups had more than 1,000 members, and they instigated workers to block roads if they wanted their demands to be approved, the Noida top cop stated.

An official part of the investigation told HT, “Three groups were made at 2 am on April 10, where people were directed to stage protests and informed about locations to reach.”

“On April 11, when workers were satisfied after a meeting with the concerned department, Roy and Chouhan made instigating speeches against police and the administration. They were arrested late on the night of April 11 from Noida, while Anand remains at large,” she said.

Roy and Chouhan were the admins of all three groups and went active on April 13. On the day of violence, directions were given to people for protest.

“On April 13, when we contained the situation in the first half of the day, two X accounts posted misleading content, one of which read ‘six dead and 67 injured,’ while another stated ‘14 dead and 32 injured during police firing in the Noida protest’,” said Singh, adding that these posts led to a resumption of protests in the afternoon. URLs to the posts were also recovered from mobile phones of workers who were part of the protest, she alleged.

Police said Roy has been actively participating in protests across India since 2018, while Anand has been involved since 2020. They are investigating how an autorickshaw driver and two unemployed people were able to travel across India and who is funding them. Roy, Anand, and Chouhan are booked under relevant sections of the BNS and Section 7 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act for instigating violence. The National Security Act will also be invoked against them.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/nida-not-absconding-she-is-at-home-expecting-a-child-says-family-101776367239564.html

Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP-led government of turning “nari” (women) into a “nara” (slogan) for political benefits.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government’s commitment to women’s empowerment, saying the ruling coalition had turned legislations to expedite the roll-out of the women’s reservation in legislative bodies into an electoral strategy rather than a genuine effort to empower women.

“BJP, along with its allies, has 21 governments in states and union territories. Within these states, how many are women chief ministers? Even your Delhi chief minister doesn’t have the rights of a CM, she is a half CM,” said Yadav, a reference to the limited powers of Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta, the only woman chief minister from the BJP.

Unlike full-fledged states, Delhi is a union territory with a legislature and the chief minister lacks control over police, public order, land, and services which remain under the central government through the lieutenant governor.

Yadav continued. “The organisation which BJP has come from, how many women are in it?” he said, a reference to the ruling party’s ideological fount, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Delimitation Bill

The Delimitation Bill, 2026, the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-first Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, seek to raise Lok Sabha seats and conduct delimitation based on the latest, effectively the 2011 census figures, to roll out the quota from the 2029 general elections.

Participating in a debate on three bills introduced in the Lok Sabha to amend the Women’s Reservation Act, 2023, and set up a delimitation commission, Yadav accused the BJP of turning “nari” (women) into a “nara” (slogan), and demanded that women from Muslim and OBC groups also be given reservation under the women’s reservation framework.

The Kannauj MP underlined that his party supported women’s reservation but questioned why it was being suddenly rushed.

“The truth is that the BJP wants to postpone the census. Delaying the census also delays the caste census, because it would raise the question of reservation, which the BJP and its allies do not want to address,” he said, adding that women’s reservation without census and caste data would remain incomplete.

“When we exposed the Form 7 and SIR scams that were removing voters’ names, the BJP responded by bringing in these Bills. This time too, the BJP is trying to use women for political games, but it will not succeed,” said Yadav.

He agreed with Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, who alleged that the BJP wants to change the electoral map of the country through delimitation.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/noida-news/pak-accounts-fanned-noida-violence-2-held-police-chief-101776365736301.html

The Opposition criticised the government’s amendment to the Women Reservation Act 2023, linking it to the delimitation bill, claiming it undermines women’s empowerment for electoral gain.

The Opposition has questioned the amendment proposed by the Centre in the Women Reservation Act 2023, linking it with the delimitation bill, saying that the intention of the government is not to empower women through these laws but to win elections. Participating in the debate after the Centre tabled three bills in the Lok Sabha, namely – the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026; the Delimitation Bill, 2026; and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, during the special extention of the Parliament’s budget session, the opposition expressed its concern saying that the delimitation exercise, once completed, would reduce the representation of the southern states in the Lower House. According to the proposed delimitation bill, the strength of the Lok Sabha would increase to a maximum of 850. The Opposition said that though they support women reservation but that should be implemented as per the current strength of the House, which is 543. It’s against the constitutional amendment to increase the strength to 850 in order to operationalise the 33 per cent reservation.

India has slipped to the 6th spot in global GDP rankings, according to the IMF. This comes at a time when India is recording around 9 per cent nominal growth in rupee terms.

India has slipped to the 6th spot in global GDP rankings, according to the most recent estimates by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for 2025–26. This comes despite India being one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.

According to the IMF’s April 2026 World Economic Outlook, India’s economy is estimated to have reached $3.92 trillion in 2025, while the UK’s economy stands at $4 trillion and Japan’s at $4.44 trillion. In 2024, India’s GDP stood at $3.5 trillion, placing it above the UK’s GDP of $3.4 trillion.

India is recording around 9 per cent nominal growth in rupee terms. “India’s growth rate is more than two times higher than the average global growth,” said IMF Chief Kristalina Georgieva.

The IMF also said that Asia will remain the main driver of global growth with India and China contributing 70 per cent of the regional expansion. However, it said that the energy shock due to the Gulf crisis will negatively impact the region.

The five per cent regional growth witnessed in 2025, despite the impact of US tariffs and trade uncertainty, is projected to moderate to 4.4 per cent in 2026 and 4.2 per cent in 2027, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in its report on the Asia-Pacific segment.

“Asia entered 2026 on a solid footing with growth remaining resilient despite the region bearing the brunt of US tariffs and heightened uncertainty,” Krishna Srinivasan, Director for the IMF Asia Pacific Department told reporters here.

However, he said, given the region’s high fossil fuel intensity and reliance on conflict areas for key commodities, the new energy shock will negatively impact the region.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/business-economy/economy/india-slips-to-6th-spot-in-imf-global-gdp-rankings-despite-strong-growth-article-154097864

An FIR has been filed against Vedanta chairman Anil Agarwal and other officials after a boiler blast at a Chhattisgarh power plant killed 20 workers and injured several others.

An FIR has been registered against Anil Agarwal, chairman of Vedanta Resources Limited, along with company manager Devendra Patel and other officials, in connection with the boiler blast at the Vedanta power plant in Chhattisgarh’s Sakti district that killed 20 workers, police said.

According to Sakti Superintendent of Police Prafull Thakur, the FIR was lodged at Dabhra police station under sections 106 (causing death by negligence), 289 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery), and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. “Eight to ten individuals, including Vedanta Group chairman Anil Agarwal, have been named in the FIR. If more persons are found responsible during the investigation, their names will be added,” Thakur said.

The explosion occurred on April 14 at the plant in Singhitarai village when a steel tube carrying high-pressure steam from the boiler to the turbine burst, leaving several workers with severe burn injuries. The incident claimed 20 lives and left 16 persons injured.

Police said a preliminary technical investigation found that excessive fuel accumulation inside the boiler furnace led to a pressure build-up, triggering the explosion. “According to an initial report submitted by the Chief Boiler Inspector, the excessive fuel inside the furnace generated high pressure, causing a blast in the boiler. The pressure forced a lower pipe of the boiler out of its designated position, resulting in the severe accident,” a police statement said.

A report by the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Sakti also confirmed that the accumulation of fuel and the resulting excessive pressure were the primary causes of the explosion.

During the probe, officials found that Vedanta and its contractor NGSL (NTPC GE Power Services Limited) failed to properly adhere to maintenance and operational standards for machinery and equipment. “Lapses in upkeep and negligent operation led to sudden fluctuations in boiler pressure, ultimately causing the accident. Based on the available evidence and technical findings, negligence has been established prima facie, following which an FIR was lodged,” the statement said.

Police said a technical team has been constituted to investigate the cause of the blast, and several reports are awaited, including post-mortem reports of the deceased and findings from the forensic science laboratory and the industrial health and safety department. Additional sections may be added based on the findings.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/vedanta-power-plant-explosion-anil-agarwal-faces-fir-chhattisgarh-2897448-2026-04-17

Kangana Ranaut praised PM Modi as the “flag bearer of feminism” in Lok Sabha, backing women’s quota reforms and attacking Congress for delaying the issue for decades while in power.

BJP MP Kangana Ranaut praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, calling him the “only flag bearer of feminism” while speaking during a debate on the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026.

Participating in the discussion in the lower house, Ranaut said, “The daughters of India today believe that there is no bigger feminist than the Prime Minister,” as she backed the government’s push for women’s reservation.

‘IN A HURRY TO DELIVER JUSTICE TO WOMEN’

Defending the government’s pace, Ranaut said the Prime Minister was acting decisively to ensure long-pending reforms.

“What didn’t happen in 60 years, he achieved in 10 — be it pucca houses, providing gas cylinders, or inducting women into defence forces,” she said.

“One thing is certain: he is in a hurry to give justice to women.”

Reiterating her praise, she added, “He is the flag bearer of feminism.”

TARGETS CONGRESS OVER DELAY

Ranaut also launched a sharp attack on the Congress, questioning why the party had not implemented women’s reservations during its decades in power.

Referring to remarks by Sonia Gandhi, she said, “Sonia Gandhi says why are they (BJP) in a hurry to bring the bill. Should we be like you and let it hang for 30 years?”

Her comments came as Parliament debated three bills, including the Constitution amendment to mandate 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

HIGHLIGHTS LOW REPRESENTATION

Ranaut also pointed to the low representation of women in state legislatures, citing Himachal Pradesh as an example.

“In Himachal Pradesh, we have 68 MLAs of which only one is a woman. Other states have a similar representation of 8-9%,” she said, arguing that structural reform is necessary.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/indias-biggest-feminist-kanganas-speech-praises-pm-modi-targets-congress-2897435-2026-04-17

India has eliminated Naxal violence nationwide, the Home Ministry says, reclassifying districts under new categories while maintaining vigilance in select areas after sustained operations under the 2015 anti-Maoist strategy.

India is no longer affected by Naxal violence, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has told states following a high-level security review, marking what the government described as a “historic achievement.”

According to official communication sent to nine states on April 8, no district in the country is currently classified as Naxal violence-affected. The update follows sustained counter-insurgency operations carried out under the National Policy and Action Plan on Left Wing Extremism (LWE) launched in 2015.

The announcement aligns with Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement in Parliament on March 30, where he said India had become free of Maoist influence.

SHIFT IN DISTRICT CLASSIFICATION

Until late March, two districts — Bijapur in Chhattisgarh and West Singhbhum in Jharkhand — were still considered Naxal-affected. However, following the latest review on April 8, that classification has been removed.

Instead, authorities have reorganised affected regions into new monitoring categories.

A total of 37 districts have now been classified as “Legacy and Thrust Districts,” indicating that while they are no longer affected by active Naxal violence, continued focus on security and development remains necessary.

One district — West Singhbhum in Jharkhand — has been placed under the category of “District of Concern,” suggesting that while insurgent networks have weakened, vigilance is still required.

SPREAD ACROSS NINE STATES

These 38 districts are spread across nine states: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana and West Bengal.

Officials say the new classification reflects a transition from active conflict zones to areas requiring sustained monitoring and development support.

RESULT OF LONG-TERM STRATEGY

The government credited the achievement to coordinated efforts between the Centre and state governments over the past decade.

The 2015 LWE policy focused on a combination of security operations, infrastructure development and welfare measures aimed at weakening Maoist networks while improving governance in affected areas.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-no-longer-affected-by-naxal-violence-one-district-still-under-watch-2897429-2026-04-17

Indian and Pakistan naval vessels came unusually close near the Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions over shipping routes, with both sides escorting energy cargoes as fears grow over disruption in West Asia waters.

A rare maritime development near the Strait of Hormuz has brought Indian and Pakistan naval operations into unusually close proximity, with warships of both countries observed operating just 18 nautical miles apart amid rising tensions in West Asia waters.

The movement was reported by open-source intelligence analyst Damien Symon, associated with The Intel Lab, who flagged the proximity of the vessels operating off the coast of Oman.

“A rare event observed a short while ago: Indian and Pakistani navy vessels are operating just 18 nautical miles apart off the coast of Oman, likely as both countries work to secure their merchant shipping interests amid the West Asia conflict,” Symon said, sharing a map indicating the positioning.

Shortly after, he noted that a Pakistan-flagged crude oil tanker, Sargodha, was en route to Karachi under Pakistan Navy escort.

The development comes as both countries step up maritime security measures in and around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy chokepoint.

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A rare event observed a short while ago: Indian and Pakistani navy vessels are operating just 18 nautical miles apart off the coast of Oman, likely as both countries work to secure their merchant shipping interests amid the West Asia conflict pic.twitter.com/QL5quM7gm2

— Damien Symon (@detresfa_) April 16, 2026

INDIAN NAVY ESCORTING ENERGY CARGOES

The Indian Navy has been identifying and escorting India-bound ships carrying liquefied petroleum gas, liquefied natural gas and crude oil under Operation Urja Suraksha, launched to ensure safe passage through volatile waters.

The operation is aimed at escorting, guiding and safeguarding energy shipments bound for Indian ports as tensions escalate over shipping risks in the region following disruptions linked to West Asia conflict dynamics.

An official told The Hindu, “We are escorting and, to some extent, helping ships in navigation for smooth movement through the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, till the Arabian Sea.”

The official also said Indian Navy destroyers and frigates are extending protection beyond the Strait as well.

RECENT ESCORT OPERATIONS

In recent weeks, the Navy has escorted multiple energy carriers through the region.

LPG carriers Pine Gas and Jag Vasant, carrying nearly 92,000 tonnes of cooking gas, reached Indian ports between March 26 and 27 after protected transit.

Other vessels escorted include LPG carriers Shivalik and Nanda Devi, along with crude oil tanker Jag Laadki.

An Indian-flagged vessel, Jag Vikram, carrying 20,400 metric tonnes of LPG, arrived at Deendayal Port Authority in Gujarat on Wednesday, marking the ninth Indian vessel to exit the Persian Gulf since early March.

Officials said about 15 Indian-flagged ships are still in the region awaiting passage.

REGIONAL NAVAL MOVEMENTS INTENSIFY

Meanwhile, Pakistan has also stepped up escort operations for its merchant fleet. A Pakistan-flagged crude oil tanker Sargodha was seen moving towards Karachi under naval protection after passing through the Strait.

Earlier this week, two Pakistani merchant vessels were allowed to cross the Strait of Hormuz to Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates after initially being denied passage by Iranian authorities.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-pakistan-navy-ships-strait-of-hormuz-18-nautical-miles-operation-urja-suraksha-2897380-2026-04-16

 

Punjab Police suspended the ASI after a video of her granddaughter, crying after being left outside with her limbs bound with cloth, went viral.

A woman assistant sub-inspector (ASI) in Punjab’s Faridkot was suspended after she allegedly tied her five-year-old granddaughter to a gate at her residence, leaving her there in scorching heat, police said on Wednesday.

The action came after a purported clip showing the girl — crying profusely, with her hands and feet tied to the gate with a cloth — went viral on social media.

After hearing the child’s cries, neighbours — who captured the alleged cruelty on video — came to her rescue and untied the girl.

Police said the parents of the girl are residing in Portugal and have left the child to her grandmother’s care.

ASI Sarabjit Kaur is posted as a Mahila Mitra (women’s helpdesk) in Faridkot, police said.

After the video went viral, Faridkot Senior Superintendent of Police Pragya Jain took note of it and placed the ASI under suspension.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Tarlochan Singh said the ASI is a resident of Dogar Basti area in Faridkot.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/punjab-girl-tied-up-crying-viral-video-rescue-grandmother-asi-suspend-2896858-2026-04-15

Chirag Madaan, who had been working in the corporate banking sector, shared in a now-viral clip that the decision to quit was not impulsive but driven by mounting work pressure.

A 24-year-old graduate from Indian Institute of Technology(IIT) Delhi has sparked a wider conversation on toxic work culture after opening up about why he chose to walk away from a high-paying banking job, despite earning nearly Rs 17 lakh a year.

Chirag Madaan, who had been working in the corporate banking sector, shared in a now-viral clip that the decision was not impulsive but driven by mounting work pressure and a deteriorating work-life balance.

What began as a standard 9-to-5 job gradually stretched into much longer days, often running from 9 am to 7 pm. The workweek, he said, also extended from five days to six, leaving little room for rest or personal time.

In the video, Madaan explained how even basic breaks became difficult to manage. Lunch hours were tightly restricted, with employees expected to finish within 10 to 15 minutes due to constant workload. Taking time off was equally challenging. According to him, even sick leave required detailed explanations, making it hard for employees to step away when needed.

Watch the video here:

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A significant part of the stress, he noted, came from aggressive sales expectations. Employees were reportedly required to close deals worth up to Rs 10 crore, and failing to meet targets often resulted in added pressure and repeated performance cycles. Over time, the constant demands began to take a toll.

His account has since resonated with many young professionals, particularly those navigating high-pressure corporate roles. The clip has prompted discussions about unrealistic expectations, long working hours, and the need for healthier workplace practices.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/trending-news/story/iit-delhi-graduate-quits-rs-17-lpa-job-over-no-sick-leaves-15-minute-lunch-break-2896752-2026-04-15

 

How the faith of an Indian Maharaja travelled across seas, allowing him to carry Gangajal all the way to London, remains one of the more telling stories of faith and orthodoxism in early 20th-century India. The world’s largest silver jars now stand preserved in the City Palace of Jaipur, drawing the attention of almost every visitor who walks past them.

Cows, silver jars, and many priests – this is how the Maharaja of Jaipur began his journey to London in 1902 aboard the ship Olympia, but only after ensuring that the vessel had never touched beef.

Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II had to travel to London following the demise of Queen Victoria, when King Edward VII invited him, along with several Indian rulers, to attend the coronation ceremony. Deep-rooted religious beliefs turned what could have been a routine royal visit into something far larger.

Today, when a visitor walks into the City Palace of Jaipur, the experience follows a series of pauses — first at the artefacts, and then at a massive jar, the largest in the world, recorded in the Guinness World Records and made entirely of precious silver metal.

The jar weighs around 345 kg, stands 5 feet 3 inches tall, and has a circumference of nearly 15 feet, capable of carrying up to 4,200 litres of water.

The world’s largest silver jar has stood at the entrance of the Palace for over a century. Made three in original in 1894, carrying the story of a Maharaja of Jaipur who once took Ganga water to London.

“In the summer of 1902, when the maharajah of Jaipur set sail to attend the coronation of King Edward VII in London, parked in his steamer was a team of Indian cows. The cow, venerated by orthodox Hindus, had for generations now enjoyed a place of eminence in the overseas retinues of high-born ‘natives’,” writes Manu S Pillai in Gods, Guns and Missionaries.

INVITATION TO THE CORONATION

When Jaipur’s Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II received an invitation from King Edward VII to attend the coronation ceremony, he decided to bring the world’s largest silver urns to London, not as objects of display but as a part of a solution to a problem that refused to be ignored.

The three life-size urns were made from 14,000 silver coins over three years of heavy labour by the palace silversmiths, and were ready by 1894.

Why the huge silver urns were created remains a mystery. But the Maharaja used the jars to undertake a perilous journey across the sea which would test his fate.

The popular Hindu belief at the time was that crossing the sea, or the kala pani, could damage one’s caste status and ritual purity. This pushed the Maharaja’s Hindu priests and royal advisors to find a way to balance religious tradition with the expectations of King Edward VII of England.

The proposed three-month visit, along with the need to preserve his faith, was not easy for the Maharaja, his courtiers, or the priests to agree upon.

After prolonged discussions and consultations with the priests, conditions were set for the journey: no meat would be cooked on board, idols would travel with him placed on soil from Jaipur, every meal would be offered to the gods before consumption, and most importantly, he would drink only Gangajal during the journey.

As the time for departure approached, just two days before sailing, the selected vessel, untouched by beef in any form, a condition that narrowed choices but eventually led them to Olympia, a newly built ship yet to make its first voyage, was purified with Ganga water, while priests performed rituals, chants were recited, and prayers were offered to Lord Varuna to ensure a calm passage.

THE JOURNEY BEHIND THE CORONATION

The journey did not come cheap. Chartering the ship for the full voyage, along with a month-long halt in the UK, cost the Jaipur ruler Rs 1.5 million, a figure that would stand close to Rs 750 million today, and yet, despite the scale of the expense, he chose to travel alone as the sole passenger on board.

The ship sailed from Bombay in 1902. Life onboard followed its own rhythm, with six suites in use.

The most luxurious suite was set aside for Gopalji, the family deity of the Jaipur royals, whose idol travelled with the Maharaja.

The second one was reserved for the Maharaja himself, while a third was sanctioned for the royal priests of Jaipur.

A fourth was given to a close relative, known as a ‘Tazmi’ Sardar, and the remaining two suites were shared among other members of the entourage.

No prayers and all the rituals performed did not defy the toughness of a sea journey, and the fear of the Maharaja turned real when Varuna (the sea god) did not stay calm for long.

As the ship moved through the Red Sea, a storm hit, forcing the priests to advise the Maharaja to release one of the silver urns into the waters in the hope that the gesture would ease the waves.

Finally, after overcoming the waves and defying the odds, the King of Jaipur reached England. The British, seeing the two silver jars, too large to be seen as ordinary, could not believe their eyes.

King Edward VII hosted the Maharaja of Jaipur along with other Indian rulers. At court, he presented a finely crafted sword set with diamonds shaped like a lotus, edged with emerald details.

However, the Maharaja himself did not attend the coronation ceremony, as he could not be present in an area where beef was being consumed. Instead, he chose to stay and eat food prepared in his own camp.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/maharaja-sawai-madho-singh-ii-carried-ganga-water-to-england-2895925-2026-04-15

The Union Home Ministry’s decision comes after a threat assessment report by the Intelligence Bureau, which recommended enhanced protection for the AAP leader.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha has now been provided Z category security cover by the Centre based on an existing threat perception, according to sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs. The security will be extended in both Delhi and Punjab, with paramilitary forces assigned for his protection.

Sources told India Today that, for the time being, the Delhi Police has been instructed to provide immediate security cover to Chadha until the central arrangement is formally put in place.

The decision follows a threat assessment report prepared by the Intelligence Bureau, which recommended enhanced protection.

The development comes just hours after the Punjab government, led by the AAP, withdrew Chadha’s earlier Z+ category security cover, which had been provided by the state police. The withdrawal was being seen as significant given the ongoing tensions between Chadha and the AAP leadership.

Chadha, a prominent AAP leader elected to the Rajya Sabha from Punjab, had been enjoying Z+ security cover from the state government.

However, sources indicated that this cover was withdrawn last week, amid an escalating rift within the party. The Centre’s move to grant him Z category security shortly after has drawn attention in political circles.

RIFT WITH AAP DEEPENS

The security reshuffle coincides with Chadha’s removal as deputy leader of AAP in the Rajya Sabha, a decision that has further intensified his differences with the party leadership.

Reacting to his removal, Chadha stated that he had been “silenced, not defeated,” signalling a clear pushback against the party’s actions.

AAP leaders have accused Chadha of not adequately raising Punjab’s concerns in Parliament and adopting what they described as a “soft” approach instead of aggressively opposing the Centre.

They also alleged that he had avoided participating in key opposition actions, including walkouts and signing notices against constitutional authorities.

CHADHA REJECTS CHARGES

Raghav Chadha has strongly rejected these allegations, calling them “lies” and asserting that his role as a parliamentarian is to raise public issues constructively rather than engage in disruptions.

He maintained that his parliamentary record speaks for itself and defended his approach as being focused on substantive debate.

SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, VIDEOS SIGNAL PUSHBACK

In recent days, Chadha has also taken to social media to counter criticism and signal his stance. He has shared multiple videos and posts highlighting his interventions in Parliament, including a video compilation titled “Voice Raised Price Paid”.

In one post, he remarked that he would “let his work do the talking”.

Adding to the political intrigue, Chadha recently commented “interesting thought” on a video suggesting he should float his own political party, fuelling speculation about his future within AAP.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/raghav-chadha-z-plus-security-by-punjab-police-withdrawn-amid-rift-with-aap-2896419-2026-04-15

Celebrating the remarkable milestone with the coveted spot, he said that the recognition brings a “big honour for the years of consistency” for him.

Celebrity chef and restauranter Vikas Khanna shared a heartfelt note on Instagram after he was named among TIME’s Most Influential People of 2026, saying that it is not just a milestone, but a deeply personal moment that brings his entire journey full circle.

Celebrating the remarkable milestone with the coveted spot, he said that the recognition brings a “big honour for the years of consistency” for him. He said that this achievement isn’t his alone. “This is not just my journey of 41 years of consistency. This belongs to every mother, every teacher, every sister, every hand that believed, and every plate that carried a story forward,” he said in the Instagram post.

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“I have no words to fully express my gratitude for being named among TIME’s Most Influential People of 2026. What a moment—for Indian cuisine, for our culture, for every story that began in a humble kitchen,” he said, shifting the focus from himself to the larger journey of Indian food and tradition on the global stage.

The chef also recalled his days of struggle and said that who would have imagined that a boy who used to roll breads at Golden Temple would lead to the biggest platform in the World

“Who would have imagined that a boy from the narrow lanes of Amritsar—who struggled to run with other kids, who knew that rolling breads at Golden Temple would lead to the biggest platform in the World, who chose cooking as an act of rebellion, who once sold chole bhature as a small dream—would one day find his name among the world’s most influential voices,” he added.

Khanna also took a moment to thank chef Eric Ripert, who wrote his introduction for the magazine, and his family, calling them his “first family” in the United States—a reminder of the relationships that shaped his path along the way.

While speaking to news agency ANI, Khanna expressed much gratitude and pride.

“I feel more for all the people who have stood by me all these decades. This is a big achievement for both our Indian culture and cuisine. I believe this will help volumise our voices in Indian cuisine,” Khanna said.

He spoke about how the recognition brings a “big honour for the years of consistency” for him.

“Even if people don’t show up, I believe Indian food is the game,” Vikas Khanna added.

As the recognition sparked a wave of joy for proud Indians, Khanna received one of the first greetings from Priyanka Chopra Jonas.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/41-years-of-consistency-vikas-khanna-reacts-as-he-features-on-times-100-most-influential-list-ws-l-10035411.html

 

A retired pastor who took up exercise late now trains twice a week, lifting weights and following a steady routine

Rudolf Goetz is 100 years old and regularly works out at a gym in Fuerstenwalde, a town east of Berlin in Germany.

He only began going to the gym in his nineties, after noticing a flyer for the facility. Before that, he had no background in fitness and had worked as a pastor, the South China Morning Daily reported.

When he first started, it wasn’t easy. “I felt weak,” he says. “My legs just wouldn’t cooperate.” Over time, though, things improved.

Now, he trains twice a week and follows a consistent routine that lasts about an hour. During his sessions, he uses machines like the ab trainer and lifts weights. He is able to push around 40 kilograms on the leg press, something his trainer, Marc Baldow, says many people in their 50s or 60s would struggle with.

Goetz goes through his exercises quietly and without drawing attention. Despite his age, he maintains a steady pace throughout his workout.

He also keeps things simple when it comes to preparation. He does not always change into gym clothes before starting and often begins exercising in whatever he is wearing, including a pullover or a dress shirt.

He says he currently has no major health problems and no artificial joints, although his blood pressure is slightly low.

At the gym, he is known as “Rudi” and is the oldest member. His story has been described as “incredible” in local media, but he does not treat it as anything unusual.

He continues to attend the gym regularly and sticks to his twice-weekly schedule.

Goetz’s routine focuses on maintaining strength. His workouts include both upper and lower body exercises using machines, and he repeats them consistently during each visit.

He does not follow an elaborate fitness plan or make any changes to his approach based on attention or recognition. His sessions remain the same, focused on completing the exercises he has been doing since he started.

Source : https://www.news18.com/viral/100-year-old-who-started-gym-in-his-90s-keeps-going-many-others-would-be-groaning-at-50-or-60-ws-l-10035320.html

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said there will be no compromise on the rights, dignity and social security of workers, and warned of strict legal action against any violations.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said there will be no compromise on the rights, dignity and social security of workers, and warned of strict legal action against any violations.

Chairing a review of the state’s industrial situation via video conferencing, the chief minister directed officials to ensure that every worker receives dignified working conditions, timely payment of full wages and all statutory benefits, an official statement issued here said.

Taking serious note of a workers’ uproar in Gautam Buddh Nagar, Adityanath instructed authorities to identify and take stringent action against non-worker elements found instigating unrest or disrupting “industrial harmony.” He also directed that such elements be exposed and, if necessary, their photographs displayed in public places.

The chief minister emphasised a “zero tolerance” policy against organisations or individuals inciting workers, spreading rumours or engaging in misinformation campaigns.

He ordered continuous monitoring of social media platforms and swift legal action against those found spreading false information or propaganda. The chief minister’s remarks come against the backdrop of widespread workers’ demonstrations in Noida on Monday.

Several vehicles, including police SUVs, were torched, public property vandalised and stone pelting reported from across factory hubs in the district.

In light of the row, Adityanath directed an in-depth probe into all such agencies across the state under the supervision of the Infrastructure and Industrial Development Commissioner and the Labour Department.

He said the investigation should verify the actual number of workers, payments received from industrial units, wages disbursed to workers, and compliance with provisions such as ESI, insurance and other benefits.

The chief minister instructed that all industrial units — both government and private — must establish effective grievance redressal cells to ensure transparent and time-bound resolution of workers’ complaints. He also called for improved workplace facilities, including quality mess arrangements.

Adityanath directed industry development authorities to prepare a plan for constructing dormitories and affordable housing schemes for workers in industrial areas. He said development authorities must go beyond revenue generation and fulfil their social responsibilities.

The chief minister also stressed coordination with banks to ensure insurance coverage for workers, particularly in cases of accidents or untimely death, wherever wages are being transferred directly to bank accounts.

He called for priority attention to workers’ children’s education, healthcare services and medical insurance.

Adityanath directed authorities to maintain regular dialogue with entrepreneurs and industrial unit managements, while ensuring that only genuine workers are engaged in discussions.

He also asked police and administrative officials to remain vigilant to prevent disruptive elements from entering industrial premises under the guise of workers.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/no-compromise-on-workers-rights-strict-action-for-noida-violations-up-chief-minister-yogi-adityanath-11363668

Police sources confirmed that both corporators were summoned and questioned for nearly four and a half hours.

A First Information Report (FIR) against two Congress corporators over their alleged refusal to sing “Vande Mataram” inside the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) building has triggered a political storm in Indore, with the BJP and the Congress attacking each other over the issue.

The FIR, lodged at MG Road Police Station under Section 196(1) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, accuses Congress corporators Rubina Iqbal Khan and Fauzia Sheikh Aleem of promoting enmity and disturbing communal harmony. The FIR was filed based on a complaint by BJP corporator and IMC chief whip Kamal Baghela, backed by viral videos of the dramatic scenes that unfolded during the April 8 budget session.

Police sources confirmed that both corporators were summoned and questioned for nearly four and a half hours. Additional DCP Ramsanehi Mishra stated that the FIR was registered after examining statements and digital evidence, adding that the alleged act had the potential to hurt sentiments and create disharmony. If proven guilty, both leaders could face jail terms ranging from three to five years.

The alleged incident took place during the budget discussion in the local assembly. BJP corporators raised objections over Fauzia Sheikh Aleem allegedly arriving late to avoid singing ‘Vande Mataram’. Pressed to sing, Aleem instead questioned the legal basis for making it mandatory and walked out of the House.

Moments later, the situation escalated further when Rubina Iqbal Khan refused to sing and allegedly made provocative remarks during the uproar. The House descended into pandemonium, forcing the presiding officer to intervene.

Both corporators defended their stand outside the House. Rubina Iqbal Khan cited religious grounds, stating that singing the national song was not permissible in Islam, though she later expressed regret over her remarks. Fauzia Sheikh Aleem argued that the Constitution guarantees her freedom of religion and expression and that no one can be compelled to sing.

She also alleged that the issue was deliberately raised to derail discussion on civic crises, including the contaminated water supply that had led to multiple deaths in the city.

The controversy quickly snowballed into a larger political battle. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav challenged the Congress leadership to clarify its stand on Vande Mataram, while state Congress chief Jitu Patwari accused the BJP of manufacturing the issue to avoid accountability for governance failures.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/case-against-2-indore-corporators-for-not-singing-vande-mataram-sparks-row-11362857

Eight pilgrims died and 25 were injured when a mini-bus overturned in Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab, while returning from the Baisakhi Mela.

At least eight pilgrims were killed and 25 others sustained injuries after a mini-bus overturned in the Bassi Pathana area of Fatehgarh Sahib, police said on Wednesday.

“The victims were returning from Anandpur Sahib after paying obeisance during the Baisakhi Mela when the accident occurred around 10.30pm on the Chunni-Morinda road on Tuesday night,” they added. The tragedy occurred just a few kilometres before Main Majri village, where most of the victims resided.

The police have identified the deceased as driver Iqbal Singh, Ranjit Kaur, Jagvinder Singh, Lakhvir Singh, Harvir Singh, Pradeep Kaur, Kulwinder Singh and Harchand Singh.

The vehicle was carrying nearly 40 passengers, including children, indicating possible overloading. Preliminary reports suggest the driver lost control of the bus, which subsequently crashed into an electric pole and overturned. “Prima facie, it appears that the vehicle developed a malfunction,” said Fatehgarh Sahib SSP Shubam Aggarwal. While the exact cause is under investigation, survivors told police that a broken axle—the shaft supporting the vehicle’s weight—might have triggered the crash. Following the accident, several locals rushed to the spot and assisted in rescue operations.

An injured woman said the bus suddenly overturned when it was about to reach Main Majri village. Bassi Pathana MLA Rupinder Singh said the devotees hailed from Main Majri village.

“There is no indication of foul play. We are waiting for the forensic and mechanical reports,” said the SSP. On possibility of overloading, he said the police are probing the matter.

Six passengers died on the spot, while two others succumbed to their injuries during treatment. The injured were rushed to government hospitals in Fatehgarh Sahib, with several critically wounded victims referred to the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh.

At least 12 injured individuals were admitted with multiple trauma, including maxillofacial injuries and fractures of the limbs, said the PGIMER statement issued on Wednesday evening.

“All those brought to PGIMER, even in the most critical condition, have been promptly attended to with comprehensive multidisciplinary care and have been successfully stabilised,” the statement added.

Bassi Pathana MLA Rupinder Singh, who reached the spot on Tuesday night, said all devotees hailed from Main Majri village.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/8-pilgrims-die-as-mini-bus-overturns-in-fatehgarh-sahib-101776281596218.html

The techie expressed gratitude toward TCS for providing a strong foundation, but admitted that staying in a comfort zone may have held him back.

A Microsoft techie has sparked discussion online after sharing how staying too long in one company slowed his salary growth. In a video shared on Instagram, Sailesh Gurung said, “The biggest mistake that delayed my salary growth by four years was loyalty,” reflecting on his early career decisions.

Gurung shared that he began his journey at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), where he spent nearly 4 years. During this period, he said he worked hard, stayed consistent, and trusted that growth would follow.

However, the outcomes did not match expectations. “The hikes were small, the growth was slow,” he said, adding that the experience led him to realise that “loyalty does not increase your salary”.

In the caption, Gurgun expressed gratitude toward TCS for providing a strong foundation, discipline, and early career skills, but he admitted that staying in a comfort zone may have held him back.

“For the longest time, I thought staying longer automatically meant growing more,” he wrote in the caption, adding that the real problem was not necessarily the company, but comfort. “The real shift happened when I started investing more intentionally in my growth, built the right skills, and finally stepped outside what felt safe,” Gurung said.

“That one decision changed everything: TCS – Deloitte – Microsoft. This journey taught me that growth is not always about leaving. It’s about recognizing when you have outgrown the version of yourself that feels comfortable,” he added.

See more

HT.com has reached out to Sailesh Gurung. The article will be updated once a response is received.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/microsoft-techie-shares-biggest-mistake-that-delayed-his-salary-growth-by-4-years-company-is-not-the-problem-101776268161763.html

 

It has been observed that a considerable number of such mismatches are associated with FASTags issued prior to their issuance with the VAHAN database.

State-owned NHAI on Wednesday said it has issued directions to all FASTag issuer banks to undertake immediate validation of vehicle registration numbers to enhance the accuracy and reliability of data in the electronic toll collection system.

NHAI, in a statement, said the decision follows receipt of complaints regarding instances where the VRN (vehicle registration number) captured by FASTag readers does not match the actual registration number displayed on the vehicle number plate.

Such discrepancies have the potential to undermine enforcement mechanisms and may lead to revenue evasion and also attract other penal provisions under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, it added.

It has been observed that a considerable number of such mismatches are associated with FASTags issued prior to their issuance with the VAHAN database, the statement said.

During that period, validation mechanisms were relatively limited and relied more on manual processes, leading to potential inconsistencies in vehicle identification records, it noted.

NHAI said it has emphasised that ensuring the correctness of VRN mapping with FASTag is of critical importance, especially in view of upcoming technology-driven initiatives such as Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/art-culture/step-inside-this-1942-maharaja-mahendrasinhji-s-gujarat-palace-that-blends-european-and-indian-traditions-101776225907454.html

A viral video showing a woman allegedly finding a dead mouse inside a canned Starbucks Double Shot Energy drink has sparked outrage and scepticism online. While many viewers expressed disgust and raised safety concerns, others questioned the clip’s authenticity, accusing the creator of staging the incident for attention. No official confirmation or verified legal action has been reported so far

A disturbing viral video circulating across social media platforms has left viewers shocked and divided, after a woman claimed she discovered a dead mouse inside a canned Starbucks Double Shot Energy drink.

Originally shared on Reddit, the clip quickly spread to X and other platforms, triggering intense debate over food safety, product contamination, and the authenticity of viral content.

Woman cuts open can after suspecting something inside

In the video, the woman explains that she felt something unusual inside her unopened canned coffee. Curious and concerned, she decided to cut the aluminium can open rather than discard it.

After slicing through the container, she appeared surprised by the size of an object stuck inside. While attempting to show it on camera, she drained the remaining mocha-coloured liquid, and moments later, a small dark object slid out.

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NEW – Starbucks is now receiving massive backlash online after a woman discovered a fully intact mouse inside her can of Double Shot Energy, which she says she plans to sue over. pic.twitter.com/RzzWNVpQzX

— Right Angle News Network (@Rightanglenews) April 13, 2026

The footage shows what appears to be a dead mouse covered in coffee, prompting immediate shock reactions and audible gagging from people present during the recording.

Social media reacts with disgust and safety concerns

The clip rapidly gained traction online, with thousands of users expressing disgust and questioning the safety of canned beverages.

Many viewers said the incident made them reconsider packaged drinks altogether, while others raised broader concerns about quality control in large-scale food production. Some commenters argued that weakened regulatory oversight could increase the risk of contamination incidents.

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NEW – Starbucks is now receiving massive backlash online after a woman discovered a fully intact mouse inside her can of Double Shot Energy, which she says she plans to sue over. pic.twitter.com/RzzWNVpQzX

— Right Angle News Network (@Rightanglenews) April 13, 2026

The video’s viral spread has amplified conversations about consumer trust, food manufacturing standards, and how quickly alarming claims can influence public perception.

Claims of legal action remain unverified

A reposted version of the video alleged that the woman planned to take legal action against the company. However, no official confirmation of a lawsuit or verified complaint has surfaced so far.

As of now, there has been no publicly confirmed investigation connected to the viral claim.

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@grok Can you explain why companies aren’t taking steps to verify contents of their products before shipping them? It seems like it would be easy with AI, lasers, etc.

— Schmooshie 👁️⃤ (@Schmo0shie) April 13, 2026

Sceptics question authenticity of the video

Not everyone is convinced the footage is genuine. Several online users have pointed out inconsistencies, suggesting the video could be staged.

Critics argue that a rodent trapped inside a sealed beverage for weeks would likely show visible signs of decomposition. Others questioned why the can appeared manually opened, speculating that the object may have been inserted afterward.

The debate highlights how viral videos often blur the line between real consumer concerns and internet hoaxes.

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NEW – Starbucks is now receiving massive backlash online after a woman discovered a fully intact mouse inside her can of Double Shot Energy, which she says she plans to sue over. pic.twitter.com/RzzWNVpQzX

— Right Angle News Network (@Rightanglenews) April 13, 2026

See more

NEW – Starbucks is now receiving massive backlash online after a woman discovered a fully intact mouse inside her can of Double Shot Energy, which she says she plans to sue over. pic.twitter.com/RzzWNVpQzX

— Right Angle News Network (@Rightanglenews) April 13, 2026

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/viral/eww-gross-woman-finds-dead-mouse-found-inside-starbucks-canned-drink-netizens-suspect-fake-stunt-after-video-goes-viral-watch 

 

Infosys reiterated its zero-tolerance policy on workplace harassment after the TCS Nashik sexual assault and conversion case intensified scrutiny of employee safety. This followed now-deleted social media allegations of misconduct at its Pune BPM unit. Infosys said it has strong policies and independent inquiry mechanisms. TCS has also launched an internal probe after multiple FIRs and arrests.

Infosys has reiterated its stance of zero tolerance for workplace harassment after the TCS Nashik sexual assault and conversion case put a spotlight on employee safety. This comes after posts on social media alleging misconduct at its Pune BPM unit, which have attracted attention.

The post, which was doing the rounds on the internet and has now been deleted from X, alleged harassment against women employees at Infosys’ Pune BPM facility. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was tagged in it, as was the official account of Infosys BPM. Minister Nitesh Rane acknowledged the post and wrote “noted” in response to the now-deleted post on X.

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Noted.

— Nitesh Rane (@NiteshNRane) April 13, 2026

Infosys Issues Statement

In a statement, Infosys told Moneycontrol that it is aware of some social media posts claiming that women employees at its BPM facility in Pune are facing harassment. The company said it maintains a zero-tolerance approach to any and all forms of harassment or discrimination and is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, positive, and respectful workplace in all jurisdictions in which it operates.

“The company has well-established policies and robust mechanisms in place to address any concerns, in line with applicable laws. Any issue that is reported is treated seriously and investigated by an independent committee, as per its processes. In addition, there are proactive multi-channel preventive programs, including a ‘speak-up’ culture that encourages employees to report concerns. Infosys remains committed to upholding the highest standards of ethics, integrity, and workplace conduct, aligned with its code of conduct.”

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/pune/tech-giant-in-trouble-after-tcs-nashik-conversion-case-infosys-caught-up-in-harassment-allegations-in-pune

 

PM Modi inaugurates Delhi-Dehradun Expressway connecting three states, travel time reduced to 2.5 hours.

Giving a major boost to travel between Delhi and Uttarakhand is here as the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (April 14) inaugrated the 210 km-long highway that is expected to reduce travel time from over 6 hours to just 2.5 hours. Built for Rs 11,868 crore, the expressway will also shorten the distance between Delhi and Dehradun from 235 km to 210 km. Designed for speeds of up to 100 kmph, the highway promises smoother and faster journeys for commuters, tourists and pilgrims.

Before the launch, the Prime Minister held a road show in Saharanpur and also visited the Maa Daat Kali Temple near Dehradun, where he offered prayers.

The project also improves connectivity to Haridwar through a dedicated spur, making travel easier for those heading to Char Dham routes. Key stretches pass through Uttar Pradesh districts like Baghpat, Shamli, Muzaffarnagar and Saharanpur before entering Uttarakhand.

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#WATCH | Dehradun, Uttarakhand: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the Delhi–Dehradun Economic Corridor.

The corridor will reduce travel time between Delhi and Dehradun from over 6 hours to around 2.5 hours. It has been designed with several features aimed at significantly… pic.twitter.com/JZj6J4UUbT

— ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2026

 

The win is surely for the entire Tisza Party, but the one leader that is stealing the most limelight is Zsolt Hegedus– all thanks to his energetic victory dance! The Tisza Party finally defeated longtime Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, ending his 16-year rule.

Tisza Party’s landslide win against longtime Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in the recent Parliamentary elections was surely a reason to celebrate– which is exactly what the winning party and its supporters did; however, the one person who ended up stealing the most spotlight for his rather energetic victory celebration was Hungarian leader Zsolt Hegedüs! Tisza Party’s Peter Magyar finally won the elections and defeated Orbán after a 16-year-long rule, which was followed by a speech by Magyar in Budapest. However, the moment that won everyone over was Hegedüs’ on-stage victory dance!

A video of Hegedüs breaking into all kinds of hip-hop moves while his victory celebration is going insanely viral on social media. The clip showed the rest of the leaders dancing behind him; Hegedüs’ energy, however, was evidently on another level.

Reportedly, the Tisza Party had secured 138 seats out of 199– on 53.6 percent of the vote– with 97.35 percent of precincts counted. As per Magyar, Orbán had called him up to congratulate for the win.

Zoho responds to anonymous allegations of mass layoffs, clarifying its 2026 internship conversion rates and hiring policies.

Indian multinational tech giant Zoho has officially addressed an anonymous post that went viral on the professional networking app Blind, which claimed the company had “silently” laid off 300 employees without notice. The allegation caused an immediate stir, as Zoho is well-known for its strict “no layoffs” policy maintained over three decades, even during the 2023 tech downturn and the rapid rise of AI.

The anonymous user, who claimed to be one of the 300 affected individuals, expressed deep disappointment in the post, stating they had chosen Zoho over offers from companies like TCS and Capgemini for its promised stability. “This situation has hit me hard,” the user wrote, citing a financially struggling background and family dependence on the role.

Zoho Clarifies: Interns, Not Employees

In a statement provided to HT.com, Zoho clarified that the viral claims stem from a misunderstanding of the company’s internship structure versus full-time employment.

Mohammed Sohail, Associate Director of Talent Acquisition and Global HR Operations at Zoho Corp, told HT.com that describing interns who did not receive full-time offers as “laid off” is “factually incorrect.”

“The post in question appears to conflate our internship programme with employment,” Sohail told HT.com. “These are distinct: internships are learning engagements that do not automatically guarantee a full-time role.”

Sohail further explained to HT.com that for the 2026 intern cohort, more than 30% of candidates have already either received full-time offers or are currently being evaluated for permanent positions. This is independent of the freshers who have been hired and will join as full-time staff upon the completion of their academic courses.

Source : https://www.news18.com/viral/zoho-clarifies-after-viral-post-claims-300-employees-fired-without-notice-10033317.html

Upon his return, Nirav Modi is expected to face expedited trial proceedings in connection with the fraud case.

In a significant development in one of India’s most high-profile economic fugitive cases, fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi could be brought back to India soon, with top government sources indicating that the extradition process has entered its final phase. Sources told CNN-News18 exclusively, teams from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are already in London to facilitate the process, suggesting that operational steps to bring Modi back are underway.

Sources said that most major legal hurdles in the United Kingdom have been effectively exhausted, clearing the way for his return. The deployment of CBI teams to London is being seen as a sign that the process has moved beyond legal proceedings into its final execution stage.

Nirav Modi, who is accused in the multi-billion dollar fraud involving Punjab National Bank, has been at the centre of India’s efforts to bring back economic offenders who fled the country.

If completed, the extradition would mark a major breakthrough for the government, reflecting what officials describe as a stronger track record in pursuing fugitives abroad through sustained legal and diplomatic efforts. Upon his return, Nirav Modi is expected to face expedited trial proceedings in connection with the fraud case.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/nirav-modi-to-return-to-india-soon-cbi-teams-in-london-as-extradition-nears-final-stage-10033242.html

F404-IN20 engines intended for the Tejas Mk-1A fighter jets delayed, only six of the 99 ordered engines have been delivered

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has imposed contractual penalties (liquidated damages) on GE Aerospace for delayed deliveries of F404-IN20 engines intended for the Tejas Mk-1A fighter jets. Only six of the 99 ordered engines have been delivered, said reports.

While the exact total penalty has not been officially disclosed, defence ministry norms generally cap such damages at 10% of the total contract value, according to the Times of India and India Today.

The timeline of delays and penalties

• February 2021: The Ministry of Defence signed a Rs 48,000-crore deal with HAL for 83 Tejas Mk-1A jets.
• August 2021: HAL signed a $716 million contract with GE Aerospace for 99 F404-IN20 engines.
• March 2023: Original scheduled start for engine deliveries.
• March 2024: The original deadline for delivering the first Tejas Mk-1A aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF) was missed due to the lack of engines.
• March 2025: GE Aerospace delivered the first engine, nearly two years behind the initial schedule.
• November 2025: Despite ongoing delays, HAL signed a second, larger contract worth approximately $1 billion for 113 more F404 engines for a future batch of 97 jets.
• April 2026: HAL confirmed it is actively invoking penalty clauses for every delayed engine delivery.

Only 6 out of 99 engines from the first order have been delivered so far. GE Aerospace committed to delivering 20 engines by the end of 2026 to help stabilise the production line, said reports.

See more

“GE Aerospace and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) are pleased to announce significant progress regarding F414 co-production today, having reached agreement on technical matters. This agreement marks a significant step forward in strengthening economic growth and advancing… pic.twitter.com/trvQStmyCc

— ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2026

How does the penalty system work?

Penalties are applied as liquidated damages deducted from payments for each engine delivered beyond its stipulated schedule.

Contractual penalties are typically limited to 10% of the contract’s total value ($71.6 million for the first $716 million deal).

The delay has stalled the production of approximately 20 airframes that are structurally complete but remain grounded without powerplants.

Why the delay?

GE Aerospace has attributed the missed deadlines to global supply chain disruptions, component shortages, and challenges in restarting the F404 production line after a long gap. Some reports also suggest that geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East have impacted logistical routes.

What next? New facility; agreement on technical matters

US defence major GE Aerospace on Monday announced firming up of a contract with the Indian Air Force (IAF) to set up a maintenance facility for its F404-IN20 jet engines which are powering India’s Tejas light combat aircraft fleet. The facility will be established by the IAF with technical inputs from GE Aerospace and is expected to help India’s indigenous defence sustainment effort, the company said.

Once operational, the facility will eliminate the need to depend on the overseas repair centres, significantly improving turnaround times, it said.

“GE Aerospace and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) are pleased to announce significant progress regarding F414 co-production today, having reached agreement on technical matters. This agreement marks a significant step forward in strengthening economic growth and advancing cooperation for both India and the U.S. and expands the 40-year partnership between GE Aerospace and HAL,” GE Aerospace spokesperson told ANI, ahead of the contract expected later this year.

Source : https://www.news18.com/explainers/tejas-mk-1a-fighter-jet-engines-why-hal-imposed-penalties-on-ge-aerospace-what-next-explained-ws-ekl-10032854.html

 

Sources said seat allocation will be based on proportional representation. The 2011 Census is being used as the reference point

The latest Delimitation Bill will likely benefit the southern states due to a seat allocation formula, which will be based on proportional representation.

According to top government sources on the Delimitation Bill, the final number of seats will be determined by the Delimitation Commission.

The sources said the bill does not specify an exact seat count or a fixed percentage (such as 50 percent). The figure of 850 represents only the upper limit for the total number of Lok Sabha seats.

They said seat allocation will be based on proportional representation, which will likely benefit the southern states. The 2011 Census is being used as the reference point.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/delimitation-bill-southern-states-may-benefit-from-seat-allocation-formula-say-govt-sources-ws-el-10033188.html

 

President Murmu also urged all sections of society to prioritise learning, especially for marginalised communities.

President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday urged citizens to rise above divisions of caste, class, language, and region to build a harmonious society, asserting that no individual should live with the “mentality of the exploited or the deprived.”

Addressing the ‘Samajik Samrasta Mahotsav’ at Lok Bhavan to mark the birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar, Murmu emphasised the need for collective progress. Babasaheb’s contributions as a legal expert, economist, and social reformer are widely discussed. However, citizens must also understand his multidimensional role as a nation-builder in fields like banking, irrigation, labour management, and revenue-sharing between the Centre and states, she said.

Invoking Ambedkar’s clarion call to “Get educated,” the President also urged all sections of society to prioritise learning, especially for marginalised communities.

“It is the responsibility of all of us to encourage people from deprived sections in every village and town to pursue education. Through comprehensive and moral education, the spirit of harmony is strengthened,” she said.

“Rising above all divisions of caste, class, language and region, and remaining united without discrimination — that is the practical form of harmony. All children of Mother India are one, unified in spirit, of one essence, and harmonious,” she added.

Drawing on personal anecdotes, the President spoke about the transition from state support to self-reliance. “My father used to say that someone will support a child only until the child learns to walk. Once they have learned to walk, they must run on their own and make efforts to move forward,” she said, noting that while the government provides support in health, education, and agriculture, individuals must eventually run on their own.

“Rising above all divisions of caste, class, language and region, and remaining united without discrimination — that is the practical form of harmony. All children of Mother India are one, unified in spirit, of one essence, and harmonious,” she added.

Drawing on personal anecdotes, the President spoke about the transition from state support to self-reliance. “My father used to say that someone will support a child only until the child learns to walk. Once they have learned to walk, they must run on their own and make efforts to move forward,” she said, noting that while the government provides support in health, education, and agriculture, individuals must eventually run on their own.

President Murmu highlighted that the “soul of the country lives in its villages,” noting that despite caste differences, rural areas often exhibit deep mutual affection. “The path to building a harmonious Indian society passes through harmonious villages,” she added.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/fashion/radhika-merchant-and-isha-ambani-chose-comfortable-suits-to-dance-the-night-away-at-anant-ambani-birthday-celebration-101776136692758.html

Even as it moved to address the workers’ core demand, UP’s BJP government alleged conspiracy behind the stir, invoking Pakistan, Naxalism, “anti-nationals”

The Uttar Pradesh government announced an interim minimum-wage hike of around 21% for factory workers in Gautam Buddha Nagar and Ghaziabad on Tuesday, following days of escalating protests in Noida’s industrial belt that left dozens of vehicles torched, over 350 people arrested, and at least five police personnel injured. But even as it moved to address the workers’ core demand, the state government alleged a conspiracy behind the stir — invoking Pakistan, Naxalism, and “anti-national forces”.

The protests, which began on April 10 at the Hosiery Complex in Noida’s Phase 2, had been building for months. Workers earning between ₹11,000 and ₹15,000 a month — among the lowest wages in the National Capital Region — watched neighbouring Haryana raise its minimum wage by 35% in the first week of April, from ₹14,000 to ₹19,000. Workers doing comparable work just across the state border wanted the same, hence the central demand was a minimum monthly wage of ₹20,000.

The trigger at one of the units was a wage hike notice of just ₹340–360 a month. Some of the workforce went on strike by April 10, and by Monday, April 13, over 40,000 workers had flooded the streets across more than 80 locations in Noida’s industrial zones, police officials said. Vehicles were set on fire, and police deployed tear gas.

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VIDEO | Noida Workers Protest: Gautam Buddha Nagar Police Commissioner Laxmi Singh says, “Yesterday in the district, more than 42,000 workers came out on the streets at 83 locations. Only at two places did the protests turn violent, where the police used minimal force to bring… pic.twitter.com/vYxrnSJBFr

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 14, 2026

Workers describe exploitation

Workers spoke of systematic underpayment and work-hour abuse.

Tularam, a garment factory worker in Phase 2 who said he’s been in the industry for five years, said his salary had risen just ₹2,000 in that time, to ₹13,000. “My salary gets exhausted by the 10th of every month,” he said, “The government is not paying us. We are paid by the factory owners, who are offering us pennies for our hard work.”

Mohini Pal, 27, who works at an export company in Sector 57, said she earns ₹10,275 a month and does overtime for which she is not paid. “Factory owners are exploiting us,” she said, adding that ₹1,350 is deducted from her salary if she takes a single day off.

Sangeeta, another worker, described production targets so punishing that workers could not step away from machines to drink water or use the washroom.

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#WATCH | Laxmi, one of the protesters, says, “I work at Motherson. They are paying us less salary. We want more. When we staged a sit-in protest, they beat us up with no fault of ours. Cylinders, vegetables and everything are expensive…We were beaten up when we protested today.… https://t.co/Vrlihfk4bT pic.twitter.com/Bv4h86o0cp

— ANI (@ANI) April 13, 2026

Rambha Devi claimed she was paid for only 21 hours of overtime despite completing 115 hours, and that ₹2,739 was withheld from her salary as punishment for participating in the strike.

“We can’t even buy a bicycle, and these guys buy BMWs and Mercedes every month,” said another worker.

Government responds

On Tuesday, a high-level committee constituted by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath of the BJP government raised interim wages. Unskilled workers will now earn ₹13,690 instead of ₹11,313; semi-skilled workers ₹15,059 instead of ₹12,445; and skilled workers ₹16,868 instead of ₹13,940. The hike is effective from April 1.

Workers called it insufficient, still short of their ₹20,000 demand for even the skilled category. Protests therefore continued on Tuesday.

Before the wage hike, in a statement after a late-night review meeting in Lucknow on Sunday, Yogi Adityanath said, “Naxalism in the country is now nearly finished, but attempts to revive it could be part of a larger conspiracy. There is a possibility that misleading and disruptive elements were involved in some recent protests.”

He ordered authorities to identify anyone “posing as labour representatives”.

Labour minister Anil Rajbhar went further and cited the recent arrest of four suspects in Noida and Meerut with alleged links to handlers in Pakistan. He said the protests appeared to have been planned to “destabilise the state”.

Police said social media accounts, and WhatsApp groups, had been created in the preceding days to “mislead” protesters. FIRs have been registered against two X handles, with over 50 suspected “bot accounts” identified.

From the Opposition bloc, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, however, said, “Before defaming the workers’ movement by linking it to Naxalism, the government must explain what it has done in the last 10 years that such conditions have emerged. If you cannot heal the wounds of workers, at least do not rub salt into them.”

He also jibed whether the state’s intelligence apparatus had been occupied campaigning in West Bengal, where elections are being held, “rather than monitoring Noida”.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/yogi-govt-hikes-worker-wages-amid-noida-protest-also-claims-pakistan-link-and-naxal-revival-bid-101776180267775.html

 

PM Modi and President Trump held a 40-minute phone conversation, says Sergio Gor, US ambassador to India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump held a 40-minute phone conversation on Tuesday, April 14, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said. This is the third phone call between the two leaders this year, and the second since conflict broke out in West Asia after the US and Israel launched an attack on Iran on February 28.

They spoke on February 2 to announce progress in a trade deal, and then on March 24 to discuss situation in West Asia; plus a third time now.

The war is currently in a stalemate after talks held in Pakistan capital Islamabad produced no result last weekend. Both sides are since sticking to their guns as a precarious truce, set for until April 22, holds for now.

US ambassador also said that during the phone call, Trump briefed PM Modi on the situation in West Asia, including the US blockade of Iranian ports. He also said that some big-ticket deals are expected between the US and India, including in energy

Delhi government has cleared a 4.72-km flood protection wall along the Yamuna River, targeting one of the city’s most flood-prone stretches.

Delhi government has cleared a 4.72-km flood protection wall along the Yamuna River, targeting one of the city’s most flood-prone stretches. The wall will come up from Majnu Ka Tila to the Old Railway Bridge along the Ring Road.

“Repeated Flooding Behind Decision”

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the move follows years of flooding. “The decision is rooted in the city’s repeated experience with severe flooding,” she said, adding that the project aims to move beyond temporary measures.

Why This Stretch Matters

Low lying areas such as Civil Lines, Kashmere Gate, Yamuna Bazaar and Majnu Ka Tila are among the worst affected when water levels rise. Floodwaters have often spilled onto the Ring Road here, disrupting traffic and daily life.

2023 Floods Put Spotlight On Risk

The urgency comes after the 2023 floods, when the Yamuna touched a record 208.66 metres, surpassing the 1978 peak and inundating large parts of the city. In 2025, the river again crossed the danger mark, reaching 207.48 metres, pointing to a recurring pattern.

Expert Study Flags Vulnerability

The plan follows recommendations from a Joint Flood Committee, based on studies by the Central Water and Power Research Station, which identified this stretch as highly exposed to flooding.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/delhi-clears-4-7-km-flood-protection-wall-along-yamuna-river-11358499

A 14-year-old girl gave birth to a son on Tuesday at the district hospital in Pithoragarh, following which a case was registered against the father of the newborn, officials said.

A 14-year-old girl gave birth to a son on Tuesday at the district hospital in Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand, following which a case was registered against the father of the newborn, officials said.

L S Khati, Chairman of the Child Welfare Committee — a state government body responsible for the care of needy children in the Pithoragarh district — stated that the pregnant girl was in severe labour pain. Assuming the responsibility of her guardian, the committee signed the necessary consent forms, allowing doctors to perform a surgical procedure.

Khati further informed that a case has been registered against the newborn’s father at the Munsyari Police Station under Sections 64(1), 87, and 5/6 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (Indian Justice Code), as well as under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

According to information received, a young man, who claimed to be the infant’s father, works in Pune.

The minor girl informed the committee that her parents had separated when she was very young. Last year, she became involved with this young man and moved to Pune, where she subsequently became pregnant.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/14-year-old-gives-birth-case-filed-against-newborns-father-police-11358453

Priya Sachdev’s tribute comes at a time when matters surrounding Sunjay Kapur’s estate have reportedly turned contentious

Priya Sachdev has penned an emotional tribute to her late husband Sunjay Kapur on what would have been their ninth wedding anniversary, even as a legal dispute over his estate continues to unfold.

Taking to Instagram, Priya shared a series of photographs from their wedding ceremony in 2017. The photos capture moments from their traditional Punjabi wedding, with Priya dressed in an orange and gold Banarasi kurta set, while Sunjay Kapur is seen in a white kurta paired with a pink turban.

The couple is seen offering prayers, taking pheras, and posing together as newlyweds. One of the images also features readings from the Guru Granth Sahib.

Priya’s Emotional Note

Alongside the photographs, Priya included a deeply personal note, recalling memories from their years together. She also shared a handwritten message that Sunjay had penned for her on their seventh anniversary.

Redrawing of LS segments is a sticking point between Modi govt and Opposition; TN CM says give women quota without tinkering with number of seats and their maps

A special sitting of Parliament has been called for April 16-18 to take up two proposed legislations, or bills, to amend the Constitution to expand the Lok Sabha from 543 to 816 seats, and reserve one-third those – 273 to be precise – for women.

But it comes with several caveats, one of which is the necessary delimitation of India’s electoral map. Simply put, a redrawing of boundaries to form more Lok Sabha segments, and potentially even assembly segments thereafter.

This delimitation plan has emerged as a major sticking point between PM Narendra Modi’s government and Congress-led Opposition.

The government will need some Opposition help to pass these bills, as constitutional amendments need a two-third majority which the BJP-led NDA does not have.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi says the changes fulfil a promise all parties made together. But Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has written that the real issue is not women’s reservation at all — with which she says no one has an issue — but the delimitation exercise being bundled with it.

The two positions were staked out publicly within hours of each other on Monday, defining the battle lines heading into the special session.

What the bills propose: Use 2011 Census, not wait

The Union cabinet led by Modi has approved the introduction of two bills during the special sitting.

The first is a constitutional amendment requiring a two-thirds majority in both Houses of Parliament. The second concerns delimitation or redrawing of LS seat maps on the ground. Together, the bills seek to increase Lok Sabha seats by a flat 50% — from 543 to 816 — with the 273 additional seats reserved for women.

Crucially, the exercise would be based on the 2011 Census, not the ongoing Census which began this month and whose data will not be available for some time.

An earlier amendment for the women’s quota, passed with unanimous support in 2023, had attached the quota implementation to the next Census, which is not even in full swing as of now. That would have meant the actual reservation would not be in effect for the 2029 Lok Sabha election. Because, first the census would have to be done, and then delimitation — a long process.

Now, a Delimitation Commission is proposed to redraw constituency boundaries before the 2029 general elections, using the 2011 Census instead of waiting for the latest one.

Modi: ‘Opposition demanded 2029, we delivered’

Speaking on Monday, PM Modi claimed the special move would fulfil what all parties wanted. He recalled that in 2023, when the original women’s reservation bill was passed, all parties had said it should be implemented by 2029.

“Nobody wanted the bill to be passed and not implemented, especially our Opposition leaders. They were very vocal in stressing that it should be implemented in 2029. Keeping that timeline in mind, the government decided to take what the Opposition had said seriously,” he said.

Describing the upcoming special sittings of parliament as a historic moment, Modi urged all parties to pass the amendments unanimously.

“I am confident that just as it was passed and the pride of Parliament was elevated [in 2023], this time too, through everyone’s collective efforts, the dignity of Parliament will touch new heights,” he said.

Sonia Gandhi writes on ‘real issue’

Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, however, drew a sharp distinction between the women’s quota and the delimitation exercise accompanying it.

“Reservation for women is not the issue here. That has already been settled. The real issue is delimitation which, based on the information unofficially available, is extremely dangerous and an assault on the Constitution itself,” she wrote in an article for The Hindu.

She argued that any delimitation exercise must be preceded by a new census, as has been the practice historically.

She pointedly raised the question of states’ shares in the Lok Sabha. She said that any delimitation must not put smaller states and states that have been pioneers in family planning — such as most South Indian states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala — “at an absolute or relative disadvantage”.

She argued that even a proportionate increase in seats could harm such states, because “the difference in absolute numbers would get magnified”.

The BJP has said a flat 50% increase does not disturb the proportional shares of states in Parliament.

Sonia further questioned the timing of the government’s change of position from 2023. “Why did it take Prime Minister Narendra Modi 30 months to make his U-turn?” she asked, suggesting the special session had been called to manage “political narratives” amid assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Assam and Puducherry.

She accused the government of a “tearing hurry to bulldoze extremely far-reaching changes to our polity”.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also wrote to the Prime Minister on Monday, questioning the timing. He said the government was seeking the opposition’s cooperation without providing adequate details.

South is worried: ‘Give quota, but why delimitation’

Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK supremo MK Stalin has accused the government of bundling the two issues — reservation and redrawing of LS seat boundaries — deliberately.

He demanded that women’s reservation be implemented immediately, without fresh delimitation or change in number of Lok Sabha seats.

“The Union government is not concerned about implementing reservations for women. If their concerns were genuine, they could have done it right away. Rather than doing that, the BJP-led Centre is thinking of using it as a weapon to tackle opposition and take up the delimitation exercise based on population,” he said in an interview over the weekend with news agency PTI.

How seats increase

The delimitation part of the government’s plan carries significant implications for federal balance in Parliament.

Under the proposed 50% flat increase, states like Uttar Pradesh would go from 80 Lok Sabha seats to 120; Bihar from 40 to 60. These are states of the Hindi belt where the BJP is strong.

In the South where the BJP mostly struggles, Tamil Nadu would go from 39 to approximately 59, and Kerala from 20 to 30.

The government’s position is that since every state’s seats increase by the same proportion, no state’s share of Parliament changes.

The five southern states — Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana — collectively hold 23.8% of the current 543-seat house. After expansion, they would hold 23.9% of the 816-seat house. Hardly a change.

However, the Gandhis and several chief ministers argue that proportional share is not the full picture.

The absolute gap in seat numbers between the northern Hindi-belt states and the southern states would widen — with the North collectively gaining 88 seats and the South gaining 66, as per a basic calculation.

That would make it harder for smaller blocs to build coalitions to block constitutional amendments or resist changes to, say, tax-sharing arrangements among states.

Parliamentary arithmetic

There are essentially three levels of majority for legal changes in India.

An ordinary bill needs a simple majority.

A constitutional amendment under Article 368 needs a special majority, which means two-thirds of members present and voting. That is the higher bar these bills face.

The Lok Sabha has 543 members. A simple majority means 272. For a special majority, two-thirds of members present and voting, means 362.

The current constitutional amendment bill changes Articles 81 (composition of Lok Sabha), 82 (delimitation), 330 (SC/ST reservations) and 334A (women’s reservation), requires special majority.

The NDA has roughly 293 seats in the Lok Sabha, comfortably above 272 but short of 362. In the Rajya Sabha, the NDA is similarly placed — a majority but not a two-thirds majority on its own.

The government needs somewhere between 60 and 70 additional votes in the Lok Sabha from outside the NDA to clear the two-thirds bar, depending on attendance on the day of voting. Regional parties — BJD, YSR Congress, and others not firmly in either the NDA or INDIA bloc — are the swing votes being courted.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/delimitation-is-the-issue-sonia-gandhi-vs-pm-narendra-modi-on-womens-quota-bill-explained-101776075932210.html

Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged that Delhi High Court judge Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma had attended events organised by the Adhivakta Parishad, a lawyers’ body affiliated with the RSS, on four occasions. He further said he strongly opposed the BJP-RSS ideology.

Former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on Monday alleged that Delhi High Court judge Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma attended an event hosted by Adhivakta Parishad, a lawyer’s body affiliated with the RSS, four times. He said he was opposed to the BJP-RSS ideology and called the Delhi liquor policy case “political”.

Kejriwal has sought the withdrawal of Justice Sharma from hearing a CBI petition related to the liquor policy case. He has claimed that there was a grave, bona fide and reasonable apprehension that the hearing in the matter before her would not be impartial and neutral.

“There’s a lawyer’s body, Adhivakta Parishad. It is an ideological body of the BJP and RSS. Your honour has attended its events four times. The ideology they follow is something we strongly oppose and we oppose it openly. This case is political,” said Kejriwal, who appeared in court in person.

Kejriwal, in his submission, alleged political bias and raised concerns over judicial perception, questioning whether participation in events linked to a particular ideology could impact fairness in his case.

Citing Supreme Court observations, he referred to the remark, “In a functional democracy, perception matters,” and also invoked past comments describing the CBI as a “caged parrot,” arguing that investigative agencies must maintain independence and dispel perceptions of bias. He further claimed that the court itself had observed that the CBI was “subject to political bias.”

‘WILL I GET JUSTICE?’

Kejriwal argued that if a judge has attended events associated with a specific ideology, an accused from an opposing ideology may reasonably fear denial of justice, asking, “If I am from the opposite ideology, will I get justice?”

He also alleged selective urgency in hearings involving Opposition leaders, stating that only cases involving political opponents of the Centre were being taken up at a faster pace, and that there was undue haste in hearings and filings.

On the Delhi liquor policy case, the AAP chief claimed that the High Court had largely endorsed the arguments of the ED and CBI, saying that “every prayer by ED and CBI has turned into a judgment, except in one case.”

Kejriwal argued that he was not appearing as an accused, saying, “I am not standing here today as an accused. I have already been discharged.”

He referred to earlier proceedings, including the March 9 order, alleging that it was passed after a brief hearing with only the CBI present. He said, “Ex parte, without hearing anyone, without taking anyone’s reply. This court passed an order stating that, prima facie, the order is erroneous.” He claimed the trial court had examined thousands of pages, but its order was overturned after a short hearing.

On February 27, the trial court gave clean chit to Kejriwal, former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Sisodia and 21 others in the liquor policy case and pulled up the CBI, saying its case was wholly unable to survive judicial scrutiny and stood discredited in its entirety.

On March 9, Justice Sharma issued notice to all 23 accused on a CBI plea against their discharge, saying certain observations and findings of the trial court at the stage of framing of charges prima facie appeared erroneous and needed consideration.

‘MY HEART SANK AFTER SEEING COURT ORDER’

During the hearing, Kejriwal further said the March 9 order triggered serious apprehensions of bias, adding, “My heart sank. I had serious apprehensions about bias. Therefore, I wrote a letter to the Chief Justice.” He said he later approached the court after his representation was rejected.

Citing legal principles, he argued that even an apprehension of bias is sufficient for recusal, stating, “If there is an apprehension of bias in the mind of a party, then there is a case for recusal. The apprehension in my mind is a matter between me and the court. The CBI should not be made a party.”

Referring to earlier related cases, he said several matters involving co-accused had already been heard, including bail petitions, and said, “The observations made by this court in those matters amount to judgments.”

He alleged that in some instances, conclusions were drawn within a few hearings, saying, “It appears the court gave a final judgment on many of those points in just two hearings.”

On Sisodia’s case, he argued that conclusions on corruption were premature, saying, “It felt as if we were not just declared corrupt, but extremely corrupt.” He added that the Supreme Court had later set aside certain findings, claiming this showed inconsistency in earlier observations.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/law-news/story/kejriwal-seeks-withdrawal-delhi-high-court-judge-rss-event-liquor-case-2895509-2026-04-13

After being laid off twice from high-paying tech roles, Zeeshan Bakhrani used his savings to launch ‘Nishaan,’ a viral eatery blending Chicago roots with South Asian spices.

The corporate world’s loss has officially become the food world’s gain. For nearly a decade, Zeeshan Bakhrani lived the quintessential tech life in New York—navigating the high-pressure world of product management, sitting through endless strategy meetings, and dealing with shifting corporate priorities. But in August 2025, after being hit by a second layoff, the 34-year-old decided he was done with the “9-to-5″ grind.

According to a report by CNBC, Bakhrani took a $70,000 (approximately Rs 65 lakh) leap of faith, investing his personal savings into a brand-new Manhattan eatery called Nishaan. Today, that gamble is paying off to the tune of $140,000 (roughly Rs 1.3 crore) in monthly revenue.

Growing up in a Pakistani-American household in Chicago, Bakhrani’s palate was always a mix of two worlds. His mother would often spice up American staples with South Asian flavours—a culinary DNA that now defines his menu.

At Nishaan, you won’t find standard fast food. Instead, Bakhrani serves up “Pakistani-American street food,” featuring dishes like Bihari-style barbacoa tacos, Pakistani chopped cheese, and buffalo tandoori chicken sandwiches. It’s the kind of food he used to experiment with at home, swapping tortillas for parathas and topping burgers with spicy chutneys.

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Freedom From The Boardroom

While Bakhrani now works gruelling 14-hour days, he says the trade-off is worth it. Comparing his kitchen to his former tech roles, he highlighted the instant gratification of the food business. “Here, I come up with an idea, I can knock it out in a week,” he explained, contrasting the speed of the kitchen with the slow bureaucracy of tech projects.

Source : https://www.news18.com/viral/from-tech-layoffs-to-rs-1-3-crore-a-month-meet-the-product-manager-selling-bihari-tacos-in-new-york-10030777.html

 

ED’s coal pilferage money laundering case is based on CBI FIR filed in November 2020. The probe agency has carried out searches in January and April

Enforcement Directorate, on Monday, arrested one of the directors and founder of political consultancy firm I-PAC, Vinesh Chandel, officials told Times Now. The anti-money laundering probe agency is probing I-PAC in the alleged coal pilferage case.ED case stems from the CBI FIR filed in November 2020 where it was alleged that crores of coal is being smuggled and pilferage is happening in Eastern Coalfields Limited Mines in West Bengal’s Asansol district.

The probe agency will be producing Chandel before the special judge’s residence and seeking his custody. This is the first big arrest in the I-PAC linked coal pilferage investigations which started in January.

On 8th January, the ED claimed its raids in Kolkata which were being carried out at premises of I-PAC director Pratik Jain residence were disrupted when West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee stopped the raids mid way. “During the search, Deputy Commissioner of Police, South Kolkata and Officer in Charge of Sarani Police Station came to one of the premises along with 01 personnel to verify the identity of the officials. The Commissioner of Police, Kolkata also entered the premises shortly thereafter along with several officers of Kolkata Police. They were briefed about the proceedings by the Authorized Officer who also showed him his identity card,” the ED said on 8th January.

“Proceedings were being conducted in a peaceful and professional manner, till the arrival of West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee along with large number of police officials. Banerjee entered the residential premises of Prateek Jain, and took away key evidences including physical documents and electronic devices.The CM’s convoy then proceeded to I-PAC’s office premises, from where Banerjee, her aides, and the state police personnel forcibly removed physical documents and electronic evidence,” the ED said in a statement on 8th January.

A mob of over 100 protesters barged into a Maruti service centre and attacked the premises. The protesters torched vehicles, broke into the office, and set the guard’s cabin on fire.

A violent protests by factory workers in Noida brought traffic to a standstill at Delhi’s border with reports of stone-pelting, vandalism, and vehicles being set on fire were floating throughout the day. A car was also seen torched due to the escalated tensions between protesters and the police.

Further, a mob of over 100 protesters barged into a Maruti service centre and attacked the premises. The protesters torched vehicles, broke into the office, and set the guard’s cabin on fire.

The employees told Times Now that they don’t support such violent protests, adding, “Solutions should’ve been found through deliberations.”

In cases of such riot like situation or violent protests, damages can happen to the vehicle body, engine, windshield or even the entire vehicle could be burnt to ashes.

Amid the ongoing violent protests, a question that comes in mind of those whose cars are impacted due to the violence is whether the insurance companies cover the costs of damaged vehicles or not.

Paras Pasricha, Head of Motor Insurance at Policybazaar.com , said, “If a car is burnt during a protest or riot, it is typically covered under a comprehensive motor insurance policy, which includes protection against man-made events like riots, vandalism, and fire.”

“However, those with only a basic third-party policy will not be covered for damage to their own vehicle. In such situations, filing an FIR promptly and maintaining proper documentation is crucial to ensure a smooth claims process,” he added.

A comprehensive motor insurance policy consists of two parts ‘Own damage (OD) cover’ and third-party insurance cover.

A policyholder needs to check beforehand and if there is a comprehensive insurance policy, then the damage to the vehicle due to riots is covered under the OD section.

It is the non-compulsory part of the comprehensive motor policy that actually pays you in case of damage to your vehicle.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/business-economy/economy/noida-violence-do-insurance-companies-pay-when-your-car-goes-up-in-flames-article-154068447

A newly married man in Agra alleged that his wife demanded ₹90 lakh on their wedding night and refused intimacy without payment. The dispute escalated into a family clash, with accusations of threats and theft. The groom’s family approached the court after police inaction, leading to a case being registered and an ongoing investigation.

In Agra, a newly married man’s hopes of starting a new life with his wife were shattered to pieces on the wedding night after she allegedly demanded ₹90 lakh, refusing any physical relationship until the amount was paid. This bizarre demand left the groom’s family in a state of shock, as it was completely unexpected.

According to reports, the incident took place in the Jagdishpura area of Uttar Pradesh. The wedding took place between the groom, reportedly the brother of a doctor, and the bride, a resident of Hathras. All rituals were performed as per tradition, and there was joy among those who attended the ceremonies. However, this happiness was short-lived for the groom and his family.

Trouble began on the very first night of the marriage. It is reported that when the groom entered their private room and tried to get close to his wife, she allegedly demanded ₹90 lakh in cash, stating that she would not share any intimacy unless the full amount was paid.

Upon hearing this, the ground slipped from beneath the groom’s feet. He was stunned and immediately informed his family, leaving them deeply distressed. The groom refused to comply with the demand, which led to a heated argument between the couple, further escalating tensions within the household.

Following the argument, the bride allegedly called her family, leading to a ruckus between the two sides. The groom’s family has alleged that the bride’s relatives came to the house, locked it from the outside, and, when the money was not given, attempted to break the PNG gas line and burn the family alive. It is also alleged that the bride took all the jewellery and returned to her maternal home.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/pay-90-lakh-for-sex-bride-demands-money-for-intimacy-from-groom-on-wedding-night-in-ups-agra

RPG Group Chairman Harsh Goenka praised Nepal’s newly formed cabinet, highlighting its young ministers and strong academic backgrounds. Many members hold postgraduate or doctoral degrees from global universities. The cabinet, led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah, features several leaders in their 30s and 40s, drawing attention for its youthful and highly educated composition.

Industrialist Harsh Goenka on Monday lauded the composition of Nepal’s newly formed cabinet, pointing out the relatively young age and strong educational credentials of its members.

Sharing a graphic of the 2026 cabinet on X, Goenka remarked that Nepal’s new team of ministers stands out for being youthful, well-qualified and globally educated. He added that the composition offers something worth reflecting on for leaders in other countries.

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Nepal’s new cabinet stands out – young, highly qualified, and globally educated.

Something worth reflecting on for our own leaders! pic.twitter.com/VJBGqBQX18

— Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) April 13, 2026

The graphic indicated that many ministers in the cabinet are in their 30s and 40s, with several holding advanced degrees from reputed international universities. According to the data, Prime Minister Balendra Shah, aged 35, holds a master’s degree in structural engineering. Key ministries such as finance, foreign affairs and health are also led by individuals with postgraduate or doctoral qualifications from institutions in countries like the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.

Many cabinet members possess academic backgrounds in fields such as public policy, economics, engineering and public health, while others have studied law, business administration and literature. The data also highlighted that relatively young leaders have been assigned major portfolios including home affairs, infrastructure, energy, education and agriculture.

Among the notable appointments, Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle, aged 52, holds a PhD in Economics from the Australian National University and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University, making him one of the most academically accomplished members of the cabinet.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/something-to-reflect-on-harsh-goenka-applauds-nepals-new-highly-qualified-cabinet

 

The Iran-flagged Felicity has reached Sikka Port in western India, while the Curacao-flagged Jaya is at the eastern port of Odisha, the data shows.

Two very large crude carriers loaded with Iranian oil have reached Indian ports, ship tracking data from LSEG shows, as local refiners utilise a temporary waiver granted by the United States last month to resume purchases from Tehran for the first time in seven years.

The current waiver is due to expire on April 19.

The Iran-flagged Felicity has reached Sikka Port in western India, while the Curacao-flagged Jaya is at the eastern port of Odisha, the data shows.

A VLCC carries 2 million barrels of oil.

India, the world’s third-biggest oil importer and consumer, has not received a cargo from Iran since May 2019 after coming under U.S. pressure not to buy the country’s crude.

Indian Oil Corp, the country’s top refiner, has bought Iranian oil loaded on the Jaya, a vessel under U.S. sanctions, Reuters reported last week.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/israel-iran-war-india-gets-iranian-oil-for-first-time-in-7-years-report-11353249

The conflict began when a resident’s male cat impregnated a neighbour’s female cat. The conflict erupted after four kittens were born.

An unusual cat ‘custody’ dispute between neighbours in Bengaluru ended peacefully after police intervened. Details of the case were shared on X (formerly Twitter) by a user named Yasir Mushtaq. The user revealed that the police officers in Seshadripuram were recently called to handle a neighbourhood argument that had nothing to do with the people involved. It was about their pets.

The conflict began when a resident’s male cat impregnated a neighbour’s female cat. After the female cat gave birth to a litter of four kittens, the situation escalated.

The owners of the female cat reportedly took the newborns to their neighbour’s house, demanding they take over. They claimed that since the neighbour owned the “father,” they should be responsible for raising the kittens.

This demand led to a loud and heated argument between the two families, and someone called the police.

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Police Mediate Unusual ‘Cat Custody’ Dispute in Bengaluru

Bengaluru

In one of the more unusual interventions for the city’s patrol units, officers from the Seshadripuram Police Station in #Bengaluru were called to settle a neighborhood dispute triggered not by humans, but by… pic.twitter.com/F3FH27euYE

— Yasir Mushtaq (@path2shah) April 13, 2026

The officers acted as mediators and calmed both sides down. To settle the matter, they suggested neither family would be forced to keep the kittens.

They arranged for a neutral third party to take the kittens in.

Both families agreed to the deal, and the kittens were moved to their new home, successfully ending one of the city’s more unusual domestic calls.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/bizarre-child-support-dispute-over-kittens-goes-viral-bengaluru-police-intervenes-11353242

 

“Art, like knowledge, is a shared heritage of humanity and should not be confined by borders,” says Geo MD as he defends Asha Bhosle tribute after PEMRA notice

After Pakistan’s electronic media regulator PEMRA issued a show-cause notice to Geo News for airing content related to the death of legendary singer Asha Bhosle, it sparked a broader reaction about art and the shared cultural roots in the subcontinent.

Azhar Abbas, managing director of Geo News and president of the Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND),

He wrote in the X post, “It has always been customary to revisit and celebrate the work of iconic artists when reporting on them… In fact, for an artist of Asha Bhosle’s stature, we should have shared even more of her timeless and memorable songs than we did. Yet, [Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority or] PEMRA has chosen to restrict this.”

Abbas did not stop at defending his channel’s editorial choices.

He made a case for shared culture: “Art, like knowledge, is a shared heritage of humanity and it should not be confined by borders.”

He further noted, “Asha Bhosle herself admired Pakistan’s legendary singer Noor Jahan, whom she fondly called her ‘elder sister.’ She collaborated with Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and brought to life the poetry of great Urdu poets like Nasir Kazmi.”

Asha Bhosle died in Mumbai on April 12, 2026, at the age of 92.

As tributes poured in from across the world, Geo News — one of Pakistan’s most prominent television channels — covered her passing by revisiting her music and legacy.

What notice argued, and Geo MD’s reply

The media regulator issued a notice invoking a 2018 Supreme Court of Pakistan order that banned the airing of Indian content on television. It summoned Geo News CEO Mir Ibrahim Rehman for a hearing on April 27.

Abbas, however, batted for separating brittle politics from art.

“In times of war and conflict, art and artists should not become casualties. Intellectuals, musicians, and creators are often the very voices that stand against hatred and division, and the ones who bring people closer together,” he wrote. India and Pakistan were engaged in military exchanges last year after a terror attack in Pahalgam in India’s Jammu and Kashmir union territory. India carried out ‘Operation Sindoor’ against terror bases in Pakistan.

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PEMRA has issued a show-cause notice to Geo News for airing content related to the legendary subcontinent singer Asha Bhosle.
It has always been customary to revisit and celebrate the work of iconic artists when reporting on them. In fact, for an artist of Asha Bhosle’s stature,… pic.twitter.com/AuhFPyGZCL

— Azhar Abbas (@AzharAbbas3) April 13, 2026

Zia reminder, and more reaction

The backlash to PEMRA’s notice was not limited to Geo News’ reaction.

Political commentator Rauf Klasra even invoked a historical context. “Pls dont take us back to the draconian years of the 80s of Gen Zia, when even owning a VCR/movies was a crime and punishable,” he wrote, “It’s the age of Netflix and AI. Don’t make us look like a fool in this age.”

The reference to General Zia-ul-Haq was to his military rule in the 1980s, marked by cultural restrictions and a climate of censorship.

Another X user by the name Umer Farooq attacked the Shehbaz Sharif government: “The current regime is attempting to project a softer image of Pakistan. They claim we are better than India. Her melodies live on in people’s hearts. You want to erase them? How will you stop people from listening to her songs on YouTube or other platforms? The current regime has gone mad.”

Pakistani artists have paid tributes to Asha Bhosle. Actor Ahsan Khan called her death “the end of an era”; another actor, Adnan Siddiqui, wrote that her voice “had a way of filling even the quietest moments with something devastatingly human”.

Siddiqui added, “Thank you for the emotions you gave us, the memories you became and the magic you left behind. You’ll always be heard, somewhere… somehow.”

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/art-has-no-borders-pakistan-tv-channel-geo-against-notice-over-asha-bhosle-tribute-101776099098997.html

 

The MHA proposes increasing ex-Agniveers’ CISF recruitment reservation from 10% to 50%, exempting them from exams and physical tests.

The ministry of home affairs (MHA) has proposed increasing the reservation for ex-Agniveers in Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) recruitments from 10% to 50%, exempting them from the written examination and physical efficiency test, according to a CISF circular issued on Monday.

The CISF circular, seen by HT, said the recruitment rules are reviewed every five years. On March 6, the MHA instructed CISF to revise its recruitment provision for ex-Agniveers. On Monday, the CISF circulated its revised recruitment rules, incorporating the MHA proposal, for stakeholder comments. To be sure, the rules are yet to be notified.

The circular, detailing proposed changes, said that “50% vacancies shall be reserved for ex-Agniveers for recruitment to the post of Constable (General Duty) in every recruitment year.”

In the first phase, the circular said, the recruitment will be conducted by the Nodal Force for 50% vacancies earmarked for ex-Agniveers or as per the instructions issued by the MHA from time to time. In the second phase, it added, the recruitment will be “conducted through open examination as per the existing provisions against the remaining 50% of the vacancies along with the unfilled vacancies of the first or the first phase or as per the instructions issued by the MHA from time to time.”

The proposed changes also include exemption for ex-Agniveers from written examination, physical standard test (PST) and physical efficiency test (PET). In a March 16, 2023 notification reserving 10% of vacancies for ex-Agniveers, they were exempted only from the PST.

The move comes as the first batch of around 2,600 Agniveers, inducted into the Navy in November 2022, is likely to retire later this year and become eligible to join the various Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).

So far, only the Border Security Force (BSF) has declared a 50% reservation for ex-Agniveers among the CAPFs, while other forces reserve 10% of vacancies for former soldiers of the short-term recruitment scheme. Some state police forces, including those from Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan, have also announced reservations for ex-Agniveers.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/home-ministry-proposes-to-increase-cisf-quota-for-ex-agniveers-to-50-101776106149402.html

Shashi Tharoor slammed a “toxic campus culture” following the death of BDS student Nithin Raj in Kerala, asking, “How many must we mourn?” Citing allegations of caste abuse, harassment and academic targeting, he demanded a criminal probe and accountability. Tharoor said such incidents reflect systemic failure and called for urgent reforms to protect students.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has strongly reacted to the death of a young dental student in Kerala, calling it part of a “deeply diseased campus culture” and demanding urgent accountability. His remarks have amplified calls for justice and renewed scrutiny of institutional failures in educational spaces.

‘Not an Isolated Tragedy’

In a detailed statement, Tharoor expressed anguish over the death of Nithin Raj, a BDS student from Thiruvananthapuram, alleging that the incident reflects a larger systemic issue. He drew parallels with the earlier death of another student, Sidharthan, stating that while perpetrators may differ, the pattern of institutional failure remains the same.

According to media reports, the victim’s family alleged that the faculty subjected Nithin to verbal abuse, casteist slurs, color-based mockery, financial shaming, and internal mark reductions.

Three men, including a recent aeronautical engineering graduate linked to various theft cases, were arrested in Gujarat after an attempted robbery at a jewelry store. The shop owner was shot during the incident.

An ex-intern with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), allegedly linked to multiple thefts, was among three men arrested in an attempted robbery at a jewellery shop in Gujarat’s Navsari. The accused, identified as 25-year-old Umang Vachhani, along with Rajnikant Makwana (39) and Manoj Survyavanshi (23), all from Valsad, were nabbed by joint teams of the Local Crime Branch (LCB), Special Operations Group (SOG), cybercrime unit and Bilimora police. An aeronautical engineering graduate, Vachhani is suspected to have been involved in at least 11 heists since 2023.

According to the police, Vachhani and Makwana entered Chanchal Jewellers to execute the robbery, while Survyavanshi remained stationed in a car outside. The plan collapsed when shop owner Ashok Katariya resisted and raised an alarm. During their escape, Vachhani allegedly opened fire, shooting Katariya twice and leaving him injured, TOI reported.

Navsari superintendent of police Rahul Patel told TOI that officials examined nearly 300 CCTV cameras to track the suspects. The getaway vehicle was traced to an industrial zone in Chikhli, which eventually led police to the trio in Valsad. The accused had attempted to evade capture by removing the car’s number plate and abandoning it in a quarry.

ISRO intern linked to multiple heists
Vachhani had completed his aeronautical engineering degree from Silver Oak University in Ahmedabad in 2022 and later interned at ISRO’s Ahmedabad unit for seven months. He went on to work at a private aerospace firm toward the end of 2023, where he remained employed for about a year, according to the TOI report.

Despite his academic background, police said Vachhani had a criminal history and had been booked in 11 vehicle theft cases across Ahmedabad since 2023. These cases were registered at Satellite,Navrangpura, Ghatlodia, Vadaj, Gujarat University, and Vastrapur police stations. He was later detained under the PASA Act by the Ahmedabad police commissioner.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/isro-intern-by-day-thief-by-night-gujarat-robbery-bid-exposes-young-techie-linked-to-11-heists-article-154051936

As new cooking technologies enter Indian kitchens, the big question remains: which one is actually affordable? Here’s a simple cost comparison of LPG, electric, and hydrogen cooking in 2026.

From rising LPG cylinder prices to the growing buzz around electric and hydrogen stoves, the way India cooks is slowly changing. For decades, LPG has been the backbone of Indian kitchens, reliable, accessible, and easy to use.

But now, with electricity becoming more stable in cities and new fuel technologies being introduced, many households are starting to rethink their choices.

The question is no longer just about convenience. It is about cost.

For a middle-class family, the monthly kitchen budget matters. A slight increase in fuel cost can affect overall expenses. At the same time, newer options like induction cooktops promise efficiency, while hydrogen is being discussed as the fuel of the future.

So, in 2026, which cooking option is actually the cheapest? And should households consider switching, or stick with LPG for now?

Here’s a clear and simple comparison.

LPG: STILL THE MOST COMMON CHOICE

LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) continues to be the primary cooking fuel for millions of Indian households. It is widely available and does not depend on electricity, which makes it reliable even in areas with power cuts.

However, prices have steadily increased over the years. In most cities, a domestic LPG cylinder costs between 900 and 1,100.

For a small to medium family, one cylinder usually lasts around 25 to 30 days.

Estimated monthly cost: 900–1,200

Pros:

• Easily available across India
• Works without electricity
• Familiar and simple to use

Cons:

• Prices fluctuate
• Requires regular refills
• Safety concerns if not handled properly

ELECTRIC COOKING: GROWING IN URBAN HOMES

Electric cooking, especially through induction cooktops, is becoming more common in cities. It is clean, easy to maintain, and removes the need to book gas cylinders.

Induction stoves are also energy-efficient, as they heat utensils directly instead of wasting heat.

However, the total cost depends on electricity tariffs, which vary from state to state.

Estimated monthly cost: 700–1,100

Pros:

• Can be cheaper than LPG in some areas
• No refilling required
• Safer in terms of no gas leaks

Cons:

• Depends on electricity supply
• Not ideal during power cuts
• Requires compatible utensils

HYDROGEN COOKING: A FUTURE POSSIBILITY

Hydrogen stoves are still in the early stages and are not widely available for household use yet. The idea is simple, use hydrogen as a clean fuel that produces only water as a byproduct.

Some companies and researchers are testing hydrogen-based cooking systems, but they are not yet ready for mass adoption in India.

Costs are also unclear at this stage because the technology is still developing.

Estimated monthly cost: Not available yet

Pros:

• Clean and environmentally friendly
• Could reduce dependence on fossil fuels

Cons:

• Not commercially available
• High setup and infrastructure requirements
• Cost still uncertain

SO, WHICH IS CHEAPEST IN 2026?

Based on current trends:

• Electric cooking can be slightly cheaper than LPG in cities with stable and affordable electricity.
• LPG remains the most practical and reliable option for most households, especially where electricity is inconsistent.
• Hydrogen is not yet a realistic choice for everyday use.

WHAT SHOULD HOUSEHOLDS DO?

For now, there is no one-size-fits-all answer.

• If you live in a city with a stable power supply, electronic cooking can help reduce monthly costs.
• If you face frequent power cuts, LPG is still the safer and more dependable option.
• Hydrogen is something to watch for the future, but not something to switch to today.

India’s kitchens are at a turning point. While LPG continues to dominate, alternatives like electric and hydrogen cooking are slowly gaining attention.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/information/story/lpg-vs-electric-vs-hydrogen-which-is-cheapest-in-2026-2895024-2026-04-12

Twenty-two-year-old BDS student Nithin Raj R.L was found dead after falling from a college building in Kannur on April 10. His family alleges caste-based harassment, skin tone bias and threats over internal marks by faculty. Police registered an unnatural death case, while Kerala’s human rights panel sought a report promptly.

A 22-year-old first-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) student, Nithin Raj R.L, was found dead on April 10 after allegedly falling from a five-storey building on the campus of Anjarakandy Dental College in Kannur, Kerala, triggering serious allegations of faculty harassment, caste discrimination and skin tone bias.

Nithin, a native of Nedumangad in Thiruvananthapuram district, was discovered critically injured on the college premises on Friday afternoon and was rushed to hospital, where he was later declared dead. Chakkarakkal police have registered a case of unnatural death and launched a probe into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

His family, who work as daily wage labourers, alleged that Nithin had been facing sustained mental harassment from the head of the department and other teachers. They claimed he was repeatedly targeted over his caste identity and skin tone. The family specifically accused the department head, Dr M K Ram, of threatening to cut his internal marks, an allegation that has intensified concern over the case.

The incident has also drawn the attention of the Kerala State Human Rights Commission, which has registered a suo motu case and directed police to submit a detailed report into the matter.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor posted on X, “Deeply anguished to learn of the tragic death of Nithin Raj, a young BDS student from Thiruvananthapuram, at Kannur Dental College, Anjarakandy. Audio recordings now reveal what his family has long alleged — relentless verbal abuse, casteist slurs, threats, and deliberate academic sabotage by faculty. A bright young life, extinguished by a toxic campus.”

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/kerala/story/nithin-raj-death-kerala-dental-college-harassment-caste-discrimination-probe-2895222-2026-04-13

China should refrain from actions which inject negativity into relations and undermine efforts to create better understanding.

New Delhi: India on Sunday categorically rejected China renaming some places in Arunachal Pradesh and said such claims and attempts to manufacture baseless narratives cannot alter the “undeniable reality” that they are part of Indian territories.

China should refrain from actions which inject negativity into relations and undermine efforts to create better understanding, it said.

New Delhi’s reaction came in response to Beijing announcing Chinese names for several places in Arunachal Pradesh.

“India categorically rejects any mischievous attempts by the Chinese side to assign fictitious names to places which form part of the territory of India,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

“Such attempts by China at introducing false claims and manufacturing baseless narratives cannot alter the undeniable reality that these places and territories, including Arunachal Pradesh, were, are, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India,” he said.

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Our response to media queries regarding China giving fictitious names to places ⬇️

🔗 https://t.co/j6WPzitrh2 pic.twitter.com/NDK1ZACyUZ

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) April 12, 2026

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/india-rejects-mischievous-attempts-by-china-to-assign-fictitious-names-to-places-in-arunachal-3965371 

The Punjab Government has implemented a new reward policy under its mission ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ to incentivize informants who provide credible information about wanted criminals and gangsters.

In a yet another milestone decision, the Punjab Government has authorised Punjab Police personnel to reward genuine informants under the new ‘reward policy’ for sharing information regarding ‘wanted criminals-gangsters’ or their network in the state. It also released a list of 28 most wanted criminals.

Under the project ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’, the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab Government has approved sanction powers up to Rs 1 lakh to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Rs 1.5 lakh to Commissioner of Police-Range Inspector General of Police/ Deputy Inspector General of Police, Rs 2 lakh to Heads of Wings (Special Director General of Police/Additional Director General of Police), and above Rs 2 lakh to Director General of Police (DGP). The sanctioned amount will be rewarded to the informants only on providing correct and genuine information. The project has been introduced for increasing the involvement of residents to help Punjab Government and Punjab Police make the state safe.

“Punjab Government has approved the above mentioned sanction powers for the designated police personnel. The information will be verified first, and the informants will be awarded as per the criteria. The identity of the informants will not be disclosed or made public at any level of police, public or government. The aim is to close all doors from criminals and gangsters working in the state, and the Punjab Government aims to go to any extent for achieving this aim,” informed Pramod Ban, ADGP, AGTF.

The information can be shared at ‘Anti-Gangster Helpline’ 9394693946. “The informants providing credible info that leads to the arrest of wanted criminals, Proclaimed and Habitual Offenders will be awarded. The Punjab Police will follow the leads provided by the informants. This project will also give extra wings to the Punjab Police network in stopping the trouble makers. The information gathered through this project (will be further) used for enhancing ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ under operation Prahaar,” said Pramod Ban. This will be a high-quality reward program where the identity of the tipsters will be protected. “We want more and more people come forward to help the government and police denting the criminal activity in the state. To safeguard each and every resident of this state is our duty and responsibility. We would entrust the information only after proper vetting, and there’s no question of any danger to the informant,” he added. The amount will be decided on a case-by-case basis depending on the gravity of the offence, risk involved and quality of information. The policy is part of the ongoing ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ campaign aimed at making Punjab gangster-free.

Meanwhile, under ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ campaign Punjab Police recently conducted 56,487 raids at the at identified and mapped locations linked to associates of gangsters across the state.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/gangstran-te-vaar-punjab-govt-reward-policy-for-informants-on-gangsters-releases-28-most-wanted-criminals-list-article-154062185

A Germany-based scientist in Gurgaon is winning hearts online after a viral video showed him selling bakery items from his car to help a friend start a small business

A heartwarming video from Gurugram is winning hearts online, showcasing an unconventional yet powerful display of friendship. The clip features a man selling bakery items from the boot of a luxury car, a gesture that has intrigued viewers and sparked conversations around loyalty and going the extra mile for loved ones.

According to details shared online, the video was filmed at the Sector 31 market in Gurugram. It features a man, identified as Awadhesh, who is reportedly a medical research scientist working in Germany. In the clip, he is seen opening the trunk of his high-end vehicle, estimated to be worth around Rs 37 lakh, and displaying an assortment of baked goods for sale.

The video was posted on Instagram by user Harsh Chauhan, who captioned it: “Ek dost aisa bhi hai. 37 lakh ki gadi me dost ke liye support.” In the recording, Chauhan can be heard explaining that Awadhesh, despite his professional background abroad, is currently selling items from his car to help a friend.

As many as 163 minor boys, allegedly being trafficked from Bihar to Maharashtra to work as labourers, were rescued from an express train in Madhya Pradesh’s Katni district, the railway police said on Sunday.

As many as 163 minor boys, allegedly being trafficked from Bihar to Maharashtra to work as labourers, were rescued from an express train in Madhya Pradesh’s Katni district, the railway police said on Sunday.

The eight accused arrested in the case have, however, claimed that the children, aged between six and 13, were being taken to a madrasa in Latur for education, they said.

Based on a tip-off from the Child Welfare Committee, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Government Railway Police (GRP) conducted an overnight joint operation, intercepting eight persons, who were travelling with the boys without proper tickets and documents onboard the Patna-Purna Express at Katni railway station.

According to preliminary information, the children were being taken from the Araria region in Bihar to Latur in Maharashtra, RPF Katni inspector Virendra Singh told PTI.

The force received a tip off about the trafficking of children and grew suspicious after they found no valid travel documents, prompting a joint rescue operation, which was wrapped up at Sunday dawn, he said.

Singh said that the GRP have registered a case under section 143(4) (trafficking of a child below the age of eighteen years) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the eight accused, all from different districts of Bihar.

Initial investigations suggested that the boys were being taken to Latur to work as labourers, he said, adding that the GRP is investigating the case.

When contacted, Katni GRP station house officer (SHO) L P Kashyap told PTI that the rescued children and the accused belonged to the Muslim community.

The children were travelling in the sleeper class of the express train, with around 50 of them in a compartment, he said.

“During questioning, they (the accused) have claimed that the children were being taken for education purposes to a madrasa in Latur. We have contacted some parents, who have also said that they have sent their wards for education,” the GRP officer said.

The accused persons have said that they have taken children to madrasas in the past as well, he said.

“We are investigating the case. The accused, who have been booked on the charges of trafficking, will be produced in court,” he added.

According to officials, the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) had received information about a large number of children being transported under suspicious circumstances.

Security personnel waited for the express train on platform number 5 and searched coaches upon its arrival, taking the children into safe custody, they added.

Child Protection Officer Manish Tiwari said authorities acted promptly on the input, and the rescued children were undergoing counselling.

 

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/163-minor-boys-being-trafficked-to-maharashtra-rescued-from-train-in-madhya-pradesh-cops-11347370

A series of IT Rules amendments has shifted online speech control from courts to the executive, enabling fast, opaque takedowns with limited accountability.

In The Dark Knight Rises , Gotham is not conquered in a single dramatic stroke but softened with the cultivation of fear and the practice of control. This allows for the appropriation of exceptional powers as the public has been conditioned to feel perpetually unsafe and hence extraordinary power begins to look like ordinary administration.

This provides a useful frame for understanding the digital censorship architecture assembled by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Since February 2021, four expansions of the IT Rules have centralised executive power over what Indians may say, see, and share online, each presented as a minor technical adjustment, and wrapped up in the language of citizen safety.

The most recent draft, circulated on March 30, 2026, widens the net from news platforms to ordinary social media users who comment on news and current affairs, a move that plainly responds to the rise of independent commentators channelling citizen anger at public officials across the ideological spectrum. It also proposes to make informal communication such as advisories, clarifications, codes of practice to be legally binding on platforms.

This not only exceeds the scope of the parent act but appears aimed at coercing platform compliance and redesign. For instance, if platforms are held liable for Community Notes and similar user-led fact-checking, they will remove the feature. While public pushback has been loud, the draft is only the newest layer in an ‘India Censorship Stack’ that already runs deep. The common principle of that stack is speed without scrutiny, prioritising pace of removal over due process. Hence, the user whose post, or even entire account, vanishes is rarely told why, or provided any real legal remedy to appeal.

Two provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000 sit at the heart of this architecture: Section 69A, which governs blocking, and Section 79, which grants platforms safe harbour for user-generated content. Both were upheld in Shreya Singhal v Union of India but only because the Court read in safeguards that MeitY now flagrantly disregards.

Section 69A blocking orders are issued in secrecy, in volume, at velocity. Users who write to MeitY are denied copies of the orders against them. They are summoned to Delhi for meetings without being told what they are alleged to have done wrong. Section 79, meanwhile, has been twisted even further.

Consider the four amendments to the IT Rules, 2021 under Section 79 in sequence. The October 2022 amendment created a Grievance Appellate Committee, which is an executive body sitting in appeal over platform speech decisions and rewrote Rule 3 to require intermediaries to “ensure compliance” with their own terms and make “reasonable efforts” to keep prohibited speech content off their services. Takedown grievance windows shrank to 72 hours.

On the surface, the change was procedural. In substance, it was structural. It converted platforms from passive hosts into active enforcers, and positioned the Union government as the ultimate arbiter of permissible speech. The shift was unmistakable and required platforms to remove more, remove faster, do so under the shadow of government review.

In effect, our speech is being censored by the government via platforms that are meant to carry it.

The April 2023 amendment went further. Tucked alongside online-gaming provisions that were widely welcomed by industry was the fact-checking power under Rule 3(1)(b)(v). It required intermediaries to make “reasonable efforts” not to host speech that, “in respect of any business of the Central Government,” was identified as fake, false or misleading by a fact-check unit designated by the Ministry itself.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/the-rise-of-infrastructure-for-digital-censorship-3964849

Desertions and sidelining are not unusual in any party, but the frequency with which senior leaders have left a young outfit like the AAP is startling. Some left due to ideological differences, some others were upset with Kejriwal’s style of functioning, while a few quit when the AAP could not satisfy their ambitions.

New Delhi: The meteoric rise and sudden fall of Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha — the latest among Arvind Kejriwal’s core team to have a fallout with the AAP chief — illustrate a trend that is rarely seen in other established parties.

Desertions and sidelining are not unusual in any party, but the frequency with which senior leaders have left a young outfit like the AAP is startling. Some left due to ideological differences, some others were upset with Kejriwal’s style of functioning, while a few quit when the AAP could not satisfy their ambitions.

The list — starting in at least 2015, the year Kejriwal stormed to power in Delhi — includes Prashant Bhushan, Yogendra Yadav, Kumar Vishwas, Ashutosh, Ashish Khetan, Mayank Gandhi, Alka Lamba, Kapil Mishra, and Naveen Jaihind. Some turned detractors and joined other parties, while others remained critical of but not opposed to the AAP.

Chadha’s name is the latest addition, months after Swati Maliwal, another Rajya Sabha member, snapped ties with the AAP after she alleged that Kejriwal’s aide beat her up when she went to meet him.

Rise and strife

Chadha, now 37, met Kejriwal in his early 20s, as Anna Hazare led the India Against Corruption movement. He was made a national spokesperson when the AAP was subsequently formed. He was also part of a core team that wrote the party’s manifestos and was even treasurer for some time.

Once the AAP was in power, he was appointed financial advisor to then-deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, and was fielded in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, which he lost. The next year saw him winning an Assembly seat, and Kejriwal overlooked experienced leaders to make him vice-chairman of Delhi Jal Board (DJB).

When the AAP won Punjab, Kejriwal wanted a trusted hand to watch over Bhagwant Mann. Thus, Chadha was made an advisor to the Punjab CM, eliciting monikers like “Super CM” and allegations of corruption. Nothing impacted Chadha’s rise as he was made a Rajya Sabha member at the age of 33.

Even before his fallout with Kejriwal, Chadha had created ripples in the Rajya Sabha when he was suspended following accusations of putting names of MPs in a motion without their approval, and was even accused of forgery. However, the party stood behind him.

In the Rajya Sabha, one could sense the unease in the AAP ranks as Chadha tried to steal the limelight. When floor leader Sanjay Singh was arrested in a case, there was even an attempt to install Chadha as “interim leader”, but then chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar rejected it. Sources said seniors in the Opposition advised Chadha not to make such ventures.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/kejriwals-aap-arent-troubles-deepen-as-chadha-signals-exit-3964846

India’s capital is gearing up to ban non-electric two-wheelers as it looks to tackle chronic smog and high pollution. In other news, PM Modi is campaigning in West Bengal ahead of high-stake elections.

A new draft policy released by the Delhi government proposes to ban new two-wheelers run on fossil fuels from 2028, in an effort to manage emissions in one of the world’s most polluted cities.

It cites a recent report identifying vehicular emissions as the largest contributor to air pollution in the National Capital Region of Delhi (Delhi NCR), about 23% in winters.

“Two-wheelers constitute approximately 67% of the total vehicle stock in Delhi, making their rapid electrification critical for achieving meaningful reductions in vehicular emissions,” the policy said.

Delhi is regularly cited as one of India’s most polluted cities with  thick smog, filled with pollutants, settling over the capital every winter. It has caused lasting health issues in residents and leads to political rows every year.

The draft Delhi Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy 2026-2030 was uploaded on Saturday for feedback. It will remain available for comments for 30 days after which a final policy will be notified and implemented till 2030.

Here’s what it proposes:

• Only electric three-wheelers will be permitted for new registration starting 2027
• Only electric two-wheelers will be permitted for new registration starting 2028
• 30% of all school buses will have to be electric by 2030
• New fossil-fuel two wheelers for fleet aggregators in 2026

The policy offers purchase incentives for electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers and goods vehicles. It also proposes tax breaks for those buying electric vehicles, including cars.

The Congress Thiruvananthapuram MP said that India should not be concerned with Pakistan’s diplomatic approach and focus on maintaining its own peace and security.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday took a direct swipe at Pakistan amid high-stakes US-Iran peace talks being hosted in Islamabad, suggesting that Islamabad’s diplomatic role reflects its unique relationship with Washington and vested regional interests. “Only Pakistan can play the kind of role it has played with the US,” Tharoor said in a satiric tone.

Referring to a now-viral social media post by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed to US President Donald Trump recently, Tharoor questioned the authenticity and origin of the message.

He implied that the wording and structure of the post indicated possible involvement from Washington, remarking that such coordination highlights the kind of diplomatic role only Pakistan appears able to play with the US.

“There have been some allegations that Washington wrote that tweet for the Pakistani PM, because it had the heading, ‘Draft for Pakistan PM’. And the language used was also Washington’s language. Also, some of the phrases were similar to those used by Trump a few hours ago. Only Pakistan can play the kind of role it has played with Washington,” he said while speaking to the media.

Solidifying Tharoor’s claim was a New York Times report earlier this week, according to which Sharif’s public appeal to Trump seeking a deadline extension on Iran and urging a diplomatic pause was not an impromptu move, but part of a coordinated effort that had prior approval from the White House.

A source also said the White House had vetted and cleared Sharif’s statement before it was posted, suggesting that behind-the-scenes diplomatic coordination was significantly more active than publicly indicated.

Tharoor, Congress MP from Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram, also opined that India should not view Pakistan’s involvement in the ceasefire talks as a matter of competition.

He stressed that New Delhi’s primary concern remains peace and stability in the region, regardless of who facilitates it.

“I don’t think there is any need to worry about who brings about the peace. Who brings about the peace won’t matter if peace comes. If peace fails, on the other hand, then we should analyse very carefully the reasons for that failure and see if there is any way that we can contribute to a different outcome,” he said.

Tharoor underlined that Pakistan’s stakes in the ongoing conflict differ significantly from India’s.

He pointed out geographical and demographic factors, including Pakistan’s long border with Iran and its sizeable Shia population, which could be directly affected by any escalation.

“Pakistan shares a 900-km-long border with Iran. Around 4 crore Shia Muslims reside in Pakistan. So, like they say in English ‘Pakistan has skin in the game’. They have a different kind of involvement and stake in these talks. If, say in coming days, Mr Trump decides to hit Iran militarily, where will the refugees head? To Pakistan. So, Pakistan has a stake in this which is very different from that of India,” Tharoor clarified.

The Congress leader also maintained that any attempt by Pakistan to project itself as a peacemaker would need to be backed by credible action against terrorism.

He asserted that dismantling terror infrastructure and acting against extremist elements would be essential for Islamabad to gain genuine international trust.

THE ISLAMABAD TALKS

Meanwhile, the talks in Islamabad have drawn global attention, with senior representatives from both the US, led by Vice President JD Vance, and Iran participating, under the leadership of its Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, amid a fragile ceasefire.

The diplomatic engagement comes at a time of heightened tensions in West Asia, with recent military developments threatening to derail efforts at de-escalation

Tharoor concluded that India must remain actively engaged in regional developments, emphasising that strategic involvement—whether visible or discreet—is crucial to safeguarding national interests and contributing to broader stability.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/middle-east-war-congress-mp-shashi-tharoor-pakistan-role-us-iran-ceasefire-talks-islamabad-mediation-2894886-2026-04-11

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Throughout the period of West Asia conflict, India and the UAE remained in close contact.

EAM S Jaishankar held talks with his UAE counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, in his first visit to the Gulf since the West Asia war began. The two-day visit comes at a crucial time, with ongoing talks between the United States and Iran taking place in Pakistan.

During the meeting, discussions centred on the evolving situation in West Asia and its wider implications. Jaishankar described the interaction as productive, noting that both sides exchanged views on developments in the region.

He also expressed appreciation for the UAE’s efforts in ensuring the safety and well-being of the Indian community living in the country. He said he was confident that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and the UAE would continue to grow.

Continued India-UAE coordination

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited handed over four ALH Mk III (MR) helicopters to the Indian Coast Guard in Bengaluru, meeting delivery timelines under a 2024 contract. The advanced Dhruv helicopters will enhance maritime security with capabilities like surveillance, search and rescue, and coastal operations.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on Friday handed over four ALH Mk III Maritime Role (MR) helicopters to the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) at an event held in Bengaluru, meeting the delivery timeline and further strengthening the force’s maritime capability.

DIG Rajesh Makwana, TM and Bar, CSO (Aviation) and Coast Guard Commander (Western Seaboard), attended the event along with Shri PB Rangarao, Chief Executive Officer of HAL’s Helicopter Complex. Helicopter documents were formally handed over by the Office of the Regional Director, Aeronautical Quality Assurance (ORDAQA), and the Helicopter Division to Coast Guard squadrons based in Kochi and Porbandar.

The delivery is part of a contract for nine ALH Mk III (MR) helicopters signed in March 2024. HAL had earlier delivered 16 ALH Mk III (MR) helicopters to the Coast Guard till 2022. An additional order for six more helicopters was signed in March 2026.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Guest appreciated HAL’s efforts in ensuring timely delivery of the helicopters, noting that it would enhance the ICG’s rotary-wing fleet.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/hal-delivers-alh-mk-iii-helicopters-indian-coast-guard-maritime-security-2894495-2026-04-10

Chauhan, a notorious figure in organised crime, is also wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with multiple cases. He is believed to be a key member of the gang led by Kaushal Chaudhary, who is currently lodged in a Haryana jail.

In a major breakthrough for Indian security agencies, most wanted gangster Sahil Chauhan is being brought to India after being deported from Thailand. According to officials, Chauhan will arrive at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, where he will be taken into custody by the Haryana Special Task Force (STF) immediately upon landing on Saturday.

Chauhan, a notorious figure in organised crime, is also wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with multiple cases. He is believed to be a key member of the gang led by Kaushal Chaudhary, who is currently lodged in a Haryana jail.

Investigators allege that Chauhan played a significant role in orchestrating several contract killings in India while operating from abroad. His activities had made him a high-priority target for law enforcement agencies.

Sources said that Chauhan was recently detained overseas following coordinated efforts by central agencies and the Haryana Police. His deportation marks a crucial step in ongoing attempts to dismantle transnational criminal networks linked to Indian gangs.

Officials added that extensive security arrangements have been put in place at the Delhi airport ahead of his arrival. After being taken into custody, Chauhan is expected to be produced before a court and may be taken to Haryana for further interrogation.

 

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/most-wanted-gangster-sahil-chauhan-deported-from-thailand-haryana-stf-to-take-custody-2894621-2026-04-11

At least 10 tourists, including six women from Punjab, died after a steamer carrying around 30 people capsized in the Yamuna river near Kesi Ghat in Vrindavan on Friday. Mathura DM Chandra Prakash Singh confirmed casualties, while over 10 remain missing. Officials said strong winds and a collision with a pontoon bridge caused the vessel to overturn midstream.

At least ten tourists, including six women, died after a steamer carrying around 30 people capsized in the Yamuna river in Vrindavan on Friday afternoon. The victims were part of a tourist group from Punjab, officials said.

Mathura District Magistrate Chandra Prakash Singh confirmed that nine people lost their lives in the incident. More than 10 passengers are still reported missing, raising concerns that the death toll may increase.

The incident took place around 2:45 pm near Kesi Ghat, about 2.5 km from the Banke Bihari temple.

Teams of SDRF and NDRF rushed to the spot and launched a search and rescue operation. Around 50 local divers also joined the effort. A diver identified as Gulab said nearly 15 people had been pulled out of the river, with several in critical condition.

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#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh | A boat accident occured on the Yamuna River near Keshi Ghat in Mathura. According to the Police, 22 individuals have been rescued and shifted to hospitals, but investigation is underway to determine how many of them are safe. Further details awaited. pic.twitter.com/kwzlwF0Kkz

— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2026

Eyewitnesses said strong winds destabilised the steamer midstream. Manohar Lal, a tourist from Jagraon in Ludhiana, said the vessel began swaying due to high wind speed and lost control. It then collided with a pontoon bridge and overturned.

 

Kolkata Dating App Scam: A young man was scammed after meeting a girl from Bumble at a cafe in Kolkata, where he was unexpectedly charged Rs 8,500 for a simple date.

Kolkata Dating App Scam: A young man, after matching with a girl on the popular dating app Bumble, was invited by her to meet at the Couple Cafe Zone near Ranikuthi, Kolkata — a venue she specifically and deliberately chose. The date seemed to be going smoothly enough. They ordered two coffees and a hookah — a modest, ordinary outing between two people getting to know each other. Nothing seemed unusual. Nothing felt wrong.

Then came the bill. Rs 8,500.

Before the stunned boy could process what was happening, cafe staff had already surrounded him from all sides, forming a quiet wall of intimidation. When he turned to look at the girl for some explanation, some support, some sign that this was a misunderstanding — she was already walking away. Laughing.

It was not a date. It was a carefully orchestrated trap.

Investigators and social media users who have studied similar patterns across Indian cities say this is a textbook case of what is increasingly being called “honey trap billing fraud” — a racket where a planted girl on a dating app lures a target to a pre-arranged cafe, decoy items and premium charges are silently added to the bill without the victim’s knowledge, and cafe staff use physical intimidation and psychological pressure to force payment. The girl, the cafe staff, and the management are all part of the same organized criminal network. The dating app is merely the bait. The cafe is the trap. And the unsuspecting boy, hopeful and trusting, is the target.

This is not an isolated incident. Reports from multiple neighborhoods across Kolkata and other Indian metros suggest this racket has been operating for years, largely in silence, because victims are too embarrassed to report it or are simply unaware that what happened to them was a crime. The shame falls on the boy, while the network walks free to set the trap again.

The incident has gone massively viral, sparking outrage, dark humor, genuine fear, and urgent safety warnings across every major platform.

Netizens React — And They Are Not Holding Back
@Delhi_ka_Rahul_07 “Bhai ne coffee pi aur Rs 8500 ka subscription le liya. Bumble Premium se bhi mahenga pad gaya date.” (Bro had a coffee and walked away with an Rs 8500 subscription. Cost him more than Bumble Premium itself.)

@KolkataDiaries_ “I am from Kolkata and we have been warning people about these so-called couple zone cafes for years. Nobody listens until it happens to them personally. This racket runs deep, it runs organized, and local awareness has been criminally low. The boy is not stupid. He was targeted by professionals.”

@singleandscared2024 “Me before reading this tweet: genuinely excited about my Bumble match in Kolkata, picking an outfit, planning conversation topics. Me after reading this tweet: deleting every dating app, reconsidering human connection as a concept, and seriously evaluating a life of solitude with a cat.”

Safety Checklist Circulating Massively Online
The post has prompted thousands to share a safety guide that is now viral in its own right, being pinned, screenshotted, and forwarded across WhatsApp groups, Instagram stories, and X threads:

Always choose the venue yourself, never let a stranger pick the meeting spot for a first meeting. Pick a well-known, busy, and publicly visible location. Tell a trusted friend or family member exactly where you are going and who you are meeting. Share your live location with at least one person before you leave. If you are ever surrounded or feel physically blocked, call 100 immediately and do so loudly and clearly. Never let embarrassment stop you from asserting your rights. Always ask for an itemized bill and photograph it before paying anything.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/viral/kolkata-dating-app-scam-kolkata-boy-plans-date-at-cafe-handed-rs-8500-bill-girl-walks-away-laughing-article-154048577

The anticipated Rs 99,000 crore agreement for six submarines between Mazagon Docks Limited and Thyssenkrupp will include an Inter-Government Agreement (IGA) between India and Germany, ensuring the German government’s commitment to the deal.

When the Rs 99,000 crore deal for the production of six German submarines in India by Mazagon Docks Limited (MDL) is signed, it will, importantly, be accompanied by an Inter-Government Agreement (IGA) between New Delhi and Berlin. Both countries have agreed to have the IGA, it will provide commitment not just by a German firm, but the government in Berlin, highly-placed sources said. “The IGA means that the German government is committing to the contractual obligations and that’s significant,” sources added. The deal, a huge one between MDL and Thyssenkrupp, the German firm, is for building six submarines in Mumbai.

Naturally, clearance by the Union Cabinet is necessary, and the draft cabinet note has already been circulated, with the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) and the finance ministry also having to look at it before the defence ministry readies the final version. Then, only clearance by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be necessary. After cabinet clearance, likely in a few months, the IGA and the contract between Thyssenkrupp and MDL can be readied.

The decision to go with the Germans came after the Navy examined the submarine, and also, the one the Spanish had offered. These are AIP or Air Independent Propulsion submarines, which can stay underwater for considerably longer periods, and are detected with more difficulty compared with a diesel-electric submarine, their “acoustic signature,” being lower. These six submarines will be the first AIP versions the Indian Navy will have. Pakistan already has the French-made Agosta submarine which has AIP capabilities and is acquiring eight Hangor class ones from China. Four will be made in China, and four in Karachi.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/rs-99000-crore-6-subs-one-big-guarantee-inside-indias-german-deal-article-154046206

Over 11,000 litres of milk was poured into the Narmada River during a ritual, sparking outrage over malnutrition, resource wastage, and environmental concerns in Madhya Pradesh.

Over 11,000 litres of milk — reportedly worth Rs 6 to 7 lakh — was poured into the Narmada River from a heavy tanker in an act of religious faith. The offering was made by a religious guru, Dada Ji Dhunivale Baba, at the conclusion of a 21-day ritual at the Pataleshwar Mahadev Temple in Bherunda tehsil, Sehore district, Madhya Pradesh. Aerial drone shots captured the moment, and the same went viral on social media, with many questioning the act, saying that in a state where malnutrition is so high, could this milk have been used differently? A few also questioned that adding milk to a river is “not a natural thing” and it would also affect the ecosystem.

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🇮🇳 India Today:

A staggering 11,000 liters of milk were dumped into the Narmada River to “honor” a cricketer named Abhishek, a brilliant move in a nation where millions face chronic starvation.

​While the “fans” celebrated, the river’s ecosystem took the hit:

​Mass… pic.twitter.com/IIOUi9LbBO

— 🅰️SIADecoded (@asia_decode2) April 9, 2026

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In a country where 80 crore people survive on government rations, 10,000 liters of milk are poured into the Narmada River in the name of religion.

This river is home to 170+ fish species fish that cannot even survive in milk. A fish would die within minutes if placed in it.… pic.twitter.com/2MoT0WMiIm

— aree_shuklajii (@th_anonymouse) April 9, 2026

What Stats Say
According to National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-21), conducted by India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 35.5 per cent of children under five in India are stunted, 19.3 per cent are wasted, and 32.1 per cent are underweight. And Madhya Pradesh consistently figures among the worst-performing states on stunting, wasting and underweight indicators, alongside Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, according to NFHS-5 data published by the International Institute of Population Sciences under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The state’s malnutrition rate stands at 7.79 per cent against a national average of 5.40 per cent, according to Dainik Bhaskar — with 1.36 lakh children currently battling the condition.
Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/narmada-river-milk-offering-in-madhya-pradesh-sehore-1000-litres-into-the-narmada-1-36-lakh-children-going-without-fight-malnutrition-article-154047277

 

India doesn’t see ties as transactions but as enduring bonds, said EAM S Jaishankar in Mauritius.

India does not see ties as transactions but as “enduring bonds” and the country will “always stand” with Mauritius as a trusted partner, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said here on Friday.

The minister, addressing an event, also said the world is today going through a period of “deep turbulence and uncertainty” and asserted that in such times, “partnerships like ours become more important”.

Jaishankar, who is in Mauritius to attend the 9th Indian Ocean Conference, inaugurated a renal transplant unit at the Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi says that Mauritius is not a partner; Mauritius is part of family,” said the EAM.

According to ISRO, the sequence begins with two apex cover separation parachutes, which remove the protective cover of the parachute compartment.

As human spaceflight once again captures global attention, India is methodically advancing its own carefully calibrated journey towards sending astronauts into orbit. On Friday, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted the second Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-02) of the Gaganyaan Crew Module at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, a crucial step in validating how Indian astronauts, or Gaganyatris, will return safely to Earth after enduring the searing “trial by fire” of atmospheric re-entry.

The test focused on one of the most critical and unforgiving phases of any human space mission: descent and landing. In this phase, human lives depend entirely on the flawless performance of a complex parachute-based deceleration system. For the Gaganyatris, their survival will quite literally “hang by a thread”, the nylon cords of 10 indigenously designed and manufactured parachutes.

During IADT-02, a simulated Crew Module weighing about 5.7 tonnes, equivalent to the mass planned for the first un-crewed Gaganyaan mission (G1), was airlifted by an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter to an altitude of approximately three kilometres. Once positioned over a designated sea drop zone near the Sriharikota coast, the module was released into free fall over the Bay of Bengal.

ISRO says what followed was a precisely choreographed sequence that tested not just engineering, but trust. 10 parachutes of four different types were deployed in a predetermined order, gradually reducing the speed of the falling Crew Module to ensure a controlled and safe splashdown. Against the backdrop of the open sea, the expanding parachutes created a striking visual display, a fleeting celestial rangoli, even as engineers tracked every fraction of descent velocity.

ISRO said the test successfully validated the crew module’s parachute-based deceleration system, demonstrating end-to-end performance in realistic conditions. After touchdown, the Crew Module was safely recovered from the sea in a coordinated operation involving the Indian Navy, marking the successful completion of the test.

Gaganyaan is India’s single most expensive scientific experiment, with costs exceeding Rs 10,000 crore, and the IADT-02 test once again highlighted how national capabilities are being pooled for the mission. Along with ISRO, the test saw active participation from the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Coast Guard.

The parachute system being validated is entirely swadeshi. According to DRDO scientists, this is the first time an integrated 10-parachute system of this scale and complexity has been developed in India. Extensive simulations and ground tests preceded the air drop, but real-world validation was essential because human safety is unforgiving of theoretical errors.

An officer from the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), Agra, India’s premier parachute technology laboratory, noted that the test also helps engineers understand how the system would behave under adverse or off-nominal conditions. Such scenarios could include a mission abort shortly after launch, when altitude and reaction time are severely limited.

In an actual Gaganyaan mission, the Crew Module will re-enter Earth’s atmosphere at extreme speeds after spending days in orbit. The initial parachutes are designed to deploy at altitudes between 7 and 11 kilometres, when the module would still be travelling at nearly 700 kilometres per hour, comparable to a passenger aircraft at cruising speed. Through sequential aerodynamic braking using ten parachutes, this speed is gradually reduced by nearly 25 times before splashdown.

Even with full deceleration, the Crew Module will still strike the sea at around 30 kilometres per hour, an impact that the astronauts must be physically prepared to endure. In the final moments of descent, their lives will depend entirely on the integrity of the parachute system.

According to ISRO, the sequence begins with two apex cover separation parachutes, which remove the protective cover of the parachute compartment. These are followed by two drogue parachutes that stabilise and slow the module. Subsequently, three pilot chutes extract three main parachutes, each opening individually. While two main parachutes are sufficient for a safe landing, the third provides redundancy. The largest of these chutes spans a massive 25 metres in diameter, and all are manufactured in India using indigenous textile material.

After landing, the Crew Module is recovered from roughly five kilometres off the Sriharikota coast and brought ashore for detailed evaluation.

 

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/10-parachute-landing-system-successfully-tested-for-gaganyaan-crew-module-11340122

Sri Nanda, a Class 10 student and a native of Palakkad in Kerala, was on a family trip in Karnataka with around 40 relatives.

A 14-year-old girl from Kerala who went missing during a family trip to the Chandradrona hill range in Karnataka was found dead – four days after an intensive search by the police, with her family suspecting a case of kidnapping.

Sri Nanda, a Class 10 student and a native of Palakkad in Kerala, was on a family trip in Karnataka with around 40 relatives. According to the police, they had visited the UNESCO World Heritage Site Hampi in the North Karnataka region and arrived in Chikkamagaluru city at 3 pm on April 7. They then travelled in private jeeps to a shrine and later went for a hike to a tourist spot in the Chandradrona hills on April 7.

The girl was seen in a video with one of her family members on the day of the hike.

However, around 6 pm – as the darkness set in, the girl went missing.

According to her family, they had last seen her in the Manikyadhara region of the hills.

Despite continuous search efforts by family members initially, she could not be traced, prompting a police complaint.

The cops immediately launched a search operation in the deep ghat sections and steep terrains of the hills. Officials used ropes to access difficult areas, while drone surveillance had also been deployed during night operations. Four days after a continuous search, Sri Nanda’s body was found in the valley, nearly 1,500 feet below the Manikyadhara viewpoint

The girl’s family expressed suspicion that she had been kidnapped.

“One argument is that the girl was kidnapped, while another suggests that she may have gone away with someone. Such opinions are being expressed, but the truth will be known once she is traced,” Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said.

Although authorities launched the search operation immediately and used modern equipment such as thermal cameras and drones, no clues were found initially, which raised suspicions. Officials are probing all angles and verifying whether she slipped from the mountain or if there is any other reason behind the incident, they said.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/kerala-girl-who-went-missing-during-hike-in-karnataka-found-dead-4-days-later-family-suspects-kidnapping-11341680?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

The defence ministry is expected to issue the Request For Proposal (RFP) to French jet maker Dassault in May, and contract negotiations will begin thereafter.

India will ensure that indigenously developed missiles and weapons systems can be integrated into the 114 Rafale fighters it plans to buy, people familiar with the matter said.

It will do so by insisting on a so-called interface control document (ICD) in the government to government contract on the “buy and make” deal, they added, asking not to be named.

The defence ministry is expected to issue the Request For Proposal (RFP) to French jet maker Dassault next month, and contract negotiations will begin after that. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared the deal on February 12.

The people cited above said the plan is to “hardwire” ICD into the final contract for the ₹3.25 lakh crore mega deal. ICD is a critical system engineering document that controls and defines all the vital protocols between a system and sub-systems. According to the proposal cleared by DAC, 18 fighters will be delivered in fly away condition from France while remaining 96 will be manufactured in India with indigenous content of over 25%.

Amidst reports that the mega deal has hit a hurdle with French Rafale manufacturer Dassault refusing to hand over “source code” of the fighter to India, top defence ministry officials confirmed to Hindustan Times that no country offers up these proprietary software codes (which control the radars, electronic warfare suite and weapon integration) to any third country and the deal remains well on track. The “source codes” virtually control the entire fighter including avionics, target tracking, flight control, weapon launch and weapons release algorithms. The code is the intellectual property of the original equipment manufacturer, which is not shared even with the closest of allies, the officials added.

While India’s long term strategic ally Russia has offered two squadrons of fifth generation Su-57 to Indian Air Forces and is involved in upgrading the existing Su-30 MKI fighter fleet with state-owned HAL, it has never shared or offered to share source codes of either of these fighters, HT learns. The same holds true for American aircraft manufacturers with Indian transport fleet and attack helicopter fleet made up of US aerial platforms.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rafale-order-plan-govt-to-ensure-jets-can-carry-indigenous-missiles-101775784028849.html

Pawan Khera moved the Telangana High Court after the Assam Police filed a case against him over allegations made against the Assam chief minister and his wife.

Congress leader Pawan Khera’s pre-arrest bail hearing in the Telangana High Court over a complaint filed by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma turned heated on Thursday, with lawyers of both sides using phrases like “constitutional cowboys” and “international khiladi” to make their arguments before the court.

Pawan Khera, a Congress spokesperson, moved the high court after the Assam Police filed a case against him over his allegation that Sarma and his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sharma possessed clandestine foreign passports and overseas assets.

Based on a complaint by Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, the police filed charges of forgery, cheating, criminal intimidation, conspiracy, and defamation against the Congress leader.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Pawan Khera, alleged that the FIR had been loaded with every possible charge to exert pressure on a political opponent. He argued that even if the Congress leader’s statements turned out to be wrong, the case was one of defamation, and there was no reason to arrest him.

He said that the politician was ready to cooperate.

“Khera is not absconding. He is ready to cooperate. He came to this court only because he was in Hyderabad with his wife when he learnt about the FIR,” Singhvi said.

Attacking the Assam government’s action, Singhvi argued: “If you start arresting people for this, it will become a jungle raj”.

“We are not living in the age of constitutional cowboys, pulling out powers from the holster and sending 100 policemen from Assam for what is essentially a defamation complaint,” he added.

Responding strongly to Singhvi’s arguments, Assam’s Advocate General Devajit Saikia contended that his state wasn’t a “banana republic”. He argued that Khera should have moved a court in Assam or Delhi — where the Congress leader resides — instead of approaching the Telangana High Court.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pawan-khera-bail-hearing-in-telangana-high-court-gets-heated-cowboy-international-khiladi-11335115?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll